Editing The Arcanum Main Module

I can't find out how to open it. Can anyone please help?

Thanks

 

How much are you looking to do? Take a look around, tweak a bit of scenery, or add a new adventure?

 

All 3

 

If you feel you're ready to jump into this you'll need a few things:


http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... Manual.pdf
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... acades.zip
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... ations.htm
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... e_sets.zip
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... gedit2.zip
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... n_1070.zip
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/downloads/ ... uilder.zip

With the 1.0.7.0 version of WorldEd, rename your existing version of WorldEd with an X in front of the name, then copy or move the 1.0.7.0 into the same folder.

Now to start: Create a copy of your existing Arcanum installation. Then go through the Arcanum 1 through 4.DATS, the Arcanum.DAT, and the Arcanum.patch0 file - renaming them with, say, an X in front of the name. Also the patch0 file will need to be renamed to xArcanumpatch0.dat.
Now begin making folders with the original names of everything you've renamed - ie: A folder named Arcanum1.dat.
Using the database builder, one at a time open each renamed dat and extract the files within to the correct folder. Example: xArcanum1.dat to the Arcanum1.dat folder and the xArcanumpatch0.dat to the Arcanum.patch0 folder.

You now have the entire game opened up for study.

Good luck!

 

The DATBuilder can't seems to be able to extract the xArcanum.dat file. It just freezes. And I've tried multiple times :/

 

The Arcanum.dat file is a big S.O.B. It's 350kb and takes 10 to 25 minutes just to load into the listings and equally as long to unpack.

So, let the DATbuilder work for a while, then see if it's ready for unpacking.
At the very bottom of the DATbuilder, you'll see a line of text. If it's changing, then the files are still being loaded.

 

Yeah, that's the thing, the line just freezes :/

 

Just as a test, unpack another dat and see if it freezes on that.

 

All other dats work fine.

 

The only I can think of is that there is a break in the "data stream" (for the lack of a better description) inside the Arcanum.dat.

If you're willing to risk it, use the install disk to repair the game. Then try to unpack the redone version.
This shouldn't interfere with the hack, but I'm not certain on this.

 

Hmm.. I have a question: what exactly do you mean by "Create a copy of your existing Arcanum installation"? Do you mean create a copy of Arcanum.exe?

 

Not just the exe - the entire installation.

I copied this entire section from another thread where someone wanted to try their hand at modding. In your case; given how much trouble you've had getting my hack to work; making a copy of the entire Arcanum installation - or - installing a fresh one, seems a lot safer than tearing into a working game.

 

Why do you need the version 1.0.7.0 of WorldEd and not the patched version?

 

I tried once to use patched vesion... Well... old checked version works more fine.

 

The 1.0.7.4 version is made to work with packed DATs - which makes them a pain and a half to work with due to having to wait for the unpacking, then repacking for each and every change you make.

Once you unpack or create a DAT, the 1.0.7.0 version works far more quickly.

 

Okay, so I did everything you said, but now when I try to open the WorldEdit, there's an error...

 

Describe the error.

 

It just says something like "WorldEd must shut down" and then it gives me an option for sending an error report. This happens when WorldEd is loading up.

 

If you still have this problem:

The only time I encounter this is when I've made a change to an mes file and mis-type "( "instead of "{".

Check your notes to see which files you modified, then examine the changes carefully.

 

I would also like to explore the Arcanum campaign in World Ed. However in my arcanum directory, I don't seem to have the patch0.dat file, even though I have applied the 1074 patch.
There is however a tig.dat file in there. Is that it?