Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated look. *Optional*

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Motorboat
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Joined: 08/14/2010
Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated look. *Optional*
Love NWN? Of course you do. Love Graphics...well. Now you dont have to deal with NWN dated graphics any longer. Thanks to Kalimere showing me this overide, my games never looked better. I cant believe ive been playing it any other way.
Its very simple to do and remove and wont interfere with your game other than get you killed cause you keep gawkin at how darn pretty everything is.
Okay so, Ive placed the links throughout this thread, next to the actual pics. But this may be confusing. So here they all are in a row. If you want to see a pic for what the links do. Read my posts on this thread thoughout.

*All THESE NEED TO BE UNZIPPED THEN COPIED AND PASTED IN YOUR OVERIDE FOLDER LOCATED IN YOUR NWN DIRECTORY. BE SURE TO MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR OVERIDE FOLDER SO YOU CAN REMOVE THEM EASILY*

*OH AND YOU DONT NEED THEM ALL BY ANY MEANS. jUST THE FIRST ONE DOES WONDERS. THE NWNCQ IS JUST AMAZING, SO START WITH THAT. AND ONCE YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT ITS JUST THE SAME PROCESS FOR THE REST, SO IT JUST GETS EASIER EACH ONE YOU ADD. PROMISE :)*

*OH AND ALSO GO TO PAGE 3 AND READ ETHALOXS POST ABOUT THE BRAMBLES AND TO MANY LEAVES. THEN READ MY REPLY ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE BY CHECKING "AUTO" FOR SECOND STORY TILES IN THE GAME OPTIONS.*

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=hakpaks.Detail&id=7848
This is the place to get the texture overide that updates the environment. I used
NWNCQ_override_basic_by_chico400.rar and the NWNCQ_override_basic_by_chico400_patch.rar
Be sure to read the directions on the site about the "plus version addon" , which I didnt use, but may later. As well as the NWNCQ_override_extended_by_chico400.rar which is the more advanced overide that you may want to use instead of the NWNCQ_override_basic_by_chico400.rar

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Creatures.Detail&id=630
This is the main creature pack that changes many of the creatures to a different look. Like the Lord of the Rings Orcs and much more.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Creatures.Detail&id=601
This is for Improved Goblins. Though this may be in the creature pack, im unsure.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Creatures.Detail&id=598
And the Undead overide. Be sure to read these as there are options.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Creatures.Detail&id=605
This is for improved Zombies and be sure to read it.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Creatures.Detail&id=597
This is for Improved Ghouls and be sure to read it.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=1433
This is for the color icons for spells, icons, radial menus with writing, etc.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=1450
This is version 2 for spell icons only. They are improved so put this one in after the one above.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=1358&comment_page=3
And last one, for now, is the Camera Mod. This one *Does Not Go In The Overide Folder*
Unzip this one in your NWN folder alongside your overide, logs, screenshots folders and the nwnmain.exe.
Also Ive noticed that version 1 always works. But some people have trouble with version 2. So try 1 if 2 doesnt work. Also, since it alters your nwnmain.exe some virus software will think this is a virus due to its behavior. Ive been using it for years so there is no virus. They discuss this on the site even.
Once its in your NWN folder. Run the NWN SoU+HotU 1.69 camera.exe or Version 2 exe and click "modify" when it loads. Sometimes this breaks the link to your shortcut to nwnmain.exe. So you may have to make a new shortcut.

*EDIT**DOUBLE EDIT THERE ARE SOME GLITCHY VISUALS WITH THIS OVERIDE ON SOME BREATH WEAPONS IF YOU HAVE THE CEP. IM WORKING ON TAKING THEM OUT. i PROBABLY WOULDNT USE THIS ONE IF THE TROLLS WERENT SO EPIC*
Added a few more creature overides for some of the beasties that didnt get a change.
Be sure to only dload the three overide dloads Creature_1.7z Creature_2.7z
Creature_3.7z
See the troll and bugbear pics

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Creatures.Detail&id=629

*EDIT*
This is a program that allows you to use your usb xbox controller with a great amount of customization. I use it for exploring with my wireless controller. Its great to sit back and move, move the camera, auto walk, move the mouse, activate the hot bars, use the tooltip (highlight things of interest like monsters or player names) with a function that holds it down for me, attack, toss spells etc. What ever you want to set it up as. Mind you the controller is no way to play NWN. I use the keyboard and mouse when things get going. Its just great for light movement so you can sit back in your chair.
http://www.xpadder.com/

*All my tips and tutorials can be found just by reading the sites. I just added them here for the lazy or computer shy.*

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Well you get the point. Every map I move to is like finding a little present. This is a great way, if youre like me and have been playing with the old look for a few years, of spicing up your game.
The link to the overide is here. These screenshots are done with the NWNQC Basic without the "plus version addon". Though I may try the addon as well as the NWNQC extended later on. But for now, Basic is just fine for me. *Dont forget to use the patch after*
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=hakpaks.Detail&id=7848
Ill post how I got these later:)
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*IMPORTANT STEP* Like all overides be sure to make a backup of your overide folder for ease of removal. Just copy and rename "overide" folder to "overide backup" or whatever is easy. I have a few backups with each stage of my overides so I can go back in stages.
The invention of the flamethrower means that someone, somewhere thought, "There has to be an easier way to set someone on fire."
-Bill Hicks
Motorboat
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
You may want to copy these images and look at them in a viewer to see all the amazing detail. These smaller screenies dont do it justice.
The invention of the flamethrower means that someone, somewhere thought, "There has to be an easier way to set someone on fire."
-Bill Hicks
LittleWeasel
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
... Just a quick question - I was tempted at the Skibbles override, but heard it changed Myon so much, that I didn't want to install it (but I love the Skibbles GUI) ...
This one here is obviously not Skibbles' ... But you have no screenies of Myon in there - anyone who has that override here sees, how Myon looks like?

I spend so much time there, I really don't want it to be messed up Wink
(I guess I could try it and if I don't like it de-install it again)
Don't take Life too seriously - you'll never get out of it alive...
Mind over Matter... now that I don't have a mind, it doesn't matter...
Daedin
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
I used this one as well, a while ago,and it did change Myon,giving it a colossal ceiling. Some of the statues that Artos used to make some areas (like the two by the entrance to the Burial Grounds area and Benwick) will float around in the sky.

These are,however,the two only bad things I remember. If there was a way to find out which file overrides the Myon tileset,and remove it from the pack,as well as the one that replaces the statues,it'd be awesome.
Hoeyaz
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
It's the same tileset. Because Myons tileset wasn't really designed to be used as a city tileset (it's Ruins-something tileset.) A roof was added over Myon. Other than that, there isn't a huge amount of changes to Myon's tileset. In fact, I think it's more or less the same. Also, I think Brogenstien actually looks worse, partially because of the roof, partially because of the bad texture that was chosen to replace that tileset's original flooring. Same goes for the Crypts. These can all be fixed, too, just remove the offending tilesets from your override, and it'll revert to normal. They aren't all packed up, so with a little digging, they can be removed.

The most improvements I saw was the Nomad/Bendir interior, the Bramble woods, some parts of the Spires (There's a few textures that didn't synch well with the originals, some textures have grey lines around them.) The crystal caves, Outside of Brog. Sewers look marginally better. Wharftown is pretty effin cool. Cordor streets.

Places that didn't seem to change at all or much: Arelith Forest, Light Keep/Minmir Manor exterior, most of the cave tilesets, the Udos tileset, Grond, The Skull Crags and Guldorand, the ship interior, the jungles, The Abyss (It actually has a ceiling too, it's just hardly visible unless you're looking at the exact right angle) Baator/Dis.

Places that looked actually worse: Myon(only because of the ceiling, other than that, no huge changes), the Crypts, Brog/Umbrick's Hall, last level of the Wharftown Boys hideout.

All in all, when it delivers, it does it well, and where it fails, it's not failing to the point where I was completely dissatisfied. Myons "ceiling" is really only visible if you do the over the shoulder view. Again, if you find out what tilesets each of them are from, you can revert them back to the originals by deleting the tileset and textures out of your override. I've been meaning to do it, but laziness and lack of play haven't been motivating.
Ethalox
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
How do you get rid of the 'halo' around invisible lightsources?
Hoeyaz
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
Ethalox wrote:

How do you get rid of the 'halo' around invisible lightsources?



Huh, never got that one. Probably would have to remove it entirely, but I'm not sure what the file is. Let me check.

PiousHeretic
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
Well, it gets a thumbs-up from me. Just discovered this beauty, and now I'm wandering around in Brog, feeling like I'm in Orzimmar or something. Awesome. This is awesome.

I am PiousHeretic, and I approve of this override.
LittleWeasel
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
How can one find out which override tga affects what tileset?
Don't take Life too seriously - you'll never get out of it alive...
Mind over Matter... now that I don't have a mind, it doesn't matter...
Hoeyaz
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
LittleWeasel wrote:

How can one find out which override tga affects what tileset?



I'm going through it. Smile Right now, I found two:

Crypts tileset is files starting with tdc01_*.*

Ruins (Brog and possibly Myon?): tdr01_*.*

I believe the ones controlling the large roofs are the *.mdl files. Not sure.

Edit: Yep. The .mdl files.

Edit edit: It looks like removing the tdr01_*.mdl files should remove the giant ceiling from Myon. Almost positive of it.

Triple Edit: Yes, it will. Positive on it! Smile Note that it will also remove Brogs ceiling. There's ways to make it so one is visible and the other isn't, but that means me going through and figuring out which is exterior (Myon) and which is interior (Brog.) I'll probably eventually do it, but not now.

PiousHeretic wrote:

Well, it gets a thumbs-up from me. Just discovered this beauty, and now I'm wandering around in Brog, feeling like I'm in Orzimmar or something. Awesome. This is awesome.

I am PiousHeretic, and I approve of this override.



Brog made me a bit claustrophobic, I like the new tiles, but don't like the roof. But that's me.

Daedin
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Re: Arelith Visual Improvement Overide. Incredible updated ...
Ah, thanks a lot Hoeyaz! Btw, we should remove ALL tdlr01_.mdl files? Not just a specific one?