Arcanum
Of Editing Backgrounds and Schematics
Started 10/19/01
Most Current Version 10/16/04
Ryan Zielinski/Tyrant234
Version 1.31
This F.A.Q will tell you how to make your OWN backgrounds for a new
character, and how to completely change the current schematics!
I am currently messing around with the files, and will shortly have more
information on how to personalize your game even further. I.E. changing NPC
speech, etc., but I need your help for ideas on what to change!
READ LINE BELOW THIS! PLEASE!
Email me at boba1213@cs.com with things you would like to be able to edit!!!
This F.A.Q. was written by ']['yran']['234 (Ryan Zielinski), and may only be
posted at GameFAQs.com, unless you have my written consent, email
boba1213@cs.com with questions.
Section 1 contains Version information.
Section 2 Contains information on how to undat Arcanum.
Section 3 contains the actual information on how to edit Character's
background.
Section 4 contains the abbreviations for the Abbreviations and miscellaneous
symbols.
Section 5 contains information on changing schematics.
Section 6 contains numbers for schematic items
Section 7 contains information on how to change the main menu text.
Section 8 contains information on how to change follower level-ups.
Section 9 contains legal information.
Section 10 contains contact information.
Section 11 contains Credits.
---------------------------------Section 1-----------------------------------
Version Information
Version 1.0- Preliminary Version, originally in post form, I will fix it up
later.
Version 1.1- Added Section 2, How to undat Arcanum, and started Section 5,
making your Own Schematics.
Version 1.1b Added another way to undat; added a name to credits for this
information.
Version 1.2 Added list of item names and numbers for items in schematics
Version 1.3 Added Follower level-up editing, upon suggestion of skie23
Version 1.31 Found new place where Undat utility can be downloaded, old place
removed as it was no longer working (and had not been for sometime)
---------------------------------Section 2-----------------------------------
Undatting & New Folder Making
1. Download the undat utility from "http://www.terra-arcanum.com/phpBB/dload.
php?action=download&file_id=20"; extract the files to your Arcanum
folder.
2. Create C:\Modding; double click undat.exe in your Arcanum folder
3. Quickly, push START, go to run, and type in command or, if using WinNT
(and possibly XP) 4 and 2k type in
CMD
4. IT SHOULD bring up a MSDOS prompt, with C:\Sierra\Arcanum> as the first
line, if it doesn't, type
CD \
CD Sierra\Arcanum
5. Type in undat arcanum3.dat c:\modding
To make your own schematics, follow the same steps, except for step 5, change
it to:
5. Type in undat arcanum4.dat c:\modding
Also, you must create 2 new folders. In c:\sierra\arcanum\data create
ules
and \mes
To make c:\sierra\arcanum\data
ules
And c:\sierra\arcanum\data\mes
Browse to the file: C:\Modding\arcanum3\mes\Gameback.mes
make a copy of that in C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\mes (default, use whatever path
Arcanum is. IE if Arcanum is C:\Program Files\Arcanum, place file
Gameback.mes in C:\Program Files\Arcanum\data\mes)
This is where the games background text is stored. Leave it alone for now.
Browse to C:\Modding\arcanum3
ules\backgrnd.mes, and copy that file to:
C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data
ules (again default.)
Again, go back to C:\Modding\arcanum3
ules, find file: effect.mes and copy
that to C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data
ules
These are the files that we will use to edit the backgrounds. First, open up
(with wordpad) gameback.mes from C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\mes. Scroll to the
bottom of the file, hit enter (to make a line between {1077} and what you are
about to type in) and type in
{1077} {TITLE HERE
A space between the {1077} and the background text you are about to type in,
then here you would type in the description, ending with a }
Save that file. Move into
C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data
ules\effect.mes
and open it up. Scroll to the bottom.
Type in:
{359}{st -3, wp -3, ch +5, in +5, pe +5} // Put whatever you called the
Background here (example of how mine looks, you can do whatever you want to
the statistics, and/or skills. If you need to find out what each of the
abbreviations are, they are at the top of the message document, and in
Section 3 of this document.)
Save the file.
Now, open up C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data
ules\backgrnd.mes
Scroll to the bottom.
See where it says:
{780}{1076}
{781}{358}
Etc.? Well, this is where you put in your numbers, but first you have to
make a new set. To do this, all you have to do is add 10 to the first
numbers. So,
{780} Becomes {790}
{781} Becomes {791}
Etc.
Now, check your background description file, and find the number of the
background description (it will be before the title in {}'s.) Place it in
the {}'s to the right of the first line. Now, check the effect.mes file
(Example of my edit.)
{790}{1077} (Number of background description goes here.)
{791}{359} (Number of edited stats entry goes here)
{792}{} (Which classes can use it here, read top of file for
more info)
{793}{0} (How much money you start with.)
{794}{} (Top of document says something to do with prototype
weapons, just leave it blank.)
(Probably missing a few, email any you find to me, and I will give you
credit.)
Any of the skills, IE firearms, repair, etc.
+ add to a skill , stat, maxhp, maxfatigue, resistance, reaction
- subtract from a skill, stat, maxhp, maxfatigue, resistance, reaction
* multiply life, reactions, or fatigue. NOTE can ONLY be used with those!
% must be used with + or - and a number, adds or subtracts a percent of life,
heal rate, speed, maxhp, maxfatigue
in = intelligence
ch = charisma
st = strength
cn = constitution
dx = dexterity
wp = willpower
be = beauty
pe = perception
resistpoison = changes your resistance to poison
resistelectrical = changes your resistance to electricity
resistdamage = changes your resistance to damage
resistfire = changes your resistance to fire
badreactionadj = bad reaction to you, may be used with * - or +
goodreactionadj = good reaction to you, may be used with * - or +
speed = changes speed
healrate = changes heal rate
crithitchance = changes chance to score a critical hit
critmisschance = changes chance to miss a critical hit
maxhps = changes max hp value
maxfatigue = changes max fatigue
poisonrate = changes the rate at which you resist poison
maxfollowers = changes your max amount of followers
*NOTE* As far as I know, so far, you can only change the current schematics!
I have not figured out how to make new ones, while keeping the old ones!
Browse to file C:\Modding\arcanum3\mes\schematic_text.mes
Copy this file to: C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\data\mes
Browse to file C:\Modding\arcanum3
ules\schematic.mes
Copy this file to: C:\Sierra\Arcanum\data
ules
Browse to file C:\Modding\arcanum3\mes\tech.mes
Copy this file to C:\Modding\Arcanum\data\Mes
Open C:\Sierra\Arcanum\data\mes\schematic_text.mes
Say you would like to change the entire class of Herbology. You would take
this:
//Herbology
{10}{Healing Salve}
{11}{Heal wounds quickly and easily! Taking full advantage of the natural
healing properties of Ginka Root and Kadura Stem, this elixir restores one's
health and biological energies without rest or prolonged hospitalization.}
And change it to something of your own design, like this:
//Blacksmithy
{10}{Enchanted Sword}
{11}{Ever wanted to change two crappy weapons into a weapon you could
actually use? Well, now you can! Through the amazing powers of Blacksmithy,
you can combine a rusty sword with a short sword to make an enchanted sword!}
You would also need to edit the last few lines of text of this file.
For our Blacksmithy, we would change:
//Title Schematics 1000 -
{1000}{Herbology}
{1001}{The Science of Herbology can bring the wounded back from the gaping
maw of death! Do not allow yourself to be caught DEAD without the ability to
harness the power of plants to bring you back from the edge of certain
defeat!}
to this:
//Title Schematics 1000 -
{1000}{Blacksmithy}
{1001}{With the knowledge of Blacksmithy you have the ability to change one
man's junk, into another man's treasure!}
In the character/schematics screens, in order for it to say Blacksmithy
instead of Herbology, you would need to open up
C:\Sierra\Arcanum\data\mes\tech.mes
And change the first line from:
{0}{Herbology}
to
{0}{Blacksmithy}
Also, change line 16 from:
{16}{The Herbology discipline concerns itself with the study of herbs and how
they affect the body.}
to
{16}{The Blacksmithy discipline combines really bad things to create some
nice items for you to use!}
Obviously, that is just an example.
You could also change things like Layman or Apprentice to whatever you would
like the game to call it.
Then, you would open up C:\Sierra\Arcanum\data
ules\schematic.mes, and take
the first block of text:
//Heal Lite
{2000}{10} //Name
{2001}{11} //Description
{2002}{532} //Drawing
{2003}{10061} //component 1
{2004}{10062} //component 2
{2005}{10059} //Result
{2006}{5} // Result Amount
Currently, I don't know how to change the pictures to something more suiting,
for I have not had the ability to view the current pictures. I also do not
plan on adding information on how to change the pictures, for you only see
the pictures in the background, and for a few seconds.
These are taken directly from a file in the game, I have not tried every
single one of these numbers, and I am betting that some of them are not
listed in this area at all.
{11059}{Scroll of Disarm}
{11060}{Scroll of Unlocking Cantrip}
{11061}{Scroll of Unseen Force}
{11062}{Scroll of Spatial Distortion}
{11063}{Scroll of Teleportation}
{11064}{Scroll of Sense Alignment}
{11065}{Scroll of See Contents}
{11066}{Scroll of Read Aura}
{11067}{Scroll of Sense Invisible/Traps}
{11068}{Scroll of Divine Magic}
{11069}{Scroll of Vitality of Air}
{11070}{Scroll of Poison Vapours}
{11071}{Scroll of Call Winds}
{11072}{Scroll of Body of Air}
{11073}{Scroll of Call Air Elemental}
{11074}{Scroll of Strength of Earth}
{11075}{Scroll of Stone Throw}
{11076}{Scroll of Wall of Stone}
{11077}{Scroll of Body of Stone}
{11078}{Scroll of Call Earth Elemental}
{11079}{Scroll of Agility of Fire}
{11080}{Scroll of Wall of Fire}
{11081}{Scroll of Fireflash}
{11082}{Scroll of Body of Fire}
{11083}{Scroll of Call Fire Elemental}
{11084}{Scroll of Purity of Water}
{11085}{Scroll of Call Fog}
{11086}{Scroll of Squall of Ice}
{11087}{Scroll of Body of Water}
{11088}{Scroll of Call Water Elemental}
{11089}{Scroll of Shield of Protection}
{11090}{Scroll of Jolt}
{11091}{Scroll of Wall of Force}
{11092}{Scroll of Bolt of Lightning}
{11093}{Scroll of Disintegrate}
{11094}{Scroll of Charm}
{11095}{Scroll of Stun}
{11096}{Scroll of Drain Will}
{11097}{Scroll of Nightmare}
{11098}{Scroll of Dominate Will}
{11099}{Scroll of Resist Magick}
{11100}{Scroll of Disperse Magick}
{11101}{Scroll of Dweomer Shield}
{11102}{Scroll of Bonds of Magic}
{11103}{Scroll of Reflection Shield}
{11104}{Scroll of Hardened Hands}
{11105}{Scroll of Weaken}
{11106}{Scroll of Shrink}
{11107}{Scroll of Flesh to Stone}
{11108}{Scroll of Polymorph}
{11109}{Scroll of Charm Beast}
{11110}{Scroll of Entangle}
{11111}{Scroll of Control Beast}
{11112}{Scroll of Succour Beast}
{11113}{Scroll of Regenerate}
{11114}{Scroll of Harm}
{11115}{Scroll of Conjure Spirit}
{11116}{Scroll of Summon Undead}
{11117}{Scroll of Create Undead}
{11118}{Scroll of Quench Life}
{11119}{Scroll of Minor Healing}
{11120}{Scroll of Halt Poison}
{11121}{Scroll of Major Healing}
{11122}{Scroll of Sanctuary}
{11123}{Scroll of Resurrect}
{11124}{Scroll of Illuminate}
{11125}{Scroll of Flash}
{11126}{Scroll of Blur Sight}
{11127}{Scroll of Phantasmal Fiend}
{11128}{Scroll of Invisibility}
{11129}{Scroll of Plague of Insects}
{11130}{Scroll of Orcish Champion}
{11131}{Scroll of Guardian Ogre}
{11132}{Scroll of Hellgate}
{11133}{Scroll of Familiar}
{11134}{Scroll of Magelock}
{11135}{Scroll of Congeal Time}
{11136}{Scroll of Hasten}
{11137}{Scroll of Stasis}
{11138}{Scroll of Tempus Fugit}
{11139}{Kerghan's Death Scroll}
{11140}{Kerghan's Attack Scroll}
{11141}{Scroll of Exiting}
{11142}{Med Spider Heal}
---------------------------------Section 7-----------------------------------
Main Menu Text Editing
Browse to C:\modding\Arcanum3\mes\mainmenu.mes
Copy this file to c:\sierra\arcanum\data\mes
Open it up, it should look like this:
// Main Menu
{10}{Single Player}
{11}{MultiPlayer}
{12}{Options}
{13}{Credits}
{14}{Exit Game}
Say you wanted to change the first button to Best Game Mode, all you would
have to do is change the text:
{10}{Single Player}
to
{10}{Best Game Mode}
It's that simple.
Everything else in this file should be self-explanatory.
Now, to explain this. See how it says necro_evil 1? That means he makes the
skill tree of necro_evil go up to level 1. Cn9 means that he puts points
into constitution until it reaches level 9. And so on. If you need more
information email me.
LEGAL INFO:
This document Copyright 2001 by Ryan Zielinski. You may not take it or use
it in any way shape or form, thank you. It is only to be used on
gamefaqs.com or terra-arcanum.com
Me: For making this F.A.Q.
Myself: For looking through the files.
And I: For spending the time to figure out how to change everything.
Stop being so conceited :p
com2kid; from the terra-Arcanum message boards: informed me how command
prompt works in WinNT (and possibly XP) 4 and 2k.
