Editing Game Rule Set??? Help??

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Okay, so I have been working on a total conversion mod, mostly just areas, and have not been able to figure this one nagging little question.

How would I go about changing the rule set? Completely. As to say modify or adapt them to version 3.5 or 5.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

Well... you don't, really. I mean, you can fiddle around with the tables and abilities, but most of the system is hardcoded. You can wait to see if IWD2:EE is released with its 3E implementation (I haven't actually checked to see if that's what they're planning to do), which might make it easier to approximate something resembling what you're looking for, but otherwise the best you can do is some sort of hybridized wreck which is bound to be weird and buggy.

 

You say it is hardcoded, but where would I start looking to change it? Hardcoded as in built into the infinityengine itself or another part of the game components?

 

....you can't change hardcoded stuff. Hardcoded means just that, hard code. It's compiled binary code. Unless you plan on reverse-engineering the entire engine or rewrite it from scratch, you're out of luck.

If you really want something to that effect, forget the EE engine and look at GemRB, which is an open-source rewrite of Infinity Engine. Still, unless you're an incredibly talented programmer, there's no way you're gonna be able to implement a satisfactory version of 3.5 or even 5E. Large teams of AAA developers have tried with only moderate success (IWD2, NwN, NwN2, ToEE).

 

I think Icewind Dale II and Pool of Radiance 2:Ruins of Myth Dranor are excellent examples of professional programmers with full access to the source code trying to convert a 2E CRPG to 3rd edition.

IWD2 was done better than POR. Really look at POR and the criticisms and you'll see some of the issues they had.
Although one of the biggest annoyances was just plain stupidity on the developers in the form of not letting you pick your feats and skill points. There was no excuse for that. I never understood why they didn't fix it in a patch.

 

Third edition is a mess. I've considered implementing it as a computer game system on numerous occasion, but the thought quickly passes. There are just so many things to deal with and you end up making compromises upon compromises upon compromises until it just barely resembles the original system. Not to mention the very system is broken at its core, so along the way you have to contemplate what to do about all that.

Fourth edition would be much easier to implement, maybe even fifth, but either way it's not a one man's job.

 

If you want 3e on the Infinity Engine, why not start with IWD2? It's a pretty decent and at least working implementation and would save a lot of work in that regard.

/edit
Oh wait, EE. Well, wait for IWD2:EE perhaps?

 

That's what I said, but IWD2 is 3.0 and not all that great an implementation. Plus, it's questionable what Beamdog intends to do with it...

 

To rewrite you would have to completely rebuild. It would take years... Like it has been pointed out GemRB is your best bet by far. This question has been asked a zillion times on every board referencing IE games. Same answer still applies.

 

Circle of Eight has modded the Temple of Elemental Evil game, which is v3.5. That might be worth a look.