» Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:43 am The cure all elixir for predictable dungeons
What does DLL do?
Dynamic Leveled Lists is a set of algorithms that rework the Leveled Lists in your mods to let you customize your spawning experience to the teeth. DLL aims to redefine how we customize leveled lists.
In vanilla Oblivion, the dungeons can be a bit drab. Modders have learned to combat this by handtweaking leveled lists to spawn bigger creatures sooner and make creatures spawn in groups, just to shake things up a bit. Unfortunately, this is VERY tedious work and is hardwired for specific setups, meaning any change or addition requires more labor. DLL's algorithms eliminate any need for hand tweaking by modders, and offers players the ability to choose for themselves -exactly- how they want things to spawn for them in game.
What Does this Mean for You?
Adventurers
- Want harder creatures to spawn earlier? Want easier spawns? Want more creatures to spawn at once?
Whatever you choose, DLL will make sure it happens no matter what mods you have.
- The EPIC button: Gives each encounter a small percentage chance to spawn creatures way above your level.
- Never another "Slightly More Spawns" or "Slightly Even Less Spawns" patch. Just tweak your DLL settings to give you exactly what you want.
- Never another "MMM - No Slimes" patch. Get rid of any creature you dislike by just typing keywords into DLL's exception system.
Developers
- Simplifies most Leveled Lists to only need one of each creature (Noah's Ark / 2); DLL handles the probabilities.
- Never hand-tweak a Leveled List again.
- Leave the spawning setup to the users. Or not! Add your Leveled Lists to an exception list to prevent DLL from tampering with your desired setup.
The most up to date
http://www.afterimagemetal.com/DynamicLeveledListsReadme.html.
|> News/Updates <|
Plans for next patch:
- Reducing the size of the backup array to decrease save/load times.
- As a possible alternative to an in-game OBSE backup array, a file I/O backup system will be investigated.
- Investigation of a "SGL" system as an option for a spawn count system. Courtesy of nDervish. Check out the discussion on the forum for more info.
- Introducing an Boss exception list. The purpose being to bar boss creatures from entering Normal Tier and becoming "common" creatures, when they should be unique named creatures. Options to make the Boss exception list always have a spawn count of 1, and not enter Normal/Low Tiers will be added.
- Probably more goodies!
2.04.3 patch Released!:
Make sure you update to 2.04.3 if you are experiencing "armies" of creatures that are way more than your max count setting.
This was associated with large mod setups that had large LList daisychains. (LLists that had LList entries, that had LList entries themselves, etc)
Loads of new settings to tweak and enjoy!
Make sure you do a clean install and run the exe again if you're upgrading from a previous version of DLL. 8)
- An enhanced Readme with a First Time User guide. (http://www.afterimagemetal.com/DynamicLeveledListsReadme.html)
- A more sophisticated exception system
- Immediate Initial Backup option
- Quick Replace System
- Better DLL processing speed settings.
- "startquest DLLtime" lets you see how long DLL has left to process.
- Upgraded the exe to create missing folders automatically, and hopefully not crash on XP!
- Included a debugger in the exe. Upload it if you're having issues!
MODDERS!
If you have a mod that you want on the exception list, contact me. I will add you to the DLLexceptions folder included in my download,
ensuring your mod is untouched if anyone uses DLL.
Getting console spam?
Sorry. I passed out an .ini file out with the Print Function set to 1.
Fix: Turn DLLPrintUpdateStatus to 0
|> Why Would You Want to Use DLL? <|
DLL gives you an amazing amount of control over how your world spawns.
Similar mods that do this type of thing are Adrenaline Oblivion, FCOM's "Slightly Increased/decreased Spawns" patches, TIE, WarCry, etc. All these have their own way they handle spawns in game.
For example, Warcry makes every creature spawn at level 1. The world never changes. This means it's extremely difficult for a level 1 character when they run into a minotaur, but it gets easier as they level up and get equipment.
This is very different then FCOMs setup, or vanilla, or Adrenaline Oblivion which makes mobs of 5-6 creatures everywhere.
What DLL can do is take ANY mod setup (WarCry, FCOM, -anything- else) and make it perform like ANY setup you desire --> Without ANY handtweaking of any Leveled List. You can take a vanilla setup, and make it perform like WarCry; You can take a TIE setup and make it perform like FCOM. Or you can take any other setup and tweak it to your own custom idea of how the world should spawn, all on a whim. It doesn't matter what setup you have, DLL will make it spawn to your set standards.
But please remember, you still need mods that ADD creatures to your game. DLL doesn't make any creatures of its own. So don't take FCOM/WarCry/TIE/WAC out of your load order, just add DLL and tell it how you want them to spawn.
It also will fix any "spawning errors".
One prime example is the Staada bug found in Warcry, where a level 25 demon spawns left and right for level 1 PCs. DLL inherently fixes these issues.
|>A More Detailed Description <|
How does DLL work? Why is it capable of working with any mod you throw at it?
1) DLL first locates all the FormIDs of all the Leveled Lists you're using. It does this with the supplied exe that loads up your active mod list and exports the FormIDs into the file DynamicLL.ini, located in My Documents/My Games/Oblivion/Pluggy/User Files.
2) In game, DLL refers to the FormID list and slowly begins making a backup array of your original leveled list setup. It stores them with a set of nested OBSE arrays.
3) Once the backup array is complete, it then applies a set of complex algorithms using your given settings to the data stored in the backup array.
4) Once the correct percentages and ratios have been calculated for each leveled list, it clears and replaces your leveled lists with the updated and customized setup.
5) When Oblivion is restarted, the Leveled Lists are automatically reverted to their original state (this is inherent in the programming of OBSE/Oblivion). DLL then refers to its backup array and quickly re-replaces your leveled lists back to your customized settings. This means that DLL has no permanent side-effects. Your leveled lists are restored every time you restart Oblivion. Disable DLL, and the OBSE storage array it uses is wiped without a trace automatically.
|> The Goals of DLL <|
1) To be as compatible as possible.
If you sense any incompatibility with any mod, please let me know!
2) To give the users as much customization as possible.
Any ideas for further customization are welcome!
3) To be completely safe and removeable.
I know DLL may sound scary, claiming that it messes with every mod on your list, but it's inherently safe to use. Oblivion automatically removes any changes to Leveled Lists on game loadup, reverting everything the way it was automatically. Play worry free!
DLL should be painless, simple (except for maybe the settings), powerful, and compatible with everything.
|> Requirements <|
OBSE v 20 (http://obse.silverlock.org/)
Pluggy (http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=23979)
- (I use v125c, but I believe the newer versions will work too)
- For file I/O
|> ReadMe <|
For:
- Installation
- First Timers Guide
- Settings Overview
- Troubleshooting
- Bug Reporting
- Credits/Legality
- Changelog
Be sure to refer to the
http://www.afterimagemetal.com/DynamicLeveledListsReadme.html
|> Default Settings and Some Recommended "Presets" <|
Spoiler
Normal, Subtle setup (Default Settings)
Note: feedback on what should be the default settings would be appreciated!
DLLEpicButton = 1
DLLIncreasedSpawnsButton = 1
DLLlowTierReducLine = 1
DLLlowTierCutLine = 15
DLLHighTierReducLine = 1
DLLHighTierCutLine = 5
DLLEpicTierDropPercent = 2
DLLEpicTierSoftCutLine = 8
DLLEpicTierCutLine = 15
DLLSpawnIncreaseMax = 3
DLLSpawnIncreaseBasePercent = 20
DLLSpawnIncreaseFinalPercent = 25
DLLSpawnForceButton = 1
DLLForceLevel = 1
DLLAverageLListLevels = 0
DLLPrintUpdateStatus = 0
DLLLimitLListProcessMax = 1
DLLLimitProcessingTimer = 1
DLLReviveEmptyLLists = 1
WarCry Setup (The world never changes, everything spawns the same all the time. Beware lowbies!)
DLLlowTierCutLine = 0
DLLHighTierCutLine = 0
Adrenaline Oblivion Setup (There are hordes of creatures everywhere!!)
DLLSpawnIncreaseMax = 6
DLLSpawnIncreaseBasePercent = 90
Normal, Subtle setup (Default Settings)
Note: feedback on what should be the default settings would be appreciated!
DLLEpicButton = 1
DLLIncreasedSpawnsButton = 1
DLLlowTierReducLine = 1
DLLlowTierCutLine = 15
DLLHighTierReducLine = 1
DLLHighTierCutLine = 5
DLLEpicTierDropPercent = 2
DLLEpicTierSoftCutLine = 8
DLLEpicTierCutLine = 15
DLLSpawnIncreaseMax = 3
DLLSpawnIncreaseBasePercent = 20
DLLSpawnIncreaseFinalPercent = 25
DLLSpawnForceButton = 1
DLLForceLevel = 1
DLLAverageLListLevels = 0
DLLPrintUpdateStatus = 0
DLLLimitLListProcessMax = 1
DLLLimitProcessingTimer = 1
DLLReviveEmptyLLists = 1
WarCry Setup (The world never changes, everything spawns the same all the time. Beware lowbies!)
DLLlowTierCutLine = 0
DLLHighTierCutLine = 0
Adrenaline Oblivion Setup (There are hordes of creatures everywhere!!)
DLLSpawnIncreaseMax = 6
DLLSpawnIncreaseBasePercent = 90
