The Planes - A BG2 Mod

[BR³]

The Planes - Bringing the Multiverse to Baldur's Gate 2

 

Objective of this Mod :

• To provide an enjoyable addon series of quests that allow the BG2 player to travel to, and adventure with denizens of, various locations around the multiverse.

• To provide interesting new NPC's and items that reflect the diverse, non-humanocentric nature of the multiverse as a whole.

 

 

Progress / Implementation :

 

Stage 1 : Design/Planning.

- NPC Design - In Progress

- Item Design

- Additional Dialogue Design

- Area Design and Layout

- Quest Design

- Inter-NPC Interaction

- Romance Interaction

 

Stage 2 : Implementation

- Building NPC's to playable state (no banter or interaction)

- Release NPC's for playability testing.

- Building Areas complete with bystanders, etc.

- Implementing Quests and NPC placement

- Implementing banter, random interaction and romance(s).

 

Stage 3 : Public Beta

- Playability / Bug Testing

- Make Appropriate Changes

 

Stage 4 : Release v1.0

[BR³]

NPC Design

The following are the all-new NPC's that will be part of this mod. At the moment, the design of the characters are very flexible, so any suggestions for either storytelling or play balancing purposes are welcome.

 

Notice also, that the characters are not perfectly representative of the 'official' version of some of these creatures as per the Monster Manual et al, either via the addition of non-characteristic abilities or (more often) the lack of them. The characters have been designed as they are to allow for interesting and diverse story telling, something which in my mind is much more important than arbitrary accuracy. If that bothers you, consider that the 'standard' definition of a human is that they should have approximately 9 in every attribute - which would make for some very boring adventurers indeed.

 

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

 

Name : Nxymthyx

Race : Illithid

Class : Sorcerer

Gender : Male

Alignment : Lawful Neutral

 

Stats :

STR : 13

DEX : 9

CON : 8

INT : 20

WIS : 13

CHA : 6

 

Abilities :

• The same mutation that robbed Nxymythx of the majority of his psionic ability, granted him innate magical ability and a 60% resistance to the magic of others.

• Nxymthyx lack of psionics works both ways - he has immunity to all mind affecting spells (but not the Intelligence Drain of another Mind Flayer, or the powers of a Control Circlet)

• The party suffers a 2 point penalty to their reputation if Nxymithx joins.

• Although very weak compared to a 'normal' Illithid, Nxymythx still has some latent psionic power. The only useful one of these is his ability to mentally influence other's opinions of himself and his companions, somewhat like a form of Charm, but even it is so weak as to work on only one person at a time, at close range. The practical application of this is that any trading done by the party when Nxymthx is a member, takes place as if the party had a reputation of 20, regardless of their actual reputation.

 

Biography :

All society has its outcasts, and illithid society is no exception. NXYMTHYX had the misfortune to be a mutant - not physically, but psionically. In a race which pride themselves on their unsurpassed psionic prowess, Nxymthyx was 'born' with very few psionic powers indeed, his mental ability freakishly replaced with an innate ability to harness the arcane. Functionally useless to them, and defenceless in a society almost immune to magical effect, Nxymthyx was almost slaughtered, but escaped through a dimensional door using his innate magics. Since then, he has survived day by day, hunted for sport by any illithid near where he scrounged a living, eating the brains of whatever small creatures he could scavenge.

 

Nxymthx's traumatic experience and outcast life has led him to have a different view from most illithid. He does not wish to dominate others, and he has long suppressed the desire to devour their brains - years of survival have made him used to finding sustenance in whatever small creatures he can catch. Still, being a member of one of Toril's most hated races has left him soured to outside contacts, and Nxymthyx has great difficulty adapting to company after spending so long alone. As a spell caster, however, Nxymthyx is almost without peer, and his lack of psionics has not affected his incredible mental prowess and problem solving abilities one bit.

 

Perhaps Nxymthyx is unique. Perhaps he is a sign of a new stage in illithid evolution. Either way, his magics suit your ends, and he is glad of your protection in turn. Feeling the emotion of gratitude telephatically implanted in your head is a strange feeling indeed, and even stranger when it comes from one whose race all surfacers have been taught to fear...

 

 

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

 

Name : Razakel

Race : Abishai

Class : Fighter

Gender : It(Male for game purposes)

Alignment : Lawful Evil

 

When first encountered, Razakel is a Black Abishai. But like any Devil, through vile deeds and experience, Razakel can evolve to a higher form. In this mod, he will be able to evolve to a Green Abishai, and (possibly, if the right choices are made) a Red Abishai.

 

Note : Razakel is evil. We're not talking weak-livered, naughty human-evil. We're talking evil that makes Korgan look like a cookie-selling Girl Scout. Razakel is vile, scheming, homicidal and has absolutely no respect for the life or liberty of anyone else, unless doing so advances his own ends. He is Lawful, and will obey the orders of a superior, but only so long as you maintain that position of superiority - Show weakness and he will as likely slay you where you stand as obey you. Do NOT allow him in your party if you arent prepared to deal with the consequences of doing so. Razakel can be a powerful ally, but use him wrong and he can be just as dangerous to you as your foes. He understands one language only - Power.

 

Abilities common to all incarnations of Razakel include :

• Infravision

• Immunity to all Fire Damage

• 50% Resistance to Cold Damage.

• Cannot use weapons (other than claws) or armor.

• Will only join party if protagonist is non-good and reputation is lower than 10.

• Party suffers an instant 5 point drop in reputation if Razakel joins

• If a nearbyfoe is a Tanar'ri, Razakel will enter a special beserk mode, doubling his attacks per round, and attack the Tanar'ri unreasoningly and to the exclusion of any and all other commands or foes until either one of them is dead. If there is more than one Tanar'ri in sight, he will attack the first until it is butchered, then move onto the next one, until they (or he) are naught but viscera.

• Depending on actions taken, can come to blows with Anomen, Keldorn or Asaea.

• Will attempt to slaughter Anu-Kirxach on sight

• Will leave the party if its reputation reaches 14 or higher.

 

Biography :

Asking RAZAKEL of his background results in a menacingly toothy smirk, as he explains that he is an Abishai under the personal command of the pit fiend lord of the 1st layer of Baator,Bel. He was instructed to come to Sigil as part of a group of Abishai, for reasons he does not wish to divulge to you - but you can guess from the fact he is no longer with said group of Abishai that he lost his way or, more likely, saw the opportunity for advancement and slaughtered them while they were unawares. Asking him for more details solicits only a gutteral growl of warning as a wave of heat eminates from his hide.

 

RAZAKEL seems to be in your group for one reason only - he beleives time with you will make him only more powerful. You would hate to see what would happen if that turns out not to be the case, as you've caught him on more than on occasion looking at you with an evil glint in his eye, as if sizing you up for any chinks in your defenses.

 

 

-------

 

Specific Stats and Abilities - Black Abishai Form

 

 

Stats :

STR : 17

DEX : 14

CON : 17

INT : 10

WIS : 10

CHA : 5

 

Abilities :

• Immunity to Non Magical Weapons

• 15% Magic Resistance

• Natural AC of 2

• Attacks with Claws - 2-9 damage, target must save vs poison at +4, or take 1 point of poison damage every second for 6 seconds

• Once per day, can cast : Know Alignment, Horror, True Seeing, Animate Dead

• Once certain story, dialogue and experience requirements are met, Razakel can progress to a Green Abishai form.

 

-------

 

Specific Stats and Abilities - Green Abishai Form

 

 

Stats :

STR : 18/50

DEX : 14

CON : 17

INT : 10

WIS : 11

CHA : 5

 

Abilities :

• Immunity to +1 Weapons or less

• 30% Magic Resistance

• Natural AC of 0

• Attacks with Claws - 2-11 damage, target must save vs poison at +2, or take 1 point of poison damage every second for 6 seconds

• Once per day, can cast : Know Alignment, Horror, True Seeing, Animate Dead

• Once certain story, dialogue and experience requirements are met, Razakel can progress to a Red Abishai form.

 

-------

 

Specific Stats and Abilities - Red Abishai Form

 

 

Stats :

STR : 19

DEX : 14

CON : 18

INT : 10

WIS : 12

CHA : 5

 

Abilities :

• Immunity to +2 Weapons or less

• 45% Magic Resistance

• Natural AC of -2

• Attacks with Claws - 2-16 damage, target must save vs poison or take 1 point of poison damage every second for 6 seconds

• Once per day, can cast : Know Alignment, Horror, True Seeing, Animate Dead, Fire Shield (Red)

 

 

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

 

Name : Zik (pronounced 'Zeek')

Race : Quasit

Class : Wild Mage

Gender : It(Male for game purposes)

Alignment : Chaotic Neutral

 

Stats :

STR : 5

DEX : 18

CON : 16

INT : 19

WIS : 4

CHA : 8

 

Abilities :

• Zik's scales have a natural AC of 6, but for obvious reasons he cannot wear armor or robes

• Untold years of observing his lich ex-master have made Zik a very capable (if dangerous) spell caster - all of his casting times are reduced by 2.

• Zik's base movement rate is 3 higher than that of his non-flying party members.

• Zik, while incredibly intelligent, is utterly without any form of sense. His magic ability is like that of an incredibly talented child, who knows only how fun it is to try new things without any regard of the consequences. Perhaps the biggest indication of how wacko Zik is, is his form of magic itself - He does not even use 'true' wild magic, but the end results are the same when he gets the occasional random desire while casting to try a different word or hand gesture, simply to see what happens...

 

Biography :

Trying to hold an intelligent conversation with ZIK leaves you with the incredible desire to beat your head against something hard. Over the course of approximately 11 gibberish-filled conversations, you work out that he was a familiar for a lich names Nazimaxus, and that most of Zik's magic ability was learnt under his tutelage. As near as you can tell, Zik's mental state is a direct result of a wild magic surge, although whether it was one of his or someone elses you have yet to decipher. In some ways, Zik's wild magic can be quite useful... although you doubt Nazimaxus thinks so, since it would seem that a particularly odd surge from Zik's experimentations turned his former master into a sentient potplant.

 

 

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

 

Name : Asaea

Race : Aasimar

Class : Fighter/Cleric

Gender : Female

Alignment : Neutral Good

 

Stats :

STR : 18/28

DEX : 15

CON : 14

INT : 9

WIS : 17

CHA : 18

 

Abilities :

• 25% Resistance to Fire, Cold & Acid

• +1 Bonus to all saving throws.

• Party's reputation increases by 2 when Asaea joins

• Has an Amulet of Divine Favour gifted from her celestial father. Once every 7 days, Asaea may use this amulet in a dire situation to ask for assistance from her father (as per a Summon Planetar spell). Chance of this being successful is 30% + 2% per level. The Amulet summons power will automatically be invoked (if not already used in the last 7 days), when Asaea drops below 10% of total. Base chance for this auto invocation is 65% + 1% per level

• Will not allow the party to take an evil dialogue action in her presence if a workable good action is available. (Think Keldorn, but even more righteous)

• Will leave the party if its reputation drops to 7 or lower.

• Will romance a good aligned male warrior or cleric protagonist, with bonus romance conversation plots for a Paladin.

 

Biography :

Born to a priestess of Lathander, ASAEA knew nothing of her true origins for many years. Raised lovingly by her devoted mother, Asaea was a capable student of Lathander's ways, and her natural goodness and caring attitude earned her many friends at the temple complex where her mother ministered.

 

Asaea's life changed forever one time when a temple entourage, led by her mother, was waylaid while travelling from her home province of Tethyr to Cormyr. Set upon by a war party of bugbears, her mother and the other clerics fought valiantly but were ultimately outnumbered, falling while Asaea stood, powerless, too young and afraid to do anything to stop them. She herself was about to be struck by one of marauders when a blinding flash of light stopped the bugbears in their tracks, and a radiant warrior dressed in pure white armor charged into the ranks of the raiders, weilding a greatsword that rippled with flame. Within minutes, the raiders were dead, or fleeing for their lives.

 

It was at this point Asaea learned her true heritage : She was an aasimar, and the glowing warrior was her father, a Planetar in the service of Lathander. What happened after the ambush she wishes to remain between her and her father, but you suspect the faintly glowing necklace she wears around her neck at all times, even while sleeping, has some part to play in that tale.

 

The events of her childhood have left Asaea with an incredibly strong desire to right the wrongs of the world and help those less fortunate than her, as she herself was helped. She is no paladin - she is not constricted by the view that obeying set laws is always the right path. She is simply concerned with doing good as best she can, for as long as breath is in her body. Her firm convictions that she can make a difference, coupled with her angelic heritage, make her a force for good like few other than Faerun has ever seen.

 

 

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

 

Name : Cessation-of-Emotion

Race : Fallen Dabus

Class : Cleric

Gender : It(Male for game purposes)

Alignment : True Neutral

 

Stats :

STR : 9

DEX : 9

CON : 9

INT : 9

WIS : 15

CHA : 9

 

Abilities :

• During the course of his time spent with the protagonist, Cess' will scribe the experiences he encounters in the form of tattoos on his body, which will increase his physical statistics in various ways - the ethical choices made, and quests completed, by the protagonist will quite literally shape Cess's abilities.

 

Biography :

CESSATION-OF-EMOTION is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. While he seems happy to travel with you and works tirelessly for whatever cause you pursue, he does not reply to any attempt to ask about his background.

 

Questions such as : How does he weild cleric spells despite his complete lack of religious devotion to anyone (as far as you can tell), and why it is he travels with you rather than coexisting with his fellow Dabus's in Sigil, simply get answered with a blank looking stare. You dont press the issue, as looking into Cess's eyes leaves you with the distinct, creepy feeling that he is not the only thing looking back at you...

 

 

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

 

Name : Sarai

Race : Air Genasi

Class : Archer

Gender : Female

Alignment : Chaotic Good

 

Stats :

STR : 13

DEX : 20

CON : 7

INT : 10

WIS : 13

CHA : 14

 

Abilities :

• 50% immunity to electrical attacks, takes extra damage from acid attacks.

• Missile weapon attacks against Sarai suffer a -4 penalty due to the wind eddies she generates when under stress (such as in combat)

• Sarai is immune to Cloudkill and other such gas-based attacks, except for the acidic Death Fog which affects her normally.

 

Biography :

Daughter of a Halruaan mage and an elemental faerie from the Plane of Air, SARAI shows little of her planar heritage, beyond an astonishing grace and swiftness of action. The only hint of her elemental origins that an outsider would notice, is the constant gentle breeze that flows in her vicinity, even when the air she stands in would normally be completely still.

 

Finding herself disinterested in the magics of her fathers profession, Sarai joined a guild of rangers as an apprentice, where her fantastic dextrousness rapidly marked her as a crack shot, and she became a specialist archer. The fact that, for some reason, wind doesnt seem to affect her shots struck other rangers as odd, but certainly handy (although it did lead to a number of disqualifications from archery contests as the judges were 'sure' she was cheating...)

 

 

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

 

Name : Anu-Kirxach

Race : Glabrezu

Class : Fighter/Mage

Gender : It(Male for game purposes)

Alignment : Chaotic Evil

 

Note! : Anu-Kirxach is a Glabrezu. If that isnt warning enough for you, try this : He is vile beyond any mortal comprehension, and quite literally as likely to flay you alive as help you. He will tolerate your 'leadership' only so long as you suit his goals. As a Glabrezu, Anu-Kirxach is a master of temptation, deceipt and treachery, and will often attempt to 'make a deal' with any mortal not wise enough to understand that to bargain with a demon leads only to death and the immortal horror of the Abyss, despite the short term benefits. I strongly recommend you only accept this character into your party if you are prepared to play in a Chaotic Evil manner, or are a masochist.

 

Stats :

STR : 19

DEX : 8

CON : 19

INT : 17

WIS : 11

CHA : 10

 

Abilities :

• Immune to non-magical weapons, except ones made of cold-forged iron.

• Takes double damage from a cold-forged iron weapon (enchanting a cold forged weapon negates this effect).

• Immunity to natural fire, natural cold and electricity.

• 50% resistance to magical fire, magical cold, and acid

• 50% magic resistance

• Cannot use weapons (other than claws) or armor.

• Will only join party if protagonist is good and reputation is higher than 12 - his mission, afterall, is to corrupt the good and innocent and turn them into perversions of their former beleifs.

• Party suffers an instant 6 point drop in reputation if Anu-Kirxach joins

• If a nearbyfoe is a Baatezu, Anu-Kirxach will enter a special beserk mode, doubling his attacks per round, and attack the Baatezu unreasoningly and to the exclusion of any and all other commands or foes until either one of them is dead. If there is more than one Baatezu in sight, he will attack the first until it is butchered, then move onto the next one, until they (or he) are naught but viscera.

• Keldorn and Asaea will leave the party immediately if Anu-Kirxach joins.

• Will attempt to slaughter Razakel on sight

• If the parties reputation ever exceeds its initial starting value again, Anu-Kirxach will deem you a lost cause and attack the protagonist.

 

Biography :

Asking ANU-KIRXACH of his past elicits a scant few details. He has existed since before your home planet of Toril was even formed, and has risen and fallen through the demonic ranks as the constant internecine warfare of the Tanar'ri raged on. His current form, a Glabrezu, apparently pleases him greatly.

 

His eyes glisten and he goes oddly silent when asked what his aims are while venturing with your party. The silence makes your stomach churn...

[BR³]

Item Design

 

Information on the all-new items accompanying this mod will be posted here as and when the Item Design portion of development is reached. Until then, this post is just a placeholder.

[Grim Squeaker]

Also your portrait for Khaz'rhk is already being used in Andyr's Eranon NPC also at G3. Oh and I would strongly suggest contacting sporeboy! before continuing with the NPC planning given that you're using many of his portraits.

 

Edit: I see in you've already said you've e-mailed him. Whoops...

[Creepin]

The Amulet summons power will automatically be invoked (if not already used in the last 7 days), when Asaea drops below 10HP. Base chance for this auto invocation is 65% + 1% per level

Perhaps you could replace 10HP trigger with 10%HP? 10HP is nothing by BG2 measures (I suppose that 20HP damage per hit is considered to be below average rate later in game), so chances are high that not much people will ever see this feature, not to mention that help will surely arrive too late

[yarpen]

Hey! That NPC's are very good! But in my opinion you shouldn't do it alone.

[Andyr]

Also your portrait for Khaz'rhk is already being used in Andyr's Eranon NPC also at G3.  Oh and I would strongly suggest contacting sporeboy! before continuing with the NPC planning given that you're using many of his portraits.

 

Edit: I see in you've already said you've e-mailed him.  Whoops...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah, that's the Eranon portrait.

[Tameon the Dragoon]

This could very well be the one of the greatest IE mods ever, assuming it's finished. I'm going to be honest, though, that I think you're shooting a bit too high. Stuff like what you're going for takes a long, long time. Either get you a modding posse to roll with or start a bit smaller.

 

Still, the whole thing sounds very interesting. If you finish (and do it right), I'll gladly give it a go.

[BR³]

Also your portrait for Khaz'rhk is already being used in Andyr's Eranon NPC also at G3.

Duly noted on the NPC descriptions, i will begin looking for another suitable one

 

Perhaps you could replace 10HP trigger with 10%HP? 10HP is nothing by BG2 measures (I suppose that 20HP damage per hit is considered to be below average rate later in game), so chances are high that not much people will ever see this feature, not to mention that help will surely arrive too late

Another valid point. Changed as suggested.

 

Stuff like what you're going for takes a long, long time. Either get you a modding posse to roll with or start a bit smaller.

Certainly. I'm under no delusions that i can do this all by myself in any sort of reasonable time frame. So my intent is to create a clear, concise plan of attack, and then look for volunteers to help with some of the graphics, scripting, voice acting,etc But first i have to get a clear plan so people know they're not wasting their time on an airy fairy project

[Garfield]

Very very very promising! I'm already in love with Asaea (because Aasimar rocks!!!! [too much IWD2 can seriously damage your health]).

 

Really good to have a workplan like yours! If only I could be as organized

 

I just wonder how you will deal with "graphic" part of the mod (that is to say: "inventory paperdolls" )

 

Best of luck

[BR³]

A game balance question : Do people wish Nxymthx to have the Illithid intelligence drain ability to his attacks (and therefore, the ability to slay any intelligent creature with a few well placed hits)?

 

I havent specced it in his abilities as i personally think it would upset the game balance too much (Greater Mantle + Spell Trap + Stoneskin + existing 60% MR + Improved Haste + Intelligence Drain attack = could single handedly butcher almost anyone in the game), but if you wish to see it added, i can add it

[BigRob]

Well, I believe the intelligence drain of an illithid is a reflection of them sticking their tentacles in your brains and sucking them out (In PnP illithids who get a good enough hit will be able to suck the brains out of an enemy in 1-4 rounds). So technically, he should have the ability, but you're right that having that plus his other abilities would be incredibly nasty. The 60% magic resistance brutal enough on its own.

[BR³]

The 60% magic resistance brutal enough on its own.

Yeh, and i even toned that down. In P&P, its 90%

[Drew]

He already has the Thac0 of a sorceror so the usefullness of that ability isn't that wonderful. Give him a 20% experience penalty to balance it out.

[Grunker]

Looking very good! Try asking Sol Ek Sa at Spellhold Studios for some portraits