Cranking up a new run-through with mods

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:48 pm

Here's my current game/mod list and loading order:

SoA
ToB
TOB official patch
G3 BG2 Fixpack
Ascension (portions)
Item Upgrade
Banter Packs
Turnabout
BG2 Tweakpack
G3 Anniversary Mod
Kelsey
Unfinished Business
NPC mods (Keto or Chloe)
Quest Pack 2.3
Planar Sphere Teleporter
Ashes of Embers
Herbs and Potions Addon
Crossmod banter pack?

I'm also considering:

Dungeon-Be-Gone
Underrepresented Items
Bag Bonus
The Longer Road

Any suggestions for loading order? And are any of these going to pop new revisions, anytime soon?

I'm also open to considering other mods, as well, provided their compatible with this ridiculously large list.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:04 pm

I haven't tried some of those mods, so I can't comment on the general installation order. However, a couple of things stand out.

First of all, the Baldurdash SoA Tweaks and Cheats should not be installed if you have Throne of Bhaal. Please refer to:

Baldurdash - BG2:SOA Tweaks & Cheats

Some of those components are available in the Ease of Use Mod, including Shut Up 'You Must Gather Your Party...',the Bonus CD Merchants, the Grand Mastery Patch, and the Happy Patch. I always install Inoshiro's Better-Looking Robes Of Vecna separately and I have never had any problems with it. I use Kevin Dorner's "Safe" Experience Cap Remover instead of the TeamBG version.

Second of all, the G3 BG2 Fixpack incorporates the Baldurdash FixPack plus a many of the components that are included in other tweak packs and fixpacks. It is known to have a few incompatibilities with some of the other mods on your list, such as Ashes of Embers, the G3 Tweakpack (which I think appears as "BG2 Tweakpack" on your list), Baldurdash, and Ease of Use. Please refer to:

G3 BG2 Fixpack

Personally, I don't really care for all of the item upgrade mods and underrepresented items and so forth (or Kelsey), but there is some nice content in them just the same. Your list covers just about everything I install plus a lot more, so I don't have many other suggestions other than minor things such as the Juggernaut Golem Fix, corrected Demon Animations, and Smarter Illusionary Clones (which lets your clones walk around). I'd like to try Fade and Tsujatha since Keto still doesn't seem to have any TOB content. On the other hand, Keto interacts with Kelsey, and that would probably be important for you.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:21 pm

VonDondu wrote:I haven't tried some of those mods, so I can't comment on the general installation order. However, a couple of things stand out.

First of all, the Baldurdash SoA Tweaks and Cheats should not be installed if you have Throne of Bhaal.

Point taken thanks. Post changed.

Some of those components are available in the Ease of Use Mod, including Shut Up 'You Must Gather Your Party...',the Bonus CD Merchants, the Grand Mastery Patch, and the Happy Patch. I always install Inoshiro's Better-Looking Robes Of Vecna separately and I have never had any problems with it. I use Kevin Dorner's "Safe" Experience Cap Remover instead of the TeamBG version.

Ease of Use is included in the BG Tweak Pack, so the former is removed.

Second of all, the G3 BG2 Fixpack incorporates the Baldurdash FixPack plus a many of the components that are included in other tweak packs and fixpacks. It is known to have a few incompatibilities with some of the other mods on your list, such as Ashes of Embers, the G3 Tweakpack (which I think appears as "BG2 Tweakpack" on your list),

It is the BG2 Tweak Pack. That replaces the G3 Tweakpack, which has been withdrawn by the Gibberlings Three.

...Baldurdash, and Ease of Use. Please refer to:

G3 BG2 Fixpack

Thanks. I look pretty safe, since I'm fairly sure the small problem areas can be avoided during installation. I'm assuming the mods are modular, of course.

Personally, I don't really care for all of the item upgrade mods and underrepresented items and so forth (or Kelsey), but there is some nice content in them just the same. Your list covers just about everything I install plus a lot more, so I don't have many other suggestions other than minor things such as the Juggernaut Golem Fix, corrected Demon Animations, and Smarter Illusionary Clones (which lets your clones walk around). I'd like to try Fade and Tsujatha since Keto still doesn't seem to have any TOB content. On the other hand, Keto interacts with Kelsey, and that would probably be important for you.

Tsujatha seemed very unbalanced to me (uber-items) during my last run through. I'm pretty certain I'll stick with Kelsey until ToB, where he has no content, and replace him with Irenicus. I might try Fade or Amber, though I'm loathe to replace Jan, since there are written encounters for Irenicus and all the standard party NPCs, but not either of the two replacements I've mentioned. Chloe--well, I'd like to run her, but that depends on whether I play a cleric, a cleric/mage, or a kensai/mage.

Thanks for the advice!

EDIT: According to the modder's webpage, it looks like Fade's in the process of acquiring ToB dialog. If I read it correctly, they're in the testing phase, now.

Raven_Song · Post by **Raven_Song** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:29 am

fable wrote: I'm also considering:

Ding0's Improved Oasis II
Dungeon-Be-Gone
Underrepresented Items
Bag Bonus
Improved Anvil
The Longer Road

Any suggestions for loading order? And are any of these going to pop new revisions, anytime soon?

I'm also open to considering other mods, as well, provided their compatible with this ridiculously large list.

Improved Oasis is included as part of the Quest Pack, or at least there is a component with the same name.

I would think Improved Anvil would conflict with Item Upgrade, not 100% sure though and BlackWyrm seems to be down at the moment so I can't check.

As for other mods have you considered any of the kit related mods at G3 - Divine Remix, Song and Silence, Sword and Fist - all add novelty value, although I'm not sure of how they play with AoE.

Onkel Bob · Post by **Onkel Bob** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:22 am

fable wrote:I'm pretty certain I'll stick with Kelsey until ToB, where he has no content, and replace him with Irenicus.

Kelsey does have ToB content. There are two seperate files, one for SoA and one for ToB.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:56 am

Raven_Song wrote:Improved Oasis is included as part of the Quest Pack, or at least there is a component with the same name.

Thanks. Removed.

I would think Improved Anvil would conflict with Item Upgrade, not 100% sure though and BlackWyrm seems to be down at the moment so I can't check.

Are you familiar with both? Which would you recommend? I know Item Upgrade, but not Improved Anvil. I'm not looking for something that provides munchkin goods.

As for other mods have you considered any of the kit related mods at G3 - Divine Remix, Song and Silence, Sword and Fist - all add novelty value, although I'm not sure of how they play with AoE.

Not something that interests me. I like the simulation of life among characters, and the addition of new quest material in keeping with the atmosphere, lore, and balance of the original. I've included the upgrade and item stuff because I think decent weapons are very unbalanced for type in BG2.

Thanks for the input!

Kelsey does have ToB content. There are two seperate files, one for SoA and one for ToB.

Well--now I have to decide which to install.

Though I thank you for correcting me on this. I was confusing Kelsey with Keto.

Raven_Song · Post by **Raven_Song** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:46 am

Are you familiar with both? Which would you recommend? I know Item Upgrade, but not Improved Anvil. I'm not looking for something that provides munchkin goods.

No I'm not, I looked at the items added by Improved Anvil and decided they went a bit too far, so never installed it.

However from checking the readme at BlackWyrm its seems to have some major compatability issues

So far, the Known mods and/or mod-components which are incompatible with Imporved Anvil
(regardless of the order of installation) are as follows. Do NOT install these mods/components
with Improved Anvil:

1- "Item Upgrade" mod.

2- "Spell50" mod.

3- The following components of "Tactics" mod:
- Improved Torgal
- Smarter Dragons
- Improved Irenicus
- Improved Guarded Compound
- Improved Oasis
- Slightly Smarter Liches
- Improved Twisted Rune

4- The following components of Ascension mod:
- Tougher Cromnir
- Tougher Yaga-Shura

5- The following components of "Improved Battles" mod:
- Improved Mencar Pebblecrusher
- Improved House Jae'llat
- Improved Lord Roenall
- Improved Firkraag
- Improved Temple Sewers Party
- Improved Trademeet Crypt
- Improved Shade Lord

6- The "Pai'Na/Spider's Bane Quest" component of Unfinished Business mod.

7- The following components of "Quest Pack" mod:
- General AI Improvements
- Creature & Area Improvements
- Miscellaneous Enhancements
- Improved Oasis II
- Further Slaver Involvement

8- G3 site's BG2 Fixpack

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:01 am

Well, if I can't install the G3 BG2 Fixpack with Improved Anvil, that does IA in. I'll stick with Item Upgrade. I normally check readmes, but I gave the go-by on this one, assuming it would be standard. So much for assumptions!

Modlist above changed accordingly.

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:47 pm

Hi Fable, greetings.

Could you let us know what your final mod list looks like?

I am thinking of playing through BG1/TofSC/SOA/TOB with Tutu after a long hiatus, and have lost touch with the latest mods.

Thanks and have fun.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:24 pm

I"ll be happy to. Though I'm still angling for my comments before I get going.

BlueSky · Post by **BlueSky** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:50 pm

Hey Fable:
I actually installed the whole series with just patches and no mods for a change of pace from my usual run through this time, "sigh" brings back memories....haha...though i doubt very much I'll make it all the way through/:mischief: