First steps in Modding, Seeking Pointers

[xburcus]

Greetings everyone,

 

I have been toying around with the idea of a joinable/romancable male NPC for BG2:EE for some time (including TOB storyline).

 

The thing is, I am embarrassed in my ignorance, but nevertheless will admit it; apart from installing dozens of mods over the years, poking around in Shadow/EEKeeper, using CluaConsole, and browsing through the writings in the dialogue text files, I do not have any modding knowledge for the Infinity Engine (or anything else). I guess it is safe to say that I am a relatively more advanced player in the IE as compared to a casual one, but nevertheless I am not a modder - I think it is high time I try to upgrade to a newbie modder after having been a player for what...18 years now?

 

I was wondering if some of you dear experienced modders can give me pointers to any threads or resources I might use, and perhaps a guidemap for how to go around realizing this project?

 

Here is a list of the resources I have already downloaded/have access to:

 

GemRB

DLTCEP

EEKeeper

NPC Modding Guide https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZNVRttHGVV8GOQ-CYWyTMHh-3MErQ1T_KusJkCtYtk0/edit?usp=sharing

AD&D 2nd ED Manuals (to make sure I dont stray TOO much from the rule system when creating the story details)

...and last but not least, Wiki pages for BG and D&D lore.

 

Please advise me on what I am missing, if any, and also if you have any other suggestions.

 

The artwork for portraits, I am already working on acquiring them. As for the the voice acting/sound files, I guess they will be completed after the dialogues are completed? I have already written down the character's personality, history, the psychological issues & themes in the storyline - it is around give or take 25 pages right now (25 pages of APA style formatting, if you are familiar with it- but I pray for your sanity you are not) However, the story/banters/background/written stuff is not even close to 25% complete...

Well, anyway, I think this project will be a good introduction to modding for me. However, to make sure that the end product is good enough both for my own darned high expectations and for pleasing fellow gamers, I would be VERY appreciative of any help/advice offered by more experienced modders.

 

Bear with me a little more please. I have two more questions, and these are about the "story" section:

 

1) Is just browsing through the dialogue texts and talks for the unmodded game enough for making sure I write an integrated story for the new NPC? For example, I feel that I am not as acquainted with the more evil aligned characters and personalities (apologies to Edwin(a) fans) and I want to make sure I know all NPCs at least well enough without having to play the game from start to finish to prevent losing time. Not to mention that each gameplay makes me discover more and more quests I missed before. I need to make sure I at least browse through the maximum I can in the minimum time possible.

 

2) Adult Content Issues: This mod has to be an adult content romance to be more consistent with the personality and the history of the NPC in I am writing. My question is, while I can sense the diffrence between adult and teen content thanks to countless amazing mods I played with until now, I am not entirely sure just how far one can go in terms of adult content without the mod being too smut or becoming an erotica that takes over the actual story. Sky's the limit, or common sense? If there are any former threads on limitations, expectations or let's say M rated issues, could someone please direct me there?

 

And finally, if you actually read until here, thanks for your patience and curiosity. xburcus out.

Edited January 29, 2018 by xburcus

[Avenger]

GemRB is a separate engine, you don't need it for EE modding. If you are just starting modding, downloading other small mods is a good start.

Also IESDP. You will also inevitably run into the need of WeiDU.

 

https://gibberlings3.github.io/iesdp/

http://gibberlings3.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=29170

[Jarno Mikkola]

Sometimes the Near Infinity can be better place to look and edit the in game files than the DLTCEP.

Also it might be helpful if you would list things where you still need help. There's an NPC tutorial creation mod at the PPG's one day NPC's, "Branwen DL". Aka NPC mod that has been commented to large extent in it's .tp2 file(a weidu's instruction file, a file where the weidu.exe takes it's commands to do things).

 

Sorry, that this sounded like I was talking to a very small child... but I can't actually tell where you are at in the learning process... so you'll excuse me.

[xburcus]

GemRB is a separate engine, you don't need it for EE modding. If you are just starting modding, downloading other small mods is a good start.

Also IESDP. You will also inevitably run into the need of WeiDU.

 

https://gibberlings3.github.io/iesdp/

http://gibberlings3.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=29170

Thank you very much. If I understand correctly, IESDP is the manual I need for the technical aspect.

 

 

Sometimes the Near Infinity can be better place to look and edit the in game files than the DLTCEP.

Also it might be helpful if you would list things where you still need help. There's an NPC tutorial creation mod at the PPG's one day NPC's, "Branwen DL". Aka NPC mod that has been commented to large extent in it's .tp2 file(a weidu's instruction file, a file where the weidu.exe takes it's commands to do things).

 

Sorry, that this sounded like I was talking to a very small child... but I can't actually tell where you are at in the learning process... so you'll excuse me.

 

Thank you! There is nothing to excuse, because I am technically a very small child when it comes to modding- on the contrary I am very grateful for the help. I am going to check out the Branwen for BG2 through the link you gave, it looks like a good practice tutorial. Near Infinity, I am also getting now.

 

As for the .tp2 file, I think I know what it is you are talking about. I did open a .tp2 file with a text editor once, (from another NPC mod) and I realized it had the installation executable commands, not the dialogues (the .d files, as I discovered)

 

As for where I am in the learning process...since there is no IE modding knowledge assessment exam that I know of, I am yet to assess myself first, but I at least know that I am quite the newbie. Once I do the pre-production research and go over the Branwen for BG2 and some parts of IESDP, I will probably discover what I really need help with. I will be sure to make a list then.

 

Cheers.