Branwen NPC Feedback

[Wounded_Lion]

Feel free to provide feedback or suggestions for Branwen NPC here (or if you prefer, start a new thread).

aWL

[Jarno Mikkola]

Could you put Branwen to a different gage? As there are few mods that put their char to just the one you have used. The multiplayer game also uses that same... etc. It also might be stimulating to read my story(fanfic) about the subject, called The fallen spirit of the lost wanderers.

[Wounded_Lion]

@Jarno:  I didn't realize that multiplayer characters use that cell.  I'll consider moving her to another cell for v1.2.

Btw, v1.1 is now available (it contains several improvements and adds some new content).

aWL

[Wounded_Lion]

I think that multiplayer characters use that cell last (after the other two empty cells).  However, due to the configuration of my computer, I cannot test this (I used to be able to create a multiplayer game for testing purposes on my older desktop using a serial connection; that method does not seem to work with my newer labtop; I would guess this is because it lacks classic COM1/COM2 ports).

Can someone verify the above for me?  If multiplayer uses that cell last, I'll likely leave her at her present location (if you have more than two multiplayer characters, you won't likely have room to keep Branwen in your party for any great length of time).

aWL

[Rastor]

You could always stuff her into one of the empty cages in the torture room/clone room.  Say that Irenicus was trying to use her DNA/body/whatever to perfect his Ellesime clone 

[Wounded_Lion]

@Rastor:  That's a good idea, and one that hadn't come to mind. I'll consider moving her there if her current location displeases a majority of the people who want to play the mod.

aWL

[Wounded_Lion]

Here is the description for Branwen's custom weapon (introduced in v1.2):

Empowered Silver Mace +3

This enchanted silver mace belongs to the warrior-priestess Branwen and becomes unbearably cold in the hand of any other who attempts to wield it.

STATISTICS:

Special: +10 Damage to Undead and Lycanthropes

THAC0: +3
Damage: 1D6 + 4
Damage Type: crushing
Weight: 6
Speed Factor: 4
Proficiency Type: Mace
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 10 Strength
Usable By:
 Branwen

Thoughts or suggestions?

aWL

[Rastor]

Here is the description for Branwen's custom weapon (introduced in v1.2):

Empowered Silver Mace +3

This enchanted silver mace belongs to the warrior-priestess Branwen and becomes unbearably cold in the hand of any other who attempts to wield it.

STATISTICS:

Special: +10 Damage to Undead and Lycanthropes

THAC0: +3
Damage: 1D6 + 4
Damage Type: crushing
Weight: 6
Speed Factor: 4
Proficiency Type: Mace
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 10 Strength
Usable By:
 Branwen

Thoughts or suggestions?

aWL

Comes with a +3 weapon and is obtainable in Irenicus's Lair?

I'd give her something weaker (+1 maybe) and make it upgradable to the one you posted in Chapter 2 or 3.

[Wounded_Lion]

@Rastor:  Yeah, it is powerful.  I wanted to give her a decent weapon because maces tend to be less powerful than other common weapons.  There are a few useful enchanted maces in BG2 (Mace of Disruption) but in general the class is less common and less powerful than long swords, two-handed swords, axes, etc.

The Empowered Silver Mace +3 is essentially a custom Mace of Disruption (minus the ability to destroy Undead in a single hit, plus the additional damage to Lycanthropes).  (Although the Mace of Disruption is described as a +1 weapon, I believe it actually strikes as a +3 weapon).

As you suggest, I could start Branwen with less powerful version of the weapon (Empowered Silver Mace +2) which could be upgraded (Empowered Silver Mace +4) in Chapter 2.  To do so, I need an idea for upgrading the mace.

Alternately, I could move the Empowered Silver Mace +3 to a location/character in the city.  To do so, I need an idea for where to place the mace and a reason for its being there.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

aWL

[Wounded_Lion]

What do you think of adding a new merchant who has the weapon?  He could sell new items from classes lacking in variety and assortment in the unmodded game (Maces, Flails, Halberds, Spears, etc).  Branwen could pick up a non-enchanted silver mace and remark that she had a similar weapon with powerful enchantments stolen from her recently, and the merchant could reply that he was recently sold a remarkable weapon that refuses the grip of any who've tried it.  Good?  Or would you prefer something else?

The two ideas could be merged, too.  The merchant (or someone else) would have the less powerful version, and there would be an opportunity to upgrade it during Chapter 2.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

aWL

[Rastor]

What do you think of adding a new merchant who has the weapon?  He could sell new items from classes lacking in variety and assortment in the unmodded game (Maces, Flails, Halberds, Spears, etc).  Branwen could pick up a non-enchanted silver mace and remark that she had a similar weapon with powerful enchantments stolen from her recently, and the merchant could reply that he was recently sold a remarkable weapon that refuses the grip of any who've tried it.  Good?  Or would you prefer something else?

The two ideas could be merged, too.  The merchant (or someone else) would have the less powerful version, and there would be an opportunity to upgrade it during Chapter 2.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

aWL

It's a possibility.  What I might do is something like have Branwen's deity give her a quest (save a ton of people, destroy heretics, beat up <CHARNAME>, whatever is fitting with the portfolio and alignment) and the reward is upgrading the mace.

I'll admit that I'm not as fond of the merchant idea, but that's at least partly because I absolutely hate merchants having decent enchanted weapons without a very good reason.  I can see your idea certainly working, but it is simply not what I would prefer.  It is your mod and your creativity though 

[Jarno Mikkola]

How much are you willing to stride with this mod? As I could see few possibilities...

Please give us installation option to use the old character stats, class etc.
You might also want to expand the mod a little to the BG1(BGTutu & BGT) side of the game and put her there as Fighter/Cleric too. Also this gives you the perfect excuse to give her the Silver Mace, which can be upgraded to +1 in BG1, and then lost, and then sold to us by the merchant, after which it can be empowered by the deity quest... plah plah plah...

Silver Mace

This silver mace belongs to the warrior-priestess Branwen and it becomes unbearably cold in the hand of any other who attempts to wield it. Branwen got this weapon from her father, who was famous warrior, that fought against many tides of werewolves with it.

STATISTICS:

Special: +3 Damage to Lycanthropes

Damage: 1D6 + 1
Damage Type: crushing
Weight: 6
Speed Factor: 7?
Proficiency Type: Mace
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 10 Strength
Usable By:
 Branwen you might want to give more stat based requirements than just those shown, so she can wield the weapon, without the need of assigning a item creature class restriction that is incompatible with other mods, as there are far too few of them already.

[Wounded_Lion]

I am interested feedback concerning the following items and concepts planned for v1.3:

Silver Mace +1

This beautiful weapon is crafted of silver.  It is enchanted to strengthen the physical and magical properties of that metal.

STATISTICS:

Special: +8 Damage to Lycanthropes

THAC0: +1
Damage: 1D6 + 2
Damage Type: crushing
Weight: 8
Speed Factor: 6
Proficiency Type: Mace
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 10 Strength

Price: 2000

------------------------------

Silver Chain Mail +1

This beautiful armor is crafted of silver.  It is enchanted to strengthen the physical and magical properties of that metal.

Equipped Ability: Improves casting speed by 1

Special: Does not prevent arcane spellcasting

STATISTICS:

Armor Class: 4
Weight: 10
Requires: 8 Strength

Price: 3000

------------------------------

Silver Helm

This beautiful helm is crafted of silver.  It is enchanted to strengthen the physical and magical properties of that metal.

STATISTICS:

Equipped Ability: Improves casting speed by 1

Armor Class Bonus: None
Special: Protects Against Critical Hits
Weight: 2

Price: 1500

Silver isn't the best raw material for weapons and armor; a suit of armor crafted of silver is likely made to take advantage of whatever magical properties silver might have: the idea here is that a silver suit of armor renders a character into a sort of magical battery, able to draw magical energy more quickly and cast spells faster.  Like the concept?  Dislike it?

These items give Clerics, Fighter-Clerics, and Fighter-Mages the opportunity to have faster spellcasting (like Mages who can use the Robe of Vecna).

These and other items will be available for sale from Cormac, an uncle of Branwen who visits the Southern cities to sell high quality Northern weapons and armor and promote the worship of Tempus.  He will give Branwen her custom weapon, offer to sell the party equipment at fair prices, and give Branwen a quest.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

aWL

[Wounded_Lion]

@Jarno:  I will keep your suggestions in mind, but Tutu/BGT components aren't a high priority.  First, I need to finish the BG2 portion of the mod.