Switch-Based Secret Doors Suite

Title   Switch-Based Secret Doors Suite (v1.21)
Author   Mentalepsy
Submitted / Updated   04-13-2007 / 01-11-2008
Category   Scripting routines
Expansions   Requires Both Expansions (SoU & HotU)
Format   Module and Code
Type   Type - Other
Includes   Custom
Description

Switch-Based Secret Doors Suite, v1.21 

Written by Samuel Ferguson, April 2007 

 

 

January 11, 2008: Updated to v1.21. 

January 10, 2008: Updated to v1.2. 

May 6, 2007: Updated to v1.1. Added screenshot. 

April 13, 2007: Initial release (v1.0). 

 

A complete revision history can be found in history.txt, below. 

 

 

Switch-Based Secret Doors allows you to easily place secret doors that are opened remotely by switches, which can be either hidden (requiring search checks to find) or in plain sight. Switch-Based Secret Doors cannot be found simply by searching a section of wall. Rather, the secret that must be found is hidden on some other object - a torch sconce, a statue, a piece of furniture, or any other placeable - which may not even be useable or selectable until the player finds the secret. 

 

Switch-Based Secret Doors also supports multiple types of secret doors (one-way, two-way, linked, timed, or any combination, plus special socketed switches), special flavor text for individual switches, cross-area switching, and no-hassle henchman searching. 

 

 

* Uses standard Bioware secret door detection algorithms in a new way. Instead of searching for the door, players must search for the mechanism that controls it - which can be anywhere in the area or even anywhere in the module, not just in front of the door. 

* Open secret doors remotely with any placeable object. Use the object a second time to close (and hide!) the door. 

* Hide door switches inside ordinary placeables - EVEN unuseable objects, which look exactly like static background objects until the secret is found. Make your players work for their secrets and think about where the trigger might be hidden, instead of just homing in on the obvious useable statue in the corner. 

* Are your switches too deviously hidden? SBSD allows your players' henchmen to search for them, automatically, with no special AI positioning required. 

* Precision searching: Need to limit your players' line of sight when searching? Use a precision searching trigger to define exactly where a player has to be in order to find the switch. Use precision searching to hide switches in narrow cul-de-sacs, behind counters and furniture, inside closets, and more, without players being able to find the switch through walls and other obstacles. 

* Two-way secret doors: One switch can open and close two secret doors simultaneously, without the annoyance of having two different doors that must be searched for and found seperately. 

* One-way secret doors: Doors that slam shut after you walk through them. These doors have animated entrances and exits - instead of suddenly appearing in front of a blank wall, you'll see the door shut behind you and disappear. 

* Link multiple switches to the same secret door. Two or more levers, secret switches, or hidden buttons all operate in sync to open and close the same door. 

* Timed secret doors that automatically close and disappear after the specified period of time has elapsed. 

* Socketed mechanisms that only open when the correct object is inserted. 

* Optional and configurable percentile modifiers to search skill and detection range for passive search mode. 

* No extra fuss for traps - place them directly on the mechanism. 

* Completely configurable flavor text. Each individual switch, even among linked switches, can send a unique message to the player when he or she finds the secret or activates it - without requiring any extra scripts. Default flavor text is automatically displayed if no special text is set. 

* Multiple henchmen and their associates are all brought through the door with the player. 

* Supports multiple door graphics, with easy extensibility for custom doors. 

* For persistent worlds, rehide your switches after a certain amount of time, or when the area is empty of players. 

* Non-invasive: NO overwriting of Bioware standard resources. 

* Includes demonstration module. 

 

 

The SBSD suite is my attempt to make secret doors in NWN more interesting. It's never very exciting to scan along a wall to find a random inexplicably-revolving section of stone; the fun comes in pulling levers, finding hidden switches, racing towards doors that threaten to slam shut in your face, and generally outsmarting the dungeon architect. 

 

SBSD contains a variety of different ways to make your dungeon environment more interactive, and make finding secret doors more logical and more engaging for your players. 

 

I hope you enjoy SBSD. Please let me know what you think by voting and posting a comment!