Mac Modding

[MacMonkey]

Hello, Gibberlings.

Long-time player, first-time (trying to be) modder, here. Wondering if any known, experienced modders write their mods on macs? All the how-to/help type info I find seems to assume PC usage. Which (heavy sigh) is not unexpected. But, when a sticky problem arises, I would love to know if there is a mac-savy, experienced modder out there who can answer the occasional question.

Cheers,

MM

[subtledoctor]

All of my stuff (which, now that I look at it, has turned out to be a lot of stuff) was done on a Mac running Mountain Lion. It's no problem at all. Some tips:

 

1) Get TextWrangler. It's a free text editor, perfect for editing Weidu stuff.

 

2) Get the latest Mac-specific version of Near Infinity (NI) from AstroBryGuy here:

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/30593/new-versions-of-nearinfinity-available#latest

The regular version of NI will work fine, but working in the Mac version is just more pleasant.

 

3) Download one of my mods (linked in my signature). They all contain the latest Mac version of Weidu (the file simply named "weidu" in lower case) as well as my "Mac Weidu Launcher." Drop these into your game folder and you never have to worry about having a specific copy of Weidu named for your mod. All you need is a .tp2 file.

 

It's great for development - I create a new text file, write some Weidu commands, save it as "test.tp2" in my game folder, but keep it open in a TextWrangler window. Double-click the Mac Weidu Launcher, select "test" from the list, and it runs the install script. If there's an error, make changes to the .tp2 file that's already open in front of you, hit CMD-S, then run the Launcher again.

 

Once it installs correctly, you can inspect things in NI. Double-click the launcher again to uninstall and make changes; then use it again to reinstall. Repeat as needed

 

Once everything is working, just rename the .tp2 to the name of your mod, and you've got your mod! I've been finding it super easy to work with these tools. If you ship a mod, you are totally welcome to distribute the Mac Weidu Launcher with it. I think this is great for game folders, because instead of needing a separate .exe installer for every mod, like on Windows, Mac users just need a single copy of weidu plus the Launcher.

 

Good luck!

[MacMonkey]

Thanks!

My wife will understand all that and I'm sure find great value in it!

MacMonkey is a husband and wife team, she's the wizard who wields the dark magics...err coder, whilst I am but a humble wordsmith and spinner of tales who has no truck with the arcane forces located inside the magic white box...

Cheers,

 

MM

[critto]

I have almost the similar setup as subtledoctor, but I prefer to use TextMate (old habits). I even created language grammars for it to highlight tp2 and BAF/SSL scripts. It's kind of a work in progress (it might miss some stuff that I haven't encountered yet, which I add gradually on precedent when I do), but I'm fairly sure I have it covered at about 80-85%. If you're interested, I can share it on github.

 

I also have Wine installed. I use it to run DLTCEP and Bam Workshop.

 

One big problem about development on Mac is testing the changes both in EE (which is available for Mac) and ToB (which is not). Sometimes you add something unknowingly that causes ToB to crash. I am thinking of setting up a virtual machine with ToB installed for the purposes of testing such things, but haven't gotten around to it just yet.

[subtledoctor]

One big problem about development on Mac is testing the changes both in EE (which is available for Mac) and ToB (which is not).

 

Not true - GOG sells "BG2 Complete" for Mac... $10, but sometimes you can get it on sale for $5. Granted it's basically the Windows version in a WINE setup... but it's a pre-configured setup sold by a major company, and thus thoroughly tested and basically guaranteed to work. You can right-click the app, do "show package contents," then drill down to /contents/resources/drive_c/GOG Games/Baldur's Gate 2/... and now you are in your game directory. Drop Mac Weidu and my Launcher in that folder, and you can install/uninstall/test/etc. to your heart's content. I made an alias of that folder on my desktop for easy access.

 

In fact some Windows-only stuff can translate over and work perfectly well - like the BGT and ToBEx installers, which only work on Windows. I switched over to Windows (in VirtualBox, Parallels, or Boot Camp, doesn't matter) and downloaded the Windows version from GOG (no extra cost, the license is cross-platform), and installed ToBEx, the BG2FixPack, 1pp, and BGT. Then copied that whole game folder onto an external drive, went back to OS X, *erased* the game folder form the path I mentioned above, and replaced it with the game folder straight from Windows. It works perfectly - the ToBEx console pops up and everything. I played a whole game of BGT this way. The only mods that don't install with Mac Weidu are older ones that use extra Windows-only stuff, like old NPC and quest mods that ship with outdated audio-processing software. But even there, if you really want, you can install a full megamod installation over in windows, and just copy/paste the game folder into OS X and it will work.

 

So I have a BGT/ToBEx installation that I can test mods on, right in OS X in addition to the EEs. And all of my development and testing is with Mac tools.

[MacMonkey]

Good Evening,

 

Thank you very much for the suggestions. As my husband said earlier, we are just getting started. Doctor, I have been using Geany, but I did try Wrangler. I really like some of the extra features, like line numbering and prefix/suffix. It definitely comes handy for trac files. Citto, I may have to take you up on your offer with regard to TextMate. I hate that the editors won't format. (I like my indents and colors.)

 

Anyway, I just wanted to hop on and say thank you for the suggestions. My husband suggested we look online to see what other mac modders are using because, as stated earlier, the tutorials appear to written from a primarily Windows perspective. As a result, I can type in the code just as written in the tutorial and it won't work. (At least I think/claim that's why it is not working.) It is very frustrating, but I am slowly learning. I did successfully create a character, with dialogue! (He crashes if you try to level him up, but I'll figure that out.)

 

Again, thank you for your suggestions. It is nice to know there are successful Mac modders out there.

 

Have a wonderful night.

 

MM

[Mike1072]

What sort of mod do you want to create? NPC, quest, tweaks? Can you give an example of tutorials you've followed that haven't worked out?

I develop on Windows, but the majority of tools I use work perfectly well on OS X. To make most types of mods, all you really need is WeiDU, a text editor, and resources like the IESDP and WeiDU documentation. Near Infinity is great as well.

[critto]

Not true - GOG sells "BG2 Complete" for Mac... $10, but sometimes you can get it on sale for $5. Granted it's basically the Windows version in a WINE setup... but it's a pre-configured setup sold by a major company, and thus thoroughly tested and basically guaranteed to work. You can right-click the app, do "show package contents," then drill down to /contents/resources/drive_c/GOG Games/Baldur's Gate 2/... and now you are in your game directory. Drop Mac Weidu and my Launcher in that folder, and you can install/uninstall/test/etc. to your heart's content. I made an alias of that folder on my desktop for easy access.

Oh boy. How did I ever not thought of that. I'll check it out, thanks

 

Megamods are not my cup of tea, but the fact that GOG sells Mac-compatible ToB is great news.

 

EDIT:

 

 

 

Citto, I may have to take you up on your offer with regard to TextMate. I hate that the editors won't format. (I like my indents and colors.)

 

OK, I'll try to get up on github today or tomorrow morning, no problem.

[Fiann of the Silver Hand]

GOG is currently running their "Insomnia Sale". The categories change faster based on how quickly things are sold. RPGs are next. 4:25am EST.

 

4:45 - Witcher 3 Wild Hunt $25

[MacMonkey]

What sort of mod do you want to create? NPC, quest, tweaks? Can you give an example of tutorials you've followed that haven't worked out?

 

I develop on Windows, but the majority of tools I use work perfectly well on OS X. To make most types of mods, all you really need is WeiDU, a text editor, and resources like the IESDP and WeiDU documentation. Near Infinity is great as well.

 

We have concepts ranging from additional Romantic Encounters to Cromwell-type services to romanceable NPCs to quests. Right now, we are working with a very simple, no frills NPC just to learn and figure things out, working from the Branwen tutorial mod and a few other how-to guides and tips found online.

[critto]

OK, here it is https://github.com/critto-bg/textmate-weidu

[MacMonkey]

Critto: Taking a look at it now...Thank you very much!

 

MM