Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) Technical Problems Freezing Script (Zandalor in Stormfist Crypts)

Here is my problem:

I enter Stormfist Castle through the sewer, get the script first with the message that I have been trapped and find myself in a room shielded of with some sort of energy barrier. Now, when I walk around a bit, a new script starts with Zandalor and one of the divine ones (who gets killed in this script). The scripts then freezes with Zandalor in view (after he says "damn, I am trapped" or something like that). After waiting 10 minutes I get a message saying that the script has not ended for 10 minutes and that there is a problem. Tried this numberous of times, but the game never continuous.

I started my character with the retail version and updated afterwards to 1.34, I have been playing for quite some time now and really would not like to start over. Is there any known workaround for this problem?

System specs:
Celeron 1.4Ghz (Tualatin) with 512MB
Geforce 4 Ti4200
Win XP

Character created with v 1.0029
Divine Divinity afterwards patched with v 1.0034a (the latest)

Hi and welcome <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />
In which graphic mode are you playing?

Have you tried to switch to Software? This helps in a few cases - after that you can go back to your Direct3D.

Another thing: This scene normally doesn't require a CD in your drive, but have you got a No-CD crack?

In which colour mode are you playing? 16/32 bit?

And some scenes need a lot of RAM - does your system manage it or did you configure the SWAP file yourself?

The last: If your probs started with the patch 1.0034 - did you install it without running background programs? And are you the administrator in XP? (having read/write access)

I'm playing with XP and exactly your graphics card = no probs, even with 32 bit and in Direct3D. My det-drivers are 45.23, DirectX 9 (played it with 8 also)

When did you defragment your drive the last time? Oh, and how much space is on your hard drive partition?
Kiya

http://www.larian.com/Site/english/divinity/supportfaq.html

read the Tech FAQ?



[color:"yellow"]Raze's trouble guide, click here[/color]

Thanks for the information! I will start trying all these options right away and if I'm unsuccesful in solving this problem, I'll post all the information you requested.

BTW. I'm playing with the CD in my drive, so no no-cd crack. I'm a bit afraid that I won't be able to fix this because the character was created with the retail version and I patched afterwards. In the patch readme I read that some of the story fixes require a new game to be started.

Tried it out, and sadly no solution yet.

* Tried software mode (normally Direct 3D)
* Tried 16 bit mode (normally 32 bit)
* System RAM: 512MB, Swap file fixed size of 768MB (I'm aware it is a bit too big)
* I can't tell if my probs started with 1.34, I installed it after playing with a few hours with my char and then just continued playing.
* Programs running in the background while patching: yes (eg. mysql, apache)
* Yes I am using a profile with admin rights in Win XP
* Just defragmented my hard drive and free space is about 6GB
* DirectX version 9.0b, detonator 44.03
* Read the faq but could not find another solution

I'm going to install the retail version once again, but I doubt I will be able to load my 1.34 save games. We'll see what happens. If this does not work, I will patch this new version making sure that there is nothing running on the background (will kill as many apps as possible)

Thanks again for the ideas!

I'm not very experienced in tech - but if I read this correctly, you set this RAM limit manually? IIRC in some cases <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> goes over 1 GB. I let XP manage it, didn't set the limit myself.

But reinstalling it is a very good idea if you did the patch install with running background proggies - AFAIK the Antivir/Firewall programs tend to interfere sometimes. I'm always offline when I install/patch and do it on a defragmented partition with a new start after deleting.

I wish you luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />
Kiya


This applies only to gameplot bugs you may have already encountered IIRC. Did you?

Tried about everything and the script always hangs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

I'm getting really desperate here.

* Set the swap file back to dynamic, no change
* Re-installed the game
* Tried opening the save games under 1.29 (would not work of course)
* Tried 1.33, opens but script still hangs
* Tried 1.34 again, same story

Is there another way to get to Zandalor than through that staircase in the sewers? From the sewers, I also went to the executioner and killed him, but the door leading outside is locked (and can not open it with lock pick level 3, if for instance 4 would work, I can always try to level up somewhere else first and then continu the story like this.)

I have a 27th level wizzard atm, so I'm not very keen on restarting, moreover I don't know if the problem won't persist when I restart.

There is no other way to get to Zandalor. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />
The door in the jail can not be opened, even with Lockpick level 5.

Raze, what about hexedit? Then the cut scene doesn't apply, correct?
Kiya

Possibly, but if the cut scene is not triggered, Zandalor might not be there to rescue. It would be worth a shot, though.

What about this: Remember the gamer who couldn't enter this area? Where you exchanged a certain data file - maybe his one is corrupt and sending a clean one would work?
Kiya

Possibly. I suggested this via PM.

I left the game running for awhile with the second cut scene hung. When I came back, there were three error messages saying a scene had not ended; though I then had control of the character (without screen focus) and clicking in the room with Zandalor had him run there (the orcs were neutral and showed up green on the mini map, and Zandalor was unresponsive). Once in the room, I could use the shift key to move the screen focus, which returned it to being centered on the character. After talking to the treasure room door and returning to Zandalor, I could talk to him, but the only speech option was to ask to be healed.

After hex editing, the character's first move triggers the second cut scene, but with the same hanging results.

Swapping data.000 files between this save and a known good save resulted in the copy of the problem save working, and the copy of the good save hanging at the end of the second cut scene. This means the source of the problem is in the data.000 file, in which case file swapping will not help. I tried anyway, but on restoring the original data file, Zandalor and the orcs are missing (with that data file, the cut scene which brought them there was never triggered).

If you don't want to start over, I have a save of a level 31 male warrior at that point in the game, with the majority of quests in Rivertown and Verdistis complete and the Rivertown sewers cleared. Kiya played a wizard, and may have an old save before rescuing Zandalor.

http://www.kiya1.via.t-online.de/images/Div_KiyZan.jpg

sure, here's her stats (in the screenie link). Are you accustomed to playing a mage? You're in a non magic sector, so I can kill the baddies there for you. As a mage she's not so good in melee at the moment.

Just PM me and give me your mail addie or icq/MSN, I'll give you the save.
Kiya

Save is on entering, cut scene was already, you only have to go to Z. (or tell me, if you wish me to kill the enemies standing in the way). Prob is this: I believe, I've already done the Easteregg - am lvl 33

Andirez's character;

Level 27 Mage
Vitality 214
Magic 330
Strength 59
Agility 45
Intelligence 55
Constitution 40

Given a description of completed quests in another save, Andirez could continue with this save to complete those quests, then switch to a replacement save to get past the problem rescuing Zandalor without missing anything.

There are 3 shadow potions just before the hall with the orcs when rescuing Zandalor, so a mage can sneak past them (or hit and run with a bow).


Oh, BTW Andirez; put a skill point in Alchemy, or at least start buying Restoration potions. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Guess I will start over then. My character was only level 27, that is quite a long way from level 31 (Raze's char) and certainly Kiya's char (level 33). I did not complete any quest in Verditis yet and I don't want to miss out on the fun there. I don't look foreward however to going through the initial level upping once again, I always find rpg's much more enjoyable when your character has some skills and you aren't killed by the first snake that comes along.

Any idea if the bug could reappear when I start a completely new game? I hope chances are very slim. Think I'll start with a clean install and patch all over again.

PS. How useful is the lock picking skill? So far it seems to me that all the doors or chests have quite easily retrievable keys and that you don't seem to need this skill much. It would be nice if you keep into account that I'm not that far in the game yet (atleast I hope so!) so please no spoilers <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I was just wondering. Any other character development skills would be also greatly appreciated. I am scared to wander through the rest of the forum and spoil the whole game by reading stuff I should not read. Just some useful tips to make up for the starting over <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> BTW. My current char was a mage, combat skills were meteor strike (level 5) and freeze (level 4). For normal combat I use a bow, never did any melee damage, was always on the run or freezing people. Great fun though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

BIG THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR THE HELP!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

PS. Can you believe I only found out about this game a couple of weeks ago when looking for a new RPG to play (after having completed Morrowind). Saw this game in the store, made by people living in my country, looked just like Baldur's Gate and instantly fell in love with the game when I first started playing it (you might wonder why I'm only this far in the game, reason is that I've been on vacation and couldn't play).

Okok, made a new screenie with all skills/spells etc. I have 15 normal, 75 minor restorations. Alchemy is there.
Kiya

http://www.kiya1.via.t-online.de/images/Div_KiyZan2.jpg

Lockpick lvl 5 is a good choice, but you get 2 by choice/as reward, I'd not use up skill pts for this.
Kiya

So that is how you get those restoration potions? I had no clue! Will certainly spend a skill point on alchemy for my next character <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Kaan's magic guide, click here

Read this, please.

With alchemy lvl 1 you can mix - with alchemy lvl 2 create your own potions (minor)
Kiya

Forgot: Bow is ok, but don't put any skill pts into True Shot = broken. And go up with your agility for bows.

"I don't look foreward however to going through the initial level upping once again"

You can use iZakaroN's SaveEditor to boost your level. Experience points (E) are related to character level (L) by;
E = 1000*(L^3 - L)/3 ; see Wisdom - is it worth the skill points?

To start with a level 10 character, you could save a new game, then edit the experience points to 330000, reload the game and kill a rabbit (or open the catacombs) to update your level. You can also add stats and unused skill points (I found that more reliable than trying to boost specific skills directly).


"Any idea if the bug could reappear when I start a completely new game? I hope chances are very slim. Think I'll start with a clean install and patch all over again."

I would think the chances of the same error / corruption would be low, especially with a clean install + patch before re-starting.


There are a few chests and hatches that require Lockpick, and at least level 1 is needed to join the thieves' guild (necessary for a couple quests, though not essential ones). I would max it (you can get two free levels in the thieves' guild).

Early Starter Tips (NON-Spoiler Version)

maybe some spoilers; Playing a mage character...

A bit afraid to read things like that tbh (I've read the first post in the thread though), if someone mentions the plot all fun of finding it out by yourself could be over in a snap. Had that happening to me while playing Neverwinter Nights, just a quick visit to the forum I thought to get some character ideas... yeah right <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

I think Kaan's guide is safe, didn't see spoilers by skimming through (except mine for Josie's) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> = killing technique.
Kiya

LOL at your mathematical wisdom approach, Raze... of course extremely useful. I was wondering about that myself, it felt like I was leveling up much faster (had already level 4 wisdom with my previous char, lol), clearly I was wrong <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (it's the thought that counts, isn't it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />)

Just went through the "Early Starter tips", great reading material. I had no clue about the secondary characteristics calculation, didn't come across this in the manual.

@Kiya: With "True shot" being broken, you mean that it just does not work at all in-game?

Testing broken skills, read Barnabus, please

Yep, doesn't work - sent link with tests.
Kiya

bow (dam. 8-99)
Skill: augment damage +5 = max dam. 98 this skill doesn't work
Skill: bow expertise +5 = max dam. 98 skill works but only effects recuperation
Skill: True shot +5 = max dam. 98 this skill doesn't work
all other arrow skills work but partly depend on monster resistances

Crossbow (dam. 24-69)
Skill: augment damage +5 = max dam. 67 this skill doesn't work
Skill: crossb. expert.+5 = max dam. 68 this skill doesn't work
Skill: True shot +5 = max dam. 75 this skill works, but bonus is too low
all other arrow skills work but partly depend on monster resistances


Sorry, I translated Barnie's post - so look for my squirrel, if you go by avatar.

The secondary stat calculations are not described in the manual; I determined the relationships by comparing values at different primary stat levels (with help from iZakaroN's SaveEditor).

Hehe, what a great sentence!
I love language differences!!