Ok I have been doing some fiddling with this and that as I do (and many others here) and i have decided there is something we really need as a priority. And thats a tool to insert things into protos.tab without having to download a new file each time (which is a pain and overwrites things other people are doing - well, I'm sure you all know why we need it). Something that can create little .exes like Drifter did for the .dll changes, that can both stick them in and remove them too, would be perfect. And no i am NOT staring at Drifter for this, I suspect there are other people here who could do it. But then I am not staring at anyone, I am simply appealing for something we really need. Personally I have a mod thing I am waiting for Liv 2.0 to come out before introducing, but then I suspect a lot of other people are too, and without something like this it could become a mess real fast, all sorts of protos changes popping up, overwriting each other etc. Anyone think they can do this?
Well, now the question is IF Liv's 2.0 will come out. Time is passing, she is not writing and I wonder what will happen in the end. I'm just thinking to all possibilities. Anyway, yes: you're absolutely right. One possible solution would be to have a list of modders that wanna mod the protos.tab and nodbody start working on the protos untill the previous person didn't end. Since I'm not sure about my explanation due to my english, let's say that 2.0 is out, but probably the protos is obsolete so let's say that the first is morpheus that may want to quickly add his arena of heroes mod, then me, so that I can end to fix monsters accordingly with core rules (it shlouldn't take more than 2 days), then allyx that may want to end to add his items and then everybody else that may be interested in it. About file replacing, I'm sorry but I don't see any other solution except an exe that automatically installes the latest update. Drifter's exes instead are very useful for optional stuff like maximized HPs.
Just because then I may check if morpheus did some mess with his creatures for the arena Anyway, putting jokes aside, remember this: when I saw the protos for the firs time, I misunderstood everything because Troika guys made a mess, but actually it works in this way: everything except damage and attack rolls for natural weapon recives proper bonuses from ability scores (STR, DEX...), this includes skills and saving throws too, so, when editing a new monster, calculate only the basic values. Add extra HPs in the Hit dice column for golems & co only, accordingly with their size. There is no need to add spellcaster levels to emulate monsters with magic-like abilities, like lamia: just set the spell at the wished level (ie: disintegrate_wizard_10), but I still have to make some test about how monsters HDs are considered while calculating spellcaster level. Thus, high concentration skills are needed because those magic-like abilities are still considered spells but should not provoke any AOO nor concentration failure. Character classes stack with CR, so think about the monster total CR accordingly with core rules. Using weapon finesse for natural weapons always made me to have the game to QTD. I hope this may be useful for further additions and... yes, if you are asking yourself why you have never been able to charm a lamiah, it is right: it is because it has many bonuses applied twice, added to unproper and unwise additions, like 3 cleric levels and 3 wizard levels.
Drifter's exe's are indeed good, but lets remember some of the protos.tab changes (such as the different ioun stone variants, as an obvious example) are likewise going to be optional. But your idea is good Orion, if we are talking about things like fixing the CON issue, that is, things that have a definite ending: "ok that's the last CON total accurate to the rules, time to post and move on". But some mod's (like the one I am working on) are a bit more open ended. But I'm happy to go further down the list, got a looooong way to go yet...
Ok, so do as follow: the 1st I'll make a trip in poland and I'll come back the 17th. In the meantime I hope that Liv is back and 2.0 is relased. If so, please merge her modifications in the latest protos.tab relased and do everything that you want to. When I'm back, I'll check the latest protos to correct all errors, so that it is definitive and I will not have to come back again on it. ok?
Sorry, my English, sheez not so good - i thought you said you wanted one of us to put all your myriad CON changes into any Liv-protos that comes out. :yeaaa:
