Wierd item loss when i import ToB character to BGEE

Lowki

Bit annoying that after a long struggle to get a character through the game that there isn't combability between some items in BGII and BG, kind of removes the possibilty of powerplaying some weaker characters through the game, any works in progress regarding full item integration between the two games?

jackjack

I wouldn't hold your breath. So few people do a "New Game+" type of run that I'm sure the developers are in no rush to add more BG2EE items into BGEE. Besides, your character will still be insanely powerful throughout the game even without them.

Lowki

Just seems a little sloppy to me

mumumomo

I am sure your level 40 fighter will have lots of trouble in the naskel mines if he cannot bring his +5 plate and sword...

SirK8

I'm not sure why you would expect full item compatibility between the two games, especially when importing a character from the second game into the first. That being said, everyone has fun their own way, so I can get that you would want to do it, just not why you expect that it should be supported out of the box.

If you are able to import the character but not all the items, then it does support you being able to powerplay through again, just not with the same gear. If you really want the gear, it may be possible to copy the resources into your BGEE override folder and play with them that way. I'm not 100% sure of this though.

Tresset

SirK8 said:

If you really want the gear, it may be possible to copy the resources into your BGEE override folder and play with them that way. I'm not 100% sure of this though.

It is possible, and that would prevent the item loss. The biggest issue with doing this, however, is that about 95% of those items will then have invalid stringrefs (translation: their names and descriptions will display an error code). The items should function normally though.

SirK8

Could you use NI to export them to your override, then the automate feature of WeiDU to create a tp2 that would copy the items as well as append the dialog.tlk? Maybe that's more work that someone would want to put into it, or maybe that won't work (I'm pretty new to using WeiDU, but that's how I got correct strings for custom items I had made in DLTCEP).

Tresset

@SirK8‌ You could use weidu to correct the stringrefs but I imagine it would take quite a while to do. Lots of copy/pasting.

SirK8

@Lowki - Ok, so I don't think I would be allowed to post all the BG2:EE items here on the forum, but I did manage to get them all into my BG1 override without too much hassle. Here is what I did. I am on Windows, so if you are on a different operating system, the process could be different.

Get the latest version of WeiDU, unpack it and copy the WeiDU.exe into your BG2 game directory.

In your game directory create the a new folder called "bg2items", then inside that folder create a "backup" folder and an "itm" folder

Note: Whenever I refere to the "game" directory, I'm referring to the directory with chitin.key.

Ok now, using cmd, cd to the game directory and run this: WeiDU --biff-get .*itm$ --out bg2items/itm

For me that copied 2,775 items into my itm directory (this is a clean install). I'm assuming I got them all, but I'm shooting from the hip here.

Now inside of the bg2items directory, create a new text file named "bg2items.tp2" I use ConTEXT, but you can probably use notepad just fine. Put these lines in it:

BACKUP ~bg2items/backup~ AUTHOR ~Your name or something~ VERSION ~1~ BEGIN ~import all items~

Now save it and close it, and go back to cmd. Run this command from the game directory: WeiDU --use-lang en_US --automate bg2items/itm --append bg2items/bg2items.tp2

If you are using a different language than en_US you will want to use the appropriate argument.

Now inside of the bg2items folder, your bg2items.tp2 should now have the lines you put in before followed with a lot of lines that look like this:

COPY ~bg2items/itm/ZOMSEA.ITM~ ~override/ZOMSEA.ITM~ SAY NAME1 ~Short Sword~ SAY NAME2 ~Short Sword~ SAY UNIDENTIFIED_DESC ~The short sword is the first type of sword to come into existence. In the simplest of terms, a short sword can be considered a dagger with a blade so long that it can no longer be called a dagger. The term short sword does not exist in sword classifications. However, it has come to be used to describe a double-edged blade about two feet in length. The sword tip is usually pointed, ideal for thrusting. STATISTICS: Damage: 1d6 (piercing) Speed Factor: 3 Proficiency Type: Short Sword Type: One-handed Requires: 5 Strength Weight: 3~

Now let's move (or copy to be safe) the bg2items folder into your BG1:EE game directory (the one with chitin.key).

Now put a copy of WeiDU.exe in your BG1:EE game directory, but rename it to setup-bg2items.exe

Now run bg2items.exe from your BG1:EE game directory. This will copy all of the items into your override and patch the dialog.tlk file to use the right strings for them. To "uninstall" the items and the strings added to the dialog.tlk just run bg2items.exe again and choose the uninstall option.

There is probably an easier way, but this worked for me,. I haven't tested in game, but it all installed just fine. YMMV.

Edit: BTW, "uninstalling" it does take quite a while, so be patient. You could just delete the items from your override, but that wouldn't delete all the strings it added as well.

Erg

SirK8 said:

To "uninstall" the items and the strings added to the dialog.tlk just run bg2items.exe again and choose the uninstall option.

Edit: BTW, "uninstalling" it does take quite a while, so be patient. You could just delete the items from your override, but that wouldn't delete all the strings it added as well.

@SirK8 nice post

However there is a small inaccuracy. Uninstalling a WeiDU mod will not remove the additional strings in dialog.tlk. Apparently this was done on purpose to avoid breaking savegames after a mod is uninstalled.

SirK8

@Erg‌ - interesting insight, I didn't know that. I wonder why it takes so long to uninstall then, it was considerably longer than the install.

Actually, my original thought was to somehow search through the exported character file for the items contained in that, then only import those into the BG1 game, but I couldn't figure out how to do that. I guess the advantage to importing all of the items is you would only have to do this once if you were planning multiple character imports. Just seems like a lot of overhead though

Belanos

Lowki said:

Just seems a little sloppy to me

What's sloppy is trying to use a grossly over-powered character to play a game that's meant for lower levels. Like, seriously, I can't believe that you're even complaining about this.

Lowki

I guess what i meant was that I was hoping for a more seamless integrated connection between the two games. As for the overpower-aspect: Guess it's a diablo-syndrome, can't see the point of playing a character from start to finish, fully exploring everything, and finishing with superpowers and kewl items and simply say "oh well guess I'll roll a pala". Besides it's not like i take a single godlike avatar through the game once again, I simply use them for soft-boosting new weaker characters through the hairy or annoying bits, depending on mood, while also beeing able to play the game in ways that are not typically played (like joining Bodhi, turning on Hendak, poisoning the grove etc.)

TL;DR: I don't get people who play one character from start to finish and never see or use them again