How do i get the EXP cap to work?

[Shaquado]

I downloaded the EXP cap remove patch.
But i can't get it to work.

Now this might be cuz i have a Mac and that are the PC files.

So do any one know how i can fix this?

[andrewas]

There should be a .2da file included in the patch, XPXAP.2da or similar. Stick that in your override directory. Now, a safe XP cap remover also edits your EXE to prevent certain artifacts caused by going past the end of the tables, and for that you will need a mac-specific version. But you should be safe enough with just the 2da file if you dont go beyond level 40.

[Shaquado]

I will try that when i get home.

Then there is one more thing that annoys me, and that is the fact that when i look at the official site. I can't find any patches for the mac. There are only patches for PC

*sigh*

[Radek]

I have no experience with Mac. You could be right. At least some hints:
1. The patch files are pure text files. Does the Mac accept them or does it need some headers or so? If it needs then try to convert the .2DA files into the "Mac" pure text.
2. What exactly do you have? A single xpcap.2da file or level 50 rules? The xpcap.2da alone cannot help you. Well, you'll be able to gain levels but you get almost no benefit from them. Only the automatic benefit, like increasing Turn Undead level and, perhaps, HP. No additional proficiences, no improvement in saving throws or THAC0 and so on.
3. The xp cap remover reveals itself when you reach next level. It does not modify your current state immediately. Until then, the only sign of presence of the xp cap remover is your gaining XP again.
4. Is Mac case sensitive? If it is then try to convert the filenames to lowercase and uppercase or, better, catch a binary editor and look at the game .exe files. The names of the patch files should be stored there somewhere and they should be stored in the wanted form. Perhaps, without extension. Try both .2da and .2DA .
5. It is also possible that the Mac version of SoA uses another mechanism of patching. In this case, you can delete the files from your machine. But I don't believe that. Why?

[Shaquado]

Originally posted by Radek: I have no experience with Mac. You could be right. At least some hints: 1. The patch files are pure text files. Does the Mac accept them or does it need some headers or so? If it needs then try to convert the .2DA files into the "Mac" pure text.

If they are pure text then the Mac does not have problems reading the. I can just take a normal .txt document from a PC and read it on the mac.

2. What exactly do you have? A single xpcap.2da file or level 50 rules? The xpcap.2da alone cannot help you. Well, you'll be able to gain levels but you get almost no benefit from them. Only the automatic benefit, like increasing Turn Undead level and, perhaps, HP. No additional proficiences, no improvement in saving throws or THAC0 and so on.

You lost me there, I was just going to try and see if i can get the exp unlocked.

3. The xp cap remover reveals itself when you reach next level. It does not modify your current state immediately. Until then, the only sign of presence of the xp cap remover is your gaining XP again.

Okey good to know.

4. Is Mac case sensitive? If it is then try to convert the filenames to lowercase and uppercase or, better, catch a binary editor and look at the game .exe files. The names of the patch files should be stored there somewhere and they should be stored in the wanted form. Perhaps, without extension. Try both .2da and .2DA .

Yes, If i play in OS X (Unix based) then it is case sensitive.
then just for your information .exe files can't be used on a mac. it does not use the same executable files. but i can use a hex edit to look in to my BG II start file.

5. It is also possible that the Mac version of SoA uses another mechanism of patching. In this case, you can delete the files from your machine. But I don't believe that. Why?

this is most possible.

Now i would like to know if the PC version have many .2da files in the /overide directory? i don't remember that my version has that many files ending with .2da

[Radek]

One more note about the pure text. What End Of Line is used by the Mac? Is it CR-LF (PC convention)? Or only CR or only LF? Check it also and try to convert it if the EOL marks differ.

[Shaquado]

could you explain that so that i three year old kid could understand.

I open the file in text edit and it looked ok, no corruption and it said:
mage -1
warrior -1
etc ..

[andrewas]

I dont do three year old kids, but -1 is usualy used to mark infinity - IE this file is removing the cap totaly. Id recommend switch -1 with 8000000, since the rules up to that high should be in your EXE already. (Yeah, i know, macs dont do exe files, but they do have executables of some kind or other). Then make sure the files in your override directoy and load up.

Since BG2 reads the file itself it probably uses the same routines as the PC version (I would if I wrote it, system specific files are a pain in the arse) so the file should be readable as is. IE no daft conversions to be done.

[Shaquado]

Thanx, I'll try and hope for the best.

[Shaquado]

Nope, it did not work.

So that means that there are some other changes that needs to be done for this patch to work on a Mac.

*sigh*