Skills and Abilities Mod

[morpheus562]

2 minutes ago, herien_0 said:

Is there a way you can make it so that there's some indication as to what classes are supposed to have a given proficiency? I'm a bit hesitant about assigning skill points at first level given that I may put points into something that a class isn't supposed to have if I never intend to dual-class them. Right now it seems like the best option would be to turn off the ToB styled NPC's option and just just use their default proficiency distribution.

It does what it says on the tin. If you want a warrior only to have an extra +20 lore, then you can take a point in Spellcraft. Nothing saying you can't put points into those. The one instance where I do call it out is power striker as only fighters will see the benefit.

[herien_0]

I see, thanks again for the reply.

I noticed that I screwed something up in the mod order, as Small Sword, Large Sword, Exotic Sword, and Axe profciences aren't showing up at all for new characters to distribute skill points into even if I choose Fighter. I think this is due to accidentally leaving on "Alter Weapon Proficiency System with BG-style weapon proficenices" from Tweaks Anthology on before your mod in order list.

I'm fairly sure this is the culprit, I'll do a reinstall and see if it's fixed.

[morpheus562]

Just now, herien_0 said:

I see, thanks again for the reply.

I noticed that I screwed something up in the mod order, as Small Sword, Large Sword, Exotic Sword, and Axe profciences aren't showing up at all for new characters to distribute skill points into even if I choose Fighter. I think this is due to accidentally leaving on "Alter Weapon Proficiency System with BG-style weapon proficenices" from Tweaks Anthology on before your mod in order list.

I'm fairly sure this is the culprit, I'll do a reinstall and see if it's fixed.

Correct, only one mod that alters the profs.

[Endarire]

Many or most characters can use the new proficiencies (Divine, Spellcraft, etc.) but only their intended classes can max them.

[morpheus562]

Official release for version 2.0 which brings the following enhancements:

• Corrected Blade to assign APR to creatures who are a blade.
• ini option to allow Bardic Wonders Skalds to use Theiving Skills (defaulted to no).
• Renamed Pladin overhaul's Smite to Divine Smite.
• Non-playable npcs/enemies will now gain the benefits of Spellcraft, Conditioning, and Divine.
• Removed scroll crafting due to interference from notorious community member.

[ZenSojourner]

On 3/14/2023 at 4:03 PM, morpheus562 said:

Official pre-release for version 1.2.3-Beta which brings the following enhancements:

• Fixed a compiling issue with craft scrolls
• Disabled crafting as a hla because of mod conflict (temp fix)
• Accounted for out of bounds spell level checks for xp cost (temp fix)
• Fixed bug where Fighters were not receiving the Indomitable passive ability.
• Remove updated enrage ability. This is transferring over to the Battlerager in my kitpack.
• Updated War Cry HLA.
• New componenet: Increase Bard Song durations to 1 turn.
• Added critical success/failure for concentration checks.

what does increasing bard song duration to 1 turn do?  I thought it already lasted multiple turns, like 3 I thought.  Or maybe I'm confusing turns with rounds?  I'm not sure what a "round" is, actually.

While I'm at it, I added this mod (and the required EE Extender using DLC Merger first) specifically so I could turn Imoen into a Jester but I can't get the instructions for changing an NPC class in EE Keeper to work.  Game crashes when I try to level her back up.

I tried NPC-EE but while that let me change Imoen's class it seemed to ignore Skills & Abilities updated Bard skills, or else I installed something wrong.  Just now I've added everything except NPC-EE one at a time and checked to make sure some things that seemed broken in my last attempt (adding a stat effect in EE Keeper to increase lore stopped working when I last tried NPC-EE) were still working. This install was done as follows (all the latest GOG versions):

• Install BGEE
• Install the faces pack
• Install Siege of Dragonspear or whatever its called
• Run DLC Merger
• Install EE Extender - for some bizarre reason EE Ex adds Stat: AC vs. Damage Type Modifier [0] with all default settings to Effects, which as far as I can tell doesn't actually DO anything, but if you delete it out of Effects in EE Keeper, it appears again next time you're in EE Keeper.  For all party members, not just your avatar.
• Install Skills and Abilities

Is there a conflict using NPC-EE with Skills & Abilities, and if not, in what order should it be installed?  Or can somebody help me get Imoen changed with EE Keeper?  Directions I was (trying) to follow.

Later I'm going to want to turn Minsc into a berserker.  Changing NPC classes is the only reason I am doing any mods at all.  Back in the day the only mod I ever used was the pack donkey but now we have bags of holding.  I'm not even sure where that donkey is (or was) any more, as I recall last time I tried to get it the site it was on had seemingly been hacked.

Edited August 20, 2023 by ZenSojourner

[morpheus562]

44 minutes ago, ZenSojourner said:

what does increasing bard song duration to 1 turn do?  I thought it already lasted multiple turns, like 3 I thought.  Or maybe I'm confusing turns with rounds?  I'm not sure what a "round" is, actually.

While I'm at it, I added this mod (and the required EE Extender using DLC Merger first) specifically so I could turn Imoen into a Jester but I can't get the instructions for changing an NPC class in EE Keeper to work.  Game crashes when I try to level her back up.

I tried NPC-EE but while that let me change Imoen's class it seemed to ignore Skills & Abilities updated Bard skills, or else I installed something wrong.  Just now I've added everything except NPC-EE one at a time and checked to make sure some things that seemed broken in my last attempt (adding a stat effect in EE Keeper to increase lore stopped working when I last tried NPC-EE) were still working. This install was done as follows (all the latest GOG versions):

• Install BGEE
• Install the faces pack
• Install Siege of Dragonspear or whatever its called
• Run DLC Merger
• Install EE Extender - for some bizarre reason EE Ex adds Stat: AC vs. Damage Type Modifier [0] with all default settings to Effects, which as far as I can tell doesn't actually DO anything, but if you delete it out of Effects in EE Keeper, it appears again next time you're in EE Keeper.  For all party members, not just your avatar.
• Install Skills and Abilities

Is there a conflict using NPC-EE with Skills & Abilities, and if not, in what order should it be installed?  Or can somebody help me get Imoen changed with EE Keeper?  Directions I was (trying) to follow.

Later I'm going to want to turn Minsc into a berserker.  Changing NPC classes is the only reason I am doing any mods at all.  Back in the day the only mod I ever used was the pack donkey but now we have bags of holding.  I'm not even sure where that donkey is (or was) any more, as I recall last time I tried to get it the site it was on had seemingly been hacked.

Bard Song lasts one round (6 seconds), with bard hat I think it's three rounds (18 seconds), and with S&A it will last one turn (60 seconds). In regards to NPCEE, I have no idea. I also use near infinity to edit save files and everything displays and works correctly there.

[mickabouille]

npc_ee should probably be installed after things that change proficiencies (as it builds a list of proficiencies to obtain at re-level-up).

Or was that with an older version? Maybe 5.x changed that (at last time I tries it was 4.x)

[ZenSojourner]

12 minutes ago, mickabouille said:

npc_ee should probably be installed after things that change proficiencies (as it builds a list of proficiencies to obtain at re-level-up).

Or was that with an older version? Maybe 5.x changed that (at last time I tries it was 4.x)

I installed it last every time.  It acts weird.  Sometimes when I change the class and level Imoen up it gives me 2 pre-assigned  pips (in short sword, and bows) and 2 pips to assign.  Sometimes no predistributed pips, just 2 to assign.  And after its installed - I don't have to actually run the script to change class - I can no longer affect the Lore value via effects in EE Keeper.  That entry keeps getting deleted.

Near Infinity is virtually unusable to the neophyte.  I can find very little on its usage.  I'm sure modders/programmers use it all the time to great effect but there is no manual and it is not intuitive in the slightest to a new user.  I have figured out how to SEE settings for party characters but I can't find any way to actually change anything I actually care about.  Like lore.  I had hoped I could perhaps use it to reclass Imoen and bypass NPC-EE, but given I can't so much as change a single attribute or proficiency, let alone figure out how to add an entire kit, that's a no go.  All I want to do is respec Imoen into a Jester, which at least USED to be possible through EE Keeper but I can't get the instructions I have found to work.  At least not when Skills & Abilities is installed.  Haven't tried it with vanilla, but then its not much use to me in vanilla as I need the lockpick skills and you can't get those without a mod. 

The only info I've found so far as to how to use Near Infinity to change a party member's attributes, the advice given just keeps repeating "its obvious".  No.  It is not.  GAH!  I've been playing this game off and on since it first came out and I have never been happy with Imoen or Minsc as written but it looks like, even with mods, I am never going to be able to change them without screwing something else up.

Skills and Abilities seems great but I can't figure out how to apply the new classes to an NPC party member, which is where I want them the most.

[morpheus562]

19 minutes ago, ZenSojourner said:

I installed it last every time.  It acts weird.  Sometimes when I change the class and level Imoen up it gives me 2 pre-assigned  pips (in short sword, and bows) and 2 pips to assign.  Sometimes no predistributed pips, just 2 to assign.  And after its installed - I don't have to actually run the script to change class - I can no longer affect the Lore value via effects in EE Keeper.  That entry keeps getting deleted.

Near Infinity is virtually unusable to the neophyte.  I can find very little on its usage.  I'm sure modders/programmers use it all the time to great effect but there is no manual and it is not intuitive in the slightest to a new user.  I have figured out how to SEE settings for party characters but I can't find any way to actually change anything I actually care about.  Like lore.  I had hoped I could perhaps use it to reclass Imoen and bypass NPC-EE, but given I can't so much as change a single attribute or proficiency, let alone figure out how to add an entire kit, that's a no go.  All I want to do is respec Imoen into a Jester, which at least USED to be possible through EE Keeper but I can't get the instructions I have found to work.  At least not when Skills & Abilities is installed.  Haven't tried it with vanilla, but then its not much use to me in vanilla as I need the lockpick skills and you can't get those without a mod. 

The only info I've found so far as to how to use Near Infinity to change a party member's attributes, the advice given just keeps repeating "its obvious".  No.  It is not.  GAH!  I've been playing this game off and on since it first came out and I have never been happy with Imoen or Minsc as written but it looks like, even with mods, I am never going to be able to change them without screwing something else up.

Skills and Abilities seems great but I can't figure out how to apply the new classes to an NPC party member, which is where I want them the most.

1. In near infinity, find "Save" on the left menu. Click on the widget to the left of "Save" to show all your save files.

2. Find the save you want to edit then click the same button to expand the contents in the save file.

3. Click on "BALDUR.gam".

4. Click "View" in the window that opens to the right of the menu.

5. Double click on Imoen in the top right.

6. Click "Edit" on the new window that pops up. Scroll to the bottom and double click on the highlighted cell at the very bottom.

7. You are now looking at Imoen's stats. Update exp, level, HP, lore, class, kit, etc. Of note, proficiency will show up as effects "modify proficiencies (233)". Remove the ones associated with weapons. There are also effects "Use EFF file (177)" associated with skills and abilities I personally remove when adjusting classes (about 10+ of them). The effect resource being applied starts with mocon, modev, and mospl. The clab for the new kit will apply new effects without issue. 

8. Once edits are made, close out the CRE resource window, close out the Party Member X window, then click "edit" at the top of the remaining window. Click "Save" at the bottom.

I recommend using a backup save for this as it will directly edit your existing game file.

Edited August 21, 2023 by morpheus562

[mickabouille]

18 hours ago, ZenSojourner said:

Back in the day the only mod I ever used was the pack donkey but now we have bags of holding.  I'm not even sure where that donkey is (or was) any more, as I recall last time I tried to get it the site it was on had seemingly been hacked.

Might be https://web.archive.org/web/20230331232142/http://www.shsforums.net/topic/47668-w-packmule/

Unfortunately Spellhold Studio is currently down (with hope it will come back soon).

It's not hacked, just a maintenance issue (for now).

Edited August 21, 2023 by mickabouille

[Endarire]

The author of that pack mule mod expressed no intent of updating the mod for EE(T), meaning if you have that mod, it likely needs updating to work properly on EE(T).

[ZenSojourner]

@morpheus562 @mickabouille @Endarire

Well like I said, we do have bags of holding now. I did like the donkey (and if its not up to EE, that indicates how long ago it was last time I went looking for it) I would have liked it just for looks though.  It always seemed silly to me to be schlepping all across the landscape totally on foot, in this and every other fantasy game.  Armor is HEAVY.  Hiking about in it, plus all the other gear, just doesn't really sit well.

Turns out that using Near Infinity to try to fix whatever is going on with trying to use NPC-EE to change Imoen's class doesn't work either.  That parameter (lore) still gets reset. Changing other skills works ok, but not lore.  I don't know what is so special about lore (possibly there are other parameters that are messed up that I just haven't stumbled across), but it looks like my last resort for trying to apply these modded classes to an existing NPC is going  to be to create a test char of the class I want and then copy all parameters to Imoen (and eventually Minsc) one by one by hand.

Thanks for pointing out where the heck to get at those values via Near Infinity. I need to google to see what CRE even stands for LOL!

Edited August 21, 2023 by ZenSojourner

[morpheus562]

1 hour ago, ZenSojourner said:

It always seemed silly to me to be schlepping all across the landscape totally on foot, in this and every other fantasy game.  Armor is HEAVY.  Hiking about in it, plus all the other gear, just doesn't really sit well.

I've done a shit ton of "hiking" in full armor along with rifle, ammo, two radios, grenades, medical, night vision, and helmet directly on me while carrying a multi-day pack filled with water, food, clothing, batteries, mortars, more ammo, etc. Games you can simply acquire a belt/item that makes you as strong as a giant. Real life we have creatine, Rip Its, and varying levels of autism to do the same. Definitely not something silly to be moving while carrying stuff.

Edited August 22, 2023 by morpheus562

[Endarire]

Morpheus, I salute your military service.