Neverwinter Nights Modding Introduction

 

First up, we are concerned with Neverwinter Nights 1 mods, not modules. There is a difference. A mod is "a tactics mod", "a UI mod" or "a texture mod" whereas modules are adventures you can play that are sometimes linked together to form a campaign. Savant's Aielund Saga is a campaign formed by linking several modules together, for example.

cf. Best Neverwinter Nights Modules.

Ok, let's talk about mods! There are three main methods to employ in modifying NWN core resources:

• overrides
• hak paks
• patch haks

As read by NWN, the resource priority order is as follows:

hak > patch hak > override > official patch 1.69 (CPP) > core resource.

So, for example, "override resource x" won't be read if there is a "patch hak resource x" (patch hak takes priority over override). Apply this resource priority order when modding your game to be just the way you like it. 

Neverwinter Nights Overrides

Overrides are the easiest modding method for new players to employ: you simply place the files  into your override folder and NWN loads them "over" the core resources just like in Baldur's Gate.

• Pros of this method: It's easy to do and you can choose exactly what to modify.
• Cons: You will have hundreds, maybe thousands of files in your override so things can get messy if you go "all out". You see, NWN will not read overrides if you try to organize them into sub-folders; only NWN2 allows for that (update: and now EE). So, even if you remember what overrides are in there it can be a nightmare to uninstall a particular override because of the thousands of vaguely-named loose files.

However, there is a trick you can employ. Say you have the Creature Override Compilation installed and you want to uninstall it, but you don't know which files are related to the compilation and have thousands of other files in your override that you want to keep. What to do? Simply reinstall the compilation, overwriting/replacing the current files, which will now be highlighted in Windows Explorer. Now you can simply right-click and delete them thereby uninstalling the compilation while keeping your other files.

Pro-tip: Back up the contents of your Override folder before you start adding files to it. (Yes, both the DVD and GoG Diamond versions have default files in the override.) That way, you can return to a default override if you need to.

Neverwinter Nights Hak Paks

Hak paks are much more involved and time-consuming, requiring use of the Aurora toolset to "bake-in" or "infuse" a module with the desired changes permanently.

This method is mainly used by builders (people who make adventure modules and campaigns for us to play) but there are some ruleset haks out there of which hardcore players can avail in order to greatly expand their game and make themselves OP, such as the Player Resource Consortium Pack.

In addition - in some cases - haks may be used as overrides by extracting their contents using a special program called NWN Explorer Reborn (latest: 8.1.3). Famous haks that are override-friendly are highlighted in this post, such as ACAP.

At the end of the day, most players' experience with haks is going to be limited to simply downloading them and placing them into their hak folder for the purposes of playing adventure modules and campaigns, the modules for which come pre-baked.

• Pros: You can expand the options in your game immensely in order to overwhelm yourself and get entirely lost.
• Cons: Toolset knowledge is required and casual players may have neither the time nor the inclination.

Neverwinter Nights Patch Haks

Patch haks are a lesser known but elegant method of modding NWN: a patchfile pre-loads haks into NWN without the user needing to deal with the toolset. Project Q, covered here, is the quintessential hak resource to apply to this method.

• Pros: Everything is neat and tidy and the visual quality is consist and high.
• Cons: You lack micro-control of what gets modded and casual players may have neither the time nor the inclination to go through the process linked to above.

cRPG Blog	Neverwinter Nights Modding Introduction
Neverwinter Nights 1	Neverwinter Nights Project Q
Neverwinter Nights Installation	Neverwinter Nights CEP
Neverwinter Nights Best Builds	Neverwinter Nights NW Shader
Neverwinter Nights Spells	Neverwinter Nights User Interface Mods
Neverwinter Nights Mods	Neverwinter Nights Overrides
Neverwinter Nights Modules	Neverwinter Nights Tileset Overrides