Modding for Dummies (or dummy as the case may be)

Sunder

So over the last 9 months I have sank myself entirely to far in to playing & replaying the BG series. I am to the poin that I want to begin exploring some mods to add variety to the game. Looking to ease myself into it as I am totally clueless when i t comes to mods for any games. The closet I have come to using a "mod" so far is EEkeeper to add a few containers here & there, make a multi-class character with a kit, or rebuild a few different NPCs. I am not even sure where to start, and that is after looking ad such threads as "essential BG mods" and others.

I accidentally had Joluv go hostile while doing a certain quest that he is meant to be a bystander of (he & a peasant- not even sure how it happened or was even aware til I returned to The Copper Coronet) & can't seem to get the line added to enable the console commands to stick in the .ini file. So, yeah, I'm rather pathetic in terms of editing programming files. However, I am quite intelligent & more than willing to put effort into reading/learning the system to do so.

To further compound the issue, I am using PC that most would consider ancient. It is about 10-12 years old I am guesstimating- I bought it to play Rome: Total War, Mideval: Total War 2, LOTR RTS's, NWN2, ES: Oblivion, ect as other my old PC couldn't run Rome & the other games were current titles. My Laptop is reserved for work and I prefer gaming on my PC anyway with my 10 year old PC surround sound/woofer set. Since most of my games from GOG (including BG series), figure I should use a system to match. So yeah, Windows 7 and limited space on the hard drive (about 20gb atm). Will this bar entry to many/any mods?

I assume starting with backing up my BG files (saves in particular) would be wise, which I like to think I can figure out for myself. After that.....yeah, I'm lost. I have an idea of some I would like to try (while I def plan to give it a go- I'm not in a place where I necessarily want to play the game in a hardcore mode a la SCS. Currently play on core rules and that works for me as my game time is limited and too much complication/difficulty gets in the way still.

So would I be better off listing the mods I have in mind to try here and some one advising the best way/order to add them? Is there anywhere that I can get a walk through for adding mods to BG or PC games in general to learn the in & outs of doing so? Like the title- adding/installing/using mods for dummies type of walk through would be much appreciated and since I mainly play older games- prolly much enhance my gaming. I'd love to try some NWN2, Totalwar, & ES mods as well & since D&D and BG is my favorite setting/games- figure this is as good of time/way to learn as any.

Thanks for any feedback or even taking time to read through this dribble. Happy gaming!

DJKajuru

Hey there, I believe that either @elminster or @JuliusBorisov could provide with helpful links.

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JuliusBorisov

Sunder said:

I accidentally had Joluv go hostile while doing a certain quest that he is meant to be a bystander of (he & a peasant- not even sure how it happened or was even aware til I returned to The Copper Coronet) & can't seem to get the line added to enable the console commands to stick in the .ini file.

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/61900/how-to-enable-the-console-in-bgee-sod-bg2ee-in-version-2-0-and-later

As for mods, I suggest SCS with only basic options enabled. Try yourself against better enemy AI.

Flashburn

Download NearInfinity and start messing around with items and spells. Back them up first using the Export right-click option. That's how I'm learning.

In my game, the Shapechange: Iron Golem was missing its advertised immunity to +2 weapons and less since I was getting hit by the Amnish reputation police using normal spears, so I added it back last night.

Sunder

Thanks for the replies. I think I will try Near Infinity next before tackling mods. I main concern is order of downloads. From what I have read, Near Infinity & EEkeeper should be fine together regardless. So I will play with that a bit and then take @bengoshi's advice and download SCS and just install a few components at a time as I feel I will enjoy. I have no idea how all that works, but between here, the Read Me, gibberlings3, ect- I think I can figure out how to use it to tweak the game in a manner i will appreciate. It also seems that adding that after the other 2 will work fine.

Hoping by that point I am comfortable/knowledgeable enough to try out other mods and set up a install order on my own.

Also- I actually already followed a couple links on how to activate console command, even found a thread where the person had same issue I had with Joluv & instructions to fix or spawn a new Joluv merchant.. Some reason when I attempt to add it, it doesn't save. It is odd to say the least. I was just charming him if I wanted to peruse his wares, but then he wandered off & thought he was gone, later found him over by the planar sphere and he seems to have taken up residence there(atleast he was there for several in-game days & still there when I headed to Brynnlaw). I won't need him much or at all anymore in that run anyway.

Again, thanks for the replies. I will press on in my attempt to modify my BG experience!