Topic: NWN 2 Mods & Toolset Plug-Ins Thread

[MysterD]

Yeah, NWN2's Toolkit is already available for download to those who actually pre-ordered NWN2.

NWN2's Toolkit allows for modders to make actual plug-in's for the actual Toolset, to add more and new features to the toolset, if they so choose to do so.

For example, someone made a mod for the Toolkit that can spellcheck your journal, conversations, etc etc. They call it Spellplug:
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=NWN2PlugIns.Detail&id=7

Another example. Someone made a mod to make "Creating Shops" cery easy w/ a few clicks. Here is that toolset plug-in, called Vordan's Shop Wizard:
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=NWN2PlugIns.Detail&id=5

[Xessive]

I think this is going to be the next best thing since The Elder Scrolls modding!

[MysterD]

I think this is going to be the next best thing since The Elder Scrolls modding!

I agree w/ that.

[Quemaqua]

I think this thread should be merged with the other.  It really doesn't need its own.

[MysterD]

I think this thread should be merged with the other.  It really doesn't need its own.

Que, I started this as a separate thread b/c just like when we all had the individual Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Mods Thread we had going, I think this will get huge -- especially since the NWN 2 ToolSet's out to those who pre-ordered and we're already getting mods and the game ain't even out yet until October 31st!!!

Imagine what it'll be like once the game is out, w/ mods and everything...especially w/ how modded out the original NWN1 was....The number of modules built were insane, Que!!

I am suggesting this thread stays as its own, only for NWN2's New Mods and Plug-In's to be posted in.....if it's cool w/ the rest of y'all....

[Quemaqua]

Seems silly with only 3 people on the boards even seeming to care about the game, but whatever.  If nobody else cares about having 2 threads, it's cool.  Was just a suggestion.

[Xessive]

Damn, I was hoping this would escalate into a MyD vs Que battle for the board! In the hopes that it'll inspire me for another MyD vs Que doodle

[MysterD]

Also in NWN2 for the Toolkit are Prefabricated Areas, which gamers can create as like a template for others to use in their toolset, if they wish.

Here's one that could make an interesting area:
Haunted House

[MysterD]

Obsidian mentions the NWN2 Plug-In's they like for the Toolset that modders have made, so far

Neverwinter Nights 2 Designer Diary #6 - Final Thoughts and the First Patch
Neverwinter Nights 2 arrives in stores this week, and the executive producer has some last-second items to discuss, including the first patch.
By Staff, GameSpot
Posted Oct 31, 2006 5:59 pm PT

....

Let's check out some of these cool plug-ins people have created so far!

sidefx's Yet Another Terrain Tool: One of Neverwinter Nights 2's strengths (but something that does take up quite a bit of time) is the ability to create very organic-looking environments using a set of fairly simple brushes within the toolset. When you're a DM on the run and want to generate a bunch of new maps quickly, you can use this plug-in to simply do a Web search for "height map," take any qualifying height map out there that suits you, and easily import it into the toolset.

GuS' M4C Land & Tree Generator: If you don't have a height map handy, take a look at this generator. One new feature of the toolset is a brush that allows you to paint trees in your levels. The game ships with a fairly wide variety of different types of trees, including seasonal sets for spring and fall. The process for placing trees is a manual one: You must paint them down one at a time...until now. GuS' M4C land and tree generator allows you to randomly generate the terrain, choose the season of trees you'd like to place down, select your new forest's tree density, and randomize the overall size of the individual trees to create a very convincing, natural-looking forest in a few seconds.

Vordan's Shop Wizard:On the design side of things, Vordan's shop wizard is a fantastic plug-in that makes it easy to generate new in-game shops quickly. It uses a very simple category system with a clean interface to make creating shops a snap. It also lets you create a new conversation for the shopkeeper and review the script before it's finished, all within one easy-to-use wizard.

Lazjen's Suite of Plug-Ins: Last in this article, but certainly not the least, is Lazjen's suite of plug-ins. He provides a very simple viewer for searching and displaying the thousands of icons in the game, as well as an improved viewer for looking at the various sky rings available, wrapping it up with a really nice store tool.

Whether you're thinking about dabbling in building your own modules or are a hardcore builder, I highly recommend heading over to the official Neverwinter Nights 2 forums and taking a look at what some of the other very talented folks are doing. Some really great stuff is either already out now or close on the horizon.

I focused our last diary on toolset customization and cool plug-ins, but if you're not planning to fire up the toolset or play online anytime soon, don't worry--Neverwinter Nights 2 still has plenty for you. We put a tremendous amount of effort into making a fun single-player Dungeons & Dragons game with all the bells and whistles. If you've been missing that "old-school" feel of the Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale series of role-playing games, but still want some of the luxuries of what a modern game can give you, Neverwinter Nights 2 awaits!

-GameSpot

[MysterD]

Eurogamer give their take on the Toolkit that comes w/ NWN2

If that isn't enough, the Eurogamer Reviewer gives you his finished basic mod to test the Toolkit out, which took him a whole 2 hours to make.

[MysterD]

Xessive, you might like this. Someone made an Improved UI mod for NWN2.

Big Inventory Icons and Character Info (NWN2 UI Mod) by Clubok

NWN2 UI
Name     Big Inventory Icons and Character Info
Author     clubok
Submitted / Updated     11-11-2006 / 11-12-2006
Category     Minor UI change
Date Submitted     2006-11-11 10:59:23
Patch     1.00

Description

This makes the inventory icons 50% bigger in each direction, so you don't have to squint. Inventory icons are arranged in a 4x8 grid to the right of the paper doll. An 8x8 version is also available.

The tabs are much larger, and arranged vertically between the paper doll and the inventory grid, making it easier to drop items onto them.

Below the paper doll is an excerpt of the information available from the Character screen. This way, you can immediately see the effect on your statistics of equipping or unequipping an item.

There are two different versions you can DL -- a 8x8x8 and a 4x8x4 version of the UI, of this UI.

8x8x2 version pic of their UI


4x8x4 version pic of their UI

[MysterD]

Slim Health Bars Mod, which make the Health Bars smaller, basically -- in which there are textures to make the health either blue or red.

Small Portraits, which make the Portraits Smaller, basically -- by about half their size

Here's what the Health bars look like, originally, as in NWN2 out the box



Now, here's the bars w/ the Small Health Bars mod, in Red


Small Health Bars Mod, in Blue



Small Portraits Mod

[Xessive]

Nice, those would be extremely handy. I've been using SLATE's UI mods, specifically Tiny Spellbook. SLATE's Tiny Inventory has some bugs, but it made eberything too tiny and even more confusing than it already is. I don't know if I want bigger icons, they're already clunky enough as it is. I wish someone would make a sleek UI just like original NWN.

Personally I don't like the new context menu either (right-click). I preferred the radial menu in NWN1, and apparently that's how a lot of the fans feel as well. Anyway, it's pretty obvious that NWN2 was designed with really high screen resolutions in mind. Everything looks bulky and clutters the screen at 1024x768, so the small portraits will be a handy UI mod.