All about Console (spoilers and cheats included!)

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I was thinking much on how to start this post. But everything seemed lame to say. So, I’m going straight ahead.

Power Users.txt file in BG2 root folder gives explanations on many features available through editing baldur.ini file (also in BG2 main folder). One of these features is Console window used for game debugging, but also for cheating. Since BG2 was released with bugs, I presume this feature was left inside the game to give users ability to deal the bugs. Of course, such powerful feature can be abused, and it’s up to you what to use it for.

In this thread I’ll spam once more how to open the console and list all of available commands plus new ones I discovered.
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IMPORTANT:

Please, keep posts in this thread about Console ONLY!
Details on particular items, creatures, variables etc. are not welcome here – unless you’re using something just to show an example. I would like to keep this thread as serious as possible, so pretty please don’t spam here info on 3rd party utils that can be used instead of console. Also please, no spoilers and cheats unless it is unavoidable to prove your point.
I have to ask you politely that you create another thread about those things.

And last, I must ask you also to understand that this thread is about Console in SoA – all features that are possibly added or removed within ToB are not of interest here nor will be. For those, use ToB forum.
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How to enable the Console

To enable the Console you have to edit baldur.ini file that is placed in BG2 root folder. You can modify this file with any text editor (i.e. notepad).
So, open the file with text editor and under the [Program Options] add this line exactly as it is written here:
Debug Mode=1

Then add this line to the [Game Options]:
Cheats=1

One of the lines above won’t work on some versions of SoA, but issuing any of them enables the Console. You don’t need to experiment if one line is working or not in your game – just place both lines in the file and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

All that remains is to start the game (new one or load previous) and in game window press CTRL+SPACE to open the Console window. Inside the Console window you can type any of commands from the lists below. To remove the Console window, just press ESC (sometimes this won’t work, but you can go to i.e. records page then return to game screen and Console window won’t be there any more).
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List 1: BG1 leftovers

Yes, the Console was part of BG1 too and the commands from BG1 are copied in BG2. Console in BG2 recognizes them all, but some won’t work because there are no files from BG1 needed for those commands. This list contains them all with comments.
To engage them you need to type CLUACheats:COMMAND, i.e. for command CowKill you’ll type CLUACheats:CowKill.

CowKill()
places a certain scroll in your inventory

CriticalItems()
places Invitation, Empty Letter and Sarevok's Diary in your inventory

DrizztAttacks()
DrizztDefends()
these two commands lacks additional file to work, first one should spawn hostile Drizzt in BG1, and second was supposed to spawn friendly Drizzt

FirstAid()
places 5 potions of healing, 5 antidotes and 1 Stone to Flesh scroll in your inventory

Hans()
Midas()
Discover their usage by yourself

TheGreatGonzo()
Spawns 10 rabid chickens to fight at your side
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List 2: SoA CLUAConsole commands

This list shows all CLUAConsole commands available to use in SoA. For some of them I never discovered how to put them working.
To engage them you need to type CLUAConsole:COMMAND, i.e. for command ExploreArea you’ll type CLUAConsole:ExploreArea().

Numeric arguments will have certain restrictions, i.e. you can’t set experience above the XP cap. Text arguments (must be typed in quotes) are generally restricted to reserved values – available values are contained in CHITIN.KEY file in BG2 main folder but that’s too many data to display it all as a post. I suggest that you use hex editor or Infinity Engine Explorer to browse them all.

AddGold(X)
Gives your party amount of X gold.

AddSpell("X")
Used to add any spellcaster a certain spell. Details are available at: http://www.sorcerers.net/community/threads/how-to-learn-spells-from-console-in-bg2.1944/

AdvanceRealTime(X)
This command I dedicate to Slappy and BTA (Jaheira's *khm* ). The X value determines REAL time advancing (not advancing ingame time like CTRL+T). Values IMHO determine real time to add like this:
7200 1 day
14400 2 days
21600 3 days
28800 4 days
36000 5 days
etc.
Slappy, if you read this, please do test romances with this. And resubmit a new romancing guide on SP, of course.

CreateCreature("X")
Common known command spams creature X nearby. Codes for X find by yourself.

CreateEngine(X)
I don't have the slightest idea what's this command used for. Try it with X values 0 and 1. I haven't found other values that will work anything. But interesting effect, ain't it?

CreateItem("X", Y, Z1, Z2)
Again common known command that creates Y items code of is X. Values Z1 and Z2 don't mean anything IMHO.
Values Y, Z1 and Z2 are not needed to be filled, so a command can look like CreateItem("X") and in that case it creates only one item which has code X. Particular item codes find by yourself.

CreateVEFVidCell("X")
Used to test single graphic effects. I won't say much, X codes find by yourself, and test the command with:
CLUAConsole:CreateVEFVidCell("SPSARMOR")
CLUAConsole:CreateVEFVidCell("SPTURNI2")

DisplayAllBAMFiles()
As it says, this command test ALL graphic animations within the game. If you engage it, prepare to see many BLANKS (pauses).

DisplayText("X")
Text within quotes is displayed in dialog window. This command can be used to spice up Shot of the week.

EnableCheatKeys(X)
Simple, keyboard press combos that can be used to cheat are enabled if X value is 1. Value 0 disables it.

ExploreArea()
Reveals whole map of area you're currently in.

GetGlobal("X", "Y")
Displays value of game variable X. Type of variable is determined by Y.

MoveToArea("X")
Transports party to area X. Codes that can be used for X find by yourself.

PlaySound("X", Y, Z)
Plays a sound from within a game. Value Y detemines volume (100 – max). Value Z is not used.
More on this command you can find at: http://www.sorcerers.net/community/threads/playing-sounds-and-minsc-quotes-from-the-console.4828/

SetCurrentXP(X)
Sets experience for selected NPC or party. X won't pass XP cap.

SetGlobal("X", "Y", Z)
Sets Z value to game variable X. Type of variable is determined by Y (GLOBAL, LOCALS or ARxxxx).

SetWaterAlpha(X)
Dunno what does this do.

SetWeather(X)
Command sets weather for next hour. Values mean:
0 – no weather
1 – rain
2 – snow
Press CTRL+T once after the command is issued to engage the weather change.

StartStore("X")
I never made this command work. Try to discover it yourself or ask on BG2 official site.

StrrefOff()
StrrefOn()
Not a clue why are these commands here.

TestAllDialog()
If you engage this command, prepare for looooooong wait for it to end. But, you'll discover that Black Isle probably never used it – it WILL display dialog errors!?
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List 3: Is there more?

Yes, there is more.

Cheat key combos from keyboard I leave you to post below. Some of them and more you can find at: http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG2/cheats.php

Some more commands exist, but some don't work (I presume) like CInfGame:GetWordTimer() and some make the game crash like CBaldurChitin:SetLimitTransparency(X). But, obviously, the story about console is not finished yet.

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Epilogue

I probably forgot some things as my notes were in mess like always...
Feel free to add anything to this thread I missed above if it’s related to Console abilities!
Spams are not welcome!
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Disclaimer

Please, before you copy any detail from this post on another site (especially tgweb/ironworx) or include it in some FAQ or walkthru ask Tal for permission. Don’t mail me, I don’t want to have any relations to d&d rules, I hate those rules and plan to escape from them as soon as possible... Where’s that Arcanum yet!

 

Thank you for the info.

I find the set Xp the most useful, not for cheating but for testing certain dualclass options.

(the real reason for replaying: thank God there is someone else that finds the DnD system close to fish entrails and as smelly, (guess Im going to get my head clobbered now )

Bongo bouncing of
to take cover

 

I would like to add that on certain versions of the game the () and " signs arent in their proper places. When i use the console those signs are on my öäå buttons on my keyboard it took me ages to find them so if you dont get them to work try to find them there. I have a swedish keyboard maybe thats the problem.

 

I have the same problem, (same keybord issues)

You dont remember what keys you had to switch do you?

bongo

 

I dont know exactly which one is which but try the keys on the right of your keyboard the åäö and the surrounding they should be there somewhere.

 

I think one of the cheat keys makes the creature under your cursor join your party (!?) if i remember right. That could be cool.

 

Cntrl+Q makes the creature under your cursor join your party.

Cntrl+X makes the creature under your cursor die. It also kills your fun.

Try using a Greek keyboard.... I switched to American when I got my new comp. Phew.

* * *

PS: Yay! I leveled up!

[This message has been edited by Tiamat (edited August 06, 2001).]

 

Indeed there is some useful info for Infinity Engine Structures Description Project , that I'm going to incorporate there since add-on developers use CLUAConsole for testing/editing purposes.

Of course author receives credit for his work.

 

look man, stop posting old topics!! weve all readem!!

 

I think that simple courtesy requires that I should inform author that IE editing commnity is using his info, so I suppose creating new topic for this is only simple SPAM.

That you have read this doesn't mean that all people know this. Simple, I suppose that you also don't know many things as well.............. so this discussion has no sense at all.

 

Actually, I'm very flattered to receive a comment, even if it was a flame, from manveru. Thanx!

And also, there IS A GOOD REASON to resurrect this topic.
I never made working some things about Console - that should work (i.e. StartStore command). So, instead of ranting, why don't you try to research that corbulo?

One more thing that lacks here should be all key combos. For example, noone mentioned CTRL+I that can be used to force random dialogs - of course to test dialogs, it is not classic cheat.

Finally, I'm not sure that numbers I provided for AdvanceRealTime command are valid. It was a guess under contents of one IDS table. If anyone is available to test that actually, I'd appreciate it.

[This message has been edited by Extremist (edited October 26, 2001).]

 

CLUAConsole is one of the topics that I work on lately since it is not descibed anywhere to the end.

http://www.geocities.com/iesdp/Cluacons.htm

Here is page to show authors, interested people how does it look inside IESDP.