How to modify toolset to make it kid-friendly (remove blood, prostitutes, etc.)?

[Legacy_shanghaifathers]

               

Hi all,

 

I'm trying to find a way to present the toolset to kids under 10, and I'd like to remove all content that might be considered age-inappropriate for kids under 10 (impaled heads, prostitutes, blood, etc.). I've browsed various sites and forum threads, but can't find the info I'm looking for.

 

I've succeeded in making basic modifications to the placeables.2da file using TlkEdit, but only partially. For example, I've changed the Arrow-filled Corpse (line 109) so that all the fields are filled with four asterisks. This removes the appearance of the placeable object, but the placeable palette still lists the object as present in the toolset, and identifies it as "Arrow-filled Corpse."

 

I've deleted the row entirely, but it doesn't remove the placeable's name from the palette, and it has the added, unwanted effect of assigning the wrong placeables to the wrong names.

 

I'd like to either remove such assets completely, or alter all properties associated with such content, so that no names, descriptions or portraits, etc., display the original content.

 

If anyone could offer advice, or point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks!

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_boodah83]

               

What you first did with placeable.2da (replacing all offending content with asterisks) was already the right first step. But you'd also need to mess around with the original dialog.tlk file to change the names that show up in the pallette. Make sure to make a back-up of the tlk file before, though.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Frush O'Suggill]

               

You might also be able to just edit the placeablepalstd.itp file with a GFF editor and delete all the nodes that refer to the placeables you want to delete. That, along with the work you've already done to the 2da, should effectively hide all the content you want.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Pstemarie]

               

So you're going to remove content that might be age inappropriate, but still allow kids under 10 to play a game that has melee and missile combat not to mention spells that blow opponents into chunks or burn them to a crisp? 

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_3RavensMore]

               

So you're going to remove content that might be age inappropriate, but still allow kids under 10 to play a game that has melee and missile combat not to mention spells that blow opponents into chunks or burn them to a crisp? 

 

As far as it goes, PG movies are noticeably more "adult" than vanilla NWN.  Not to mention that NWN is extremely, immeasurably less adult than contemporary RPGs of the same genre. 

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Frith5]

               

Well, I don't see anything wrong with wanting to adapt NWN to someone's individual preference. Isn't that what everyone wants to do? I say go for it. Spells can be removed too, after all. I think.

Main point is that the OP specified they wanted to introduce the Toolset to kids, not the game itself per se. Meaning, let the kids play with creating games using NWN (an excellent idea, imo). They appear to want to limit resources in the Toolset to specific tastes.


Anyway, cheers all! :​​)

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_shanghaifathers]

               

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'll pursue the leads you've all given me and see what progress I can make.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Pstemarie]

               

Well, I don't see anything wrong with wanting to adapt NWN to someone's individual preference. Isn't that what everyone wants to do? I say go for it. Spells can be removed too, after all. I think.

Main point is that the OP specified they wanted to introduce the Toolset to kids, not the game itself per se. Meaning, let the kids play with creating games using NWN (an excellent idea, imo). They appear to want to limit resources in the Toolset to specific tastes.


Anyway, cheers all! :​​)

 

Ahh missed that part about "...to the toolset." That makes more sense now. However, we all know that as soon as kids start tinkering with the toolset its only a matter of time before they hit that F9 key. Therefore, if you're looking to limit content (as the OP desires) you should look into limiting what they can do in the game themselves via as many 2DA adjustments as you can find.

 

Indeed, the entire game can be modified to scale back the level of violence so far that a 10-year old could certainly get an age appropriate experience out of the game. In fact a university (in England I believed) has altered the game so that elementary students can visit an environment that very much reflects medieval society. - without the monsters and magic. They used to have a demo video that showed the player touring a medieval town and talking to townsfolk who provided tons of information on medieval society and culture.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_boodah83]

               

There was also one university that made a historical module set around the time of the (American) Civil War on a plantation in the south for educational purposes. They even uploaded it on the old vault.

 

Edit: Oh, and I just found this one set during the American Revolution.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_3RavensMore]

               

Ahh missed that part about "...to the toolset." That makes more sense now.

 

Ack...I missed that point too. 

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MerricksDad]

               

Instead of removal of the prostitute, why not change its name in the item tree and/or tlk file, and then override the prostitute model with something less commercial '> You could also override chunk and blood models with something else, including something with a transparent texture.

 

I personally find that if you turn something off, a child will eventually figure out how to turn it back on while you are not looking. That is how I learned some of my tricks as a child. When I was locked out of unlimited adventures modules, I used a binary and hex viewer to find the passwords I was looking for. And when I was locked out of the school OS, I simply bypassed the OS and its custom loader.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_ia.Pepper]

               

Override blood, guts, and bones with CANDY! Hey, it's an idea, isn't it?

 

This somewhat reminds me of how Minecraft has been introduced to young kids - such as my niece - and I figure this is probably going to be similar. A lovely experience for someone young, allowing them to create something so easily.

 

Good luck fixing everything like blood, prostitutes, dead people, and such things.

 

@MerricksDad, you were -smart- when you were younger. I still wouldn't know how to do that NOW.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_werelynx]

               

http://neverwinterva...can-revolution#

American Revolution is here ^

 

If you want stuff for kids: http://neverwinterva...rough-copy-nwn1