Unofficial Patch 5.3 is out...

[Wesp5]

...and can be found at The Patches Scrolls ((The Patches Scrolls) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Downloads) in both full and incremental versions.

This time the patch is mostly bug-fixes and tweaks only, without new restored content besides two context-icons and without major structural changes besides the added plus patch possibility to experience melee from the first person perspective albeit without visible weapon models. Thanks to Offkorn for discovering this, and of course switching to third person view will show the usual animations. Again the Bloodlines community at Planet Vampire has to be acknowledged for bug feedback, suggestions and actual model editing work by MooCHa. Thanks!

v5.3 15.05.2008
----
+Tweaked new stealth rules and made rating visible at Tawni's place.
+Made first person view melee fighting possible, thanks to Offkorn.
+Restored plus conditions for hg firearms, computer and dodge books.
+Made braid raise perception and improved Fu Syndicate test timing.
Fixed blood return and purge and added xp for hacking freezer code.
Removed warehouse bum before cutscene and made tubes not sellable.
Added some idle expressions to Gimble and Jack during the tutorial.
Fixed minor dialogue bugs, a Dane computer issue and version info.
Restored Jeanette scene for females and Larry's quest for everyone.
Prevented surplus CD quest email and corrected Maria dress detail.
Fixed Beckett's scholarship bonus and Pearl item, thanks to MooCHa.
Removed Tzimisce creation burning death and an Empire door handle.
Fixed occasion of Yukie not getting her sword and minor map issues.
Corrected looping conversation and look-through duct at warehouse.
Restored beach house inspection and changed Eldritch Prodigy bonus.
Corrected wrong newspaper icons and restored valve and oven icons.
Replaced sky at the Ocean House hotel to get rid of oversized moon.

[Houston810]

Eldritch Prodigy history is removed for me in character creation and also in my current game. Is this suppose to happen with this patch? It said it changed the Eldritch Prodigy bonus but it kinda removed the whole thing for me.

[Wesp5]

Originally Posted by Houston810

Eldritch Prodigy history is removed for me in character creation and also in my current game. Is this suppose to happen with this patch? It said it changed the Eldritch Prodigy bonus but it kinda removed the whole thing for me.

Argggh, of course this was not supposed to happen, but one additional " and the game just dropped the whole history . I just fixed it for 5.4...

[Houston810]

sweet is that up now?

PS. I start new games a lot so I could be your unofficial tester and send you PMs of things I find if you want?

[Houston810]

Also in 5.3 I wasn't getting the persuade dialog options for sibling rivalry.(I had charisma 4 and scholar 2)

[VFD]

Downloaded the new patch and things seemed fine, but after I completed the Bounty for the Hunter quest and left Gimble's place, my discipline timer stopped working. Disciplines last for the normal amount of time, but the timer bar is empty from the start.

[Wesp5]

Originally Posted by VFD

Downloaded the new patch and things seemed fine, but after I completed the Bounty for the Hunter quest and left Gimble's place, my discipline timer stopped working.

This is another well known random bug which should fix itself as soon as the next cutscene triggers. Try feeding and check if this helps as well.

[Houston810]

Also in 5.3

I wasn't getting the persuade dialog options for sibling rivalry.(I had charisma 4 and scholar 2)

I didn't get extra exp for keeping Zhao alive

I didn't get extra exp for killing Bruno

The Saulocept item isn't giving extra exp when coupled with the Eldritch Prodigy History. (not 100% if this is true since I didn't have a non Eldritch Prodigy character to check it against)



Not bugs but kinda bothered me while playing

After exiting the threader, after the intro movie, Jack's dialog concerning "stepping outside" didn't seem to make since because it implied that the character and jack where inside the threader or at the very least in the door way,which they aren't. Also you don't even move anywhere after the dialog sequence is over.

The Knox dialog with Berturm should be accessible before you leave for the warehouse.

Some of the crazy girls in Grout's Maison need to be moved away from the wall or turned to more easily sneak attack. Also there is one of the crazy claw guy stuck in the sliding door in the first room of Malk 3 I think it is.

Jewelry box on top of the corner side table in one of the rooms of the Haunted Hotel that closes when you get to close to it looks like it contains the Pearl artifact or the heart of Eliza. It could be moved to Issac's office or Mr. Ox's store and be shown open, and closed after you receive it. Either way I think it should be removed from its current location because a player might think it is the item they're looking for and spend wasted time trying to get the box open....(yes...I did this....don't laugh at me)

All the whores in the lotus blossom should be the Asian models, and not walk around...they get in the way. Or you could just remove them all together. I mean the place doesn't look like its open for business at the moment with there being a kidnapped girl boarded up down the hall.

Frag Grenade while not useable as a frag grenade isn't exactly useable even as a prop at the size it is. I think it should be scaled down. From an RPing view I would like to use it to scare people, like Nines did in first downtown cutscene.

Elder Vitae sold at the blood bank should be VERY limited and none of the packs should be unlimited.

The blue blood outside your SM haven shouldn't stay there the whole game...hes just waiting for a tow.

The two added police at the SM peir should be moved back behind the back end of the left police car.

Questions

Whats Dragon's Breath?

[Praylak]

First of all I'd like to thank Wesp5 and other contributors for the continued support of this game. I can imagine its allot of work and just wanted to say its very much appreciated.

Spoiler warning -

Dialog choices seem to only let me sell either the Gum and stake to the thinblood or stake and blood, but not all three. Is this intentional? I don't have an opinion on this, just an inquiry.

The new sneak rules seem really tough. I was able to finish the tutorial with a Venture and a Tory, but I failed multiple times like never before. Is the idea here if you want to use sneak you should specialize in it and max appropriate skills/attributes etc? I just got this impression that in later quests of the game (ie-the museum ) its going to be really rough.

Other than that the patch seems stable and well, mind you I'm just finishing up Santa Monica area, but will continue on. Thanks.

[Houston810]

I sold them: gum, blood, stake, its the only order I've ever done it in. It could just be the order you do it.

[Wesp5]

Originally Posted by Praylak

Dialog choices seem to only let me sell either the Gum and stake to the thinblood or stake and blood, but not all three. Is this intentional? I don't have an opinion on this, just an inquiry.

It is possible to sell all three to Copper but the gum should go first and the stake needs to go last.

The new sneak rules seem really tough. I was able to finish the tutorial with a Venture and a Tory, but I failed multiple times like never before.

Actually the tutorial seems to be the hardest part using the new stealth rules.

[Wesp5]

Originally Posted by Houston810

I wasn't getting the persuade dialog options for sibling rivalry.(I had charisma 4 and scholar 2)

I didn't get extra exp for keeping Zhao alive

I didn't get extra exp for killing Bruno

The xp for killing Bruno has been removed ages ago and I don't think I changed anything with the sibling rivalry dialogue or Zhao lately. Could it be that you continued an older saved game which is asking for trouble, because...

The Saulocept item isn't giving extra exp when coupled with the Eldritch Prodigy History. (not 100% if this is true since I didn't have a non Eldritch Prodigy character to check it against)

...due to a surplus " you shouldn't be able to choose the Eldritch Prodigy history at all in 5.3!

After exiting the threader, after the intro movie, Jack's dialog concerning "stepping outside" didn't seem to make since because it implied that the character and jack where inside the threader or at the very least in the door way,which they aren't.

I know, but I just didn't find a better place to include this restored line.

The Knox dialog with Berturm should be accessible before you leave for the warehouse.

If you are referring to him playing you, I think it already should be. At least I just recently added one more option to ask about it.

Some of the crazy girls in Grout's Maison need to be moved away from the wall or turned to more easily sneak attack. Also there is one of the crazy claw guy stuck in the sliding door in the first room of Malk 3 I think it is.

I'll check that stuck guy but won't move the others around just to please you .

Either way I think it should be removed from its current location because a player might think it is the item they're looking for and spend wasted time trying to get the box open....(yes...I did this....don't laugh at me)

I think it fits well there to increase the spooky atmosphere and I won't change the Lotus Blossom girls either.

Frag Grenade while not useable as a frag grenade isn't exactly useable even as a prop at the size it is. I think it should be scaled down. From an RPing view I would like to use it to scare people, like Nines did in first downtown cutscene.

I already had the grenade implemented as a Intimidation powerup but changed it to be just a random item.

The blue blood outside your SM haven shouldn't stay there the whole game...hes just waiting for a tow.

I think he leaves on his own already.

The two added police at the SM pier should be moved back behind the back end of the left police car.

Why?

Whats Dragon's Breath?

That's a special sawed off shotgun that fires phosphorous shells but didn't make it into the game.

[Houston810]

Originally Posted by Wesp5

The xp for killing Bruno has been removed ages ago and I don't think I changed anything with the sibling rivalry dialogue or Zhao lately. Could it be that you continued an older saved game which is asking for trouble, because...

...due to a surplus " you shouldn't be able to choose the Eldritch Prodigy history at all in 5.3!

Sorry I meant in 5.2.

I know, but I just didn't find a better place to include this restored line.

I totally hear ya, its cool to have all the missing content. But I have no doubt it was pulled for this very reason haha.

If you are referring to him playing you, I think it already should be. At least I just recently added one more option to ask about it.

cool cool right on haha

I'll check that stuck guy but won't move the others around just to please you .

Fair enough

I think it fits well there to increase the spooky atmosphere and I won't change the Lotus Blossom girls either.

I also think it fits well there to increase the spooky atmosphere. None the less its placement is still problematic. The Lotus Blossom request was a log shot anyway haha.

I already had the grenade implemented as a Intimidation powerup but changed it to be just a random item.

I simply meant that the grenade in its self is to big. in correlation to the PC its as big as his head.

I think he leaves on his own already.

My mistake then

Why?

Because where they are now you can walk right up to them and know that they are just fill in guys. You can see very clearly that that their lips don't move their gestures don't match what their saying. Logic would dictate that they aren't even the ones talking. Where as if you move them, all those problems disappear.

That's a special sawed off shotgun that fires phosphorous shells but didn't make it into the game.

sweet

[Praylak]

Re: Thinblood idiot-
I see so its a specific order in selling him the items. OK cool, I'll remember that for my next character.

Re:Stealth-
Ya I guess I'll retract my comment about stealth as I'm in Hollywood now and like you say it was only an issue in the tutorial.

I like the change to the Dane mission, now you actually have to take a good look at the sarcophagus. It was kinda silly easy in 1.2, wasn't it. I guess the computer password the cop gives you is useless now? (Say, has anyone actually found a link with those hieroglyphs on the sarcophagus to any PnP sources?)

[nemini]

Braid of the Eagle still increases the Unarmed feat instead of Perception! ... oO :/

But its a great patch nonetheless, keep it up!

P.S.: How can I change the braid talisman to raise perception?