NVHM-TVHM area scaling

Overview

This module makes all areas and side missions progressively larger based on your progress in the main mission, normal mode and TVHM. DLC's level restrictions are removed so they can be played at any time during NVHM/TVHM, and they will also be expanded based on the progress of the main game story.

This means you can go back and train Knuckledragger for Bumblebee at level 18. Or start the Tiny Tina DLC at level 8, complete some quests before returning to the main game, and then return to complete the DLC at level 28. Or farm the snowman over and over again. Unlike UVHM (or "Level 1 UVHM" mode), areas/missions aren't always exactly at your level (but close enough, as long as you keep up with the main story). However, this mod does not change anything else about the Normal and TVHM games and their balance.

Installation and compatibility

Install NVHM-TVHM area scaling using BLCMM:

Install BLCMM

Since a recent update, BLCMM is no longer able to set game files for mods. Therefore, you need to hexedit manually using Cody's Hex Multitool.

Open NT-AreaScaling.blcm in BLCMM (or use File>Import mod file if you want to combine it with another mod)

In BLCMM > File > Save As: Select "Open BL2 Binaries Directory" and save it under any name you like (e.g. mymods.txt)

Launch your game and enter the main menu with new game, character selection, and more.

Press "Esc" to exit the title menu, "Press any key to continue" (this step may not be necessary depending on your platform).

Open the console (using the keys you selected when setting up the game files for mods in BLCMM) and enter for example "exec mymods.txt".

Close the console and you're good to go.

NVHM-TVHM zone scaling should be compatible with any other mods as long as those mods don't touch zone level definitions, but there aren't many mods that do that. If you are using UCP, please disable the directory "Enemy Changes> Make Terramorphous level 40 in Normal mode".

NVHM-TVHM area scaling can be applied before loading any save game: it should automatically expand the relevant area. If you later reload the save without NVHM-TVHM area scaling, the area will fall back within vanilla's acceptable limits.

It's a relatively large file (>2 MB, more than half the UCP), so it may take a few seconds to load. DLC sections can be disabled at will using BLCMM (if you don't own certain DLCs, or if you don't want to play them using NT-AreaScaling modifications). This mod does absolutely nothing in UVHM, so loading it while playing in UVHM doesn't make much sense.

Detailed changes

Moving into one of the main story missions (not all, but most) will cause all previous zones and unaccepted side missions to expand to your level within a certain range (for example, after completing Wildlife Conservation in normal mode, all zones should expand to 19-21).

Some areas will expand directly, others may require saving/exiting.

Quests that have been accepted (and their rewards) will never expand in size, but the areas in which they occur and the enemies you fight should expand in size.

normal mode

Completing the main story and killing warriors will expand all areas to level 30.

Mission you. Will. die. (Terramorphous) will be between level 30 and 35 (depending on your level when you complete the main story). Completing this quest should expand all areas in the main game and Headhunter DLC to 35.

Areas like Caustic Caverns or Lynchwood have a special behavior in the vanilla game, which is conservative in most cases. But after killing Warrior/Terra, they also scale to 30/35.

DLC

All DLC will scale to your level (when you first travel to the area), anywhere between 5 and 35 (Lilith DLC is 5-38).

Progression through the main game's story will expand the areas already visited in the DLC. DLC areas often seem to require saving/exiting.

The DLC raid boss missions (and some arena battles like in Murderlin's Temple) will be between level 30 and 35 (the Lilith DLC raid boss is 35-38).

Completing …