EET for 2.0 without SoD

[UMNiK]

Seeing some conflicting reports about moddability and general quality of SoD, so do you plan to update the mod to work with 2.0 versions without SoD?

[bob_veng]

i'd just like to interject:

- general quality of sod is fine (the reception is uniformly positive in the media if you look for reviews and not various polemical texts)

- moddability problem has already been fixed (modmerge tool)

[Roxanne]

i'd just like to interject:

- general quality of sod is fine (the reception is uniformly positive in the media if you look for reviews and not various polemical texts)

- moddability problem has already been fixed (modmerge tool)

I already started modding it for EET (when that comes) - with K4thos unzip tool published on these website pages this is no problem. https://github.com/K4thos/UnzipSoD

 

Like many others I have no intention to use it as *extension* like it currently is published (you import your party like in old BG2).

 

But when EET comes in a little while and makes it all one game, then SoD really functions as the link between BG1 and BG2 and provides a much better plot and feeling why you end up in Amn after Sarevok. You do not have to like every side-quest or new bean dog NPC, but from the concept in an overall ONE GAME like EET it will have its place.

 

And forget all the big advertisements as well as reviews from people who did not even play it. It is neither the Biggest Thing since the game came out nor is it as as bad as the rest of bean dog's addons to the game. Once EET has integrated it, it may feel like it really belongs there. And like in the old game, it may again be the modders that will provide this integration by having their NPCs and plots continue in the new extension.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Roxanne

[UMNiK]

Maybe I'm just being an elitist, but I'd still like the option to just merge BGEE and BG2EE (I like Jaheira, for example).

Edited April 9, 2016 by UMNiK

[Roxanne]

Maybe I'm just being an elitist, but I'd still like the option to just merge BGEE and BG2EE (I like Jaheira, for example).

In the end it is for the EET author to decide - however, from the discussions we had, I understand that there is also a technical background, as EET requires the v2.0 improvements and they come with SoD in package.

 

But you can of course use the current 0.9 beta version of EET and you will have the game you look for (even if the version is not the complete EET envisioned it is a playable game - I did it from Candlekeep to ToB end and it works.)

[UMNiK]

 

Maybe I'm just being an elitist, but I'd still like the option to just merge BGEE and BG2EE (I like Jaheira, for example).

In the end it is for the EET author to decide - however, from the discussions we had, I understand that there is also a technical background, as EET requires the v2.0 improvements and they come with SoD in package.

 

But you can of course use the current 0.9 beta version of EET and you will have the game you look for (even if the version is not the complete EET envisioned it is a playable game - I did it from Candlekeep to ToB end and it works.)

 

It was my understanding that 2.0 went out to EEs without SoD also. Am I wrong?

[K4thos]

It was my understanding that 2.0 went out to EEs without SoD also. Am I wrong?

correct, BG:EE (even without SoD) and BG2:EE received 2.0 patches.

 

Seeing some conflicting reports about moddability and general quality of SoD, so do you plan to update the mod to work with 2.0 versions without SoD?

It is required. SoD is an official expansion approved by WoTC, so it's now a part of BG storyline. I don't see long term benefits in fragmentation, especially from modders point of view (access to game resources rather than including them in mod package, simpler code etc.) Also it would be silly to jump from chapter 7 to chapter 13 right after killing Sarevok just like that, which would be the case for those without SoD. btw. I've enjoyed this expansion - I'd suggest giving it a chance.

Edited April 9, 2016 by K4thos

[UMNiK]

That's a shame. I could argue that BGT worked fine as a story for over 10 years now, but it's your decision.

[Roxanne]

That's a shame. I could argue that BGT worked fine as a story for over 10 years now, but it's your decision.

BGT worked around the issue of *patching* the game parts together with adding a short cutscene of your capture. Then CtB tried to fill the gap between BG1 and BG2 with some flashback cutscenes and CtB scores mod. Yes, it worked but always there were some missing parts, same for the BG2 to ToB transition. EET really tries to make it a continuous game, both technically and story wise. SoD fits in well, it gives Irenicus the chance not to just jump out of nowhere but to spy out the hero of Baldur's Gate and decide to lay the trap for him/her. It also gives a number of NPCs chance to develop further and to provide more meaningful transitions into BG2.

 

And like K4thos pointed out - it makes EET a much better modding platform with a consistent set of resources and references for the whole extended trilogy + IWD.

 

The scenario for not including SoD into EET would mean to disrupt all of this and create two games (one with and one without SoD) and a lot of work for all modders to work around the gap (or ignore it and just provide mods for one of them.)

 

You can argue that the game without SoD as a trilogy would simply remain BGT (which is not gone - it sure will stay for a long time still, with a large number of mods only available there but not - yet or never - in EET).

[UMNiK]

I'm not gonna pretend to understand the modding benefits (what's IWD got to do with it?..), it is just that I've personally grown quite attached to stuff like NPC project (maybe beamdog's characterisation is better, but that is a maybe vs a sure thing situation). Since EET worked for pre 2.0 EEs, I had hoped it would be easy to preserve that and move forward with SoD at the same time. Like you said though, BGT is not going anywhere, just wanted some clarification from the EET modders. Thanks everyone.

[Ser Elryk]

Speaking of the BG1 NPC Project mod:

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question (I've been gone from the BG scene for awhile). But the mod will be available in EET when it releases, right? SoD didn't "break" it or anything?

 

Also I read somewhere something about complications either with mods or the BWS in the GoG versions of the games post-SoD. Has the problem been fixed, or in the process of being fixed?

 

Thanks in advance =)

Edited April 11, 2016 by Ser Elryk

[Roxanne]

Speaking of the BG1 NPC Project mod:

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question (I've been gone from the BG scene for awhile). But the mod will be available in EET when it releases, right? SoD didn't "break" it or anything?

 

Also I read somewhere something about complications either with mods or the BWS in the GoG versions of the games post-SoD. Has the problem been fixed, or in the process of being fixed?

 

Thanks in advance =)

In entry #3 above you find a link to (one of) a fix for the GoG/steam problem, another option is on bean dog.

 

Once EET comes out it will be moddable and allow you to install converted mods. For the BWS you can study the discussion on SHS. its worked on and probably ready in time.

[Garrato]

Hi !
Does anything change, it is possible now to play EET without SOD stuff or just skip it ?

[K4thos]

nope. There was a mod for skipping SoD somewhere on this forum, but I can't find it anymore (too many posts, sorry).

Edited August 9, 2018 by K4thos

[Fouinto]

Here you go.