Oct. 15, 2013: Item Appearance Modification Update

I've been working for a while on an update to "appearance crafting" of different types of items.  All of the new system is coded, it's just waiting on me testing the last parts in-game.

The idea with this new system is to have visible examples in-game which are used for picking a new look, then using a special work table and a single, simple VC command to execute the change.  The goal is to get rid of cycling through multiple models of different types in the same place (and waiting so see what each looks like after each change, switching to just a quick browse and pick), and to make changing simple items (such as rings) not rely on an external source for picking the looks.  The toolset also has a hardcoded limitation on which "colors" can be used in scripting (for things like weapons and shields), and this system changes that for shields.

This update will not affect altering armor (there's the self-service seamstress shops for that) or weapons (there's just to many thousands of models and part combinations to devote the time to making selectable examples for everything).

This will end up removing the modification of cloaks and shields from the main workshop in Bluebeard's tower.  PCs will instead go down a nearby set of stairs to go into Bluebeard's "underbasement" for the new stuff.

In various levels under the tower, PCs will end up finding chambers with a work table (which lists the cost of making changes in that room) and either a collection of visible item examples (for shields, cloaks, and helmets) or special coppery golems that have the example items in their inventories (amulets, belts, bracers, gloves, rings...they should open their inventory for you).

Using the Select tool/feat on the desired appearance example item picks the desired new appearance.  The PC then goes to the work table that's in the same room, puts in the item to be changed and the required amount of gold, then uses the VC command ;;craft design.

When the command is entered, the PC will do an appropriate tradeskill check.  If it's successful, the original item will be replaced with a copy with the new appearance.  If unsuccessful, nothing will happen to the item and the PC will get back the amount of gold that was required for that item type (losing out only on the time used to make the attempt).  Items that are visible (cloaks, helmets, shields) will be both more expensive to alter and more difficult to alter.

Tradeskills used:
amulet: jewelrymaking
belt: leatherworking
bracer: leatherworking
cloak: tailoring
glove: leatherworking
helmet: armorsmithing
shield: armorsmithing
ring: jewelrymaking

Armorsmithing and jewelrymaking aren't "complete" skills yet, so PCs will be considered to have a +0% bonus to the d100 roll in this, but...
- armorsmithing checks benefit from ranks in Craft Armor (so 5 skill ranks = +5% armorsmithing tradeskill bonus) and
- jewelrymaking checks benefit from gemcutting (gemcutting / 5 --> bonus for jewelrymaking, and vice versa)



I've got this tested for shields, and it's working perfectly.  I've got everything laid out for all the other item types I'm changing, but I will need a while to test all of that.  This will either go live sometime in the next two days...or next week after I get done with a weekend-eating family obligation.

I can't say how excited I am for this ... just can't wait to get good interwebs back so I can partake of the goodness ...

After a delay while I dealt with a minor issue in this (it was refusing to copy over descriptions for shields, helms, and cloaks) and some illness (still recovering), these changes are finally live.

You can find the stairs leading down to the item example / crafting rooms just before the doorway to the workshop in Bluebeard's Tower.  There's a door, and a mapnote for them.

I simply cannot wait to get back in-game and try these out! Thanks for this, !

Soooo, I'm curious ... has anyone had a chance to go in-game and try this out? If so, how does it work?

Eric of Atrophy wrote:Soooo, I'm curious ... has anyone had a chance to go in-game and try this out?  If so, how does it work?

Not yet, haven't played NWN for a couple months now. Been absorbed in other games beside RL stuff going on. :V

I'll be looking forward to check it out sometime soon, though--looks awesome!