Exult Forum

I've been doing a lot of game customization with Exult studio lately, but I can't seem to change the name of any shapes. I created a new shape and changed all the stats and frames, but I can't change the name of it. It gave me the default name of "Step aside!" for my new shape. Also, I can't edit or create any NPCs. I'm using Windows 2000... does everything work with my operating system? I heard that exult studio didn't work with Windows 2000, but everything seems to run fine, except for what's stated above.

Oh, another thing. Where is the data for all the items in the map stored? I distributed my new map changes to my friend by copying all the files from the patch folder, but when my friend ran it, my map changes were present, but all the items and eggs were gone. Is that data in the saved game file? What is the saved game file name for the "quick save" slot?

I'm afraid that U7 (and Exult at present) only support 1024 shapes that can be used and named. The slots in text.flx above 1023 already have other game messages (like "Step aside"), and the savegame fields only have 10 bits for the shape number.

It's something we've talked about changing in Exult, but nobody's started it yet.

the 'quick save' is stored in the gamedat/ directory. The initial savegame that contains the state of the world at the start of a new game is found in initgame.dat

Would it work if I took the files from gamedat and put it into an initgame.dat?

Oh, I figured out a way around the name changing thing. I edited the text.flx file and added my shape name at the end of the file at slot 2500. Then, I assigned my shape for that slot and it works. But, I have a different problem now. The file that determines the weapon placement in the hand that Exult Studio generates seems to break the placement of weapons for everything...

I'm afraid you're not going to have much luck with shape #'s > 1023, as the various save formats weren't meant to handle them. SI does use a few higher-numbered shapes, but they're special cases (for the multi-racial Avatar) that are handled in the code.

even though I can't offer more support, I'd really like to do some "troubleshooting" on your W2k system and why Exult Studio seems to work fine.
1. When you edit a BG/SI game, start Exult Studio, doubleclick an NPC and change his flags, to poisoned and check if that works -> green outline around the NPC...
2. If that works, please tell me if you did anything special to your W2k or just the standard, up-to date service packs and actual updates from the Windows update site.

Because then I'd really like to say that this bug got fixed somehow

I just installed a ton of Windows updates, but it still doesn't work. Sorry.

You mena the one in 1.? Well, so the problem is still there and I'd say this would mean that W2k is still very unsupported by Exult Studio. Some stuff you can do with ES really needs that connection to work properly...