TGDB.net - Game news, cheats, solutions, walkthroughs, trainers, saved games and much more!

Arcanum
Of Editing Backgrounds and Schematics
Started 10/19/01
Most Current Version 10/16/04
Ryan Zielinski/Tyrant234
Version 1.31


This F.A.Q will tell you how to make your OWN backgrounds for a new
character, and how to completely change the current schematics!



I am currently messing around with the files, and will shortly have more
information on how to personalize your game even further. I.E. changing NPC
speech, etc., but I need your help for ideas on what to change!

READ LINE BELOW THIS! PLEASE!
Email me at boba1213@cs.com with things you would like to be able to edit!!!



This F.A.Q. was written by ']['yran']['234 (Ryan Zielinski), and may only be
posted at GameFAQs.com, unless you have my written consent, email
boba1213@cs.com with questions.


Section 1 contains Version information.
Section 2 Contains information on how to undat Arcanum.
Section 3 contains the actual information on how to edit Character's
background.
Section 4 contains the abbreviations for the Abbreviations and miscellaneous
symbols.
Section 5 contains information on changing schematics.
Section 6 contains numbers for schematic items
Section 7 contains information on how to change the main menu text.
Section 8 contains information on how to change follower level-ups.
Section 9 contains legal information.
Section 10 contains contact information.
Section 11 contains Credits.


---------------------------------Section 1-----------------------------------
Version Information

Version 1.0- Preliminary Version, originally in post form, I will fix it up
later.
Version 1.1- Added Section 2, How to undat Arcanum, and started Section 5,
making your Own Schematics.
Version 1.1b Added another way to undat; added a name to credits for this
information.
Version 1.2 Added list of item names and numbers for items in schematics
Version 1.3 Added Follower level-up editing, upon suggestion of skie23
Version 1.31 Found new place where Undat utility can be downloaded, old place
removed as it was no longer working (and had not been for sometime)

---------------------------------Section 2-----------------------------------
Undatting & New Folder Making

1. Download the undat utility from "http://www.terra-arcanum.com/phpBB/dload.
php?action=download&file_id=20"; extract the files to your Arcanum
folder.
2. Create C:\Modding; double click undat.exe in your Arcanum folder
3. Quickly, push START, go to run, and type in command or, if using WinNT
(and possibly XP) 4 and 2k type in
CMD

4. IT SHOULD bring up a MSDOS prompt, with C:\Sierra\Arcanum> as the first
line, if it doesn't, type
CD \

CD Sierra\Arcanum

5. Type in undat arcanum3.dat c:\modding


To make your own schematics, follow the same steps, except for step 5, change
it to:
5. Type in undat arcanum4.dat c:\modding

Also, you must create 2 new folders. In c:\sierra\arcanum\data create \rules
and \mes

To make c:\sierra\arcanum\data\rules
And c:\sierra\arcanum\data\mes


---------------------------------Section 3-----------------------------------
Background Editing

Browse to the file: C:\Modding\arcanum3\mes\Gameback.mes
make a copy of that in C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\mes (default, use whatever path
Arcanum is. IE if Arcanum is C:\Program Files\Arcanum, place file
Gameback.mes in C:\Program Files\Arcanum\data\mes)

This is where the games background text is stored. Leave it alone for now.

Browse to C:\Modding\arcanum3\rules\backgrnd.mes, and copy that file to:
C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\rules (again default.)

Again, go back to C:\Modding\arcanum3\rules, find file: effect.mes and copy
that to C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\rules

These are the files that we will use to edit the backgrounds. First, open up
(with wordpad) gameback.mes from C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\mes. Scroll to the
bottom of the file, hit enter (to make a line between {1077} and what you are
about to type in) and type in


{1077} {TITLE HERE

A space between the {1077} and the background text you are about to type in,
then here you would type in the description, ending with a }

Save that file. Move into

C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\rules\effect.mes

and open it up. Scroll to the bottom.
Type in:
{359}{st -3, wp -3, ch +5, in +5, pe +5} // Put whatever you called the
Background here (example of how mine looks, you can do whatever you want to
the statistics, and/or skills. If you need to find out what each of the
abbreviations are, they are at the top of the message document, and in
Section 3 of this document.)

Save the file.

Now, open up C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\rules\backgrnd.mes

Scroll to the bottom.
See where it says:
{780}{1076}
{781}{358}
Etc.? Well, this is where you put in your numbers, but first you have to
make a new set. To do this, all you have to do is add 10 to the first
numbers. So,
{780} Becomes {790}
{781} Becomes {791}
Etc.

Now, check your background description file, and find the number of the
background description (it will be before the title in {}'s.) Place it in
the {}'s to the right of the first line. Now, check the effect.mes file
(Example of my edit.)

{790}{1077} (Number of background description goes here.)
{791}{359} (Number of edited stats entry goes here)
{792}{} (Which classes can use it here, read top of file for
more info)
{793}{0} (How much money you start with.)
{794}{} (Top of document says something to do with prototype
weapons, just leave it blank.)

---------------------------------Section 4-----------------------------------

Abbreviations and miscellaneous symbols.

(Probably missing a few, email any you find to me, and I will give you
credit.)

Any of the skills, IE firearms, repair, etc.

+ add to a skill , stat, maxhp, maxfatigue, resistance, reaction
- subtract from a skill, stat, maxhp, maxfatigue, resistance, reaction
* multiply life, reactions, or fatigue. NOTE can ONLY be used with those!
% must be used with + or - and a number, adds or subtracts a percent of life,
heal rate, speed, maxhp, maxfatigue


in = intelligence
ch = charisma
st = strength
cn = constitution
dx = dexterity
wp = willpower
be = beauty
pe = perception

resistpoison = changes your resistance to poison
resistelectrical = changes your resistance to electricity
resistdamage = changes your resistance to damage
resistfire = changes your resistance to fire

badreactionadj = bad reaction to you, may be used with * - or +
goodreactionadj = good reaction to you, may be used with * - or +

speed = changes speed
healrate = changes heal rate
crithitchance = changes chance to score a critical hit
critmisschance = changes chance to miss a critical hit
maxhps = changes max hp value
maxfatigue = changes max fatigue
poisonrate = changes the rate at which you resist poison
maxfollowers = changes your max amount of followers



---------------------------------Section 5-----------------------------------
Schematics!!!

*NOTE* As far as I know, so far, you can only change the current schematics!
I have not figured out how to make new ones, while keeping the old ones!


Browse to file C:\Modding\arcanum3\mes\schematic_text.mes
Copy this file to: C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\mes

Browse to file C:\Modding\arcanum3\rules\schematic.mes
Copy this file to: C:\Sierra\Arcanum\data\rules

Browse to file C:\Modding\arcanum3\mes\tech.mes
Copy this file to C:\Modding\Arcanum\data\Mes

Open C:\Sierra\Arcanum\data\mes\schematic_text.mes

Say you would like to change the entire class of Herbology. You would take
this:

//Herbology
{10}{Healing Salve}
{11}{Heal wounds quickly and easily! Taking full advantage of the natural
healing properties of Ginka Root and Kadura Stem, this elixir restores one's
health and biological energies without rest or prolonged hospitalization.}


And change it to something of your own design, like this:

//Blacksmithy
{10}{Enchanted Sword}
{11}{Ever wanted to change two crappy weapons into a weapon you could
actually use? Well, now you can! Through the amazing powers of Blacksmithy,
you can combine a rusty sword with a short sword to make an enchanted sword!}

You would also need to edit the last few lines of text of this file.
For our Blacksmithy, we would change:

//Title Schematics 1000 -
{1000}{Herbology}
{1001}{The Science of Herbology can bring the wounded back from the gaping
maw of death! Do not allow yourself to be caught DEAD without the ability to
harness the power of plants to bring you back from the edge of certain
defeat!}

to this:

//Title Schematics 1000 -
{1000}{Blacksmithy}
{1001}{With the knowledge of Blacksmithy you have the ability to change one
man's junk, into another man's treasure!}