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HEX EDITING ARCANUM SAVE GAMES MADE SIMPLE

I understand there are Arcanum save game editors out there. The only problem is that none of them support a character that uses either special characters [spaces, ‘, etcetera] or a character that has a generic Sierra name. So, this will allow you to edit your character as you desire, regardless of the name you have given it. Let’s begin.

1. Find a hex editor on the Internet, any one will suffice. I found several via www.google.ca, the search engine.
2. Browse with your editor to the directory of: C:\SIERRA\Arcanum\modules\Arcanum\Save or wherever your save games are being stored. There you will find 4 types of files: .bmp, .gsi, .tfai, and .tfaf. The .bmp is a picture of where you left off. The .gsi file is your game description information that gets pasted onto your little image of each save game. The .tfai file is a description of places you’ve been, and the .tfaf file is the one with all the data of what you’ve done and earned, as well as what all the other characters have done and earned.
3. You should be able to read the ending of the .gsi file to discern which save game you want to edit.
4. Make a backup copy of your .tfaf file. I haven’t experienced any problems as of yet, but best to be safe anyway.
5. Open the corresponding .tfaf file, let the fun begin.

Each character within the .tfaf file has a suffix of FFFF FF0F, so that is what we will search for. However, since there are NPC players saved as well, we will have to look for your specific character. Your character will look like one of the following, in HEX:

MALE: 14 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 FF FF FF 0F

FEMALE: 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 FF FF FF 0F

(Note the binary flag for your gender)

Thus, type that [or copy this and paste it] into your search for field, and you should find your character’s information in short order.

Once you have established your position in the save game, a good way to double check you have chosen your character and not another one, is by checking the level to see if it is correct. Windows calculator, when expanded to scientific, will convert numbers to and from hex. Simply dial in your number, and hit the hex button, or vice versa. e.g. 26 -> HEX -> 1A

The most ideal way of changing your character is to add character points. Remember that 40 HEX, or 64 decimal, is the maximum amount of character points you are allowed. Also bear in mind that certain spells can only be learned at higher levels, so if you really want them you can do the following: Raise your level and character point number, add the spells by spending your points, and then lower your level back to what it was.

Here is a map for the rest of the information you can change:

KEY              current level, 38 in example (making it 26 HEX)

(in order of   Experience points earned

appereance):          Alignment (good/evil)

Fate points, 3 in example

Character points, 1 in example

Magic/Technical Alignment

Amount currently poisoned

Age, 20 in example

Gender, female in example

Race

DON’T CHANGE, corrupts file, denotes you as a character and not an NPC or follower

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 26 00 00 00 CA 3D 09 00 AB 03 00 00

03 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 0C 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 FF FF FF 0F

Here’s an example. Let’s say I wanted to change my character to having 12 fate points, 30 character points, and put me onto level 40. The above numbers would then become:

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 28 00 00 00 CA 3D 09 00 AB 03 00 00

0C 00 00 00 1E 00 00 00 0C 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 FF FF FF 0F

Save your file and that’s all there is to it. Have fun playing.

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Author: TJ Galda, © 2002 All rights reserved.

Author takes no responsibility for any use of this document whatsoever.