Mageofthesands

BGEE got me into the mood for Baldur's Gate again, and while I love it's interface, I'm too used to modded games. And I decided to do something different this time around. In all these years, I never really did a MegaMod install, just some select individual things. (Mostly g3 tweaks to the game, some ppg npcs, and old Wiemer standbys. And eSeries) I've read and reread a bunch of things before grabbing the Big World Setup. I choose Standard, and let it do it's work. I got to say, it's a lot easier than spending hours hunting down and downloading the mods myself. (The BWS I used was the 20121202 one, if that matters)

The first game experience was, well interesting. I noticed that BPseries installed with the standard, and was excited as I read it's an extension of eSeries, my script of choice for many years. Plus I read that BPseries as support for some custom mod items, like the charming rogue class kit for Imoen. I am reminded of a certain NWN2 AI upgrade author and a Spell & class revision author that are in a cycle of supporting each other. I've had good luck with that, and hope the same would be true here. Selecting a BPseries script causes game to crash. Okay, well, I read that Big Picture items aren't compatible with SCS and SCSII. I just figured if standard installed components of each, than it might work. I also noticed that my armor is weird, but now I know what mod that is so I don't install it next time. I goofed around the early areas of BG1, and while I noticed an increase in difficulty, it wasn't so bad. Until I got to Beregost and got slaughtered by a bunch of archers with frost arrows. Had to resort to cheat codes to kill them after several reloads. (Now I know not to install that npc. Creepy kid npc) Skie, of all people, wrecked me, but I prevailed. Overall, so far, BG1 is okay.

I tried starting a BGII game, and was killed in the cage in Irenicious' dungeon by some shadow thieves. I couldn't attack them, couldn't open the cage, just a quick death. Even after cheat killing them, I was left in the cage, no one coming to open it. What mod added that in?

ToB was not good. A balor camps one of the heads and easily wrecks me. Doesn't help that the only weapon in the bag that could hurt him is the Stonefire, but there's not much that can do against a teleporting, telekinetic devil with firestorms. Many reloads later, and I cheat kill him. Only to get jumped by the reavers. I seemed to recall in the old days that they didn't come in a pack if you didn't import a party from BGII. Well, again I cheat killed past that part, got to the pocket plane, summoned some guys. Then I get jumped by Yuan-ti, which I again had to use cheats to get through. Game crashes after Imoen gives me Yuan-ti boots, every time.

I tried reinstalling, using Big World Setups' restore mode. I tried a lite test install doing just recommended. This time I checked everything labeled BP and unchecked all SCS items. (I really want an eSeries like script) Again, game crashes when I select BPseries AI. I don't understand why it doesn't work, as there is no SCS installed.

So, time for questions. Mostly what to install, and work out the kinks. Again, I've tried reading up on the forums here and elsewhere, but still have questions. First, I don't mind additional challenge. I do mind getting shanked in jail, or being attacked in "safe zones" without a warning. I tried Weimer's tactics mods back when that was new (v2 or 3) and it was not to my taste. If default BG difficulty is 5 on a scale of 1-10, I wouldn't mind trying a 7. If my enemies are smarter, I want my party smarter too. For that reason, I think I want BPseries.
What mods should I try to avoid? I am well aware that a large megamod will have a lot of chaff in it, especially when it comes to npcs. That's part of it's charm, a wild ride seeing the good and bad. I just don't want that ride ruined by something that's really out there. (I'm looking at you, Full Plate)

Thanks for the feedback.