Ascension Mod

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 5:02 pm

I posted this topic under SoA originally, not realizing that the new mod was ToB-specific. Let's start off discussion with Quitch's repost of the mod's contents:

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I have been testing Ascension while running the Baldurdash ToB fixpack, and have had no problems.

It makes changes to the Pocket Plane, the Balthazar battle and encounter, and the Throne of Bhaal. It also replaces the dialog.tlk file.

I sent the news to Buck, and having worked on the MOD myself I think I about covered everything, but if you want to know *detailed* information about the MOD. Here is a bit from the readme.

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3.0 What Does 'the Ascension' Do, Exactly?
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The mod mostly affects the end part of the game, starting at the very end of Chapter 9 when you meet with Balthazar and climaxing at the site of the ascension in the Throne of Bhaal. In case you are planning on re-playing the whole expansion, you should be aware of a couple of things that affect the game beyond this section:

1) The Slayer form that the player picks up in Spellhold all the way back in BG2 now upgrades. It does so when you exceed 2 million, 4 million and 6 million XP. The upgrades get considerably stronger and deadlier, and one big change you will notice is that occasionally you will lose control over yourself. The Slayer can sometimes go berserk and will attack the nearest target...this can last one round or go on for several...although there will always be a respite in the very last round before you take too much damage. The last upgrade gives the player the option to become the Ravager...the ultimate incarnation of murder...which is incredibly powerful but also the most difficult form to control. Once the mod is installed, these upgrades are available in both BG2 and ToB.

2) Imoen and Sarevok have some dialogues with the PC in ToB that are fairly important. For Imoen, it involves her growing taint and she gets some Bhaalspawn abilities. For Sarevok, it involves the chance of him changing alignment. In ToB these were completely random...but since their stories come up in the Ascension, I thought it was important that these be seen. There are now event-based timers that will spur Imoen and Sarevok to speak their dialogues if they haven't already done so. If you play through the game, you will get them all very naturally. If, however, you load up the mod and you have played through the game and NOT gotten them here's the warning...if you wait a minute they will start speaking all of their dialogues with about 15 seconds in-between. It might seem a bit rapid-fire, but at least you'll have seen them.

3) For those who have picked up the mod where the Bhaalspawn powers that the player obtains after the challenges in ToB were put back in, this mod contains them as well. After each challenge in the pocket plane you will receive extra abilities. If you're loading up a saved game from before you installed, this will not occur. If you don't want it, it's not really a big deal: delete the AR4500.bcs file from your Override directory.

4) This mod replaces in full the Improved Balthazar mod. The new Balthazar is probably just as powerful...but a lot smarter and less cheesy...that is, if you fight him.

If you have an appropriate save game, the best place to start up the mod is right before you go into Balthazar's stronghold in Amkethran (after completing both Sendai's and Abazigal's enclave). If you're using your Final Save right before you go into Chapter 10, that's OK too...but you won't see any of the new dialogue with Balthazar from earlier.

The highlights of the Ascension, itself, are:

* extended Balthazar sequence: Balthazar has a lot more to discuss with you when you meet him in his stronghold. He's a Lawful Good monk determined to destroy Bhaal and his evil essence forever, even in himself...but, depending on your own nature, you may be able to talk him into forgoing a battle or even fighting Melissan at your side. This is, however, not an easy thing to do.

* Irenicus & Bodhi: if you've read the 'thanks' column, you may have come across mention of Irenicus and Bodhi and thought 'what the?!'. Don't worry, it will all make sense. And for those of you who wouldn't think of pairing up with a goody two-shoes pansy like Balthazar, there's another opportunity for an ally in the final battle here, as well.

* a totally redone final battle: the battle at the Throne of Bhaal has been completely redone, from start to finish. Gone are the Elemental Princes and the multiple battles with Melissan and her Slayer Shadows. Melissan has been completely re-done, and the allies she brings to bear against you make this a whole new fight.

* scaleable AI: I wish I could remove the things where the Difficulty slider actually changes the rules of the game. Easy still makes everyone do half damage, and Insane still makes everyone do double damage. Nothing I can do about that. What I have done, however, is scaled the AI more according to the difficulty level. Core is about as difficult as one can get and still have the true D&D rules. If tough battles aren't your thing, set it to Normal or Easy...you will face less opponents and they will have access to less of their powers and spells (or use them less often). If you want a bigger challenge, try Hard or Insane...it will set you against more opponents who do greater damage and less resources to work with.

* better AI: a lot of work has gone into the AI of the opponents you'll face. You can often disrupt their spells, but they'll work at preventing you from being able to. They are still immune to stuff that's appropriate, but the stuff they aren't immune to they will try and deal with when you use it on them. They'll target appropriate opponents with the appropriate attacks and generally use their abilities wisely. Melissan is still a power-house...but she's practically a demigod...the fight against her this time is much more tactical and you've got to figure out how to weaken her before you can take her down.

* some new epilogues: not all of the epilogues have changed, but some of them have been lengthened to what they had been originally written as. A couple have changed completely, and a few new ones have been added.

MegaToerist · Post by **MegaToerist** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 4:38 am

@Quitch: That sounds great! Is the mod available, and where can you get it? I've searched the TeamBG sites, but didn't find any info

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I'd also use this opportunity to give a special "thank you" to all the people who work on those great mods for BGII. They make the game even better than it was before!!.

Thanks,
TC,
Geert

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 5:04 am

Tsk tsk, you really need to visit the GB news page.

You can get the MOD from [url="http://www.attcanada.net/~hitch/IEEAIS/"]http://www.attcanada.net/~hitch/IEEAIS/[/url]

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The MOD also upgrades the Sword of Chaos if you give it to Sarevok. That effect is applicable from the second you meet him again.

[ 11-25-2001: Message edited by: Quitch ]

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 5:20 am

You can also get the Mod at [url="http://theforge.blackmagicgames.com/infinity/davesmods.htm"]The Forge of the Zildraheem[/url].

MegaToerist · Post by **MegaToerist** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 5:22 am

@Quitch: I guess that's what happens when you have shortcuts to the board and don't pass by the main page anymore.

Thanks!
Geert

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Mon Nov 26, 2001 3:28 pm

Version 1.2 is now out, you can use the above link to get either the patch (for 1.0 or 1.1) or the full version.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 4:54 pm

Really great work guys!! This game just gets better and better. I only have one problem.
Spoiler!!
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The end of the end fight is too hard for my solo sorceror. I even have the help of balthazar but it is still to hard. Melissan is invulnerable!! Any hints on what to do?
Will I ever be able to hurt her?

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Thu Nov 29, 2001 11:40 am

Have you killed the Five? She won't die until you do. She also kicks off with Divine Mantle and Spell Trap, or some such combination.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Thu Nov 29, 2001 2:54 pm

You could *gasp* knock down the difficulty for the first try. The mod has been written with a hard battle at Core rules in mind (to stick close to AD&D while still providing a challenge).

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Nov 29, 2001 2:56 pm

Well I can't see that any of the five is still alive. Spells won't work and weapon ineffective all the time. But I'll keep pounding a while longer I guess.

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 6:38 am

How many Breaches and Pierce Magic types have you used on her? What's the message window saying?

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 6:44 am

It just says weapon ineffective. I have used alot of breaches and basically every spell I know. Maybe my planetars cannot hurt her.

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 3:50 am

She has Divine Mantle and....Divine Spell Trap? Something like that, it absorbs Breaches. You'll need to get out your Warding Whips.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 8:37 am

I am afraid I don't have any spells like that. Will try melfs minute meteors instead. Thanks.

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 9:41 am

You'll need something that dispells MAGICAL protections (Breach takes care of COMBAT protections). Use it on her, then Breach.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 10:39 am

I had to restart and right now I am having trouble with the five. I have been at this battle for days now, it is great!! Will remove magic work on melissan perhaps?
Thanks for all your help, this time she will go down. I am going to play it cheesy this time and use alot of simulacrums and immunity to timestop.

Krimmy · Post by **Krimmy** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 7:08 am

I still haven't beat her, it appears there is a small window of time to actually hit her and I belive its just after she puts up the devine spell trap, so if you can time your whirlwind attacks then you should pound the hell out of her.

Of course you will need Warding whip/Ruby ray/Spellstrike to get it off her in the first place but the window of opportunity should be there when she puts it back up.

I keep hearing this mantra repeated over and over...

This one is invulerable!
My weapon has no affect!
Weapon is faulty!
etc.

[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Krimmy ]

[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Krimmy ]

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 9:33 am

I know the feeling!!

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 4:56 pm

Version 1.4 is now out.

Incidently, Melissan loses some HP permanently every time she casts one of her divine spells.

MatiasDet · Post by **MatiasDet** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:58 pm

????????????

Hey dude!!! I cant enter ANY of those two pages you've mentioned here, do you a new adress for those pags, or a new one? please, I really want to play this MOD it sounds AMAZING!!!