Mar. 2, 2014: Critters and Magic Galore

With a new hak update and tlk file update, y'all are going to get lots of new stuff.

Critters:

Lots of new and updated creature models in this hak update.  Some will be visible right away, others may take a couple of weeks for creatures using them to start showing up in-game.

Pixies: Spellcasters with pixie familiars will see new models right away, with a different look depending on the caster's alignment.

Gargoyle: Brand new model based on the Aenea balors for the basic shape.

Balors: Fixed a minor lighting problem with the models.

Treant: A new treant model is getting added, and will start appearing in-game soon.

Forest Dragon: A brand new plant creature will start appearing in woodlands soon.

Topiary Guardians: Updated models, these will start appearing in-game soon.

Stone Giant: I've never liked the existing stone giants found in the CEP.  A brand new model from me means they'll start populating Aenea soon.

Shambling Mound: A brand new model will replace the old one.

Shambling Mound, Decaying: A shambling mound being slowly comsumed by fungi.  This one will start appearing in-game soon.

Rats: The normal rats in NWN have always been oversized freaks.  Not anymore.

R.O.U.S.: Because I was messing with rodents already.

Predatory Grapevine: Updated model for a plant monster.

Magic:

Lots of additions and changes this time.

Magic Item Creation: I've overhauled the creation of magic items that aren't wands, potions, or scrolls.  Spellcasters will now use a workbench (much like with alchemy and other tradeskills).  Brand new FAQs will show up in the forum in the next day or so.

Magic Item Empowerment: Spellcasters will now be able to add new properties to existing items besides enhancement bonuses to weapons.

Castigate: A new spell for clerics (level 3), druids (level 4), and paladins (level 4).  It will inflict 1d6 points of divine damage on a single demon or undead creature, up to 10d6, Will save for 1/2.  Subraced demonspawn and vampires are also subject to this and suffer 1/2 the damage a full-blooded demon/undead would take.

Desecrate: A brand new spell for clerics (level 3) and druids (level 4).  This one will add temporary hitpoints to a targeted demon or undead creature (or demonspawn or vampire subrace creature!). It adds 1d6 temporary hitpoints per caster level, up  to 10d6...half that for demonspawn/vampires.

Focus: A new spell for all spellcasting classes (level 1), it adds +1 to all skill checks for an hour per level.  No, it doesn't stack with itself.

Limited Wish: A new spell for sorcerers and wizards (level 7), which summons a djinni that will grant the caster one wish.  Any such wish will cost the caster 2,500 XP.

Repudiate: A new spell for clerics (level 6) and druids (level 7), this one inflicts divine damage on demons, undead, demonspawn, and vampires within a huge circle. 1d8 per caster level, max of 15d8, Will save for 1/2.  Subraced demonspawn/vampires take half the damage full-blooded critters take.

Shillelagh: A new spell for druids (level 1), this adds +1 to attack and +1d6 bludgeoning damage to the targeted club or quarterstaff for an hour per caster level.

Unhallow: A new spell for clerics (level 6) and druids (level 7), this adds temporary hitpoints to demons, undead, demonspawn, and vampires within a huge circle.  1d8 points per caster level, max of 15d8.  Subraced demonspawn and vampires get 1/2 the hitpoints full-blooded critters would get.

Wish: A new spell for sorcerers and wizards (level 9), which summons a greater djinni that will grant the caster one wish.  Any such wish will cost the caster 5,000 XP.

The spells wish and limited wish are conversation-based, so the effects are pre-set.  I'll list the specific effects of each type of wish when I get the "new spells" page of the website updated in the next day or so.

Bump for updated info on the Limited Wish and Wish conversation options - specifically looking for mechanics.

By way of explanation regarding my above request - casting the spells is too costly (2500/5000 XP) to make trial-and-error exploration of their mechanics a reasonable option.

From my point of view, in such a case, the player should know exactly what they can get before paying that price.

Second....

just tried out limited wish... the dialogue options are incredibly vague.  I still don't know what I paid 2500 XP for when I "wished for health".  It looked like a full heal (was already at full health), so it was really a very frustrating XP loss which I don't really want to repeat for.... what exactly am I getting?

If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could the 'New Spells' page of the Aenea homepage have the Wish and Limited Wish spells added and have the options and mechanics explained per this part of the OP:

"The spells wish and limited wish are conversation-based, so the effects are pre-set.  I'll list the specific effects of each type of wish when I get the "new spells" page of the website updated in the next day or so."