Starting character editor ??

[BobMaster]

Hey all,

I recently started The Dark Eye (Played River of Time first), and I was wondering if there was some kind of mod that lets us change everything when starting a new character, just like in River of Time.

When using any char editor out there, especially with bonuses/disadvantages, it only changes the text in your character sheet, it doesn't actually apply the bonus.

So the best optin would be to be able to change your bonuses/disadvantages and attributes and anything else for that matter at character creation.

And yes, I know you can reset stats, but you still can not change anything I mentioned before, you can't even lower weapon talent values.

The character creation in River of Time was very much perfect really

[BobMaster]

I don't really like to double-post, but I noticed 18 views, but no answers.

Is this such a weird and difficult question ?
I won't mind modding it myself, if you could point me in the right direction for actually unlocking everything in character creation.

[EDIT]: I have been looking in the files with the SQLite db viewer and I just can't seem to find it.
I'm guessing the option I am looking for is in _Template_PC_CharWizard.

When comparing it to the one from 'River of Time' I don't see many differences, just a column called: "SelectableAdvantages".

I tried adding this column to the db from 'The Dark Eye', but I keep getting :

Error adding field. Message from database engine: near "IN": syntax error

I would really like some help here...

[JOG]

When using any char editor out there, especially with bonuses/disadvantages, it only changes the text in your character sheet, it doesn't actually apply the bonus.

Any examples? No matter what char editor you use, it's very unlikely that it manages to add the advantage names without also adding the bonuses. It's more likely that you fail to notice the bonuses.

You can't just add a new column to the database without rewriting the exe to support this column, but your error is actually a SQL-Syntax error because you tried to recreate the column "IN"(tuition) without puting it in quotes, so the database engine assumed you made a wrong use of the function "IN"

The advantages are in the column Advantages (6th counting from the right side of the list). You can use it to add advantages to an archetype in static.db4 or to an existing character in the savegame.dsa. But you can't add a new functionality to the game just by modifying the database. For this you need to get your hands on the sourcecode, modify it to add the new functionality, recompile the game, and add the updated securom protection.

[BobMaster]

Thanks for replying JOG

For examples:
Something recent, in my last testrun, I gave the Amazon the Lore Bonus advantage, her lore skills were al at 5 (except traps).

Back in the game, the skills stayed at 5, no bonus.

So I just said, let's do it myself and changed the values to 7 (+2 from bonus).

Now when she gets to the next level, I should be able to increase the lore skills at least 1 level, yet they still show as 'max'.
I have the same problem with my main character when getting physical or lockpick bonus.
You can also see it at the cost to upgrade to the next level if/when the skills are not maxed, let's take the example from Animal Lore, the cost to go from lvl 5 to lvl 6 would be 14EP (or is it AP?), but it shows the cost for levels 7 to 8 at a cost of 19EP, if the bonus would be applied, my skill prowess should be 5+2 and not 7. Kind of hard to explain.

About the modding question, would it be possible to change the Character creation to one like in 'River of time' ? And could you give me some tips on how to get started on it ?


[EDIT]: Oh btw, this is important I think, I am using Ergo's FixPack, though it's not that I really need it.

[EDIT2]: I have been messing around with the SQLite browser and I can do almost everything I want.
Figured out a way to be able to reset all given skillpoints, by changing all talent values in the _Template_Backup to 0.

Choosing bonuses isn't possible like this I suppose, but I managed to change the Ranger's and Rhulana's bonuses

[JOG]

I have no idea what you're doing, choosing bonuses is as easy as adding them to Advantages. If you have more than 3 the game will crash so that's also not the problem.

The bonus is calculated into your current value.

When a skill starts with 1 and you currently have 5, the game knows you have bought 4 points, and calculates the costs and your maximum value accordingly. When you now add a +2 bonus, the game asumes you have bought only 2 points, and you can add two more points ingame, even when you shouldn't be able to increase the skill above 5 because of your level.

If you add those 2 points manually in a char editor, the game assumes that you already have bought the 4 points you're allowed to, and you can't increase the skill until your next level.

Really can't see your problem, advantages work fine.

About the modding question, would it be possible to change the Character creation to one like in 'River of time' ? And could you give me some tips on how to get started on it ?

Didn't I write it? You need to buy the rights for the Drakensang brand and more importantly the sourcecodes from Bigpoint, Bernd Bayreuther or whoever currently owns them, then you need to be a good programmer (or hire one) to add your new features. Finally you need to re-apply the copy protection or remove the ingame piracy-penalization. Of course if you want to share your mod with others, you also need to buy rights from dtp and Chromatix or hire a couple of world-class lawyers.

So unless your wealthy enough, win in the lottery or suddenly come into an inheritance from a rich great-uncle you've never heard of, there is no way for you or any other modder to add new features into the game.

[EDIT2]: I have been messing around with the SQLite browser and I can do almost everything I want.
Figured out a way to be able to reset all given skillpoints, by changing all talent values in the _Template_Backup to 0.

This just removes the inherent base values of that archetype. Basically giving him more AP to distribute freely on chargen. Unless you edit the attributes there should be no effect on a running game, the game just assumes you have bought 5 points instead of 4 in the above example.

If you want to change your current character edit the last line in _Instance_PC in your savegame.dsa and leave static.db4 alone. If you want to create a new/modifed archetype for a new game: this was explained thoroughly here in the forum (start with the stickies).

[BobMaster]

No need to be rude, just asking for some help and info.

This just removes the inherent base values of that archetype. Basically giving him more AP to distribute freely on chargen. Unless you edit the attributes there should be no effect on a running game, the game just assumes you have bought 5 points instead of 4 in the above example.

This is what makes it more like the character creation from 'River of Time' with the only exception of choosing advantages, you still need to change those with an editor or in the database.

And that was basically all I asked.

I tested it with my Ranger, putting everything to 0 and it works very nice, only weird thing was, I couldn't change the IN value from the Ranger, was stuck at 13, but couldn't find the source of the attribute lock.

[JOG]

No need to be rude, just asking for some help and info.

This just removes the inherent base values of that archetype. Basically giving him more AP to distribute freely on chargen. Unless you edit the attributes there should be no effect on a running game, the game just assumes you have bought 5 points instead of 4 in the above example.

This is what makes it more like the character creation from 'River of Time' with the only exception of choosing advantages, you still need to change those with an editor or in the database.

Why? How are starting-skils of 0 making it more like River of Time?
Chargen in Drakensang is identical to TRoT with the exception that you can't select advantages ingame and have to live with the fixed attributes (don't even try to change the base attributes in _Template_Backup unless you know what you're doing: max_value_ever = base_value*1.5.)

You claim that one can't add advantages with bonuses to existing archetypes or characters, when there are numerous mods that add completely new archetypes with their own set of advantages and even new advantages, and instead of trying to understand how advantages work, you clip an archetype's base skills and claim that to be just like TRoT? If you are talking about attributes meanwhile: See above.

[EDIT2]: I have been messing around with the SQLite browser and I can do almost everything I want.
Figured out a way to be able to reset all given skillpoints, by changing all talent values in the _Template_Backup to 0.

I tested it with my Ranger, putting everything to 0 and it works very nice, only weird thing was, I couldn't change the IN value from the Ranger, was stuck at 13, but couldn't find the source of the attribute lock.

IN is not a talent or skill it is an attribute. But yes, just like everything you asked here it was explained here in the forum two years ago, and is mentioned in the stickied post as well. You can't use the SQLite Database Browser to edit the "IN" column directly because of an oversight in that program (it doesn't put the "IN" in quotes) you need to use SQL commands directly (and put the "IN" in quotes) or use another DB tool.

And if you actually set his base attributes (strength, intuition etc.) to 0, you either can't raise his attributes any further, because the maximum is now 1.5 * 0 = 0 or you effectively disabled the attribute max value due to some funny floating point overflow issue.


Just to make it clear one last time:

When the character starts with Strength 14 in template_backup, the maximum strenght he can ever get is 14*1.5 = 21

When you set the value to 10 with the intent of allowing the player to select his attributes more freely (unlike talents/skills this actually would be more like in TRoT, but this isn't what you wrote above) then the maximum strenght this character can ever have is 10*1.5 = 15.

[BobMaster]

Again very rude, I only recently bought and started playing this game, so what if it's 2 years old.

It makes it more like TRoT because when you pressed the reset button in the TRoT character creation, ALL talents and also the attributes dropped to 0, se we could choose which ones not to level to save some EP.

In the Dark Eye, the reset button barely resets anything from talents.

You claim that one can't add advantages with bonuses to existing archetypes or characters, when there are numerous mods that add completely new archetypes with their own set of advantages and even new advantages, and instead of trying to understand how advantages work, you clip an archetype's base skills and claim that to be just like TRoT? If you are talking about attributes meanwhile: See above.

I never claimed we can not add bonuses/advantages, if you read carefully I even mentioned changing some archetypes bonuses, but you can not choose them during character creation, which is the only thing I 'claimed'.

Can't figure out how to unlock/unfix the attributes though.
But will try to find some other place where people are actually friendly and willing to help...

Sorry for disturbing with a normal question.

Bye

[Alrik Fassbauer]

You've got to take points away from other talents to give them to other talents instead. This way it works.

The character creation system was a bit enhanced in The River Of Time.

[JOG]

Again very rude, I only recently bought and started playing this game, so what if it's 2 years old.

It makes it more like TRoT because when you pressed the reset button in the TRoT character creation, ALL talents and also the attributes dropped to 0, se we could choose which ones not to level to save some EP.

Talents don't drop to 0 in TRoT neither do the attributes and messing with the attributes in _Template_Backup will hurt you character's ability to increase them later on. But when telling you so is rude then feel free to find it out yourself.

The game is out for >2 years, so you could try to actually read the forum, or at least read the stickies, and learn from our mistakes and our research. If you want to learn from your own mistakes and do your own research, then go on and do what you want. Just don't bother asking for advice if you don't want to hear it.


And now to bring it to a close, a few truly rude statements so that you see the difference:

• Try to phrase your questions properly next time, so that others may understand what you want. This includes using the correct terms. Otherwise you might get rude answers.
  
  
• Read what others write, and let them know you read it. Don't repeat the same question after it was answered, others might think of such a behavior as rude.
  
  
• Don't PM random folk on forums when nobody answered in your thread after one day - others may think this is rude. (see #1 for reasons why there might be no answer.)

Bye

[unity100]

Try to phrase your questions properly next time, so that others may understand what you want. This includes using the correct terms. Otherwise you might get rude answers.

Read what others write, and let them know you read it. Don't repeat the same question after it was answered, others might think of such a behavior as rude.

Don't PM random folk on forums when nobody answered in your thread after one day - others may think this is rude. (see #1 for reasons why there might be no answer.)

i have just registered to post this, after the bullcrap i read above while researching something i need with this game.

i have recently bought drakensang game pack, and im set out to play it today on weekend. i am also interested in being able to create my characters more freely, and i am seeking ways to do it.

and no, i dont have the time to dedicate my entire day to going around the forum stickies and learning to mod the entire game for just doing something that could be easily explained in a specific question-answer thread like this. in the world of people with responsibilities, there isnt so much free time to dedicate to gaming. i am sure this is the case about a lot of other gamers out there, who had the fortunate and unfortunate experience of growing over college years and getting a job.

therefore, anyone who is interested in replying, please dont go about shooting high and low about lawyers and copyrights, telling about how the game is 2 years old this and that ( i dont give a damn, i bought the game just a week ago), and go about pointing people to reading a small college elective-worth of material just for doing a small feature which should have been there in the game in the first place. if you are not going to help, help. if not, just dont.

and after i had expressed the beautiful sentiments that have risen in me due to reading rather irate replies to someone who had had inquired about the same thing i am researching in this topic, i would like to ask anyone who is willing to help, the below :

- is there any reasonable way in which i can set all attributes/talents/skills of a char to zero, and go around the problem the maximum attribute 1.5 multiplier or etc creates or
- is there some modded new archetype or something that is out, which can help me achieve the same effect
- any other way

im not wanting to jump to river of time just because of this. i think if i dont play it starting with the dark eye, i will miss stuff regarding lore and story etc.

thank you.

[unity100]

lets say i edited a character template, and set all the starting attributes of that template to maximum. (16 if im not mistaken).

this would mean that any maximum for attributes for that char is now set to 16 x 1.5 = 24 . so, the char will be able to get to maximum 24 attribute level for all attributes, right .

then, i start a game with this character, while setting all its skills, talents etc to minimum.

then i edit the savegame i made with this character, and reset all the skills, talents to zero. and edit its attributes to the levels i want. (whatever - 13 for something 12 for something)

then load up the savegame.

so in this way, i will have made the maximum attributes the char can get to their maximums, STILL have reverted the attributes back to, say, 0 through savegame editor and therefore be able to redistribute them, and also resetted all skills, talents etc to 0 to redistribute them through proper, normal game mechanic.

is this something that would work ?

[unity100]

i did exactly i have proposed.

using the guide in the below link for editing _Template_Backup and _Template_PC_CharWizard in static.db4 :

viewtopic.php?f=191&t=11985

i copied the rogue male entries and made their duplicates. then i proceeded to set all the values for attributes to 16 for both records, and then set the skills/talents etc to exactly what i want in both of the records. then i saved the db.

when i launched the game and entered character wizard, i wasnt able to edit any values - naturally, since i made the values in template backup and template pc charwizard equal. (you can only edit if there is difference in between values in these two entries).

no problem because i set the values exactly i wanted them to be at the start.

then i started the game and saved game as quicksave.

then i opened savegame editor i found in this forum. (the java one). with that, i opened the savegame for quicksave, and then set all the attributes back to their normal values for rogue. (to normal values from 16, all. or lower). i also gave the rogue 364 experience and 364 adventure points. (this was the full amount if you reduced all your skills in expert mode - so its default starting resources). savegame editor showed all potential max values properly. (16 x 1.5 etc).

then i saved the save game and loaded the game up. i went in to upgrade values, and distributed the 364 default points i have assigned.

it seems to work.

[Nyob]

I think JOG was rather patient, and not really rude in his postings before the one you quoted. At least I've seen modding forums where these statements above would have come as the first answer, not the fourth.

Let me quote the key sentence you conveniently forgot to include:

And now to bring it to a close, a few truly rude statements so that you see the difference:

So this was pointedly rude, after that guy repeatedly complained about rude answers. Maybe not the nice way, but who are we to judge, having registered long after this incident (which obviously also included some PMs)

OTOH, it's also not very nice to register in a forum just to flame someone about something he wrote almost a year ago, is it?


As for your question: It is just as JOG wrote in this thread and the one you've linked to: Make up your mind about your character's stats then use the savegame editor or any SQLite Database editor to edit the attributes in your savegame and set both values to the same number.

Just keep in mind that later in the game the maximum value any attribute can have is base value * 1.5. That's not a technical issue, but how the TDE rules were implemented. For talents there is no such issue, those are maxed at 3+base+level (weapons and spells) or 3+base+level*2 (other talents). Setting them to zero for chargen hasn't that much of an impact later.

As I understand it, the OP wanted to edit the game-databases, setting the base values to zero, so that he can freely decrease attributes *ingame* during chargen.


And no, I can't give you a better answer to the OP's question about how to add TRoT-style advantage-selection to Drakensang. I agree with JOG here: to implement features from River of Time into Drakensang you need to get your hands on the sourcecodes. And getting them requires either a lot of money or a lot of criminal energy, in either case a bunch of lawyers are involved.

There are only two reasonable ways to make the character you want: first using the savegame editor to modify your savegame accordingly, second modifying the game databases to create a custom archetype. The OP claimed that one can't edit a character's advantages this way, which is simply wrong. It's more likely he just didn't understand how advantages are handled by the TDE-rules (as JOG desperately tried to point out).

[unity100]

OTOH, it's also not very nice to register in a forum just to flame someone about something he wrote almost a year ago, is it?

someone doing that should tell you a lot of things. the first of them being the irritation that is created by some people being irritable to others who they were meant to help in a forum that was set up for people to help each other.