GameBanshee Forums

The Edwin romance mod.
Introduction (skip if not interested ):
Unlike some people here, I was convinced from the very begining it was a good idea. Why? Because I think almost every npc could be a good romance option - it only depends on who do you play, more precisely, on the mixture of your class and alingment. When playing a female chivalier (or what-it's-english-name-is ), your PC is not going to be atracted to Yoshimo, who is a thief, a crook and so on. The best choice here is Anomen, whatever his personality is. But, different PC - different most "suitable" NPC. That's how I see it - a human LG Lathander priest could have a crush on Viconia, a big one, for he would want her redeemed, but an elven mage would scorch her on sight

OK, on to the mod.
1. technical remarks.
Negative: Nothing, really. When Edwin starts conversation, because his soundset is not made for romance, the dialogue appears with one of his usual sounds. It can be annoying sometimes, when he says something nice (yes, he does, later on!) and the sound is "Go and weary someone else" (translation, not literal quotation). Maybe there is some way to change that, but it's a detail. There also are some people we meet during the romance. They all have portraits - that's OK for important ones, but the boy that comes to say "this way, miss" and then vanishes should not have one. Like someone said here on the forum, only really important people have portraits in BG.

Positive: The mod is well done, I experienced no bugs, no problems at all with installation and so on. It offers to restore Edwin's previous portrait if you want to (I didn't), includes a nice tune backgrounding all the romance conversations, and added items have very good drawings - only slightly different than original BG ones. There are journal notes that refer to the romance, and good ones, too. Translations on French, Russian and Spanish included. The French one seemed good, others I cannot test . I also find a great idea that PC's intelligence must be over 14.

2.The gaming content.
Well, every romance for females is nice to see, women being always the ill-treated ones . Especially those that are fun to play, and this means Edwin romance. Possibly, the Edwin we see in the mod is not how the developers have seen him, but he's a damn good Edwin all the same. Actually, he is exactly how I imagined him before playing the mod. It's an immature and self-obsessed personality all right, but he can't hide his feelings, whatever they are, thus making many occasions for the playeress ( ) to go 'ooh, how sweet' and generally bringing a good mood. The romance advances nicely and quite logically, with Eddie becoming more and more fascinated with Lady Bhaalspawn and showing that in many Edwin-like ways. The only weak points I found were:
- a dream he has, and tells about. I don't belive he would have a dream like that, no matter his state of mind.
- being said that he was already interested in PC during BG1. IMHO, it spoils the well-built progress of the romance.
- Edwin's statement in hell was not changed, and IMO, should be.

The conversations are extremely funny, and the dialogue options for PC let us really take part in them, not only to say "how horrible!" or "I understand". The mod is also quite heavy on the 'physical contents' of the romance, which is a nicely refreshing approach to the so-called "feminine needs" :devil:. Whipped cream is actually mentioned! (not my style, but a bow to Anomen thread ladies). Eddie's banters with Vic and Mazzy are nicely adjusted to the romantic situation, and bring much satisfaction to the playeress, who should otherwise be furious about them.

Generally, the mod is excellent work, hilarious, interesting, and offering some decent suprises.

Good grief, I think I got a little carried away... if nobody makes it to the end of the post, I won't be angry

*laughing*

Well, like I said in your other thead, I thought the mod was extremely well done. Laufey does a great job with Edwin's character, and the writing is terrific too!

Oh dear... I didn't realise *that* thread was still being read.....

If you get a chance, do check out Laufey's fan fiction, it's really entertaining

Well, I *did* got a little carried away... And I wanted to make some briefing material for those who have not yet met "best among wizards and lovers both"

And yes, that thread is still being read... It was the first one I read on GameBanshee, but can't remember why... :laugh:

Does the fanfic you mention refer to forgotten realms reality? I'd love to read anything coming from the author of those dialogs!

Uh oh.... knowing people are still reading that almost makes me want to go on a massive personal post deletion/edit spree :speech:


The fanfiction I mention is based on BG2, and roughly follows the plot of the game's story, with some interesting twists and new interpretations along the way
I suppose you could say, in that sense, it does indeed refer to the forgotten realms reality, though the author very definitely infuses it with her own creativity and imagination.
This is some of the best fan fiction I've ever read, very well written, and extremely entertaining.

You can get it from these links, read them in the order I place them

Cards Reshuffled

Gamejag.net :: Gaming for the creative adult

Gamejag.net :: Gaming for the creative adult

As I said previously, a caveat is in order. The story does have some adult content. However, it is tastefully done.


Below is sample of Laufey's work

“The Spewings and the Gaggingtons,” the gnome explained. “Very old merchant families in the massage oil business, very powerful. Fight like cats in a sack all the time, you know, they both claim to have invented the turnip-scented massage oil first, and whoever gets that will corner the entire gnomish market, so you can see how crucial it is. First one will double-cross the other, then the second will retaliate. And they keep jumping into bed with each other’s relatives too, and fathering illegitimate children on each other. Hardly a month goes by without some lost sibling or unknown child turning up, or without somebody unjustly accused of murder, or going insane, being kidnapped or fighting a court battle over turnip oil or the custody of the family parrot, a remarkably intelligent bird who can swear in seven languages and…”

Or another except....:laugh:

“You…will be right behind me, right?” Yoshimo said, his eyes fixed firmly on the task before him. He didn’t want to think of it, but it was getting increasingly hard to ignore it. Both the aural and the olfactory input was getting very…overwhelming.

“Oh, certainly,” the man called Mordo said, sounding just a little bit too amused for the Kara-Turan’s liking. “Are you certain you need it, though? I seem to remember you making a comment about how ‘the’ Yoshimo can handle whatever is thrown at him, including…what was it again…oh yes. Dancing on the head of a pin, I believe it was.”

Yoshimo sighed inwardly. That comment had probably been a mistake, yes. He had meant to sound good humouredly boastful, in the manner that so often put people at ease. Unfortunately, his companion seemed intent on making him eat his own words. Though it was difficult to tell with Mordo. The older rouge had his own hidden agenda, his own reasons for working with Bodhi, that much Yoshimo was certain of. So far he had not been successful in learning what that hidden agenda was, but he had thought that spending some time with the other man might help. I could very much use an ally in this game I am playing. Or at least to know if he is a hidden opponent of some kind. At least if Mordo was not fully on the side of Bodhi and Irencius, there might be a chance of the former. He had thought that showing himself as a competent thief would help him approach the other man, and he thought it had. However, he also suspected that this was another test of his abilities – one that it was equally important that he not fail. “Very well,” he said. “If you are certain.”

“Oh, I am,” Mordo said, and now there definitely was an amused glitter in his black eyes. His lips quirked into a faintly lopsided smirk. “If you recall, I took care of the first one, and I have no intention of dealing with every single one. Besides, it is a useful skill to have. Not even the deadliest of traps will daunt you once you know it to perfection.”

Yoshimo steeled himself, trying to mentally pinch his nostrils shut. Gingerly, his fingers extended themselves, delicately probing the complex mechanism before him. By all the oni…why do these things have to be so difficult to pry open? Slowly. Slowly. Trying to block out the blaring sound that was worse than any alarm he ever heard.

“Working under pressure is good for steeling your nerves, I find,” Mordo blandly remarked. “You will welcome a nice and silent break-in after this, I believe. Far more soothing.”

The maddening thing was that Yoshimo suspected he was right. Finally, finally, he managed to ease the thing open. He kept his face as calm as he could, but inwardly his heart was soaring with triumph as he lifted his price. And then…then it hit him. Sharply smelling fluid, splashing him directly in the eyes, searing almost as painfully as acid. “Ah!” Yoshimo cried out, and this time he did lose his composure as the shock made him take a hurried step backwards.

“Ah, yes,” Mordo said, nodding to himself. “That is a fairly common occurrence with baby boys, I’m afraid. I have always suspected that they do it on purpose. Next time, I advice that you try shielding yourself with the clean nappy as you remove the old one.”

it's great, thank you, Dragon W. Trouble is, I spend much too much time working on my computer (and gaming too ). Translators tend to. So I try to avoid reading from it. Good old paper books... [sigh] But, when my eyes shall let me, I'm going to have lots of fun with that

On Edwin subject, I'm doing ToB with him right now, and he seems to have fallen somewhat silent... But the last conversation I got was a laughing knock out! "I'll make him digest his own sword. Backwards." :laugh: And, he had some nice comments about PC's 'relative', too. He's just great, and he does not have any tragic story, he does not constantly need our support... the PC can feel like a woman again, instead of being a walking cane.