How to save an edited cre.file, so the engine uses it?

[Azaghal]

I ran into a known bug in the North Forest of BG2, where the priest of cyric (AR18priest.cre,from tactics mod iirc) causes an assertion failure -> CTD.The workaround mentioned elsewhere recommends to either free his offhand (he's doublewielding maces) or remove his sling (in weapon slot 2), as his script (from SCS I assume, for its name starts with DW#) makes him try to switch to ranged weapons, which is impossible with the offhand in use.

Now my problem: I made myself acquainted with DLTCEP, tried to play clever, gave him a shield instead (sling + shield should be possible), saved the edited cre.file to override folder with the in-editor button, but -> CTD.

Next step: no shield, naked offhand, saved to override, but -> CTD.

Next step: stole his sling also, saved to override, but -> CTD.

The error message is always the same.

Since I know nothing about scripting, I did not dare to tinker with the script (remove the command to switch to ranged weapons), but that left me wondering, why the workaround would not work for me. So for fun I changed his gender and appearance into female, saved to override, started the battle and he was still MALE!!!!?

So obviously the game does not use my edited cre.file from override as I thought.

How can I make it work?

Thanks in advance.

[Jarno Mikkola]

What Operation System do you use ?

Now, also after you edited the creature, did you load a save that was saved before you entered the North Forest, or was it inside the area, cause any change to .cre file only takes effect if it's not saved into the area file in the save, so you got to reload from a save before the creature is made, and thus usually before you enter the area for the first time.

[Azaghal]

OS is Windows 7 64 bit (game installation is in a separate folder, not the default one) .

But the second half of your answer may already contain the solution. I used a save from the area, not before. I'll try tomorrow with an earlier save from outside the area and see if it works.

Thank you very much!

[Jarno Mikkola]

Also, the DLTCEP has the "Read only" switch in the setup menu, and it's on by default, so it has to be removed from there or from the Settings... before you go and change the file. ..but then again, it should have noted that the program is in that state.

PS, if you still experience the CTD after the reload from earlier save, just post. And if you don't, post then too, about the result.

[Avenger]

The problem is likely this: you load a game which already has this cre in the area. In these cases, your changes don't make any effect.

 

If this was the case then:

1. create your fix as you wanted

2. create the fixed creature without ever loading the new area. (cluaconsole CreateCreature).

3. test if this fixes the bug

4. load a save which doesn't have this area in it

OR

5. use dltcep's uncompress .sav / edit area / recompress .sav

[Azaghal]

Thanks for all the advice.

The "read only" option is untoggled in the settings. But using a different save (from outside the North Forest) didn't help. So I'll try Avenger's advice, assuming the cre has already been ...well ... created in this area. Though I'm not certain what you mean by " a save which doesn't have this area in it". How can I check this?

[Avenger]

Make sure dltcep extracts sav files into the saved game dir (and not into override): set edit options/uncheck decompress sav into override

 

extraction/uncompress sav/browse saved game/fill filemask with the area code/extract

 

If your sav file contained this area, then dltcep will extract it (will keep the saved game intact).

 

Extraction/skim sav - this will remove the area from the saved game (just make sure you entered the filemask correctly).

 

Always make backups when doing something sensitive like this.

[Azaghal]

Wohooo, that did the trick. Thank you, sir. I would not even have gotten close to the solution without your excellent explanation (and DLTCEP of course). But it humbles me to see how many options this editor offers I do not even begin to understand. There really should be a tutorial for real beginners like myself. Ideally with a step by step how-to on Youtube maybe...