Pen and Paper Editor

Patrick · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2003, 05:53 PM

Hey I was wondering, I would like to try and D.M. IceWind Dale in a dice and paper format to some friends, is there anyway to get info, like scripts and all text, locations, items printed in a comprehending format? Any info or thoughts are welcome.......

I'll make mine Targos

Virgil57 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2003, 06:17 PM

I don't know how familiar you are with the infinity engine, but I doubt that anyone has produced such a list. If you don't mind doing a little work, you can find all the info you want. The IE engine has been figured out in great detail and is pretty easy to work with (look at modify etc.). There is a site that specializes in making mods called teamBG (just run a google search you'll find it) they also host a download site for all of the tools that you would need to examine the game. The first program you will want to get is called near infinity or infintiy exlporer. Near infinity is a java based view/editor for the game that is very powerful once you are familiar with the mechanics of the engine. If you just want to look at stuff infinity explorer is your best bet.

Patrick · #3 (**permalink**) 08-21-2003, 01:59 AM

Thanks for that info but if anybody has any more specific info for running a campaigne based on the IceWind Dale Series please post your comments

Leonardo · #4 (**permalink**) 08-21-2003, 05:39 AM

I am about to do the same with Baldur`s Gate 1. What I did was reading several detailed walkthroughs to summarize the main plot points and to get each area encounters written down. I got also a file with all items descriptions (useful to get the content of the several letters found). I got key dialogues from the game using Near Infinity.

Patrick · #5 (**permalink**) 08-21-2003, 06:49 PM

Sounds good, I want to hear more.
More about near infinity
more

Patrick · #6 (**permalink**) 08-22-2003, 09:24 AM

Ok, I got NearInfinity, can any one fill me in on how to best utilize it? I tried to download Infinity Explorer, but I think I needed to be a member, Is this free or am I lost completely? I am not to computer literate so I hope its fairly a click at a time. i don't know wich files to click on for what.

Virgil57 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-22-2003, 12:10 PM

since you have near infinity (NI) I am assuming that you also got the java stuff and got NI up and running. I this is so than I would not bother with infinity explorer as you will be able to find everything that you need using NI. The stuff that you will propably be looking for one NI opens up are the ARE (area files), ITM (item files), CRE (creature/NPC files), and the various scripts associated with each. The dialogue in IE games is kept in a dialoge talk file (its named something slightly different, but I cannot remember the name offhand). That should give you an idea of where to get started. If you want more info about the file types and structure of the IE engine (very good stuff to know) try a search for the IESDP. TeamBG also has a link to IESDP on their site.

Patrick · #8 (**permalink**) 08-23-2003, 08:28 PM

Thanks for that info Virgil57. But as I stated I do not know a whole lot about computers and could use some simple click-commands from you. I have the Near Infinity file on my desktop but do not know how to access any of it. You said something about 'Java Stuff", I don't know if I have it or not.
Can you tell me where I can find the ARE and CRE files?
And how do I access them?
Do I need to Unzip anything? I did Unzip NearInfinity to a desktop folder.
Thanks for your help, I hope I can make this work.

I'll make mine Targos!

Virgil57 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-25-2003, 11:46 AM

I am assuming that you got Near Infinity from the creator's website (I forget his name). In order to run it you must download the java runtime stuff. There are specific direction on what java stuff to download on the NI website. Once you get NI running you will need to open the chain key to the game you wish to edit, in your case IWD2. This file is wherever the game files are usually C

rogram files/balck ise/IWD2 or some such. Once the game has been opened you will have access to everything that you are looking for. The places that you will be most interested in are the ARE (area files), ITM (item files), and CRE (creature/NPC files). These can be opened in NI (once you get NI running you will easily find them as it appears as a standard file structure in NI).

Patrick · #10 (**permalink**) 08-25-2003, 09:32 PM

Alright Virgil57, thanks for keeping me posted, Sorry but I still am somewhat ignorant on the whole scoop. I went to Team Baldur's Gate site to download the NearInfinity. Do you think I'm missing something. I do see the ARE files and such but do not know how to access any of them. Thus I don't know if I have that Java thing you are talking about, Is there any way to check my version for it?

I am not to familuar with winace but does this have anything to do with opening the chain?

Patrick · #11 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 08:53 PM

REFRESH LINK
Thanks
Patrick
Targos

Virgil57 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 02:03 AM

if you got NI up and running it should look like the attached pic. From then on you just open whatever files you want to access. The are files I mentioned include the basic info of the area suck as current NPC, encounter rates, scri[ts etc. The area images are stored somewhere else (can't remember where I can try a look if you want) and are a bit more complex than just a jpeg or something as the they have animations and stuff.

Accessing the various files in NI is as simple as opening them on you comp, just double click the file. The info is hard to decipher at first, but you can get the hang of it. If its running like shown in the pic than your java stuff id ok.

Patrick · #13 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 07:11 PM

Ok, I'm still in trouble when I try and open a file it wants me to use a program to open it with. Does this mean my Java is not up? I think it wants me to use winace, Am I lost yet or what?

Patrick · #14 (**permalink**) 08-30-2003, 08:42 PM

Ok, Virgil, I double click on any of the icons and it ask me what program I would like to use to open this application. Does this mean my java stuff is not up? What should I do at this prompt?

Virgil57 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-30-2003, 09:29 PM

OK. I have a couple questions:

1.) Did you go to the java website and install the java runtime stuff?

2.) Did you download the NI program or the source code?