This pack provides NPCs with various dynamic components that will change every time the module is opened, including: names, clothing, and sound sets. This helps to breathe more life and realism into your populated areas, making them more engaging than is possible with NPCs that have static names, clothing, etc.
Flexibility was kept in mind when making this pack, so module makers have the option to switch the various dynamic components on and off through altering the local variables on the NPCs themselves. This means if you want, you can give NPCs set names or specific sets of clothing quite easily.
Currently, there are two categories of NPCs: �generic� and �fantasy�. The generic category is your standard medieval fare, with various Anglicanized names that were popular in the era (e.g. William Fletcher, Elizabeth Wood) and clothing that suits peasants and merchants. The fantasy category is similar, however it utilizes the random name generation function that you would be familiar with from the character creation process within NWN2, giving you NPC names that would suit practically any fantasy setting, as well as some slightly more suitable clothing that one would expect to see in such a setting. Obviously the generic category is humans only, while the fantasy category has all the non-ECL races.
Thanks, please remember to vote, and all feedback is welcome!
Q&A
Q. How do I use this?
A. Just import the included .erf into your module and drop the NPCs you wish to use into your module (look under �AP� in the creatures tab).
Q. How does this work?
A. A script is included that runs a check for various local integer variables on an NPC when they are spawned, telling the module what to change about the NPC. For convenience, these variables are called switch variables (e.g. switchvar_names for dynamic names), and can easily be turned on (given a value of 1) or off (given a value of 0) in the properties of the NPCs.
Q. Just how �dynamic� are the various components?
A. For the generic category, there are over sixty male first names, female first names, and surnames, as well as over twenty sets of clothes per gender and several sound sets per gender, all of which are chosen randomly. For the fantasy category the number of names is essentially unlimited, whilst the clothing and sound set options are similar (read: practically identical) to the generic category.
Q. Can these NPCs walk?
A. Yes, there are two options for non-waypoint based walking included, please see the instructions for explanations of both. If you plan to use your own waypoints, then all you need to do is follow your usual method, as by default both included methods of walking are disabled.
Q. Why are there multiple NPCs for each category/gender if they�re supposedly dynamic?
A. Because there are no functions for changing base appearance (e.g. hairstyle, skin tint) and using multiple NPCs allows for further differentiation between individuals. This is also the reason why there are multiple clothing sets with hats, as it reduces repetition in visible hairstyles. In short, it improves the intended effect of this pack.
Q. Do you plan to add to this pack in future?
A. Hopefully! I�m looking into adding a level adjustment variable, as well as more varied descriptions and possibly titles. Alternatively, if you have an idea, let me know.
Release 2 is up. It's practically identical to release 1, with some minor - but important - fixes. _________________________ AP Magical Miscellanea Package (v1.5, over 750 items): Link
Cheers Lifaen! There's a small update coming, along with a fix that should make the NPCs work better with behaviour flags (thanks to kamal for highlighting this issue!). Also if you guys have any ideas let me know, I'd love to hear them (by email if you prefer). _________________________ AP Magical Miscellanea Package (v1.5, over 750 items): Link
Posted by Lifaen at 2011-05-13 10:01:02 Voted 10.00 on 05/13/11
Absolute must-have. This really adds a breath of realism to modules, and not having to go through and customize every NPC is a blessing. I'm going through and adding this to my current campaign. Thanks a million!
10 - A Masterpiece, Genuinely Groundbreaking 9 - Outstanding, a Must Have 8 - Excellent, Recommended to Anyone 7 - Very Good, Deserves a Look 6 - Good, Qualified Recommendation 5 - Fair, Solid yet Unremarkable 4 - Some Merit, Requires Improvements 3 - Poor Execution, Potential Unrealized 2 - Very Little Appeal 1 - Not Recommended to Anyone
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at 2011-09-25 13:49:19
