ALFA 1.23 Switchover (Progress)

[AcadiusLost]

I've got a lot of bits and pieces partly done for this, so I'll use this to track the progress. If there are volunteers with scripting / dialog / data entry / gui coding experience to help, we can use this thread to coordinate as well.

Custom Skills.

• Skills.2da edits - done (to 1.23 beta, -AL)
• Class skill 2da edits: core classes (done to 1.23 beta, -AL)
• Class skill 2da edits: prestige classes ( done, -AL/Erevain)
• PrC prereq. 2da edits to account for custom skills (80% done, -Erevain)
• "Recommended" skill buttons, disabling ( done, -Kest)
• Custom TLK edits for skill names/descriptions (done, -Ronan/Cipher)
• Constants defined for all custom skills (done, -AL)
• Interim icons for custom skills (done, -AL)
• Levelup event scripting to manage Perform and Lore hardcoding (done, -AL)
• GUI skill roller for custom skills: PC tools (done, -AL)
• DM GUI skill roller for custom skills: DMFI tools( done, -AL)
• PC GUI skill roller for custom skills: DMFI tools (~20% done, -AL)
• Adaption of scripts from LETOscript-based to 1.23 nwscript-based. (done, -AL)
• Custom skill rebuild scripted convo for existing PCs (done, Needs more testing-AL)
• Event scripting to differentiate between newly rolled up PCs (already have custom skills/regions) and preexisting (need automated rebuilding) (done, -AL)
• Speak Language skill interactions with DMFI (done, -AL)
• Removal of Skill Focus feats for deprecated skills (done, -AL)
• Investigate Get/SetRemainingSkillpoints() in 1.23 final (done, -AL)
• Custom Feats for Skill Focus in custom skills (not done, will add later)

Starting Regions:

• feats.2da edits to add regional backgrounds (done, -AL)
• Custom TLK edits for region descriptions and info (~95% done, -AL / Lou)
• Scripted dialog for assignment of regions to existing PCs (done, -AL)
• Scripted auto-assignment of local region to new unspecified PCs (done, -AL)
• Scripting infrastructure to link regions to automatic language lists (done, -AL)
• Scripting infrastructure to link regions to bonus language options (done, -AL)
• DMFI script edits to use ACR regional functions (done, -AL)
• ACR Convo check scripts for region (not done, will be added later)

Custom Languages:

• Event scripting to allow additional language choices on levelup (done, -AL)
• Event scripting to force language reassignment after automated rebuild (done, -AL)
• Testing ALFA Books compatibility with ACR under 1.23 final (not done yet)
• Scripting to allow tracking additional language options for levelup (not done yet, will add later)
• Scripting to allow learning languages from books (not done yet, will add later)
• Scripting to allow teaching/learning languages between PCs (not done yet, will add later)
• DMFI scripting to allow recognition of languages based on familiarity (not done yet, will add later)
• Scripting to allow use of banked skillpoints to learn languages mid-level (not done yet, will add later)

Autodownloader:

• Set up FTP for serving haks/PWCs (done, Curmudgeon)
• Test staging/upload of player content for multiple servers (not done)
• Test staging/upload of PWC content from multiple sources (not done)
• Test staging/synchronization under 1.23 final (done, -AL)
• Test alternative/redundant FTPs for resource hosting (not done)
• Set up website pages for rules/info viewing during content download (not done)

Serverside Config options:

• Heeds No Con 2 replacement with server ini option (Done and tested 1.23beta, -AL)
• Override disable / hak priority (needs testing/decisions made)
• Custom GUI disable (needs decisions made / testing)
• Effect examine disabling (needs testing under 1.23 final)

Haks at Character Creation:

• Initial extra head/hair packs chosen/tested (Done, -Kest / AL)
• feat.2da edits: Banned/removed feat removal (Done, -AL)
• feat.2da edits: Description customization to reflect ALFA changes (done, -AL)
• Custom TLK edits: Feat Description customization to reflect ALFA changes (done, -AL)
• skills.2da edits: Description customization to reflect ALFA changes (done, -AL)
• Custom TLK edits: Skill Description customization to reflect ALFA changes and identify "RP ONLY" skills (done, -AL)
• subrace.2da edits: Description customization to reflect ALFA proceedures/guidelines (Extraordinary PCs)(done, -AL)
• Custom TLK edits: Subrace Description customization to reflect ALFA proceedures/guidelines (Extraordinary PCs)(done, -AL)
• class.2da edits: Description customization to reflect ALFA proceedures/guidelines (Extraordinary PCs)(done, -AL)
• Custom TLK edits: Favored Soul Class Description customization to reflect ALFA proceedures/guidelines (Extraordinary PCs) (done, -AL)

Additional Scripting Functions/Events

• InstantFeat implementation for subdual mode activation/deactivation (done, -AL)
• OnChat Module Event: Investigate for Party Chat improvement (not done, will add later)
• OnChat Module Event: Investigate for Language redirection / DMFI integration (not done, will add later)
• ActivatePortal() : Investigate for server portalling improvements in 1.23 final (not done, will add later)

Other patch version tasks:

• Spells.2da edits to merge with 1.23 final (done, -AL)
• identify other changed 2das and XMLs which are hak'd for ALFA, merge as necessary (not done, -AL/Erevain)

[edit: italicized items will be added after the 1.23 switchover, so they don't hold us up.]

Not all of these are essential, and a few of them certainly require the actual release of the final version of the 1.23 patch. I've been working with an early beta patch that was released, which I can share with anyone who is willing and able to help out in the meantime. At some point once 1.23 is out, I will need volunteers to patch up in order to help me test, particularly regarding the automated rebuild and character creation processes, since those need to be rock-solid before we start wholesale adaption of everyone's .bic files.

The 2da edits I've done merge ALFA's content with that of the 1.23 beta patch. I won't know how much of that will need to be re-edited until I see the 2das from 1.23 final release. My inclination is to hold on patching ALFA as a whole until the major rebuild-associated systems above (custom skills, regions, languages) are ready, to avoid having to merge ALFA content multiple times in parallel at the 2da level.

Will update as I think of more areas needing work, and make progress on the ones listed here.

[edit: DM DMFI roller working for all custom skills]
[edit: weekend progress]
[edit: early week progress]
[edit: wednesday night progress]
[edit: major progress]

[Teric neDhalir]

This is all waaaay over my head, so all I can say is "Thank you" to AL and co.

[Rotku]

Happy to help you with testing mate. Also if there is any grunt work that needs doing (manually copying this over from there to here, or what ever) I could spend an hour here and an hour there lending a hand if needed.

[darrenhfx]

Wow very nice! I might be able to help in some way in a few weeks time after I get a chunk of schoolwork out of the way.

[zicada]

What is the actual date it is released again ?
Knowing that will make it easier for me to make time for the infra part of this.

[Rotku]

From my understanding it's rumored to be within the week, however I believe we are holding off until we can get the character transfer thingy all set.

[AcadiusLost]

Got the PC tools skill roller working last night, also improved on the functionality of it somewhat (made it report auto-failure on attempting a skill which cannot be used untrained). In order to manage this, also had to fix a PC tools bug that crept in with 1.23 that was a tricky one.

[AcadiusLost]

More progress last night; added the rollover skillpoints handling using the 1.23 final patch functions, also coded the differentiation between converted, unconverted, and new PCs. Coded pre-rebuild caching of PC information for restoration from de-leveling, and XP removal/restoration. Developed a framework for managed levelups through the rebuild with temporary alignment shifts to allow leveling in the same prior classes.

Hoping to put up a test server this weekend and recruit a few members with patched installs for testing of character creation, automated rebuilds, and the autodownloader.

[stormsong]

I'm updated and ready to go. Give me the info for the server and I'm onboard.

[AcadiusLost]

Sunk many hours into these systems over the course of the weekend, with the following positive results:

• Skill reassortment convo working for adjusting existing PCs
• Background region assignment convo working for existing PCs
• Custom skills and backgrounds working in character creation
• Text descriptions of all custom skills and almost all regions complete
• Languages by background region, race, class, and current server working
• Three additional languages added (Yuanti, Netherese, Loross)
• Levelup with Speak Language ranks purchased prompts for additional language choices
• Autodownloader is working on a single-mod, single-filesource basis.
• Additional heads, hair, voicesets working from char creation.
• DMFI language box working with multiple ' and " characters
• Set Description box working with multiple ' and " characters

The re-leveling system isn't triggering when it should be, the language reinitialization isn't working correctly yet, the languages on levelup aren't always calculating properly, and existing non-skills PCs aren't being received by the scripts as they ought to be. So, some serious bugs remain, but major progress.

Once I get a mod that can handle rebuilding existing PCs, I'll try to host it regularly through the week so players who have patched up already can try with copies of their own PCs (as well as volunteered copies of their peers' PCs, depending).

[Dorn]

You are a flat out champion AL.

Honestly. This community owes you and your tech companions a lot.

Sadly without us being close to the same bar, i dont think i can buy you a beer

[dergon darkhelm]

TL, DR




Seriously though---I don't understand any of that, but I can tell it is a crapload of work. Thanks, AL!

[AcadiusLost]

Got another evening's work in on this, squished a few bugs.

• All PCs (new PCs and existing rebuildable PCs) are now being offered choice of starting region, if they haven't already had one assigned.
• DMFI bonus language options no longer show duplicate entries for languages
• 2nd and higher level PCs are now correctly de-leveled before skill reassignment
• 1st level skillpoint reassignment no longer reverts on releveling during automated rebuilds
• special handling to insure Able Learner PCs get full benefit with their starting skillpoints (not tested)
• number of bonus languages now correctly tracks with later Speak Language investment and level-up language choices.
• XP is now returned to rebuilding PCs after skill point reassignment for releveling
• Levels taken in inappropriate classes (according to class levels before rebuilding) are correctly reverted.

Present bugs / areas of focus: DMFI languages wipe and re-initialize not yet working, need to roll back language assignments if leveling was inappropriate (or wait to assign them until it is confirmed), re-application of XP for re-leveling after an inappropriate level needs to be delaycommanded. XP initialization for RPXP needs to be deferred until after the rebuild is complete. Automated alignment shifter needs work.

Should be able to get more time in tonight, seems likely I'll be able to start hosting a rebuild example mod late tonight, leaving it up during the day through the end of this week. At that point, I'll be looking for 1.23-patched volunteers to try rebuilding their PCs, as well as volunteered .bic files to be tested for the same by myself or by others.

While said testing is going on, I'll try to get the remaining v1.23 2das merged with ALFA's content to prepare for the hak update.

Will also need to play with the ADL setup somewhat to see how it would support multiple servers.

[AcadiusLost]

Not as much progress last night, but moving along somewhat.

• Subdual Mode toggle reimplemented as an unlimited-use activatable InstantFeat, assigned to all PCs as they are adapted to the custom skill framework.
• New PCs who select "NWN2 type" backgrounds such as Bully, Veteran, Ladies' Man, etc will be offered region selection on first login.
• Auto-re-leveling system now correctly detects and rolls back levels taken in classes not possessed before the rebuild started (or levels in preexisting classes that exceed those possessed before the rebuild).
• Auto re-leveling system tests attribute changes and rolls back levels if investment went into statistics not boosted before the rebuild.
• PCs with Able Learner are automatically directed into the "clear all skills and reassign" branch of the skill dialog, in order to get full benefit from the feat.
• Ranks assigned by skill reassortment dialog no longer roll back OnLevelUp()
• The rebuilding process is no longer terminated at the first rejected level-up
• bonus language selection during rebuild level-up process deferred until final level

Still a few important things that need to be sorted out; the language re-initialization isn't working yet, the function to repeat a leveling during the rebuild needs work, and we're seeing some problems with the use of the "recommended" buttons in the levelup GUI. May be some more 2da work that needs to be done there.

[edit: Also played with the AutoDownLoader (ADL) a bit more, pushing the haks and tlk into a separate FTP folder from the module-specific (PWC-type) resources. This is encouraging for de-centralizing PWC updates for mod managers.]

[AcadiusLost]

I'm glad to report essentially all aspects of the Custom Skills Adaption and Automated Rebuild system appear to be working. I'll want to run a final phase of testing where we get more volunteers to help stress-test and try to break the system for part of this week. If it's robust, we'll aim for this coming weekend to switch ALFA over to 1.23.

Still some more tasks to sort out in the meantime, but making sure most everyone is correctly handled by the automated adaption scripts is the priority at this point.

Your options as players:

1. Patch up to 1.23 (won't be able to play on the live servers for a week or so) and let me know, I'll put a copy of your live PC onto the testmod for you to try rebuilding.

2. Grant permission for someone who is on 1.23 to try rebuilding a copy of your PC for you. I am willing to do this, others who have patched include Curmudgeon, Paazin, Ariel, Stormsong, and Riotnrrd. Hopefully will be a few others soon. As this tends to convey a lot of statistical meta, you are in no way obligated to authorize someone else to try rebuilding your PC.

Look for the ACR 1.23 Test Server in PW Story, or direct connect to it at 71.206.168.254:5129 (normal ALFA player password). New TLK, PWC, and testing haks will automatically download. Create and level up as many PCs as you like, and report any bugs observed.