Random-Gem Project [Data Entry Complete]

[Tsidkenu]

Where to from here?

1. Adjusting descriptions. I mostly sourced descriptions from the Forgotten Realms wiki (gem entries, some supplemented from wikipedia) and their magical/enchantment properties reflect that. If DMs/Devs want to change anything, now is their chance.

2. Adjusting prices. The prices listed are guided towards the somewhat bloated BGTSCC gold economy, particularly gems in the legendary and epic tiers. Now is the opportunity to discuss price proposals. Note that prices listed are what a gem would cost at a merchant with 0% markup or markdown.

3. TGAs. There are still quite a few unused tga files (it_gem_516 through _619) even with my gem expansion project, which would allow some more unique Torilian gems to be added, if desired, such as Laeral's Tears, Dragonbane amber, Winking Eyes of Rhauron, Orblen and Shou Lung amethyst/emerald/topaz.

4. Jewellery Craft skill. There is the possibility for this new skill to be added (either to an existing/new gem merchant NPC or as a trade skill selectable by players) to be utilised to improve gem grades and provide a gold sink for any crafting system that might utilise them.

5. Common Gems & Crafting. Most crafting systems tier towards high-end gems and values, whereas this system allows even common gems to take centre place in making the most powerful magic items.

6. ResRefs. I have no idea how that side of scripting works, or how to assign a resref to a 2da-generated item so it can be called upon by crafting scripts, or how DMs might create stashes of gems as treasure for their events if gem blueprints do not exist in the DM Creator.

7. OC Gemstones. Some gems, like rogue stones and king's tears, are simply not represented in my project. Decisions will have to be made as to the place/use of OC gemstones, especially given that players will have huge collections of these already.

8. Enjoy! Its been fun research and I now know so much more about gems and jewels!

[dedude]

I'm not sure it is possible to programatically alter the "additional value" of an item, which would be necessary in order to generate these gems solely based on 2da entries. I suppose you could set their gp value to 0, and deal with them as a separate economy. Or just create blueprints for each.

[Tsidkenu]

Can you programatically set the base value then? My only point of reference was the OC gems, and they all have base value 1 and then additional value X (whatever it is in the table).

AoS recommended utilising a 2da so that separate blueprints would not have to be made for each item and bog down the server with another mammoth load of text. I'd be happy to make separate blueprints but AoS doesn't like that course of action.

[dedude]

No I don't think you can change the base value either. I sent a PM to AoS asking if he had looked into it, seeing as he was the one who proposed this course, but I haven't heard from him. I absolutely understand the desire to be able to generate items based on a 2da, but so far I can't see how to manipulate the value of the items.

Either way we do it, the text descriptions you make would probably go into the tlk file so they are fetched locally by the clients.

[Tsidkenu]

Alrighty, just let me know if you want me to spend some hours making gem blueprints in the toolset for export. I'd be more than happy to.

[Tsidkenu]

Bump. Still waiting for approval whether I should spend my time to make these gems as individual toolset items with descriptions left blank (to be applied from 2da linked to item Resrefs, drawn from my table OP).

[Lockonnow]

this place here can show gems tha twas in the first Bg game http://baldursgate.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Gems