Posted December 21, 2019
So, what mods are the recommended ones to play through the games?
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
amazingchestahead
New User
Registered: Sep 2017
From United States
Posted December 21, 2019
- Throne of Bhaal Extender (TobEx)
- Unfinished Business
- BG2 Fixpack
- Ascension
- Tweaks Anthology (cdtweaks)
- One Pixel Production (1PP)
- Item Revisions
- Spell Revisions
- Strategems (SCS)
- Infinity Animations
These are what I consider "core" mods which enhance the experience greatly without making the game too much harder or stray too far from a more or less "pure" BG2 experience. SCS alone is probably challenging enough for many.
Some others:
- aTweaks
- Rogue Rebalancing
- Wizard Slayer Rebalancing
- PnP Celestials
- Wheels of Prophecy
- Oversight: I use this mod mainly for the Monk HLAs.
- Refinements: as above, I used this mod mainly for the revised HLAs. Combining Monk HLAs from this mod and those from Oversight makes the Monk class really fun. I had a blast playing as a Monk recently (though, I personally made further modifications to the class as I played).
Other notes:
- Depending on whether you're interested in playing a custom kit, you may want to check out some kit mods or kit components in bigger mods - e.g. Sword Angel from Refinements, Holy Liberator from Oversight, or Arcane Avenger and Blademaster and Demon Knight from Revised Battles.
- Unfinished Business
- BG2 Fixpack
- Ascension
- Tweaks Anthology (cdtweaks)
- One Pixel Production (1PP)
- Item Revisions
- Spell Revisions
- Strategems (SCS)
- Infinity Animations
These are what I consider "core" mods which enhance the experience greatly without making the game too much harder or stray too far from a more or less "pure" BG2 experience. SCS alone is probably challenging enough for many.
Some others:
- aTweaks
- Rogue Rebalancing
- Wizard Slayer Rebalancing
- PnP Celestials
- Wheels of Prophecy
- Oversight: I use this mod mainly for the Monk HLAs.
- Refinements: as above, I used this mod mainly for the revised HLAs. Combining Monk HLAs from this mod and those from Oversight makes the Monk class really fun. I had a blast playing as a Monk recently (though, I personally made further modifications to the class as I played).
Other notes:
- Depending on whether you're interested in playing a custom kit, you may want to check out some kit mods or kit components in bigger mods - e.g. Sword Angel from Refinements, Holy Liberator from Oversight, or Arcane Avenger and Blademaster and Demon Knight from Revised Battles.
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
Posted December 21, 2019
- Unfinished Business
- BG2 Fixpack
- Ascension
- Tweaks Anthology (cdtweaks)
- One Pixel Production (1PP)
- Item Revisions
- Spell Revisions
- Strategems (SCS)
- Infinity Animations
These are what I consider "core" mods which enhance the experience greatly without making the game too much harder or stray too far from a more or less "pure" BG2 experience. SCS alone is probably challenging enough for many.
Some others:
- aTweaks
- Rogue Rebalancing
- Wizard Slayer Rebalancing
- PnP Celestials
- Wheels of Prophecy
- Oversight: I use this mod mainly for the Monk HLAs.
- Refinements: as above, I used this mod mainly for the revised HLAs. Combining Monk HLAs from this mod and those from Oversight makes the Monk class really fun. I had a blast playing as a Monk recently (though, I personally made further modifications to the class as I played).
Other notes:
- Depending on whether you're interested in playing a custom kit, you may want to check out some kit mods or kit components in bigger mods - e.g. Sword Angel from Refinements, Holy Liberator from Oversight, or Arcane Avenger and Blademaster and Demon Knight from Revised Battles.
Post edited December 21, 2019 by ShadowWalker56
amazingchestahead
New User
Registered: Sep 2017
From United States
Posted December 21, 2019
First, whether you're playing the original games or the enhanced games, I would recommend that you install the "trilogy" mod, which merges BG1 and BG2 and expansions into one game. This way, you only have to go through the mod installation process once.
The *optimal* order to install mods can be tricky to determine, because, depending on which components you're installing and which ones you're skipping, and how picky you are, some mods would need to be installed in several steps at different times during the installation. For the mods I listed, the general order can be as follows:
1. ToBEx - not needed if you're playing the EE games
2. Ascension
3. Oversight - the "Tougher Sendai" component should be installed here, but everything else later. However, if you're not going to use this component (because SCS has its own version of "Tougher Sendai"), you can skip this.
4. BG2 Fixpack
5. 1PP - only the Core stuff and Improved Projectile Effects
6. Item Revisions - core component only
I'm copypasting here suggested installation order between 1PP and Item Revisions (from IR's readme):
Install Before IR's Main Component:
[101]. Core Paperdolls (included in IR but required for other 1PP components)
[400]. Core Updates and Item Patches (partially included in IR but required for other 1PP components)
[401]. Improved Projectile Effects
Install After IR's Main Component:
[113]. Smart Avatar & Armour Switching
[210]. Increased Paperdoll Object Variety (core)
Install in Any Order:
[102]. Extended Palette Entries
[104]. GUI Additions for BGII
[105]. Avatar Fixes
[106]. Female Dwarves
[110]. Thieves Galore
[114]. Softer Spell Effects
[201]. Consistent Spell and Scroll Icons
[202]. Spell Tweaks
[209]. Attachable Wings (core)
[300]. Fixed Animations for Solars and Elementals
[301]. Miscellaneous Content Fixes
Don't Install Because They're Already Included:
[203]. Restored Flame Sword Animations
[204]. Colourable Quarterstaves
[205]. Legacy Shields v2
[206]. Additional Shield Animations (core)
[207]. Wizards' Staves (core)
[208]. Additional Helmet Animations (core)
7. Spell Revisions
8. BG1 Unfinished Business
9. Revised Battles
10, BG2 Unfinished Business
11. Wheels of Prophecy
12. P&P Celestials
13. Tweaks Anthology
14. 1PP - most other stuff, except Spell Tweaks
15. Oversight - second step, which involves everything else aside from "Tougher Sendai"
16. Rogue Rebalancing - first half, up to "Upgradeable equipment"
17. Item Revisions - other components
18. Wizard Slayer Rebalancing
19. Infinity Animations
20. 1PP - Spell Tweaks
21. Refinements
22. Stratagems
23. Rogue Rebalancing - second half (last four components, starting from Revised Thievery)
24. aTweaks
25. Generalized Biffing - this should always be the last step after all other mods
Mod installation for the BG games can be a real maze and it gets worse really fast as you add more mods to your installation. I highly recommend that you download the Big World Project pdf guide for reference purpose. If you're installing the "trilogy" mod, there are a few other trilogy-related mods that you may want to check out, such as BGT Tweaks Pack, BGT Music, BGT World Map, etc. Again, you should refer to the BWP guide for the installation order of these mods. The guide explains exactly why certain components have to be installed before or after certain other components.
The *optimal* order to install mods can be tricky to determine, because, depending on which components you're installing and which ones you're skipping, and how picky you are, some mods would need to be installed in several steps at different times during the installation. For the mods I listed, the general order can be as follows:
1. ToBEx - not needed if you're playing the EE games
2. Ascension
3. Oversight - the "Tougher Sendai" component should be installed here, but everything else later. However, if you're not going to use this component (because SCS has its own version of "Tougher Sendai"), you can skip this.
4. BG2 Fixpack
5. 1PP - only the Core stuff and Improved Projectile Effects
6. Item Revisions - core component only
I'm copypasting here suggested installation order between 1PP and Item Revisions (from IR's readme):
Install Before IR's Main Component:
[101]. Core Paperdolls (included in IR but required for other 1PP components)
[400]. Core Updates and Item Patches (partially included in IR but required for other 1PP components)
[401]. Improved Projectile Effects
Install After IR's Main Component:
[113]. Smart Avatar & Armour Switching
[210]. Increased Paperdoll Object Variety (core)
Install in Any Order:
[102]. Extended Palette Entries
[104]. GUI Additions for BGII
[105]. Avatar Fixes
[106]. Female Dwarves
[110]. Thieves Galore
[114]. Softer Spell Effects
[201]. Consistent Spell and Scroll Icons
[202]. Spell Tweaks
[209]. Attachable Wings (core)
[300]. Fixed Animations for Solars and Elementals
[301]. Miscellaneous Content Fixes
Don't Install Because They're Already Included:
[203]. Restored Flame Sword Animations
[204]. Colourable Quarterstaves
[205]. Legacy Shields v2
[206]. Additional Shield Animations (core)
[207]. Wizards' Staves (core)
[208]. Additional Helmet Animations (core)
7. Spell Revisions
8. BG1 Unfinished Business
9. Revised Battles
10, BG2 Unfinished Business
11. Wheels of Prophecy
12. P&P Celestials
13. Tweaks Anthology
14. 1PP - most other stuff, except Spell Tweaks
15. Oversight - second step, which involves everything else aside from "Tougher Sendai"
16. Rogue Rebalancing - first half, up to "Upgradeable equipment"
17. Item Revisions - other components
18. Wizard Slayer Rebalancing
19. Infinity Animations
20. 1PP - Spell Tweaks
21. Refinements
22. Stratagems
23. Rogue Rebalancing - second half (last four components, starting from Revised Thievery)
24. aTweaks
25. Generalized Biffing - this should always be the last step after all other mods
Mod installation for the BG games can be a real maze and it gets worse really fast as you add more mods to your installation. I highly recommend that you download the Big World Project pdf guide for reference purpose. If you're installing the "trilogy" mod, there are a few other trilogy-related mods that you may want to check out, such as BGT Tweaks Pack, BGT Music, BGT World Map, etc. Again, you should refer to the BWP guide for the installation order of these mods. The guide explains exactly why certain components have to be installed before or after certain other components.
Post edited December 21, 2019 by amazingchestahead
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
Posted December 22, 2019
The *optimal* order to install mods can be tricky to determine, because, depending on which components you're installing and which ones you're skipping, and how picky you are, some mods would need to be installed in several steps at different times during the installation. For the mods I listed, the general order can be as follows:
1. ToBEx - not needed if you're playing the EE games
2. Ascension
3. Oversight - the "Tougher Sendai" component should be installed here, but everything else later. However, if you're not going to use this component (because SCS has its own version of "Tougher Sendai"), you can skip this.
4. BG2 Fixpack
5. 1PP - only the Core stuff and Improved Projectile Effects
6. Item Revisions - core component only
I'm copypasting here suggested installation order between 1PP and Item Revisions (from IR's readme):
Install Before IR's Main Component:
[101]. Core Paperdolls (included in IR but required for other 1PP components)
[400]. Core Updates and Item Patches (partially included in IR but required for other 1PP components)
[401]. Improved Projectile Effects
Install After IR's Main Component:
[113]. Smart Avatar & Armour Switching
[210]. Increased Paperdoll Object Variety (core)
Install in Any Order:
[102]. Extended Palette Entries
[104]. GUI Additions for BGII
[105]. Avatar Fixes
[106]. Female Dwarves
[110]. Thieves Galore
[114]. Softer Spell Effects
[201]. Consistent Spell and Scroll Icons
[202]. Spell Tweaks
[209]. Attachable Wings (core)
[300]. Fixed Animations for Solars and Elementals
[301]. Miscellaneous Content Fixes
Don't Install Because They're Already Included:
[203]. Restored Flame Sword Animations
[204]. Colourable Quarterstaves
[205]. Legacy Shields v2
[206]. Additional Shield Animations (core)
[207]. Wizards' Staves (core)
[208]. Additional Helmet Animations (core)
7. Spell Revisions
8. BG1 Unfinished Business
9. Revised Battles
10, BG2 Unfinished Business
11. Wheels of Prophecy
12. P&P Celestials
13. Tweaks Anthology
14. 1PP - most other stuff, except Spell Tweaks
15. Oversight - second step, which involves everything else aside from "Tougher Sendai"
16. Rogue Rebalancing - first half, up to "Upgradeable equipment"
17. Item Revisions - other components
18. Wizard Slayer Rebalancing
19. Infinity Animations
20. 1PP - Spell Tweaks
21. Refinements
22. Stratagems
23. Rogue Rebalancing - second half (last four components, starting from Revised Thievery)
24. aTweaks
25. Generalized Biffing - this should always be the last step after all other mods
Mod installation for the BG games can be a real maze and it gets worse really fast as you add more mods to your installation. I highly recommend that you download the Big World Project pdf guide for reference purpose. If you're installing the "trilogy" mod, there are a few other trilogy-related mods that you may want to check out, such as BGT Tweaks Pack, BGT Music, BGT World Map, etc. Again, you should refer to the BWP guide for the installation order of these mods. The guide explains exactly why certain components have to be installed before or after certain other components.
amazingchestahead
New User
Registered: Sep 2017
From United States
Posted December 22, 2019
That order looks good. As for the suggestions which components to take and which to avoid, you will have to decide for yourself, as we all have our preferences. For example, personally I like the "Concentration Checks on Damage" component from ToBEx. Most of the suggestions look good though.
As for BG2 Tweaks Pack, it is deprecated by The Tweaks Anthology. Tweaks Anthology takes a bit more time to go through, but it's more comprehensive.
Also, I forgot to list Baldur's Gate Trilogy mod in my previous post. It's usually right after BG2 Fixpack, just before Item Revisions.
Generally, that guide is good. However, without Item Revisions and Spell Revisions, the majority of items and spells in the games are either quite dull, underwhelming, or flat out broken. The overall balance is pretty bad in vanilla games. That said, these mods are primarily for the combat aspect, and not all players are combat nerds and they don't much care for a total rebalancing of items and spells. Personally I'm one of those "nerds" and I find these mods work really well with Stratagems. Just my two cents, of course.
As for BG2 Tweaks Pack, it is deprecated by The Tweaks Anthology. Tweaks Anthology takes a bit more time to go through, but it's more comprehensive.
Also, I forgot to list Baldur's Gate Trilogy mod in my previous post. It's usually right after BG2 Fixpack, just before Item Revisions.
Generally, that guide is good. However, without Item Revisions and Spell Revisions, the majority of items and spells in the games are either quite dull, underwhelming, or flat out broken. The overall balance is pretty bad in vanilla games. That said, these mods are primarily for the combat aspect, and not all players are combat nerds and they don't much care for a total rebalancing of items and spells. Personally I'm one of those "nerds" and I find these mods work really well with Stratagems. Just my two cents, of course.
Links
Never finishes a
Registered: Oct 2010
From Argentina
Posted December 22, 2019
Back in the day I played only BG2 when it released originally (as well as IWD and PST), and that post in Tamriel Foundry was the one I used as the foundation a few years back when I started with BGT. But I finally decided to use the Big World Project install order as a guide, after having decided on which mods to use by myself.
Sadly, Spellhold Studios seems to be down (yet again). In case you need something from them, you can try their recently established GitHub organization (https://github.com/SpellholdStudios), but since it's so recent not all the mod authors have uploaded or authorize the upload of the mods to it. You can also try the Wayback Machine; the most recent non-error page I found mirrored there is from March (https://web.archive.org/web/20190327180827/http://www.shsforums.net/)
Be very careful with "enhanced difficulty" mods of any kind if you played only the original unmodded games before. Most of them are punishing (and this comes from someone that likes roguelike games...)
Sadly, Spellhold Studios seems to be down (yet again). In case you need something from them, you can try their recently established GitHub organization (https://github.com/SpellholdStudios), but since it's so recent not all the mod authors have uploaded or authorize the upload of the mods to it. You can also try the Wayback Machine; the most recent non-error page I found mirrored there is from March (https://web.archive.org/web/20190327180827/http://www.shsforums.net/)
Be very careful with "enhanced difficulty" mods of any kind if you played only the original unmodded games before. Most of them are punishing (and this comes from someone that likes roguelike games...)
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
Posted December 22, 2019
I really appreciate both your suggestions. I'm playing Van Helsing at the moment so it'll probably be a bit more before I'm ready to dive into the BG games. I'm just trying to find everything I need to be able to have a good playthrough. Any suggestions as to what I should play? A mage? A fighter? Or what?
Sarafan
Watchman
Registered: Sep 2008
From Poland
Posted December 22, 2019
If you have some experience in Infinity Engine games, I'd suggest a Sorcerer. This class is a lot better than a standard Mage. He can cast more spells per day, but you have to select them on level up. This means that you can't learn spells from scrolls and thus receive a limited amount of them. It's a very powerful class, if you choose your spells right. You'll have a lot of fun playing it. :)
amazingchestahead
New User
Registered: Sep 2017
From United States
Posted December 22, 2019
I'd say generally mage (single/multi) or sorcerer is the most fun to play and most exciting to level up. Some mods or mod combinations make certain classes much more fun than their vanilla version, as well. The Assassin is much more rewarding to play if you have Rogue Rebalancing. If you have Refinements' "Revised HLAs" component, you can play a Monk and be able to use the same (more or less) abilities that Balthazar uses. Being able to use Lunar Stance and becoming immune to Time Stop after your mage casts Time Stop is pretty cool.
Also, it's not just your main character, but the synergy between him and other party members is important too. I find the playthrough more fun if you somewhat plan out beforehand whether you're going to do a good / evil / really good / really evil playthrough, and which companions you're going to take with you. Recently I did a fully evil playthrough as a Monk and had a lot of fun. Being a completely evil character actually revealed a lot of stuff that I'd never encountered before, despite having played the game for years.
Also, it's not just your main character, but the synergy between him and other party members is important too. I find the playthrough more fun if you somewhat plan out beforehand whether you're going to do a good / evil / really good / really evil playthrough, and which companions you're going to take with you. Recently I did a fully evil playthrough as a Monk and had a lot of fun. Being a completely evil character actually revealed a lot of stuff that I'd never encountered before, despite having played the game for years.
Post edited December 22, 2019 by amazingchestahead
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
Posted December 23, 2019
Also, it's not just your main character, but the synergy between him and other party members is important too. I find the playthrough more fun if you somewhat plan out beforehand whether you're going to do a good / evil / really good / really evil playthrough, and which companions you're going to take with you. Recently I did a fully evil playthrough as a Monk and had a lot of fun. Being a completely evil character actually revealed a lot of stuff that I'd never encountered before, despite having played the game for years.
Sarafan
Watchman
Registered: Sep 2008
From Poland
Posted December 23, 2019
Here's a good guide for Sorcerer spells: https://www.reddit.com/r/baldursgate/comments/7nw6it/updated_sorcerer_spell_list_and_guide/.
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
Posted December 24, 2019
I have a question and I realize you probably won't be able to answer it but here goes......why does it take so long to download games on GOG now?
Sarafan
Watchman
Registered: Sep 2008
From Poland
Posted December 24, 2019
It's Christmas time, so probably people are downloading games and the servers are busy. You should try to download through GOG Galaxy. I get higher download speed when I'm downloading through it for some reason. You don't have to use it after you download your game. It's also possible to download offline installers through Galaxy as well.
Post edited December 24, 2019 by Sarafan
ShadowWalker56
New User
Registered: Jun 2015
From United States
Posted December 24, 2019
