NPC Transfer

[Ben J]

Is it possible to transfer an NPC from one game to another, with his stats and items intact?

Preferably without having to use an external hacking program?

[Nol Drek]

Is it possible to transfer an NPC from one game to another, with his stats and items intact?

Preferably without having to use an external hacking program?

I think you can copy and paste the MONST*.DAT and CPIC*.DAT files from one design to the next.

[Ben J]

I think you can copy and paste the MONST*.DAT and CPIC*.DAT files from one design to the next.

Hmm... but this would mean that I'd have to use the same monsters for every part of a continuing saga.

And I think copying the MONST*.DAT files wouldn't transfer the NPCs current stats and items.

[nologgie]

The Monst*.dat and character save files use the same format, so anything that transfers with one will transfer with the other.

As Nol said, the only files you need to transfer are the Monst*.dat and the Cpic*.tlb whose last three digits match.

A quick way to determine which is to modify the NPC in UA and save. (Just add or delete a letter from the name, or something.)  Then open your design directory and sort the files by date. The newest one is the one to copy.

(Remember to change the name back when you're done.)

[Ben J]

Okay, I've been a bit slow on the uptake...   

Of course, each MONST*.DAT file only contains the data for one individual monster.

But here's what I want to do: Imagine an NPC who stays with the party over the course of the game. Let's say he starts at level 3, and goes up to level 10, acquiring a lot of nice weapons in the process.

At the end of the game, I can drop my party members and import them into the next part of the ongoing saga. And I want to export the NPC (and his new stats) along with them.

Are his current stats also saved in the MONST*.DAT file? Because I thought those files would only contain the initial stats for the NPC, not the improved values.

[nologgie]

Ah, I see!

I don't know any way to do that without external editing.

The closest approximation would be to revise the NPC to match the level and equipment you attained in playing the module.

[Ben J]

The closest approximation would be to revise the NPC to match the level and equipment you attained in playing the module.

Hmm... I think it would be frustrating for the player if the NPC's level and equipment would change in between games.

Maybe i'll have to find another way to integrate this NPC.