Showstopper bug entering Act III

[Legacy_MrZork]

               

Sarielle wrote...

Not sure if I'm understanding ... you're saying if I do a fresh install, I may not be able to continue with my last (not-broken) saved game? Just import a character or something?

Yes. The possible issue (no way to tell unless you post that last saved game) is that something in that Chapter 2 saved game directed you to an altered version of Chapter 3. Without changing the script that did so, it will probably try to send you to that altered version again, which won't be there after your fresh install. So, it might hang or give you some error, but, since nothing has changed in your saved game, it will still try to send you to the altered (Warlock) module, as it did the last time.

You may be wondering, "But, after a re-installation, shouldn't my saved game send me to the new (unaltered) chapter 3?" And the answer is no, because the scripts specific to a module are actually stored in the saved game. So, the reinstallation of the game will change any new Bioware module (chapter) you start, but it won't change the altered script from the old one that's inside your saved game and that's sending you to an altered Chapter 3.

There are at least a couple ways to change the script that NWN will run when the chapter 2 saved game calls for it so that it starts the normal Chapter 3. But those are more complicated than exporting the character at the end of Chapter 2 and then starting Chaper 3 manually with that character. The latter involves: 1) Loading your chapter two saved game; 2) exporting your character using the menu's "Save Character" option; 3) exiting the module; 4) using the main NWN menu to start HotU at chapter 3, choosing to "Select Premade Character" and selecting the character you just exported. It's sounds a little involved, but all of that will barely take a minute.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

MrZork wrote...
--clip-- exporting the character at the end of Chapter 2 and then starting Chaper 3 manually with that character. The latter involves: 1) Loading your chapter two saved game; 2) exporting your character using the menu's "Save Character" option; 3) exiting the module; 4) using the main NWN menu to start HotU at chapter 3, choosing to "Select Premade Character" and selecting the character you just exported. It's sounds a little involved, but all of that will barely take a minute.

Unrelated to this exact problem but similar restoration strategy... I've had an issue with the cutscenes in that last big battle firing correctly (probably a graphics or driver issue I expect), leaving my character standing frozen in the courtyard when the first stage of the battle ended.  Tried reloading the pre-battle save I made several times.  After exhausting my patience I decided just to skip the stage 2 battle and Valsharess duel altogether for the sake of finishing the campaign, following the character export procedure MrZork has outlined.  The only problem was that the reaper convo never offered the nodes for resurrecting my fallen companions so I had to solo the rest of the way (well, almost solo... until the frozen lady joined my cause).   The convo choices are supposed to be based on which henchies you hired during your travels in Ch 2 even if you dismissed them at some point later.

Now... there probably is a way to get those convo choices made available by setting the convo variable(s) with the console (it depends on where the variable needs to be set), but at the time I had zero experience hunting down scripts to identify the variables affected.  So, with some tenacity, it is likely that the status quo can be reset with the saved character but it may take some investigative effort to determine how to do that.  (Actually, this is not a bad skill to develop... the reading of scripts... when custom content hasn't been debugged thoroughly and you'd really like to finish it somehow by hook or by crook withoutn starting from scratch.)

Fortunately, we still have some unselfish and dedicated technicians like MrZ to help us eradicate our insect problem. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Sarielle]

               Well that's ... potentially very disappointing. A big part of the fun for me is the interactions with/between my companions. Thanks for the info, though.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               I actually haven't looked all that closely at the scripts that handle porting the henchmen from chapter 2 to chapter 3, but it's in x2_c2_start if someone wants to see what it's doing. However, I am pretty sure that the henchman status and variables are stored in a database at the end of chapter 2 and then the henchies are loaded from that DB at the start of chapter 3. So, if the database folder from the old install is copied over after the re-installation, the henchies should all be there and all of the info about their leveling and plot points should be active (I think there are romance options with some of them, though I have only ever taken Deekin from chapter 2, so I don't know...).

(BTW, keep a backup of that DB folder, as some actions that the scripts perform on it may not be saved-game safe.)

Anyway, the module was written to bring the henchmen along pretty smoothly. It is certainly worth trying. But, it's also possible that the altered chapter 2 you have been playing may have altered some of the DB settings in a way that will cause trouble with the way chapter 3 tries to read them. I am curious, what module does the chapter 2 saved game say you are in?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

MrZork wrote...
--clip--
I think there are romance options with some of them, though I have only ever taken Deekin from chapter 2, so I don't know...

So!  You are a lizard bigot?   Poor Deekin gets left out of all the sauce in his life. *lol*

Seriously, I wish I had your restoration tip at my disposal during those cutscene burps.  That seems like Fix-it Sticky fodder to me, MrZ.  This is not the first time I've read about problems transitioning between those 2 modules.

@Sarielle... fear not!  Temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement.  Occasionally, there may be ruts in the path that lies ahead.  I sense you may be replaying HotU at least once more in the future with a vastly different character and then all the clinks will have been worked out.   There's still at least Valen the heartthrob and the personal golem for all magician types to look forward to.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               

HipMaestro wrote...

MrZork wrote...
--clip--
I think there are romance options with some of them, though I have only ever taken Deekin from chapter 2, so I don't know...

So!  You are a lizard bigot?   Poor Deekin gets left out of all the sauce in his life. *lol*

After things turned ugly with the Old Ones, one has to excercize caution. "Hand of Morag" indeed! Once bitten and all that... '>

Plus, Deekin is likely to publish everything in one of his tell-all books! That's too much attention for me. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Sarielle]

               

HipMaestro wrote...

There's still at least Valen the heartthrob and the personal golem for all magician types to look forward to.

Lol yeah I don't think Neng is Valen's type.

Neng: What do you want from me, my word I won't betray the Seer?
Valen: Would you give it?
Neng: No...

lol