Catalyst

You mean R.A. Salvatore?...

Didn't he write a book or twelve about dark elves?  


On topic--Arian, the Tashia mod definitely has some great humor and character-defining banters to it. Having finished ToB with Tashia just a few days ago, I'd like to say: Kudos for writing such a great mod!

Well first off, when I set out to do this, I didn't even know about the SP fixpack until jcompton told me about it.  I just thought that modders and gamers would like to see all the Baldurdash fixes contained in one archive for easy installation and compatibility.

I agree that SP's has went a step beyond with certain fixes and would be more than happy to incorporate them in the installer as well.  In fact, I've asked Extremist about this already and he seems to want to keep it on SP, which is fine.

As for the documention, I'll admit that my files aren't really that well documented (except for maybe the TOB fixes tp2 file), however, it's my experience that the end user doesn't really care about documentation.  And I built this installer with the end user in mind.

There is a "developer's" version as well.  Perhaps when I get the time I'll document it a little more heavily.

Japheth, I certainly didn't want to step on any toes here. Wes asked for other WeiDU mods, I noticed SP Fixpack, so I posted about it.

I wholeheartedly agree with the concept of making Baldurdash WeiDU, and appreciate the work you undertook to make it so (and, since it's ToB compatible, I'll definitely be using it ).

I'm sorry to hear about Extremist wanting to keep his work on SP, I think it would make a great addition...but it *is* his, after all...

I also happen to like thorough documentation, I'm not sure if that's common or not for end users. In any case, I didn't mean to try and one-up your efforts by touting SP as a superior version or anything of the sort--I was just trying to be thorough. Thanks for your work on this, I look forward to the development of Baldurdash-WeiDU!

[EDIT] Blucher, I'm only the messenger. Go bang on Extremist's door about Glaicas. [/EDIT]

Well, for one, almost every fix is retroactive (broken dialogues can be re-attempted, etc.). Since these fixpacks are generally installed when BG2 is first installed (not after bugs start to show up), this generally isn't a big deal.

Otherwise, I think the solutions are just a bit more thorough. For example, in Bodhi's lair sometimes key vampires don't spawn, and then when killed (turned into gaseous form) their coffins fail to become "stakeable". Baldurdash fixes the latter problem, the SP Fixpack does also and then additionally introduces a second spawning sequence if key vampires are missing to begin with. A lot of the SP Fixpack fixes are like that--they do what Baldurdash's do, then go a step further.

Finally, there are the fixes that aren't in Baldurdash's at all, though now that BD's is in WeiDU there may be a new influx of additions. One example:

1.10. Inability to deal Glaicas in non-hostile way (AR1303.BCS)
Inside De'Arnise hold you can pick up a part for flail of ages from a person called Glaicas. The script was supposed to make Glaicas neutral and talking to you if you charm him with any Charm spell (Charm, Dire Charm, Domination). But there are two problems:
- Script fails to turn Glaicas neutral (because the command is not issued with ActionOverride), so player can't talk to him by any means.
- Script fails to dispel magic on Glaicas so he stays charmed/dominated. This results in player's inability to talk to him because talking to charmed/dominated creatures is not possible. And because of problem above player also can't talk to him after the charm/domination effect expires.
Solved by replacing application of wizard's dispel magic with special innate force dispel magic which works always. Turning Glaicas to neutral is actually redundant because he'll start talking to player automatically and will manage to turn to neutral within the dialog, so this is left as it is - bugged. Just to demonstrate this beauty to possible Bioware's QA "advocates".
This fix cannot be found at Baldurdash.

Note, I am not saying the SP Fixpack is purely superior, it came out a long time after Baldurdash's and so had it to build on. However, it is currently updated semi-regularly...it's a shame it's not ToB compatible or I'd use it. I only mention it because I too was impressed with the documentation and noticed it had recently incorporated WeiDU into its listed technologies.

Hi Wes, I noticed you've added the Baldurdash Fixpack in WeiDU format to your website. Similar (but in many cases superior IMHO) is the Sorcerer's Place Fixpack, which has recently converted to WeiDU for its dialogue fixes:
http://www.sorcerers...ex_editors3.htm

It fixes just about everything Baldurdash's fixpack does (but in many cases more effectively), and more. The one thing about it is, at this point it is Shadows of Amn only (no Throne of Bhaal).

Well, for my two cents...

I believe the PS:T style definitely offers an easier blend of action and dialogue, and that in general it is superior to BG2 for fully portraying interactions.

That said, my vote (and it appears to be in the minority) would be for BG2 style. I recognize that it limits action to a degree, but I agree with JCompton here...I may know in my head something is Quitch's work while playing the game just because I've never seen it before, but I like as seamless an integration as possible because it does help with suspension of disbelief.

Playing Arnel's Nalia romance, I thought a large portion of it was fairly well done...but one or two exchanges using odd punctuation or style not fitting with the rest of the NPCs went a long way towards reminding me it wasn't "real". Return to Windspear is a separate module altogether, and maybe that helps because the entire adventure is fresh...but if you are integrating exchanges and developing a relationship within the BG: SoA or ToB context, I'd want it to retain a BG2 flavor (as opposed to a Planescape flavor).