Advanced Scripting/Dialogue Interactions

[Andyr]

Looks like you're making good progress.

[cmorgan]

On TakeItemCreate: I have found the manual way around the question by destroying the item on each of P1, P2, P3, etc. and then creating the new item for P1. For future reference, TakeItemCreate *does not* check the whole party, right?

 

OK, I think I have one answer for the Imp Spell.

Create a .cre override script, X#ICHTHR.bcs, coded

 

 IF
Global("DYQUImpAttack","GLOBAL",1)
Global("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",0)
!Dead("Ichthraa")
THEN
RESPONSE #100
StartTimer("ImpSpell",5)
SetGlobal("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",1)
DisplayStringHead("Ichthraa",~All mortal men must die~)
Continue()
END

IF
Global("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",1)
TimerExpired("ImpSpell")
!Dead("Ichthraa")
THEN
RESPONSE #100
StartTimer("ImpSpell",5)
SetGlobal("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",2)
DisplayStringHead("Ichthraa",~And mortal women do too~)
Continue()
END

IF
Global("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",2)
TimerExpired("ImpSpell")
!Dead("Ichthraa")
THEN
RESPONSE #100
StartTimer("ImpSpell",5)
SetGlobal("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",3)
DisplayStringHead("Ichthraa",~Run, snow wolf, run~)
Continue()
END
etc., etc., until out of text to say...

 

Since the next block of script won't run if the creature is dead and there are no attack response actions, as long as no scripts are assigned to the .cre other than this the behavior should be stand still even when being attacked, display text over the imp's head for 5 seconds, and then immediately display the next line. I could even signal the end of a verse with a "gong" sound ("Ask not for whom the Bell Tolls, Dynaheir... It Tolls for Thee!") by tucking in a PlaySound("soundfile") line.

At the end block,

IF
Global("X#DImpSpell","LOCALS",10)
TimerExpired("ImpSpell")
!Dead("Ichthraa")
THEN
RESPONSE #100
PlaySound("_EFF_P18")
ActionOverride("Ichthraa")
SetGlobal("X#WinskiTakeDyna","GLOBAL",1)
SetGlobal("DynaheirRomanceInactive","GLOBAL",1)
ReallyForceSpell("Minsc",DRYAD_TELEPORT)
ReallyForceSpell("Dynaheir",DRYAD_TELEPORT)
EscapeArea()
END

 

Questions:

#1 am I way off base here?

#2 do I need to rename SetTimer, or will it recycle in this usage?

#3 Is the evaluation order top down or bottom up (i.e. do I need to reverse the response order)?

#4 what happens if Minsc is not in the party - is he skipped, or does the script fail?

[cmorgan]

Well, after a day of testing and blundering about, it almost works. Since I have the workaround for the TakeItemReplace, I am dispensing with it -- the more thorough way seems safer. Would love some input on its use someday... PPG and G3 both pretty lean on the postings (goes back to Weimer coding for it on the fourth post found!).

 

The script (finally) compiled; changes were

1. just an EscapeArea for the test .cre instead of all of the last response block, as it was for testing and

2. the StartTimers renamed for safety, which doesn't seem to matter - the compiled script says StartTimer(0,5) and TimerExpired(0) on each block anyways.

 

Last problem: I can tell the script is running because the sounds play and the cre escapes the area. Unfortunately,the display string does not show up ingame. I know the DIALOG.TLK includes the new strings; do I need to start a new game for the strings to show up, or am I missing something?

 

EDIT: tep, new game = everything working as wanted.