Baldur's Gate II: Essential Mods

Equis · Dec 9, 2012

Hey Bill Dungsroman ; What are they?

I'm headed off for a trip soon, and in order to keep my time on the flights and long travel distance, I'm looking at reinstalling Baldur's Gate II and whatever essential mods there are to make it playable on a Macbook Air.

Also, additional quest content and good NPCs are also welcome. Anything so I don't have to choose Aerie, Anomen and Viconia as my cleric of choices.

Quitch · Dec 9, 2012

Here are the epic Jack Black posts from QT3 regarding a BG1 & BG2 install with mods

(toggle_spoiler)
spoiler_warning: Jack Black @ QT3 said...

Disclaimer: I can only vouch for this modlist and install order, if you deviate from it too much you will probably find something that breaks your game in some fashion. It may or may not warrant a reinstall and can range from minor inconvenience to script breaking game-killer bug.

1. First Install your BG1 + SotSC (I am pretty sure that these mods don't require SotSC like a few others, but check the readme for details I played with SotSC)
2. Patch your BG1 SotSC version 1.3.5521
3. Install BG2 + ToB (ToB is required, it allows most of the mods to do what they do)
4. Patch your BG2 ToB version 26498
5. Open up both BG1 and BG2, import a saved character and let the beginning load to make sure they both work. This also creates your baldur.ini in BG2 that will be ported over to your Easytutu install.
6. Run your BG2 Config and set up your options. Set your difficulty to Core Rules, Max your Hardware settings and make sure your boxes are checked. Keyboard settings are mostly for ease of use and utilizing the scripts that are ease of use in the modlist. Clear your S, D, F, Z, X, C, V, B, N. Set your W to 'Cast Spell', E to 'Special Abilities', T to 'Trap Detection', G to 'Thieving', L to 'Quick Load'. Gameplay -> Miscellaneous up your Cache Size to at least 600 (more if you want), Enhanced Pathfinding on and 400000. You can up your Frame Rate if you want, but you'll be missing out on alot of action if you do and you will find if you raise it too far you won't be able to pause right when you need to. Do the Graphic Test and you should be good to go. You may be revisiting the last section when we get to the Widescreen Mod and if you have a certain video cards or graphical issues which are detailed in the Widescreen Mod readme.
7. Run Easytutu_ToB.exe. This is pretty self explanatory however I will add one thing: if you choose the Space Saver install it means if you mess up or have a bug that somehow came through not only do you have to reinstall easytutu but BG1. I would advise just installing the standard until you finish the game then you can delete both easytutu and bg1 if you want your gig's back.
8. Download and unpack the latest version of WeiDU (currently v229) onto your desktop or somewhere that is not your Easytutu directiory. Then copy over the weiDU.exe to your ~/~/BaldursGateTutu directory. This will simply allow the mods to use the latest version of WeiDU even if they are packaged with an older version.

From here on out every mod you install will need to be installed with WeiDU. If the link has a .rar or .zip file and it doesn’t autostart (most do) you will need to go into your BaldursGateTutu directory and click the modname.exe which will start a dos script that will give you options to say yes or no to. If you install the entire package I will state that in that step, if you have to install only a portion I will give you the options you need to say yes to.

9. Install Easytutu Degreenifier v4. Turns your water from sewer green to California blue.
10. Install Level 1 NPCs This mod adds kits and allows you to change the proficiencies (and if you desire ability scores) to your NPCs. You will only want to install Nythrun's Level 1 NPCs: List party-joinable NPCs (required to install any NPC components): v1.7, Update game references to NPC classes/kits: v1.7 then the name of the individuals you want to modify. Some examples that I did based on personality were: Ajantis a Cavalier, Dynaheir a Sorcerer, Eldoth a Jester, Garrick a Skald, Khalid a Barbarian, Imoen a Swashbuckler, Safana a Bounty Hunter, Kivan an Archer, Shar-teel a Berserker. However you can make them whatever you’d like including their proficiencies. I will say that there is another mod on this list which will allow you to pick their proficiencies but does not work with Multi-class characters like Jaheria or Monteron. So if a character is multiclass the only way to edit them is here or with Shadowkeeper (which I will discuss at the end).
11. Install Tutufix v18. Just some fixes. You want to install the options: Restored BG1 Loadscreens, BG2 Ammo Stacks, Totemic Druid Spirit Summons are Balanced, BG1 Summoning Spells.
12. Download Restored Textscreen Music Core 7d and English Language pack. There are other languages like French and German if that’s your bag. Make sure both are installed to your ~/BaldursGateTutu directory before you start the setup-txtmusic.exe.
13. Install Hard Times. Install both options. This basically makes the beginning of BG1 affected by the iron crisis.
14. Install Song and Silence. Install only: Changes to trueclass bards and thieves, and unmodded game kits (required for other components): v5, Add new bardic store and thief items: v5. This fixes the first half of bards. Do not install any of the kits because at least 3 of them break mods.
15. Install Lost Items. Only the Lost Items portion of the mod. Gives you gem bags, scroll cases, potion bags, ammo belts, etc.
16. Install Baldur’s Gate Mini Quests & Encounters. All of it. Non-combat quests.
17. Install Lure of the Sirine’s Call v10. All of it. Pirates Aaarg!
18. Install BG1 Unfinished Business All except: Angelo Notices Shar-teel, Finishable Kagain Caravan Quest, Coran and the Wyverns, Kivan and Tazok, and Branwen and Tranzig. These are fixed with the next mod on the list.
19. Install BG1 NPC Project. Install all of it but you can keep the portraits BG1 if you like it has no impact. You will have options to put NPC’s in certain places, if you choose the 2) option it will always be somewhere you can get at them earlier in the game. Open up Cloakwood Lodge and take Six of Spades Diary fixes. This is the mod that really captures the magic of BG2 and brings it into BG1. Banters, quests, exchanges, personality remarks, talk to your NPC, and romances are all there (kudos to the Minsc bits). I will say that the Romances can get… fanfic. If you want to skip them you can (try singing to them if you’re a bard). I didn’t find them so bad that I thought this was something Angie would read, but you may. You can set the romances to happen faster if you want, though I found the default to be plenty fast.
20. Install BG1 NPC Music Pack. All of it.
21. Install Xan’s friendship path. All of it.
22. Install Coran’s BG Extended Friendship. All of it.

If you must install specific NPC’s here is where you do it. I didn’t since there were more NPC’s than you can shake a vorpal sword at in BG1 and I don’t like bad amateur voice acting. But if you have one you like or would like to try most of them do not make any changes that will break the list, but YMMV.

23. Install One Pixel Productions Core. All of it. This is a graphical upgrade as are the other 1PP mods. If pixels get you wet, this is your dream.
24. Install 1PP Extended Palette. All of it.
25. Install 1pp Avatar Fixes. All of it.
26. Install 1pp Female Dwarves. All of it.
27. Install 1pp Thieves Galore.All of it.
28. Install Improved BAMs. More item graphics.
29. Install Oversight. Only the Cleric Kits: 13. This just fixes the alignment restrictions of the 3 cleric kits based on their gods. Good, Lawful, Evil. If you aren’t going to play a cleric you can skip this one.
30. Install Ding0 Tweak Pack Only Sensible Lore Table, Improved Backstabbing, NPCs/Summons Set Off Traps -> Only. The last option you can set it have enemies (red circles) set off their own traps, but the AI has no understanding of traps and will just run them over in their scripting. I found it more “realistic” to just allow me to send my wardogs, gnolls, skeletons and other beasties into traps instead of getting free trap damage on enemies.
31. Download Spell Revisions v3 and the Hotfixes. Make sure to install both SRv3 (which will autostart, just quit out of it or skip without installing anything as soon as you can) and the hotfixes. The hotfixes need to go into the ~/BaldursGateTutu/spell_rev and subdirectories. If you use winzip with “Use Folder Names” checked it will go there automatically when unzipped to the ~/BaldursGateTutu directory. Just make sure before you install SRv3 the hotfixes are there or they won’t be applied and will make your game buggy. You will want to only install Spell Revisions: v3 with no other components. I consider this one of the best mods and is compatible with the next mod on the list which makes it a no brainer. It fixes spells, attempts to break you from using 1 or 2 spells every spell level since the rest are crap. Try looking at your spells now instead of just picking magic missile and fireball. Also it gives the AI these spells which makes for actual choices for specialist mages and druids.
32. Install Sword Coast Strategems. This is the Big Kahuna. This is an AI mod and has alot of options and is the mod that inspired me to go back and play through BG1 again. If BG1 NPC project is the mash potatoes, this is the 56 oz steak dripping with mushrooms and grease. If you’re a min-maxer or combat junkie this is the one mod you should play with. You want to install ALL OF IT, you’ll be pressing “y” and “1” a lot. Check the end of the list for the WeiDU log of SCS to see the options that should be installed if you lose track. There is one caveat the Smarter Mages and Smarter Priests component. When you get to these choices you are presented with 4 different options you will want to pick one of the two “uses spells from BG1 and BG2” options. The way that SCS gets around enemy priests and mages sitting around having not cast a single defensive spell before you plough into them with all the rage of Bhall is to prebuff. You have to decide at this point what is more important to you. If you choose the pre-buff option then mages and priests will cast long term spells and a few short term spells when engaged in combat. This is to simulate that mages and priests are going to cast a few defensive spells when a group of ugly, heavily armed, magically glowing adventurers walk up to them to talk and eventually try to murder them for loot. The other more “realistic” option is that mages and priests will have only long duration buffs cast when combat starts thus making them choose between a defensive spells or an offensive one. This choice has a pretty dramatic effect on playing the game since in BG1 most mages don’t have access to contingencies, sequencers or aoe crowd control spells due to their level. SCS plays straight and doesn’t just give mages and priests scripts, but picks from their pool of spells and what kind of specialist they are. I personally play with prebuff on and the first time you go up against even a relatively weak mage (lvl 5) who uses their buffs you are going to stand up and take notice and having a priest or a mage in a group of enemies is going to make a dramatic difference rather than just being the guy targeted for 1 round of missile fire then moving on. If you are uncertain or want the game not as challenging, pick the option that doesn’t include the prebuff. Higher level mages won’t have this problem because with contingencies and sequencers they can get themselves buffed up or lay down enough crowd control to give them time to deal with you but you see that mostly in BG2 with SCSII.
33. Rerun your setup-spell rev.exe which is the Spell Revisions v3 mod. Skip the ones you’ve already installed and install only: Remove Disabled Spells from Spell Selection Screens: v3, Update Spellbooks of Joinable NPCs: v3.
34. Install BG2 Tweak Pack. There are a lot of options here and most of them don’t break the game. Some are purely cosmetic and others I consider core fixes. Look at the WeiDu log under ~BG2_Tweaks to see the options I chose but I will let you know what I consider the core fixes: Force All Dialogue to Pause Game: v9, More Interjections: v9, Breakable Iron Nonmagical Shields, Helms, and Armor: v9, Exotic Item Pack: v9, Reveal City Maps When Entering Area: v9, Add Map Notes: v9, Stores Sell Higher Stacks of Items: v9, Universal Clubs: v9, Allow Thieving and Stealth in Heavy Armor: v9, Allow Arcane Spellcasting in Heavy Armor: v9, Wear Multiple Protection Items -> P&P Restrictions: v9, Alter Weapon Proficiency System -> Rebalanced Weapon Proficiencies: v9, Cast Spells from Scrolls (and Other Items) at Character Level: v9, True Grandmastery (Baldurdash): v9, Alter Mage Spell Progression Table -> PnP Table: v9, Alter Cleric Spell Progression Table -> PnP Table: v9Alter Druid Spell and Level Progression Tables -> No Level Progression Changes, PnP Druid/Cleric Spell Table Only: v9, Trap Cap Removal (Ardanis/GeN1e): v9, Remove Delay for Magical Traps (Ardanis/GeN1e): v9, Higher HP on Level Up -> Maximum: v9, Maximum HP for NPCs (the bigg) -> For All Creatures in Game: v9, Remove "You Must Gather Your Party..." Sound (Weimer): v9, Change Effect of Reputation on Store Prices -> Reputation Has No Effect, Stores Price Fixed at 100% (Luiz): v9, Unlimited Ammo Stacking: v9, Unlimited Gem and Jewelry Stacking: v9, Unlimited Potion Stacking: v9, Unlimited Scroll Stacking: v9, Neutral Characters Make Happy Comments at Mid-Range Reputation: v9, Sellable Items (Icelus): v9, Adjust Evil joinable NPC reaction rolls: v9, ToB-Style NPCs: v9
35. Install Rogue Rebalancing v4.42. All of it. When given the choice pick Revised Thievery -> Use PnP thievery potions and prevent their effects from stacking: v4.42. This restores thieves and fixes the rest of bards. It was also the basis for fixing thieving in BG which has since been taken by TobEx which was installed with SCS. What this means is that you can try to pick pockets without save/reload because there is a variety of situations that come from it including different reactions, different responses and abilities to deal with failing your thieving attempt.
36. Install aTweaks v3.52 All except Distinctive creature coloring. At the fiend portion pick: PnP Fiends -> Mod-added fiends are not affected: v3.52. There are a few you choose base on your preference like bard songs that break invisibility and the casting graphic of dimension door that you can choose whatever floats your boat. In my attempt to be lazy I forgot some shit. Look at the aTweaks WeiDU log if your tired of looking at winzip and dos screens. It's more specific.
37. Install Easytutu Spawn Randomizer v3. You get some options here I went with 80% spawn every 3 days, but you can adjust it whatever you feel is “realistic” or least annoying.
38. Install Item Randomiser This one has options as well I would go with yes on all options that allow you to then: Randomise items -> Mode 2: Randomise with WeiDU. No items are lost: v6.5 and Remove Protection from Undead scrolls from stores -> All scrolls from 9 out of 10 stores: v6.5.
39. Install Drizzt is not stupid. Though he acts it.

Quitch · Dec 9, 2012

(toggle_spoiler)
spoiler_warning: Part 2

40. Download Infinity Animations. All of it. That’s right, page 1 and 2. There should be 16 different files you have and they are all for a graphic overhaul of the creatures and NPCs in the game. Unzip the IA (Infinity Animations) core mod to your ~/BaldursGateTutu directory but do not run the setup-infinityanimations.exe yet. You have to unpack all of those files except the BG2 Restores into the ~/BaldursGateTutu/infinityanimations/content directory without subdirectories. If you are using winzip make sure your going into all the file folders when they have them and you are not using “Use Folder Names”. After your done unpacking all 14 other files (again, all but BG2 Restores and the core mod) go to your content directory and if there are any subfolders, you fucked up and you need to figure out which one you did with directories. So pay attention because if you don’t when you try to run the mod it will murder your mother and let you know you fail at life. The BG2 Restores goes in the ~/BaldursGateTutu/infinityanimations/restores directory again with no subfolders. I just summarized the 8000 page readme for you and made your life a lot easier. I just checked my content folder and it says you should have 719 MB of data in 7288 files so if you are around that you should be good. Now you get to run the mod. When you do install hit “y” to install all.

Don’t panic if you see UDPrince.cre is corrupted that is just fine and you will see that from here on out on installs that modify creatures. FYI it is the Sahuagin Prince from BG2 and he doesn’t like you playing BG1 and called you a pussy.

This one takes a little time to run and eventually you should be presented with the option: Pit Fiends -> Some get the NWN animation: v5. This makes roughly half of your pit fiends look like NWN and the other BG2. You’re going to pick the rest as “some” unless you are given a specific or % option, at that point you will choose %50 on all BUT BG1 animations. Don’t install BG1 animations or any of the export or savegame BG1 animations. If you have a savegame or have fucked up this install order and are reinstalling and have a savegame already you want to use, you will want to pick: Saved Game Animation Fixer -> Correct all animations IA has changed: v5 when that option is given to you.
41. Install Creature Fixer v2 All of it. Make sure if you are using winzip to use the “Use Folder Names” if you turned it off when getting IA working. This mod fixes all the creatures in the game so you won’t have any crashes because someone put two crossbows in each hand on some monsters.
42. Install Widescreen Mod The Widescreen Mod -> for the original Infinity Engine (CHOOSE THIS!): Widescreen Mod v3.02. This mod is another reason to play Infinity Engine games in this day an age. Looks gorgeous at 1980x1050 or whatever resolution you want. Just put it in.

Now at this point you have been playing with WeiDU in installation of your mods. The great thing about WeiDU is it tries to be semi-idiot proof and if you fuck up and pick the wrong option or need to change the install order because you have a hard time reading or want to try something out you can. If you uninstall something it knows your load order and will put it back together after you remove a component in the middle, thus keeping your install in good working order (though you do have to wait for it to install any mods after that point again since it reinstalls them). Once you hit the last step in this install order you cannot do this any more so you have to be sure you are where you want to be before you do it.

You might ask me at this point in this 7 fucking page essay on installing Easytutu “Jack, why the fuck would I ever want to give up the ability to fuck around with the mods and change them up”. The answer to that is, go ahead and start up your Easytutu right now, I’ll wait.

How you like that load time motherfucker? Every time you load an area map it’s going to be like that because you’ve increased the size of the game by at least a gig with an engine that wasn’t designed for it. Or maybe your computer handled it fine and you didn’t notice shit. If so, buy me one you rich bastard. However, if you did have a load time you now need to Biff your install which will clean it up like your sister in the school bathroom after prom. After you biff your easytutu drive it will run smooth as silk with barely any loadtime but you will no longer be able to modify your install order or it will totally fuck everything up and you’ll have to start over. In all seriousness though if your unsure of a decision (like perhaps mage and priest prebuffing, hint hint) and want to look at it, start up a game go find what your looking for and make sure it’s what you want. You’ll have to wait for it to load to get there and look at it, but you’ll waste more time reinstalling if you don’t like it.

43. Install Generalized Biffing Just install this and let it work. It takes a little while, but probably will be shorter than installing IA.

Now there are a few things which I will mention right now that you may have an issue with but I consider them in the category of an inconvenience rather than anything else. The first is when you load up BGTutu you will see another program load behind it before starting. This is ToBex which is the TOB extender, it is hacking your BG2 to make it do all the cool things that 10 years ago they didn’t think of so don’t worry about it.

[Full disclosure] I had a single crash when I did my Tutu playthrough. It was in Beregost and the music skipped going into some no name house to rob the place. It wasn’t reproducible even going back into that house and for another 30 hours it didn’t do it again. If you have this crash, sorry make sure you’re hitting q semi-often to quicksave which is a good practice anyway.

Next, the scripting in SCS (or ToBEx) is pretty heavy and you will notice a slowdown for 2-3 seconds when you enter a new area with a lot of creatures or mages/priests/beholders or directly after a quicksave. The scripting is intended for newer PC’s not old ones.

The Maximum HP portion of the BG2 Tweaks mod has an issue with certain NPC’s (don’t ask me why, but most of them are Multiclass or you meet them very early in the game). It will give the NPC too many HP or think they are NPC’s and will have their HP’s maxxed based on their HD. So at level 1 you may have a 24 HP Jaheria or Khalid. There is no way to fix this in the modlist unless you don’t install both the Higher HP on Level Up -> Maximum: v9, Maximum HP for NPCs (the bigg) -> For All Creatures in Game: v9 in BG2 Tweaks. Though if you do that you are regulated to whatever the RNG wants you to have for HP on all your characters (and thus probably save/reload) and monsters are much weaker in general. However the workaround for that is when you have a new NPC that joins with the wrong HP’s (or even proficiencies) you just save the game normally then open up that savegame with Shadowkeeper and fix the HP (this bug only happens when they join the first time, every level after that they go up the proper maximum hp total based on class and con modifier). If you don’t remember how many hp each class get or how to figure out multiclass HP then Gary Gygax’s ghost will visit you tonight in your dreams and shove a sphere of annihilation in your piehole.

Lastly, if your still reading this either you love Baldur's Gate, are a masochist or that hot Mazzy, Aerie, Bodhi dominatrix lesbian fanfic you've been writing is going to be awesome! Seriously though as you can see from the mod list and changes I tried to move the game to PnP with a challenge in tactical combat while eliminating the save/reload mentality. This modlist is meant to be challenging but not do anything that wouldn’t be feasible within the engine limitations. I like playing munchkins and I like a game that can take that munchkin make him run for his money without resorting to giving monsters 200% damage or immune to all damage. No longer can you cheese the game like you did when you played BG2, though you can try other forms of cheese. You’ll find the tactics you used to coast your way through vanilla BG1/2 are not applicable or nearly as effective. You will have to visit the temple for a resurrection every once in a while (or more…) or dump that 16 hp mage for someone who can take a flaming arrow or 20 in the face and not die instantly. I played through it with no reloads unless my main character died (which he did twice) and survived and it was immensely satisfying after playing DA2 for 10 hours. If you find this enjoyable then it gets even better and even more epic as you go through BG2.

Kill some kobolds for me.

PS. So your not spending alot of time dicking around casting the same spells every time you rest or want to scout out an enemy encampment the included scripts make your life much easier if you used the Keybinding I recommended when we started. Thieves use the aTweak Thief script that lets you switch between searching for traps or hiding in shadows for a backstab or scout mission. Bards use the aTweak Bard script to sing songs how you want them to instead of standing around looking stupid. All others should use the Ease-of-Use script which has good basic AI, customizable levels of prebuffing and healing and quick weapon switching. Look at the script in game to see how the hotkeys work.

Here is my WeiDu log for all of the long-ass mods that have alot of options to pick from.

SCS WeiDU Log

#10 // Initialise (required by almost all other mod components): v18
#1001 // Make Protection from Normal Missiles block magical missiles -> Only +1 and better missiles penetrate Protection from Normal Missiles, and +1 missiles are replaced by nonmagical Masterwork versions: v18
#1010 // More consistent Breach spell (doesn't penetrate Spell Turning): v18
#1019 // Antimagic attacks penetrate improved invisibility -> Antimagic spells remain single-target, but affect the target creature whether or not it is invisible (default option): v18
#1040 // Reduce the power of Inquisitors' Dispel Magic -> Inquisitors dispel at 1.5 x their level (not twice their level): v18
#1055 // Slightly weaken insect plague spells, and let fire shields block them: v18
#1060 // Cosmetic change: stop Stoneskins from changing your character's colour: v18
#1070 // Make spell sequencers, spell triggers, and contingencies learnable by all mages: v18
#2000 // Make elemental arrows more like their BG2 counterparts: v18
#2010 // Replace many magic weapons with fine ones -> Fine weapons are affected by the iron crisis: v18
#2020 // Re-introduce potions of extra-healing: v18
#2030 // Remove Arrows of Dispelling from BG1 stores: v18
#3001 // Standardise spells: BG1 vs BG2 -> Introduce BG2 spell scrolls into BG1: v18
#3010 // Faster Bears: v18
#3020 // Allow player to choose NPC proficiencies and skills: v18
#3030 // Allow NPC pairs to separate: v18
#3060 // Allow Yeslick to use axes: v18
#3070 // Move NPCs to more convenient locations: v18
#3080 // Improved shapeshifting: v18
#3090 // Prevent party members from dying irreversibly: v18
#3101 // Decrease the rate at which reputation improves -> Reputation increases at about 1/2 the normal rate: v18
#3110 // More realistic wolves and wild dogsS: v18
#4000 // Skip Candlekeep: v18
#4010 // Remove blur effect from displacer cloak: v18
#4020 // Stackable ankheg shells, winterwolf pelts and wyvern heads: v18
#4030 // Move Boo out of quick access and into Minsc's pack: v18
#4040 // Ensure Shar-Teel doesn't die in the original challenge: v18
#4050 // Ease-of-use player AI: v18
#5000 // Smarter general AI: v18
#5010 // Better calls for help: v18
#5015 // More sensible choices of weapon proficiencies and kits for fighters (also fixes some errors in fighter stats): v18
#5022 // Potions for NPCs -> Half the potions dropped by slain enemies break and are lost: v18
#5033 // Smarter mages -> Mages use spells from BG1 and BG2; mages pre-buff: v18
#5043 // Smarter priests -> Priests use spells from BG1 and BG2; priests pre-buff: v18
#5050 // Smarter deployment: v18
#5070 // Smarter sirines and dryads: v18
#5080 // Slightly harder carrion crawlers: v18
#5090 // Smarter basilisks: v18
#6000 // Improved doppelgangers: v18
#6005 // Harder giant and phase spiders: v18
#6010 // Tougher Black Talons and Iron Throne guards: v18
#6020 // Improved deployment for parties of assassins: v18
#6030 // Dark Side-based kobold upgrade: v18
#6040 // Relocated bounty hunters: v18
#6050 // Improved Ulcaster: v18
#6060 // Improved Balduran's Isle: v18
#6070 // Improved Durlag's Tower: v18
#6080 // Improved Demon Cultists: v18
#6090 // Improved Cloakwood Druids: v18
#6100 // Improved Bassilus: v18
#6110 // Improved Drasus party: v18
#6120 // Improved Red Wizards: v18
#6130 // Improved Undercity party: v18
#6140 // Improved minor encounters: v18
#6150 // Tougher chapter-two end battle: v18
#6160 // Tougher chapter-three end battle: v18
#6170 // Tougher chapter-four end battle: v18
#6180 // Tougher chapter-five end battle: v18
#6190 // Tougher chapter-six end battle: v18
#6200 // Improved final battle: v18

BG2 Tweaks Log

#10 // Remove Helmet Animations: v9
#0 #40 // Change Viconia's Skin Color to Dark Blue: v9
#60 // Weapon Animation Tweaks: v9
#70 // Icewind Dale Casting Graphics (Andyr): v9
#110 // Icon Improvements: v9
#0 #130 // Force All Dialogue to Pause Game: v9
#1010 // More Interjections: v9
#1060 // Breakable Iron Nonmagical Shields, Helms, and Armor: v9
#1070 // Improved Multi-Player Kick-out Dialogues: v9
#1080 // Add Bags of Holding: v9
#1090 // Exotic Item Pack: v9
#1100 // Reveal City Maps When Entering Area: v9
#1110 // Add Map Notes: v9
#1120 // Stores Sell Higher Stacks of Items: v9
#1140 // Gems and Potions Require Identification: v9
#2020 // Two-Handed Bastard Swords: v9
#2030 // Two-Handed Katanas: v9
#2040 // Universal Clubs: v9
#2100 // Allow Thieving and Stealth in Heavy Armor: v9
#2120 // Allow Arcane Spellcasting in Heavy Armor: v9
#2140 // Expanded Dual-Class Options: v9
#2150 // Wear Multiple Protection Items -> P&P Restrictions: v9
#2160 // Alter Weapon Proficiency System -> Rebalanced Weapon Proficiencies: v9
#2170 // Cast Spells from Scrolls (and Other Items) at Character Level: v9
#2192 // Limit Ability of Storekeepers to Identify Items -> Hybrid of Both Methods: v9
#2210 // True Grandmastery (Baldurdash): v9
#2261 // Alter Mage Spell Progression Table -> PnP Table: v9
#2271 // Alter Bard Spell Progression Table -> PnP Table: v9
#2281 // Alter Cleric Spell Progression Table -> PnP Table: v9
#2291 // Alter Druid Spell and Level Progression Tables -> No Level Progression Changes, PnP Druid/Cleric Spell Table Only: v9
#2320 // Trap Cap Removal (Ardanis/GeN1e): v9
#2330 // Remove Delay for Magical Traps (Ardanis/GeN1e): v9
#3000 // Higher HP on Level Up -> Maximum: v9
#3010 // Maximum HP for NPCs (the bigg) -> For All Creatures in Game: v9
#3060 // Remove "You Must Gather Your Party..." Sound (Weimer): v9
#3071 // Change Effect of Reputation on Store Prices -> Reputation Has No Effect, Stores Price Fixed at 100% (Luiz): v9
#3080 // Unlimited Ammo Stacking: v9
#3090 // Unlimited Gem and Jewelry Stacking: v9
#3100 // Unlimited Potion Stacking: v9
#3110 // Unlimited Scroll Stacking: v9
#3121 // Happy Patch (Party NPCs do not complain about reputation) -> NPCs can be angry about reputation but never leave (Salk): v9
#3125 // Neutral Characters Make Happy Comments at Mid-Range Reputation: v9
#3200 // Sellable Items (Icelus): v9
#3210 // Minimum Stats Cheat: v9
#4000 // Adjust Evil joinable NPC reaction rolls: v9
#4020 // ToB-Style NPCs: v9
#4031 // Consistent Stats: Edwin -> Use BG2 Values: v9
#4041 // Consistent Stats: Jaheira -> Use BG2 Values: v9
#4050 // Change Jaheira to Neutral Good: v9
#4061 // Consistent Stats: Minsc -> Use BG2 Values: v9
#4071 // Consistent Stats: Viconia -> Use BG2 Values: v9
#4110 // Give Kagain A Legal Constitution Score of 19: v9

aTweaks

#100 // Restore innate infravision to Half-Orc characters: v3.52
#101 // Prevent skeletal undead from being affected by Illithids' Devour Brain attack: v3.52
#117 // Allow Mages to scribe memorized spells onto scrolls -> Scrolls can only be scribed at inns and strongholds: v3.52
#120 // Restore innate disease immunity to Paladins: v3.52
#125 // Rangers' Animal Empathy improves with experience: v3.52
#130 // Additional racial traits for Dwarves: v3.52
#140 // Additional racial traits for Gnomes: v3.52
#150 // PnP Fiends -> Mod-added fiends are not affected: v3.52
#155 // Further Revised Fiend Summoning: v3.52
#156 // Fiendish gating: v3.52
#200 // Allow Breach to take down Stoneskin effects applied by items: v3.52
#201 // Instant casting for warrior innates: v3.52
#202 // Revised Bhaalpowers -> Enhance the Bhaalpowers and standardize their casting time: v3.52
#203 // Make druidic shapeshifting uninterruptable: v3.52
#210 // Restore the Dispel Magic vulnerability to Nishruu and Hakeashars: v3.52
#212 // Make alignment detection spells more accurate: v3.52
#216 // Bard songs break invisibility -> Only the Jester song breaks invisibility: v3.52
#261 // Altered XP rewards from locks, traps and scrolls -> Improved (lowered) XP rewards from locks, traps and scrolls: v3.52
#220 // Simple Thief script: v3.52
#230 // Simple Bard script: v3.52
#323 // Use Icewind Dale's Dimension Door animation -> Use IWD animation for spells, retain BG2 animation for other visuals: v3.52
#303 // Give Shambling Mounds their proper soundset: v3.52
#304 // Give Mariliths their Icewind Dale soundset: v3.52
#500 // Slightly expanded storage capacity for containers -> Use the recommended storage capacity value (999): v3.52
#510 // Expanded temple services: v3.52

Hawkeye Fierce · Dec 9, 2012

Sweet jesus. And I thought I was hardcore with my install.

tylertoo · Dec 9, 2012

Far less intimidating is this BGII guide, excerpted from this 'essential mods' thread at the GoG forum:

Part 2
For people who only wishes to play Baldur's Gate II.

1. Install Baldur's Gate II
2. Download Baldur's Gate II Fixpack (Download links are on the left side) and extract it to your Baldur's Gate II directory.
3. Run the newly extracted setup-bg2fixpack.exe (if not automatically started).
4. It is safe to select yes for all the optional fixes, but if you want to learn about each in detail, consult the readme file that comes with the fixpack.
5. OPTIONAL: Download and install BG 2 Unfinished Business. This mod restores things that were previously cut from the released product, so while you don't need it, and it does add new content, it's pretty nice to have, especially if this is not your first time playing.
6. Download the widescreen mod and apply it in the same manner as the fixpack. This makes it possible to play the game in high resolutions and in widescreen format.
7. OPTIONAL: Download and install any user-created material (banter packs, expansion mods, new NPCs, etc.).
8. OPTIONAL: (for more experienced users) Download Baldur's Gate II Tweak Pack and apply it in the same way as the fixpack. Consult the readme file for details of each tweak - too many to list here. If you don't know what a tweak does even after consulting the readme, just skip it.

Ingmar · Dec 9, 2012

I *only* do:

fixpack + Gaider's tweaks (IIRC the mod name is "Ascension"?), occasionally Unfinished Business but not usually.

If I'm doing the whole thing I will use one of the 'put BG1 into the BG2 engine and turn it into one long game' mods as well. http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Baldur's_Gate_Combined_Installation

BGT is my personal preference to use there.

IMO none of the 'creative' mods are much good.

Jack Black · Dec 9, 2012

That is actually out of date due to the rise of the BG:EE

If you want to have the best of mods for BG2 try (in this order):
Tobex (SHS)
Ascension (Weimer)
Fixpack [use the one in the forum for 9.14 version or wait a few weeks for the full V10 to be released, if you aren't chomping at the bit to play I would wait since it will include alot of fixes] (G3)
Unfinished Business (PPG)
1PP 4.1 (Don't install Spell Tweaks and Helmets and use default install of everything else) (SHS)
Spell Revisions 3.1 [Get fixes from sticky in forum before applying] (G3)
PnP Free Action (SHS Misc Mods)
Item Revisions 3.Beta [Get fixes from sticky in forum before applying] (G3)
Banter Pack (PPG)
IEP: CORE (SHS)
Wheels of Prophecy [use the .tp2 I have attached, it clears up the dialog bugs] (G3)
(ANY NPC Mods then the Crossmod Banter Pack if you so desire go here)
Rogue Rebalancing [Install the HLA's after Refinements] (SHS)
Wizard Slayer [Same as RR above] (SHS Misc Mods)
Refinements (SHS)
Infinity Animations [use the .tp2 I have attached, it strips out most of the unintended errors and I would completely avoid Seer/beggar and PST animations, they are just poorly implemented across the board] (SHS)
SCS II (G3)
BG2 Tweaks (G3)
aTweaks (SHS)
Generalized Biffing (SHS)
Widescreen Mod (G3)

I hope this is pretty readable and doesn't include some things that I'm waiting on since I've recruited Jason to make a single click installer (fingers crossed). This will give you improved spells, Gaider TOB, BG:EE graphic enhancements (Spell effects from 1PP are much improved on AOE spells for example), diversity in your HLA's, non-linear ToB chapters, fixed thieves and bards and PnP fiends.

Spellhold Studios
Gibberings 3
Pocket Plane Group
Weimer

If you have a bandwidth limit don't download Infinity Animations, it's a big file for only some graphical improvements. As I stated at qt3 you can install as many or as few as you like, just follow that order and you should be golden.

If you have any questions about the mods let me know. If you read the first paragraph of those qt3 posts they all fit in with that 'vision' of pnp, better battles, non-terrible writing that fits in the game.

As for non-traditional clerics, I'm partial to Yeslick (SHS) since it's a familiar face and he doesn't require romance of any type. Also since they had something to work with the writing isn't too bad.

Equis · Dec 10, 2012

I'm still trying to digest everything really!

I'm not going to install the BG:EE, since I doubt I have the time to go through the entire saga, and was just happy to start with II, if at least, there's a mod that can allow me to control me levelling till the start of II.

Jack Black · Dec 10, 2012

Equis said: ↑

I'm still trying to digest everything really!

I'm not going to install the BG:EE, since I doubt I have the time to go through the entire saga, and was just happy to start with II, if at least, there's a mod that can allow me to control me levelling till the start of II.

FYI all these mods are just for BG2. They have nothing to do with BG1. If you are looking for a minimalist approach do just ToBEx, BG2 Fixpack, Banter Pack, Refinements, BG2 Tweaks, aTweaks and Widescreen. Just install each of them along with your NPC mod and you should have everything broken or stupid taken care of outside of enemy mages/priests who will still behave as before. Putting the thief/cleric/bard scripts that come with aTweaks on your appropriate characters should make your life a bit easier healing your party and having a functional thief that doesn't require babysitting.

I guess I should be clearer. 1PP is the mod that if you install will make the characters, items, animations and spell effects, UI look like BG:EE's. The mod author's work was put into BG:EE.

Quitch · Dec 10, 2012

Sorry Jack, forgot you'd come across or I'd have just pinged you.

Ingmar said: ↑

Gaider's tweaks (IIRC the mod name is "Ascension"?)

Gaider did an "Improved" version of each of the Throne of Bhaal bosses. In BG2 mod-speak "improved" means "tougher" rather than "smarter". These are the Improved NAME mods.

Ascension is a complete rewrite of the finale of the series, including post-finale epilogues. It also forces the banter of a couple of key characters within Throne of Bhaal to occur prior to the end and includes a few ToB fixes. It was written in conjunction with the Yahoo! modding group IEEAIS. I wrote the dialogue for one of the additions. In hind-sight I'd say it's too much of a difficulty spike and suffered from only being tested by people who knew both the game and the mod inside-out, but the other improvements are so vast that I'd never play without it.

Weimer's involvement with Ascension was converting it to the WeiDU format since that didn't exist at the time the mod was started. God bless WeiDU, without it you'd only be able to have one dialogue modifying mod.

Jack Black · Dec 10, 2012

Quitch said: ↑

Ascension is a complete rewrite of the finale of the series, including post-finale epilogues. It also forces the banter of a couple of key characters within Throne of Bhaal to occur prior to the end and includes a few ToB fixes. It was written in conjunction with the Yahoo! modding group IEEAIS. I wrote the dialogue for one of the additions. In hind-sight I'd say it's too much of a difficulty spike and suffered from only being tested by people who knew both the game and the mod inside-out, but the other improvements are so vast that I'd never play without it.

If you play with SCS2 it scales right into it. If you have played BG2 without it, the ending and the possibilities of how it plays out cannot be understated. Just another reason why modded BG2 is so much better than vanilla.

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Baldur's Gate II: Essential Mods

Equis Armchair Designer

Quitch Keeper of the Elemental Materials

Quitch Keeper of the Elemental Materials

Hawkeye Fierce Keeper of the Elemental Materials

tylertoo Oh, Come On

Ingmar Armchair Designer

Jack Black Herpus Derpus

Attached Files:

JBG2 Mods.7z

Equis Armchair Designer

Jack Black Herpus Derpus

Quitch Keeper of the Elemental Materials

Jack Black Herpus Derpus

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Baldur's Gate II: Essential Mods

Equis Armchair Designer

Quitch Keeper of the Elemental Materials

Quitch Keeper of the Elemental Materials

Hawkeye Fierce Keeper of the Elemental Materials

tylertoo Oh, Come On

Ingmar Armchair Designer

Jack Black Herpus Derpus

Attached Files:

JBG2 Mods.7z

Equis Armchair Designer

Jack Black Herpus Derpus

Quitch Keeper of the Elemental Materials

Jack Black Herpus Derpus

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