Folders and formats

The number of file formats, and where those files go, can be a bit confusing. Here is some basic information. More will come.

The Basics

All user data is meant to go in your My Documents folder. The default place for this is "C:\Documents and Settings\Sean\My Documents\Neverwinter Nights 2"
(more to come)

All game data is meant to go in your Program Files folder. The default place for this is "C:\Documents and Settings\Sean\My Documents\Neverwinter Nights 2."

All the files for the Official Campaign (OC) are also in your Program Files folder. This is a big change from NWN1 and it has confused some people. Generally, you don't have to get into this directory, but the BIG exception is the plugins folder in the NWN2Toolset folder. Here's the rundown:

  • The Ambient folder - This folder holds the wav files for background noises. These elements are available across all modules. Note that when trying to decide what background sounds you want, you can play these directly from your preferred multimedia device, although I cannot say if there are any permissions issues when doing so with the Toolset open.
  • The Campaigns folder - The supporting campaign files (scripts, images, etc.) are in the campaigns folder. These are files that are available across all the modules in the OC. These resources are only available to the OC.
  • The Data folder - This folder consists of .zip files that hold data that can be used by the OC, and any other module, including those created by you. The 2da files, voice over wave, and many other resources are held here. These elements are available across all modules.
  • The dmvault folder - Unknown.
  • The Documentation folder - You should read this.
  • The Effects folder - Unknown, but at a guess these seem to be basic effects that the Toolset uses.
  • The hak folder - This contains your hak files. At this time, I am unclear if hak files go here or in the My Documents area.
  • The Localvault folder - This contains the basic characters that come with the game.
  • The Miles folder - Unknown.
  • The Miles folder - Unknown.
  • The Modules folder - The actual modules for the OC are in the modules folder. They are numbered and also have a descriptive name. These resources are only available to the OC.
  • The Movies folder - Contains the .bik files that use present the movies (The logos and the into, etc.)
  • The Music folder - This hold the bmu files for background music and combat music. These elements are available across all modules.
  • The NWN2Toolset folder - Contains the source for the Toolset. Note that this also contains the "Plugins" folder. This is where you put community created plugins so that they are available in the Toolset.
  • The Override folder - Will allow you to override some files, most probably in the OC. At this time, I am unsure what resources can be overridden.
  • The patch folder - I'm assuming this is used during the patching process.
  • The Servervault folder - Unknown.
  • The temp folder - Definitely used during the patching process. Unknown if it is also used during gameplay.
  • The UI folder - I think this is where you place your custom UI files, but I am not sure, as there is also one in the My Documents folder.
  • The Utils folder - Unknown what these are for.

There have been some reports of the Autosave corrupting various files when the modules

BMU

BMU stands for BioWare Music Unit. This is the file format for background music files. AFAIK, essentially, it's an .mp3 file with some tinkering done on the first few bits of the file and the extension changed.

Here are some tools to convert bmu files:

MP3toBMU 0.35
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=225

Prince Rouse's Mp3toBMU and WinMP3Converter
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Other.Detail&id=821

Using the tools above, you can convert all the music in the Music folder under Program Files to an mp3 and listen to them.

You can find information on the BMU format in this NWN1 tutorial on custom music. (Note that a good deal of this has changed for NWN2).
http://nwn.bioware.com/builders/sounds_bmu.html

At the time of this writing, there are still some complications with bringing your custom music into your module, and I remember seeing a post talking about improvements that will be coming soon. If anyone has any resources along these lines, please let me know.

ERF

ERF stands for Encapsulate Resource File. It is used when importing and exporting resources from one module to another.

Most people keep .erf files in a folder in their My Documents folder called erf. Note that you don't get an erf folder by default, so feel free to created one when you need it.

PFX

The .pfx file extension is for particle-based effects. As I understand it, these are used as resouces when creating .sef files. You can find some of them in C:\Program Files\Atari\Neverwinter Nights 2\Data\NWN2_VFX.zip.

SEF

The .sef files are special effects files for NWN2. Most of the ones that come with the game are located in C:\Program Files\Atari\Neverwinter Nights 2\Data\NWN2_VFX.zip

From the official documentation:

"Visual effects are composed of effect files, which are individual components of an effect (a particle system, a trail, a billboard, etc.), and SEF files, which point to the effect files and organize them into a more complex visual effect."

As I understand it, .sef files are what you create when you save a visual effect from the visual effects editor.

WMP

A .wmp file is created by the world map editor plugin.