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Title

Arcane Archer Imbue Arrow Changes

Author

Nailog

Submitted / Updated

07-26-2004 / 11-22-2006

Category

Spells

Expansions

Requires Both Expansions (SoU & HotU)

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README version 1.0 by Nailog

Written for Arcane Archer Imbue Demo module.



  Comments or feedback can be sent to mongolian_ac at ignmail.com (replacing the "at"
with @ and sticking them all together) or to Nailog on the boards at nwn.bioware.com,
or they can be left on the comments page where this was found on nwvault.ign.com


  This module is mostly meant for builders.  Use this to determine whether or not you
want to change the way Imbue Arrow works in your module.  Players are welcome to try
it out and leave comments at any of the above places.

  This readme is to inform the builder on how to incorporate the Imbue Arrow into their
own modules, although I'm certain a knowledgeable scripter could pull it off without
reading this.




CONTENTS

I.   What ZIP contained
II.  Contents of the ERF
III. Extras found in the module
IV.  Installation
V.   Functions in the main include
VI.  Spells allowed
VII. My comments




I.  WHAT THE ZIP CONTAINED

1 ERF file, AAImbue.erf
1 MOD file, AAIDemo.mod
1 TXT file, AAIReadme.txt

  Place the ERF file in the ERF directory.  Place the MOD file in the MODULES directory.
Do whatever you want with the TXT file.




II.  CONTENTS OF THE ERF

1 conversation
	aa_imbuearrow	 : Informs the player on which spells are imbueable.
1 waypoint blueprint
	w_aacreate	 : Place anywhere in module, only need one.
1 item blueprint
	wp_arr_imbue_1	 : Imbued Arrow blueprint.
6 scripts
	aa_i_main	 : Main include file.
	aa_m_cliententer : Placed in Module's OnClientEnter event.
	aa_m_rest	 : Placed in Module's OnPlayerRest event.
	aa_m_unacquire	 : Placed in Module's OnUnAcquire event.
	aa_spellhook	 : Spell hook referenced in Module's Variables section.
	x1_s2_imbuearrow : Feat script overwrite.




III.  EXTRAS FOUND IN THE MODULE

1 conversation
	npc_elfcommand	 : Elf Commander conversation.
7 scripts
	at_retrain	 : Actions Taken for EC conversation.
	at_train	 : Actions Taken for EC conversation.
	p_oo_barrel	 : OnOpen for Barrel of Arrows.
	p_oo_bowrack	 : OnOpen for Bow Rack.
	p_ou_bedroll	 : OnUsed for Bedroll.
	sc_retrain	 : Text Appears When script for EC conversation.
	sc_train	 : Text Appears When script for EC conversation.




IV.  INSTALLATION

  Start by reading through the six scripts, browsing the comment sections.  Almost
everything should be easy to grasp.  The comments in the scripts other than "aa_i_main"
will explain what each script does, what its goal is, how to incorporate it into another
script, or how to change certain functionality.  If, in your current module, you have no
scripts in the above module events, you can just set these scripts there without worries.
Otherwise you'll have to do a bit of merging.

  Place the Imbued Arrow Creation waypoint found in the Custom / Waypoints section
anywhere in the module.  This waypoint is used to mark the location of where the imbued
arrows will first be created.  They will then be copied to the player creating them, and
deleted from the location.  This series of actions is so fast that it really doesn't
matter where you place the waypoint.

  Read the comments at the top of "aa_spellhook" and set up the module spell hook.  Or
merge that spell hook with your current one.

  After that you should be able to imbue arrows with spells.




V.  FUNCTIONS IN THE MAIN INCLUDE

  "aa_i_main" is used to keep all the imbue arrow functions in one place.  Now I'll go
through the functions one at a time.


(All syntax requirements can be found in the right-hand window in the script editor, if
the script is included)

  AACreateImbuedArrow()

	Creates an Imbued Arrow from the blueprint at the aforementioned waypoint's
location.  Any properties from the targetted arrow are copied to the new arrow.  The
targetted arrow stack is then reduced by one, or destroyed if already one.  The new arrow
then gets the new OnHitCastSpell property and is copied over to the archer's inventory.
The arrow still at the waypoint's location is destroyed.

  AADestroyAllImbuedArrows()

	Loops through the target's inventory deleting any and all Imbued Arrow stacks.
It then checks the arrow slot for the same, and destroys if found.

  AAImbueArrow()

	If the targetted item is not an arrow, this function returns -1.  Otherwise it
continues.  The targetted arrow is then checked for certain item properties.  If any item
properties with temporary durations, or OnHitCastSpell item properties are found, the
function will abort the imbueing and return FALSE, or 0.  If not, the function continues
and checks if the spell cast is valid.  Valid spells are determined by
SpellToOnHitCastSpell(), which I'll get into in a bit.  If the spell is valid, the
duration is calculated, the arrow is imbued, and the next function is placed in a delay.
Success returns TRUE, or 1.

  AAImbueExpire()

	If the imbued arrow still exists when this function fires, a message will float
for the owner of the arrow, and the arrow will be destroyed.  This allows the player to
receive feedback if he took too long to use his arrow.

  SpellToOnHitCastSpell()

	This controls which spells may be imbued in an arrow.  Spells can be invalidated
by simply removing them from the switch structure, or more spells can be added by adding
them to the switch structure.  There are comments above each spell that either has an
oddity when used to imbue, or just plain doesn't work.  OnHitCastSpell properties are
controlled by "iprp_onhitspell.2da".  If there was some way to reverse-reference the
OnHitCastSpell based on the spell cast, I'd simply use a Get2DAString(), but there
doesn't seem to be.  I can go from OnHitCastSpell to Spell with Get2DAString(), but not
the other way.




VI.  SPELLS ALLOWED

  List compiled as of 7/26/2004

Acid Fog
Acid Splash

Ball Lightning
Bane
Banishment
Bestow Curse
Bigby's Clenched Fist
Bigby's Crushing Hand
Bigby's Forceful Hand
Bigby's Grasping Hand
Bigby's Interposing Hand
Blindness and Deafness (Mass)
Bombardment

Call Lightning
Chain Lightning
Cloudkill
Combust
Confusion
Contagion
Creeping Doom
Crumble

Darkness (Shadow Conjuration)
Daze
Deafening Clang
Delayed Blast Fireball
Destruction
Dismissal
Dispel Magic (Greater, Lesser)
Doom
Drown

Earthquake
Electric Jolt
Energy Drain
Enervation
Entangle
Evard's Black Tentacles

Fear
Feeblemind
Fireball (Shades)
Firebrand
Flame Lash
Flame Strike
Flare
Flesh To Stone

Gedlee's Electric Loop
Ghoul Touch
Grease
Great Thunderclap
Greater Spell Breach (Lesser)
Gust of Wind

Hammer of the Gods
Harm
Hold (Animal, Monster, Person)
Horizikaul's Boom
Horrid Wilting

Ice Storm
Implosion
Incendiary Cloud
Inferno
Infestation of Maggots
Isaac's Greater Missile Storm (Lesser)

Light
Lightning Bolt

Magic Missile (Shadow Conjuration)
Mass Charm
Melf's Acid Arrow (Greater Shadow Conjuration)
Mestil's Acid Breath
Mind Fog

Negative Energy Burst

Phantasmal Killer
Poison
Power Word (Kill, Stun)

Quillfire

Scare
Scintillating Sphere
Searing Light
Silence
Sleep
Slow
Sound Burst
Spike Growth
Stinking Cloud
Stone to Flesh
Stonehold
Sunbeam
Sunburst

Tasha's Hideous Laughter

Undeath to Death
Undeath's Eternal Foe

Wail of the Banshee
Web (Greater Shadow Conjuration)
Weird
Word of Faith

() - Adjectives / Nouns in parenthesis are alternates of the same type.  Any listed are
supported.




VII.  MY COMMENTS

  I'm sure some people will say "You shouldn't 'fix' what isn't broken," or "The DMG says
'this', 'this', and 'this', but you did 'that' and 'that'."  But oh well.  I wasn't
satisfied with the default Imbue Arrow ability.  I wanted something "closer" to the DMG,
but I had to make concessions on what I could accomplish with the engine.  Although I
understand the DMG states that only AOE spells can be imbued, PnP allows for a lot more
flexibility with that than NWN would allow.  In PnP, I would be allowed to shoot an
enchanted arrow into a wall, or a ceiling, to set up an ambush in a certain way.  In NWN,
I can only shoot objects.  The DMG specifies that the imbued spell doesn't last more than
a round, and that the archer can cast and shoot in a single round.  Since I couldn't
implement the second part, I increased the first part to a turn per level of Arcane
Archer.  This at least allows the archer to prepare a few arrows before he wades into
battle.  I also allowed single target spells to be imbued, and I feel that is right.  If
you don't like the idea of an Arcane Archer creating Hold Person arrows, simply comment
out that section of that last function.

  Anyway, feel free to edit the scripts as you need, and if you have any comments, please
share.  Good luck, have fun, bye.

Select All Text | View Code in separate window

Format

Module and Code

Type

Type - Other

Includes

None

Description

Download includes demonstration module, erf, and Readme. Readme is located below. This very small set of scripts allows an Arcane Archer to cast a spell on an arrow in his inventory and Imbue it with magic. Once the arrow strikes its target, the spell will discharge. The arrow will remain charged for 1 turn per Arcane Archer level. All spells are cast at the caster level. Every caster class can make use of this ability. Comments welcome.

Files

Name	Type	Size	Downloads
Nailog1090900417220NailogAAIDemo.zipNailog1090900417220NailogAAIDemo.zip Submitted: 07-26-2004 / Last Updated: 07-26-2004	zip	64.39Kb	425
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SCORE OUT OF 10

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Comments (13):

Posted by Hanzo666 at 2011-04-17 14:52:20 Voted 10.00 on 04/17/11

A little gem! Wonderful system that I am using in my persistent world now.

Thank you Nailog.

Posted by Snye at 2006-01-09 05:55:58 Voted 9.50 on 01/09/06

I think this was a pretty cool idea. I took out a few spells I felt didn't fit the PnP version in the DMG, but for the most part it is really cool. It makes you actually think about how many wizard levels do you want to have for this ability to be really useful. A higher level mage SHOULD have more options to put into Imbue, while a 1st level wizards should have very little or none.

Great job!

Posted by Fluxes at 2005-08-18 14:13:32 Voted 9.75 on 08/18/05

This is the way BioWare should have done it.

Posted by CatttDaddy ( 68.42.xxx.xxx ) at 2004-09-05 10:37:00

Hey, I love this script but when I put it in my module, when I cast a spell on an arrow it says that I cant cast a spell on this object! What could it be? I am looking at the scripts but cant figure where that is changed.... It seems the spell hook is only to make the conversation come up and I really dont see where this is changed so I dont kow whre to start in trouble shooting I added all scripts to the module and placed them in the proper places... Please guys anyone give me a hand here...

Posted by Edix540 ( 166.72.xxx.xxx ) at 2004-08-15 01:10:00

I'm crashing my game when i try to load the mod. Also crashing when i try to import the erf in to new mod.

I havent changed a thing.

Posted by Edix540 ( 166.72.xxx.xxx ) at 2004-08-15 01:10:00

I'm crashing my game when i try to load the mod. Also crashing when i try to import the erf in to new mod.

I havent changed a thing.

Posted by Nailog at 2004-08-06 10:02:00

Dyrcona:

When you're finished, could you link to your version (whether it's a message board post or not)? I'd like to see how you'd go about it differently.

natfka1:

I'm happy the PRC took an interest in this little project. Although I offered this as a hakless alternative, something like the PRC importing it will save some world/module builders some hassle.

If anyone notices problems, do tell. Thanks.

Posted by Dyrcona at 2004-08-04 21:25:34 Voted 9.00 on 08/04/04

This is really good. Very well done. I only have a couple of nits to pick with the implementation.
Using this will change the way that Arcane Archers get made and played in your modules and PWs. They will need more caster levels, and to my mind, that's a good thing!

Posted by Dyrcona at 2004-08-04 21:21:00 Voted 9.00 on 08/04/04

All right. I checked this out tonight. It is really cool! Extremely well done!

I'm gonna give you a 9 out of 10 rating only because it doesn't conform to strictly PnP rules. :p

I'm still gonna do my version, though. It's a bit different in approach.

Posted by Nailog at 2004-08-04 18:36:00

Luckily there are only a few functions you'll have to work with. I tried to make them as simple as possible, allowing anyone with the know-how to do whatever they want with them.

If any PWs start using this, I'd like to hear about it, so I can go check it out. :)

Posted by Dyrcona at 2004-08-04 12:40:00 Voted 9.00 on 08/04/04

Ah, man! You beat me to it. I'll have to check these out and maybe give up on my own version. If it doesn't do quite I was planning, maybe I'll change 'em to suit my goal.

Posted by Gomisan at 2004-07-28 06:50:00

Bloody awseome!

Posted by Dacarlo ( 195.224.xxx.xxx ) at 2004-07-28 03:41:00

Very neat :) Thankyou.

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