Neat concept! However, the files provided seem incomplete. Generally, there are way more than just two files per save slot. For the first slot, for example, you should copy all files ending in ".00". My current character has twelve such files: AUTOMAP.00, CITYDATA.00, LOG.00, SAVEENGN.00, SAVEGAME.00, SPELLS.00, SPELLSG.00, STATES.00, WILD001.00, WILD002.00, WILD003.00, and WILD004.00. I have a similar list of files ending in ".01" through ".09", of course, as well as ".64" which is still somewhat mysterious to me. Arena handles save data in a very strange way!
I'm saying they're incomplete because I looked at the file list and it only includes "SAVEENGN.00" and "SAVEGAME.00". Using those files, either in a fresh Arena install or an Arena folder that already has other ".00" files, will result in a failed, partial, or mixed load of character data. No, I have not tested your specific files, but I have tested this type of thing in the past, so I am 99% certain. Have you tested your mod on a fresh install of Arena?
By the way, sorry if I sounded a bit overly critical or negative in my last message. I love that you're experimenting with a lot of creative Arena mods and, frankly, I'm impressed! Keep up the great work. I just figured I should draw attention to this potential save file issue since saves are handled in such a bizarre multi-file way in this game.
If you look at the ZIP files provided under Saved Games on UESP, you'll see they each provide at least 12 files. One of them, Ka'dar Namarri, even includes some files ending in ".64" and ".65" (a suffix I'd never noticed before): again, the exact purpose of those additional files isn't clear to me, so I'm not sure whether they're important when sharing saves. Anyway, it's also worth mentioning (as noted on that same UESP page) that you should also include NAMES.DAT if you want save slot "names" to show up (i.e., the text entered when creating the save), otherwise the save slot may appear blank, but it can still be clicked and loaded.
No worries! Perhaps someday you'll have another high-level character you want to share with the world and you can update this mod's files, description, etc., if you wish. :)
6 comments
If you look at the ZIP files provided under Saved Games on UESP, you'll see they each provide at least 12 files. One of them, Ka'dar Namarri, even includes some files ending in ".64" and ".65" (a suffix I'd never noticed before): again, the exact purpose of those additional files isn't clear to me, so I'm not sure whether they're important when sharing saves. Anyway, it's also worth mentioning (as noted on that same UESP page) that you should also include NAMES.DAT if you want save slot "names" to show up (i.e., the text entered when creating the save), otherwise the save slot may appear blank, but it can still be clicked and loaded.