3 mods, 1 month.

[dragonagefun]

I set out almost 1 month ago to learn the DA Toolset.. It was NOT easy at all.... oh and the debuggin almost made me want to quit modding... Certain parts of the toolset was simple, while other parts started challenging my patience. Regardless, I have completed 3 adventure mods which I hope will expand the game for everyone. Yes, I do admit some mods might be buggy. It might not feel as polished as it can be. Some might even say what I created is TOOO hard. Regardless, my objective in creating the mod is to learn how to use the toolset, and with every mod, incorporate something new. I created the mod based on how "I" would like to play the mod.. and I personally prefer challenging adventures.

 

Anyhow, after almost 1 month since I first installed the toolset, I have created 3 playable mods of varying level requirement and difficulty,

 

1. Castle_Cousland - This mod is intended for a starting party, who just completed Lothering, and perhaps 1 main campaign quest line. (Level 7-10+) You will liberate Castle Cousland from the Howes, and earn the right to your own castle. Here, I learned how to execute a quest line from start to finish. I learned how to work with ambient NPC movements, and how to work with merchants. Really cool stuff.

 

2. King Calenhads Tomb - This mod comes into play for players halfway through the game, around level 13-17+. In this mod, you will explore the hidden shrine of King Calenhad, explore a few new maps, and continue to earn treasures and xp in the main campaign. The level difficulty jumps up here by a notch with highly scripted combat fights (teleporting bosses, bosses that summon adds, deadly trap rooms, etc..). In this mod, I experimented with changing monster combat AI - making monsters use spells that they normally don't. I learned how to create a brand new 'level' to be used in game. I also leared how to script combat for more interesting boss fights.

 

3. Temple of Vulak - This mod is the end all be all difficulty adventure. This pack is tuned for end-game, modded out party who are bored with the game and have nothing left to do. Monsters and bosses are tuned to very high difficulty level, but it is completely beatable using the best DLC/Original game gear. Earn some powerful gear as you progress deeper into this dungeon, and ultimately face the Dragon Highlord Vulak. I leared how to resize creatures to make 'dramatic' boss fights. I also learned how to tune bosses to a very hard level, enough to humble the best geared, modded out group of players. I also learned how to work with 2DA data files and add it to the game so it reads properly.

 

My goal was to expand game play for Dragon Age. There are hundreds and thousands of mods that change armor color, add hair styles, modify weapons to be added into the inventory... but in the end, it's still the same game. Bioware is slow at pushing out DLC content, and even the stuff they push out is mindlessly easy - requiring me to download Nightmare Plus, 1 minute potion timer, etc... just to not sleep through it. I hope you guys check out the mods I've created and progress through all 3 adventures as if they were part of the original game. start with Castle Cousland, claim your own fortress. Do a few campaign quests, and side quests and proceed to King Calenhad's Tomb. Once you feel you're at the very end of the game, try your skills at the Temple of Vulak. If I have done it right, these 3 mods should be incorporated to the regular campaign seemlessly... and offer something new and exciting.

 

If my mods frustrate you because its hard, i apologize. But I can't please everyone. My intention is to make something challenging so it has replay value. Whats the fun if you can take your party into a dungeon and be out of the place in 30 minutes? Right?

 

I started as someone who has NO idea how to use the toolset. No idea how to read programming language. Bashed my head into a wall countless times trying to translate an outdated wiki. In the end, if you guys do enjoy what I made, then its true where there is a will, there is a way.

 

Cheers!

[RustyBlade]

You certainly learned how to kill us all off lol :thumbsup: I open up the toolset, look around and then close it so you are far better than I.

 

What's next for you?

[dragonagefun]

You certainly learned how to kill us all off lol :thumbsup: I open up the toolset, look around and then close it so you are far better than I.

 

What's next for you?

 

 

I will now take a break =) I achieved my goal of releasing 3 mods, playable for all levels from the start of the game, middle, and the very end. Over the next week, i'll mostly work on debugging the mods I made.. Debugging sucks, wish I had a team who can help with this part haha. Anyways, when I do have time again, I will start adding expansion quests into Castle Cousland. My next expansion mod will involve Darkspawns at Castle Cousland =) In the mean time, don't forget to endorse if you guys like what I made.