I'm going to do it.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:18 am

I tried Dark Ritual some time ago and found it insanely difficult, far harder than taking out the demon in Saerileth (it isn't actually unkillable). I persevered with DR (after having to resort to ctrl+y!!!) but found it unworthwhile. I've also avoided any COM mods, having found the few I have tried to be far to heavy on the cheese, but haven't tried the Encounters one.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:05 am

galraen wrote:I tried Dark Ritual some time ago and found it insanely difficult, far harder than taking out the demon in Saerileth (it isn't actually unkillable). I persevered with DR (after having to resort to ctrl+y!!!) but found it unworthwhile. I've also avoided any COM mods, having found the few I have tried to be far to heavy on the cheese, but haven't tried the Encounters one.

Funny thing is, Pocket Plane Group lists Dark Ritual among their "Store and Item" mods, but not their "Quest-related" mods. Impossibly difficult quests, I can do without. I already face that in reallife with a few of my editors' versions of deadlines.

I'll probably give this a pass, then. Thanks for the info.

Since we're on a new page (for at least those of us who use the maximum page size), I'll restate:

What with a fairly large amount of updates and some new mods, I thought I'd do another run-through of BG2. These are the mods I'm considering, in current order of loading. Please note the question marks:

G3 BG2 Fixpack
Bag Bonus
Item Upgrade
Banter Packs
COM: Food and herbal mod
Underrepresented items
Divine Remix
COM Encounters?
Turnabout?
Dark Ritual?
G3 BG2 Tweakpack
G3 Anniversary Mod
Unfinished Business
NPC mods (Auren, perhaps, or Kitanya)
Quest Pack 2.3
The Longer Road
Tower of Deception?
Dungeon Crawl
Ashes of Embers
iiItem?

Has anybody tried Dark Ritual, Tower of Deception, iiItem, or COM Encounters? I can't find much response to how they work with other mods, and I'm not quite sure about the loading order. Looking for advice. I do *not* want any conflicts at all.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:12 am

I owe you an apology, only excuse is that I made that last post at 5.30am after being up all night, brain fart!

I have played COM Encounters, that was the MOD that put me right off COM. It has more cheese than a dairy counter. Really uber items, including probably the most over the top suit of armour I've ever seen. There are also NPC's in totally inappropriate places, Solaufin sitting in a pub in Amn in Act II for example.

The real tragedy is that whoever made this mod obviously has great technical skills, just absolutely clueless when it comes to balance and what is appropriate. Guys hanging around a bar waiting for a fight carrying unique weapons is definiteyly not appropriate. My advice is to give it a miss.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:27 am

galraen wrote:I have played COM Encounters, that was the MOD that put me right off COM. It has more cheese than a dairy counter. Really uber items, including probably the most over the top suit of armour I've ever seen. There are also NPC's in totally inappropriate places, Solaufin sitting in a pub in Amn in Act II for example.

So, Dark Ritual is impossibly difficult, if I understand you correctly, and COM Encounters is poorly balanced and contains some real anti-roleplaying elements? I should probably give it a pass, as well. Thanks for your straight-forward replies!

Current list, still looking for comments on included mods and order:

G3 BG2 Fixpack
Food and Herbal mod
Bag Bonus
Item Upgrade
Banter Packs
COM: Food and herbal mod
Underrepresented items
Munchmod
Divine Remix
Turnabout?
G3 BG2 Tweakpack
G3 Anniversary Mod
Unfinished Business
Quest Pack 2.3
NPC mods (Auren, perhaps, or Kitanya)
The Longer Road
Tower of Deception?
Dungeon Crawl
iiItem?
Ashes of Embers

Also considering some of these:

The Magnificent Magic Store?
Ruad?
Selune's Armoury?
Ribald's Genie
Rupert the Dye Merchant?

Decided to go ahead. I'm not running Ascension or Tactics this time, because I've done those, and I just want to kick back now, look around, and sample a bunch of little add-ons that put in flavor rather than strategic content. Still added Ascension, though. Some habits are hard to break.

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:28 pm

I think that this would be the appropriate thread for my question. If not, my apologies! I'm starting another BG2 play through right now. I've yet to finish a mod heavy game (though I started one a couple years ago that never reached resolution). I'm currently using:

BG2 Fix Pack
Unfinished Business
Banter Pack
NPC Flirt
G3 Anniversary Mod
Quest Pack
Dungeon Crawl
Dungeon Be Gone
Ascension
Tweak Pack (certain features. Not the stuff that feels overpowered to me)
Redemption

I'm debating about trying Divine Remix. I'd be curious to get feedback on it for those who've tried it. But, more importantly, I'm trying to figure out what NPC mods to use. However, does anyone have any favorite NPC mods that they consider near essential mods to try out?

I've tried and enjoyed Keto and Kelsey (but never completed a play through with either), so I was playing with the idea of running those 2 over again. I really want balanced NPCs with stats and abilities equal to or a bit below Bioware NPCs. Significant banter, dialog, and interesting quests are what captivate me. Raw power does not. Thanks so much!

Shesau · Post by **Shesau** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:05 pm

I'll speak up for Keto. I thought she was written well, voiced nicely, and has interactions with NPCs that truly seemed in-character. She's well balanced with nothing extravagant - if you've got the room for a bard I'd say she's about the same level of usefulness as Haer'Dalis. Thing is, she only has content for SoA which is rather disappointing. I think she's quite worth taking along for the journey, though. My only issue with Keto was that she has issues when certain mods are installed over her, or other mods are uninstalled from beneath her. I would strongly suggest extracting her last unless another mod notes otherwise.

Fable - Realize it's old, but I was just checking out your list. For inquiring minds, and I may be off, but I'm pretty sure one needs Ascension for Turnabout.

Turnabout is something I have mixed feelings on. While I enjoyed the fact that you're receiving Bhaal powers as you progress through battles at the Throne, and as such you could resurrect (canonically) deceased comrades, it sort of felt like a hollow win. I don't know: the deaths of various NPCs added to the drama, and Turnabout seemed like pulling the rug from under the storyline. Still, the dialogs that occur in that mod are good and in-character.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:30 pm

Shesau wrote:Fable - Realize it's old, but I was just checking out your list. For inquiring minds, and I may be off, but I'm pretty sure one needs Ascension for Turnabout.

I was considering Ascension at one time, but removed it, having previously played it. Turnabout was a stub.

I'm debating about trying Divine Remix. I'd be curious to get feedback on it for those who've tried it. But, more importantly, I'm trying to figure out what NPC mods to use. However, does anyone have any favorite NPC mods that they consider near essential mods to try out.

I've used Divine Remix in my current run-through, and am enjoying it. Some might find it a bit overpowered, but since I don't minimax my weapons, armor, etc, it balances out.

Aran Linvail · Post by **Aran Linvail** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:41 pm

hey, did any of you played SoA part of Imoen Romance? (ToB hasn't yet been released

) I won't spoil it just in case you haven't but..i've got to say, it really changed teh way i saw immy. Not just for de "romance" option, because you can also just be friends with her, and it works great: Lord M. (I.R. creator) is a great dialogue's writer, and that's one of the best parts of it. This year we are getting things moving for the ToB portion fo the game (Beta testing already) and we hope to bring along something as great as (at least for me) SoA part.

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:02 pm

I'm not really interested very much in game romances, but I would urge you to put up a thread for that mod, and update it regarding development. That are a lot of people in this forum who are really interested in mods, including romance ones. And we like to give positive feedback to the developers, too.

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:16 pm

Aran Linvail wrote:hey, did any of you played SoA part of Imoen Romance? (ToB hasn't yet been released ) I won't spoil it just in case you haven't but..i've got to say, it really changed teh way i saw immy. Not just for de "romance" option, because you can also just be friends with her, and it works great: Lord M. (I.R. creator) is a great dialogue's writer, and that's one of the best parts of it. This year we are getting things moving for the ToB portion fo the game (Beta testing already) and we hope to bring along something as great as (at least for me) SoA part.

Yeah, if you want to share a review and update on that mod for us since you're a tester, by all means do so in a new thread. I know I would love to read it. It's a mod I've been quite curious about, though I no that reactions to it are somewhat mixed. Any idea as to the timeframe for the ToB release?

Aran Linvail · Post by **Aran Linvail** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:33 am

Faust wrote:Yeah, if you want to share a review and update on that mod for us since you're a tester, by all means do so in a new thread. I know I would love to read it. It's a mod I've been quite curious about, though I no that reactions to it are somewhat mixed. Any idea as to the timeframe for the ToB release?

Well, the ToB released was thought to be somewhere mid this year, but we've been having some delays in stuff i'm not really sure I can talk about since it's not MY mod.

but hey, if i see it correct, i'll start an update thread at this forum: i liked seeing your interest in it

rbeverjr · Post by **rbeverjr** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:18 pm

I like Tower of Deception fine, and suggest you give it a try. I have only face a few of the COM encounters. Those few have been appropriately placed and not that difficult. I often leave loot from mods on the ground, particularly if I think the loot includes unbalanced items. So, I don't have any problem with leaving unique items on the ground.