Changing the character in a saved game?

[Legacy_qweeqw]

               I'm a little bit into chapter 1 in the campaign and I want to change everything about my character: Race, classes, etc. I created a new game and edited the character with the console to be what I want in my save, and then exported that character. I'm trying to use Leto to insert this new character into my save, but it's not working. Here's what I'm doing.

1 - The character that I want to put in the save is saved in localvault.
2 - I open Leto and open that character.
3 - I choose save as, 'into list from file', and select the save game I'm trying to put the character into.
4 - I choose the module ifo from the list, and then I select the character I want to overwrite from the Mod_PlayerList. I hit ok and Leto writes the file.

Then I go to load my game and one of two things will happen. Either NWN will crash, or it will ask me what character I want to play with (?). If it didn't crash yet, I can choose the server character (which makes it crash) or I can choose the character from the localvault, which actually loads but starts me over at the beginning of the chapter.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong? I've been at this for 4 hours so far and I've tried just about everything I can think of. My Leto is v. 1.69 and my NWN is the Diamond Edition v. 1.69 from gog.com. (Edit: I also made sure that there are no active effects on either character.)

(I know at this point it'd be a better use of my time to just replay up to the point I was at, but I'm trying to learn how to do this in case I need it in future saved games).
               
               

               

                     Modifié par qweeqw, 21 août 2011 - 10:33 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               Leto is a great tool for editing saved games (and not just characters), but the situation you describe is (as you note) one where replaying would be faster and safer.

Depending on the sorts of things you changed, it might be better to use Leto's advanced editor to change them in the character that's in the saved game (rather than from an exported character) and then save that character back into the saved game. That way, all of the journal entries, plot items, and variables that the module sets on your character for having completed quests, started conversations, etc. will still be there. Obviously, that can be a somewhat tedious process, especially re-picking feats, skills, and so on. But, you can open up another copy of Leto with your exported character and use that as a guide when altering things in the saved-game character.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               I don't know if that's what you're looking for, but here is what I call the "Shia’s sunniest brightest trick ever", by Shia Luck (Post N°6.)
EDIT: Okay, it seems that thread from the old forum has also gone with all of her sisters to the Valhalla of the valiant threads. 
Let me try to remember it... but in frenchglish, even if I use it all the time...: 

1) Make a savegame (name it in a way you will remember, like "WWW", for "in the work") exactly where you want to switch PCs. Export that former PC in your "localvault" folder.
2) Create a new charachter as, how and where you want it, or update the existing one, even with loading it with all the equipment you could cheat of. Change anything you want, including gender, class, alignment, as long as you keep the very same name. 
(I use Pretty Good Character Creator / Customizer, by styzygy & hohos myself, but LETO could do)
3) Save your new PC in your same "localvault" folder, but with a different weapon in hand for an easier identification later on. 
4) Launch a multiplayer game in the main NWN menu. (It doesn't matter if you can't find a Master server anymore) 
5) Once you've logged in a multiplayer session, use the "Load Internet/LAN game button for loading your "WWW" savegame
6) Select your brand new character in your "available PCs" list. Your next step will be to chose it again by checking in the very right hand box popping up.
7) Save that game in multiplayer, don't necessarily save your character when asked, and simply reload it in singleplayer. 
Thank Shia for a second. 

It sounds like hours, where it only takes a few seconds really... 
& if I made a mistake in my explanation, you're welcome to hit me AHAP.
A short for 'as hard as possible'. 

This trick is listed in my "Add-ons & Tips" list in my signature, Tip N° 32.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 22 août 2011 - 11:44 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_qweeqw]

               Shia...that worked!

Almost perfectly, too. There was some weirdness with my saved game, I guess. When I tried your trick originally, the box from step 6 didn't pop up and the game loaded the new character, but it put him at the beginning of the chapter with all journal entries gone. Then on a whim I tried changing areas in the original game with the original character, saving, and trying the trick again on that save, and it worked!

For future reference (I'm very new to this game), does the same trick also work in player-made modules and the official expansions?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par qweeqw, 22 août 2011 - 01:13 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               Everywhere.
Just keep in mind some custom items won't survive going through that process, not being supported for venturing through a multiplayer session I suppose... without knowing what I'm talking about.
For a change...
(Which could eventually break the module if being a plot item, but it's very, very, very rare...)
Just keep your eyes open, both, as the infamous practitioner of the dark side of the Force you now are always should.
Of curse. 
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 22 août 2011 - 05:49 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Shia Luck]

               

jmlzemaggo wrote...

I don't know if that's what you're looking for, but here is what I call the "Shia’s sunniest brightest trick ever", by Shia Luck (Post N°6.)
EDIT: Okay, it seems that thread from the old forum has also gone with all of her sisters to the Valhalla of the valiant threads. 
Let me try to remember it... but in frenchglish, even if I use it all the time...: 

1) Make a savegame (name it in a way you will remember, like "WWW", for "in the work") exactly where you want to switch PCs. Export that former PC in your "localvault" folder.
2) Create a new charachter as, how and where you want it, or update the existing one, even with loading it with all the equipment you could cheat of. Change anything you want, including gender, class, alignment, as long as you keep the very same name. 
(I use Pretty Good Character Creator / Customizer, by styzygy & hohos myself, but LETO could do)
3) Save your new PC in your same "localvault" folder, but with a different weapon in hand for an easier identification later on. 
4) Launch a multiplayer game in the main NWN menu. (It doesn't matter if you can't find a Master server anymore) 
5) Once you've logged in a multiplayer session, use the "Load Internet/LAN game button for loading your "WWW" savegame
6) Select your brand new character in your "available PCs" list. Your next step will be to chose it again by checking in the very right hand box popping up.
7) Save that game in multiplayer, don't necessarily save your character when asked, and simply reload it in singleplayer. 
Thank Shia for a second. 

It sounds like hours, where it only takes a few seconds really... 
& if I made a mistake in my explanation, you're welcome to hit me AHAP.
A short for 'as hard as possible'. 

This trick is listed in my "Add-ons & Tips" list in my signature, Tip N° 32.

WOW JML, that's a better explanation than I ever gave you ... nice *looking impressed with you*

(I especially like the no. 8   )

have fun '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               

Shia Luck wrote...
(I especially like the no. 8   )

My favourite.
That was a true gift you made that day.
You're gifted, hearted, and you love to dance. 
'could be worse... '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_philty_]

               I loved that trick too, many thanx to Shia and jml.

I have only one observation: suppose your chap has already hired a hench (doesnt matter if he already released him of service). Your substitute chap will have all proper journal entries, but ge wont be able to re-hire the hench! Somehow the game stores that the hench was already in the service of your former chap, so by bye to the hench quest *on that OC chapter only*. Starteing the next chapter, you will be able to hire / regire them no problem.

Also some quests conversations will sound as if you'd be starting all over (even if you have the quested items with you), but just go over the copnversation normally and you will be able to present the items.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               That has more to do with the eternal "OC Henchy bug" which has been addressed by the only Grand Master of NWN in his now worlide famous thread...
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 05 octobre 2011 - 01:11 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Master Jax]

               Is there a way to see module changes in effect with this trick or similar? I mean, you find out something is not kosher, change it in the module through the toolset, but it doesn't "appear" in-game, so you have to restart the whole fricking module. Is there a trick to do so in a similar manner to this?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               No, the entire module itself is saved in the save game - you cannot change it once started (there might be some crazy engine hack but nothing that would be easy to do).
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Remedist]

               Is there a way to quickly edit only the character back story at all? I want to modify it as my character gains experience. Cheers
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

Remedist wrote...
Is there a way to quickly edit only the character back story at all? I want to modify it as my character gains experience. Cheers

"back story"??

You mean "quest status", "convos", etc.??  Or something like character alignment or class(es)  Or "other"???

Not clear to me what you are searching to do.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               I think he means the description you see when you examine another player.  Below the challenge rating and above the effects on the person.