NWN 1.69 Horses

[Brindisium]

This is probably a misunderstanding of how things work by me... do I need anything new / special to mount my horse now? I can get the stable boy to bring it from the stables, but no number of carrots will persuade it to let me saddle up. I heard that there should be a radial menu?

Maybe my lack of riding skill points is the culprit?

[int19h]

The radial menu is on your character, not the horse. You pick the command to mount from it, and then click on the horse.

Overall, I highly recommend anyone new to the 1.69 horse system to download and play the "1.69 Riding Academy" module:

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=5751

It covers the basics as well as many subtle details.

[Brindisium]

The radial menu is on your character, not the horse. You pick the command to mount from it, and then click on the horse.

Overall, I highly recommend anyone new to the 1.69 horse system to download and play the "1.69 Riding Academy" module:

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=5751

It covers the basics as well as many subtle details.

Thanks int19h but I still don't see the radial menu. Have you tried in game?

[int19h]

Not yet, sorry - I just assumed it functioned as usual. There might be some complications due to the need to integrate the new horse systems (both new CEP, and 1.69 - which is really one thing now) with the old stuff.

[SNarfel]

Radial dial only appears if you have actualy assigned at least one point to the horse riding skill at level up. If you have DEX bonuses they get automaticaly counted in to the horse riding skill but the dial wont show if your riding skills are purely from this source, at least one point has to come from having be assigned at level up.

At least that is what I have come to understand from my experimentation. Sadronaraw started with 3 points in riding skill from Dex bonuses but no options appeared on radial dial. ON leveling I added one point to the ride skill and this seemed to bring the riding dial up. Hope that helps at least some.

[Brindisium]

The skill description says that riding is not a "trained" skill though. Odd. Maybe we just don't have enough skill points?

[Mentat]

Can't confirm that SNarfel. I tried the same with my Rohirrim when I releveled him to become a RoR, put even 9 skillpoints into Riding and chose the Mounted Combat feature. No sign of the dial up, which works well for me in the above posted Mod. But one thing is clearly different from that Mod, the horsemodels on UTT2 are still the old ones.

It would be interesting to know, if you have made that Sadronaraw before or after the update.

[Mentat]

Sorry for the doublepost. Confirmation on my suspicion that only new build PCs can use ride in the dial menu. Just made the new Rohirrim Atheling, she has Ride menu available at level one.

Thanks for Elessar hinting that this might be the problem.

[SNarfel]

The version of Sadronaraw in question is totaly new, being played from level 1 and created after the update.

[int19h]

Sorry for the doublepost. Confirmation on my suspicion that only new build PCs can use ride in the dial menu. Just made the new Rohirrim Atheling, she has Ride menu available at level one.
It might have something to do with the fact that the Ride menu is added by the "Mounted Actions" (I think that's what it is called) feat that new characters receive on lvl1. Due to the way NWN engine works, feats (and other character parameters) for existing characters are stored entirely within the .bic file for that character. So, even if at a later time the class definition changes (for example, to include a new feat, or change a stat bonus/penalty), it will not reflect in any way on any feats/skills/stats obtained from the earlier levels - though if you relevel, you will of course see the changes. In this case this is a particularly annoying limitation, since the feat is granted on lvl1, and you cannot relevel it, as it is not possible to delevel below lvl1.

Such problems can be resolved by manual DM intervention using Leto or any other character editor, but the scale is rather overwhelming, since likely everyone will want that feat for most of their characters. The worst part of it is that I don't see any way to automate it by scripting, but I'll keep looking.

[SpymasterGend]

I'd imagine that some folks will be content with adding 1 point in Ride at next level-up, but a number may want a fairly full rebuild of their char, either for new PrCs when debugged or simply to make logical use of ride skill and mounted feats suitable to the char (e.g., most rohirrim). If releveling's insufficient, how hard is it to build a new character, then have DM assistance to swap inventory and xp?

[Brindisium]

I'd imagine that some folks will be content with adding 1 point in Ride at next level-up

But if I understand int19h's post that wont help Gend, you need the feat - which is only added at character creation. Maybe the this will help the Dev team. I liked the whooshing sound it made as it went over my head:

Mount problem - 1.69 & CEP 2.1
http://nwn.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=629126&forum=83&sp=0

[SNarfel]

I think Gend is suggesting players actualy create a new version of the character, as in my case "Sadronaraw, level 9" became "~Sadronaraw~, level 1".

What Gend is additionaly suggesting is that instead of the player having to play for the levels in the case of the new character, the levels and the items be simply transfered via DM intervention.

[the-small-print]

Wow, that's a lot of fiddling for the DMs... and the players. I really hope some better way can be sorted out.

[SNarfel]

Yep; rebuilding each and every character who wishes to ride horses is certainly not the most practical solution. As you say, hopefuly there is some better way.

[SpymasterGend]

Maybe a token--given out like the Bags of Life--with the feat int19h mentioned? And just wait to let low-dex chars take a ride skill rank at next level-up?

Or would a token like that not convey the feat properly if a (hidden) prerequisite for mounted combat/archery? In that case, maybe, just rebuild those who really want to have focussed on mounted combat? And thus would have taken feats and ride skill early in their careers? Presumably, that'll be a relatively small subset of chars, since most folk are properly content to ride solely in order to get from place to place quickly.

I have no idea what's easiest, really, just trying to loose a hail of possible solutions from my comfortable saddle, and prevent Eolun looking too ridiculous as she advocates from the ground that the Mark develop an arm of heavy cavalry.

Cheers.

[Brindisium]

Maybe a token--given out like the Bags of Life--with the feat int19h mentioned?

Riding gloves! :)

And just wait to let low-dex chars take a ride skill rank at next level-up?

I'd forgotten how useful horse travel is. Walking to Minas Tirith from Erebor (and back) reminded me. I think most people would not want to loose the ability to travel by horse for too long and at higher levels your next level-up could be months away.


I have no idea what's easiest, really, just trying to loose a hail of possible solutions from my comfortable saddle, and prevent Eolun looking too ridiculous as she advocates from the ground that the Mark develop an arm of heavy cavalry

Hehe

[int19h]

But if I understand int19h's post that wont help Gend, you need the feat - which is only added at character creation. Maybe the this will help the Dev team. I liked the whooshing sound it made as it went over my head:

Mount problem - 1.69 & CEP 2.1
http://nwn.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=629126&forum=83&sp=0

Thanks for the link - it actually explains the problem, and provides a solution ("PC skin" - which is in effect an item in an invisible inventory slot - with the feat). We'll need to look at why the default one is not working for us, though.