Best Mod for Combing BG1, 2, and expansions?
ArbitraryNerd
Member Posts: 14
Hi all,
I've never played any of the original BG games (played Dark Alliance and didn't like it, never looked back -- wish I had). I've recently picked up both games and expansions (actually waiting for Throne of Bhaal to come in) and am planning on playing through.
I've been looking at some mods and don't know if I plan on using too many. What really interests me is combing the games as a seamless unit/uploading characters.
Usually, I see TuTu mentioned, though I've also heard of something referring to a "Trilogy" as another option.
Which is the best way to combine all the experiences together in your opinions? Also, are there any other must-have mods while I'm waiting?
Thank you!
I've never played any of the original BG games (played Dark Alliance and didn't like it, never looked back -- wish I had). I've recently picked up both games and expansions (actually waiting for Throne of Bhaal to come in) and am planning on playing through.
I've been looking at some mods and don't know if I plan on using too many. What really interests me is combing the games as a seamless unit/uploading characters.
Usually, I see TuTu mentioned, though I've also heard of something referring to a "Trilogy" as another option.
Which is the best way to combine all the experiences together in your opinions? Also, are there any other must-have mods while I'm waiting?
Thank you!
0
Comments
I'm just not sure why anyone would go Tutu if Trilogy is so seamless, but I really want to make the best decision overall.
Also you'll be able to play the entire game using TOB engine.
You'll need both games installed with their expansions before installing BGT.
Also you'll need BG2 Fixpack and I recommend you use TobEx and Widescreen mod as well.
Despite the fact that BGT introduces content compared to TuTu (the transition between BG1 and BG2), it's way more faithful to the original game. TuTu is a complete disaster in this regard.
The "BiG World" makes installing BGT incredibly easy, allowing you to choose from many different mods and even recommends some depending on your preferences.
http://kerzenburg.baldurs-gate.eu/downloads.php?id=2
I would advise against a combination on the first playthrough, however. Leave the game as it was originally intended.
If you can't stand the low resolution (I personally really can't play it in 640x480 anymore), try the Widescreen Mod (http://www.gibberlings3.net/widescreen/).
The broken GUI can be fixed with this: http://athkatla.cob-bg.pl/viewtopic.php?t=3257
No, you're right. The only reason for a conversion to the BG2 engine would be the group behaviour in tight places (especially considering the fact that BG1 has >two< *annoying* mines!) and the availability of half-orcs, barbarians, monks, sorcerers and wild mages (not the other kits, see below). But the rest, from small things like the dialogue style to more drastic game changers like the summoning limit or the proficiencies, is so different that the gaming experience is noticeably changed.
The fact that you can grow familiar with your class and *then* decide to specialise in a kit, basing your decision on your experience and preferences (the same with weapon proficiencies by the way) just feels more right and "as intended" than forcing those decisions on you at the beginning.
So, to sum it up, the only mod I'd recommend is the Widescreen Mod. It makes the game less ugly and doesn't change the gameplay.
I only consider BGT if I want to play a barbarian, sorcerer, wild mage or monk. Kits are for BG2.
Having said that, I generally like having my install as one game. If you modify files on your own, this also means that you just have to do it once rather than for both games. And where BGT combines the world maps of both games, Tutu obviously has one for each. As @rattenfleisch mentions, Tutu also changes some details in the game - for one thing the BG1 soundsets are lost, which is a shame.
For instance, take the BGII walk speeds. In TuTu, wolves were slow, and bears couldn't catch you worth a damn, for instance. These are just a few monsters that were severely, sloppily handicapped. However, in BG:EE they tweaked all of the walk speeds in the game so that characters/monsters move relative to our characters. Wolves are fast again, etc.
This is just one of the things they have nitpicked at to try and make it as true to the vanilla game as possible given that they are using the BGII engine. They have a fudged a few things up, such as character animations, spellcasting voices, and the HUD. With the character animations however, they have made the shields proper in their BG1 form, and I believe the helmets as well. They have implemented a mod that makes the paperdolls their BG1 form (1PP), which is a huge blessing. They fixed the dual-wielding bug or whatever, so people will be able to fairly easily mod the BG1 sprites right back in.
Another prominent issue in my mind is dealing with the weapon proficiencies being different, more thorough. I'm really hoping that they decide to make it like Icewind Dale; more specific than vanilla BG1, but not as painfully specific as BGII. Because seriously, long swords bastard swords scimitars katanas short swords two-handed swords? Awful, it's painful, and given that there are less equipment options in BG1, and far, far less level ups, it could potentially be a huge problem where a character was previously (in BG1) able to proficiently handle a great weapon, but with their adjusted proficiencies in BG:EE they will be stuck with crappy weapons. (For example take Kivan. In BG1 he is proficient in Pole-Arms; Spears and Halberds. If they separate those two weapons, are they going to stick him with a Spear because he is originally found with a Spear? Likely. The only magical Spear in BG1 is +1, and a Cursed +3. That's potentially a huge nerf to Kivan.) This is why I say IWD would be good: Great Swords (Two-Handed and Bastard), Long Swords (Katana, Long Sword, Scimitar), Short Swords. That's much better, but not as ridiculous as BG1 where "Long Swords" meant you could use practically half of the best weapons in the game. So it will be interesting to see how they re-calculate things ... Now I'm sure the devs have more sense than TuTu where every other fighter was dual-wielding, so I think they'll do well. We shall see, however...
Honestly, the only things I'm seeing thus far that are really fudged in my opinion: The spellcasting voices and HUD. The spellcasting voices is sloppy and "oops, oh well too bad don't care" a la TuTu. Fortunately, it's not a huge detail and so it isn't the end of the world. The HUD is pretty bizarre, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I think it's very pretty, but not necessarily fitting to the BG1 environment. Still, I was expecting them to be super lazy and just touch up the BGII HUD, so upon seeing a replacement I was overcome with joy, even if it is a touch out of place.
Another thing to be nervous about is kit balancing. Potentially, Totemic Druid can rape everything in BG1 from very early levels. (Summons are immune to Normal Weapons) But somehow, I'm sure they will be fixing that, and various other kits that are broken in a similar manner.
So overall? Been very nervous about the BG:EE project, admittedly. But upon stalking these forums I have discovered they are putting in 90% of the effort required to keep it feeling like BG1, so I'm pretty excited. There's gonna be a thing here and there I'll be pissed about, but otherwise it will be a fantastic upgrade to BG1 Vanilla. Compare that 90% effort to the 20% or so from TuTu, and maybe 35% from BGT; Overhaul is doing pretty good.