Cloak of Mirroring (in ToB) - Yes, Again!

Philip · Post by **Philip** » Wed Jul 04, 2001 8:17 pm

(Ok - let me say from the start, "I'm sorry!" I know the information I want is on the site here somewhere, but for the life of me I can't find it! Search upon search...)

I absolutely HATE the shimmering globe that surrounds a PC/NPC when wearing the "new & improved" (sic) cloak of mirroring that appears as soon as ToB is installed over SoA.

How do I change the appearance to revert to the old "glowing circle at my feet" or even just make it appear (when worn) like a regular cloak?

Unlike some folk, I don't mind that the item has been "powered down" to absorb rather than reflect magic - I think this provides a MUCH more balanced game. I just hate the appearance when worn!

I believe there is a file I can rename/delete or some mod I can make with an Infinity Engine utility? Can anyone help?

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Wed Jul 04, 2001 9:21 pm

i remeber reading something on the black isle boards form dave g.

the globe (which is horrible) is hard coded to the effect, you can change what the cloak does, and that will change the globe.

but you can't change the globe w/o changing the effect.

my advice, keep it in your pack and only wear it when you expect spellcaster trouble.

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Wed Jul 04, 2001 10:00 pm

yay it works, ok new Cloak of Mirroring is ready for use. I've tried changing the appearance back to what it was, but (like koz-ivan said) it's coded in with the effect of the cloak. So I've disabled that, and added in an icon that appear so you'll know when you have the cloak on. Note: when you first put it on, the globe will appear, and then will disappear about a second later.

Edit - Philip, can you give me your email, so I can send you the new file.

[ 07-05-2001: Message edited by: Sabre ]

Philip · Post by **Philip** » Wed Jul 04, 2001 10:40 pm

Thanks, Sabre!!!

I've updated my profile to allow e-mail responses, so just click on the envelope beside my name in the header and you'll be able to get it to me.

By the way, if the appearance is coded in with the effect of the cloak and you've disabled that, does that mean that any item/spell that provides spell 'mirroring' will have its appearance/effect changed also?

Does your cloak provide the original or the updated protection (ie. mirroring back to caster or mirroring harmlessly away)?

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Wed Jul 04, 2001 10:46 pm

No, I've just disabled it for the cloak itself. So it will not effect other spells or items.

It's the new one, so the spells are absorbed by it. Personally, I liked this more than reflecting the spells back; now you actually have to kill beholders and other things, instead of standing there and let them kill themselves.

Edit - I've just sent the file.

[ 07-05-2001: Message edited by: Sabre ]

Metatron · Post by **Metatron** » Thu Jul 05, 2001 10:10 am

Heh, hook me up, Sabre. I hate that globe effect. I can't even tell the difference when my character changes shape.

cyborg001@operamail.com

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Thu Jul 05, 2001 11:55 am

Metatron - The file is on it's way.

Lews Therin · Post by **Lews Therin** » Thu Jul 05, 2001 12:36 pm

Me too, please.

Thanks in advance.

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Thu Jul 05, 2001 12:52 pm

Lews Therin: I just sent it, you should get it soon.

aVENGER2k · Post by **aVENGER2k** » Thu Jul 05, 2001 3:11 pm

@Sabre:

I too think that the "old" version of the cloak was overpowered but this globe effect REALLY annoyed me so I never used the new cloak anyway.And to think that those lazy guys at BIS were telling us something like "oh,it's just too hardcoded for us to change it now,naah I think we'd rather enjoy ourselves using all the money we got from you BG2 addicts on some tropical island which is only populated by extremely frolicking Nymphs"

BTW,great job man,why don't you mail this to Kevin D. so he can put it up for download?

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Thu Jul 05, 2001 3:20 pm

aVENGER2k: Thanks, I couldn't change the animation - at least that part about hardcoded is correct - so I just disabled it. Will send to Kevin, thanks for reminding me.

PDF · Post by **PDF** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 6:21 am

Sabre,
I don't have ToB yet (game boxes have to cross the Atlantic

) but uses the Cloak in standard BG2...and don't like the feet-circle effect neither !
If your "patch" works for the "original" version of the cloak I'd be glad to have it, else don't worry I'll do with...
BTW it's cool fun to see beholders killing themselves

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 6:42 am

PDF: You don't like the "shimmering circle around feet" animation? I like that one, but they changed it in ToB and I couldn't change it back. So, you want to disable the "shimmering circle around feet" animation, but keep the reflect back to caster thing, right?

cheesemage · Post by **cheesemage** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 6:50 am

if the changed the cloak of mirrioring did they change the sheild of baldurann?i have tob but im to lazy to check

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:04 am

No, the Shield of Balduran still works as it does in Shadow of Amn, it reflects beholder's rays back to the beholders. I've checked.

cheesemage · Post by **cheesemage** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:06 am

ok at but thats balanced pretty well because it doesnt refelct spells

Lews Therin · Post by **Lews Therin** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:18 am

Thanks, Sabre, it works great. That sphere was really starting to annoy me.

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:22 am

Lews Therin: You're welcome, feel free to send it to your friends or anyone else who wants it.

PDF · Post by **PDF** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:35 am

Originally posted by Sabre:
<STRONG>PDF: You don't like the "shimmering circle around feet" animation? I like that one, but they changed it in ToB and I couldn't change it back. So, you want to disable the "shimmering circle around feet" animation, but keep the reflect back to caster thing, right?</STRONG>

Sabre,
I didn't explain WHY I don't like the shimmering thing : my protagonist is a Thief, nearly always hidden+indetectable, and with this circle it's just ridiculous to imagine he is !!

About the reflecting thing surely it's overpowerful and they've been right downing it to "absorption"...
So I'd take what you have : either a "basic" reflecting cloak or a new absorbing one, providing there's NO f*cking shimmering circle !!!

Sabre · Post by **Sabre** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:38 am

PDF: I've sent you two versions, the old one (reflect back to caster) and the new one (absorb); neither of them have any animation, just an icon to let you know that you have it on.