Unofficial Arcanum Patch (Original Thread)

[Faceless]

P.S. More shots of Clockwork Decoys:
In action (creatures, original palettes):

Turned off (items, my palettes):

I think the colors are pretty much spot on.

I think the colours are horrible: they look more like plastic toys than mechanical constructs.
Any chance of getting a version without the palette changes?

Otherwise I think your add-on patch is very cool.

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

And remember, before this recent "his or her", "chairperson", gender neutral political correctness BS, masculine pronouns and words were used to refer an individual of an unknown gender or a group of mixed gender.

I was thinking about this "men" - "people" issue. Does "men" mean "people" in some cases? E.g. "all men are mortal". What do you native speakers think?

I think there is a subtle bug in Raven's dialog. Lines 1124 and 1125 (spoken by the PC) are triggered on being in area 20 (ia 20) and lead to the "What do you know about this place" response for Blackroot. I don't know where area 20 is, but it doesn't seem to be Blackroot. Virgil uses area 3 for his Blackroot dialog, and editing Raven's file to use ia 3 seems to fix it.

Area 20 is the Gateway to the Wastes. Fixed.

I think the colours are horrible: they look more like plastic toys than mechanical constructs.

Thanks a lot for the feedback on original Troika's palettes, which I simulated. Any more opinions on colored decoys? Are they really this terrible and unfitting?

 

[Kharza]

Thanks a lot for the feedback on original Troika's palettes, which I simulated. Any more opinions on colored decoys? Are they really this terrible and unfitting?

I have to agree with Faceless, they indeed look like plastic toys. With the original palettes they look more like they are actually from metal, despite being colored.

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

Thanks a lot for the feedback on original Troika's palettes, which I simulated. Any more opinions on colored decoys? Are they really this terrible and unfitting?

I have to agree with Faceless, they indeed look like plastic toys. With the original palettes they look more like they are actually from metal, despite being colored.

The colors are pretty much the same. It's just that the ground art for the items may be a bit off, but it's the original nonetheless. There were no palettes for the items (only for the creatures), so I made them.

For comparison. Uncolored (item+creature):

 

[rroyo]

And remember, before this recent "his or her", "chairperson", gender neutral political correctness BS, masculine pronouns and words were used to refer an individual of an unknown gender or a group of mixed gender.

I was thinking about this "men" - "people" issue. Does "men" mean "people" in some cases? E.g. "all men are mortal". What do you native speakers think?

I can tell you that pertaining to American schools, both OldSkoolKamikaze and you are correct. Up until the latter part of the 1970's this is the way they were teaching pronoun usage.

"If the gender is unknown, assume it's masculine."

Terms like: "All men are created equal" was taken to mean everyone, regardless of gender.

You can find plenty of examples in the writings of Wells, Burroughs, Hawthorne, Dickens, etc, etc.

 

[wrhunter]

One of the steel at the crash site can't be picked up, as it is covered by the empty box. Random picture errors?

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

I can tell you that pertaining to American schools, both OldSkoolKamikaze and you are correct. Up until the latter part of the 1970's this is the way they were teaching pronoun usage.

Thanks for the explanation. Since the game uses American English, this must be correct. So I guess, I won't be changing "men" to "people", "individuals", etc.

One of the steel at the crash site can't be picked up, as it is covered by the empty box. Random picture errors?

A misplaced item, I'd assume. There are several items like that in the game. You can drag items (and dead bodies) by clicking while holding down ALT button, so it's still possible to reach for them.

 

[ninja_felix]

Ancient game

Great news that you've started on some extras. Will they just be for missing content or will you add in a few features of your own?

I thought, if it were possible, it would be a fantastic addition to randomise the riddles asked by the naked halflings, and to add some new ones in as well. If it's something you'd like to do we could post riddles (to be assessed for suitability on the board as you prefer).

Just a thought anyhow.

Congratulations on well over 300 bug fixes by the way.

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

Could you please upload the save?

Here it is.

I had a further look at it, and since nothing really happens when you're supposed to receive the telegram and the book, you are still able to travel to Tarant and talk to Eakins in person, so it doesn't really break the quest.

Thanks. There were several mistakes in lines for low reaction characters.

 

[garren]

When you speak to Lianna in Dernholm and ask her to train you as a throwing expert but dont have the necessary skill (lines 4, 49), she says so and gives 2 responses, lines 166 and 167, but both end the conversation, while line 166 is supposed to continue the conversation.

 

[MaskedMan]

I can tell you that pertaining to American schools, both OldSkoolKamikaze and you are correct. Up until the latter part of the 1970's this is the way they were teaching pronoun usage.

Thanks for the explanation. Since the game uses American English, this must be correct. So I guess, I won't be changing "men" to "people", "individuals", etc.

Well, I see how this would apply to the "It's a wise man..." line, it's obvious that he is talking in general, that was in fact the reason why I didn't report his opening lines,:

"Nothing, nothing. It's only that a man might be talking to Mr. Willoughsby and then Mr. Willoughsby might tell you something, and the next thing you know, you're involved in something you don't completely understand. Do you know what I'm talking about, madam?"
(although he does refer to "that man" as "you"...I'm confused )

But the bit after you agree that you will listen to his proposition:

"[He smiles.]You see? Two men, strangers really, can have a logical, rational conversation, and the next thing you know, things are being done. Good things mind you, necessary things. Things that made this city great..."

It's pretty clear that he is speaking specifically of the conversation you are having with him, him as one man, you as the other. When he is addressing you specifically,not just people/men in general, but the female PC, as a man, it should be changed. It would be nice to hear rroyo's thoughts on this one too, a native-English speaker with literary knowledge should have the final say .

When it comes to the "need more men like you" line, I think that he, without the feminism etc, would have made more of a fuss over the fact that they need more men like (as good as) her, even though she is a mere woman. That's more of an interpretation though, and in hindsight I see that it is better to leave perceived errors unchanged if there is too little in the game to base the changes on.

Anyway, it's not really that big a deal; I'd rather see more restored content and fixes to broken quests than have you mired in a debate on gender issues at teh codex :D .

 

[ninja_felix]

Magic/tech areas is a great idea. I had never noticed k'na Tha before - usually playing a magic char. Isn't that the home of Azram's Star? If so you can throw or shoot at the nearest light to the door to open it.

I'd suggest that (Magic + and Tech -):
Dernholm is -5
Shrouded Hills is neutral (+5 for Alchemist and -5 for old Panarii temple if you like)
Ashbury is pretty magical with a shop, the cemetery, the castle, the elven trader and IIRC a wise woman so should probably have a background +5
I'd have to want to give Tarant a base background of -5 given all the tech there.
Caladon neutral with +5 / -5 for magic shop / smith and -10 for Maxwell's shop

I've knocked up a fair few riddles and answers into the format they take in the game. If you fancy I'll send them to you.

 

[rroyo]

Well, I see how this would apply to the "It's a wise man..." line, it's obvious that he is talking in general, that was in fact the reason why I didn't report his opening lines,:

"Nothing, nothing. It's only that a man might be talking to Mr. Willoughsby and then Mr. Willoughsby might tell you something, and the next thing you know, you're involved in something you don't completely understand. Do you know what I'm talking about, madam?"
(although he does refer to "that man" as "you"...I'm confused )

But the bit after you agree that you will listen to his proposition:

"[He smiles.]You see? Two men, strangers really, can have a logical, rational conversation, and the next thing you know, things are being done. Good things mind you, necessary things. Things that made this city great..."

It's pretty clear that he is speaking specifically of the conversation you are having with him, him as one man, you as the other. When he is addressing you specifically,not just people/men in general, but the female PC, as a man, it should be changed.

Now that the glaringly obvious has been pointed out the me (thumps head), you're right. These lines do need to be corrected to keep the gender references in line.

Suggestions: (female only)
"Nothing, nothing. It's only that a lady might be talking to Mr. Willoughsby ..."
"You see? Two people, strangers really....."

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

Now that the glaringly obvious has been pointed out the me (thumps head), you're right. These lines do need to be corrected to keep the gender references in line.

Suggestions: (female only)
"Nothing, nothing. It's only that a lady might be talking to Mr. Willoughsby ..."
"You see? Two people, strangers really....."

What about these:

- Willoughsby, his response to line 112: you are not "the man we are looking for"
- Richard Leeks, line 18 "Surely men of reason..."

 

[ninja_felix]

p.p.s. More importantly I've gone entirely off topic here - would you prefer this stuff went on a different thread?

EDIT: Moved to new thread...

 

[Kz3r0]

Hello everybody.
I have recently reinstalled Arcanum.
Wandering on the net I have found about this project and site.
First a big THANK YOU to Drog Black Tooth for his work, it's the main motive for my registration here, second, I'm not a native english speaker, so don't bash me, okay?
Now about the game, I have installed the patch and started a new game like a female elf warrior with minor spells of the divination and meta colleges, ugly beat with a stick background..
For some minor inconcistencies of the game:
-After the openig of the docks warehouse (via dynamite), in real time mode, the were rat made his escape jumping on boats, water and the open sea, pretty funny, I don't think you have to address this, however this were rat acts in a very strange manner escaping the warehouse, sometimes it chase you amid the indifference of the crowd, even on the main street, some other time it random attacks bystanders(that's fine for me) or chase city guards, provoking reaction only after a direct attack.
-At Schuyler and Sons if you force the clerk (via dialogue option) to reveal what's happening he will start to die by poisoning, you can save him with a halt poison potion, but after that the dialogue restart anew how if anything happened(spell side effects ?).
That's all, for now I'm enjoing the game without any problem.

Hi for now and keep it up the GREAT work.

 

[carlstar]

with the decoys. would it be easy to just tone down the colours. almost black and white even so it has a slight tint

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

The discussion of the Extra Pack and all suggestions now go to this thread.

Hello everybody.
I have recently reinstalled Arcanum.
Wandering on the net I have found about this project and site.
First a big THANK YOU to Drog Black Tooth for his work, it's the main motive for my registration here, second, I'm not a native english speaker, so don't bash me, okay?

Hello, welcome to the forum.

For some minor inconcistencies of the game:
-After the openig of the docks warehouse (via dynamite), in real time mode, the were rat made his escape jumping on boats, water and the open sea, pretty funny, I don't think you have to address this, however this were rat acts in a very strange manner escaping the warehouse, sometimes it chase you amid the indifference of the crowd, even on the main street, some other time it random attacks bystanders(that's fine for me) or chase city guards, provoking reaction only after a direct attack.

I suppose you're talking about the Were Rat in Tarant's warehouse. Didn't find anything wrong with this particular Were Rat, so I'd assume it's just the AI acting funny. But I still can't explain how your Were Rat became Jesus and walked on water. Also, the AI tries to attack a creature with a highest level that is also the most close to it. And a creature may turn friendly when it's scared (fleeing).

-At Schuyler and Sons if you force the clerk (via dialogue option) to reveal what's happening he will start to die by poisoning, you can save him with a halt poison potion, but after that the dialogue restart anew how if anything happened(spell side effects ?).
That's all, for now I'm enjoing the game without any problem.

How were you able to heal him? The script kills him, the poison is just for effect.

 

[Kz3r0]

Hello, welcome to the forum.

Thanks.

I suppose you're talking about the Were Rat in Tarant's warehouse.

Yes.

Didn't find anything wrong with this particular Were Rat, so I'd assume it's just the AI acting funny. But I still can't explain how your Were Rat became Jesus and walked on water.

Call it a leap of faith, seriously I have no idea.

Also, the AI tries to attack a creature with a highest level that is also the most close to it. And a creature may turn friendly when it's scared (fleeing).

Well it acted pretty much so most of the time, even with funny consequencies,other times it goes on rampage, once it attackeda paper boy, most weird the general indifference of tarant's citizens.

How were you able to heal him? The script kills him, the poison is just for effect.

At first I tried disperse magic, seeing the poisoning didn't stop I used, from
the quick item menu, a halt poison potion on him, after that speaking with him again it's like nothing it's happened.

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

How were you able to heal him? The script kills him, the poison is just for effect.

At first I tried disperse magic, seeing the poisoning didn't stop I used, from
the quick item menu, a halt poison potion on him, after that speaking with him again it's like nothing happened.

I see. You should never break a dialogue by clicking on hot key slots, this WILL bring bugs and may even screw your game. I should really fix it one day, the demo didn't have this bug.

 

[Kz3r0]

I see. You should never break a dialogue by clicking on hot key slots, this WILL bring bugs and may even screw your game. I should really fix it one day, the demo didn't have this bug.

I see, well not a major issue, still consistent to the game tough, I'll consider it an unwanted side effect of the spell.

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

I see. You should never break a dialogue by clicking on hot key slots, this WILL bring bugs and may even screw your game. I should really fix it one day, the demo didn't have this bug.

I see, well not a major issue, still consistent to the game tough, I'll consider it an unwanted side effect of the spell.

It has nothing to do with the particular spell. Breaking dialogues by clicking on ANY quick slots (10 main ones and two with your last actions in the left down corner) is a bug, not a feature. It wasn't supposed to be this way, so do not abuse it as there will be unforeseen consequences.

 

[fastpunk]

Drog, your work is much appreciated, specially now that I am ready to play Arcanum for the first time. But I must ask, did you publicly release that high-resolution mod for the game? If so then where can I grab it from? Thanks either way though. Peace!

 

[Kz3r0]

It has nothing to do with the particular spell. Breaking dialogues by clicking on ANY quick slots (10 main ones and two with your last actions in the left down corner) is a bug, not a feature. It wasn't supposed to be this way, so do not abuse it as there will be unforeseen consequences.

Thanks for the advice; I suppose resurrecting him has pretty much the same consequences, starting the dialogue from the beginning again, right?

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

Drog, your work is much appreciated, specially now that I am ready to play Arcanum for the first time. But I must ask, did you publicly release that high-resolution mod for the game? If so then where can I grab it from? Thanks either way though. Peace!

It won't be released due to newfound bugs. Most likely, I'll never release it, since I believe it changes the game too much.

EDIT: Please don't discuss the resolution patch in this thread anymore. This thread is for bug reports only.

It has nothing to do with the particular spell. Breaking dialogues by clicking on ANY quick slots (10 main ones and two with your last actions in the left down corner) is a bug, not a feature. It wasn't supposed to be this way, so do not abuse it as there will be unforeseen consequences.

Thanks for the advice; I suppose resurrect him have pretty much the same consequences, starting the dialogue from the beginning again, right?

He can't be resurrected. He dies, that's the game's plot. There's no bugs with him that I can see.