The Darkening Sky

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
2. INTRODUCTION
3. IMPORTANT NOTES
4. COMPANIONS
5. CREDITS!
6. CONTACT INFORMATION




1. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
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Install the files into your /My Documents/Neverwinter Nights 2/appropriate_folder.

NOTE: If you already have rws_all_in_one.hak in your HAK directory (because of some other mod), you don't need to download my version from dropbox

Here's where you put the files:


/Tlk/Darksky.tlk

/Hak/darksky2da.hak
/Hak/darkskyloadscreens.hak
/Hak/rws_all_in_one.hak (you only need to download this if you do not already have it)

/Modules/DK_BANDITS
/Modules/DK_CRYPT1
/Modules/DK_MAPLESHADE
/Modules/DK_TRIEL

/Campaign/The Darkening Sky (this is a folder)


2. INTRODUCTION
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The Darkening Sky (Prologue) is an adventure for characters starting at level 1. You will achieve level 4 by the end of the prologue.

You should create a new character at level 1 to play this campaign. This is not a class or race specific campaign. Feel free to play any race/class you desire.

This prologue is part of a larger campaign that is currently in-progress. This part of the story is very much a PROLOGUE. It is a very SMALL, basic story to get things started (and it was my way of learning the NNW2 toolset). However, everything that happens in the prologue does tie into the larger story in the subsequent Chapters.

Combat has been tuned to be reasonable for HARDCORE mode. Combat will thus be easier on Normal difficulty.

Some notes about the companions:

A) Several companions are introduced in this prologue. At certain times in the story you will experience cut-scene conversations with them that reveal part of their back story or character. You cannot initiate conversation with them (other than to add or remove them from a party). When Chapter 1 arrives, this will change, and you will be able to query your companions for more details.

B) Companions cannot be romanced in the prologue. That will change when Chapter 1 arrives.

C) Companions may be multi-classed if you so choose.

D) Companions are not mandatory, but you may find certain situations very difficult to deal with if you do not have at least one companion with you.


3. IMPORTANT NOTES
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A) DO NOT put points into crafting! There is no crafting in The Darkening Sky. Unique, powerful magical items are handled differently. The Darkening Sky contains what I call an "Artifact" system: you will find seemingly mundane items throughout the game world, like Ghoul Hands or Skeleton Ribs. These items are inbued with magical remnants and can be made into powerful magical items such as weapons, amulets, rings, etc. Be sure to inspect the things you loot; they will come in handy in later Chapters.

B) SAVE OFTEN! The Darkening Sky does NOT use auto-saves.

C) Speech options like Diplomacy/Bluff/Intimidate are useful in The Darkening Sky world. You may wish to invest some points in one of these options.

D) When visiting a merchant, the party member with the highest Appraise skill is always used when determining prices (this is different from the vanilla version of NWN2 where the PC's skill is always used). So if you don't want your player-character to spend precious points in Appraise, feel free to have a companion put points into Appriase instead (a great way to make use of all those Rogue points if you ask me).

C) The Load Screen Tips will ocassionally make mention of a "Sequencer" for buffing faster. This object is not found until the end of the prologue. Eldritch Knights and other caster types with many buffs will find this item particularly useful when Chapter 1 arives... (Note: this item is not transferable to other mods because it relies upon scripts in The Darkening Sky to function).


4. COMPANIONS
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The Darkening Sky provides several companions to assist you in your adventure.


CELESTE (Human/Female)
Cleric of Chauntea
STR: 12, DEX: 10, CON: 12, INT: 10, WIS: 16, CHA: 16


DOXIE (Rock Gnome/Female)
Specialist Wizard: Enchanter
STR: 12, DEX: 15, CON: 14, INT: 16, WIS: 10, CHA: 10


KAYNE (Human/Male)
Paladin of Tyr
STR: 16, DEX: 10, CON: 12, INT: 8, WIS: 14, CHA: 16


WURDY (Strongheart Halfling/Female)
Rogue
STR: 12, DEX: 18, CON: 14, INT: 14, WIS: 10, CHA: 10


There will be more in the following Chapters and romances will be possible (yes, even Wurdy!)






5. CREDITS!
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1) Vekin for the Wooded Ruins prefab
LINK: http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=NWN2PrefabAreas.Detail&id=558
This was the first prefab I wanted to use, and it ended up being the best (and only prefab in the prologue).

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Lance Botelle for the Hit Point Bars!
LINK: http://social.bioware.com/forums/forum/Neverwinter-Nights-2/NwN-2-Modules/Hit-Point-Bars---Love-or-Loathe-See-Image-Within-17191802-1.html
These are absolutely amazing! The required some re-work to get all the glitches out, but I love them.

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RWS for the All-In-One prefab
The Darkening Sky makes use of too many tilesets, placeables and other wonderful things from RWS for me to even begin to enumerate them. And the following Chapters in this story will use more. This is wonderful work.

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Slayweb for the Scripted Lighting System (SLS2)
This system is used heavily in The Darkening Sky and I love it. Hang around Triel at night... it lights up.

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HEEGZ for the hobgoblins blueprints.

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Message Board Contributers:

Tchos, andysks, PJ156, rjshae, Iveforgotmypassword, Lugaid of the Red Stripes, DannJ, kamal_, Morbane, MokahTGS, OfficerDonNZ, and anyone else I forget from the message boards
You who helped me immensely with learning and understanding the toolkit.

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Special thanks to the Beta Testers:

andysks
officerdonnz
PJ156

You guys rock for playing this and giving me feedback. I cannot thank you enough.




6. CONTACT INFORMATION
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If you have issues with the prologue, or just want to give me feedback, pleast feel free to contact me at [email protected].

I hope you enjoy!

-Christopher