I'm very sorry, but I couldn't find your project on SHS. Is it complete, is it in progress, is there a beta, a suggestions thread? Sorry, I couldn't find a separate forum so I was a little lost.
I'd be interested (though I'm busy with some other stuff in the coming weeks), but I think I'd have to know more about your project, and if I might suggest it (sorry if it's not my business, just a thought): you may need more marketing - i.e. recruit people at G3 and PPG, advertise your mod, get a forum board at G3 or SHS or PPG if you haven't already and so on.
As Cahir mentioned the reason why both EET and IWD-in-EET are not advertised more at this time is due to dependency on BG2:EE patch 1.4 (needed to implement continuous chapter/journal system which also means no restrictions in travelling to old areas that are now forced due to chapter variable value) and Siege of Dragonspear expansion releases (vital part of the story). Both need to be out before EET and IWD-in-EET can be officially released. There is no info yet about when this will happen, so promoting it in the current state is a little problematic considering current beta is not really representative to how the mod will work in the end.
I agree that getting a subforum and discussing development, ideas etc. would be great. In fact there are already some topics regarding these mods on Children of Bhaal Polish forum, where we gathered tons of valuable feedback. I've tried to get in contact with SHS administration requesting a separate section where we could publicly discuss the mod, but didn't receive a reply as of yet. That is the first place that came to my mind considering how closely SHS is associated with BGT, although EET is not really a continuation of that mod (different goals, little to no common code), so finding a home on other board is an option too, providing the administration of G3 or PPG would be interested in housing it.
As for the development progress:
- EET is completed when it comes to BG:EE and BG2:EE content. Features that will be possible to implement after patch 1.4 are finished too (this code lays on private repository as it's not usable on current patch),
- Siege of Dragonspear will be implemented after the closed beta for it starts.
- IWD:EE (via separate mod called IWD-in-EET) portion is finished although needs testing.
- IWD2 portion (first worldmap of the three available in that game - Targos and surrounding areas) are currently in early stages of development.
The reason why IWD-in-EET is not on public repository is because Icewind areas are meant to be added on the northern part of the EET worldmap, above lands added by SoD expansion. Showing the worldmap art with Siege of Dragonspear areas would be spoilerish and almost definitely would be against Beamdog NDA. On the other hand currently (due to lack of finished worldmap art) IWD-in-EET uses default IWD worldmaps for testing purpose, switching on the fly between BG and IWD ones with SetWorldmap() action, so at least for now the mod can be hosted on the open repository. I can send the current version of the mod to those interested in writing banters or other content for it.
So, I would propose IWD scenery conversations and interjections for BG companions as a good first step. (maybe not EVERYONE, Faldorn and Quayle and all, but at least Minsc and Imoen and Jaheira and other fan favorites). Then, when they're talkative - more crossmod.
Agreed. Gigantic effort like BG1 NPC Project would be far excessive, but adding scenery conversations and interjections in few crucial parts of the story, at least for the fan favourites, would be a really good start to make the mod far closer to BG experience.
It would be great if such experienced writer as you Kuylok would be interested in contributing to this project. Of course we are also open to other modders that could help writing content for characters. I'm not really a writer myself and don't have experience with coordinating things related to dialogues. My English skills are also not good enough to offer proofreading. I can however help with coding it if needed. It would be great if someone would take the lead of this aspect of the mod (for example you Kuylok, if you find time for it in the future). I will gladly grant you full access to GitHub accounts and forum section (when some message board allow us to create one) to make editing and coordinating writing tasks easier.
EDIT: Storywise I would just offer to forget the timeline. I.e. don't think about the year at all, forget that topic, say the events happened roughly in the same few years, that's it.
yep, that's how its meant to work. When it comes to IWD1 content it doesn't even require changes in dialogues because characters don't really mention dates/events/characters recorded in the official Forgotten Realms lore. IWD2 is a little more problematic due to overlapping storyline with IWD1 in later chapters. That's why IWD2 portion is limited (at least initially) only to the first worldmap where the quest to resolve Targos problems can be already treated as an optional standalone adventure (similar to Trademeet questline in BG2).