This gaming information is provided as is (Disclaimer).
Information found here, originates here.
Thief 2 -The Metal Age-
Cheat: I played this game without cheating once.
The second time I didn't have the time (or patience) so I needed gas arrows...
Get UGE (Universal Game Editor) or somesuch hex editor.
Open a saved file and search for the text: StackCoun
Several lines below that you will find the text: DeathStag
All the weapons/items you can edit are found between these two lines.
UGE; & a scratch-built Thief2 Module
You start by downloading and installing UGE (Keywords: "Universal Game Editor" download).
Yes, this is a DOS based editor and you'll need to use the keyboard and it's arrowkeys.
-Add a new game
-Type the name Thief 2 (press the Enter key)
-Do you see the hard to read words (yellow hi-lighted) *NEW FILE* (press the Enter key)
-Now *NEW FILE* will say GAME001.MDL but you'll type Thief2.mdl (press the Enter key)
-Find where you installed Thief 2 and look for the directory/folder called SAVES (press the Enter key)
-This is where you'll find game0000.sav, so hilight that file (press the Enter key)
Remember the first (top) game save position in Thief 2 is the file you'll be editing.
UGE; Using that Thief2 Module
Well, your now looking at a screen something like the following picture.
Press the Enter key and see the blank blue screen. (nice isn'it)
-Press T as in Tools
-Press F as in Find
-Press T as in Text.
-Type stackcoun (press the Enter key)
Now you'll wait while UGE looks for that text.
When it finds it, just scroll down a few lines to the next words you can read.
These next words should be P$DeathStag
If they are not then Press F then Press R as in Repeat.
Why look for DeathStag? Because each saved game has two StackCoun and one is for the current weapon at save time (arrow in flight ect...), not for your long term inventory.
And it is your inventory you want to increase.
So I found StackCoun what's it mean how do you change the inventory?
StackCoun is the Stack-Count command that all Thief 2 Dromed users are familiar with.
When making a level for Thief 2 the programmer puts a StackCount script in the mission file and tells the interface how many items are found there, and Garrett's (the Thief) inventory system works the same way.
Now use the arrow keys (keyboard) and move StackCoun so that the letter "n" is as far to the left as it can go (as pictured).
The line now sorta spells " P$StackCoun" and that's the position you want to begin with.
As you can see the number below " P$StackCoun" have a pattern...
Often the first line (after " P$StackCoun") will look like this:
0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
The 2nd and 3rd numbers from the left indicate the weapon type... sorta
I say sorta since I didn't investigate this numbering system too much
but generally, if these two numbers are 2 0 this often indicates the sword stackcount, (I believe) so just ignore it.
0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
See the 3rd and 2nd last numbers (on the right), well this is where the actual amount of the item is kept.
The next line in this example looks like a contender.
0 69 8 0 0 4 0 0 0 15 39 0
But this 15 39 is a decimal form of hex that adds up to 9999... (don't ask how)
OK, so I've already edited this line and I'm using it in this example but 15 39 was originally 2 0.
Now I'll tell you how to get 9999 arrows (or what ever weapon 69 8 is)
Move the cursor to the 1st number that you want to change (as pictured above).
Press M as in Make new variable.
Near the bottom of the screen it says Variable 0001
Lets type a-15-39 (as pictured above), because the "a" means our first attempt.
The 15 and 39 are the exact values that we will change and this can be very important...
Now we're being asked about the OFFSET (start position).
Well, if you followed what I wrote so far then we're at the starting position. So ignore this screen and press the Enter key.
Whats this "Variable of TYPE" stuff you ask.
Well, now we must decide how big a number Thief 2 can take (without crashing the game).
I can tell you that any 1 or 2 byte Variable of TYPE will work just fine for Thief 2 inventory counts.
I have gotten 4 byte (Variable of TYPE) to work, but after awhile the game just freezes my PC.
I suggest using the "2-byte 0 thru 65,535" since it gives no problems and gives the largest number you can use.
Now you get "dropped" back to the Tools screen and the numbers you edited are both red (as pictured below).
Lets press the ESC key and have a look at the new variable a-15-39
Whoa! I've got a lot of variables eh, but look, the new one I just made is there.
Now I can hi-light the variable I want to change press Enter key and type a new number (& press Enter again).
I will often press ESC to get out of the editing screen and back to game selection menu.
Now I start Thief 2, then I load the newly edited game (the topmost game remember).
I carefully scroll through all my weapons and all my inventory items and look for the one that changed.
But if all the new amounts are 9999 how do you know if you missed one?
I start my first variable at 111, the next at 222, followed by 333, and so on up to 9999.
Then when I load the game I write down the amounts I found.
And lets say I found that after looking at the amounts that my weapons and inventory items have, I didn't find the value 222.
So I re-enter the UGE and go to my variable with the amount 222.
Remember I said name the variables after the numbers, now you must put the original amount back.
And press "T" and double check the exact value of the variable.
Why?
Because some items like the blackjack can have values that if changed will crash your PC.
I even had my PC rebooted by Thief 2 because I didn't follow this rule.
Anyways, after I do my amount checking I then change all the incremented amounts to 9999 since I rarely need more than 9999 gas arrows... Though I suppose 65500 will do in a pinch.
Oh my god! I did what this tutorial says and put all my amounts to 65535 and now when I pick up a new item Thief 2 crashes.
Yes, it would do that... especially since you exceeded the maximum amount you can have for an item.
Just drop all the values to 9999, or even 65000, eh.
I did what this tutorial says and I have 1 gas arrow but I can't find the amount.
If the item was programmed as a single piece then there is no stackcount.
If the programmer was nice or inexperianced they may use the stackcount command anyways in which case you will get lucky.
I suggest holding on to the single item and look for a second one then save the game and edit.
One last word of advice save the game in the first and second postions so if you muck up the editing or don't believe in writing down the original amounts then you have the backup copy.
Updated on: 3:07 PM EST 07/01/03
Created on: 10:21 AM EST 07/01/03
