[MOD] Continuous NPCs

morpheus562

This mod adds NPCs encountered only during Baldur's Gate 1 into Siege of Dragonspear and Baldur's Gate 2. The mod itself requires EET and it will present a continuous version of these characters in the subsequent games. This means any stats, experience, proficiencies, spells, etc. given to the NPC in BG1 will be present when they appear in SoD and BG2. In order for an NPC to appear in SoD and BG2, they must first be recruited in BG1.

Please Note: Initial release includes only Kivan and Xan, with some other smaller sub-components. More NPCs will be added at a later time, I just want to release this now as there is interest in getting these characters.

https://www.morpheus-mart.com/continuous-npcs

ThomMerrilin

Does this mod provide continuity if Domi's Kivan and Deheriana mod for BG2 is installed, or Kulyok's Xan for BG2, or are they incompatible with your extension? As you continue to expand the NPCs included, will it be able to deal with the BG1 into BG2 NPC expansions by Lava and others as well as the BG1 NPC in SOA mod, or neither?

Since Xan and Kivan have no dialogue or banter in SoD, does this mod add them, or are they mute throughout that section of the game?

Interesting mod concept, just trying to understand whether this is kit/stats/level continuity, or content continuity, or both. Thanks!

morpheus562

This does not tie into any existing mods that adds these characters to later games. I also do not plan to add continuity for mod added NPCs as I believe those belong within the purview of the original mod authors. NPC voicing and stats will carry over to the later games, and there will be a pre-Irenicus fight interjection regarding these NPCs. Finally, these NPCs will get an Epilogue. Otherwise, I do not have plans right now to add interjections or banter.

ErykEryk

So do I get it correctly that despite enormous efforts of making mods like Kuylok's Xan, Domi's Kivan or Community created Yeslick you just created a mod that would ignore all that and make all these npcs just "continous" ? This is super bizzare to me or maybe i dont get something. however your answer above is clear "This does not tie into any existing mods that adds these characters to later games"
if there is any benevolent purpose in this mod then please enlight me and show it to me

morpheus562

None of those mods provide a continuous version of those characters like one would see with regular NPC via EET. No stats, ability tomes, experience, kits/class changes, etc. carry over in those mods. That is a huge "benevolent purpose" that shouldn't be dismissed that those other mods simply dont do.

Getting to the personal opinion aspect, I don't think any of them are done well, and other mod authors don't get a monopoly on these characters just because they came around first to add them into BG2. Additionally from a technical perspective, the other mods fall short and don't allow for a continuous version of the character, only the version that they add of the character. This should not be downlplayed at how much of a downside this is for EET players. My mod is a lightweight alternative without a lot of bloat that the other mods introduce (e.g., having to deal with another companion that Kivan's forces on you, etc).

shevy123456

I think that is a perfectly fine game design approach morpheus takes here. Naturally people may like it and use it; or not like it and then not use it. There were always discussion about NPCs in the past; I think one of the larger one was when Imoen was changed in strange ways, but I also find the change to Aerie somewhat peculiar, though that can be assumed to try to carve out more of Aerie's personality, whereas that mod that changes Imoen heavily, was indeed odd. That's always a problem with any mod that changes NPCs though - what person A writes, may be totally orthogonal to what person B writes. I could see this in oldschool text-based MUDs too, if anyone still remembers those, where sometimes immortals/wizards ("dungeon masters", sort of) would animate and roleplay a NPC, but this often led to behavioural changes and change in personality. Female characters (NPCs) suddenly wanting to go and fight things down - like a male person incorporated them suddenly (e. g. the immortal was also male, and it is very hard to roleplay a female character convincingly when you "think male"; the reverse often also applies, e. g. female immortals trying to roleplay a male NPC who suddenly becomes a supersoft pacifist - anyway I digress).

For me personally the only consideration (or, rather, with all mods) was with regard to EET, as I avoided EET in the past, but it seems as if most developers still active, seem to prefer using EET or at the least recommend its use (lichdom mod too). Guess I'll have to start my next play through with EET first. I'd wish it were more of a consensus among developers though - that way I could just follow any majority here (but it seems EET gives more in the long run? At the least for a developer point of view. Will older mods still work? I am not using that many old mods anymore, as I kept on having some issues in the past, but I am a bit worried that some mods suddenly don't work).

Note that you can also say that there are different mods that cover a similar use case. For instance, morpheus' tactic remix covers some use cases of Sword Coast Stratagems mod. Perhaps people can try both mods, but I opted for tactic remix only, as that seemed easier for me. (Is anyone using both mods at the same time? Though that may be a bit offtopic, could probably put that into the morpheus specific thread.)

(Come to think of it, one of the few mods I like with regard to personality changes or extension, is the mod that enhances Viconia. Viconia is a pretty great NPC overall; I liked the story-changes in regards to the Underground and Viconia, more than the changes to Imoen and Aerie.)

ErykEryk

I've written longer response but i've just deleted it. it's not worth the effort i guess. I strongly disagree full stop.

morpheus562

It's more options for the player. I'm in the camp that it's good to have options.

ErykEryk

fair enough