Seemingly strange XP granting behavior on SCS (BGEE, Mac)

[Guest grousedrum]

Have been playing SCS 35 on BGEE, on Mac.  Twice now I've experienced very strange seeming "bonus" XP being granted to my whole party, not just a newly recruited character:

a) Xzar got killed in the mage fight in the Nashkel carnival tent.  As I am playing with some level of personal no-reload rules, I removed him (dead) from my party.  As soon as I did this, my entire party *except* my player character was upped to 35k experience.  This took me from level 1-2 to level 5-6, immediately outleveling most of my party for even Insane content in this portion of the game.  

b) Different playthrough: Recruiting Shar-Teel, my PC is at around 6k experience and rest of the party around 5.5k.  We win the duel, she joins the party.  I give choose her initial weapon proficiencies.  She immediately gains 12k experience, cutting off the route of dual-classing her to thief at fighter level 3.  Then, similar to the first instance, the rest of my party other than my PC is upped to 12k XP also.

This is definitely a bit immersion breaking and very game balance altering, so I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if there's any known setting to change or other fix?

Thank you for considering!

[DavidW]

None of this is intentional, for sure - will investigate.

[DavidW]

I'm struggling to reproduce this.

Can you:

• post your weidu.log file
• let me know whether there's a text message (something like: 'Minsc: gains 35,000 experience') or if it just happens silently.

[Guest grousedrum]

12 hours ago, DavidW said:

I'm struggling to reproduce this.

Can you:

• post your weidu.log file
• let me know whether there's a text message (something like: 'Minsc: gains 35,000 experience') or if it just happens silently.

Thank you so much!

There was no text message in either case.  In the second case, I noticed Shar-Teel's XP line in the character information sheet flickered back and forth rapidly between zero and 12000 XP for a brief second before settling on 12k. 

weidu.log is here, SCS is the only mod I have installed:

 

// 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 #2000 // Install all spell tweaks (if you don't select this, you will be given a chance to choose by category): 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 #3015 // Re-introduce potions of extra-healing: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3041 // Reduce the number of Arrows of Dispelling in stores -> Stores sell a maximum of 5 Arrows of Dispelling: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3505 // Wider selection of random scrolls: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3540 // Reduce the power of Inquisitors' Dispel Magic -> Inquisitors dispel at 1.5 x 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 #4020 // More realistic wolves and wild dogs: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4030 // Improved shapeshifting: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4050 // Decrease the rate at which reputation improves -> Reputation increases at about 2/3 the normal rate: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4100 // Improved NPC customization and management: 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 #4145 // Skip the Candlekeep tutorial sections -> Remove the tutorial NPCs from Candlekeep: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4250 // Make spell sequencers and contingencies into innate abilities: 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
 

[grousedrum]

Hi, registered with the site now, reposting in case helpful.  Thanks so much for looking into this!

There was no text message indicating experience gain.  In the second instance, in her character information sheet, Shar-Teel's XP flickered rapidly back and forth between zero and 12000 for just a second, then settled on 12k.  

weidu.log file here:

Spoiler

// 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 #2000 // Install all spell tweaks (if you don't select this, you will be given a chance to choose by category): 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 #3015 // Re-introduce potions of extra-healing: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3041 // Reduce the number of Arrows of Dispelling in stores -> Stores sell a maximum of 5 Arrows of Dispelling: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3505 // Wider selection of random scrolls: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #3540 // Reduce the power of Inquisitors' Dispel Magic -> Inquisitors dispel at 1.5 x 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 #4020 // More realistic wolves and wild dogs: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4030 // Improved shapeshifting: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4050 // Decrease the rate at which reputation improves -> Reputation increases at about 2/3 the normal rate: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4100 // Improved NPC customization and management: 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 #4145 // Skip the Candlekeep tutorial sections -> Remove the tutorial NPCs from Candlekeep: 35.18
~STRATAGEMS/SETUP-STRATAGEMS.TP2~ #0 #4250 // Make spell sequencers and contingencies into innate abilities: 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
 

 

[MaximumDongs]

Ran into it twice, once right after recruiting Baeloth, and the second time after completing the encounter in Prism the Sculptor.

After that, I loaded an autosave from before, and had the same issue, no actual level up notification, but once I click on the character profile for every character but mine they get a load of XP.

Strangely enough, I closed out of the game completely, and then went back into that same autosave and the XP dump wasn't happening.

[JayB33]

I've experienced a bug in BG2, likely involving the new scripting in SCS' 'improved NPC customization and management' whereby entering the Record screen and clicking on various character portraits over and over causes their XP number to fluctuate rapidly and they may gain / regain levels. It is reproduceable when you have a level 1 character in your party and you begin to level them up as normal, keep clicking on character portraits after they have gained a number of levels, and see what occurs.

[Palanthis]

I can confirm this is happening in my game too (on a PC, not a Mac). I wasn't paying attention to it since there is no message in log, but it seems to happen when you go check the characters's sheets. Maybe only after a reload : i'm not certain of this and it's really hard to track how this bug can begin.
When you check a companion's sheet, their XP fluctuate rapidly before setting to a set amount of XP : at the moment in my game, it's 35 k, but i'm not sure why since my main character only have 33 k XP. Also, it seems one of my companions did get a bonus at some point the others didnt get,  and is now at almost 38.5k, so 6k more than he should have. It's the oldest companion in this group, so that's maybe why. Seems the bug is maybe happening as soon as you start a new game.

These bonus XP don't seem to happen for your main character, and really it seems the "improved NPC customization and management" option is running a silent script when you open a companion sheet to check their current XP, and set their amount to a fixed number (loosely related to your main character) if they're lower than this.

Edited November 11 by Palanthis

[Palanthis]

Some more thoughts about this, after some tests and trials.
A bit later on the same playthrough, the companion who had more XP than the main character and the other companions suddenly lost 6k XP, and was down to 36k (he could level-up at 40k but i didn't do the level-up on purpose to see what would happen). So the new XP "setting" is 36k now. In other words, it seems the bug is not too bad, since it auto-corrects by itself if you don't change manually the XP with EEKeeper for example.
From what i gathered, the silent script which is checking the XP value for each companion is necessary for the "improved NPC customization and management" component, but shouldn't give bonus XP. One clue i gathered (i may be wrong) is that the companion which had more XP was the leader of the group. I just wonder if the XP calculation of the "improved NPC customization and management" is not only based on the main character, but also on the leader of the group, even if the leader is NOT the main character, because it seems, in my game, that each companion has its XP corrected in relation to the XP amount of the leader of the group, not my main character (which was not the leader at this moment).
To be more specific, I use the "BG1NPC Project".
And this is what happened to me just now. Each member of the group had roughly 40k. And just now, Xan (who was the leader of the group) received 10k XP (just him) with his personal quest he has with the mod. He jumped from 41 k to 51k. After that, when i checked the others companions' sheet, they were upped to 46 K XP each. My main character, though, wo was not the leader at this time, doesn't gain this "bonus XP" and is still at 40k XP at the moment.
I hope this can help to chase the bug.

EDIT : i add my Weidu log file, just in case.

WeiDU.log

Edited November 12 by Palanthis

[DavidW]

I *think* I've fixed this; it's a corollary of the data not being properly reset when you load a saved game. Will deploy a hopefully-fixed version in 35.21.