Let me quickly start by saying this latest blog is not about any "time travel" quest or mod, but you will read the reason for the title shortly. That said, I cannot deny that time travel is something that has affected my module from a story perspective, and so it does fit with that too... I am just not going to speak of that to avoid any potential spoilers. So, read on to find out how the title fits this months blog...
Windows 24H2 Go Back To 23H2
Let's get this point out of the way, immediately. This will come as no surprise to regular followers of my work that a Windows 11 bug is the first reason for the reference to "going back in time". In brief, when I updated to the latest version of Windows 11 (24H2) a few weeks back, it broke the facility to Alt-tab between the NWN2 toolset and the NWN2 game. This may appear a minor thing on the surface of it, but I use it a lot when testing the game and latest files, and updating conversations and scripts "live".
The problem is that the moment one used Alt-tab to switch from the game back to the toolset, the computer would grind to a halt, making it extremely difficulty to close either program to unlock access to the computer again. Furthermore, while I was able to change some Windows settings to help mitigate the issue, the difference would be short-lived (too short) to allow any proper productivity. Thankfully, reverting to 23H2 (which I am currently on) resolved the problem and I was able to continue working without any further "crashes". Frustratingly, however, I lost about three days work trying to resolve the problem to no success. On a positive note, this Alt-tab issue has also been raised by others with Microsoft and not just myself, and so, hopefully, Microsoft are now addressing the problem. I can also add that since updating to Microsoft's latest files, the notification to download version 24H2 has ceased to show, which I take to mean that Microsoft have now owned the problem and are currently working on it.
From PnP To NWN2
The more exciting reference to this month's title, however, is that I am now back working on my old Pen and Paper (PnP) module, "Bloodstone College". Originally a scenario from my PnP days of the late 1990's, this was one of my favourite scenarios I had written and played with my group of players. Looking back at the original work now, however, I can see a number of aspects that I think were not required or did not play as I would like today... and so I am enjoying the NWN2 conversion immensely.
I had started area work for this scenario back in July 2024, but put it on hold by November 2024, as I realised I had to focus on other quests associated with the college itself. Now I have completed those other related aspects, I can now return to finishing this quest with all peripheral connections in place to refer to as I continue towards its completion. What this means is that I have completed the conversations and events related to other areas that now have freed me to continue with this larger project.
Furthermore, I have now also completed adding a number of items and their involvement in the Bloodstone College scenario, meaning the actual areas are starting to fill out. Another "complex" room design has also been finished, slightly aggravated by a dodgy walk mesh every time I went to bake it. I finally managed to resolve that issue, and now the scenario event that takes place there, does so as it should, and plays out well. Basically, this piece of "back in time" work is now accelerating towards completion, and once completed, will allow me to (potentially), allow alpha testers to have a first run through this second stage of module two. The stage would still require at least 3-4 areas (and associated quest events) to be completed for a full finish of stage two, but I can work on them as alpha testers play through what will already be completed. It will be another exciting step forward.
Campaign Update
The latest release, v1.26, has just been released today. I am excited to say that it has had the least number of "important" fixes since the start of the new patching system back in March last year. I like to think that this is a good sign that the whole campaign code is starting to stabilise. The biggest issue this time around was the auto-packing of some items that should go into certain containers. Some items of a large loot would not pack away, especially in a MP game. The main cause was due to a timing issue, but a second was due to the containers not being updated often enough. Suffice to say, I believe I have fixed this issue now. Apart from that, most other fixes or updates were cosmetic or information only. Again, this is another important milestone in the history of the campaign, for the fewer issues I have to address, the more time I have to work on newer material.
Moving Into The Future
Having looked at aspects of "past", I will now consider the future". No-one likes to second guess what will come to pass, but my plan is to complete the Bloodstone College scenario in the coming month, and, if done to a reasonable completion point, I will start alpha testing on the second stage of the module. As I say above though, at least 3-4 areas remain to be finished before the full design of stage two is complete. Once I have finished Bloodstone College, I will begin finishing these two last scenarios, which, thankfully, are probably less involved than the current one.
Let me leave you with a few screenshots this month. The first two have been sent to me by Dustin_Offal, combating a Sentinel foe from Stage One (using the Turn-Based combat system), while the last one is a screenshot from Stage Two of the module that I am currently working on.
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| The Heroes Take On A Sentinel! |
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| Tactical Combat Is Deployed! |
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| The Heroes Find Themselves In Another Pickle! |
