FAQ: Creating Custom Worlds

Creating custom worlds:

Q: What is the Siege Editor?

The Siege Editor is the same tool that was used here at GPG to create the worlds of Dungeon Siege. The Siege Editor can be used to create new levels, view regions, attach new Skrit (scripted events, AI, and any other custom behavior) to objects, place monsters and lighting, create in game story-sequences, and much more.

Q: How is the Siege Editor made available?

The Siege Editor is available for download as part of the Dungeon Siege Tool Kit (DSTK). Visit the Siege Editor page to learn more.

Q: Is the Siege Editor free?

Yes, the Siege Editor is free to download and use.

Q: How can someone learn to use the Siege Editor?

Visit Siege University to learn more about using the Siege Editor and creating your own worlds. There are also additional resources on the Mod Resources page. live.

Q: What is Skrit?

Skrit is a custom language developed at Gas Powered Games for Dungeon Siege, which allows for extensive modification of many in-game behaviors. Examples include changing the interface, story sequences, triggers, AI, and animations.

Q: How can someone learn Skrit?

Documentation is available at both the official and fan sites. Much can be learned from interacting with others and examining content that has already been completed by the developers of Dungeon Siege. Check the Mod Resources page for links to more information about Skrit.

Q: Are any special programs needed to write Skrit?

Skrit can be read and written with any text editor that desired, even Notepad. Skrit is simply stored as a text file.

Q: What is SiegeFX?

SiegeFX is a custom special effects system in Dungeon Siege that controls the spell effects on weapons, created by spells, and many more special places like torches, fires, and story sequence special effects. Much like Skrit, SiegeFX is stored as a simple text file and can be read or written within any text editor.

Q: How can someone learn to create SiegeFX?

We have created a tutorial as part of Siege University in class 212: SiegeFX.

Q: What is Siege Max?

Siege Max is a plug-in developed by Gas Powered Games for gmax™, a completely free modeling and animation tool from Discreet® (the makers of 3ds max™). Siege Max can be used by the mod community to make brand new 3D art assets for Dungeon Siege and contains many of the same features as 3ds max™. This will allow players to create new terrain, buildings, dungeons, creatures, players, weapons, armor, and more. The only limit is imagination and hard drive space.

Q: Can custom sounds and music for Dungeon Siege be used?

Music, audio commentary, new sounds, and any other type of sound can be added to Dungeon Siege. Supported formats include .mp3 and .wav. More information can be found in the Siege University class 210: Sounds.

Q: Can custom items be created?

Creating custom items can be simple or complex depending on how unique the item is desired to be. The simplest custom item could simply consist of a name change which is easily done with any text editor. Creating a new texture or brand new mesh for a weapon, or editing an existing mesh using gmax can be done with a little more work. For extra detail some cool special effects could be scripted or new weapon sounds added.

Q: Can custom in game movies be created?

Yes, the Siege Editor can be used as a movie studio to create in game movies. Cameras, lighting, audio, objects, creatures, players, their movements, and more can be specified within the Siege Editor. More information can be found in the Siege University class 207: Non-Interactive Sequences.

Q: How is Dungeon Siege data stored?

All of the data for Dungeon Siege is stored in Gas Powered Games proprietary “Tank” file format. This method of storing data provides many excellent benefits. First of all, the data is compressed to make the game load faster and save space on the Hard Disk. Secondly, this makes the management of huge amounts of data much easier. The best example of this is when data for a new world is installed, only a single file is required. This also makes removal easier because files are never deleted or over-written and tank files can be moved around quickly and easily. More information can be found in the Siege University class 213: Dungeon Siege Resource System.

Q: What is a Siegelet?

A Siegelet is a modification or add-on to Dungeon Siege made by a member or members of the Dungeon Siege community. Siegelets can be as simple as a new set of weapons or may be as complex as a complete total conversion that will use the Dungeon Siege engine but may have new stories, art, sounds, and levels. Siegelets can be created for single player, multiplayer, or both.

Q: What are Siegelet teams?

Siegelet teams are groups of individuals in the online Dungeon Siege community that band together to create new additions to Dungeon Siege. Visit the Community page to find out more about existing Siegelet teams and how to facilitate creating a team of your own.

Q: How can custom worlds and items be shared with others?

All changes can be collected into a single file and then shared over the Internet. Players can then install, and play modifications with just a single download.