Modifying your game with Houserules.
Aliteri
Member Posts: 308
I think most everyone here must have modded Baldur's Gate and other games in one way or another, so in theory we all like modding for different reasons and to different extents.
But not everything can practically or even need to be modded into the game, especially if you are programming illiterate like me so there's the subject of this thread: Houserules, limitations and/or quirks you subject yourself to voluntarily as to solve 'pet peeves' and, hopefully, improve the overall experience of the game.
Of all, I suppose the most popular one is are the No-Reload Challenges that come up from time to time. But no doubt there are more interesting things out there. I for one, had two that I can remember:
1 - Limited Resting: Never rest on 'Evil Bases' (such as the Cloakwood Mine); only rest in the wilderness if pressed by fatigue and try and keep resting logical (for one, I do not rest for '8 hours' if I'm pressed to rescue a given NPC). This, I found, improved my experience by requiring forefought in the memorization of spells, as well as also making me stock and use items such as potions.
2 - Limited No-Reload: Essentially, I don't have the patience for a actual No-Reload challenge, but I can appreciate how, for a example, you actually have to cope with death in them. So I thought that if I imposed on myself no-reloads per adventure (say, exploring the Cloakwood Forest in search of the Mine), then the game could be more interesting without all the headaches.
So... did any of you try to improve your experience via Houserules?
But not everything can practically or even need to be modded into the game, especially if you are programming illiterate like me so there's the subject of this thread: Houserules, limitations and/or quirks you subject yourself to voluntarily as to solve 'pet peeves' and, hopefully, improve the overall experience of the game.
Of all, I suppose the most popular one is are the No-Reload Challenges that come up from time to time. But no doubt there are more interesting things out there. I for one, had two that I can remember:
1 - Limited Resting: Never rest on 'Evil Bases' (such as the Cloakwood Mine); only rest in the wilderness if pressed by fatigue and try and keep resting logical (for one, I do not rest for '8 hours' if I'm pressed to rescue a given NPC). This, I found, improved my experience by requiring forefought in the memorization of spells, as well as also making me stock and use items such as potions.
2 - Limited No-Reload: Essentially, I don't have the patience for a actual No-Reload challenge, but I can appreciate how, for a example, you actually have to cope with death in them. So I thought that if I imposed on myself no-reloads per adventure (say, exploring the Cloakwood Forest in search of the Mine), then the game could be more interesting without all the headaches.
So... did any of you try to improve your experience via Houserules?
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Second is that I allow myself to dual-class into a kit, provided I have an adequate RP period building up to it, a suitable backstory, and have NPCs that could teach me (most of) the relevant skills and aptitudes. And obviously don't already have a kit, because that would be illegal and impossible with the game engine.
Arcane casters stick to their school as close as possible. Bards (I mainly play jesters) learn spells a trickster like them would use - charm person, invisibility, friends. Specialists memorize at least 1 spell of their school per level before memorizing other schools.
Essential spellcaster. Can initially cast Raise Dead on corpses. Can also learn Unholy Frenzy and Cripple.
Attacks land and air units.
1. Minimal Reloads. I won't reload after NPC's die. I'll get them to a temple for resurrection. If Charname is evil, then all bets are off.
2. Reload if Charname dies. I role play that the PC has earned the right to expect his party to have him resurrected if he has treated them the same way. (I've been considering a way to have a maximum number of reloads for Charname based on his Constitution. He gets weaker each time. I like the idea).
3. Do not automatically Max the Ability scores. I often stop at a first ability roll above 80. I have a set limit to the number of points an ability score can be increased or decreased. So, I'm often playing with 17's in the prime requisite, sometimes 16's, but sometimes the rule gets me an18.
4. Use Core rules except for leveling up or memorizing spells. On leveling up I want some variety but not less than half the maximum HP's. For memorizing spells, I give them three chances. Never accepted that the spell disappears from the scroll.
5. Try not to Meta game. Try not to let Charname take advantage of knowledge that he wouldn't normally have at this stage of the game. There has to be a role playing reason to go anywhere. It's not easy to do.
These are a few of the rules that make the game seem more realistic to me.
If I happen to play an evil thief type character and someone in my party gets caught stealing or doing some other unlawful act, well we have to kill all witnesses, regardless of the rep hit.
I have scs and edited nearly every shop, area and treasue to suit my tastes. No shop sells and buys wands now, so no infinite wands-recharge trick which I feel is a tad cheesy. Some temples offer restoration and resurrection spells, and couple cleric scrolls, just like BG2. I've added some level draining undead to a few dungeons so it is nice to have a high lvl temple that can cast restoration. Also, most big temples buy off items now. I've found it tedious that I had to backtrack to Beregost to sell my junk to raise enough gp to raise a npc at the temple. Now temple buys off my gems and stuff and raises my dead. ^^
Added tons of random treasures to many locations and enemies, so it is fun to discover them. (I use rndmtrsr item, which, according to its level, gives off gold, gems, scrolls etc.)
I edited all clubs to be usable by mages...seee my thread for the discussion! :-)
I've added a lot of wraiths and shadows to Durlag's tower, and they use BP scripts and bee line for the pc. They somehow go through most locked doors, too. So when my pc enters a lower Durlag area, a few seconds later all kinds of shadows and wraiths descend upon him. Scary! :-D Added some spectres to Candlekeep catacombs, to protect their burial treasure chests.
I've raised the levels of most spell casters and gave them appropriate scripts, borrowing some scripts from BG2. Cythandaria can unleash a Meteor Swarm now. Semaj in the final battle can cast Time stop and Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting. I greatly buffed Sarevok too, increasing his movement rate a lot, giving him more attacks, hp, stats, and a custom magical sword+3 that can do +200 damage with %2 chance. (his Death Bringer Assault ability)
I continue to edit and change my game with DLTCEP constantly. It is fun! ^_^