Trying to find a SDK link..Forget it!

[takezodunmer200]

Upon navigating your forums I found that you have to
be approved in order for you to receive a DL link!?

I'm sorry, but the hassle it takes just to find a bloody link
to the SDK, let alone modding for this anti-user program
really isn't worth it. Unless, of course the DEVs mandate
that the SDK be installed to utilize mods, I'll stick with
Bethsoft/Bioware's offerings.. HEH, did you know
they're STILL making new mods for NWN1, and morrowind?

A lesson for the success and continued longevity of this
game/franchise will be to quit punishing the end user and
try and cooperate with them by providing better tools
that are hassle free..

Don't be another E.A.!

I will say however, that I for one, am pretty impressed
by Two worlds visuals that I consider it a cross between
Gothic II and Morrowind, with special effects from Oblivion
(Actually surpassing oblivion in some respects) thrown in
to be very inspiring indeed.

The main reason I wanted to mod for this game was to
better utilize the graphic engine in order to construct/expand
the landscape further, while making some dungeons even
more exciting!..But looks like I'll be crafting my mods for
NWN II, and DA instead.

[propheet]

The reason for this is because those are actual game-making tools used by devs to make this game. They're proprietary in-house solutions, not commercially or publically available construction sets/editors like in case of TES or NWN/Witcher. You wouldn't want to give your source code away to anyone, would you?

[takezodunmer200]

Only if it's via sourceforge! LOL! (JK)

Seriously though, they would do well to modify the
program in order to release a copy to the modding
community...As it were.

Take note of CDProjekt, Bioware, and even Bethsoft's
efforts at building/supporting a modders community.
It would do nothing but elevate this brilliant little gem
above, and beyond the gaming stratosphere! As far as
I can see, this game begs to be modded, and I'm not
talking about simple re texture mods, but quest, landscape
and model/char mods as well!

However, it is not lost on me that this being the first
major title (In the U.S anyways) one would prefer to be
in a much better position in which to be able to release
a dedicated tool-set based on the actual dev-kit, but
you have seen that with a bit of modification towards
the tool-set it can elevate this game plus guarantee a
ton of future sales to a dedicated, even rabid fan-base
which is not much of a present force as it stands.

I absolutly love this game and would love to see it on the
same level as CDProjekt so when they relese a toolset that's
actually an exclusive dev-kit, requiring "certified" modders
only, then it ends up defeating it's own purpose because only
a small group of modders are able to mod for this excellent
game while leaving an entire community to dwindle before it
has a chance to thrive!

The fact is that most people who want to download mods
do so with as little hassle as possible, and also represents
a very fickle bunch as well. So if there's only a smattering of
mods to be had, then most simply won't bother.

I will hope that TWII has a toolset, if it doesn't interest will simply
last at least 2-3 years past it's prime like most other games without
a dedicated modding community, which would be to bad for a game
this good!

[propheet]

CD-Projekt bought Aurora license and modified it. They had tools made by someone else to begin with, and upgraded on them. D'Jinni is different from NWN editor, but it's still clearly BW's front-end work. Beth... well, they've been building their CS for a long while (ten years? more?). I think RP simply need more time and space to make their own tools more presentable and operating within the same environment, which is key for modders. As well as having proper documentation and simplified system of doing basic stuff like placing objects.

As it is, TW1 SDK is very complex, lacks documentation, and requires semi-manual work on everything starting with scripts and ending with terrain building. It's all a work between three or four separate tools, various batch files, "recompiler" of sorts, and a whole load of configs, straight-from-their-desks notes and various bits and scraps. It requires pretty intimate knowledge of spreadsheet analysis&functions, many parameter-related items require macro-based approach in XLS format. In short, it's NOT end-user friendly. Making it available to Tom/Dick/Harry would basically also defeat the purpose - since at the first glance any regular user would cry foul for getting something too complex for them to even start toying with, much less do mods like increasing inventory size or some cheating uberspells, or even nude textures (i.e., the mods that are basically first in almost any moddable game... even STALKER ).

About the Witcher:
Time proved CDPR's approach also a bit wrong. D'Jinni didn't become superpopular. Of regular mods only a few ever made it into the circulation, some are very powerful (like Flash's Insane Difficulty Mod) others are simple retex's. The system allowed doing pretty much everything, but the full adventures were supported most (a relic from NWN/NWN2 modding scope). Since a full adventure requires immense amount of effort, not many of those were released (total amount of Witcher custom adventures oscillated around 20-30 before the old site went down and they moved Adventure section to the new website's system).

So there're multiple barriers here. If TW2 SDK is released, don't expect the same accessibility as games like TES:IV had. It's likely going to be a very similar approach, perhaps with one or two tools merged for the sake of modder, but the rest will have to be taken up by real code pros; regular people that simply want small things won't get much possibility to work here. And this is what generally starts an avalanche of mods, judging from Fallout 3's, Oblivion's and Morrowind's initial cream of the crop.

[takezodunmer200]

WOW, Thanks a LOT for that valuable piece of info I would
have never guessed the extent of the immense barriers that
it would take in order to simply translate a dev-program into
something passable as a user-friendly tool-set for modders.

I will have to refer folks to this thread if they choose to continue
to bemoan Bethesda's efforts while trying to please their user base.
Especially when a good portion are ungrateful complainers and
malcontents. They should read your post and realize that they got
it pretty good!

I guess I really love the art direction/game design of this game so
much that I really would love to see them thrive, and not stumble
like Piranha bytes did with their third offering of the Gothic series.
I think the thing that European game designers (Particularly RPGs)
do so well is to develop a completely realistic and believable natural
setting to their world/char that the American perspective simply
seems artificial like a Disney flick in comparison!

Well it's safe to say that I'm pretty much resolved in accepting Topware's
stance on their toolset policy due in no small part to your very informative
feedback on this matter, Thank you!...

Now if You'll excuse me, I've some Groms to kill!

[propheet]

Have fun - don't let them swarm you!