364 replies to this topic

[Sergio]

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably play a game only with Nej and Vlad compilation. Maybe also refinements.

By the way, Evilmax, go for Imoen romance if you like to play with Imoen. Topnotch mod.

[tomkaz]

High Sergio:

 

I tried VCv10  with Section 1 and a few other mods.  It played but with errors.  I tried VCv20 with Section 1 and Section 2 and a few other mods.  VCv20 did not install.

 

TOM

Edited by tomkaz, 25 May 2019 - 05:05 PM.

[Sergio]

okay, thanks. I'll play these soon in a standalone compilation.

Do you know if Nej and Vlad touch baldur's gate 1? Or Should I start in baldur's gate 2 asap?

Edited by Sergio, 25 May 2019 - 10:24 PM.

[K4thos]

BG2 only, I think. I'm looking forward for your NEJ and TS reviews after this playthrough.

Edited by K4thos, 26 May 2019 - 03:06 AM.

[Leonardo Watson]

Hi there,

I had a long and frustrating time with BWP because again and again I got countless errors I had never seen before:
- Some errors are caused by updated mods; in trying to make them compatible with EE some of them lost compatibility with the classic game.
- Some errors are caused by the new WeiDU itself.
- Some errors are caused by the modern code when a tweak mod tries to modify all itm, spl or cre files in the override and stumbles over one file with an incorrect value. For example I found a corrupt item in BP that had also been copied into vecna and battles by the respective modders many years ago and now interrupts installation when it gets tweaked many mods later.
- A few corrupt files are fixed by another mod that is installed later in the install order. Omitting that particular mod leaves a corrupt file.
- Some mods use the same file name that another mod uses for very different files that then causes trouble. I have fixed some in the upcoming Fixpack. I assume there are some more that should be checked.
- It seems cause of some failure is the Windows operation system itself. From time to time Windows cannot find a specific file when thousands had been unpacked even if is is exactly there where it should be. Obviously a missing entry in the directory tree.
- Occasionally I got different results when installing the game although my tools guarantee exact the same procedure. No idea what causes this.

- Mostly I use Windows 7 (which causes less trouble than Windows 10 for me) and with some mods the random access memory is exhausted up to the limit. The task-manager reveals that some background process use up to the half of the RAM even if all programs are closed.
- Very risky are virus scanners. Sometimes I think they do more damage than good. Some time ago I noticed that Kaspersky suddenly deletes all setup-##.exe files.

When on top of that my computer conked out and some files got lost I was fed up with BWP for a while.

Meanwhile I am working on a new version and it looks very promising, however, it may take some time until it is ready to release.



 

[Sergio]

Hey Leonardo!! Take your time. Thanks for all the work you're pouring into this. I'm really looking forward to it.

Btw, I'm going for Nej and Vlad next time..

Regards

Edited by Sergio, 08 June 2019 - 10:08 PM.

[tomkaz]

Hi Leonardo:

 

I was very sorry to hear about your misfortune with your computer and the other problems with mod authors not fully testing their mods and using what appears to be non standard methods to create their mods.

 

I have some information about computers and Windows 7 PRO 64 bit.  I you are aware of this, please forgive me for repeating the information.  I bought two DELL Latitude 5580 laptops. One for me and one for my step-daughter.  They come with Windows 7 PRO 64 bit and 250 GB SSD.  Even though Windows 7 were no longer being sold commercially , Dell and others were selling  them to businesses which still use them.  This may be no longer true.  Another option, which is expensive, is to buy an iMAC and install Windows 7 on it.  I did this and I works well.  Both these options are expensive.  But used computers can often be found at discounted prices.

 

My versions of Windows 7 PRO 64 bit are old.  I again had problems with one computer crashing all the time when installing Microsoft updates. Also had problems with installing megamod games which installed on another computer.  I called Microsoft.  Microsoft will still help with Windows 7 PRO 64 bit problems for a few more months. The number is 1-800-642-7676 in the USA.  After checking out my computer, Microsoft sent me an updated Windows 7 PRO 64 bit file.  I was not an official Windows 7 file with it's own key but just the file.  I copied it to a DL DVD and installed it with the key from my old Windows 7.  The results were surprising.  I no longer had to install the 300+ updates.  It only takes about 30 updates.  I assume the remainder updates are either already installed or Windows 7 was rewritten to included the fixes.  I have not installed BG1 and BG2 yet.  Hope to get that done next week.  I will post results then.  I have a URL for that file, but I cannot open it.

 

I too have had Kaspersky antivirus problems.  Windows Defender came with Windows 7.  I switched to Microsoft Security Essentials.  When MSE installs, it turns off Windows Defender and maybe other AVs so they can not be a problem.  Also, it is easy to turn MSE on and off.  I keep it off when I am trying to make and play a megamod  game. I do not know how good MSE is.  I use CCleaner (the old Crap Cleaner) because I read some strong positive comments about it and you can save the registry changes it make.  I have not had a problem with the registry since I used it and it seems to do a good job cleaning up my registries.

 

I am very limited in writing and/or correcting mods.  But I would like to help you in any way I can.  If there is some help you need with editing or testing mods, I have lots of spare time.  Just let me know.

 

For what it is worth.  I did try WeiDU 244 and WeiDU 246 on some earlier test games.  The tests were identical and limited, but I found no difference in the partial games.

 

Thanks for all the effort you have put into BiG World Project.  I have spent months playing previous megamod games with great enjoyment.  With BWP v18.1.2, I am having lots of trouble.  I think I found some mistakes I had made, mainly by not paying more attention to your instructions. So I am hoping to finish the game I started with a little bit of help using cheats to work around the errors and poor mod writing.

 

Thanks again for all your efforts,

TOM

[SirLancelot_2019]

Meanwhile I am working on a new version and it looks very promising, however, it may take some time until it is ready to release.

 

Great! Take your time. Now that BG3 was announced there'll be eventually more people around, hence your work will be rewarding.

[tomkaz]

High All:

 

My sincere apologies.  In my post above, I said CCleaner was OK to use.  I just spent an hour with a Microsoft representative and she found out that some of my problems was due to CCleaner deleting the wrong registry keys in some computers.  This may be a result of the BIOS.  I am to ignorant about computers so that I fully do not understand what happened.  I have an Asus A78M-A with a 1801 BIOS and an Asus A78M-E with a 1002 BIOS.  All the programs are exactly the same. The A78M-E is not affected by CCleaner registry deletions, but the A78M-A crashes due to CCleaner's registry deletions.  The strange thing is that this began happening with BiG World Project v17.

 

I wasted lots of time.  I hope no one else was inconvenienced by my suggection about CCleaner.  I guess the better advice is not to mess with the registry.

 

I sorry for the bad recomendation;

TOM

[Sergio]

Hey Leonardo,
I've got a few notes (and questions) for you:

1) The mod "all things mazzy" is claimed to have issues by Roxanne here: http://baldursextend...cent-updates/p4

Transcript: The mod "All Things Mazzy" was removed from Install Tool. The mod changes game files and other mod's files in a way that causes severe bugs and installation issues. It is not ready yet even in Expert status.

 

2) Now that Lollorian is not anymore on the .net (or at least it seems so), is there anyone helping you with "fixpack"?

3) Are you still going to make BWP a way (or at least the best way) to install everything at once? Because I'm starting to see how less is better (I mean that I do not install anymore as many mods as in the past) and my next playthrough include NeJ and Vlad's compilation (and both mods are exclusive of BG:T). 

4) ) If one uses Vlad compilation and Nej, have you found a way to use "fixpack" too? Or do I have to just avoid using fixpack at all?

5) If one used BWP, do you need actual report of bugs? I don't know if you have any other forum where you work into "fixing" the issues that may arise with BWP.

Edited by Sergio, 05 July 2019 - 02:28 AM.

[The Imp]

Hey Leonardo,
4) ) If one uses Vlad compilation and Nej, have you found a way to use "fixpack" too? Or do I have to just avoid using fixpack at all?

I'll answer this.

For as long as the BWP has been a thing, it has included a someform of the NEJ. It has not always been the smoothest or easiest thing, as the NEJ alone has been a Total Conversion, with various versions as long as it has been out there, needing the other fixpack or other features. The BWP fixpack had at one point a process that allowed both fixpacks to be installed on the same game... it included mostly just removing much of the non-G3Fixpacks content and installing it only in name. So NEJ could be installed. I have not heard that the Vlad's compilation has seen on the chopping block, but ... that neither here or there. And the fixpackS developments have always been a loop where things go on rotations, like they were in a peppergrinder. The NEJ also used a few of the BG1 assets at a time, which then made it uncompatible with BGT-weidu (v1.01 at the time), which was fixed later but ... you wanted to hear about the history.

But for BWP, it's perfectly possible... but reguires work... to install all the things one wants... and you might get a few odd outcomes... like doing a paladin run to Spellhold in 3 different ways, but only seeing the outcome for the 1 way you did it. Meaning you might need to go on total of 3 murderhobo runs with the paladin to see all the possibilities, and things that were in your way in one go, are no where to be seen in the others, unless you go into the specific alley and get dragged to the wrong murderhobo -run path.

Edited by The Imp, 01 July 2019 - 04:15 AM.

[Leonardo Watson]

@ Sergio

1) I did not know this mod.
2) No, not at present.
3) Yes. Installation of NeJ and Vlad's compilation as part of a megamod is a little tricky. You may want to wait until the next upcoming guide is out.
4) Yes. Many mods require fixpack, so never leave it out.
5) Yes, every report is desired.

[Sergio]

I will wait. Thank you for help

[Nightfarer]

@Leonardo Watson

For the Fixpack I could give you a hand like for adding The Fields of the Dead mod (if you haven't already) but, as I wrote you some months ago, I am "out of order" because of renovations and house hunting and it looks like it takes me more time than expected. I hope to be back fully in some months but no promises.

[Sergio]

I don't know if one can make requests, but I would love to play together with Nej and Vlad the following  mods:

- Atweaks (just the component unbiased quest rewards)
- Scales of Balance (just the component Saving Throw Overhaul)
- Refinements
- Xp rewards for traps and locks and scrolls as BG2 in BG1 (don't know which mod adds that, but I know there is a component just for that)
- Improved archer kit (by Argent77)
- Easy Traps + fair fights + improved stronghold + Taerom makes more ankheg armor --> from this mod: https://github.com/B...icks#easy-traps
- unnerfed grandmastery
- max hp on level up


Hopefully these components will not harm the enjoyment of Nej and Vlad, even if you are supposed to play in a mod free environment

Edit: maybe I should just play Nej and Vlad, and be done with it, instead of adding other stuff. We shall see.

Edited by Sergio, 30 July 2019 - 09:08 AM.

[Sergio]

Leonardo, I've published a list of components I would like to use with Nej and Vlad. I don't know how far BWP makes them coexist, but I think it could be worth a look. I was wondering: will BWP actually prevent me from installing clashing components? How far did the testing go for these matter?

 

 

http://forums.blackw...indpost&p=57209

[Bloodtitan]

I'm getting an error using BWP 18.2.5. BWP says it was not started from inside the BG2 folder but that's wrong.

 

" It seems you have started this file outside the game folder.
   The "BiG World Installpack" file and folder must be inside the
   "BGII - SoA" Folder."

 

I cannot get it to acknowledge...

 

This is after a second attempt to install. The first attempt failed because BGT could not find my BG1 Installation folder.

 

 

1. How can I repair the status of the Big World install.bat?

2. How can I get BWP to skip step 1 (preparing)… it says I have to prepare an installation before installing, but I did that.

3. What is the correct spelling for installation paths? " " or not, and do I have to include the actual game folder or not? Will it be F:\games\ or F:\games or F:\games\Baldur's Gate or "F:\games\Baldur's Gate" or "F:\games\Baldur's Gate\"?

[Bloodtitan]

Solution: uninstall bg2, delete the original installation folder of bg2 and reinstall bg2. And have the BiG World Downloads folder and Baldur's Gate folder NEXT to the bg2 installation folder, not inside.

[Bloodtitan]

@ ChitownWillie

 

Your installation is nearly complete. Let's see how o finish it.
The "validate" message comes from that part where the IDS files will be corrected. The only mod that really still needs to be installed is Generalized Biffing. So the easiest way is to skip the BWP installation and install Generalized Biffing manually. However, this way you will miss some processes that may not be really important. The clearest way to finish the installation is this:
Open the BiG World Installpack\install\individual.bat respectively the BiG World Installpack\install\process.bat and delete all lines between 1. CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS and Call .\%BWIPI%\close2.bat at the end of the file and save it. Start the install.bat again and it will continue where the installation was aborted. If the error hapens again then open the BiG World Installpack\install\close2.bat and write rem at the beginning of the line Call ".\%BWIPS%\trim_IDS.bat" and Call ".\%BWIPS%\trim_IDS.bat" and save the file. Start the install.bat again. This way the installation will be finished as intended.

 

 

@ Greenhorn

Thank you for the hint

 

This solution is still working and needed for BWP 18.2.5 and Windows 10 Computers. Cheers!