21 replies to this topic

[who_is_daniel]

I am an original BG fan, and once again it is time to dust of the game cd's install it all over again.  Mods make the game enjoyable for me, its like dressing for a salad... so much better together.  In any case I really want to use a lot of mods, however I am terrified of spending a month or 2 and getting close to the end and then run into incompatibility's and effectively kill the current game/install (happened to me a few times over the years).  Many of these mods I have used before but it has been a few years and they CAN work together  IF (emphasis on IF) they are installed int he correct order.

I will list mods I would like to use and put a   *   in front of the ones I think of as critical (i.e. not fun without).
(I have spent 2 days over 18 hours reading through forums trying to figure out the compatibility... but I still don't have it.  And am not a computer novice)


    * G3 BG2 Fixpack
      Classic Adventures
    * Ascension-WeiDU
      Westley Weimer's Tactics mod  (love it but might not be compatible with newer mods)

    * Westley Weimer's Spell-50 mod
    * Westley Weimer's Solaufein NPC mod
      Westley Weimer's Valen NPC mod
    * Kelsey NPC (v2.2) [link]
    * Unfinished Business
    * SimDing0's Quest Pack
    * Oversight
    * Sword Coast Stratagems
      Tower of Deception
    * Igi's iiItem
      Revised (Improved) Battles Mod
      The Gibberlings Three Anniversary Mod
    * Dungeon-Be-Gone
    * Dungeon Crawl (v3)
    * Westley Weimer's Item Upgrade mod
    * Westley Weimer's Underrepresented Items mod
       Keto NPC
       Iylos NPC
    * G3 Crossmod Banter Pack
    * PPG NPC Banter Packs
      SHS NPC Interaction Expansion Project
      Widescreen Mod (Not sure if I want to mess with this one or not)
      Chloe NPC    
    * Saerileth NPC
    * aTweaks (v1)
    * G3 BG2 Tweak Pack
    * Sword Coast Stratagems II
    * Ashes of Embers
    * Item Revisions Mod
    * Ding0's Tweak Pack
    * Refinements




Will these all work together?  What ones will not work?  What is the install order?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

-Daniel

[Azazello]

(I have spent 2 days over 18 hours reading through forums trying to figure out the compatibility... but I still don't have it. And am not a computer novice)

Does your list above represent the time you've investigated mods? Because, as far as I know, the Classic Adventures thread is fairly clear what definitely works or doesn't with it.

[who_is_daniel]

(I have spent 2 days over 18 hours reading through forums trying to figure out the compatibility... but I still don't have it. And am not a computer novice)

Does your list above represent the time you've investigated mods? Because, as far as I know, the Classic Adventures thread is fairly clear what definitely works or doesn't with it.

Good to know, thank toy, I will Cross out Classic Adventures from my mod list

There are one or 2 that I did not look to deep, its ***** when you dont have a ton of time available and they to spend it like that is pretty frustrating/maddening.

[Choo Choo]

... and Classic Adventures is a TC, so that alone would definitely rule out, say, Kelsey.

Also, Dungeon-Be-Gone doesn't work with Chloe, not if you go with Jasper. Maybe it makes her completely unavailable whether you actually go with Jasper or no, but I'm not sure about that.

EDIT: Also, may I be the first (?) to welcome you to SHS! :3

Edited by Choo Choo, 07 January 2009 - 05:07 PM.

[Azazello]

Hmph. I can appreciate not having a lot of time to devote to getting an install list formed correctly. But I respect more that others have put the time and effort into it.

I will not answer all of your questions, nor do your homework for you, but will lead you to sources that will speed you along a path of gaming pleasure.

(Both Jarno and Leomar are sure to come along and defeat my lesson. Heh.)

I'm sure you know about BiG World Project. They maintain an installation list that is guaranteed to work. You'll also have to install some extra fixes. They changed the link(s) that they want people to use, sorry I don't have 'em, so wait for Leomar or Jarno.

For general install order, see http://forums.gibber...s...=6438&st=4#

And even though it's old and not recommended, I know my own list works; it doesn't fully follow the link above, but use it as a similar guide: miniMega-g3Fixpack

Good luck.

[who_is_daniel]

... and Classic Adventures is a TC, so that alone would definitely rule out, say, Kelsey.

Also, Dungeon-Be-Gone doesn't work with Chloe, not if you go with Jasper. Maybe it makes her completely unavailable whether you actually go with Jasper or no, but I'm not sure about that.

EDIT: Also, may I be the first (?) to welcome you to SHS! :3

Kelsey is a MUST have, I really like that character a lot. All the NPC mods can go actualy except Kelsey and Saerileth. Classic Adventures can go, but dose "TC" stand for in your post?

Thank you for the welcome!

[Azazello]

EDIT: Also, may I be the first (?) to welcome you to SHS! :3

who_is_daniel is semi-frequent visitor, but this is the first time (s)he has registered.

Welcome to the family!

[Choo Choo]

Sorry - TC is short for Total Conversion, which means it isn't a mod, per se. It's like a completely different game, with a completely different storyline, which is simply using the same engine. That's why you can't add, say, NPC mods to TC's (that aren't based on that particular mod), because the characters and areas and events the characters interact with simply don't exist anymore! Means you also can't use quest mods, banter packs or anything which relies on events in the game in combination with a TC.

Edited by Choo Choo, 07 January 2009 - 06:17 PM.

[Jarno Mikkola]

List:
Westley Weimer's Tactics mod (love it but might not be compatible with newer mods)
Sword Coast Stratagems
Widescreen Mod (Not sure if I want to mess with this one or not)

Tactics is definitely the oldest and one of the hardest mod, but it overwrites everything else it comes to contact with, so if you are going to install it, do it knowing that there might be trouble and that it's extremely hard, with everything else in place.
Sword Coast Stratagems (I) is unnecessary as you don't have the BG1 portion of the game(via BGT), but if you are willing to get BGT too, then you can use it.
The Widescreen mod works with (nearly)every graphic card and monitor and eye -setup you can think of, which the resolution is direct derivative, so we need to know what you have to accurately say that would you have any benefit from it.(yes, the eye setup is your preferred resolution)

Now if you don't want to install the BGT, you can go without it and still use the BWPs auto-installer, that installs every mod you have in the game directory, you have to edit the .bat with any text editor to just remove one line in it. Link for the procedure in the old version.

Will these all work together? What ones will not work? What is the install order?

The Big World Project(read either .pdf -file) is the larges gathered WeiDU mod installation order guide made thus far, and it's still constantly updated so... and no, you don't even need to read the whole thing as long as you follow the latest BWP thread(at this time), as it has the latest info besides the first 16+ pages on the German.pdf -file.

I'm sure you know about BiG World Project. They maintain an installation list that is guaranteed to work. You'll also have to install some extra fixes(also found on SHS in here). They changed the link(s) that they want people to use, sorry I don't have 'em, so wait for Leomar or Jarno.

You are definitely referring to the Linklist.

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 08 January 2009 - 04:37 AM.

[Leomar]

In the link you get all the needed informations about the changes in the "BiG World Install.bat" if you want to use it without BG1/BGT.

http://www.shsforums...showtopic=38395

Greetings Leomar

[who_is_daniel]

Ok so maybe I need to use the automatic installer (Tactics is critical, and I saw it on page 17 of the Big_World_v5.5.2A_Beta_English.pdf it mentions the Tactics mod but I think that is part of the advanced install (and probably beyond me), so if I use the auto installer and download all the files and unpack them and copy them over to my BG2 dir, should it look something like my Tutu install (see screenshot "Bg Install Directory.jpg")

Also in that PDF guide, am I supposed to follow the directions word for word on page 2, or 11 and 12? Or 14?

What is the difference between between using the Automated Installation or the Installation With Batch Files? They sound the same really.

(Honestly, I am not as dumb as I sound, I am an educated individual and I work in technical support. Unfortunately I just do not understand instructions the same way)

p.s. I am using a Toshiba Satellite X205-S9800 laptop details
(Not that I think anyone is that interested or wants to know but I thought I would provide the info just in case)

Attached Images

• 

Edited by who_is_daniel, 08 January 2009 - 11:02 AM.

[Jarno Mikkola]

Also in that PDF guide, am I supposed to follow the directions word for word on page 2, or 11 and 12? Or 14?

I would follow this. Because the english.pdf file might be wrong on the BWP fixpack installation order , and it's the latest and because the forum is always the latest and most up to date.

BiG World Project (BWP) v5.6
...
Step by Step Instructions
...
Begin the installation

• Disconnect the internet and disable all antivir software/firewalls and Vistas UAC.
  
• Start the "BiG World Install v5.6.bat" and follow the on-screen instructions (the Install.bat runs the "BiG World Fixpack" and for a German version the "BiG World Textpack" automatically)
  
• Play your megamod.

Note: Always make a Backup of your BG2 game files and a clean install for every new installation. More information about that you can get here.

What is the difference between between using the Automated Installation or the Installation With Batch Files? They sound the same really.

They are the same thing, as the auto installer is a .bat file, commonly referred as Batch file.

And about the screen shot, everything seems to be fine. So yes, that's the exact form they need to be, except that none of them should be installed before the BWP files naturally, and I don't know what that ToLower.exe does...
And as the screen size is so small, do not install the Widescreen mod with the Auto-installer, but you can install it after the bat has finished it's job. This is because the auto installer comes with with it's options locked and the default won't be able to be shown(1650x1080).

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 08 January 2009 - 02:41 PM.

[Azazello]

List:
Westley Weimer's Tactics mod (love it but might not be compatible with newer mods)
Sword Coast Stratagems
Widescreen Mod (Not sure if I want to mess with this one or not)

Tactics is definitely the oldest and one of the hardest mod, but it overwrites everything else it comes to contact with, so if you are going to install it, do it knowing that there might be trouble and that it's extremely hard, with everything else in place.

You have some information I do not, could you please confirm what you wrote? I want to be sure that I don't spread mis-information in future posts.

(Honestly, I am not as dumb as I sound, I am an educated individual and I work in technical support. Unfortunately I just do not understand instructions the same way)

Don't worry, I quite sure the information you're given here is correct and straightforward and you'll be playing in no time.

[who_is_daniel]

Is the first post ( Dec 26 2008, 02:26 PM Post #1 ) of the thread from "I would follow this." still accurate? Its all the other posts that make it confusing.


Following the that first post, would Tactics, Kelsey, Spell 50 (the other quest add ons are not that important) work?

[Jarno Mikkola]

Is the first post ( Dec 26 2008, 02:26 PM Post #1 ) of the thread from "I would follow this." still accurate? Its all the other posts that make it confusing.

Well yes, as you should be able to see, the post #1 was updated today on my local time;

This post has been edited by Leomar: Today, 09:38 AM

@the very last line.

Following the that first post, would Tactics, Kelsey, Spell 50 (the other quest add ons are not that important) work?

Actually the BWP removed the Tactics from itself on the 5.3 update, as there are several other mods that are far more mods that are totally incompatiable with it, and they cheat/go-around-the-rules far less. So no luck there... but I would recomend of letting the Tactics go and using the SCSII and BP instead. And I think this will answer Azazello's question as well...

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 09 January 2009 - 12:40 AM.

[Azazello]

Actually, it does not answer Azazello's question. He's still waiting for your answer.

...would Tactics, Kelsey, Spell 50 (the other quest add ons are not that important) work?

Yes, all 3 mods can work. I would recommend putting them before G3 BG2 Fixpack. I presume that means installing them first, then using the BWP scripts to install all other mods.

Edited by Azazello, 09 January 2009 - 04:17 PM.

[who_is_daniel]

Jarno Mikkol,

Thank you for clearing that up for me.

...would Tactics, Kelsey, Spell 50 (the other quest add ons are not that important) work?

Yes, all 3 mods can work. I would recommend putting them before G3 BG2 Fixpack. I presume that means installing them first, then using the BWP scripts to install all other mods.

So are you saying that I could install those mods and then do the BigWorld/Picture/Thing? Install Tactics, Spell 50, and then Kelsey and then on with the Auomatic Installer so IT it amend the Tactics mod.... ? Would that work? I feel like Minsc... so easily confused by this... I just need a little outside advice.

[who_is_daniel]

And One final piece of clarification: If I only follow the instructions on the first post of "BiG World Project (BWP) v5.6, Entire installation instructions for the Baldur?s Gate Megamod" that you updated today (thank you!) Will I have a Solid Good Install of the "Baldur?s Gate Megamod" as you intended?

(The above post was not intended to sound harsh, demanding, negative or agessive in any way shape or form)

[who_is_daniel]

Also on the crazy-long list of mod links, it says


"NSIS-Installer signifies:

You cannot unpack this mod normally, because it is a NSIS-Installer. If you want to prepare this mod for your MegaMod, you have to execute the installer in a separate directory and move the unpacked data manually to your BG2 main directory."

So should I NOT right click NSIS-Installer-MODMADEUPFOREXAMPLE and then selecr 7-Zip and choose to extract file to
*:\*\*NSIS-Installer-MODMADEUPFOREXAMPLE


?

[Jarno Mikkola]

So are you saying that I could install those mods and then do the BigWorld/Picture/Thing? Install Tactics, Spell 50, and then Kelsey and then on with the Automatic Installer so it amends the Tactics mod.... ? Would that work? I feel like Minsc... so easily confused by this... I just need a little outside advice.

Well, you can always try... But if you want to have a clear version then no, you should either stick to the three or so mods, or not use the Tactics with the BWP. There is also the fact that most of the tactics mod components have been redone...

Now, take note that I say clear version, and I mean by this that all the components that have been installed, do so in the original intended form... which is already against the Megamod definition.

And One final piece of clarification: If I only follow the instructions on the first post of "BiG World Project (BWP) v5.6, Entire installation instructions for the Baldur?s Gate Megamod" that you updated today (thank you!) Will I have a Solid Good Install of the "Baldur?s Gate Megamod" as you intended?
(The above post was not intended to sound harsh, demanding, negative or aggressive in any way shape or form)

Well, if you follow the Standard installation and only have it's mods(No Tactics) then you should be 97% guaranteed fully working/bug free installation. (And we know...)

Also on the crazy-long list of mod links, it says
"NSIS-Installer signifies: You cannot unpack this mod normally, because it is a NSIS-Installer. If you want to prepare this mod for your MegaMod, you have to execute the installer in a separate directory and move the unpacked data manually to your BG2 main directory."
So should I NOT right click NSIS-Installer-MODMADEUPFOREXAMPLE.exe and then select 7-Zip and choose to extract file to *:\*\*NSIS-Installer-MODMADEUPFOREXAMPLE ?

Well, I don't know if your 7-Zip program can decompress the files in the NSIS-Installer-MODMADEUPFOREXAMPLE.exe ...
But as said, you can do just this; Run the .exe, put(install) it to a 'custom random directory' made for this purpose only, wait until the WeiDU-installers blackbox shows up, and then exit it with Enter as it gives you an error, because you don't have the dialog.tlk in that directory(purposefully, I would add), then move the files -that were unpacked into the 'custom random directory'- to the BGII directory... and once they are all in that folder install them with the BWP's .bat ...