Dungeon Siege Adepts 2 for Broken World
| Submitted by iryan on Wed, 2013-04-17 07:08 | ||
Some of us here at Siegetheday have been working on making an anime version of Dungeon Siege 2 like Dungeon Siege Adepts. This has been made possible by the recent release of the Cat Mansion Boys mod by AlphaDD which ports the models made by Hamcat, back around 2003 for the original dungeon siege, into DS2. This completes the set since the Girls were released in 2011 by DDlullu (AlphaDD former avatar). An Beta version has just been completed which converts all of the npcs in DS2 and Broken World into Cat Mansion people (including the half-giants and dwarves). Not just a partial conversion replacing all the npcs in the game with Cat Mansion models, DS2BW Adepts is also the largest compilation of mods and new art available for Dungeon Siege 2 with over 1500 new character and npc skins, armor, weapons, spells and gameplay changes from some of the best modders from DS2/DS1 (a lot of DS1 content from 3rd party modders, publically available artpacks, Yesterhaven and Return to Arhok, etc) such as Hamcat, AlphaDD (DDlullu), Phoenix (Volkan), Darkelf, KillerGremal, Theresnothinglft, Lurker, Omniscient_Colossus, Ikkyo and of course GPG themselves. Over 30 mods are incorporated into DS2BW Adepts. You also have more freedom in playing the campaigns. You have full access to Acts 2 and 3 once you have been cured of the plague in DS2 and in Broken World you can access Part Two straight away if you wish. Note that this really needs the Level Adjustment Mod installed to be viable. There's also a new town and associated quest needed to unlock it in DS2. There are two versions of the Mod. A custom folder version which is 166Mb download and requires 876Mb to create the custom folder installation of DS2BW Adepts and a basic version which is a 156Mb download and requires 247Mb to install in your Dungeon Siege 2 Broken World Folder. Both versions at this stage require the Broken World expansion for Dungeon Siege 2. They are also not very compatible with other mods. If you choose to install the basic version you will have to manage the conflicts with other mods yourself, saved games will be mixed up with regular saves and there'll be no custom presaves to play Broken World straight away. *Custom folder version (166Mb download, 876Mb uncompressed). *Separate Modules. *Aranna Legacy Compatible version Elys DS2 Broken World All*Saves is required to launch the mod. *Readme (full of useful information) The mod is ideally designed to be played with the Monster Level Adjustment Mod Thanks to Techiem2 for hosting the files to spare us having to go through Mediafire. Remember that this is a Beta and as such is mostly feature complete and stable but expect some imbalances in weapons, armor and spells. Suggestions, bug reports, fixes, new skins, etc very much welcomed. forums: |
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Okay I'll send them to you in a bit. Currently I got the items dropping (or should drop) every time you defeat a drummer (either a drum or beater) that is around your current level. You don't fight very many drummers in the game so this is reasonable I believe.
There's normal drops from base drummers and set pieces from the bosses. You face at least two of the bosses during normal play and can force respawns near the Elven Shrine in Eirulan, so your chances of getting the set is very good. The drum is melee and the beater is a shield currently.
I'll make a special test where the beater is a melee weapon only equitable in the shield hand so to make a dual weapon set possible (The drum can only be equipped in the weapon hand to avoid inconsistencies like the first pic). Maybe there could be two sets, a dual weapon drum and beater and a melee weapon and shield set?
I've cheesely named the set the "Spirit of Music"!
May I drum you to death? Seems at least with a cat mansion girl the drum and beater can be equiped in either hand with no issues maybe it is only the cat mansion boys that want to sit on the drum.
So in the Spirit of Music you can see that it works.
The testing continues making sure all is in working order. So far so good playing the game in any order.
I still have some work on getting the conversations in Yadehtegeis completed. So many mute people and so little time.
i wonder if i have a conversation yet? hope it goes something like this:
kekeke~ :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Will this suffice?
Testing has finished for the town and it's now feature complete. Expect a Beta version of the mod soon.
As a bonus for those players willing to complete the 20 odd minute quest required to get there, the grateful townsfolk will sell you some of the best items in the game, including all of the reagents and crafted items. You'll also be able to acquire the items necessary for the Mysterious Cave Quest. Just a word of warning - those evil clones are very nasty and can easily wipe out your party if you allow them to gang up on you.
lol~!! it was just a joke... ah well, it suits me anyway hahaha~
those who have played ds with me on mp before will agree with that. lol~
You'll find plenty of jokes and jokers in the town so that's quite appropriate. It's actually quite hard to find snippets to use for each character so any hints will be quickly jumped upon and placed into the map!
That's why the conversations where the last time completed for the map. Probably is also why GPG sold the rights to the series to Square-Enix, it's a lot easier just making RTS games.
I've made a custom installer for DS2BW Adepts using Smart Install Maker.
DS2BW Adepts installs into a custom folder separate to your Dungeon Siege Broken World Installation and you can either accept the default (C:\Games\DS2BWAdepts) or make your own.
You'll also need to select the location of your Broken World Installation and copy the maps and resources folders to where you installed DS2BW Adepts. This file manager is called by the installation program to try to make this as easy as possible.
This unfortunately appears to be the only way to make custom folders work for Broken World (Broken indeed). Together with input from some of the best modders from SiegetheDay, Bare_elf and I spent a lot of time trying to make it work an easier way.
While making an installation program that only distributes the base DS2BW Adepts files is very easy to make, finding one that has the functionality needed to locate existing files from some location on an user's computer and copying them into the DS2BW Adepts installation folder is extremely difficult. This simple file manager that opens with two panels that tries to make copying the necessary files as straightforward as possible, is the best I could come up with after a lot of time and effort (I know that complex setup programs like NSIS and Innosetup, etc could probably do this but I don't have the time to learn the complex scripting needed to get those programs to work). If anyone who enjoys playing the mod does have the necessary expertise to make a better installer for DS2BW Adepts and wants to do it then you'd have my deepest appreciation and will earn yourself a prominent position as one of the mod's contributors.
I'll soon post the installation package for some brave and daring guinea pigs to try out on their computers and if it all works then the mod can be posted for all to download and hopefully enjoy. At least the installer manages to squeeze extra compression out of the package so the complete install (including the Cat Mansion Mods) is 162Mb in size instead of 244Mb. You'll also need to copy over about 600Mb of Broken World files to make the mod work (or alternatively install it into your Broken World folder but then you'll probably have mod conflicts to worry about and the custom desktop shortcut won't work for you).
No need to copy anything except the adepts resources in a new folder. All you have to do is a yourmodname.ini. Take a look a this thread:
http://www.siegetheday.org/?q=node/725#comment-8026
Since the link in there is no longer valid, i will copy my ini file here to show you.
driver_description = ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
attempts = 51
regrequest_sp = true
width = 1920
height = 1200
bpp = 32
dialog_speed = 60
nointro = true..........takes out intro
noloadintro = false......takes out newgame movies
tutorial_tips = false...takes out tutorial tips
res_paths = "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Dungeon Siege 2\resources";"C:\Program Files\2K Games\Dungeon Siege 2 Broken World\resources";"N:\ds2\new_mod\testcat"
save_path = "N:\ds2\new_mod\testcat\save"
shots_path = "N:\ds2\new_mod\testcat\screenshots"
sp_active_party =
sp_last_saved_party =
Now you can put that ini file in: My documents\My games\Dungeon Siege 2 Broken World (default in windows XP) or elsewhere.
So here my target line for the Broken World's shorcut:"C:\Program Files\2K Games\Dungeon Siege 2 Broken World\DS2BWAllSaves.exe" configfile=testcat
You replace testcat by your configfile_name with the full path if the configfile is not in the default folder.
My N: drive is a usb drive by the way. After all, not so broken that Broken World.
DDLullu
A very interesting concept DDLullu -- Would this not require each person that installed the mod to make their own Adepts.ini file? As the first section contains the video card information for example the first part of my ini file looks like this:
driver_description = NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
min_spec_warning = true
attempts = 51
regrequest_sp = true
sp_last_saved_party =
width = 1024
height = 768
bpp = 32
dialog_speed = 60
I know this should not be difficult and easier than moving the required files to the new location that iryan described in his post. However there are people who are not skilled in doing either of these things. It might require a small program to read the existing brokenworld.ini to get the video data, then ask the person installing the mod where the necessary folders are located, then build an Adepts.ini file that contains the additions you posted (with the paths and video card based on the person's computer that is installing the mod). I am most likely over thinking this.
Thanks for the tip, it works great once the map_paths was added and note 2. from below was used. Even the Adepts presaves showed up instead of the default ones. Nice.
However many of the issues bare_elf and I encountered trying to use the commandline still manifest themselves.
1. Any mods in the Broken World resources folder can cause a crash (ie. Aranna Legacy). A benefit of having a separate installation of Broken World for just DS2BW Adepts was that only mods in the Dungeon Siege 2 resources folder might cause issues as any located in the default Broken World installation folder would be ignored.
2. A copy of DS2BWAllSaves and it's dependencies has to be located in the DS2BW Adepts folder for the mod's resources to be loaded. Additionally a copy of the Broken World exe also has to reside there as otherwise DS2BWAllSaves can't find it. Using DS2BWAllSaves from the default Broken World folder doesn't work (haven't tried modifying ElysDS2BWAllSaves.ini to maybe point it to the location of the Broken World exe).
3. A copy of the DS2BW Adepts ini file could be distributed with the installation but if players have Dungeon Siege 2 or Broken World installed in any location other than the default (like I do) then they'll need to manually edit the file.
In summary DS2BWAllSaves looks in it's local folder for the Broken World exe to load. The Broken World exe looks in the registry for the location of Dungeon Siege 2 and in it's local folder for the maps and resources folders. The behaviour of looking in the registry for the location of Dungeon Siege 2 can be overridden by including a map_paths or res_paths option in an ini file, in this case the location of Dungeon Siege 2 maps and resources has to be defined as well.
nice installer pics, very impressive work.
1. Many mods are already incorporated into Adepts. The level adjustment mod can be put into Adepts or DS2 resources folder if players want the features that enables in Adepts. Mods like Aranna Legacy can be left in the Broken World folder so to avoid any incompatibilities issues. It,s a pity that there,s no mod manager for DS2 & Broken World, would save a lot of hassles.
2. Probably not very well. You may well need to move the Adepts files into Broken World after initial installation. I,ll give it a shot and see what happens.
3. Nuff said, glad I,m not the only one that hates installations into Program Files.
So probably two installations will be posted, an installer and just the base files (just two of those). In the latter case it will be up to the player to manage mods in their resources folder and saved games. Presaved characters will be available if players want them but all saved characters on the players pc will be mixed up. Note that Adepts doesn't break original characters, they will still be usable and un corrupted. You just can,t start new games with anything other than a Cat Mansion character.
First 2 pictures and then two animations from DS2's NIS.
Lord Kalrathia
O my the chair is too small ************************* the boy is too small ******************************* the chair back to normal
video 1
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7908/ye0nhpmodsdnqejuhcwexw.mp4
video 2
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/4664/7xilfxpcbpgnyxlniqhqbl.mp4
Once again you have proven yourself the master of the un solvable problems.
I agree even though most problems do have a solution somewhere. It's just so happens that animations aren't my strong suit. Makes the NIS sequences a lot less goofy not to mention the ones at Solanum in Broken World actually crashed the game in a big way (forcing the player to reboot his system!) so I had to restore the original models for them.
There's a Beta Release of DS2BW Adepts with it's own installer to gauge community reaction to such a tool.
http://www.siegetheday.org/~iryan/files/Setup_DS2BW_Adepts_Beta1a.exe (154 Mb)
http://www.siegetheday.org/~iryan/files/DS2BW_Adepts_Beta_1a.txt
Broken World is required.
This means the mod is basically feature complete and stable but obviously for such a complex mod, far from balanced in terms of weapons, spells, armor, etc.
As well as the features listed at the top of the thread, gameplay has been changed making the Acts in Dungeon Siege 2 playable in any order prior after being cured of the plague and prior to gaining enter to the Agallan Peaks (why would the Dryads force people to transverse through the Kithrya Caverns to gain access to the mainland when they had a teleporter in the middle of town?). The First two Parts in Broken World can be completed in any order. These features really require the Level Adjustment Mod to work properly.
Other new features are that there's a new town in Dungeon Siege 2 with it's own quest in order to gain access. The original superseded tutorial has also been resurrected to replace the standard tutorial for interest but can be bypassed to allow players to start in the Dryad Jail if they so wish.
This installer installs only the basic files needed to run DS2BW Adepts but we're also testing an installer that will install DS2BW Adepts into it's own custom folder. The perceived benefits of that approach is to avoid mod conflicts, keep saved games separate from original saves and also have custom presaves instead of the ones that come with Broken World. Note that original saved games won't be corrupted by DS2BW Adepts as it doesn't replace any of the original hero templates rather makes them unselectable in DS2BW Adepts games.
If the installer provided here doesn't work properly I'll just post the files needed to get DS2BW Adepts to run. Future Updates will be a lot smaller in size.
Game installed using the installer and I have played through to the prison. The part of the installer program that copies the files from the Broken World Directory worked just fine after reading the instructions a few times. I did discover that it copies everything in the map and resources folder and not just the files it needs. I was wondering why it was taking so long then I remembered I had several folders containing earlier versions of adepts and other mods. Upon Realizing this I stopped the install, moved the folders and reinstalled again. This time it took far less time. For those of us that have other things in the map and resources folder it might be nice to have just the installer with a list of files that must be copied from the broken world map and resources folders to the map and resources folders of adepts.
All it all I think things look good with the new new screens, the older but unused tutorial section of the map. Now it is off to destroy a few towers so Taar can remove the stupid ring of submission from around my neck so that I can do some real looking about Think I will play the map partly in reverse.
The part in the installer version you're testing where it copies the Broken World files is just a file manager like Windows Explorer. Sadly in the installer program I used there's no options to copy prerequisites files built into the program. It's very basic.
Programs like InnoSetup and NSIS probably would be able to do this but they're very complicated and beyond my abilities to use. So distributing the mod will probably be limited to just providing the two base files unless people like the installation program I posted just before.
A proper installation program would have been of great benefit for the DS1 MapPack, where I think a lot of potential users are scared off by the complicated installation required for the Mod. Talking of which I'll be updating DS2BW Adepts with full support for the DS1 Maps and some minor revisions of the Maps themselves.
Am I the only one to download the mod and install it? I would have expected a comment on the installer by now if not a comment about the first part of the game.
Not to worry, I'm sure people will comment one way or another in time.
In the meantime I've updated the links in the main thread to point to the new installer (that installs the basic 2 files needed to run DS2BW Adepts not the one you tested). I'll add a link to updates but that installer has way better compression than I'm able to get by zipping the resource file directly (154Mb combined setup version versus 200Mb for the resource file zipped!).
I've also started on full support for the DS1 MapPack.
Starting with the Utraean Peninsula as it's easiest to test right from the bat. Elddim is done now and I'll gradually complete the rest of the map before moving onto the others.
So for anyone who enjoys the Cat Mansion Mods there'll be a massive universe to explore and have fun with, especially as I hope to include Veteran and Elite versions of the maps for unlimited replay value and DS2BW Adepts already includes Phoenix(Volkan)'s level 300 mod so with the Level Adjustment Mod you could play indefinitely.
Hi Irwin
I think I prefer the installer you sent to me that puts Adepts in its own folder from my point of view it appears a much cleaner way to set things up. Rather than the one that just installs the files in the broken world resources folder. I know you can do it both ways, because we both have. However when it is in its own directory it gives one the option of playing DS2 and Broken World either with Cat Mansion Characters or Standard Characters. It would also potentially cut down on conflicts with other mods that one might have installed. So I think I would post a link to both installers.
Now as to the game itself having played through the tutorial map yesterday, today I took the portal directly to the prison. The animations for the warden look much cleaner (I know I have seen them before but keep forgetting to comment) However I did find two things that where "funny" Spoke with Telinu to continue the main quest, then knowing the correct setup for the dryad armor I did that quest on the spot. Telinu does not disappear when making the armor now, but it looks as if her hammer is really a flask and she is having a drink before talking to the craft mistress. Next when I spoke with Deru prior to hiring her my character ran to where Lothar was standing to talk to Deru. I have seen this before but never with Deru. Just thought you should know.
Now back to testing ... Note although the files from both installers appear to be the same I did put in the ones from the most recent forum post just to be sure.
I am currently testing the DS2 version of Legends of Aranna to make sure there are no issues with it running under DS2 Adepts. Iryan is checking Kingdom of Ehb.
It would go much faster if someone could test one of the other DS1 converted maps with DS2 Adepts. Yes I know this means installing lots of things if you are starting from scratch but if you already have the converted maps installed installing DS2 Cat Mansion Adepts is easy. '
Good idea though they may want to use the latest beta version which has improved DS1 MapPack support.
http://www.siegetheday.org/~iryan/files/DS2BW_Adepts_Logic_Beta_1b.ds2res
I'm also updating the DS1 Maps as well. Nothing drastic however there'll be better minimap icon support, including quest icons and all recruitable characters will autoequip random gear appropriate for their level upon being hired.
Have made it as far as Illicor -- One issue encountered is the auto-cast resurrect spells are not sold in any of the shops so far in LoA as they are in DS2 when running adepts. It would be nice if they where included in the converted maps.
I discovered a strange thing with Najj when recruited he starts out with a -1 in skill points and even though the + sign is on his portrait you can not apply it to any skill class. So it is like he is behind all the other characters in my party. I know I am not explaining this well right now but I have been up for about 24 hours herding cats.
If you redownload Beta 1b again the shop lists for all DS1 towns have been expanded.
http://www.siegetheday.org/~iryan/files/DS2BW_Adepts_Logic_Beta_1b.ds2res
I've seen the bug with Najj and it has been there since the DS1 MapPack has been released though I'm not sure why. I've made some minor adjustments to fix it but unless you have a save just before that point you won't see any benefit during your current game.
I decided to start over so I could pick up the additional magic spells and because I could not find a save that went back to before I hired Najj so I reinstalled the update and I have just met up with Lyssa. So it is back to Arhok for a resupply and off to hunt the Queen and stop her from laying monsters.
Hi Iryan,
It appears that the Utraeans at least when playing the Legends of Aranna Map using Adepts have a bit of a problem. The Ambient ones are okay like in Illicor are fine (ambients have correct skins) The hireable Utraeans have the correct icons however their skin and hair are the base blue haired light skinned Catboy. I checked the files and discovered there are no Utraean Skins. I think what I will do next is reinstall DS1_Mod_BW_Playable_Utraeans.ds2res (in the adepts directory) to see if that corrects the issue without having to edit the adepts files. I will update you as soon as I test this.
UPDATE it appears that the DS1_Mod_BW_Playable_Utraeans.ds2res did not do the trick. That could be for several reasons -- 1. The Date Stamp of the file. 2. The priority of the file. To verify this I will retank the file tomorrow at the highest priority so that both the date stamp and priority are current.
If that does not work I will try moving the skins to Adepts and verify that the Utraean characters have the correct skin selected.
Sorry I forgot to change the male's skins. I assume the females are okay as they are using Phoenix's excellent skins and icons?
Anyhow here's an update for you to try;
http://www.siegetheday.org/~iryan/files/DS2BW_Adepts_Logic_Beta_1c.ds2res
Kingdom of Ehb is also fixed up to the start of the Goblin Warrens.
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