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About this mod
...Turns out what I thought was a silly mod was actually a new sidequest! Go on a journey to find different "chapters" of my favorite Sherlock Holmes story. Starts with one book in your camp chest via AV Item Shipment Framework, and ends with you potentially gaining a cantrip to increase your perception and that of the characters around you by +5.
- Requirements
- Permissions and credits
- Changelogs
- Donations
Made for Patch 6 - Hotfix 25, Working with Patch 7
And now for my silliest mod to-date, also made for the Baldur's Gate 3 July Modathon. I really hope I'm not too late to participate in Week 1, because this whole entire mod was based on the idea of both mystery and magic, and I'm not quite sure about timezones for everything 😅 It's still the 7th for me, though!
...Or, at least, I thought this was a silly mod at first, but turns out it's an actual genuine new sidequest! It's not marked in your journal (yet!), but it's essentially a sidequest nonetheless. (Thank you very much to Aether for advocating for this mod to get put in a new Quests category!!!! It's a little lonely right now, so I hope other people start making their own new sidequests soon too 😊!!!)
Also, congrats! You've unlocked my secret special interest! And now you'll be able to experience a little bit of mystery for yourself, because this mod will send you on a little scavenger hunt.
The game is afoot! 🔎🕵️♂️
...And here's how to play!
This mod adds 6 books to the game:
One is added to your camp chest via AV Item Shipment Framework on first loading a save with it, and will give you a hint to finding the first part of my favorite Sherlock Holmes story (one of the original 1800s ones! ...Most adaptations cause me pain,) It's the one where Holmes says rich people exploiting others to get richer is worse than murder, and then they break into a guy's house holding hands. Good stuff!
(...If you're using the tutorial chest version, you'll find the first book in the tutorial chest instead!)
The following four books are the story itself! Portioned out into four (relatively) bite-sized chunks. The story itself is a short story, and a little over 6,500 words. At the end of each of these books is a clue towards finding the next one!
You'll find these books in the inventories of 4 specific merchants across the game. Only these merchants will have them! And the clues at the end of each respective book will give you a hint as to which merchant has the next one you're looking for.
(I did want to avoid merchant inventory clogging, but it was the easiest way to put the books in the game, unfortunately. I am planning on going back and doing some level editing for the places you find the merchants in to change that, though! That's in the works for a future update.)
The 6th book is a complete version of the story, in case you'd like to read it from start to finish, without being interrupted by the breaks I added to create this little scavenger hunt 😅 You can also read it in full for free on Project Gutenberg here, if you'd like! Along with every other Sherlock Holmes story. Thank goodness for the public domain, for real.
Each of these books can also be found in a container added to the camp chest via ISF (which is shaped like a book, too, because I dunno about you, but I've always been obsessed with faux book boxes. Keep your secrets safe...in a book!) However, I don't recommend opening that box unless you're really stumped, and just want to move on. You could use this to get the reward for the scavenger hunt early, but what's the fun in that?
(...Again, if you're using the tutorial chest version, you'll find the faux book container in the tutorial chest, not the camp chest!)
And yes, there is a reward at the end of this quest!
The final chapter of the story actually functions like a spell scroll, giving wizards the ability to learn the spell The Game Is Afoot! which will allow them to bestow a similarly named status effect to themselves and others, giving anyone you cast it on a +5 bonus to Perception until a long rest. The book stays in your inventory after you learn it, so you won't have to worry about it disappearing on you!
The spell isn't a concentration spell, can be cast multiple times on both companions, allies, and yourself, lasts until a long rest, and is a cantrip, so you won't need to use any spell slots on it. Is this a lot of perks that it maybe shouldn't have? I don't know! Is Perception a good stat to boost? I also don't know! If it wasn't apparent already, I'm actually more of a literary analysis/writing/storytelling guy. Game stat strategy isn't quite my forte 😅 I just wanted this little quest to feel worth it, in the end! ...So, hopefully it does! ...And not too worth it.
There is a catch to the spell itself, though, which hopefully should balance things a bit. It can actually only be used by having a wizard learn the spell from the book, like you can from a spell scroll. The book can't be used as a spell scroll, though. I tried a lot of different things to make the spell usable by characters other than wizards, but all of the methods I tried seem to be overridden by the fact it's a book you can read... I might have to get a bit more creative to get it to work, but also maybe having it be wizard-only will balance it a bit?
Wizards starting from Level 1 will be able to learn the cantrip for 50 GP. Adding it for other characters is part of my future plans!
This mod uses all-new items, and doesn't override any resources (it does use existing visual resources, but doesn't override them). I don't anticipate it'll have many issues with conflicts, but, as always, let me know if you run into any issues!
Install via BG3 Mod Manager!
Make sure this mod is placed above ISF if you're using the ISF version, and you should be good!
Uninstallation instructions:
You can find a list of the solutions to each clue in the articles section of this mod page, both for people who are stuck, and also for people who want to uninstall the mod. This mod is not safe to uninstall with the books still in merchants' inventories! Before uninstalling the mod, first either delete the mod items via Mod Uninstaller, or buy the books from each merchant in the portion of the game you're currently in (you don't have to worry about merchants in areas that haven't loaded). You can then destroy them via a few methods; I'd recommend Mazikeensa's Trashcan mod, but you can also use other methods that work for you. Make sure you also destroy any copies left in your characters' and companions' inventories, as well as in your camp chest(s).
Once you've done this, save your game, and uninstall the mod.
Known issue (kinda):
Or, well, not so much an issue issue, but sometimes the books won't be there in merchants' inventories when loading an existing save. If you suspect you've found the merchant you're looking for, but don't see the book in their inventory, try taking a long rest or leveling up a character to refresh it. (The leveling up thing can be done with hirelings if need be!)
And once again, you can check the articles tab for solutions if you're really stumped.
Also, while this mod is essentially a new sidequest, it's not marked in your journal yet! That's something I'd like to implement in the future, hopefully sometime soon!!
...I'll be honest, this mod might be an elaborate excuse to get people to read my favorite original 1800s Sherlock Holmes story. But I had fun making it, and I hope you have fun playing it!!
Unleash your inner dectective! And also give the story itself a shot—it's a really good one, genuinely. 🎶🔎
--
(By the way, I just released a game of my own! If you like my work and would like to support me, you can check it out on itch.io here:
https://herotune.itch.io/far-from-the-tree
It'd mean a lot if you gave it a look!!! 💗🌼
You can also support me on ko-fi here!: https://ko-fi.com/herotune
It's the same ko-fi I use for my art, but I'll never paywall my mods. Thanks for taking a look, if you do!!)
Modathon achievements for this mod!! 🌟
And now for my silliest mod to-date, also made for the Baldur's Gate 3 July Modathon. I really hope I'm not too late to participate in Week 1, because this whole entire mod was based on the idea of both mystery and magic, and I'm not quite sure about timezones for everything 😅 It's still the 7th for me, though!
...Or, at least, I thought this was a silly mod at first, but turns out it's an actual genuine new sidequest! It's not marked in your journal (yet!), but it's essentially a sidequest nonetheless. (Thank you very much to Aether for advocating for this mod to get put in a new Quests category!!!! It's a little lonely right now, so I hope other people start making their own new sidequests soon too 😊!!!)
Also, congrats! You've unlocked my secret special interest! And now you'll be able to experience a little bit of mystery for yourself, because this mod will send you on a little scavenger hunt.
The game is afoot! 🔎🕵️♂️
...And here's how to play!
This mod adds 6 books to the game:
One is added to your camp chest via AV Item Shipment Framework on first loading a save with it, and will give you a hint to finding the first part of my favorite Sherlock Holmes story (one of the original 1800s ones! ...Most adaptations cause me pain,) It's the one where Holmes says rich people exploiting others to get richer is worse than murder, and then they break into a guy's house holding hands. Good stuff!
(...If you're using the tutorial chest version, you'll find the first book in the tutorial chest instead!)
The following four books are the story itself! Portioned out into four (relatively) bite-sized chunks. The story itself is a short story, and a little over 6,500 words. At the end of each of these books is a clue towards finding the next one!
You'll find these books in the inventories of 4 specific merchants across the game. Only these merchants will have them! And the clues at the end of each respective book will give you a hint as to which merchant has the next one you're looking for.
(I did want to avoid merchant inventory clogging, but it was the easiest way to put the books in the game, unfortunately. I am planning on going back and doing some level editing for the places you find the merchants in to change that, though! That's in the works for a future update.)
The 6th book is a complete version of the story, in case you'd like to read it from start to finish, without being interrupted by the breaks I added to create this little scavenger hunt 😅 You can also read it in full for free on Project Gutenberg here, if you'd like! Along with every other Sherlock Holmes story. Thank goodness for the public domain, for real.
Each of these books can also be found in a container added to the camp chest via ISF (which is shaped like a book, too, because I dunno about you, but I've always been obsessed with faux book boxes. Keep your secrets safe...in a book!) However, I don't recommend opening that box unless you're really stumped, and just want to move on. You could use this to get the reward for the scavenger hunt early, but what's the fun in that?
(...Again, if you're using the tutorial chest version, you'll find the faux book container in the tutorial chest, not the camp chest!)
And yes, there is a reward at the end of this quest!
The final chapter of the story actually functions like a spell scroll, giving wizards the ability to learn the spell The Game Is Afoot! which will allow them to bestow a similarly named status effect to themselves and others, giving anyone you cast it on a +5 bonus to Perception until a long rest. The book stays in your inventory after you learn it, so you won't have to worry about it disappearing on you!
The spell isn't a concentration spell, can be cast multiple times on both companions, allies, and yourself, lasts until a long rest, and is a cantrip, so you won't need to use any spell slots on it. Is this a lot of perks that it maybe shouldn't have? I don't know! Is Perception a good stat to boost? I also don't know! If it wasn't apparent already, I'm actually more of a literary analysis/writing/storytelling guy. Game stat strategy isn't quite my forte 😅 I just wanted this little quest to feel worth it, in the end! ...So, hopefully it does! ...And not too worth it.
There is a catch to the spell itself, though, which hopefully should balance things a bit. It can actually only be used by having a wizard learn the spell from the book, like you can from a spell scroll. The book can't be used as a spell scroll, though. I tried a lot of different things to make the spell usable by characters other than wizards, but all of the methods I tried seem to be overridden by the fact it's a book you can read... I might have to get a bit more creative to get it to work, but also maybe having it be wizard-only will balance it a bit?
Wizards starting from Level 1 will be able to learn the cantrip for 50 GP. Adding it for other characters is part of my future plans!
This mod uses all-new items, and doesn't override any resources (it does use existing visual resources, but doesn't override them). I don't anticipate it'll have many issues with conflicts, but, as always, let me know if you run into any issues!
Install via BG3 Mod Manager!
Make sure this mod is placed above ISF if you're using the ISF version, and you should be good!
Uninstallation instructions:
You can find a list of the solutions to each clue in the articles section of this mod page, both for people who are stuck, and also for people who want to uninstall the mod. This mod is not safe to uninstall with the books still in merchants' inventories! Before uninstalling the mod, first either delete the mod items via Mod Uninstaller, or buy the books from each merchant in the portion of the game you're currently in (you don't have to worry about merchants in areas that haven't loaded). You can then destroy them via a few methods; I'd recommend Mazikeensa's Trashcan mod, but you can also use other methods that work for you. Make sure you also destroy any copies left in your characters' and companions' inventories, as well as in your camp chest(s).
Once you've done this, save your game, and uninstall the mod.
Known issue (kinda):
Or, well, not so much an issue issue, but sometimes the books won't be there in merchants' inventories when loading an existing save. If you suspect you've found the merchant you're looking for, but don't see the book in their inventory, try taking a long rest or leveling up a character to refresh it. (The leveling up thing can be done with hirelings if need be!)
And once again, you can check the articles tab for solutions if you're really stumped.
Also, while this mod is essentially a new sidequest, it's not marked in your journal yet! That's something I'd like to implement in the future, hopefully sometime soon!!
...I'll be honest, this mod might be an elaborate excuse to get people to read my favorite original 1800s Sherlock Holmes story. But I had fun making it, and I hope you have fun playing it!!
Unleash your inner dectective! And also give the story itself a shot—it's a really good one, genuinely. 🎶🔎
--
(By the way, I just released a game of my own! If you like my work and would like to support me, you can check it out on itch.io here:
https://herotune.itch.io/far-from-the-tree
It'd mean a lot if you gave it a look!!! 💗🌼
You can also support me on ko-fi here!: https://ko-fi.com/herotune
It's the same ko-fi I use for my art, but I'll never paywall my mods. Thanks for taking a look, if you do!!)
Modathon achievements for this mod!! 🌟