equalizing for shifters

[Rastan]

I have had many good ideas today (thanks to higan staying with a friend and not pestering me every 5 minutes), and one of the included that way to make shifters better.
Would it be possible to create an override file that would allow you to equip shifter forms with better skins and claws. Looking through the standard creature items I've noticed that shifters seem to equip skins and claws when they changed. Maybe you could use that to make the forms better withough making the shifter equipment too powerful when in base shape

[Slayer]

Yes indeed. That is a very viable aspect to explore. It is one of the many features of the game we will upgrade as soon as all areas are in place. Spell modifications fall into that same category on the List (i.e. summoning a REAL Dragon Knight). You don't even need to change a file, just the script. The hard part is just finding the script that gets used when a feat/spell is chosen. Bioware didn't use any logical naming convention for feats. lol. I already went in and modified the epic trap saves and damage as I needed them for Mana, and they are doing an update anyway with the new patch. So now I'll have to go back and upgrade them again.

[Dw monkey of maddness]

Something else that may or may not prove simpler to implement than changing the skins and claws would be to find the script that allows the weapon bonus's to merge with the claws as well as the weapons. The major thing about shifters is that in weapons without a weapon os some sort (staffs blades etc.) they lose thier bonuses making them attack barehanded ith not enhancement bonus leaving them unable to pierce damage reduction in thier shifted forms as they were in thier base form. Hopefull a small change to the script controlling what merges with the shifter in theier various forms will prove simpler than changing the related skins and claws.

hang on a sec

it appears that most of the work is already done for you

surfed a bit and found this

nwn.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=295297&forum=47&sp=0

the authors say that thier code is fair game as long as you leave thier names in the script. Haven't had a chance to actually compile and use it but the code looks good and appears to fix a lot of those naggin nerfs (tower shields not merging, all bonus's set to deflection and overlaped, weapons not merging into claws, etc.) it may be a little out of date but i may also prove useful. also it lets monks merge their gloves and bracers in as well so monk shifters will be happy... not that i see many shifters .

Aparrently the code was popular enough that the origional thread has been locked due to length and a second one has been opened up to further the disscusion.

Hey the more ways i can find to save the designers time on the parts of the server important to my characters the faster things get done.

I cant code fast enough to save my life it takes me an hour to do what most people take 15 min to code
Its amazing how you can spend a minimum of 2 hours a night on programing homework doing something supremly simple and still not get done in time due to a blasted colon you forget somewhere.

how about putting up a bounty for useful scripts people can submit/find for you all to ease the work load. nothing major mabye a plaque in the back room for contributers and their contributions.

I don't need one i'm the rogue element, and random variable who always finds what isn't supposed to be found.

See shifter teleportation for details ;D


here is the most recent link to the freeware code he seems to have hammer out all the bugs since he made it in 2003 and this is his most recent version he states that this is free for use as long as his name and credits remain in the script.

www.xs4all.nl/~vancaste/downloads/shifter/

[Dw monkey of madness]

in case you want to see what it does b4 getting it. From the readme;

==== (6) What exactly do the Shifter and Druid wildshape fixes do? ====

- Tower shields now carry over their properties just like Small and Large shields. (Which has been a bug I believe since the original script had 2 checks for SMALLSHIELD in it, one probably should have been TOWERSHIELD)

- Melee Weapon properties can now carry over to the unarmed forms' claws and bite attacks. This is settable in the options for the script.

- Now, items with an AC bonus (or penalty) carry over to the shifted form as the correct type. This means if you wear an amulet of natural armor +4, and a cloak of protection +5, and you shift to a form that gets all item properties carried over, you will have the +4 natural armor bonus from the ammy, as well as the +5 deflection bonus from the cloak.

No longer will the highest one override all the other AC bonuses even if they are a different type. Note that some forms, such as the dragon, get an inherent natural AC bonus, which may still override your amulet of natural armor, if the inherent bonus is better.

- Other "stackable" item properties, like ability bonuses, skill bonuses and saving throw bonuses, now correctly add up in shifted form. This means if you have a ring that gives +2 strength, and a ring with +3 strength, and you shift into a drow warrior, you get +5 strength in shifted form, where you used to get only +3. (the highest)

- The script supports going from one shape to another directly, and still get item properties carried over. This prevents the annoyance of having to go to normal shape first and then to the new shape to get your equipment properties. It can be crucial in a dangerous combat.

- A message is given to the player about which equipment was merged into their new form when they polymorph.

also there is an option that allows forms with opposible thumbs whose base character has a bow to carry the bow over (so illithid who normally have no weapon may wield whatever the weapon the character was wielding. Makes sense since it has two hands and oposible thumbs.... and facial tentacles....)

[Slayer]

Having not actually imported this code yet, I see nothing overtly off the wall with it on paper. Any objections from the masses before I begin a full investigation?

[Dw monkey of madness]

Sweet, glad to be of service.

Let me help you help me ;D

[Slayer]

Here's the deal. I know where the code is to give Shifters different claws, etc. when they shift. Obviously, importing the code would be much easier. Would you be satisfied with having your weapons meld into the shifter skins? Or would you rather have all new claws, slams, etc. depending on your lvl? I could make some unique abilities for each shape (given time), but the quick solution is to import the .erf. You'd get the melded weapons quicker. Post here on which you would prefer.

[Dworkin]

I prefer the weapons merging because that gives me a chance to find weapons more powerful than the claws or skins may be. for example if i have a nifty +5 vorpal blade i can merge that and personally that would work for me. Other people may not want the hassle of hunting down weapons to merge into thier forms.

There is another batch of code somewhere that allows shifters to use an item to override thier normal shifter forms and get things like gelatinous cube(with the special abilities already done). i'm not sure where it is, i'll look for it sometime. I'd vote for the merging rather than the level based skins but that me Rastan and the other shifters may feel different.

[Slayer]

That works for me (*wipes sweat from his brow ). Any more votes, please post them here. Please remember, this is not a democracy, this is a Ripocracy, and he will have the final say in what is done. However, like the electoral college, he rarely votes apart from what the public majority wants. Make your voice heard ppl!

[Dworkin]

actually i found my old link to this guid on gamefaqs

db.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/neverwinter_nights_hotd_shifter.txt

the top half is an insanly detailed break down of every single aspect of a shifter from damage to shifter vs [x] to what feats to take etc

the part you will probably interested in starts in section (C.5)

the item i was talking about is here
(C.6) Rod Of The ArchShifter hak pak

After creating the instructions to modify Shifter Shapes in Appendix D, I
decided to make it a little easier on everyone and configurable during game
play. Thus was forged the (drumroll, please)

Rod Of The ArchShifter

This is a hakpak consisting of an item (you can guess the name), a dialog, and
over 250 scripts to completely control your Shifter experience. Using the Rod
Of The ArchShifter, you can:

* Override Shapes to use Polymorph Self, Shapechange, and any other Shape
listed in the polymorph.2da file. In addition, I've added the alternate
Shapes in Appendix C.3 and several others.
* Control whether to use Iznoghoud's modifications or not. I do. They're
awesome.
* Control whether to require a Concentration check to use the new merging
power from Iznoghoud. This tries to balance the huge additional power
granted by Iznoghoud's modifications by requiring you to spend Skill points
where you otherwise might not. Fail your Concentration check, and maybe
your belt doesn't merge correctly.
* Control the difficulty of the Concentration check.
* List currently overridden Shapes.
* Reset all Shapes to original.
* Override groups of Shapes as a package. Packages include
+ Unarmed Frenzy (Monks will love it)
+ Weaponmaster (most Shapes now have a weapon)
+ Dragon (replace the nerfed Adult dragons with Ancient ones)
+ Disguise & Infiltration (not big on combat, but great for roleplaying)
+ Elementals (replace some higher level Shapes with Elementals)
+ My personal favorites (hey, I created the thing for me, not for you!)
* Does not allow access to higher level Shapes until you've earned them (so,
for example, you can't override Red Wyrmling with Balor until you've gained
the Outsider Shape Feat, since a Balor is a high-level Outsider creature).

All of this can be done without exiting the game, simply by activating the Self
Use Unlimited power of the item. Due to game engine limitations, you can't use
the Rod while Shifted, but when in human form you can use it as often as you
want.

The latest version of the hak pak can always be found on NWVault:

nwvault.ign.com/Files/hakpacks/data/1074938871476.shtml

The only game resources overridden by this hak pak is the Greater Wildshape
script, x2_s2_gwildshp.nss, and the Polymorph data file, polymorph.2da. If
BioWare chooses to modify either of these files as part of a game update, it is
likely the Rod will malfunction. Use at your own risk. All other scripts and
item templates are new.

There are two ways to use the Rod:

(C.6.1) Using the Rod in a user module

If you're comfortable with creating and editing modules, it's as simple as
adding the hak pak to the module and providing the Rod to your player
characters. Hak paks are added to modules like this:

Edit->Module Properties->Custom Content

You must also make sure that the OnActivateItem event (also in Edit->Module
Properties) is set to use the "x2_mod_def_act" script. This script looks for a
script with the same name as the item activated, and runs it if found. Pre-HOTU
modules from BioWare and user-created modules may not have this set correctly to
use the Rod.

(C.6.2) Using the Rod in all modules

This will enable your Rod Of The ArchShifter to be used in any module, even the
Official Campaigns. Simple use the hak pak utility, nwhak.exe, located in the
"utils" directory, to open up the Shifter Rod hak pak. Then choose

Resource->Export All

and export them into the "override" directory. In order to create a Rod Of The
ArchShifter to use, you'll have to resort to Debug commands. In the game, type
the following:

`DebugMode 1
`dm_runscript get_shifter_rod
(it will say "Entered Target Mode" -- target yourself)
(the console should say "acquired Rod of the ArchShifter")
`DebugMode 0

Examine your inventory to see if you have it.



Or there are instructions for replacing epic harpy with succubi or replacing the epic drider with a werepenguin!!

Everything you could ever want to code for a shifter is in the faq sheet. i used it to design my shifter so that its basically a shapeshifting rogue. (nothing like a kobold picking moads safe while the other party members keep her busy. ;D

[Slayer]

That's all good except for the hak pak part. We don't want to require any player to have to install another hak to play at Higher Ground. We want players to be able to just "walk in" as long as they have CEP. But it looks like they've supplied enough info to do this without a hak, or at least fudge it.

[Dworkin]

aye, well enough
Of course shifters are such a rare class that personally i wouldn't mind getting the hak but of course that me most people wouldn't like downloading a hak to "fix" thier character. On the other hand if the shifters ever get a guild the grandmaster could have it. or of course the dm's could use it for fun since you don't need to hak to see the effects just to use it.

[Lokison]

So, is there any chance of seeing this in the next update?

[ForsakenRites]

Ok, personally I like the way it works currently because if you think of it... when was the last time you saw a dragon wearing a shield/sword/plate etc. ... it dosent "fuse" into your form.. thats rediculus.

shifters do need to be stronger since this mod has alot stronger creatures than you would see in a Bioware module. Not to strong though seeing as if a shifter turns into madusa and has high enough ab they can solo just about any boss.. also this mod was built on items. if shifters become to strong like if your items "merge" into the form, they will be much to strong IMO. unless you limit the equipment they can use further. And if we just make new claws/skins for them you would have to script it so they, maby, EARN they skin/claw? I wouldent like to script it but sounds nice .thats just my bit of Input
wow most smarting thing i ever said in weeks, Woot Woot

[ForsakenRites]

Guest-Dworkin said:

people may not want the hassle of hunting down weapons to merge into thier forms.

Dworkin is a genius. you could make it so only a few weapons can carry on to certain forms e.g. " Dragon Fang" could give Wounding/+# AB/+2d6 fire etc. to dragon/wyrm forms and have like 2 or 3 items per form
not sure if it could be done but it would probly solve it all. that way they still have to aquire power.