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What is EET good for?

lollerslollers Member Posts: 190
edited August 2020 in BGII:EE Mods
I don't often see any comments on it, but it tends to be negative when I do. Talk about instability and incompatible mods etc. I am getting near the end of a playthrough right now, and things ran smoothly until the last chapters, but how should I know that EET is at fault? I'm just going through a few stronghold quests and completing a few things in and around Athkatla that didn't seem appropriate at the time before I kill Mel
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Comments

  • CaedwyrCaedwyr Member Posts: 176
    edited August 2020
    EET and the EET installer tool are two different things. EET is
    G3 Forums wrote:
    Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Trilogy (EET) is a modification for BGII: Enhanced Edition that merges the whole saga into one game and provides continuity between the events of Baldur's Gate, Tales of the Sword Coast, Shadows of Amn, Throne of Bhaal and the Siege of Dragonspear expansion.

    Consider it to be similar to the old BGT (Baldur's Gate Trilogy mod) that aimed to do the same thing and provide a seamless transition between the games. It largely seems to be a modding platform and opens up the potential for future mods to add content back to the BG1 areas during the events of BG2.

    The EET installer tool, hosted at Baldursextendedworld is a separate thing and uses unauthorized/potentially older or modified versions of mods. It's goal is to try to simplify the mod installation process (good idea), but the creator has seemingly cut a lot of interactions with the wider modding community and so if you use it and run into problems you may be on your own. A lot of the versions of mods there have been adjusted to integrate more closely with the author's Sardrah Saga (sp?), including adding new dialogue and other things.

    I agree that it would be great if the mod installation tools had progressed further than they have. @ALIEN Project Infinity is a step in that direction, but is still somewhat complex to set up and not every mod is compatible with it, even if they'd be compatible in a normal manual Weidu install.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    edited August 2020
    @lollers I saw your other bug reports. You put inofficial EET-adaptions of old mods into your EET install. Please do not make EET responsible for bugs you encounter. As @Caedwyr pointed out, EET by @swit is just the combination of BG:EE+SoD+BGII:EE as one game with some continuity tweaks for NPCs and some restaurations of old movies and the kidnapping cutscene at the end of SoD. Countless people played EET until the end without problems.
    EDIT: and it's not true EET is usually mentioned negatively. This is a rumor that keeps on spinning and is mainly caused by Roxanne - the maintainer of the mentioned EE Setup Tool - pretending that her controversially discussed mod(s) are part of the official EET.
  • MaurvirMaurvir Member Posts: 1,093
    It really is a shame this wasn't handled better, because I love the idea of BGT/EET. The idea of being able to return to the north is highly attractive, even if you had to sneak around Baldur's Gate itself. One of the biggest things missing from BG2 was the huge expanse of wilderness.

    That, and it would be nice if could run on a tablet, but I get the permissions system prevents it.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    @Maurvir what do you mean should be handled better? EET is to be installed like a mod and gives the original content with some continuity features (some NPCs stay dead if they died etc.), and so far, worked perfectly for me.
    If you have problems to play EET on a tablet, then it's because you can't install mods in general, not because EET is special in any way. It's just a (huge, very impressive) mod, technically speaking.
  • PokotaPokota Member Posts: 858
    edited August 2020
    EET would be my megamod of choice if I could continue a character past the Bandit Camp. Restartitis is a dangerous addiction. Possibly with an item shuffler and a few NPC Carryover mods for BG2 and a huge world map.

    The main draw of EET is being able to play the entire saga from start to finish without having to mess around with character importing. Original BGT also brought BG2 Kits and Modability to BG1, but since BG:EE and BG2:EE run on essentially the same engine that's no longer an important point.

    The biggest advantage for EET right now is it lets you create a consistent experience - essentially you get to apply a whole host of BG2 mods to BG1 (BG1-specific mods should be installed to BG:EE ahead of time in order to get them into an EET install) and play through the entire story with the same suite of mods.

    The installation process is a pain in the butt though, and if you're not looking to use the megamod to apply the same suite of mods to all four stories (BG1, SoD, SoA, ToB) then you might actually be better off just playing the games separately.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    Pokota wrote: »
    (BG1-specific mods should be installed to BG:EE ahead of time in order to get them into an EET install)
    This is only true for the mods witout direct EET compatibility. The list of EET compatible mods is here, a lot of BG1 mods were made compatible.

  • ThacoBellThacoBell Member Posts: 12,235
    I've seen a lot of bug reports in threads for recent mods coming specifically from EET players, and one case of a mod being broken on normal installs after it was made EET compatible. This isn't objective evidence by any means (circumstantial?) but its worth mentioning that you might have some extra compatibility problems.

    I don't see the appeal of EET personally, since the games already HAVE continuity, and being able to travel back to BG1 areas in BG2 or ToB breaks in game logic spectacularly. EET certainly isn't garbage, but its not as simple as its die-hard fans make it either. You're trading some extra mod compatibility considerations for the benefit of saving a few clicks to import characters.
  • MaurvirMaurvir Member Posts: 1,093
    jastey wrote: »
    @Maurvir what do you mean should be handled better? EET is to be installed like a mod and gives the original content with some continuity features (some NPCs stay dead if they died etc.), and so far, worked perfectly for me.
    If you have problems to play EET on a tablet, then it's because you can't install mods in general, not because EET is special in any way. It's just a (huge, very impressive) mod, technically speaking.

    I was under the impression EET in particular wouldn't work on Android because it needs to see both your BG1 and BG2 installs. I run with a pretty heavy mod setup already, but they are all BG2 mods only.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    @Maurvir once the setup-EET.exe run, the BG:EE install is no longer necessary. It's basically a modded BGII:EE game then.
  • MaurvirMaurvir Member Posts: 1,093
    jastey wrote: »
    @Maurvir once the setup-EET.exe run, the BG:EE install is no longer necessary. It's basically a modded BGII:EE game then.

    Interesting... I would *love* to get this setup, as I have always liked the idea of everything being on one giant map. Now I'm going to have to go and do some research.

    Does this mean you literally start from Candlekeep at the beginning of an EET game, even though you are technically playing BG2?
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    @Maurvir
    Yes, it's the same concept as in BGT - or Tutu, for that matter. (Only that for the classic engine, you also did it to get the better BGII engine).
    EET - the game folder - is the former, modded BGII:EE game, and it offers all campaigns and/or a continuous game from Candlekeep to ToB.
    (I feel like a salesman praising a product. "EET special offer! Grab it while you can! Only as long as stocks last!") :D
  • MaurvirMaurvir Member Posts: 1,093
    So, before I start asking a bunch of stupid questions, EET dumps the entire game contents of the other two games (BG1EE and SOD) into an override folder for BG2EE, right? As in, the first two games essentially become a couple of gigantic "mods" to BG2?

    I'm thinking it *should* be possible to pull off an EET install in Android, though I would have to uninstall the first two games to make room.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    I'm not familiar with how BG:EE and SoD are two separate games on your platform. I only know the "SoD is a DLC that gets integrated into the BG:EE game" way like it's done on the PC? There, you need the BG:SoD game to install EET.
    The ressources of BG:SoD is then copied into the BGII:EE game that becomes the EET game, yes. EET is a modded BGII:EE game, and the mod contents is the contents of BG:SoD.
  • MaurvirMaurvir Member Posts: 1,093
    I have a separate question for how to take my completely separate SOD/BG1EE game folders and merge them - even if the final product isn't playable.

    I really hope this is possible, as I love the idea of a single campaign from Candlekeep to TOB without changing apps, and I've really come to love playing on my tablet. I actually prefer it to the desktop now.

    I will miss Aura, though. I noticed she isn't on the list of EET compatible mods. Fortunately, Isra and Sirene are listed, and have content every game.
  • CaedwyrCaedwyr Member Posts: 176
    edited August 2020
    I believe Aura is EET compatible. I know I was able to install the mod without issues. I believe I put Aura fairly late in the NPC section of my install list, this is after most of the Bioware NPC expansions and a number of other NPCs
    Recorder NPC v1.34 https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/77784/v1-33-recorder-a-gnome-lorekeeper-npc-for-bg-ee-sod
    a. Recorder NPC
    b. Recorder's Music
    Helga NPC v1.47 https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/76460/v1-46-helga-a-dwarven-priestess-of-haela-brightaxe-for-bg-ee-and-sod
    a. Main Component
    b. Music Soundtrack
    Vienxay NPC v1.56 https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/74701/v1-55-vienxay-a-elven-shadowmage-npc-for-bg-ee-sod
    a. Main Component
    b. Music Soundtrack
    Kale NPC v1.57 https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/74630/v1-55-kale-a-halfling-barbarian-for-bg-ee-sod
    a. Main Component
    b. Warden kit
    c. Music Soundtrack
    Artisan's Kitpack v1.92 https://artisans-corner.com/the-artisans-kitpack/
    a. Fighter - Arcane Archer
    Emily NPC v1.59 https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/74672/v1-33-emily-a-half-elf-archer-for-bg-ee-sod
    a. Main Component
    b. Arcane Archer
    c. Music Soundtrack
    Aura NPC v3.2 https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/65891/v2-7-aura-a-gnome-artificer-npc-for-bg-ee-sod/
    a. Aura NPC
    b. Artificer Kit
    c. BG1 Default by Artemius_I/AionZ

    Sir Ajantis v20 https://www.gibberlings3.net/mods/npcs/ajantis-bg2/
    a. Main Component
    b. EE Shield Graphic
    c. Cavalier kit for ajantis
    d. Mature Romance
    Arath v4.0 http://www.shsforums.net/files/file/1001-arath/
    Adrian NPC v5.0 https://github.com/SpellholdStudios/Adrian_NPC/releases
    a. Main Component - Sorcerer
    b. Phaelin's Soundset
    c. Crossmod Content
    Isra NPC v3.2 https://github.com/SpellholdStudios/Isra_NPC/releases
    a. Main component
    b. Valerie/Isra Crossmod
    c. Gavin/Isra Crossmod
    Isra NPC for BG2 v3.1 https://github.com/SpellholdStudios/Isra_NPC_BG2/releases
    a. Main component
    b. Crossmod content
    Kelsey NPC v6 https://github.com/Pocket-Plane-Group/Kelsey/releases
    a. Kelsey NPC
    b. Ascension specific dialogue
    Crossmod Banter Pack for BG2 v19 https://www.gibberlings3.net/mods/npcs/crossmod/
    a. SoA
    b. ToB
    c. Romance Conflicts
    Grey the Dog v4 https://www.gibberlings3.net/mods/npcs/grey-the-dog/
    NPC Flirtpacks v1.07 https://github.com/Pocket-Plane-Group/NPC_Flirt_Packs/releases
    a. Aerie
    b. Jaheira
    c. Viconia
    d. Anomen
  • SkitiaSkitia Member Posts: 1,080
    edited August 2020
    That is one issue, the EET compatible list doesn't actually include all of the EET compatible mods. And there's two of such lists around. Which is a similar issue with any Mod List, unless someone is actively keeping an eye out for Mod Releases and if they update to be EET compatible, they are bound to miss some gems.

    I want to try EET one day. I play with very few mods (Usually only NPC mods and Banter adding mods.)
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    Skitia wrote: »
    That is one issue, the EET compatible list doesn't actually include all of the EET compatible mods.
    @Skitia
    The list is - as everything else in the IE community - a community project. You miss EET compatible mods on the list? Make a pull request or post them here.

    The other EET-compatible mod list you are referring to is probably from Roxanne. If you want a list that really links to the original mods, stick to k4thos' list.

  • SkitiaSkitia Member Posts: 1,080
    I think you told me this before! I'll do that now actually to help.
  • lollerslollers Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2020
    Think I will go back to my traditional way of manually installing things, and follow some mod order guidelines. Besides, baldurs gate is actually quite good as a game, and installing more than a few mods at a time will probably make it worse. Better that I stick to what I understand best.
  • ShinShin Member Posts: 2,344
    In my experience many of the negative comments about EET and the installer that makes it a bit more accessible stem from user error. Before anything else it should be understood that running an EET multi-mod install successfully requires a certain amount of experience with the game and engine; and even if you use an installer, you should know what mods go into your game and roughly what they're meant to do. Attempting to run an EET game with 120 mods the first time you play BG is a bit like attempting to cook for a 25-person banquet when all you're used to is ordering pizza and frying eggs -- even if you follow a cookbook to the letter, you're likely to run into unforeseen problems.
  • ThacoBellThacoBell Member Posts: 12,235
    BG modding is pretty tempramental on its own. EET adds another layer of requirements on top of that. You HAVE to know what you're doing.

    This is neither an endorsement nor indictment of EET.
  • CaedwyrCaedwyr Member Posts: 176
    EET like BGT is definitely not something you go into without an expectation of having to troubleshoot, that is for sure.
  • megamike15megamike15 Member Posts: 2,666
    eet to me just feels like to much of a hassle to even use.

    you need to have some mods installed before eet is even on

    alot of mods are not compatible with eet and the ones that are may give you issues and if you having them in bg 2 then you gotta start the whole game again from bg 1.

    none of the exclusive megamods from eet are worth it imo.

    i never saw a benefit from playing the saga as one game compared to just doing bg1/sod and bg2/tob stand alone.
  • Permidion_StarkPermidion_Stark Member Posts: 4,861
    I haven't tried EET yet but I am planning to because I like the idea of playing the saga as one continuous game. I also like the fact that it means that if I decide against dualling Imoen into a mage in BG1 she will still be a pure thief when I wake up in Chateau Irenicus (at least I think it means that).
  • CahirCahir Member, Moderator, Translator (NDA) Posts: 2,819
    megamike15 wrote: »
    eet to me just feels like to much of a hassle to even use.

    you need to have some mods installed before eet is even on

    alot of mods are not compatible with eet and the ones that are may give you issues and if you having them in bg 2 then you gotta start the whole game again from bg 1.

    none of the exclusive megamods from eet are worth it imo.

    i never saw a benefit from playing the saga as one game compared to just doing bg1/sod and bg2/tob stand alone.

    1. You need to have only BGEE, BG2EE and SoD installed. There are no mod requirements. The only requirement is to install DLC Merger before any other mod if you use GoG or Steam version of SoD, but this is still valid for non-EET games.
    2. Currently a very few mods are *not* compatible with EET, mostly old and abandoned ones. @Gwendolyne and @jastey are doing immensly great job to keep more and more old mods updated, adding EET compatibility in the process.
    3. Which EET exclusive megamods you have in mind? The only EET exclusive megamod that I know of is The Sandrah Saga. There are also couple of smaller mods (mostly made by Roxanne) that are strictly EET exclusive. And there is also The Cowled Menace, which is (currently) also EET exclusive, which I deeply recommended to play.
    4. There is a great benefit, in my opinion, to be able to play the whole saga with one character, without the need to import it with each game, where variables, romances, stats are preserved between games. I also like the EET feature that allows to visit back BG1 areas anytime, even when you are for instance in ToB. It's a shame that not many mods benefit from this feature, but it's there, ready to be used by modders.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    @megamike15 you don't have to start EET from BG1. You can start a new game in every campaign (SoD, SoA, ToB) just as well.

    A main problem EET seems to have is that there are a lot of rumors about it and that people who apparently do not know how EET works and what it offers (and most importantly, what it doesn't) formed a (negative) opinion on those and repost them time and again. It's like fighting windmills.
  • ThacoBellThacoBell Member Posts: 12,235
    @Cahir "There is a great benefit, in my opinion, to be able to play the whole saga with one character, without the need to import it with each game, where variables, romances, stats are preserved between games."

    Really? Like what? You still have the same character when importing, there are no romance variables that remember previous states and the game wouldn't react to them being there anyway with the way its designed.

    "1. You need to have only BGEE, BG2EE and SoD installed. There are no mod requirements. The only requirement is to install DLC Merger before any other mod if you use GoG or Steam version of SoD, but this is still valid for non-EET games."

    Actually no. I've seen troubleshooting in various mod threads indicating that some mods need to be installed before EET to fix compatibility issues.

    "I also like the fact that it means that if I decide against dualling Imoen into a mage in BG1 she will still be a pure thief when I wake up in Chateau Irenicus (at least I think it means that)."

    " I also like the EET feature that allows to visit back BG1 areas anytime, even when you are for instance in ToB."

    These are actually part of my reasons for not being a fan of EET myself. Both of these points break HARD from established story of the game. Imoen TRAINED as a mage in Sod. Charname was BANISHED from Baldur's Gate. Not to mention the logistics nightmare of travel times to OTHER COUNTRIES while dealing with the crises in BG2 and, especially, ToB.
  • CahirCahir Member, Moderator, Translator (NDA) Posts: 2,819
    ThacoBell wrote: »
    @Cahir "There is a great benefit, in my opinion, to be able to play the whole saga with one character, without the need to import it with each game, where variables, romances, stats are preserved between games."

    Really? Like what? You still have the same character when importing, there are no romance variables that remember previous states and the game wouldn't react to them being there anyway with the way its designed.

    "1. You need to have only BGEE, BG2EE and SoD installed. There are no mod requirements. The only requirement is to install DLC Merger before any other mod if you use GoG or Steam version of SoD, but this is still valid for non-EET games."

    Actually no. I've seen troubleshooting in various mod threads indicating that some mods need to be installed before EET to fix compatibility issues.

    "I also like the fact that it means that if I decide against dualling Imoen into a mage in BG1 she will still be a pure thief when I wake up in Chateau Irenicus (at least I think it means that)."

    " I also like the EET feature that allows to visit back BG1 areas anytime, even when you are for instance in ToB."

    These are actually part of my reasons for not being a fan of EET myself. Both of these points break HARD from established story of the game. Imoen TRAINED as a mage in Sod. Charname was BANISHED from Baldur's Gate. Not to mention the logistics nightmare of travel times to OTHER COUNTRIES while dealing with the crises in BG2 and, especially, ToB.

    Not going to answer until you lower your agression level. Not worth my nerves.

    You have clearly established view on EET and nothing any of us write here will change it. It's exactly like @jastey described it: tilting with windmills.
  • jasteyjastey Member Posts: 2,776
    edited August 2020
    @ThacoBell There are mods that continue storywise. My Ajantis BGII for exmaple continues the BG1NPC Romance in the BGII part, without a 4th wall breaking incident like a ring you find somewhere where you have to chose whether it's an engagement ring (for continuation of romance) or a ring you never saw (no romance) via reply options, because EET /BGT can just use the variables that are there.
    I've seen troubleshooting in various mod threads indicating that some mods need to be installed before EET to fix compatibility issues.
    Not for the plain EET Cahir was referring to. What are you referring to, plain EET or a modded EET (with additional mods)? And, frankly, where did you see this info? At Roxanne's place maybe?...

    And the BG1 City areas are closed after SoD. @Cahir was referring to all other areas. Because, yes, @swit actually spent a thought or two when he designed the continuity in EET. So of course you cannot visit BG1 areas in plain EET in the BGII part because you are banned there.

    You don't appreciate what EET offers, that's totally ok. But please stop posting things about EET that are not true.
  • ThacoBellThacoBell Member Posts: 12,235
    @Cahir "Not going to answer until you lower your agression level. Not worth my nerves."

    Uh, screw you too? I guess? I wasn't aware not seeing the appeal of EET myself and asking for clarification was "aggressive". I guess I shouldn't ask you any questions.

    "There are mods that continue storywise. My Ajantis BGII for exmaple continues the BG1NPC Romance in the BGII part, without a 4th wall breaking incident like a ring you find somewhere where you have to chose whether it's an engagement ring (for continuation of romance) or a ring you never saw (no romance) via reply options, because EET /BGT can just use the variables that are there."

    But that continuation is still there. Its not added by EET. I guess clicking an extra line of dialogue is problematic for some people?

    "Not for the plain EET Cahir was referring to. What are you referring to, plain EET or a modded EET (with additional mods)? And, frankly, where did you see this info? At Roxanne's place maybe?..."

    I do not visit Roxanne's place. I saw those discussions pop up on this forum.

    "And the BG1 City areas are closed after SoD. @Cahir was referring to all other areas. Because, yes, @swit actually spent a thought or two when he designed the continuity in EET. So of course you cannot visit BG1 areas in plain EET in the BGII part because you are banned there."

    But that doesn't solve the issue of travelling to an entire other country either when trying to get to Imoen or during a war. There is some very important things going on in BG2 and ToB, and charname just decides to travel hundreds of miles for a walk or something?


    "But please stop posting things about EET that are not true."

    You have not demonstrated how anything I"ve said is false.
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