The great "creature stat correction" project

[jmerry]

Some time ago, there was discussion about creatures that have incorrect stats, and fixing them. Then the scope of the issue was realized, and not much happened. Well, I'm coming back to it.

First, I put together a tool to collect the data. Well, actually, I updated the tool I used last time. It's attached here.

Actually working with the data requires judgment calls, and takes time. For that, I worked with Siege of Dragonspear first - because that expansion's content is much better about getting these things right than anything else. My first pass only found about two hundred creatures that needed changes.

In text form, a description of the changes I'm recommending for SoD:

Spoiler

- 159 creatures: swap wand/poly saves to correct level 0 save array.
- BDBELLOW: Improve spell save by 2 (gnome bonus).
- BDCAGE1: Race becomes halfling.
- BDCRUR32: Race becomes dwarf.
- BDCRUS11: Death save becomes 3; shorty bonus correction.
- BDTEMP1: Swap wand/poly saves.
- BDWAIZAH: Class becomes thief.
- 7 creatures: swap wand/poly saves to correct fighter 1 save array.
- BDAKANNA: Swap level1 and level2; should be level 11 cleric, not level 11 thief.
- BDORDULI: THAC0 and saves to match level 7 cleric.
- BDBUGB21: Saves to match level 7 cleric.
- BDWAVE36: Saves to match level 10 cleric.
- BDDSSEN5: Saves to match level 10 cleric.
- BDAUZIEL: Saves to match F7/T9 instead of F5/T9.
- BDFIST27, BDFIST40: Saves to match level 7 cleric instead of F7/C7. Only breath save needs change.
- BDCHAL06: Saves to match level 11 fighter with 4-point dwarf bonus, rather than level 17 fighter. (Only poly and breath saves change)
- BDBUGB04: THAC0 and saves to match F4/T5, rather than F5.
- BDDARAN: Saves to F5/T5 plus 3-pt dwarf bonus, not plain F5.
- BDKHER2: Add 3-pt dwarf bonus to saves.
- BDKAMBAL: Improve saves to level 7 fighter.
- BDRCRUS: Weaken saves to level 2 fighter.
- BDAUN, BDAUN2: Improve saves by 2. He's a paladin.
- BDRHAYLA: Saves to L9 rogue; she's a bard, not a fighter.
- BDWAVE42: Class to fighter. No point in being a fighter/mage when level2 is 0, he has no spells, and he has no mage script.
- BDCRUE42, BDFIST20, BDWILCH: Saves to level 7 fighter.
- BDFFMAGE: Saves to level 6 mage.

Only simple fields in the creature file are eligible for changes here; something like spell memorization is too complicated for this scheme.

Attached files on this post:

- The tool for collecting creature data.

- The SoD changes, in 2DA format.

credata.zip j8#ccsod.2da

[zenblack]

I just wanted to say I appreciate you putting in the effort here. Having and accurate consistant base to apply the spell, items and powers too would be appreciated as a default. From looking at it, someone seemed schizophrenic trying to get it done, not get it done right and probably having to worry about the spell/item team not being consistant in how it coded things. Carry on good sir!

Edited July 13, 2023 by zenblack