eyre

a)   graphics glitches.  The control panel keeps blacking out on the main screen (except for npc portraits), and glitches on the inventory screen as well.  Not sure what's causing that one, unless it's an issue with the opengl drivers.

 

Any suggestions on the other issues?  The audio isn't game breaking, but the video distortions are pretty annoying.

I'd wager that, as you have already surmised, it is indeed an issue with your OpenGL drivers.  You could try to disable 3D rendering as a potential workaround.  I use Void Linux currently, but I've witnessed similar rendering artifacts with the BG2 engine for some time (as in years) across various distributions.

... even TobEx is mostly deprecated these days (too many conflicts).

Interesting.  I'm curious as to the context in which TobEx is deprecated.  Perhaps because it is (essentially) subsumed by TobEx Afterlife? Or are you referring to something else?

Any thoughts on the other issues?

Not really.  I've installed both Ascension and Tactics in the past, but that was ages ago, and generally speaking I very much prefer BG1 content over BG2 (ToB in particular feels like such a slog).  Hopefully someone else will chime in and provide some guidance.

The PDF is constantly mentioning compatibility issues with the mod TOB-Hacks.  I vaguely remember it, but can't find it anywhere.

The TOB Hacks thread is here, and it is still available for download, though my guess is that the vast majority of players use TobEx instead.

I have it.  Sent you a PM.

Could you send it to me too?

 

Thanks in advance.

Done.

I have it.  Sent you a PM.