Difference between revisions of "Getting Started"

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== Installing the toolset ==
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== Installing the Toolset ==
* First, make sure you have the game installed. The toolset relies on the game's resources and engine and cannot function without them.
+
 
* [http://social.bioware.com/toolset.php Download the toolset from here].
+
* [http://dragonage.bioware.com/ Install the game.] Ensure that Dragon Age is installed before dabbling in the toolset, as it relies on the game's resources and engine, and cannot function without them.
*[[Creating an account]] - how to create an account for this wiki and social.bioware.com
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* [[Creating an account|Create an account.]] In order to contribute to pages on the DA Builder Wiki or participate on the BioWare Social Network, you will need to create an online user account.
* [[Installing the toolset]]
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* [http://social.bioware.com/user_bw_games_register.php Register the game.] In addition, you will need to register your copy of Dragon Age before gaining access to game-owner only content, including the toolset.
*'''[[Installation troubleshooting]]''' - information on how to fix things in the event that toolset installation goes awry.
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* [http://social.bioware.com/toolset.php Download the toolset.] The Dragon Age toolset contains the same functionality used by BioWare to craft the official campaign, and provides the power and flexibility to create your own custom content and adventures.
*[[Known issues]] with the current version of the toolset
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* [[Installing the toolset|Install the toolset.]] Refer to this page for general information and step-by-step instructions to installing the toolset.
 +
* [[Installation troubleshooting|Troubleshooting.]] Refer to this page for specific information on how to resolve issues in the event that toolset installation goes awry.
 +
* [[Known issues|Known issues.]] Refer to this page for a currently documented list of known issues and bugs in the current version of the toolset.
  
 
== Overview of the Toolset ==
 
== Overview of the Toolset ==
  
*[[Overview of the toolset]] - How the Toolset manages Resources you create, and giving a quiet good overview.
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*[[Overview of the toolset|Overview of the toolset:]] A quite good overview of interface layout and toolset resource management.
  
*[[Comparisons with other toolkits]] - for users who are familiar with other similar toolkits (eg, the Neverwinter Nights tookit) and would like a brief overview of how the Dragon Age toolkit compares.
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*[[Comparisons with other toolkits|Comparisons with other toolkits:]] A brief feature overview of the Dragon Age toolset for users familiar with similar software (e.g., the NWN Aurora Toolset).
  
 
== Starting the Toolset ==
 
== Starting the Toolset ==
  
Before using the Toolset, it is important to take note of so called [[Module|Modules]]. A module decides ,how any creations are classified with, and is basically the theme of the currently open Toolset. The default Module when first starting the Toolset is the Single Player Module, which inherits the whole Single Player campaign of course (its written in the title bar). Editting under that circumstances is a bad idea.
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{| align=right
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|[[File:Titlebar components.png|thumb|300px|right|How to determine which module is currently open]]
 +
|-
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|{{Warnbox|Do not edit Single Player or Core Resources with custom content!|300px}}
 +
|}
 +
Before using the Toolset, it is important to take note of what [[Module|module]] the toolset has open. A module is a "container" in which game resources are stored in; you will only be able to see the resources for the currently open module (and any modules that it is marked as depending on). The default module when first starting the Toolset is the "Demo" module, which is a very small and simple module intended to show several common resource types in a basic pre-built adventure that you can experiment with safely.
  
The first basic steps in the Toolset shall be to create a own [[Module]]. The only possible type of Module is "Addin" which is good enough. It basically puts following creations into a Addin Folder of the new Module.
+
The main Dragon Age: Origins campaign resources are stored in a module named "Single Player". If you're just starting out with the toolset, it can be dangerous to edit these, as you could inadvertently corrupt your main campaign. Take care when exploring not to edit any of those resources without knowing what you're doing.
  
*[[Creating a module]]
+
The first basic steps in the Toolset shall be to create your own [[Module]]. The only possible type of Module is "Addin", but note that this name is somewhat misleading; it is possible to have "standalone addins" that are completely separate from any other module (such as the main campaign).
 +
 
 +
*See: [[Module]] - For a general overview of how a Module works, and what awaits you.
  
 
== Using the Toolset ==
 
== Using the Toolset ==
  
Having seen the Overview, there are 3 basic Resourcetypes that matter. Resource is a word for what you can create, not only what you need (might be a bit misleading). The Toolset consists of many independent Tools, which can be well discussed seperatly.
+
As described in the overview linked to above, the game uses a wide variety of resource types. A "resource" is something that you can create, such as a script or a creature, and you will often need to combine many different resources together to accomplish a particular design goal. The toolset consists of many independent tools for working with these different types of resources. These tools can be well discussed separately.
  
The next best step would be to look into the fitting Main Categories from the [[Main Page]], which consecutively link deeper into each topic. If you are having questions at a specific part of the Toolset, give this Wiki a search for it. This can be very specific, and always worth a try.
+
The next best step for learning the toolset would be to look into the categories on the [[Main Page]], which link deeper into each topic and the tools involved with them. If you are having questions at a specific part of the toolset give this Wiki a search for it. This can be very specific, and always worth a try. You may also find the [http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/subindex/70 toolset forums] to be useful in solving specific problems the documentation here may not cover.
  
A list of certain Interest, and the 3 Resourcetypes:
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A list of certain Interest, and the 3 Resource types:
*[[Design]] - Talks mainly about Designer Resources, in question is Items, Monsters, NPC's, Vendors, etcetc
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*[[Design]] - Talks mainly about Designer Resources, such as Items, Monsters, NPC's, Vendors, etc.
*[[Art]] - Talks mainly about Art Resources, in question Models, Textures, Facemorphs, etcetc
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*[[Art]] - Talks mainly about Art Resources, such as Models, Textures, Facemorphs, etc.
 
*[[2DA]] - Talks about the 2DA Resourcetype, which is sets of Gamewide usable variables and references.
 
*[[2DA]] - Talks about the 2DA Resourcetype, which is sets of Gamewide usable variables and references.
*etc
 
  
=== Tips n Tricks ===
+
 
 +
=== Tips and tricks ===
 
*[[Shortcuts]] - Assorted toolset shortcuts.
 
*[[Shortcuts]] - Assorted toolset shortcuts.
 
*[[Common Problems]] - Little things that most people will need to know but that are not necessarily obvious.
 
*[[Common Problems]] - Little things that most people will need to know but that are not necessarily obvious.
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== Specials ==
 
== Specials ==
  
[[Deleting a module]] - This is currently not possible by normal means.  
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It is currently not possible to delete a module by normal means.  
 
+
<!-- deleted this portion if all it did was having no info and was confuse me lol -->
+
  
 
If you run into a problem that the documentation doesn't cover and that you can't fix, contact toolsetsupport@bioware.com
 
If you run into a problem that the documentation doesn't cover and that you can't fix, contact toolsetsupport@bioware.com
 +
 +
== Removing Custom Content ==
 +
 +
This section describes how to remove all custom content from the game.
 +
 +
To be on the safe side, before you start, you might want to
 +
 +
* disable all the unofficial add-ins on the DLC screen in game
 +
* play a recently saved game (using the Force Load option) to confirm that it works reasonably well without the add-ins
 +
* back up your Documents > Bioware folder
 +
 +
Since you can't be certain that all authors have followed best practice, you'll need to clean out all the folders that can be customised.
 +
 +
In Documents > Bioware > Dragon Age,
 +
 +
* In the AddIns folder, delete all the folders except Demo, Single Player and anything starting with dao_prc (the official DLC).
 +
* Delete any files In the AddIns > Single Player folder and sub-folders (you might get away with just deleting the Single Player folder, but caution never hurts).
 +
* Delete any files from the modules and packages folders.
 +
 +
== Dragon Age 2 ==
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See [[Dragon Age 2]] for more information.
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{{Languages}}

Revision as of 06:07, 20 June 2012

Installing the Toolset

  • Install the game. Ensure that Dragon Age is installed before dabbling in the toolset, as it relies on the game's resources and engine, and cannot function without them.
  • Create an account. In order to contribute to pages on the DA Builder Wiki or participate on the BioWare Social Network, you will need to create an online user account.
  • Register the game. In addition, you will need to register your copy of Dragon Age before gaining access to game-owner only content, including the toolset.
  • Download the toolset. The Dragon Age toolset contains the same functionality used by BioWare to craft the official campaign, and provides the power and flexibility to create your own custom content and adventures.
  • Install the toolset. Refer to this page for general information and step-by-step instructions to installing the toolset.
  • Troubleshooting. Refer to this page for specific information on how to resolve issues in the event that toolset installation goes awry.
  • Known issues. Refer to this page for a currently documented list of known issues and bugs in the current version of the toolset.

Overview of the Toolset

Starting the Toolset

How to determine which module is currently open
Warning-information.png Do not edit Single Player or Core Resources with custom content!

Before using the Toolset, it is important to take note of what module the toolset has open. A module is a "container" in which game resources are stored in; you will only be able to see the resources for the currently open module (and any modules that it is marked as depending on). The default module when first starting the Toolset is the "Demo" module, which is a very small and simple module intended to show several common resource types in a basic pre-built adventure that you can experiment with safely.

The main Dragon Age: Origins campaign resources are stored in a module named "Single Player". If you're just starting out with the toolset, it can be dangerous to edit these, as you could inadvertently corrupt your main campaign. Take care when exploring not to edit any of those resources without knowing what you're doing.

The first basic steps in the Toolset shall be to create your own Module. The only possible type of Module is "Addin", but note that this name is somewhat misleading; it is possible to have "standalone addins" that are completely separate from any other module (such as the main campaign).

  • See: Module - For a general overview of how a Module works, and what awaits you.

Using the Toolset

As described in the overview linked to above, the game uses a wide variety of resource types. A "resource" is something that you can create, such as a script or a creature, and you will often need to combine many different resources together to accomplish a particular design goal. The toolset consists of many independent tools for working with these different types of resources. These tools can be well discussed separately.

The next best step for learning the toolset would be to look into the categories on the Main Page, which link deeper into each topic and the tools involved with them. If you are having questions at a specific part of the toolset give this Wiki a search for it. This can be very specific, and always worth a try. You may also find the toolset forums to be useful in solving specific problems the documentation here may not cover.

A list of certain Interest, and the 3 Resource types:

  • Design - Talks mainly about Designer Resources, such as Items, Monsters, NPC's, Vendors, etc.
  • Art - Talks mainly about Art Resources, such as Models, Textures, Facemorphs, etc.
  • 2DA - Talks about the 2DA Resourcetype, which is sets of Gamewide usable variables and references.


Tips and tricks

  • Shortcuts - Assorted toolset shortcuts.
  • Common Problems - Little things that most people will need to know but that are not necessarily obvious.

Specials

It is currently not possible to delete a module by normal means.

If you run into a problem that the documentation doesn't cover and that you can't fix, contact toolsetsupport@bioware.com

Removing Custom Content

This section describes how to remove all custom content from the game.

To be on the safe side, before you start, you might want to

  • disable all the unofficial add-ins on the DLC screen in game
  • play a recently saved game (using the Force Load option) to confirm that it works reasonably well without the add-ins
  • back up your Documents > Bioware folder

Since you can't be certain that all authors have followed best practice, you'll need to clean out all the folders that can be customised.

In Documents > Bioware > Dragon Age,

  • In the AddIns folder, delete all the folders except Demo, Single Player and anything starting with dao_prc (the official DLC).
  • Delete any files In the AddIns > Single Player folder and sub-folders (you might get away with just deleting the Single Player folder, but caution never hurts).
  • Delete any files from the modules and packages folders.

Dragon Age 2

See Dragon Age 2 for more information.


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