Error installing Smarter General AI

[Twizman]

This ARNTRA01.CRE file seems to be having an issue. Would really appreciate any help. I'm installing on Tutu BG1. Mods I've installed in the following order:
BG1 NPC Project, Continuous NPC Portraits, Xan and Coran Friendship dialogue, Tweaks Anthology, SCS.

Edited August 31 by Twizman

[Twizman]

Mods I've installed in the following order:
BG1 NPC Project, Continuous NPC Portraits, Xan and Coran Friendship dialogue, Tweaks Anthology, SCS.

[Twizman]

Could it be something to do with the Icewind Dale divine spells? I've never used this component in playthroughs before.

[Brogan]

Don't know too much about this stuff, but I'm sure you've read what the SCS readme says about BG1 Tutu, which is not much.  From my impression (I've never tried to install SCS to a non EE version) it seems like compatibility is iffy at best. At least according to this part of the Compatibility section:

Quote

SCS probably also works with the original "Baldur's Gate Tutu" conversion of Baldur's Gate I to the Baldur's Gate II engine, with both the Tales of the Sword Coast (TotSC) expansion to BG1 and the Throne of Bhaal expansion to BG2 installed, but is not routinely tested on that install.

 

[Twizman]

Thanks Brogan, yes I assume so. Looks like I’ll need to buy EE! I probably last played SCS w Tutu maybe around 2017 or earlier.

[JDSilvergun]

Original BG2 works fine with SCS with proper fixes installed. I haven't tried BG1 though. It's not like the Beamdog versions don't have their own issues either. The enemies spawning/teleporting on top of people is definitely a beamdog special. I've seen someone complaining that even in vanilla EE Draconis' dragon from will spawn on top of someone, trapping them.

Anyway there are still plenty of people that use the original games. I don't think you should feel like you HAVE to buy new versions of the games. If you WANT to, that's a different story. This link has someone who posted their install for both original games.

 

[Trouveur80]

The EE are by far the version with less issues, less workarounds and the more supported by mods now.

It's perfectly fine to prefer the original, but from a technical point of view they are not the easier choice.

Saying "plenty" people still play the original is a bold assessment. Some sure, but reading forums, Discord or Reddit clearly shows that vast majority of questions are for the EE.  

[Brogan]

I mean, I still have my old install disc's, too.  But once you get past the small changes in presentation and packaging, you quickly find that 'safe space' of the games we all remember.

It's great.  And not to mentioned the HUGE advantage (if you are testing and installing these mods) of being able to, at least thru Steam, uninstall and reinstall the game in under 30 seconds in order to start a mod order again, or wipe clean an install you're unsure about.

[JDSilvergun]

I didn't want to make this a debate about originals vs. beamdog's versions. I was merely pointing out that the originals are totally viable. What I said is not a "bold assessment" based on your anecdotal evidence vs mine. It's not like I said anything like "majority" or "most people", so it's pointless for you to even assert that, and I'm certainly not going to waste my time debating about this.

At the end of the day you either need to upgrade the originals, or fix the EEs. Obnoxious, intrusive, poorly written NPCs, removing classic movies, borked pathfinding, and several other pointless changes (far too many for me to want to list, as this is not the time or place for that debate) were done by Beamdog. If none of that bothers you, sure EE is better.

As for mod testing, you can have an alternate (or base) install with the essentials, like fixpack, etc. backed up somewhere, so you don't have to start form scratch every time. My personal installs are pretty light, but if you are doing massive installs I could see the point of this being a potential advantage.

Edited September 1 by JDSilvergun

[bearcattony00]

Having same issues with “nonexistent items” on certain overridden cre files.  I use the near infinity to identify each .cre it errors and change or remove the item that when investigated is flagged as “none”, non existent.