11 replies to this topic

[Brannin Vael]

Sorry for my ignorance, but perhaps someone would be nice enough to answer some questions for me.

Could someone please explain what BGT is about? What does it add to the game or take away? NPC's? Items? Quests?

Is there a link to a BGT site somewhere? Who made it?

Is it similar to Tutu?

Thanks for any info.

[seanas]

BGT, like Tutu, is a conversion that allows you to play BG1 using the BG2 game engine - so you have access to kits, dual-wielding, larger screen resolutions, better pathing, etc.

there are no new quests, NPCs or the like in BGT, although it does change some of the existing quests in both BG1 and BG2 - largely to explain the transition between BG1 and BG2.

Unlike Tutu, BGT allows you to play from the start of Candlekeep through to the final confontation with Melissan in one game, and to carry any improvements you make to NPCs in BG1 through to BG2.

also unlike Tutu, which is a 700Kb download, BGT is a 660MB download, and where Tutu has two boards and numerous forums suporting it, and a large group of ppl actively doing bug-fixing and mod-making for Tutu, BGT has no forums, no support and nobody working on bug-fixing.

you posted in this forum, so i should point out you have a third option - BP-BGT (ie Big Picture + BGT). BP is a BG2 mod that adds three large quest mods (all with new items, spells, NPCs, monsters, etc) and reworks the enemy AI so that it is both more challenging and more, well, honest. BP-BGT allows you to play BGT (ie, BG1) using the BP scripting improvements *and* fixes a significant number of the remaining bugs in BGT. BP-BGT also has support forums (ie, this one), has active bug-fixing (although there isn't much left to do) and mod-making (the prolific SirBillyBob, a one person modding army, and hlidskialf, the mod-convertor-general). the downsides of BP-BGT are a: much larger downloads (several Gig in total - although not one file, thankfully!); b: tricky installation; and c: much larger total install size (around 8GB total install, vs. Tutu/ BGT of 4-5GB).

if you are going to play BGT, i would *strongly* advise you to install BP-BGT, for the support and bug-fixes, if nothing else.

[Brannin Vael]

Thank you seanas for that informative reply!

I am currently trying to download BGT from IEGMC Europe. It's taking a while, but I hope to have it dl'd in a day and a half. I will definitely do what you suggest and install BP-BGT-+ others... that are compatible.

[PolarBear]

Sorry, I'm new here and I don't want to make a new thread. So hello all

After reading quite a lot of posts here I have some (newbie-)questions.
About BP-BGT: I've looked into homepages, download locations aswell, and I've noticed BP-BGT is compatible with just about everything. There's a BP-BGT-NEJ, a BP-BGT-DSOTSC, and even a BP-BGT-CTB (correct me if I'm wrong). Well which one should I go for?

About Weidu mods: I've found a compatibility list for BP. Does it apply to BP-BGT-NEJ (/DSOTSC/CTB) aswell? And if so, about kit mods: for example in Imoen's romance should I not install Immy's custom kit (some Charming Rogue as I recall)?

That's all for now. Sorry for "stealing" the thread.

Oh, by the way what the hell happened to TeamBG? (Last time I was actively wisiting BG2 mod forums was when we were waiting for ToB compatible TDD, so quite a while ago )

[seanas]

TeamBG went down in July (it got hacked), and unfortunately won't be coming back.

the standard way to play BP-BGT is actually BP-BGT-NEJ, and if yr installing it for the first time, this would be my suggestion (all the install guides are written assuming yr installing BP-BGT-NEJ). the compatibility thread for BP also applies for BP-BGT (or BP-BGT-NEJ) - although as you've already identified, the Charming Rogue option for Imoen can cause problems (for a basic BP-BGT-NEJ install, as well as for the Imoen Romance).

DSOTSC is still in shake-out phase, likewise the BP-BGT compatible version of CtB, so unless yr willing to encounter unknown or unfixed bugs, i'd probably skip them for now (although given the speed SirBillyBob works at, they'll be bug-free pretty soon!) the Secret of BoneHill and the BG1NPC Project, on the other hand, are both worth adding to yr install to enhance the BG1 part of yr game. most BG2 mods work with BP-BGT and it's various flavours, so install away with them (although, as always, it's advisable to wait until you get to the BG2 part of yr game to install BG2 mods, just to be on the safe side).

[PolarBear]

Got hacked?? Bloody hell, why would anyone hack a site like TeamBG?? I can't believe it! I just fail to see why is it good for somebody to hack a comunity site. For what reason?
Do we know anything about the person who committed this foul act? And what about Ken, did he give up the whole thing or is he still around?

I'm so upset right know!

[PolarBear]

Eh, sorry for that ... and many thanks, Seanas for pointing things out (and so quickly I might add). I guess I'll try BP-BGT-NEJ, as soon as the downloads finish, and also the two other mods you recommended.

I feel sorry for TeamBG, what happened was not fair. On second thought it's clear to me that the hacker was looking for an easy target. Since it's just so unlikely that a site like Teambg would ever be attacked, the defences must have been low. Hah. My guess is: this hacker was a mentally sick teenager. But enough of that, since it's new only to me, you all must have discussed this many times around here.

[CamDawg]

Shoot, I'm late to the party. This was something I had written up a while ago trying to compare the merits of Tutu v BGT. I'll just be lazy and quote myself from when I've been asked this question before. Please note this is a BGT comparison (not BP-BGT which I've never played) though many of the points remain valid whether it's BGT or BP-BGT.

_______________
BGT basically imports the party from the end of the game, but none of the non-BG2 NPCs have dialogue, so it's a rather disappointing treatment. Given the assumptions that are worked into the SoA storyline, this was a major revision and it gave the appearance of not having too much thought behind it (from an RP standpoint). Given that the BG2 part of BGT is fairly mod-resistant and still has some considerable bugs you would probably end up moving your savegame to a different install for the BG2 portion anyway.

Tutu is pretty much what I hoped BGT would be--a conversion to a new engine, not a TC. I do believe Tutu is better (conceptually and in practice), though whether someone likes one or the other will depend on what they're looking for. I just wanted a way to play BG1 content in a better engine, whereas someone who wants the whole story rolled into a single game would likely prefer BGT. I do wish that Tutu would have some continuity support for characters that are in SoA, but more along the lines of consistent spellbooks, stats, skills, weapon profs, etc. These are what I would consider my salient points of comparison:

• BGT requires BG1, TotSC, BG2, and ToB (though you can uninstall BG1 after BGT is installed); Tutu only requires BG1 and BG2 (expansions are optional, though BG1 must remain installed) .
  
• BGT allows you to play BG1 all the way through the end of ToB continuously. Tutu has a program that must be run to toggle the installation between BG1 and BG2 content.
  
• Tutu makes no storyline changes. BGT requires that you kill Sarevok before doing any of the TotSC content and alters both BG1 and BG2 with some other minor changes. BGT also makes major changes to BG2 by allowing BG characters to pass through, though their BG2 handling is very poor (see above).
  
• Tutu can be modded as the conversion process will also convert any mods you may have on BG1. BGT is vanilla BG1/TotSC and can not be modded. Both will accept BG2 mods. One exception: DSotSC does not work on Tutu, which I also chalk up as a Tutu advantage.
  
• BGT keeps character continuity. If you change one of your NPC's stats in BG1, they'll have it in BG2. You can bring characters into BG2 that are not already in BG2.
  
• Tutu has better graphics. BGT's size come from the fact that it distributes the area graphics in compressed form whereas Tutu converts them directly from BG1. BGT's compresion also reduces the quality of the area graphics ingame.
  
• Tutu is easier to download and install. Tutu is a minimal download and installs in a few minutes. BGT is a huge download (600MB+) and takes closer to 45-60 minutes for the install process. The installer is also poor and prone to not working on some platforms.
  
• Tutu has more active suport. BGT's original creator withdrew from the project and support is no longer available. Tutu is still being actively maintained by its original team.
  
• BGT can not be uninstalled, Tutu can.

Edited by CamDawg, 27 December 2004 - 08:35 AM.

[Sir BillyBob]

I'd also recommend the Grey Clan mod for the BGT part of the game.

http://www.gibberlin...oads/index.html

This is also the site that has the NPCBG1 mod. There should be another BGT mod soon (probably after the New Year, but we will see). DSotSC is bug free for game playing but still has a few items that need fixing. The mod always had uber items so if you are against those items, just sell them.

* goes to ping original author again about mod*

[PolarBear]

DSotSC is bug free for game playing but still has a few items that need fixing.  The mod always had uber items so if you are against those items, just sell them.

So, DSotSC is okay to play with the whole BP-BGT-NEJ Package?
If so, I'll visit BP-BGT-DSotSC forum right away. I'm almost done with all downloads, I hope I will have a working installation by the end of the day (GMT+1).

[Sir BillyBob]

DSotSC is compatible with BGT because I repackaged it that way. Don't download the original! That will not work. As someone that has now built a mod in both worlds, I must say that Tutu is extremely disappointing in enemy AI compared to BP or BGT-BP (which is really the only way I would play BGT).

The dialog crippled BG1 NPCs that are brought over to the SOA world seems to be a point that Tutu fans like to point out even though anyone can make dialogs for these NPCs. So just because they don't say much now doesn't mean they won't later.

SOA/BG2 mods can be installed onto a BGT or BGT-BP game. Most don't take effect until then anyway but mods like Ease-of-Use and others work in the BGT game also. Tutu has to have its own versions of item stacking mods and any other game enhancing mods.

Neither package is bug free, far from it. Neither has a long list of mods for their environments. Mainly the choice you need to make is file size/download vs transition between BG1 and BG2.

[PolarBear]

By the way I've finished my install. It seems to be working Time will tell though.

And Happy new year to everyone