Well, after 3 months of talking about it and then 2 months of actually coding it and testing it with the help of many people, I've finally decided to reveal BG1Tutu.

So, what is BG1Tutu?

Well, it's an automatic converter much like IWG2 that takes the resources from either a straight BG1 install or a BG1 + TotSC install on your computer and converts it into the BGII or BGII + ToB engine.

We've already squashed quite a few of the bugs during about six weeks of alpha testing, so the game is quite playable.

I've finished the game myself and everything seems fine thus far.

However, with a project of this scope and size, bugs will obviously come about sooner or later, but I'm confident that most of them will be easily fixable.

For this reason, I'm considering this stage to be beta. With any luck, within a month or so we'll be able to push it up to final.

But, enough of the boring details.

Please make sure you read the Readme thoroughly before running BG1Tutu.

For those of you who don't read Readme's, here are the installation and uninstallation instructions taken straight from the Readme:

Installing

1) If you haven't already, perform a Full Install of BG1. This could mean BG1, BG1 plus TotSC, or BG: The Original Saga, depending on what you've bought.
2) Apply the BG1 patch from Bioware *only* if you do not have BG: The Original Saga.
3) If you haven't already, perform a Recommended or Full install of BG2. Throne of Bhaal is supported but not required.
4) Depending on what you have installed, apply the BG2 patch or ToB Patch from Bioware.
5) Extract bg1tutu_v(x).exe to your BGII directory.
6) Open up the file called “configuration” using your text editor of choice (Notepad, Wordpad, PFE, etc.) which will be inside the bg1tutu directory located in your BGII directory.
7) Change the source path to your BG directory and the target path to your BGII directory.
8 ) Install any BG1 mods/upgrades that you will want to use in your BG1 directory.
Note: Most WeiDU based mods *should* convert correctly, however, I strongly recommend *not* installing DSotSC until it’s WeiDU conversion has been completed.
9) Double-click bg1tutu.exe (it will be in your BGII directory) and let it run. Depending on the speed of your computer, it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes for the conversion to complete.
10) If you want BG music, copy BG’s music folder into your BGII directory. (Make sure to rename BGII’s music folder to something else first so that you don’t overwrite BGII’s music.)
11) If you downloaded Sim’s alternate start screens, make sure you extract the archive to your BGII override folder.
12) Play BG using BGII’s engine!

Uninstalling (Reverting back to BGII)

1) Make sure that you have a final save in your save directory.
2) Double-click bg1tutu_restore.exe and let it run.
3) Load up BGII and load the “bg1tutu-transition” save. You will have your PC from the start of the game.
4) If you decided to use BG music, make sure you rename your BGII music directory back to “music”.
5) Play BGII as normal.

For screenshots, source code and the actual archive, visit http://japh.fwstudios.net/bg1tutu.

You can get to the forums for BG1Tutu by going here.

Finally, I'd like to thank Wes Weimer for coding IWG2 and giving people like me something to build off. Without the IWG2 code, this project would still be in the concept phase. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 09-15-2003, 10:56 PM: Message edited by: japheth ]

*bows down before the master

Thanks for this invaluable tool! This is genious! :D

<font color="gold">So this is basically the same as BGT, except that this is much easier to download/install? Or are there any differences?</font>

Well, yeah?! BGT is Way-too-much Mb, while this is 700 kb, the only reason I had not downloaded BGT is of the monstrous size. AND, it is far more easier to adjust a few bugs with this and redownload it.

<font color="gold">I'm not saying that this isn't good, because it so absolutely is! But I'm simply wondering if there's any reason for me to get this if I already have BGT. ;) </font>

From what I gathered from discussions about BGT, BGT includes all resource files from BG-ToTSC, hence that huge download, but you don't have to own BG1.
But my question is: Does BG1tutu affect SoA-ToB? I mean can I still play SoA while tutu installed (the thing about music puzzles me)?

<font color="gold">I'm not saying that this isn't good, because it so absolutely is! But I'm simply wondering if there's any reason for me to get this if I already have BGT. ;) </font> </font>[/QUOTE]I doubt it. On the other hand, I've got BGT installed myself at the moment, but I'd sign for an easier install every day - it was literally hell to go through BGT's installation in its entirety. So maybe this is a more economic and efficient solution?

[ 09-13-2003, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

I'll take one with a side order of rissole please :D

Seriously though, very well done. I think I'll install this sometime next week and take a character through the entire series as an Assassin/Fighter. Could be great fun.

Did you remove the EXP Caps so I can spend some quality time in the Sword Coast? I can take a kit and go through the Sword Coast yes?

I don't do readme's :D

basically bgt was so much bigger than tutu because u wer actually dl bg1 aswell instead of just copying the files over. Has anyone tried tutu? I have trilogy and think it is very good, definately worth the dl time.

erm...does my installation of BG2 have to be clean? as in no mods for harder enemys and such? or can i install with them? as thats what stopped me using Trilogy....

Is it possible to:

- Install BG/Tales/SoA/ToB
- Install this
- Then install extras and mods

???

I also need to know if I can choose the Assassin kit right from the start of the game. Also, is there any chance of the BG Experience cap being removed entirely, it would make the game so much more fun :D

well BGT also does a bit more than just adding BG1. AFAIK it also gives you the possibility to take BG1 NPCs to SoA, have Imoen, Jaheira and Minsc transfer with the stats they had at the end of BG1 makes the story more coherent,...

Okay, I'll try and address all your questions.

Yes. All you have to do is double-click bg1tutu.exe in your BGII directory to run it. Read the installations instructions for more detail.

However, BG1Tutu isn't one big monstrous game. You play through BG1 after running bg1tutu.exe and then once you've completed it, you run bg1tutu_restore.exe, which reverts BGII back to normal and splices <CHARNAME> into a save called bg1tutu-transition. Then you just load the bg1tutu-transition save and play the game with your PC that you used throughout BG1.

You can still start a normal New Game after running bg1tutu_restore.exe as well.

Well, any new versions *should* be able to be ran while keeping your saved games intact. The only thing that may happen is that some string references might become messed up.

Yep, you can play with any Kit you want. And I've left the XP Cap as is, so you can tromp around and gain levels in BG1 if you really want to.

Well, it certainly *helps* if it is, however, I'm pretty sure you can get away with running bg1tutu.exe even if you have a bunch of mods installed in your BGII installation already.

Yes, as mentioned above in this post, you can use any kit you want from the start of the game. And there is no xp cap.

Installing any *BGII* extras/mods is kind of pointless until you actually start playing BGII again since the BGII content is unaccessable while BG1Tutu is installed.

besides, I read on the BGT forum, only when installing BGT requires clean/un-moded SoA/ToB, after all installations are done, you can put those mods back.

So let me see if I've got it right. They both have their pluses and minuses.

BGT- massive download, and hellish installation, but you can play straight through the whole series.

BG1TUTU- much smaller download, simpler install, but you need to convert the BG2 game back and forth to play the whole series.

Have I got it right? Is there anything I've missed? Can we make a compilation list to make sure we've got everything so that everyone can make the best decision for themselves?

It does?
I heard otherwise actually, but perhaps this feature is part of a recent patch, then?

Well, you don't have to convert the game "back and forth" really. You only have to do it once.

You install BG1Tutu, play it, and when you're done with it you run bg1tutu_restore.exe to restore your BGII install.

I realize that some people may want to play BGII while BG1Tutu is installed, but because of many problems (Worldmap, patching the exe for 0 XP, etc.) you can't.

And if my understanding is correct, with BGT you can't just start in Irenicus' dungeon either can you?

Actually, you can.

Nice, nice. Now, even more incentive for me to get BG 1... [img]smile.gif[/img]

you cant take npcs to bg2 from bg1 in bgt

I've read that in BGT, though not taking NPCs from BG1 to SoA, the BG1 NPCs (other than Imone, Minsc and Jaheira) will appear in SoA. Can anyone who plays the latest patched BGT confirm this?

I'm currently stuck on a plot-bug with the Bandit camp. But as soon as I make the transition I'll post the details here.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee.

So who of you is man enough to take up the challenge of the L1 monk through the BG series.

Would be great fun to try :D

<font color="orange">I'll do it, Dace. Solo? [img]tongue.gif[/img] </font>

EDIT => <font color="orange">I should probably add something useful to this conversation. Will scripts still work? What about Baldurdash?</font>

[ 09-13-2003, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: True_Moose ]

I've read that in BGT, though not taking NPCs from BG1 to SoA, the BG1 NPCs (other than Imone, Minsc and Jaheira) will appear in SoA. Can anyone who plays the latest patched BGT confirm this? </font>[/QUOTE]im playin it with the latest patch and they wont appear in bg2

That's what I thought as well... Which is in my opinion the biggest disappointment about BGT, I'd have loved to take a few other characters through BG2 for a change. But on the other hand, the lack of scripts for those original BG1-characters could make it slightly on the boring side, much like a *shudder* game of Icewind Dale. [img]graemlins/uhoh2.gif[/img] ;)

yes it would have been good although then they would have to edit bg2 scripts, it would be quite a big task

For BG1tutu do you need to have TOB installed as well?
Just an after thought

i think so. You have to have all the games installed.

Not necesserily !

v.3 coming up, the weapon proficiencies should be fixed, that was the major bug.

I dont really know, i thought it said that on the first page of this thread, but i run trilogy not tutu

JrKASperov, what do you mean Not necesarily is that a yes or a no? And where is Japheth? He seems to know a lot about this program. I need answers, cuz if I can play straight through with top notch graphics without having to pick of TOB that would be great. That and from what I hear it's a load of pain trying to find a workable download for BGT.

I believe it will still work if you don't have TOB, yes.

That's what I thought as well... Which is in my opinion the biggest disappointment about BGT, I'd have loved to take a few other characters through BG2 for a change. But on the other hand, the lack of scripts for those original BG1-characters could make it slightly on the boring side, much like a *shudder* game of Icewind Dale. [img]graemlins/uhoh2.gif[/img] ;) </font>[/QUOTE]NOT true. Although it is buggy you can (and I have) take EVERY NPC (except Dynaheir and Khalid obviously) to SoA. It still is buggy though (the transition was probably the hardest part to code) and I imagine they have no banter.
Strangest thing is that you can still take NPCs to SoA who have cameos there (I had Xzar talk to Xzar :D ) and even recruitable ones.
NPC cameo SPOILERS - following NPCs make appearances in SoA and their current status in BGT
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</font>

• Imoen, Minsc and Jaheira are captured with you in the starting dungeon - they will transition from BG1 with their exact stats which certainly is an upside.</font>
• Viconia and Edwin are recruitable in SoA - can be transported from BG to Chateau Irenicus but they seem to be missing at their regular locations in SoA if you dealt (recruited, freed) with them in BG1 even if you do not transfer them. This however does not take away the plots (stake, Mae'Var) but CLUAing them in will help to avoid plot-stoppers</font>
• Xzar and Montaron are involved in the early Harper plot - can be transitioned and even used as party member in respective quest (regular SoA Xzar will still be there)</font>
• Ajantis is one of the paladins you kill in Windspear hills - can be transitioned (don't know about plot issues as I did not take him that far)</font>
• Yeslick and Kivan don't appear in SoA AFAIK - can be transitioned perfectly</font>
• don't know transitioning for all the other but I imagine it will work like the above which is strange because many of them have "cameos" (Coran, Safana, Faldorn, Garrick, Quayle, Tiax)</font>

[ 09-18-2003, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: Faceman ]

BGtutu, does not NEED ToB, but you can have it, it does not matter either way, the only thing you actually need, is to have the BGII engine on your pc and a full install of BGI. Then, the program converts EVERYTHING from BGI to BGII, so you can play BGI from BGII. What you have in the SoA folders would probably not take any effect, BGtutu does not USE them anyway. Save maybethe engine thingies such as paper dolls.

Any chance you can load a saved BG1 game???

Also:

If you install BG2 twice, can you still play BG2 -- so you'd be able to play either one without converting back & forth?

Thanks for the info -- I downloaded it and will likely install it. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Then it's probably added in one of the later patches... Which I still haven't installed, mind you. [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img]

sorry for the shouting [img]smile.gif[/img]
I just got excited because I had heard the rumors that it was not possible over and over and was really anxious and then it was possible anyway.

That's what I thought as well... Which is in my opinion the biggest disappointment about BGT, I'd have loved to take a few other characters through BG2 for a change. But on the other hand, the lack of scripts for those original BG1-characters could make it slightly on the boring side, much like a *shudder* game of Icewind Dale. [img]graemlins/uhoh2.gif[/img] ;) </font>[/QUOTE]NOT true. Although it is buggy you can (and I have) take EVERY NPC (except Dynaheir and Khalid obviously) to SoA. It still is buggy though (the transition was probably the hardest part to code) and I imagine they have no banter.
Strangest thing is that you can still take NPCs to SoA who have cameos there (I had Xzar talk to Xzar :D ) and even recruitable ones.
NPC cameo SPOILERS - following NPCs make appearances in SoA and their current status in BGT
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
</font>

• Imoen, Minsc and Jaheira are captured with you in the starting dungeon - they will transition from BG1 with their exact stats which certainly is an upside.</font>
• Viconia and Edwin are recruitable in SoA - can be transported from BG to Chateau Irenicus but they seem to be missing at their regular locations in SoA if you dealt (recruited, freed) with them in BG1 even if you do not transfer them. This however does not take away the plots (stake, Mae'Var) but CLUAing them in will help to avoid plot-stoppers</font>
• Xzar and Montaron are involved in the early Harper plot - can be transitioned and even used as party member in respective quest (regular SoA Xzar will still be there)</font>
• Ajantis is one of the paladins you kill in Windspear hills - can be transitioned (don't know about plot issues as I did not take him that far)</font>
• Yeslick and Kivan don't appear in SoA AFAIK - can be transitioned perfectly</font>
• don't know transitioning for all the other but I imagine it will work like the above which is strange because many of them have "cameos" (Coran, Safana, Faldorn, Garrick, Quayle, Tiax)</font>

</font>[/QUOTE]yeh but i was meaning actually take the npcs through with you. I know that u get some of them in bg2 but that isnt because of trilogy, that always happens.