What's needed for creating enemy NPCs?

[ericp07]

Hello,

 

Part of the mod I'm developing will call for a quest involving a villain and his assistants, so I'd like to know if my mind is on the right track in how to create them, and how to best set it up in terms of files to add to the mod.

 

I'm guessing that I'll need to create a .cre for the villain, an evil cleric, and one for each of his assistants. If possible, the assistants should include lycanthropes, fallen rangers, and evil druids (can we make evil druids?). I think I'll need to create a new weapon for the cleric, and I already have the particulars for it (not powerful, but a signature weapon for followers of his patron deity). Do I need anything more besides the .cre and .itm files, and a bit of scripting? any .d files or others? Are there existing portions of mods that would be best for me to examine as a guide to creating this?

 

The master villain should be "intelligent" enough to seek to escape combat if he's clearly going to die, so he can heal up and surprise the party again later. The enemy group should have a random chance of appearing and attacking the party in any outdoor wilderness area. I was even thinking of involving such enemies in the Windspear Hills encounter between the gnolls and lycanthropes, but that's not required...although it would be a perfect way to introduce these enemies, and perhaps be the place where my NPC first appears and asks the party for help.

 

Any thoughts, advice, etc. will be most welcome

 

Thanks,

Eric

[Icendoan]

If they start hostile, no .D is needed iirc, a soundset and CRE and ITM files should do. At least for the henchpeople.

 

The main villian would want some dialogue. But it really isn't what I am good at, so I cannot talk about it.

 

Scripts give enemies their intelligence.

 

Icen

[Guest Guest]

It's always good to look at existing mods to see how the code is implemented. Many NPC mods introduce a few new characters with their own quests, so you can pretty much just grab a random one from the modlist. Just try to get one that's somewhat new and up to date on the coding.

 

You create enemies the same way you create your own NPC, either by making a new character from scratch or by copying and editing one that already exists with a program like DLTCEP or Near Infinity. For example the DRUID10A .cre is a 10th level lawful evil human druid, so it might be a good place to start. You can have any kind of combination, evil druids, non-lawful/good paladins or whatever.

 

For scripts, the simplest way is to use one that alerady exists (MAGE12B, PRIES10A, etc). Otherwise you should look at mods that deal with AI changes and see what they do and try to adapt from there. You should probably NOT make any fights that are hugely more difficult than the ones already in the game, though, that's not why people download NPC mods.

[ericp07]

It's always good to look at existing mods to see how the code is implemented. Many NPC mods introduce a few new characters with their own quests, so you can pretty much just grab a random one from the modlist. Just try to get one that's somewhat new and up to date on the coding.

 

You create enemies the same way you create your own NPC, either by making a new character from scratch or by copying and editing one that already exists with a program like DLTCEP or Near Infinity. For example the DRUID10A .cre is a 10th level lawful evil human druid, so it might be a good place to start. You can have any kind of combination, evil druids, non-lawful/good paladins or whatever.

 

For scripts, the simplest way is to use one that alerady exists (MAGE12B, PRIES10A, etc). Otherwise you should look at mods that deal with AI changes and see what they do and try to adapt from there. You should probably NOT make any fights that are hugely more difficult than the ones already in the game, though, that's not why people download NPC mods.

 

I'll do some digging, and see what I can find. Thanks!

 

I don't intend for the encounters to be overwhelming. Some might be very small, simple fights, maybe a couple minor scrapes that lead to larger, more involved situations, thus building a story. The mod as a whole, though, is much more about the character than about the encounters.

 

Happy modding,

Eric

[theacefes]

Auren ToB has a nice little encounter with an enemy containing dialogue and script, as well as a few "henchmen". Seeing as how NASA did not code her, I'd say she's a pretty simple one to look at.

[berelinde]

In 2nd edition, druids have to be true neutral. Even Shadow Druids like Faldorn.

 

Of course, this has not prevented me from writing a tweak that allows a PC to become a druid by 3rd edition rules, i.e. any alignment with the word "neutral" in it, solely for use in my own games, but I wouldn't advocate writing illegal characters in a mod intended for distribution.

 

Ordinarily, I'd say "but no one will ever see it!" but this isn't true, as evil druids will light up like christmas trees if a detect evil spell is cast.

[ericp07]

In 2nd edition, druids have to be true neutral. Even Shadow Druids like Faldorn.

 

Of course, this has not prevented me from writing a tweak that allows a PC to become a druid by 3rd edition rules, i.e. any alignment with the word "neutral" in it, solely for use in my own games, but I wouldn't advocate writing illegal characters in a mod intended for distribution.

 

Ordinarily, I'd say "but no one will ever see it!" but this isn't true, as evil druids will light up like christmas trees if a detect evil spell is cast.

 

Perhaps a way around this is to say that any involved druids are still true neutral, but feel they're serving to maintain balance from their perspective in siding with the villain. Or said villain may be influencing them in some way. They may or may not be of the Shadow Circle. I hadn't considered that...

 

I also wouldn't want to break rules for this purpose.

 

Thanks,

Eric

[devSin]

I also wouldn't want to break rules for this purpose.

This is one of the places where the rules are so incredibly stupid that I'd encourage you to just break away.

 

I'd like keeping "any alignment with the word neutral" (as berelinde says) for legacy reasons, but the idea that a druid can't be neutral evil or chaotic neutral or lawful neutral because... because... (why don't you try to come up with a reason for it? I sure can't) is just dumb.

[berelinde]

Yeah, I always thought it was a stupid rule, which is why one of the first things I did when I learned how to patch 2da was to write one that would enable me to create druids of NG, LN, TN, CN, or NE alignment.

 

But when it comes to the sheer incomprehensibility of D&D rules, nothing beats the 1E rule that said that clerics could be any alignment except TN, and if they wanted to be TN, they had to be druids.

[SixOfSpades]

But when it comes to the sheer incomprehensibility of D&D rules, nothing beats the 1E rule that said that clerics could be any alignment except TN, and if they wanted to be TN, they had to be druids.

How about the 2nd Edition rule that says Elves can be Fighters, or Thieves, or Mages, or even all three at the same time, yet they cannot be Bards?

[theacefes]

Of course, because an elf should be able to fight, steal, and cast a spell, but please, don't let him sing!

[DavidW]

For scripts, the simplest way is to use one that alerady exists (MAGE12B, PRIES10A, etc). Otherwise you should look at mods that deal with AI changes and see what they do and try to adapt from there. You should probably NOT make any fights that are hugely more difficult than the ones already in the game, though, that's not why people download NPC mods.

 

Actually, this might be a good reason to use the generic scripts where possible... that way, the creatures get the same AI upgrades that vanilla-game creatures do. (AI mods like SCS upgrade the generic scripts).

 

Realistically the BG2 combat system is uncontrollable enough that you'll need to cheat to keep your villain alive long enough to run away. The usual way is to give him an item like "minhp1" which prevents him dying, and then add a script block that teleports him away or tells him to run when he gets to one hit point.

[Icendoan]

Cheating, I don't exactly call it cheating, because many Bioware creations cheat, then.

 

Think about;

Chez Irenicus Imoen

SpellHold Irenicus

Half the ogres in the 1st pocketplane trial (yes, CTRL-M them)

Bodhi

Bodhi again

Bodhi's henchman, idk the name, begins with L iirc

Mellisan

Mellisan again (2nd pool)

 

Actually, I shall give you a nice reference of the CRE files with minhps on them, shall I?

 

I like DLTCEP

 

MINHP01

------------

C6ELVEN2

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

C6ELVENW

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

VVARKAN

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

UDLESA

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

GNOLLHP1

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

ELETRO02

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

PPDRADEE

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

JADERMIN

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:4-L.Ring)

ARNTRA01

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

ARNTRA02

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

JAERTOF

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

VAMPBAT

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

AMMONK01

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

AMMONK07

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

AMMONK08

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

ADSHAR

Nonstandard order.

LAVOK01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

LAVOK02

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

SUELLE2

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

HELLPRID

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

PPBHAAL

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

C6BMIST

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

AMELM01

Found item minhp1 at position #6 (slot:7-Belt)

BODHIAMB

Found item minhp1 at position #3 (slot:6-Amulet)

FINSOL01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

JATERMIN

Found item minhp1 at position #6 (slot:7-Belt)

HLKANG

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

SAHIMP03

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

SAHIMP04

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

SAHIMP05

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

SAHIMP06

Found item minhp1 at position #3 (slot:6-Amulet)

SAHIMP07

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

SUELHAN

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:4-L.Ring)

TANOMIST

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

BODHI2

Found item MINHP1 at position #3 (slot:6-Amulet)

HGNYA01

Found item minhp1 at position #3 (slot:6-Amulet)

SOLAR01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

FANGEL01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

OBSGOL01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

KPTROL01

Found item MINHP1 at position #5 (slot:21-Inventory 1)

KPTROL02

Found item MINHP1 at position #5 (slot:21-Inventory 1)

KPTROL04

Found item MINHP1 at position #5 (slot:21-Inventory 1)

KPTROL05

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

WARSAGE

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

RIFTCR04

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

HLSKULL

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

TROLGI01

Found item MINHP1 at position #5 (slot:21-Inventory 1)

C6BODHI

Found item MINHP1 at position #4 (slot:7-Belt)

ELEARB01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB02

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB03

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB04

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB05

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB06

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB07

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB08

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB09

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB10

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEARB11

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

PPDEMON

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

BODHI

Found item minhp1 at position #3 (slot:6-Amulet)

HLSION

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

HELLFEAR

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

HLKETTA2

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

SKELHP1

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

HELLGREE

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

VALEMIST

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

SARVIE01

Found item minhp1 at position #4 (slot:6-Amulet)

LOVEONE5

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:4-L.Ring)

SWORD02

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:5-R.Ring)

SWORD03

Found item minhp1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

PPBODHI3

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

TRAX

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

DACEMIST

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

C6GOD

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:4-L.Ring)

SUJON

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

DRSHLO01

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

DEMOARCH

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:4-L.Ring)

DAABOL

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

HGTRL01

Found item MINHP1 at position #4 (slot:21-Inventory 1)

ADANG25

Nonstandard order.

BOUNHA

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:4-L.Ring)

WISH01

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

WISH02

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

DEMOCLER

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:4-L.Ring)

DELMIST

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

GARKID01

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

GARKID02

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

BRUS2

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

VIEKANG

Found item minhp1 at position #4 (slot:6-Amulet)

ADANGEL

Nonstandard order.

HLKETTA

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

PPTIAX

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

C6ELHAN

Found item minhp1 at position #2 (slot:4-L.Ring)

ELEPUZ01

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEPUZ02

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEPUZ03

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

ELEPUZ04

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:6-Amulet)

IGOLEM01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

SHAAVA01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:6-Amulet)

SOLAR

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

ADFOX

Found item MINHP1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

SUAVATAR

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

PPGUY01

Found item MINHP1 at position #1 (slot:5-R.Ring)

PPIRENI1

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:4-L.Ring)

PPIRENI2

Found item minhp1 at position #0 (slot:5-R.Ring)

HELLSELF

Found item MINHP1 at position #2 (slot:6-Amulet)

 

Noone seems to like MINHP20 and MINHP60

 

Icen

[berelinde]

You've got several mod creatures in that list, by the way.

[Kulyok]

Sawara's fox in Angelo NPC is among the most hardened cheaters in the game, yes. Watch your trousers.

 

Seriously, I don't know how it is for you, but for me, an NPC mod author, coding quests sucks. It is exhausting, mundane, it requires extensive testing, and it's not half as fun as writing dialogue(unless you're writing it for an Iron Modder challenge). So I'd leave it for the end, when the NPC itself is complete.