Well, this isn't my usual fun update. That is because disaster struck over the weekend. I walked away from my laptop for about twenty minutes and when I came back, the system had completely locked up while the toolset still had my module open. This has happened before, so my normal routine is to make a copy of both the module file and the backup file before attempting to open the toolset again. This usually keeps at least one of the files intact. Well, not in this case! Somehow both files ended up FUBAR. Okay, so I take a deep breath. I've been a little more diligent making backups of my module since I had a similar disaster while making the first module... or so I thought. I went to my offsite storage, and to my dismay, the last good copy of my module was from Feb 18! I was certain there must be a more recent copy, but none was to be found. I guess I've gotten complacent since my last disaster was over a year ago.
Anyway, the good news (if you can call it that) is that I was able to open the backup file in the toolset and export the areas I created. The bad news is that the conversations can't be salvaged. So I'm having to rewrite, relink and rescript several thousand words of dialog that I had written over the past few weeks. And the past few weeks just so happen to be some of the most diligent work I've done on this module. The evil spirits of computers timed this perfectly and they laugh at my torment!
A word of warning to anyone who designs NWN modules, and I know a few of you do. After any significant amount of work has been done on your module always back it up off system. When you least expect it your system WILL crash and the toolset WILL eat your module. This is a guarantee. The toolset is unbelievably fragile and destructive to modules. Never leave the toolset open when you're not working on it. If your computer locks up or crashes while your module is open in the toolset, be scared. Be very scared and prepare to go digging for the last backup you saved. Don't think that saving it somewhere on the same system is good enough. The evil spirits of the computer world will take advantage of your misstep and just destroy your whole system to achieve their nefarious schemes. This is a guarantee. Let my ill-timed neglect be an example and ominous warning to other builders. It's daily backups for me from now on, no matter how much of a pain that is.
Never fear, I'm not letting this get me down (too much). I'm making
progress rewriting what I lost. Unfortunately, this is going to move my
target date well into April, so you'll have to indulge me just a little
more time to finish. I should have a more positive update next week.
Oh wow. Am very sorry to hear about this! I think we've all been there before, but it's still so very painful when the crash does happen. Yep, sometimes too one has to learn the lesson to continually back up the hard way sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAm glad though this isn't going to get you down and stop you from proceeding onward. I bet it'll turn out even better after reworking it.
Best of luck to you and hope this never EVER happens again!
JC
*hugs*
ReplyDeleteSorry that this happened to you. As usual, these things strike at the most inopportune time. Don't let it get you down too much - we will wait patiently till you have your work finished.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the effort.
Greetings
Skildron
This is not news enjoy waking up to. Sadface.
ReplyDeleteNOOOO! *hugs* Sorry to hear that Rayne.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it's a sad fact I've experienced. In our case, between 2 computers, the module 'still' wasn't salvageable. :doh:
My sympathies :P
ReplyDeleteThis'd really suck my motivation away, good on you for not allowing yourself to be dragged down too much.
Have you take a look at this ?
ReplyDeletehttp://social.bioware.com/forum/Neverwinter-Nights-1/NwN-1-Builders---Toolset/Fixing-a-Corrupted-Module-4885733-1.html
Not sure it will work but, well..
Thanks for the link. I tried the tools listed but they didn't work for me. I've resigned myself to redo what I lost and I'm already a ways into it. Like JC said, this section of the module will probably be much better after the rework :)
DeleteI'm sorry to hear that. Been there many times and it always seems to hit when you are feeling the most motivated. Hang in there and trust us, we'll wait however long it takes. Your mods are fantastic and worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteWe support you regardless and will be looking forward to the full module in its entirety when it is completed. Take your time. :)
ReplyDeleteNow it's a bit late for it, but have you considered to get a free dropbox account and save your work with it?
ReplyDeleteBecause everytime you create a new version of a file it will also keep previous versions of it stored so you can revert to the latest working version.
Thanks. I do have a dropbox account and that's usually where I back my files up. I just didn't realize that it had been almost three weeks since I did my last backup :\ I'm backing up daily now.
DeleteSo sad to hear about what happened! ;( Hopefully the bright side to this is that you may revise your scripting and or planning of the scenes you have to remake. Best of luck and keep up the awesome work!
ReplyDeleteHey FallynRayne, I've been thinking of making my own module, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to commit enough time to make one.
ReplyDeleteHow many hours do think it takes to make a module in Neverwinter Nights?
On average, how many hours of you working does it take to get a single hour of gameplay into the game?
That's a really good question. I think the answer is going to be many more hours than it appears on the surface. I estimate that I've put around 350 hours into Gladiatrix 3 alone. I also estimate the total playing time to the point I've built would be maybe 12 to 14 hours. So if you're looking to build something with a really deep plot, I think you could easily spend at least 25 hours for every hour of game play.
DeleteIf you were making a hack and slash kind of module where you just built random areas and threw a bunch treasure and monsters around then you could probably do something like that at 5hrs design equaling one hour of game play, but that would be boring, and this is the longest damn sentence I've ever written in my life!
Conversations are what take me the longest. I've been known to sit and stare at the screen while pondering what I'm going to write, so I'm factoring that in as well.
So it really ends up being a pretty intense hobby. My recommendation is try building something small with only a couple of areas and some conversations to tie your plot together. It could be something that you use as a side quest at some point in your module. Then just get an idea how much time and effort it took to do and see if it's worth the time to build something bigger.
I will say that it seems to be the adult modules that get most of the attention on NWN these days. I guess because adult video gaming is a bit of a novelty and hard to find. I've seen some very interesting looking non-adult modules posted lately that haven't gotten many downloads at all. So that's something to consider as well.
Conversations and story ideas aren't a problem for me, but doing the actual programming is.
DeleteDo you have any recomendations for learning how to use the campaign editor?
Hi. See my comment below on the educational resources that I recommend.
DeleteCan we expect to meet some orc tribe or having an half orc companion? It would be interesting
ReplyDeleteI don't have plans for an orc tribe. There is a barbarian tribe and also a chance to team up with some drow later in the module.
DeleteNOOOOOOO!!! (I've been checking NWV daily to see if Gladiatrix III has been uploaded for weeks now. There. That's my confession bear)
ReplyDeleteI'd also be interested in any recommendations on anything to read that would help learn the toolset. I've tried before but couldn't even work out how to make a hidden door be hidden and/or detectable, let alone things like quests and cutscenes.
ReplyDeleteA couple of people have asked me what's the best way to learn how to build modules. Below is the education path that I took and my approach. Be prepared to spend a few weeks familiarizing yourself with the process. Take what you learn and start trying things out in the toolset and see if you can implement your ideas. The more you use the toolset the better you will get at it.
ReplyDelete[Educational Resources that I used in the recommended order]
Maximus's Video Tutorials: Watch these and mimic what he is doing in order to get it under your fingers.
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Movies.List&category_select_id=13
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Movies.List&category_select_id=15
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Movies.List&category_select_id=16
The Guide to Building Vol I and Vol II: I skimmed these and used them as a reference instead of reading word for word
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=803
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=1160
NWN Script University:
Use this to get a basic understanding of how scripts work. Don't feel like you have to memorize the code. I don't have most code memorized. I just have an understanding of what it does.
http://nwvault.ign.com/dm/scripting/course/
Lilac Soul's Script Generator:
THIS IS A MUST! I build 95% of my scripts with this. Just tell the tool what you want the script to do and it builds the script for you.
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=625
NWN Lexicon:
Has just about every script function and command that you can use with examples of each. You'll need a basic understanding of scripts. I use this as a reference when there's something tricky I want to script.
http://www.nwnlexicon.com/index.php/Main_Page
Bioware Toolset and Script forums:
These have some good resources and people willing to help
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/subindex/153
NWN Wiki Scripts:
Occasionally I look at the script directory to spark some ideas.
http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Neverwinter_Script_directory
Hope this helps!