Playing dangerously with Renal

[Bex]

I'm not sure it's right that you only get the option to proposition Renal once. If the PC asks about Imoen first, the opportunity to express interest in spending a little time together is closed. It's a fairly small matter to reload the autosave and replay the conversation, but it might be worth making a minor change here unless this was intentional.

 

I had another issue involving conversations with Renal, though I can't be sure it was due to RE. After presenting the evidence against Mae'Var, Renal "has nothing to say" until the PC returns to report Mae'Var dead. It's not really a big deal there, but it also happens if the PC first opts to tell him about Embarl's story. An untalkative Renal at that point breaks the quest, since you can't give him the documents. Again, it's fortunate that the guild is an autosave area.

 

This is just something that came up today, which I've never seen before. This game is also my first run with G3's Fixpack (it's been that long since I built a new mod stack), and the latest version of QP (but I had no problems with this conversation in the prior release). It's quite possible that something else is the culprit, though I wouldn't know where to begin looking. Thought I'd throw it out there while I was posting about the other thing.

 

I'm really enjoying the mod so far (11 components played or partially played). The new characters are fun, and the existing characters are well in keeping with what's been seen of them previously. I though Eldoth was especially good (in a bad way, since he's as slimy as I remembered), and the Anishai encounter was a lot of fun (loved that there was a journal update; more would be welcome). I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of the possibilities. Well done!

[Kulyok]

I'm not sure it's right that you only get the option to proposition Renal once. If the PC asks about Imoen first, the opportunity to express interest in spending a little time together is closed. It's a fairly small matter to reload the autosave and replay the conversation, but it might be worth making a minor change here unless this was intentional.

 

Technically, it is possible to add an interjection, so you can propose Renal afterwards. Should the author wish it, it will be added for v2.

 

I'm fine either way, though I privately suspect it works well as it does now, since, if PC is not a thief, she can't get another chance to get Renal's attention - it's now or never. (The same goes for certain other components - Teos, for one).

 

I had another issue involving conversations with Renal, though I can't be sure it was due to RE. After presenting the evidence against Mae'Var, Renal "has nothing to say" until the PC returns to report Mae'Var dead. It's not really a big deal there, but it also happens if the PC first opts to tell him about Embarl's story. An untalkative Renal at that point breaks the quest, since you can't give him the documents. Again, it's fortunate that the guild is an autosave area.

 

RE only adds an interjection and a conversation which specifically triggers at night, so, no, it's not RE-related.

 

Thank you for your feedback, and glad you enjoyed the mod!

[Bex]

I think it would be fine that if you exit the conversation, you'll never get a chance to ask again, but as it stands, you can initially ask about Imoen, make your proposal, or say goodbye. If you put your concern for Imoen first, you're left no choice but to leave, even if you meant to hit on Renal as soon as he answered your other question. If you proposition him first, you can then ask about Imoen. I don't know if this is also how the Teos component works since I haven't gotten to that yet. At any rate, however the author intended it is fine. I just want to be sure it's intentional.

 

Also, I noticed while looking at variables in SK that one of Anishai's variables contains a typo (RE_ANICHAIFLIRT), and Mira's dialogue has a "benfits" instead of benefits, I believe it was while talking about her potion for sale. (The lack of errors is a compulsive proofreader's dream, believe me.)

[Kulyok]

Cool, thanks - will correct both.

 

(Yep, it's just this way with Teos - either you're concerned about Imoen/Solamnic Knights or snogging - no having your cake and eating it; though in many other respects, PC already does).

[cmorgan]

The increase or decrease in possible opportunies to start Renal's encounter is strictly within your perview, Kulyok; if you think that there is good roleplaying reason to add in another opportunity, I have no problems with it, but the components were open gifts to you - you have full author and editorial control. If in your view it is a single opportunity chance, that is fine too.

[Kitanna]

Ah! So if your a thief you can visit Renal more than once?

[cmorgan]

Well, it is more fun if you visit Renal one time, then reload and have him visit you, I think, for the contrast - but then again I dunno - I'm not a woman. Just married to one

[Kitanna]

I dunno, having Renal just climb through the window of an

inn somewhere for a suprise re-visit would make sense

and make it interesting. He seemed to enjoy himself the first

time Especially if the PC is indeed a thief. Maybe it's

just me since, even tho Bjornin's was great and definately

funny, Renal's is my favorite out of all of them.

[Bex]

I couldn't get the Mekrath encounter, as I was unable to even agree to retrieve his mirror. I could only refuse, or loop the requests for more information. That's never happened before, regardless of whether the PC is looking for HD or just nosing around. Grumble.

[Kulyok]

There're indeed two Renal encounters, but it's coded so you could choose only one - depending on what you're saying, he either visits you, or you have an option on rest in the city to visit him.

 

(I'd still rather have the author's permission, since I'm used to showing all the edits to each encounter's author from the beginning, and berelinde did say recently she was uncomfortable with me just suggesting that "bisexual Renal" is a bad idea(he is females-only now), so I'm rather afraid to touch stuff. If you're all right with me changing this, thank you, I'll keep it in mind for v2, if enough users request it).

 

I couldn't get the Mekrath encounter, as I was unable to even agree to retrieve his mirror. I could only refuse, or loop the requests for more information. That's never happened before, regardless of whether the PC is looking for HD or just nosing around. Grumble.

 

That's "I seek adventure, but if there's none to be had, then you're of little use to me" reply in Bioware dialogue. The RE encounter only comes after you have retrieved the mirror, honest.

[Bex]

The problem was that I was unable to accept the quest to retrieve the mirror at all. I know which conversation path to follow, but the option to say "I agree" wasn't available. Something has altered the Bioware dialogue.

 

I haven't been able to track down anything in the mod stack to indicate that this would be changed though. I even checked the Fixpack documentation to see if it was meant to be that you couldn't work for Mekrath if you've agreed to rescue HD (it's always worked for me before). I can't find anything. I'll try an earlier save and go speak to him without talking to Raelis first, but even if the mirror quest then works like it used to, that still won't tell me a cause. I'm just baffled.

[Kulyok]

Hmm. I can't imagine why Fixpack would do this. Maybe an extra condition? Try opening MEKRAT in Infinity Explorer, if you're interested -if the option isn't there, it's fishy. I'll check the path in my dialog.tlk for you, too, when I get home.

[Kulyok]

I have looked up MEKRAT dialogue, and it goes like this for me on the first try(NumTimesTalkedTo(0)):

- the reply about adventure is only there if you haven't taken Raelis' job

Global("RaelisJob","GLOBAL",0).

 

On the second try, you get adventure reply if Global("Mekrath","GLOBAL",0).

 

So, in my estimation, you either talk to him and accept his mission about the mirror on the first try, or say "Sorry, I'll go" on the first try and ask him about adventure on the second try.

 

(Mind you, I'm talking all about the original game here, not about anything Romantic Encounters-related).

[Bex]

I don't know what happened, but the missing dialog option is no longer missing. Maybe my game was too exhausted to let me have another encounter when I last played. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

Off to retrieve a certain mirror....