Cutscenes

Cutscenes in NWN2 generally happen through a combination of conversations, conversation switches, and camera control. I'll try to expand this more later, but here is a general procedure:

  1. Create your area, creatures, effects, etc.
  2. Create your conversation. Check with the other guides and tutorials listed on this site for more information about how to create a conversation. The one key thing to remember is that every conversation node is basically a camera shot.
  3. Set up your OnClientEnter cutscene script for the area, remembering to attach it to the area. You can make the speaker either the main NPC who will be doing the talking, or create an Ipoint to act as the speaker.
  4. Next place your static cameras. Check out this page on camera control for more information.
  5. Finally, bring it all together with a conversation switch script that you can reference on each node to control the action.

Cutscenes, multiplayer and OnClientEnter

Kid Gloves asked a great question on the official forums about cutscenes and multiplayer. Nimdolf gave this answer:

Well after playing the OC with my friend online, it works like this. Whoever triggers the cutscene gets to control it, pick what to say, etc. and all of the other players see the cutscene also and what choices you choose. If you join the game midway through a cutscene however you must wait until it is over to do anything.

Check out the thread:
http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=521668&forum=1...

jackyo123: Cutscene Tutorial

jackyo123 posted a cutscene tutorial here:
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=NWN2Tutorials.Detail&id=65

This tutorial document (in rtf format, for those who hate MS-Word) and associated .MOD file walk a basic toolset user through their first cutscene, with animations, movement, etc.

It explains:

- Triggering cutscenes
- Setting up cutscenes that the Player isn't part of (NPC to NPC)
- Camera controls
- Animations
- Basic use of included scripts
- Some snags that you can avoid, that are associated with Cutscene creation

There is *no* scripting in this tutorial, and no scripting knowledge is required. But you should have a basic familiarity with the Toolset.

 

nwn2toolset: How to make cutscenes

NWN2 Toolset has this tutorial, which might help those trying to figure out cutscenes: How to make cut scenes by Montgomery Markland of Rogue Dao Studios.

An overview of setting up a cinematic-style cutscene conversation

What you will need:

1) A conversation
2) A blocking script
3) A way to begin your cutscene (either a speak trigger, an on_client_enter script or something else)
4) Plus the area, npcs etc., etc., etc.

Check it out here:
http://www.nwn2toolset.dayjo.org/ToolsetTuts/blueprints/staticcams/cutscenes.html