Modding Idea and Request : Returning darts / throwing dagger / axe

Thomasw

Hello all, as you can see from the title of the thread I would like to put forward an idea that including some of the magical returning throwing items to BG1:EE would be a good idea. I have never enjoyed the ammunition system in the BG games, arrows, bolts and bullets I can just about put up with as you often find many magical varieties and typically the characters using these ranged weapons can swap in to meele weapons if need be.

Throwing daggers and darts however are a bit lacking in that regard. I usually use them on my wizards and rogues and most of the time I would like them at the back. Another thing is that they often run out because they are hurled at a very high rate.

I have played many Infinity engine games over the years and know that there are returning daggers and darts in IWD and BG2, so the functionality exists to add these style items to BG:EE. I would happily attempt to do this myself, but alas I have no idea where to begin. I don't think adding in overpowered items is a good thing, but some +1 returning daggers or darts would be a really good addition to the game.

Any thoughts, or perhaps advice on how to go about this ?

zurathan

it is not so hard, i had a similar idea and nailed it without any modding knowledge.
i was a bit dissapointed that BGEE didnt have any throwing hammer.
it was the obvious missle choice with high strenth clerics when the times slings didnt have strength bonus.
and druids may have javelins!? arguably, they thought adding a new weapon to game but not throwing hammers! that puzzeled me.
and i didnt have any modding knowledge and didnt have anyone to ask. as a proper amateur, i googled it. there was two completely not-for-this-job programs. eekeeper and nearinfinity. eekeeper turned out editing character file program, and nearinfinity is a program for editing in game files. at least my impressions about them is this. and then i tried browsing in game files like 2da chr itm..... that tought me alot about game mechanics. and eureka. those *.itm files were editable. and i realise that misile weapons were using charge variable. if you edit that charge to 0 then it goes forever. so i took a hammer file "hamm01.itm" and changed its name "trwhmm.itm" then add a ranged attack and give charge 0, at that point i figured i need a animation file, took the lazy way and used throwing axe animation file. it was a result and that non magical hand returning hammer made me happy a while... the problem is i had to use cheat code to achive that item. i developed a cheat addiction and it killed my whole game joy.
if this is the case for all modders they must be saints for sacrificing their game experience for rest of us.
ignorance is bliss, mark my words.