Baldur's Gate & Baldur's Gate II Mod Thread

[hell bovine]

I'm aware of the drama, but didn't have any trouble, or noticed anything modified in the gameplay.

What did you run into?

Tool kept crashing, presumably because I tried to use the mods I downloaded myself.

 

[Daidre]

I'm aware of the drama, but didn't have any trouble, or noticed anything modified in the gameplay.

What did you run into?

I've tried BG 1 EE install with this tool and noticed:
1. SCS: Better Calls for Help were missing in the component list for BG 1 (but not for BG 2), kinda serious, it is important part of SCS AI and missing it makes game noticeably easier.
2. SCS: Improved NPC management is missing too, for both games. But it is new and in beta so this could be a reason.
3. The Tweaks Anthology - XP cap remover component is blatantly missing in mod list because you are supposed to use EET Tweak's version for this.
4. Convenient EE NPC mod to remove all Beamdog's awful characters is missing in the mod list. That's just criminal and I sure see some agenda here.

So I still needed to fix it manually and won't use this tool for BG 2.

 

[Strantar]

I'm aware of the drama, but didn't have any trouble, or noticed anything modified in the gameplay.

What did you run into?

I've tried BG 1 EE install with this tool and noticed:
1. SCS: Better Calls for Help were missing in the component list for BG 1 (but not for BG 2), kinda serious, it is important part of SCS AI and missing it makes game noticeably easier.
2. SCS: Improved NPC management is missing too, for both games. But it is new and in beta so this could be a reason.
3. The Tweaks Anthology - XP cap remover component is blatantly missing in mod list because you are supposed to use EET Tweak's version for this.
4. Convenient EE NPC mod to remove all Beamdog's awful characters is missing in the mod list. That's just criminal and I sure see some agenda here.

So I still needed to fix it manually and won't use this tool for BG 2.

The SCS components in 1. and 2. both don't work in the current version. Better Callls make whole towns hostile if you kill an attacker in sight of peasants. Improved NPC makes NPCs level up constantly and makes them unkillable. SCS is again in a hiatus and bugs are not fixed.

 

[InD_ImaginE]

That modified version IIRC is just so it is compatible. Lot of older mods aren't updated to work with EE games, especially when made into EET.

Nope, it's so they are compatible with their mary sue mod. I only noticed because the mod list on that tool is outdated and the tool kept crashing. Went looking for answers, found the batshit drama, as usual.

Eh, sure. Still using the tools unless there is a significant issue tho. At least until Project Infinity is finished and they have custom one-click download and install setup like BWS as I can't really bothered to do BG modding manually,

 

[hell bovine]

The SCS components in 1. and 2. both don't work in the current version. Better Callls make whole towns hostile if you kill an attacker in sight of peasants.

Well, I've ended up installing SCS manually (as usual) and had no problems killing the assassin in Nashkel. And that even though I've charmed some peasants to help with defense, as usual.
edit: To clarify, I have better calls installed.

 

[Daidre]

I'm aware of the drama, but didn't have any trouble, or noticed anything modified in the gameplay.

What did you run into?

I've tried BG 1 EE install with this tool and noticed:
1. SCS: Better Calls for Help were missing in the component list for BG 1 (but not for BG 2), kinda serious, it is important part of SCS AI and missing it makes game noticeably easier.
2. SCS: Improved NPC management is missing too, for both games. But it is new and in beta so this could be a reason.
3. The Tweaks Anthology - XP cap remover component is blatantly missing in mod list because you are supposed to use EET Tweak's version for this.
4. Convenient EE NPC mod to remove all Beamdog's awful characters is missing in the mod list. That's just criminal and I sure see some agenda here.

So I still needed to fix it manually and won't use this tool for BG 2.

The SCS components in 1. and 2. both don't work in the current version. Better Callls make whole towns hostile if you kill an attacker in sight of peasants. Improved NPC makes NPCs level up constantly and makes them unkillable. SCS is again in a hiatus and bugs are not fixed.

I always install "Better Calls for Help" manually and never encountered any issues in BG1 EE on SCS 32.8 or like, ever.
Improved NPC endless leveling could be "fixed" by switching on AI, it works incorrectly with AI off. Still, it has other serious issues so I can imagine why it is not on the list.

EDIT: I know there were reported issue with one case where BG thief guild were turning hostile because of quest due to "Calls for Help", but I usually do this quest without any violence. It was fixed in 32.6.

 

[Parabalus]

I'm aware of the drama, but didn't have any trouble, or noticed anything modified in the gameplay.

What did you run into?

I've tried BG 1 EE install with this tool and noticed:
1. SCS: Better Calls for Help were missing in the component list for BG 1 (but not for BG 2), kinda serious, it is important part of SCS AI and missing it makes game noticeably easier.
2. SCS: Improved NPC management is missing too, for both games. But it is new and in beta so this could be a reason.
3. The Tweaks Anthology - XP cap remover component is blatantly missing in mod list because you are supposed to use EET Tweak's version for this.
4. Convenient EE NPC mod to remove all Beamdog's awful characters is missing in the mod list. That's just criminal and I sure see some agenda here.

So I still needed to fix it manually and won't use this tool for BG 2.

The SCS components in 1. and 2. both don't work in the current version. Better Callls make whole towns hostile if you kill an attacker in sight of peasants. Improved NPC makes NPCs level up constantly and makes them unkillable. SCS is again in a hiatus and bugs are not fixed.

I always install "Better Calls for Help" manually and never encountered any issues in BG1 EE on SCS 32.8 or like, ever.
Improved NPC endless leveling could be "fixed" by switching on AI, it works incorrectly with AI off. Still, it has other serious issues so I can imagine why it is not on the list.

EDIT: I know there were reported issue with one case where BG thief guild were turning hostile because of quest due to "Calls for Help", but I usually do this quest without any violence. It was fixed in 32.6.

I installed BGT so I have Better Calls for help, good catch though.

The rest seem like non-issues, 2+3. are bug avoidance, 4. you can install manually (or just butcher the NPCs on the spot?).

Given the creator I was more worried about malicious software (cue EE joke) being installed.

 

[Grunker]

Like Jason says, though, you can have Big Picture manage your install for you if it's updated.

This has now replaced BWS https://baldursextendedworld.com/Install-Tool/ - BWP doesn't work anymore, for the non-EE games you need to do it yourself.

someone already pointed this out, though I didn’t get around to checking BEW yet myself. Is it good?

It works well, maybe even better than BWS. No real reason to not to use it.

Nice. Does it always do modmerge tool for you or do you still need to sort out that?

A late warning, but don't use this tool to install BG mods. The current maintener is continuing the fine tradition of BG batshit insane modding drama. They got banned from modding forums, because of sockpuppet accounts, but the wackiness didn't end there. Apparently this tool doesn't always download the original mods, but in some cases their own 'modified' versions of said mods.

I know she's completely the insane but the tool is good and she maintains it with the fervor of a true autist.

 

[InD_ImaginE]

I know she's completely the insane but the tool is good and she maintains it with the fervor of a true autist.

And as end-user that's the only important thing. Original BWS is dead because nobody wants to maintain the database anymore and trying to sort what stuff is compatible. Then they create Project Infinity... which is really just a manual install at this point in time. It will probably be useful enough in another year or two. And the "install setup" still rellies on people actually creating one for Project Infinity.

This guy updates the tool on github several times within a week. He also provides debugging on installation (his forum is full of people buggy setups and him trying to check the saves for them, giving solutions. Heck he provided modified files so people can continue with their setup). And then he incorporates all the bugfixes from those debugging to the main tools. Or in some cases like Imoen Romance, slaps red "This will causes conflict with other mods: text. This guy alone is probably more helpful than the whole hight mighty SHS forum, as much as end user is concerned in the current year. So far he is doing that I will be using the tool.

If you are going to be muh purist and only install SCS then this kind of tool is not important. BWS is there to play all the mega-mods together, including in EET.

 

[hell bovine]

I know she's completely the insane but the tool is good and she maintains it with the fervor of a true autist.

No small wonder, poor thing probably can't keep up with her own bugs "updates" anymore.

Anyways, managed to install all the mods manually, game works, so at this point I assume the crashing was due to the tool itself. Ah well, BG had its share of crazy modders over the years.

 

[Grunker]

I highly doubt that the tool caused crashes. I've used it for quite a few installs now with varying degrees of complexity, it works perfectly

 

[Brancaleone]

Looks like David Wallace is still at it:

https://www.gibberlings3.net/forums/topic/31505-restored-rhynn-lanthorn-quest/

https://www.gibberlings3.net/files/file/914-sword-coast-stratagems/

 

[Infinitron]

GemRB lives: https://gemrb.org/2020/08/24/the-ge...s-20-year-anniversary-with-a-new-release.html

The GemRB project celebrates 20 year anniversary with a new release

The GemRB team announces the availability of GemRB 0.8.7, a new minor release to kick off a week of celebrations of the project’s founding anniversary. 20 years ago, on the 21st of August, the project initiator Daniele Colantoni registered it on SourceForge to try to make it a team effort. Many things have happened since, the path was convoluted and bumpy, but GemRB has continued to grow throughout the years.

GemRB is a portable free/libre open-source implementation of Bioware’s Infinity Engine, which powered classic CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment. The goal of the project is to make these games available on a wide range of platforms forever, fix or avoid old bugs, add new features and provide a superb platform for mod (and eventually game) development.

It was started 20 years ago by a student fresh out of town, Daniele Colantoni: “I missed playing D&D with my friends so much /…/ I wanted to create my game to play via internet. So I started my personal reverse engineering process on the base files from Baldur’s Gate.”

Predictably it turned out to be much more complicated and time consuming than first imagined, but the effort continued. From its Windows-only 32-bit beginnings GemRB was made to run on all common and many niche platforms (from AmigaOS to IRIX and Symbian; x86 to PPC, ARM, MIPS and WebAssembly). This was largely made possible through use of open source libraries that are themselves very portable (SDL, OpenAL, libpython, zlib). Without an open development model and supporting infrastructure, the project would have never succeeded.


Various screenshots.

The engine can be used to play the full Baldur’s Gate saga, the first Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment. The latter requires more reverse engineering and polishing, but one can finish the game already. Icewind Dale 2 is a different matter — while it appears more polished than Torment, only the first two chapters of the game are playable.

As GemRB marks its 20th anniversary, Jaka Kranjc, the current maintainer, is optimistic about the project’s future. “Our work is not finished, but this sort of thing is like an ultramarathon — for most of the run the goal is not within reach. Companies come and go, but FLOSS persists!”

The new release brings over 500 changes manifested as bugfixes, smaller features, cleanups and an improved setup experience. More than that, it introduces a new smarter pathfinder with bumping support and other movement related improvements. At the same time work continued on the drawing and GUI handling rewrite — stay tuned for a deeper dive later this week. With this anniversary release out of the way, finishing that rewrite is again the team’s main priority.

Overall it’s clear that after all this time the GemRB effort is still active, slowly building missing pieces of the Infinity Engine mosaic, revitalising older code, extending features and working throughout the project to keep the effort vibrant for years to come. The team is looking for new contributors, especially programmers with OpenGL experience, who could help them finish a drawing backend refactoring — for better performance and to remain available on a wide berth of platforms.

A pearl to you!

PS: check our news section in the following days for a daily retrospective with past maintainers and a look into the project’s future.

Project links:

• Web site: https://gemrb.org
• Downloads: https://gemrb.org/Install
• News: https://gemrb.org/News (RSS available)
• Screenshots: https://gemrb.org/Media

If you want to be notified of further releases, subscribe to gemrb-release (low volume).

If you need to get in touch via email, write to <registracije+gemrb20@lynxlynx.info>.

 

[Grunker]

the fuck lol

 

[Theldaran]

So-Sorcerer/Monk...

 

[oldmanpaco]

The GemRB team

 

[Chippy]

So-Sorcerer/Monk...

Sorcerer/Monk/Cleric also.

Sarcasm aside, I'm not sure what this GemRB thing actually is. I assume it's some sort of editor that allows you to adjust settings for the game before you load it?. The compatible mods are here: https://github.com/lynxlynxlynx/gemrb-mods which shows they've managed a party of 10, and the Sorcer/Monk/Cleric classes.

I know I sound like a prick, but as with most mods from the BG community; the authors don't clearly describe and advertise what it actually is...

 

[The Jester]

The current maintener is continuing the fine tradition of BG batshit insane modding drama.

Where can I read this spicy drama?

 

[chuft]

So-Sorcerer/Monk...

Sorcerer/Monk/Cleric also.

Sarcasm aside, I'm not sure what this GemRB thing actually is. I assume it's some sort of editor that allows you to adjust settings for the game before you load it?. The compatible mods are here: https://github.com/lynxlynxlynx/gemrb-mods which shows they've managed a party of 10, and the Sorcer/Monk/Cleric classes.

I know I sound like a prick, but as with most mods from the BG community; the authors don't clearly describe and advertise what it actually is...

Directly quoted from the post above:

"GemRB is a portable free/libre open-source implementation of Bioware’s Infinity Engine, which powered classic CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment. The goal of the project is to make these games available on a wide range of platforms forever, fix or avoid old bugs, add new features and provide a superb platform for mod (and eventually game) development."

 

[Chippy]

chuft Oh. An admirable goal. Once again, I hate to sound like a prick, but they've managed a few mods compatible with the base thing over the past 20 years, so maybe we'll see other compatible mods and game development in...another 20?.

If they had accomplished one thing in the past 20 years, and it was...quick weapon slots for all weapons and styles as per the EE, I would be excited. As it is...not so much.

 

[Grunker]

The current maintener is continuing the fine tradition of BG batshit insane modding drama.

Where can I read this spicy drama?

Primarily on G3 and SpellholdStudios. Don't have links to thread but just looking through Roxanne's post history should point you in the right direction

 

[Grunker]

The GemRB team

Next up: Glory of Ishtar mod revived

 

[Russia is over. The end.]

The current maintener is continuing the fine tradition of BG batshit insane modding drama.

Where can I read this spicy drama?

Primarily on G3 and SpellholdStudios. Don't have links to thread but just looking through Roxanne's post history should point you in the right direction

Could you give a TLDR?

 

[Grunker]

The current maintener is continuing the fine tradition of BG batshit insane modding drama.

Where can I read this spicy drama?

Primarily on G3 and SpellholdStudios. Don't have links to thread but just looking through Roxanne's post history should point you in the right direction

Could you give a TLDR?

On this? No way in hell lol. We're talking fake accounts, multiple conversations between Roxanne herself and those accounts (as in, with herself), bitter, defensive apologism about the tool, accusations against other modders, shit like that.

There was a thread once that summarized a bit of it but it's been a long time since I read it. It was on Spellhold, though.

The tool is better than ever though. Used it for my current install

 

[d1r]

The current maintener is continuing the fine tradition of BG batshit insane modding drama.

Where can I read this spicy drama?

Primarily on G3 and SpellholdStudios. Don't have links to thread but just looking through Roxanne's post history should point you in the right direction

Could you give a TLDR?

On this? No way in hell lol. We're talking fake accounts, multiple conversations between Roxanne herself and those accounts (as in, with herself), bitter, defensive apologism about the tool, accusations against other modders, shit like that.

There was a thread once that summarized a bit of it but it's been a long time since I read it. It was on Spellhold, though.

The tool is better than ever though. Used it for my current install

http://www.shsforums.net/topic/59869-roxanne-and-her-multiple-accounts-scam/

As a start. She is batshit crazy though. Created her own self-insert character for BGT that follows MC for the whole trilogy. Mod requirements are half of the BWP (which basically a means a completely messed up BG install).