Modifying save games? (Shadowkeeper)

[NocturneN]

Well, how safe is it? I've done a rather large modification of my current save; altering my Kensai/Mage back to just a Kensai. I wanted to try dualling to Mage at level 13 instead of 9; so she is now a level 9 Kensai. This is the only way I felt I could do it without it feeling like cheating; I mean I could've just altered her Kensai level to 13 immediately. Once she is level 13 I intend to gradually award the xp I've earned as a Mage from time to time, until she has it all back - I want to experience the challenge of levelling past 13 as a Mage, only.

So as you can see, this means modding the save files quite alot. I'm asking because my Bg2 suddenly crashed earlier, and though most games crash occasionally, I've never had BG2 crash in this manner, before. I'm also concerned about how the game responds to this; I believe that BG2 uses levelled lists to determine what creatures spawn, and what level party members spawn at, etc? Seing as I've just gone from Fighter/Mage level 9/16 to Figher level 9, will I start seeing easier opponents?

Finally, how exacly does the game determine what spawns? I've been told that your party's average level is taken into account, but how does this work exacly? How does multiclass/dualclasses factor into this?

Thanks in advance.

[EastFrame]

Well, how safe is it? ... I'm asking because my Bg2 suddenly crashed earlier, and though most games crash occasionally, I've never had BG2 crash in this manner, before.

Thanks in advance.

Now this is why I stopped heavily modding IE games!

Your games are crashing because you are modding specialised kits. The Kensai's -2AC bonus, for example. Other kits with level dependent abilities such as the Monk or Swashbuckler will also cause problems. Everytime I've tried to change or assign kits, it always goes belly-up.

Messing about with XP tables is bad news. When you acquire a new companion, just use shadowkeeper to give your companions the same XP (highest) and let the game deal with the level-up. Don't do any more than that. Trust me, it will become a crash fest. Over modding can not only kill the gaming experience, but also the saves.

I'd advise to simply go back to a save game before you started modding, and delete all the modded saves. Play the Kensai to level 13 then dual class.

Sorry, but there isn't a magic fix for this. Good luck!

[NocturneN]

Hmm, I see. Sadly replaying from level 9 will force me to replay pretty much the whole game again, or a very large part of it atleast, and I have spent too much time on this character already to ever want to replay it...nay, 'Tis either this or simply leave it alone. I've been careful with Shadowkeeper use in the past, though; I mainly use it to check things like how romances progress, or change minor things like re-spending idiotic proficiency choices ( ) or re-assign known spells that mysteriously disappear at times... (Has happened twice so far, once with the MC losing bhaalspawn powers - before the Slayer change - and recently Keldorn refused to re-memorize his innate abilities) heh.

I'm confused with what you mean with companions and xp, though. Why wouldn't changing their xp amounts cause these crashes aswell? Because they are not kitted? Or you mean that I simply should refrain from 'setting' a character's level? If it's the latter then I should tell you that I haven't actually altered any levels, only xp - and by gradually assigning xp I mean I DO intend to level up "naturally", just boosting the xp abit for each level since I'm not too keen on doing it all again (nor am I sure if there's even enough xp in the game for it).

Regardless, thanks for your reply, 'twas enlightening!

[roller1234]

never had a crash. Then again i dont make obviously illegal modifications.