Some spell-related issues in SCS 35.18

[Guest Aldain]

I've noticed a few oddities in SCS 35.18 that do not seem to have been reported yet, mostly related to spells. Some of these may be issues with BG1EE rather than SCS.

With a Conjurer protagonist, I can't scribe a Chromatic Orb scroll. Tested with several different dropped scrolls; the scroll displays as if it's already in the spell book (it isn't). The Conjurer can cast from the scroll, though.

Power Word: Sleep doesn't work correctly. Enemies will fall unconscious (the log indicates this with Enemy name - Unconscious) but get back up, sometimes straight away, sometimes after a few seconds, attack, then fall back down.

Horror isn't working right, in that some enemies ignore the effect; I'm guessing their script overrides Horror.. This is probably a game issue. It worked fine against the spiders in Beregost, but some Hobgoblins kept attacking even though supposedly panicking. I should've kept better notes of which enemies ignore it, sorry.

There seems to be a problem with shapeshifting for Druids. Fighting Osmadi and Corsone, they both spent a round creating a Bear Shapeshift Token, but then never equipped it. In Corsone's case this might be because he started with Beast Claws precast and so literally couldn't equip the token. Enemy druids should start with a token already created.

Thank you for SCS, it really does keep the game fresh after 26 years.
BG1 Enhanced Edition, WeiDU log:

// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods
// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod
// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #1500 // Include arcane spells from Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #1510 // Include divine spells from Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #1520 // Include bard songs from Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2010 // Core Stratagems spell-system changes (installed by default by any AI component): 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2030 // Changes to Restoration: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2040 // Changes to shapeshift spells: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2050 // Icewind Dale-inspired tweaks to Baldur's Gate/Baldur's Gate II spells: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2060 // Rebalancings of slightly-too-powerful spells: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2070 // Spell school changes: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2080 // Spells increased in power: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2500 // Add 9 new arcane spells: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2510 // Add 6 new divine spells (some borrowed from Divine Remix): 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #2520 // Revised elementals and elemental summoning: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3010 // Replace +1 arrows and other projectiles with nonmagical "fine" ones: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3015 // Re-introduce potions of extra-healing: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3017 // Make elemental arrows like BG2: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3022 // Replace many +1 magic weapons with nonmagical "fine" ones -> Fine weapons are affected by the iron crisis: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3040 // Reduce the number of Arrows of Dispelling in stores -> Remove Arrows of Dispelling from stores: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3505 // Wider selection of random scrolls: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3541 // Reduce the power of Inquisitors' Dispel Magic -> Inquisitors dispel at their level (not twice their level): 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4000 // More Appropriate-Speed Bears: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4030 // Improved shapeshifting: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4093 // Decrease the rate at which reputation improves -> Reputation increases at about 1/4 the normal rate: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4115 // Thieves assign skill points in multiples of five: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4130 // Revised handling of death effects like disintegration, petrification and imprisonment (party members who are disintegrated etc can be resurrected; imprisoned or petrified characters rejoin the party automatically; the game doesn't end if the main character is petrified or imprisoned): 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4135 // Revised resting: resting in the wild uses up provisions: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4140 // Revised inn rooms: more expensive, more benefits: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5000 // Ease-of-use party AI: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5080 // Improved BG Textscreens: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #5900 // Initialise AI components (required for all tactical and AI components): 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6000 // Smarter general AI: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6010 // Better calls for help: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6030 // Smarter Mages: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6040 // Smarter Priests: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6100 // Potions for NPCs: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6200 // Improved Spiders: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6300 // Smarter sirines and dryads: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6310 // Slightly smarter carrion crawlers: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #6320 // Smarter basilisks: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7000 // Improved doppelgangers: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7010 // Tougher Black Talons and Iron Throne guards: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7020 // Improved deployment for parties of assassins: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7030 // Improved kobolds: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7040 // Relocated bounty hunters: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7050 // Improved Ulcaster: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7060 // Improved Balduran's Isle: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7070 // Improved Durlag's Tower: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7080 // Improved Demon Cultists: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7090 // Improved Cloakwood Druids: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7100 // Improved Bassilus: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7110 // Improved Drasus party: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7130 // Improved Red Wizards: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7140 // Improved Undercity assassins: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7150 // Improved Carsa/Kahrk interaction: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7200 // Tougher chapter-two end battle: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7210 // Tougher chapter-three end battle: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7220 // Tougher chapter-four end battle: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7230 // Tougher chapter-five end battle: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7250 // Improved final battle: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #7900 // Improved minor encounters: 35.18

[DavidW]

Thanks for these.

On 8/7/2024 at 6:28 AM, Guest Aldain said:

With a Conjurer protagonist, I can't scribe a Chromatic Orb scroll. Tested with several different dropped scrolls; the scroll displays as if it's already in the spell book (it isn't). The Conjurer can cast from the scroll, though.

The IWD opposition schools are erroneously being copied over by the "use IWD Chromatic Orb" spell tweak. Fixed locally, will be in 35.19.

On 8/7/2024 at 6:28 AM, Guest Aldain said:

Power Word: Sleep doesn't work correctly. Enemies will fall unconscious (the log indicates this with Enemy name - Unconscious) but get back up, sometimes straight away, sometimes after a few seconds, attack, then fall back down.

I can't reproduce this. (I consoled in a hobgoblin - HOBGOB.CRE - and PW:sleeped him. It seems to work normally.) If you (or someone else) can find a specific scenario that reproduces it reliably so I can try to observe it myself, let me know.

On 8/7/2024 at 6:28 AM, Guest Aldain said:

Horror isn't working right, in that some enemies ignore the effect; I'm guessing their script overrides Horror.. This is probably a game issue. It worked fine against the spiders in Beregost, but some Hobgoblins kept attacking even though supposedly panicking. I should've kept better notes of which enemies ignore it, sorry.

This is basically a core-game issue. Creatures need specific scripted instructions to run around in panic, otherwise they turn yellow but soldier on.

SCS's scripts should all do this, but it's possible I missed some. It might also be that you ran into someone with a vanilla-game script. If you identify specific creatures that don't run, let me know.

On 8/7/2024 at 6:28 AM, Guest Aldain said:

There seems to be a problem with shapeshifting for Druids. Fighting Osmadi and Corsone, they both spent a round creating a Bear Shapeshift Token, but then never equipped it. In Corsone's case this might be because he started with Beast Claws precast and so literally couldn't equip the token. Enemy druids should start with a token already created.

This I can reproduce. The proximal cause is that the no_swift_shapeshift INI setting (in stratagems.ini) was set to 1 (by me, before releasing) and for your install, setting it to zero and reinstalling should fix the problem. However, the deeper reason is to do with awkward interactions between SCS and my new Talents of Faerun mod. In any case, this should all be fixed in 35.19.

On 8/7/2024 at 6:28 AM, Guest Aldain said:

Thank you for SCS, it really does keep the game fresh after 26 years.

You're welcome! I'm glad people are still having fun with it.