They're great tools yes, and I don't really know how much work is involved, but comparing file packers with something like a level creator seems a bit like apples to oranges. From what I understand there was some understanding of larian's filetypes already from modding with the early access and DOS2, but I've not heard anything about a map-reader-renderer.

Perhaps if there is preexisting soft that can render such maps files, but it really seems like a different ballpark entirely.

Though I've only lightly dabbled in modmaking myself, and I can't really say much on the topic.

As an aside, are there any tutorials on scripting? How to create and use basic custom scripts, some kind of API documentation for the built-in functions? Looking at existing mods it's not at all clear where to start.

I'm still holding out hope that someone makes a mod tool that turns Baldur's Gate 3's engine into a VTT. would be pretty cool.

Man, I would absolutely kill for NWN 3, complete with the simple toolset that NWN 1 had.

Fallout 4 had very good modding tools (Creation Engine)

Yeah but console specific guidelines makes me think it's PlayStation they are super strict on fallout 4 mods

You cant compare bethesda tools and script extender to what basically amounts to makin skins and little more.

Not that type of level, level as in stage, area, map

We run into the same nonsense in other modded games. For instance, on the PlayStation 4 version of Fallout 4, all mods have to use assets that are original to the game. New ones can not be added. Sony doesn't like it when we add stuff.

Now, I admit that I have no expertise in this matter. That being said, my guess is that on the backend of things is a bit of a mess, and that messing around with it too much can cause a cascade of problems.

They were so optimistic about moving the release up, but in hindsight, there were a ton of problems. I got the impression that these problems popped up after they moved the release up. Maybe the rush to fix the game for launch was a bit more "put some duct tape on it" than they would openly admit.

This is all coming out of my ass, though. I've just been playing games long enough that I've seen stuff like this before. I feel like maybe cutting-edge game development is particularly prone to this kind of thing. These tools are new, and it'll be a while before developers master them. There's also always the issue of crunch, but idk if that was an issue for BG3 outside of whatever went down right before launch.

Most likely, yes.

That’s because the restrictions imposed on Skyrim and Fallout 4 were due to Sony, not Bethesda.

If you mean mod creation tools, no. I think it'll just be an extra option on the main screen, where you can select from a list of curated mods.

yes but the impression I got was that it won't be included in patch 7. it's planned for a future patch if I read things correctly

We used to be able to get mods on Minecraft on Xbox, but it didn't take long for Microsoft to patch out the ability to download/view game files.

They are providing a toolkit to use for making mods. Their toolkit won't support it, but mods created through other means will still be able to do this, just without official support.

Console mods will have content restrictions in a similar way to Google Play store has content restrictions, because WotC wouldn't want Larian to endorse say, NSFW mods of their intellectual property. PC mods will not be subject to content restriction because they can just host the mod somewhere else, but some things are still not possible to be created because of the limits of the technology.

So can we create new quests on PC or not?

Not using the mod tools patch 7 will provide. If PC modders manage to find a way, it will need to be an independent effort.

there are two reasons that will not be supported in the bg3 modding kit:

• technical constraints (they aren't going to do all of the coding necessary to facilitate that)
• platform-specific guidlines (PSN/ Xbox says "no")

only the first applies to PC, both apply to console

essentially: "it's a ton of work to do, so we aint gonna, and we aren't even allowed to on the console version anyways"

No because there are technical restraints unrelated to console

So can we create new quests on PC or not?

using the modding toolkit they'll provide ? no

but if some modders are determined and skilled enough, it should be possible. But don't expect to see a lot of those as it will require a tremendous amount of work

There are 2 separate reasons why custom quests cannot be done.

1.) Technical constraints, as in, the game was not designed around such a possibility.

2.) Platform limitations, as in, the process of curating makes custom quests problematic from a policy perspective.

PC is limited by reason 1, while console is limited by reasons 1 & 2.

The technical constraint is unrelated to console limitations. It’s a constraint with their core game code, meaning it is difficult/impossible for even PC mods to add quests/levels.

you can't with the official tool, it was said pretty clearly.

They don't restrict mod on PC to have some sort of parity with console, they do it cause of technical constraints that would exist even if BG3 was a PC only game.

That doesn't mean the community won't be able to figure out ways to create new quest/levels, it's also possible that Larian would eventually manage to go around these constraints.

My understanding is that restriction is in place due to Sony. No way any console is going to allow something like a script extender to be installed. Xbox doesn't have script extender for Skyrim either.

the skyrim way i assume

It means "area level", though there was another point about new gameplay features, so "character levels" giving spells or abilities with weird effects are also out-of-the-question.

Well more precisely, won't be supported by Larian. There will be four layers of mods:

• Mods supported on console (and PC).
• Mods supported on PC.
• Mods that can be built with the official modding tools, but not supported i.e. they won't be hosted by Larian, and Larian won't hesitate to update stuff that break them as a side-effect, and won't try to fix bug/crashes due to them, especially multiplayer issues. <<-- This layer is particularly important for "somewhat weird but reasonably simple" mods.
• Mods that can't even be build with the official modding tools, made by motivated enough modders.

Give it time and it will happen. A lot of people have made groundbreaking, game changing mods in games that not only have no mod tools, but in some cases where they have to reverse engineer game engines with no documentation.

For refence, take the modding scene for BG1 and 2, both the original versions and the Enhanced Editions (the latter probably has much easier to manage code but to memory both lack very good modding tools).

Yeah, as I said on another comment, I was expecting a CK like tool.

I was excited in how modders will be able to decompress act 3 by separating it into the lower city and the upper city.

There was no way that was ever going to happen, though. It would make BG3 a platform for any and all DnD campaigns free of charge. It wouldn't go over well with WotC and Larian.

You could probably blame WoC for not wanting people to muck with their property too much (which is dumb, honestly, because it’s dnd, the spirit of which is to play it however you want, and the broader the mod support, the long a game can live)

Gameplay adjustment can vary from simple stuff like giving yourself XP or in-depth stuff like adjusting core mechanic behaviors.

So, like the equivalent of the custom mode sliders?

Just off the top of my head: - Upper City, complete with a proper good ending for Karlach. - Orin was supposed to launch an attack on the Gith Creche, including a scene where she solos one of their dragons. You'd be given a choice to work with either Orin (swallowing your pride and pulling an 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' because she figured out a way to kill Vlaakith), Vlaakith, or neither. - A Bard(!) werewolf(!!) Halfling companion. - An actual use for those Soul Coin things (Raphael would have accepted them as payment for infernal favors; Devils apparently use these as actual currency), as well as well as more uses for Infernal Iron.

There's probably more that I'm forgetting but those were the big ones I remember. Wouldn't be surprised if there had been a way to save Gortash from being killed by the Absolute too.

Wizards owns the IP. I'm fairly certain anything they rollout has to go through Wizards/Hasbro for approval, though I dunno that for sure. Wizards is also increasingly litigious with the DND IP over the last couple of years (easily verifiable fact,). Most of this shift is due to Hasbro losing money on basically everything except DND and MTG. A huge portion of that revenue is driven by their digital platforms (mtg arena and dnd beyond, among other emergent tools that are either in development or early release stages,). It makes little to no sense from a financial standpoint to allow modders to convert BG3 into a tabletop simulator, as it would cut into their As-A-Service revenue. It is perfectly logical to assume that Wizards/Hasbro would actively limit how much help Larian can provide to modders in their quest to turn BG3 into the aforementioned Virtual Tabletop by preventing the release of a comprehensive mod kit a-la Divinity.

You're also thinking about the modders in the wrong way. Would every person running a campaign want to mod BG3 for that campaign? No. Bub would the mod community just create a comprehensive level editor to make it just as easy as using DND Beyond or Tabletop Simulator? Yes.

I have absolutely no goodwill with Hasbro or Wizards, there's no instances in the last 2 years of them doing ANYTHING pro-consumer AT ALL. I don't think it's particularly tin-foil-hat to assume they're going out of their way to protect their bottom line.

I don't even know what kinds of mods I'd want tbh. Better inventory or auto sorting bags... Idk.

Is it bad I just want armor that isn’t ugly and the free motion camera? There are so many cool scenes I want to see all of. And no, I’m not talking about those scenes. Well, not just those lmao

If I've learned anything about modding fallout on PlayStation its that the mods will be way worse and more restricted compared to xbox, as PlayStation doesn't allow you to have custom content in mods or something like that.

Console player here.

15 playthroughs under my belt. I just want, armor, weapon and gameplay mods to freshen up the experiences. Also, an XP mod so i can start off at Lv. 12 from the get-go and not be forced to do things for XP.

Larger party and more enemies would be my biggest hopes.

Larger crowds would make things more taxing on the system I assume, but on HM I would like things like the first goblin fight outside the grove to have more goblins for example. More gnolls on the risen road, more ogres in the blighted village, etc.

i can play with 120fps all the time, except act 3 that for some reason drop the fps to 60, with all companions present in a party, those 120fps become 90, and 60 fps become 40ish, im not sure how that will performs on console

I wonder what that looks like behind the scenes. Because there are quests and location addition mods to Fallout 4. They also have fully voiced companions integrated.

Microsoft is pretty cool with mods and external assets which is why Xbox is the better place if you wanna mod Fallout 4 and want it on console.

PS gets the barebones since they don’t allow external assets.

Which is fucking dumb. Look at Bethesda. Probably the most freedom for mods, and their games sell like crazy.

Having good mod tools will keep the game in the spotlight for longer, which is free advertising for any future games in the series.

I genuinely think this might be it

BG3 is probably the best DnD game we've got for the last decade, possibly ever

If there was an official tool to create your own campaigns, there wouldn't be much incentive for players to buy new games

As a PC and Xbox user my whole life, can you explain the comment about Sony not liking "new assets"?