Slowdown

[Strontium Dog]

I experienced a major slowdown(just during combat) in the Ice-Island Level 2 section. This was most likely due to the enhanced components of the SCS mod, as it occurs during combat in a couple of other areas(sucha sthe Candlekeep Catacombs), but I thought I should mention this, here, as the extra Ice-Island component is an NPC1-project component, last I checked.

 

I've nearly reached the end, and I just wanted to say what a great game it's been. I've particularly liked the extra dialogue/banter from the NPC1 mod etc. - there have been a few issues, with so many mods, installed, such as the slowdowns and the occasional computer CTDs, but it's all worked out in the end.

[berelinde]

There isn't an Ice Island component of BG1 NPC, so it's likely SCS. But you should report it there, as DavidW is looking for places where there is slowdown.

[Kulyok]

Level 2 of the Ice Island BG1 UB. But, yes, what berelinde said, though I don't install SCS, myself.

[Strontium Dog]

Level 2 of the Ice Island BG1 UB. But, yes, what berelinde said, though I don't install SCS, myself.

 

Sorry, I forgot, it was indeed from UB version 4. One other question:- I used a page(from this forum?) which gave exact details on what order the BG1Tutu mods should be installed in - is there a similiar list for BG2:Throne of Bhaal, detailing the majority of mods which are compatible with each other, along with their required installation order? I already made mistakes with installing BG1Tutu before I found that page, which forced me to go through several aborted games, and I'd rather not have that happen with my future BG2 experience.

[Kulyok]

BG2 is fairly simple, if you do not install "big mods"(if you do, you'd better go and check MegaInstall forum or whatnot):

 

- Fixpack goes first

- Tweaks/Divine Remix/Refinements go close to the end(last)

- NPC flirts should go after all NPC and NPC-related mods

- Crossmod Banter Pack should go after all NPC mods

- Virtue goes LAST. Absolutely. No exception.

 

- some components are buggy(Fixpack's Paws and Beta Fixes, UB's Minor Dialogues).

 

As for incompatibilities - I don't know. The combination of mods I install(usually a blend of PPG and G3 ones) don't have any.

[Strontium Dog]

BG2 is fairly simple, if you do not install "big mods"(if you do, you'd better go and check MegaInstall forum or whatnot):

 

- Fixpack goes first

- Tweaks/Divine Remix/Refinements go close to the end(last)

- NPC flirts should go after all NPC and NPC-related mods

- Crossmod Banter Pack should go after all NPC mods

- Virtue goes LAST. Absolutely. No exception.

 

- some components are buggy(Fixpack's Paws and Beta Fixes, UB's Minor Dialogues).

 

As for incompatibilities - I don't know. The combination of mods I install(usually a blend of PPG and G3 ones) don't have any.

 

 

What I'm planning on is to install the Big Picture ueber-mod, along with Shadows Over Soubar. darkest Day and Tirtured Souls/Check The Bodies . I'd deliberately avoided doing so as the mod-owners of the big_Picture mod refused to have a detailed page listing installation order. Howeber, I gather they've improved various components, but the required installation order is still rather vague. From the dragon's hoard website, I gather(I hope) that the weidu versions of Shadows over soubar etc. are required along with the latest 1.77 weidu installation of the big picture mod. Anyway, I'll check this MegaInstall BG2 forum - never heard of it, before.

[cmorgan]

SpellHoldStudios tends to be a supportive place for MegaMod folks, and there are plenty of Tutu and BGT users over there, too. Azazello and Chevalier are both active over here and over there, so tend to be good names to look for about mod order questions, and nice folks to talk to - A word of warning - the use of Tutu and EasyTutu is pretty straightforward, and there are not many modders who don't actively seek friendly, non-competetive interaction with the users of their mods. The BG2 scene is bigger, with more potential minor scuffling; the Big Mods is an entirely different world. Not bad just takes some reading (and remembering that there are several different languages, modding philosophies, and long-term history at play).

 

I personally haven't run into anyone who doesn't care deeply about their own work. It is just worth noting that exploring BP install orders takes some "looking before you leap", and understanding.

[Kulyok]

Meaning, "some (big) BG2 mods may be incompatible with everything, and have been for many years, but don't tell their authors that"?

[cmorgan]

The Faerunian BG equivalent of the US Fifth Amendment -

 

Sttref 4853, in response to Marl's buddy being touched

 

~Hey, don't click ME. I don't want any trouble.~

 

To be serious, I honestly am amazed that anything is compatible at all between big or little mods. Regardless of coding time/ability/testing, it is so hard to get a mod consistent and working correctly within itself, let alone with others. And everyone wants it to be their story being told, their way - why else would they pour all that time and effort into it?

 

I am glad so many people work so hard to try to make things compatible. Short of installing everything you want, then going through and fixing it all up so it works manually (Rowana? I think that is her name... and possibly devSin, Nythrun, and Smoketest, possibly igi, possibly Avenger, possibly Ascension64 - there is a very very short list of the people with the skill and time to do this).

[Kulyok]

To be serious, I honestly am amazed that anything is compatible at all between big or little mods. Regardless of coding time/ability/testing, it is so hard to get a mod consistent and working correctly within itself, let alone with others.

 

Er, no, it is not? Weidu is so compatibility-oriented that it's really hard to break things. Only if you really want to - break things, I mean, or if you don't know what you're doing.

 

(I really wish this sort of thing wasn't told to the new users. Because modding is easy, whether adding completely new plots or adding to the existing ones, and I don't think new players/modders should be convinced otherwise. The only thing that BG2 modding lacks is artists who create new, unrecognizable areas from scratch - though WoRm/Valiant/Max were/are shining examples).

[berelinde]

It might be easy for some. It wasn't/isn't so easy for everyone.

 

I don't want people to go away thinking it's impossible, because isn't, but it does take perseverance. And there's no need for anyone to feel stupid for being on the uphill side of the learning curve. Any new skill takes practice.

 

It's a skill, like any other. Some have a natural affinity to it, some have to struggle a bit.

[Azazello]

I got an anonymous tip to this thread.

 

Just want to comment on these remarks:

What I'm planning on is to install the Big Picture ueber-mod, along with Shadows Over Soubar. darkest Day and Tirtured Souls/Check The Bodies . I'd deliberately avoided doing so as the mod-owners of the big_Picture mod refused to have a detailed page listing installation order. Howeber, I gather they've improved various components, but the required installation order is still rather vague. From the dragon's hoard website, I gather(I hope) that the weidu versions of Shadows over soubar etc. are required along with the latest 1.77 weidu installation of the big picture mod. Anyway, I'll check this MegaInstall BG2 forum - never heard of it, before.

To me, it sounds like you're using the non-weidu versions of some of the bigger mods. Hope not! That would be a challenge to install and run of epic proportions. Plus, non-weidu versions are not supported anymore, although they are still available for download for some reason.

 

The weidu versions have a fairly straightforward recommended install order:

either this - http://forums.spellholdstudios.net/index.php?showtopic=22224

or

this - http://forums.spellholdstudios.net/index.php?showtopic=18294

 

Some players new to the MegaInstall think they have to install everything in those lists To them I say: please, do not. Just install what you want, in the order recommended.

 

Also, use the latest version of the mods you want, unless for some reason an older one is necessary (e.g. NeJv42)

 

None of the weidu mods (except NeJv42, but that's a long story) require anything else. So you can play SoS without using BP, etc. etc. Curiously, you can play with BP without even using its own core component.

 

Some of the older mods haven't been actively updated because the original developer is AWOL (e.g. CBisson) and out of R-E-S-P-E-C-T no one will make other than bug fix changes to the mods; or, people have a Life and don't want to keep tweaking a mod that's not (seriously) broken.

 

Still, the Mega Mod Help forum tries to stay on top of compatiablity issues. It can be an intimidating place, but give it a look-see when you can.

[cmorgan]

And I really encourage folks to mod! It is great! The comment was kind of like the comment you can make about global politics - it is absolutely astounding that 90% of the world isn't slagged to radioactive glass. It is a tribute to people who built and developed WeiDU and all of the modders who try hard not to EXTEND_BOTTOM or REPLACE and hijack everyone elses work that these mods (some with very differnt storyline interpretations) work together.

 

Modding=good. Modding without stepping on someone elses work=possible. Just gotta ask questions and learn alot, test alot, and then ask more questions

[Strontium Dog]

Thanks for the info. It's still not quite clear, though. I presume that all I have to do is install BG2 along with Baldurdash and official patches. Then I install most the few non-WEIDU mods first on my install, followed by the WEIDU versions of Darkest Day, Shadows Over Soubar etc.(always favouring a WEIDU version over any other one), then I have to install the Big Picture 1.77 WEIDU mod (in order to make the big mods(ie Darkest Day/Shadows Over Soubar etc. compatible with each other) followed by the very few mods(such as Divine Remix etc.) that the current readme for Big Picture 1.77 states must be installed afterwards. Is this correct? I've noticed that the Check The Bodies Mod I downloaded isn't a WEIDU mod(and I don't think there is a WEIDU version) - is that OK? Should I install it before the Darkest Day/SOS etc. WEIDU mods?

 

So far, over the years, I've usually been just playing the Darkest Day, the astonishingly brilliant Tactics mod, along with Ascension/Hells Trails and the other major mods(tragically, the Tactics mod isn't allowed on a Big Picture install, though I gather that a few Tactics components were transferred to the BP mod). However, I intend to use a party of 6, all of whom are either fighter/mage/clerics or fighter/mage/thieves, along with a specialist kit for one of the classes. Even with the vast amount of XP given by the Darkest Day mod, I still didn't manage to go that high level-wise(30th level?) by the end of the Throne of Bhaal component with single-level characters, so I'm figuring that a few extra big mods like Shadows Over Soubar/Check The Bodies and Tortured Souls will do the trick. I know it's recommended to only download 2 of the major mods, but I want to see if 3(or maybe even 4) is possible, without too many CTDs happening(in the past I had very occasional problems with going to one or two TDD-areas, and I always resolved them via the CLUAConsole mod etc., so it wasn't really a problem).

[Chev]

Do NOT install any non-WeiDU mods!!!! I think all mods have been converted to WeiDU and if not I know a few who want to convert them.

then I have to install the Big Picture 1.77 WEIDU mod (in order to make the big mods(ie Darkest Day/Shadows Over Soubar etc. compatible with each other)

No, you no longer need BP for TDD, SoS and TS-BP and others to work together. BP still adds more to the game though. If you do not go and read carefully over at ShS Mege Mod Forum your install will likely have alot of bugs. If you read enough and carefully install the mods you can have a BP-BGT install with DSotSC, NTotSC, SoBH, BG1NPC, TDD, SoS, CtB, TS-BP, RoT, NeJ2 and a whole lot more. If you look hard enough you might find how to install part of Tactics that are not in BP.

 

Strontium Dog, you should continue this over at ShS.