Custom Portraits / Descriptions
You may now create and link a custom portrait for your character. We have adapted the GUI from Kemo's bio/description Editor off nwvault to be compatible with ALFA's systems, so you may change portrait and description as often as you like. NOTE: this is NOT the same as the custom 2D portrait option from double-clicking the 3D head representation on your character sheet in-game. That system should NOT be used, as it causes major problems for DMs in-game. Leave the default 3D portrait there. Custom portraits are optional, so they are not included in the auto-downloader materials. In order to see the portraits, you need to do the following:
- Download the portrait pack from http://zic.t3ch.no/~alfa/alfa2_portraits.rar
- Unpack the portrait pack into the /portraits folder in the documents branch of your NWN2 install (typically /username/my documents/neverwinter nights 2/portraits
- Look over the portraits via windows explorer or the image viewing program of your choice.
- Make a note of the filename of the portrait you want for your PC.
- When in-game with your PC, right-click on the ground and select "Edit Description"
- Enter the portrait filename (without the .TGA part) into the box on the right
- Enter a text description for your PC on the left
- Click "Save" to finalize these changes.
If you want to create your own custom portrait, edit an existing one, or otherwise add something that's not available, here are some guidelines:
- Portraits must be in TGA format.
- Potraits appear at 1:2 aspect ratio: if your portrait is not so sized, it will be stretched to fit, to varying effects. I recommend cropping or "letterboxing" to preserve the aspect ratio for portraits that start off a different size.
- Maximum recommended resolution is 302x604 pixels.
- Pick a unique filename, and put the portrait in your /portraits folder
- Post a link to the file in your server forum (and/or your forum sig) for others to download.
- Please avoid NSFW-type images (ALFA is ostensibly a PG-13 type environment, not sure if we have active kidlet members presently, but we have had them in the past and likely will again). Also avoid ridiculousness: anime pictures, animal/monster pictures/other sillyness.
- I will aim to update the official portrait pack periodically, but I will not add questionable images to the offical pack.
You may now specify VFX to represent "stowed" versions of swords, axes, bows, quivers, backpacks, shields, or lutes. These are dynamic, and may be toggled on and off via the custom buttons in PC tools. The textures/models are somewhat crude, and may not much resemble your actual weapon, but they make decent representations available. They may also appear to "float" or clip into your PC's model, depending what you're wearing and which race your PC is (especially bad for dwarves). Try them, use them if you like the look, leave them disabled if not. The following items can be bound to the VFX system:
- Bows: show up as diagonal around the torso, disappear when equipped, reappear when unequipped. Works with Longbow and Shortbow.
- Shields: 2 appearance options, both resemble heavy shields, one wooden, one metal. These hang high on the back, disappear when equipped, appear again when unequipped. Should work with Light shields, heavy shields, and Tower shields.
- Large axes: Show up as hanging in the center of the back, large two-edged axe head flat behind the PC's head. Despawns when equipped, reapplied OnUnEquip. Usable with Greataxes and Battleaxes.
- Waraxe: also occupies the center-back position, this looks like a single-edged axe with the blade behind the PC's head. Disappears when equipped, reappears when unequipped. Occupies the same "slot" as the greataxe, so only one may be used at a time. Usable with Dwarven Waraxe and Battleaxe.
- Sword, Left Hip: VFX resembles a longsword or bastard sword, against the left hip at an angle. Disappears OnEquip of the bound item, reappears OnUnEquip. Usable with Longsword, Shortsword, Katana, Bastardsword, Rapier, and scimitar.
- Sword, Left Shoulder: VFX resembles a longsword or bastard sword, hanging verically from the left shoulder. Disappears OnEquip of the bound item, reappears OnUnEquip. Usable with Longsword, Shortsword, Katana, Bastardsword, Rapier, and scimitar.
- Sword, Large, Back: VFX resembles an oversized fantasy greatsword hanging verically from the left shoulder. Disappears OnEquip of the bound item, reappears OnUnEquip. Occupies the same slot as the left shoulder sword, so it cannot be used in combination with it. Usable with Falchion and Greatsword.
- Lute, back: Slings diagonally across the back, disappears OnEquip, reappears OnUnEquip. Usable with any item of base type: Mandolin.
- Backpack: low-rez large backpack, 2 colors. Does not tie to an item.
- Quiver: same as the belt-type model in the toolset. 2 colors available, does not tie to an item.
- Open PC tools
- Find Custom Buttons page 2 under Miscellaneous
- Press the "VFX Sword-hip" button to activate the VFX
- Equip the sword you want associated with the VFX
Text Macros (PC Tools):
We have added some new functionality to the text macros in PC Tools: previously they allowed you to specify one of three "volumes": normal, whisper, and shout. Now, we have replaced "shout" with party channel, to help facilitate scouting or other cases in which communication is meant to reach beyond normal in-game listen radius. Remember: Party-channel text has some quirks; it will not display for nearby PCs who are not members of your party presently, and it is echoed to all DMs on the server, so it should be used responsibly. PC tools text macros may be accessed by opening the Options area under Miscellaneous in PC tools, and clicking to Show Text Macro Bar. There are 5 pages of slots for custom macros. I will be working on adding the ability to macro text in DMFI languages as well soon.
Skill Checks (PC Tools):
PC tools remains the method of choice to roll skill checks, either to inform RP or at the request of a DM. However, the back-end code for the skill roller has now been re-written to take into account skill synergies and racial bonuses to custom skills. Whether set to Public or Private display, you will see the d20 roll result, along with the modifier (combination of base ranks, synergies, bonuses, and other modifiers) and result total. This will appear in Local Chat if set to Public, and in the Server Message window if set to Private. Furthermore, a PC eligible for synergy or racial bonuses will see an additional message in the Server Message window notifying them when a synergy has been applied. (Examples: having 5 or more ranks in Tumble gives a +2 to all Balance checks, Halflings get a racial +2 to Jump and Climb, etc.) The core function doing the rolling here will eventually be utilized by most in-game scripted skill checks as well, though there will likely be a lag time before it's implemented for all of them. As a side note, I also added the skill synergy for Decipher Script to Use Magic Device check involving scrolls with this update.
Additional/Long Hairstyles:
This update also saw the addition of many more hairstyle options, usable by some races, as follows:
- 10 new hairstyles for human males (includes aasimars)
- 11 new hairstyles for wild elf males / half-elves
- 11 new hairstyles for other elven males
- 10 new hairstyles for halfling males
- 20 new hairstyles for human females (includes aasimars)
- 20 new hairstyles for wild elf females /half-elves
- 20 new hairstyles for other elven females
- 20 new hairstyles for halfling females
