Proper place to run a script

[magilvia]

I'm quite new to scripting and I would like to create a mage kit which requires to use scripts often. The problem is I can't find a proper place to run the script because:
- I can't use baldur.bcs because HaveSpell() or RemoveSpell() wouldn't work
- for the same reason I can't use the invisible creature trick.
- I wouldn't like to use dplayer3.bcs because it's deactivated when AI is turned off and my kit would lose all ability
- for the same reason I can't use ChangeAIScript with level >= CLASS
- I fear I would mess something if I use ChangeAIScript with level < CLASS

There's no other place to run script, isn't it ?
I don't understand why in IE  does not exist a default, ever active, mandatory script for PCs and/or NPCs. It's seem such a obvious feature... 

Thanks.

[Loriel]

You can run the script in the OVERRIDE slot of the CRE.  It is not deactivated by turning off the AI, and it has the highest priority when the AI is turned on.  If you need to change scripts often, you can still use ChangeAIScript() to assign to the OVERRIDE slot.

[magilvia]

Which creature do you mean? I need my script to run on party members but I fear to mess something using their override script. is it correct ?

[Loriel]

I misunderstood.  I thought you meant you were creating a new NPC with that kit.  If the kit is supposed to run on an existing NPC, then putting it in the OVERRIDE slot on that NPC would probably be a bad idea (since that's where romances/personal quests/etc are taken care of for each NPC).  The unfortunate thing is, that's the only slot on a CRE that is not deactivated by turning off the AI.

[magilvia]

What about the override script for the PC ?

[Loriel]

It's open in the unmodded game, although some mods might actually use it.  I couldn't point you to a list of mods that do, though.

[magilvia]

If it's not too much trouble. Thank you.
Is there a way to check if an override script has been assigned, or better a way to restore a previously assigned script ?

[Rabain]

Why does this script need to be on joinable NPC'S?

What about using EXTEND to add your script code into whatever script is in the override of each known joinable NPC?  This would take 2 minutes to find out in NI.

I don't get what you are trying to do though, if the script is for a kit why does it need to be assigned to each NPC, are you planning on making them all use the same kit?

Maybe if you explain a bit further what you want this script to do there might be an easier way of doing things already known to someone!

[igi]

I believe the normal practice is just to bung it in dplayer, and advise players not to disable party AI.

[magilvia]

Why does this script need to be on joinable NPC'S?

What about using EXTEND to add your script code into whatever script is in the override of each known joinable NPC? This would take 2 minutes to find out in NI.

I don't get what you are trying to do though, if the script is for a kit why does it need to be assigned to each NPC, are you planning on making them all use the same kit?

Maybe if you explain a bit further what you want this script to do there might be an easier way of doing things already known to someone!

I'll explain better. I would like to change the spellcasting system in BG2. This is primarily for my personal use with my PC. Since I'm working on it I think it could take a little effort to  create a new kit and release it as a mod. I think that it could possible interest other players too. But why should I limit the system to work on the PC ? It could be interesting to make other party member mages use the same system, too. And since it is an alternative spellcasting system players should not be able to disable it "just for a while" turning AI off. It will be like cheating... Hence my question.
In particular with my system Mages can regain spells after a certain amount of time without sleep but they're not granted to regain a spell after only 8 hours of sleep. (this is teory. For now I would content myself to find the proper place to run the system scripts.)

The only alternative spellcasting system I found is the mana system from DLTC  but it doesn't even work.

What do you mean with EXTEND ? Is it a function of weidu ? I didn't have time to look through it by now.

[magilvia]

So should I assume there's no solution?

[Ghreyfain]

Could do as DLTC does and edit the keymap.ini to not have an AI on/off switch, and edit the GUI to not have the AI on/off button.  That way AI would be on all the time.

[Rabain]

What do you mean with EXTEND ? Is it a function of weidu ? I didn't have time to look through it by now.

Yes it is a function of weidu that allows you to add some script code that you have written to an existing script while keeping what already exists in the script intact.

In this case all you would need to do is have the script you create assigned to whichever npc is using your kit.  As it is a mage kit you would only need to find the scripts that are used by the mage npc's in the game and EXTEND them with your new code or replace should you feel it necessary.

[SimDing0™]

The only alternative spellcasting system I found is the mana system from DLTC but it doesn't even work.

You could probably download and look at the DLTC demo to see it actually working properly. Porting it back to BG2 wasn't Max's top priority.

[magilvia]

Could do as DLTC does and edit the keymap.ini to not have an AI on/off switch, and edit the GUI to not have the AI on/off button.  That way AI would be on all the time.

Thanks I'll think on this.
Since we are talking of the GUI, is it possible to exchange the "load" button with the "new game" button during the first menu screen after "single player" / "multiplayer" choice ? I ask this because when one clicks "single player" the mouse pointer is over the "new game" button so one has to remember to move the mouse to the right over the "load" button 99.9% of times. It's just another little annoing think that black isle should have take care of.

Yes it is a function of weidu that allows you to add some script code that you have written to an existing script while keeping what already exists in the script intact.

OK i'll use it, thanks.

You could probably download and look at the DLTC demo to see it actually working properly. Porting it back to BG2 wasn't Max's top priority.

Yes, I looked through Max BG2 porting mana scripts. He actually override the GENERAL script with ChangeAIScript. I would have liked to try something different as alredy explained.

[Loriel]

Yes, I looked through Max BG2 porting mana scripts. He actually override the GENERAL script with ChangeAIScript. I would have liked to try something different as alredy explained.

But with the AI always on, as described above, the GENERAL script slot (or indeed any script slot) would work just fine.  Basically, the only way to make a kit dependent on scripts would be to either use the OVERRIDE slot, use the DPLAYER* scripts and tell people not to disable the AI (and not worry about whether they decide to cheat), or to disable the AI-disabling features and use whatever script slot you want.  None are ideal, but unless someone can think of another alternative, they might be your only options.

[Rabain]

What about baldur.bcs, thats always running right?

Though its generally advised not to overuse this script for some reason!

[magilvia]

But with the AI always on, as described above, the GENERAL script slot (or indeed any script slot) would work just fine.  Basically, the only way to make a kit dependent on scripts would be to either use the OVERRIDE slot, use the DPLAYER* scripts and tell people not to disable the AI (and not worry about whether they decide to cheat), or to disable the AI-disabling features and use whatever script slot you want.  None are ideal, but unless someone can think of another alternative, they might be your only options.

Ok thanks for your suggestions.

What about baldur.bcs, thats always running right?

As said above some action and triggers won't work in baldur.bcs such as havespell() and removespell()

[Rabain]

Is it possible to call a script from a script?

In the way the dialogue fix patch on some npc's work? Pressing a hotkey calls a script which starts a cutscene that is anther script. Is there a way to do this withou using cutscene perhaps?

[Ghreyfain]

You could do:

IF
  HotKey(whatever)
THEN
  RESPONSE #100
    StartCutSceneMode()
    StartCutScene("blah")
END

This is, as I recall, how the PKers in multi-player used to do their stuff.  Anyone remember that?  The days when TeamBG was so righteously outraged at hackers and the like that they had that huge campaign against it?  And how the hackers were all... well, I forget their opinion.  The situation was quite laughable at any rate.  Every so often someone would come through the scripting help forum asking for help with their (obvious) multi-player PK script, and the capital letters and exclamation marks would soon follow.  So cool.

Anyways, you could also use other methods.

...
  RESPONSE #100
    ActionOverride(Player1,ChangeAIScript("blah",DEFAULT)
END

[Avenger_teambg]

Nah, teambg was outraged because pk scriptors took away the bandwith from those cute npc modders

[Ghreyfain]

Yeah, good thing they had that quiz, then.

1) Are you making an NPC mod?
Y/N?
2) Are you going to use these tools to cheat?
Y/N?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you will be banned forever.  Have a nifty day.

[SimDing0™]

Haha, the quiz was amazing.

[igi]

That quiz sounds pretty neat.
Except the second question, thats dumb.
But if we screened people on the first question...

[SimDing0™]

I thought the actual TeamBG quiz was better. Maybe PPG should do a similar one.

WHAT ARE PEE PEE'S GOALS?
1) PRODUCING QUALITY INFINITY ENGINE MODS
2) MOCKING PEOPLE
3) PORN
4) ALL OF THE ABOVE