Domi

We'll try to tra'fy next version. It took us a few years to make the project, and it just doesn't make sense to tra'fy a mod before it's finished. There will be a lot of work for Andyr and Cmorgan to do that, making sure that file names are all different etc, so it's better to make sure that absolutely everything is in. Her viciousness in battle, her dedication to Tempus, her strength and her solicitousness of males were all the character treats directly from BG1 material. We did our best to try to develop the characters as close to BG1 as possible. Her lifestory and her values in BG1 strongly suggest that she is a warrior born first and foremost. She is a barbarian with the mystisism, strength and valour of the Moonshaes in her, and in addition, she struggled to become a priestess of Tempus, left her native Village of a Seawolf where it was not allowed for women. She wants to be a warrior worthy of her diety. She is not Brienne of Tarth, of course, but she is a fighter, first and foremost, who values victory and glory. Yes, she is tall, strong, golden and boisterous. All her dialogues written by her first Czar and the character sketch viewed her that way, and it was used by Kulyok in the romance to build what she thought an appropriate relationship. Nope, that won't make you like Branwen better, and I am not trying to convince you that you are somehow wrong (you can't be; it's your taste vs the character's creator taste) but I am just trying to explain that there were both reason and reasoning behind the way the character was written and imagined by her Czar. That's what we're here for. Heh, if warrior women are not your thing, then Shar-Teel is not a sylphide either. Very much not a sylphid. If Kiki have ever developped Safana's Romance, it would have filled in the niche of a womanly seductress. If Jinnai would have developped Imoen's or we've developped Alora's, it would have been a fluffy, girly relationship. But we did not have the menpower to do everything, so we did what the writing team members were interested in doing and had time to do during the Phase III development. And that which was different. One can't just churn out romances that are exact copies in spirit and content to what already exist. Over the years many players expressed dissappointment with BG2 female romances being that of dependable, crancky, powerless women who hang onto PC like he was the last man alive, hoping that he resolves their life-problems. BG1 lended itself for thr romances with strong, self-sufficient female characters, which could befriend, guide, abandon, trust, etc out of their own volition. By contrast, BG2 only female romance being unsatisfactory to a number of female players in terms of romantism, maturity, strength and dependability of the male character, caused us to do a playful, a solid and a very romantic romances for a female player. Would I myself as a player wanted to see more romances in BG1? Absolutely. It did not happen. Even if it did, if we had four or five romances per gender (ie Safana, Imoen/Alora or Skie, Garrick, Eldoth/Edwin or Xzar), I do think that we would have had the "I liked none" category in the poll. But we could at least try to provide choice, to write interesting lovestories that fit BG1, and try we did.

You've hoped for a romance that you'd like to play with. That did not happen, and you are naturally dissappointed. It happens. Let's concentrate on trying to improve your gaming experience. What you do, just like with your other WeiDU mods that have multiple components, you ask to install by component, instead of installing the whole thing. Since you have the mod currently installed, you can do the following: click on the installer (BG1NPC.exe file), and WeiDU will ask you what you want to do with the components already installed. Specify "ask about every component" option. Then it will ask you what you want to do with every one of the options, so you can regulate what you have in the game. BTW, if you don't like romantic chatter you can very easily turn it off in the game itself. Just click-talk Dynaheir and tell her you'd like to be friends. She will then stop romancing your character. Same with all other romanceable NPCs. So, it's not all that bad, even if you feel dissappointed in the way it was developped. You definetly do not have to follow the story arc that irritates you. Another good way to make your game more pleasent and perhaps discover new angles is to try different characters; there are some that are lighthearted, some that are crazy, some that are funny, some that are serious, some that are wild. There are 25 of them out there in the game. Take them for a spin. See if they fit your style. It's part of the game. Cheers, and well, even with the romances alone you still have four romances you have not tried yet. Shar-Teel's will be a combatant one, Ajantis' - faithful, Coran's - sensual, and Xan's - sad. If it does not click, it does not click. BG1 is a developping field, and perhaps one day someone will make a romance with an existing or new character that will suit your taste if you're still playing it.

Fair enough. Foreshadowings were done using the material already in the original game BG1 and in some cases, to tie into BG2 events. Dynaheir is the only NPC that reliably knows Bhaalspawn lore and actually came to the SC to find child of Bhaal (BioWARE's charmed dialogue in BG1). She is also a figure of an undeniable authority in her native land and substancial learning, being a Hathran. As a LG character, who suspects (not knows) that PC might be a Bhaalspawn, and falling for him, she is obviously as inclined as Gorion to make sure that taint does not sway him toward evil. Hence the romance was build based on these premises, and yep, it intended to invoque a sense of guiding/pulling PC on the leash at times; PC has plenty of chances to argue with her about that. If you don't want NPCs to comment on the important descisions/happenings in the game, you can simply uninstall Phase II of the project - the one that adds the Interjections. They are not for everyone, and that is exactly why we made each project's component separate. The amount of comments BG1NPCs make are not nearly as high as in BG2, but the more authoritative, opinionated or chatty characters, like Ajantis, Jaheira, Viconia, Garrick or Dynaheir do have a *lot* to say. Dynaheir and Branwen feuding is part of their romantic conflict; as it progresses, they actually reason out why they are frustrated with each-other, and decide that they should not jump at each-other throat etc. If you don't like the NPCs fighting over the PC, keep only one romanceable character in the party, or the characters with non-conflicting romances. The bickering will eventually stop anyway after PC makes his choice. I am not sure what you mean when you say that Branwen has severe mental issues; she definetly uses in her romance the history of Moonshaes and her own experiences prior to meeting PC detailed in BG1 (having have to leave her native land, being a mercenary and being tricked and turned to stone). I don't think she comes even close to Aerie or Viconia in terms of being unable to cope with her past and her problems. Imoen wants to become a mage, rather than knows that she will become a mage, which is something that people wanted to see, to justify the sudden conversion in BG2 that caught everyone by surprise. If Imoen was written as a thief quite happy with her amplua in BG1, it would have called for critisism on that account.

Why not? We did what we could, if you did not like it, you did not like it. "Tis life. Though, if you feel like you are prepared to spend a lot of time and energy on advanced bashing, and have a lot of negative emotions towards a particular romance that was done like totally wrong in your opinion (or all of them, or one that was never done or whatever), you can actually spend time, energy and emotions more productively by making an alternative. Cheers.

No, not really. To be honest we were more annoyed by the theatre crowds in London milling around the area where we stayed than by anything at all in France. Most time we spent in the countryside, where the biggest stirr was caused by the huge Saint-Bernard dog wagging its tail. We really had lovely time and enjoyed magnificent sites in both countries.

Heh, one of my co-workers asked if we burned any cars in France.... A "Total Recall" kind of a vacation package, I suppose.

I think that with Shar-Teel's romance people are sort of caught in the idea that Shar-Teel is a man-hater, so a romance with a male PC is the last thing they expect. Plus it does unfold differently than "evil" romances tend to. She neither gets "redeemed" or "enlightened" or in any way change for the better. It is as free of mush as I could keep it, and her tongue is sharp, and I hope that she always presents a challenge, in each and every talk. I do love her romance, and it is probably the only one I actually would have loved to write more for if I had time. The main thing, I think, is that there are more players who found the romance that works for them, than those who need something else to have a sucessful romantic experience in BG1.

TRA'fying is one our list for the next version I've met Andyr in London and he is every bit as nice in person as over the net! Besides having fun, we held some "cladestine" talks, and sort of ironed out the tentative plans for the full and final completion of the mod, including the TRAs. And another thing that we both feel very excited and greatful to welcome Cmorgan who joined the team and done a huge amount of work in a whirlwind fashion. He put together Dynaheir's long staged quest, which had been collecting dust for good two years. So, it looks like the next version will have a goodly amount of the new content as long as the bug fixes - thanks to everyone who reported the problems meanwhile, offered fixed material and coded the new components!

Aha, I see you beat me to it, no pun intended Was great to meet you, Andyr! Mrs and Ms. Domi reject all acusations of beating Andyr up. BTW, we found the mug!!!

Glad you are doing better! I guess once you finish Del and put her materials together you will be able to appraise what you will need to add/take out for Durlyle. Looking forward to it, it is definetly going to be interesting.

Cmorgan did a great job with the sound files corrections, so the alpha needs to be updated. It also needs to be tested, and so far nobody stepped forward, so it will probably be done after I get back in May.

I hope you getting better, Bri! Uhm hate to be a bother, but do you know yet, what will be happening with Dur?

Sounds like it's going quite well

There is a new Internal Alpha for the project The features: Included Doro's NPC go to the inn component Fix NPC screwed up sounds from PID - so far with dummy soundfiles, but will work on it - great thanks to cmorgan and devSin for helping out. WeiDU190 installer Fixed syntaxis bugs that showed up with 190 Fixed some reported bugs, but not all I am mostly interested to see if the new components are working out while I am working on moving 4 NPC and the other fixes/additions. If anyone is interested in testing, please, give us a shout!

1. Friendship Sequence ~Prophets, portents, dreams that are not dreams.... How do you endure it, <CHARNAME>?~ ~That was a sad tale, the one we saw unfold in Suldanessellar.~ ~Where are we now, in which land? We wander like leaves blown by the wind...~ ~One just cannot hide from this war, can he?~ ~Do you think, <CHARNAME>, that there is a happy ending in store for us?~ 2. Events Dependent Sequence ~What do you think of this woman, Melissan?~ //in Amkethran ~We lost Saradush.~ //guess when ~I must say that I cannot puzzle out this man, Balthazar. He seems to be… noble, but he lets his people starve.~ //after the first meeting with Balthazar ~By the Seldarine! Only now...~ //after killing Abazigail ~<CHARNAME>, I do not think that any <PRO_MANWOMAN> has faced as many trials as you have. You were tested through your past, your future, your very emotions…~ //after the 4th challenge ~CHARNAME>, why are we here?~ //Recieving the Watcher's Keep Quest 3. Lovetalks ~There were things said between us, that I do not want to be lost in this dark tide.~ //unconditional //all these are at REST, except for the morning after// ~<CHARNAME>?~ ~(A kiss touches your brow) Was I too... hasty, fairest?~ //morning after, intimate ~A man was meant to love like that but once.~ ~Do not move beyond my sight, brightest star of Ao.~ ~Alcarinquë, I brought you chilled wine to wash away the dust and heat of the day.~ //if going to sleep in the day time ~Alcarinquë, I brought you some mulled wine spiced with cloves, honey and raisins. It will ward off the night's chill.~ //if going to sleep in the night time ~(Kivan sits down and puts his hand on your blanket)~ ~(Kivan gets his cloak off, and runs his fingers through his hair.)~ 4. Standard Flirts Will repeat over 2000 sec interval up to 30 times (I hope) while you are walking around 5. Night Flirts Should trigger when you are going to rest after the main 7 talks are done. Should repeat up to 30 times (I hope). 6. PC initiated Flirts: 15+2 7. Other (so far) -Master Wraith -Nyalee will take Tazok's Heart and that will give Kivan back his lost con, and if you were really nice to him in SoA it will exceed his initial one slightly. -Epilogues -Cespanar will update Kivan's bow *if* Neiros updated it in SoA.

You don't need a permission to use them in your own game

No, there is light on his hair, that looks great on a big portrait, but on his small portrait it turns into a white line around the side of his head. Maybe, I just need to edit the small portrait. Actually, that's what I will do. So don't worry about the glare. I think in the dicussion some time ago, it was decided in favor of the war paint over tatoos If you think that under the hair is valid, fair enough. I will still be in favor of keeping his chin color-free though, because of the beard thing.

I like Herd's because it was made specifically for the mod. You, of course, can use an alternative picture of your choice, but I like only unique stuff included with the install

Wow, that's sort of a wild look. I'd take away the paint from his chin, so we don't have the "beard" confision, and maybe stop the paint on the forhead from going under the hairline on the right side. There will still be issue of white glare though.

I have played with the new portrait for a bit, and I have noticed that on the small version, the light that shines on the left side of Kivan's head ends up as a white glare on the small portrait. I was wondering if someone culd reduce that effect without loosing the hair structure? And, purely for continuity purposes, should the war paint from BG1 be back on this version as well?

Actually the Romance Guide warns you about the both restrictions to Xan's romance. In the "General Notes" section it warns you that the relationship needs to become commited if you want to preserve romance past Bhaalspawn news; and the Special: under the Romance Requirements mentions that the Half-Elves will not see the full romance

Lol, no, don't worry, there is no cut-off for the poll. It's just a joke

Nope, I did not vote. So, two, I guess. Damn, I opened that bottle of Spring Water too early. I am too excited, Martin's signing yesterday, I am still all happy and happy and happy... I even have a pic now!

Yay, twenty votes! (does a happy dance and goes away to celebrate)

Shar-Teel does not romance a female PC, because both of her Czars (Kish and Turkish) considered it too cliche. When I wrote the romance, I was basing it off Kish' early talks and imo it was by far more interesting to make a trial and battle romance where PC has to hang on for dear life and prove himself, rather than Shar-Teel lesbian romance. I was always fond of Cliffette's way of finding humor and conflict both in the flirts, and I am very proud that BG1NPC features them - those flirts would make no sense whatsoever for a PC Shar-Teel wants to protect. And, finally, Turkish Delight introduced a very interesting take on Shar-Teel's father, Angelo Dossan, making him one of the males who despise females, but are quite fond of a tumble. With Sahr-teel's obvious hatred of him, I found it quite an interesting twist to make her mirror her father. In the end, I think that the romance is that much more interesting and fun for a male PC.