Modifying nwn.ini and nwnplayer.ini (nifty tricks)

[downsystem]

One helpfull thing i found from from the past, use parselog for logging conversations in nwn chat window.

http://www.avlis.org/viewtopic.php?t=11418

Another trick for when your guy gets stuck in a area that you cant leave, hit the ~ key or or type ## in the chat imput line while in game and type MAKESAFE.

[Aldinvineda]

A really, really cool trick I picked up from my time with folks on NWC:

In nwnplayer.ini add the following:

[Chat Colors]
PartyColor=190,86,10
WhisperColor=80,181,222

You can change the numbers to anything between 1 and 255. The three numbers represent the RGB spectrum and your Party and Whisper text colors will change accordingly. Say bye bye to boring old white and grey.

Cheers,
Aldi

[Gorgon]

Interesting. Does this only change clientside, or do others see the colors?

*edit* Nevermind. Found it in the 1.25 update details. The full list (with defaults) is:

[Chat Colors]
TalkColor=240,240,240
ShoutColor=255,239,80
WhisperColor=128,128,128
TellColor=32,255,32
ServerColor=176,176,176
PartyColor=240,240,240
DMColor=16,223,255

Changing the server msg and tell colors will be handy too. It'll be easier to see those console server restart warnings, and tells won't get mixed in with the crafting/p-merchant chat.

[Quinkish]

This is where I check how to tweak NWN so I'm adding a link to the discussion about Forest ... how to fade the trees.

See this discussion: viewtopic.php?f=87&t=103838&p=1084170&h ... s#p1084170

and, in particular, MadK@'s message of Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:42 pm, on page 3, giving details of the modified Hak.

[Cougar]

Holy horselich of a thread!

Over 3 yrs wth?!

[Buddha]

This is where I check...

Someone with more time than me or Quink should WIKIFY this!

I got the Modification page started with the lua parselog:

http://wiki.avlis.org/Modifications

[tizmo]

There are a few other good options listed on this wiki:

http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Nwnplayer.ini

One is:

In nwnplayer.ini this section is there by default, but I would guess not everyone knows they can change them.

[Trap Colors]

This section allows a player to change the colors used to depict traps, so that red/green color blind users do not get killed by traps unexpectedly. (Added in patch 1.69.)

FriendlyColor=0,255,0
HostileColor=255,0,0

These are RGB color codes, ranging from 0 to 255. That is, the first number indicates the amount of red, the second green, and the third blue, each measured on a scale from 0 to 255.

Edit:
I found a really handy java applet to play with RGB colors:
http://www.cs.rit.edu/~ncs/color/a_spaces.html

Just click the RGB button on the left and it will start the applet and let you play with RGB colors. It displays the colors real-time at the bottom of the applet.

[Speedracer]

This is where I check how to tweak NWN so I'm adding a link to the discussion about Forest ... how to fade the trees.

See this discussion: viewtopic.php?f=87&t=103838&p=1084170&h ... s#p1084170

and, in particular, MadK@'s message of Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:42 pm, on page 3, giving details of the modified Hak.

Thank you oh thread necromancer! I did not know about these tricks and have added several now!

[Gorgon]

Just a quick bump for new and returning players. All sorts of useful things in the first post and on here.

Since running NWN in a window is the first tip here, and most popular question when someone joins us in IRC (you all saw the Chat With Us Now! link, right?), I'll also mention something from the NWN wiki page about it. It is mentioned right with the nwn.ini setting in the first post, but people seem to skim by it all the time.

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[Display Options]
FullScreen=0
AllowWindowedMode=1

The desktop resolution should be greater than the game's resolution (for example, desktop at 1024x768 and NWN at 800x600). Otherwise, Neverwinter Nights will ignore its resolution setting and run at 800x600 instead.

Edit: Something to be aware of is how using display scale settings in your operating system can affect this. In Windows 10, newer computers may use 125% or greater scaling (Settings > Display: "Scale and Layout" > "Change the size of text, apps, and other items"). This also affects the screen size the game uses, so even if you pick a resolution lower in both directions than your current desktop, the scaling setting can make it larger, which will prevent windowed mode.
E.G., (A laptop of mine had this issue) A screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution should be able to run NWN in a window when the game uses 1680 x 1050 as the resolution (both numbers are lower), but if 125% scaling is set, it won't run in a window until using much lower resolutions like 1024 x 768. Either disable/adjust scaling, or use a lower resolution to get the game in a window.

[Kandi_Nulein]

How do I add a time stamp to my player logs?

I've looked in the game panel but see nothing.

*hopes he won't be facepalming later*

[Gorgon]

ClientEntireChatWindowLogging=1 under [Game Options] in nwnplayer.ini will time-stamp the entries. It basically logs everything though, including all combat info, and you get duplicate entries for the chat if you also have ClientChatLogging=1 enabled. If you turn off the second one (ClientChatLogging=0) some older log saving/rotating programs might not work as expected though, so you'll have to figure out which you like better.

I have my own script for combining logs (they start new ones after 2 megs) and saving them, and special highlighting in notepad++ (a user defined language, same as other code), but there is at least 1 ok log program still on the vault I could find. Gnomish Log Rotator 5000 v1.0

[silverfields2]

If I don't have the line ClientChatLogging can I just add it? I only see ClientEntireChatWindowLogging.

[SaraEF]

If I don't have the line ClientChatLogging can I just add it? I only see ClientEntireChatWindowLogging.

Yes, just add the line above ClientEntireChatWindowLogging. You don't really want to use entire window logging most of the time (unless you're doing Mechanics Science) because you end up with eight full log files of combat text mixed with the chat after a pleth event.

[Kandi_Nulein]

I have the GLR 5000 but it doesn't work as I don't log the entire chat windows as you've mentioned. I'll sort something out after this weekend and start using the GLR and see what happens!

[Gorgon]

I like the full logging, but only with a lot of stuff stripped after and colored highlighting for readability.

Also, as I mentioned, NWN starts a new log after 2 megs of size, and they get big fast with combat info (or crafting/p-merchants). Unless your log rotator or whatever you use to save logs knows about the nwclientlog2 and higher, and can combine them, you'll start missing stuff.

[Gorgon]

An attempt to get a few of the various tweaks and fixes from other topics together in one place...


nwnplayer.ini

Enabling extra gore and critical hit "chunking" in NWN:

Open nwnplayer.ini, then under [Game Options], change:

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Memory Level=1

to:

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Memory Level=2

This enables the "Special" option for the "Violence Level" slider in Game Options, but you still have to select it in game, or with the next setting.

When Memory Level=2, you can also change:

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Memory Access=1

to:

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Memory Access=2

This is the "Violence Level" slider setting in Game Options. Low=0 (no blood), Full=1 (blood), Special=2 (more gore and bouncing chunks! ).


Improving game performance:

Also under [Game Options] in nwnplayer.ini, you can increase how much memory the client uses to cache resources, like models it loads from your haks. This is very important with many of the more detailed ones (*shakes a tiny fist at horsies and other big ones* ). The setting to increase is:

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Max Memory Usage=16

You will want at least 32, and many recommend 128 or 256 even. You can try higher, but it probably won't help past that, and that memory could be used for other things. If you run NWN from a SSD, you probably won't notice any improvement here, but at least set it to 32 or 64.
*Note* Bioware mentions the original game doesn't see any noticeable improvements past 32, but they don't have our custom content either.
Every time a new PC or critter shows on the screen, the game has to load the models (it, and its dynamic gear + any VFX) from the haks or main game content. If you cache more of it into memory, you can avoid loading it again the next time you see it, which can significantly help in big events or romps.

Another setting under [Game Options] to try adjusting is:

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Client CPU Affinity=0

You can try to use the default affinity (if any) provided by the operating system if you set:

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Client CPU Affinity=-2

There is a minus before the 2 there, and means it will try using multiple cores. If that doesn't help (or makes things worse), you can try a single core other than the first one, since the first core is used more than others by many older applications (and even newer ones). A setting of -1 is the same as 0, which is the first core, so try setting it to 1 or higher. Obviously you can only set this based on how many cores your CPU has, so a quad core would go as high as 3 (0 was the 1st core, remember?).
More details on Client CPU Affinity here.


Fixing connection problems:

This has come up several times in the last few weeks with new players and the reunion stuff, where some have a hard time connecting to certain servers here, yet others work fine. I still don't know why this helps, but under [Profile], change:

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Client Port=5121

to:

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Client Port=5122

Or set it even higher. Some use 5140 or higher, but all that matters is that you don't use the default 5121.
*Special Note* If you have 2 (or more) people playing NWN on the same shared connection, you MUST use different port numbers in this setting, or you will cause all sorts of problems (ghost PCs that never log out after you quit and other weirdness).


General crashing and other game weirdness:

Some of these aren't .ini settings, but it is better to mention them all together in one place.

If you play on newer versions of Windows, you've probably already set NWN to run as administrator and are using XP-SP3 compatibility mode, but it is always something to bump.

Also, if you are using NWN Diamond (the GOG version or others), many recommend running the NWN 1.69 Critical Rebuild to fix some missing/corrupt files in some copies. This was another issue recently with new and returning players, so just do it if you have any crashing or other problems (and always do it on a new install).

The NWNCX loader for NWN will fix the delays and glitches from the loss of the Master Server and GameSpy, as well as restore the server list functionality in the game client. You can also fix the delays with HOST file edits, but I don't recommend messing with that now. The loader doesn't modify any files, so it is a better choice in my opinion. A bit more on that here too.

*Edit* PC Gaming Wiki: NWN Fixes And Tweaks
I ran across this page today while looking for other stuff. It has some other ideas and suggestions for tweaks and fixes, and a lot that are here already, but it explains many of them better than I did. Give it a look and see if anything there is useful.

nwn.ini

All of the following settings are in the nwn.ini file, not the nwnplayer.ini file edited in previous stuff I mentioned here.

If you have "Enable Shiny Water" turned on in your Advanced Video Options, turn it off unless you haven't had any problems with crashing. You can also disable it in the nwn.ini under [Video Options] by setting:

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ShinyWater=0

Many of the models in the haks do not work well with this setting and several video card/driver combinations. This includes some very common ones, like river tiles on the road to Mikona or even some VFX in death travel, and you really don't want to be crashing while your gear is emptying off into your corpse.

Some people have issues with the intro and other game movies, especially on newer Windows. If you want to keep the movies enabled, under [Display Options], you can try setting:

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SafeMovie=1

If that doesn't fix them, you can try disabling the intro movies only (fixes many startup issues with black screens and mouse weirdness). This one was mentioned in the first post here. Under [Display Options], set:

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Disable Intro Movies=1

To disable all movies, set:

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Disable Movies=1

If you are experiencing weird flickering mouse cursor problems (only happens in certain configurations), then under [Video Options], try setting:

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Enable HardwareMouse=0

Usually you'll want that enabled (Enable HardwareMouse=1), but it may help in some cases to try disabling it.

Newer hardware should be able to handle NWN with the video settings all turned on and cranked up, but a few can still be very taxing, and even cause crashes. Disabling Creature Shadow Detail in the client can really improve game-play for many, or setting it under [Video Options] to:

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CreatureShadowDetail=0

It definitely isn't as nice looking IG, so only do it if you need to. Anti-aliasing and even the grass and lighting stuff have a big impact as well. Everyone likes things to be pretty, but do try lowering the settings if your game is a slideshow, or especially if it is crashing.

One exception to that is "Environment Mapping on Creatures", or under [Video Options], the following setting:

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Enable CreatureEnvironmentMapping=1

If you disable this, you may see many models appearing translucent (robes and other things making stuff look like they have the concealment effect). Also, if you use ATI drivers that have the Catalyst A.I. setting, and disable the A.I., many things may go entirely invisible with mapping on (and if you disable mapping you still get the concealed stuff). Basically you have to use the Catalyst A.I., even at low, or NWN will hate you.

More if/when I remember it.

[GunnJ]

If anyone uses the /dm channel to talk with any DMs online during an event, then best not block your full logging mode because it then does not record your comments or questions to the DM. This makes it very difficult to try to put together the conversation afterwards if you're trying to remember what questions you asked and so on.

I find I often have to use the /dm channel because whenever the DM has possessed an NPC, clicking on the DM's or the NPC's icon does not give me any [tell] information, so I have to use the DM channel.

Is there is a way to either keep what is said on the /dm channel without having to log all combat, or to somehow clear up the bug where I can't send the DM a tell?

[Gorgon]

Not without full logging AFAIK, like you said. Avlis had to add a custom bit of scripting just to echo your [DM] line as [CHAT WINDOW TEXT], so you could see what you typed.

[downsystem]

If you want customizable color combat and chat logs you can use NWNlogRotator. You can find I demo picture of what the logs look like here.

https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https:// ... ample.html

NWNRotatorLog program files:
https://neverwintervault.org/project/nw ... logrotator

Here is a Youtube Demo of the program, it is slightly outdated but you should be able to get the idea where things are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gspLCJM7JuU

Make sure you have logging enabled if you cannot find a log file. Enhanced Edition and 1.69 in how to enable chat logging.

For EE, it is located in settings.tml with a few more options.
[game.log.chat.all] enabled = true (all client chat window messages in the log)
[game.log.chat.emotes] enabled = true (all graphic emotes are logged as their text equivalent)
[game.log.chat.text] enabled = false (if true, then the text part of the chat window is logged; if both this and chat.all are set to true, then the text chat will duplicate in the log)

For 1.69, it is located in nwnplayer.ini as ClientEntireChatWindowLogging = 1 under [Game Options].

I. placed the NWNLogRotator and NWNLogRotator.ini in the C: Drive with the Program, Program X86 etc file folders.

2. Setup your output directory where you want your files to go.
Example: OutputDirectory=C:\GOG Games\Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition\logs\Avlis Combat Logs

3. Setup your path to nwnclientlog1.
Example: PathToLog=C:\GOG Games\Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition\logs\nwclientLog1.txt

4. Click on Launcher Settings

5. In the PathToClient field point it to your NWMain.exe.
Example: C:\GOG Games\Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition\nwmain.exe

6. Type in the server settings.
Example: 198.101.12.59:5121

7. Type in your Avlis login password.

8. If you use NWNCX to log in to Avlis you can bypass filling out the server type and password fields.

9. You should be able to set up a log rotator executable for each Avlis server for direct login.

10. If you want to change the color of all the different fields NWN generates click on Export Settings, adjust then save your changes.