This is a very basic tutorial I wrote for people who have no idea how to use the toolset, but have ideas for weapons and no clue how to make them... let alone submit them.
This will explain how to do both.
I'll try to be as thorough as possible while keeping it as simple as possible. Italic text is highly recommended for your understanding, but not necessary for you to read.
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1. Insert your NWN2 DVD into the DVD Drive.
2. Click "Toolset". This can take a while to load, so give it the time it needs.
The UI (user interface) can be very daunting if you have not seen it before. The drawback of the Aurora engine being so powerful is that it is also complicated. But like computers, it is not complicated in itself - it is made of so many basic individual functions that it becomes complicated.
We are not going to create any areas, only the item, which is often referred to as the "blueprint."
3. On the lower right hand side of your screen is a window that will be labeled either "Blueprints, "Tiles, or "Terrain". There will be tabs on the bottom. Click the "Blueprints" tab.
What we have here is all the default items, creatures, placeables, trees, plants, sounds, etc. in Neverwinter Nights 2, all categorized appropriately.
4. Click "Items."
5. On empty white space (do not click on any text) - Click "Create Blueprint", then on the slide-out menu, select "Module".
This tells it to make a new blueprint for this module, alternatively you can make them "Global". "Module" means these blueprints will only exist for this "Module" we are creating. "Global" means they will show up under every module we create.
6. Now, in bold letters it should show "item1" like this:
7. Right click on "item1" and select - "Properties (new window)". Give it a few seconds, and a window will pop up.
Above the blueprints window is a properties window, but this way it is easier to work with and doesn't require resizing of the UI to see what you are doing.
8. Drag the right edge of the window to make it nice and big, so it will be easier to work with. You should have something that looks like this:
9. Now for the best part, where we actually make the item. Scroll to the top of the new window that popped up, and lets get started.
10. We will not be doing this in order, so try to not become confused. Find the "Behavior" tab. Second item down is "Base Item". This is very important, here we decide what type of item we make. eg. Falchion, Short Sword, Dagger, Quarterstaff. Click on "Base Item," then select the type of item you are making from the drop-down menu. For this tutorial, lets choose Greataxe. I recommend you do the same, else it could differ from what you are doing.
11. At any time during this tutorial, you can select the "Preview" tab right at the top of the window, to see what the item you are making looks like currently. Do this now. The middle mouse button zooms in and out. Hold down the middle mouse button and drag to rotate and tilt the camera. If you do not have a middle mouse button, use CTRL + Right Click. To drag the camera around, use CTRL + Left Click. Familiarize yourself with the camera controls.
12. Go back to properties. We now have our base item set, lets change the appearance, while we do this remember to check back under "Preview" to see what it looks like at this time. Now we fiddle with "Model Part #" until we get the appearance we want.
Model Part #1 Is the blade of the axe. For this tutorial set it to "1".
Model Part #2 Is the middle part inbetween the blade and the handle. For this tutorial set it to "3".
Model Part #3 Is the handle. For this tutorial set it to "2".
Notice how the appearance of the Greataxe has changed. This is what it will look like in-game when your character wields it.
13. The following values you are required to set as you deem appropriate. I will give descriptions of the optional ones at the bottom of the tutorial.
Appearance
Icon - The icon of the item in your inventory - be sure to set this to something appropriate for a greataxe.
Item Properties - Here is where you set the magical properties of a weapon - eg. +2 Enhancement, or Bonus Feat: Knockdown. Play around with this by adding enhancements and skills to a weapon - But don't waste your time making godly weapons (eg +5 enhancement, on hit: death 50% chance, +50 strength), as they do not have a place in Dasaria (as of yet, at least, follow what Jeh says).
Damage Reductions - If you want this weapon to provide damage reductions of any sort (eg, 5/ piercing) this is where you do it.
--------- The Following are compulsory for Weapons added to Dasaria ---------
Comment - Set this to as advised by Jeh
Templete Resref - " psc_yourname_itemname " - NO SPACES
Resource Name - Same as Template Resref
Tag - Same as Template Resref
Classification - " PSC Das Weapons 2 " (do not include quotes for this or the above examples)
14. Now your weapon is finished, read below for more options. Next part is how to send it to the Dasaria team.
-------- Other Item Settings (optional) --------
Appearance (special effect) - This will NOT show up under preview. But have you seen the massive flaming swords the balor's possess? They aren't enchanted with Flame Weapon - They always have that effect. And fire is not the only effect you can give it. You can experiment with this, although I do not think all effects will show up at all, as they are meant for other things besides weaponry as well.
Tint - Be sure to expand this, there are three tints per weapon. Change these to change the weapons color. For example, you could make a black axe, or have it made of green material (this isn't something I'd really do...).
Cursed - If this is set to "True" it will not be unequippable once equipped, without a spell.
Droppable - If this is set to "False" the player can not drop this item.
Pickpocketable - If this is set to "True" players can pickpocket this item.
Identified - Whether or not it will be automatically identified - i.e, without a lore check.
Plot - Can not be dropped or traded, eg. Quest Item.
--------- END OF TUTORIAL ---------
CREATING DASARIAN WEAPONS FOR DUMMIES - Submitting the Weapon
Now that you have made your weapon - You will probably want to know how to get it into Dasaria.
1. Click "File". Click "Export...".
2. There is a dropdown box labeled "Type". Open this and select "ItemBlueprints."
3. The name of your item should show up there. Select it and click the "Add" button. When you have selected all the items you wish to submit, click the "OK" button.
4. It is important that you remember where you save this file to. Name it something appropriate such as "My Dasarian Weapon". and click "Save".
5. Email the file as an "attachment" to: dasaria.builders@gmail.com . Be sure to include the word SUBMISSION in your subject line.
Hope this helped.
