<font color=white> What are your favourite Baldurs Gate II - SoA and ToB modifications?

Give some feedback about them, like what you really love about the mod, what it adds in general (don't need to go in detial).

Why? their are a lot of mods out there that we don't even know about.. with the use of this Thread I want to discover maybe great mods that are severely neglected because simple... we don't know them.

So Beta-Testers arise and tell us about your favourite mods and why they are your favourite. Or people that created a mod... advertise here and tell us all about it!

Maybe link the page where the mod is downlaodable so that if people would like to download and test the mod, they can do so.

I'll begin with some well-known mods:

1. WeiDU Tactis Mod

A Great mod, some times its just to damn hard with a low level party but in a whole this modification is just plain awesome! Though people do find it that the improved encounters cheat though opinions may vary on this topic.
When should you download this?
- If you feel like nothing is a challenge any more in plain vanilla SoA
- You like a challenge
- A fan of some rather powerfull weapons? just make sure you are though enough when those guys come and bring those items to you... because it will not go in a friendly way ;)

2. Solaufein

For what I have seen (I did not yet finished the game with this mod) its great, you can now add Solaufein of Ust'Natha in your party... he has several banters with almost every NPC, including a balanced-romance (no matter race/sex/class), several new encounters, romance will advance through SoA and ToB.
Solaufein is sometimes considerd as the powergamers chose, due to the fact that he is a drow (natural high MR) and the Items he will get from his Deity, I find him balanced and just a great addition to the NPC list.

3. WeiDU Item Upgrade Mod

Just something we all wanted, do you feel the urge to upgrade even the most powerfull weapons to weapons that even a Deity is afraid of them?
Then this mod is nothing for you [img]smile.gif[/img] this mod consists out of wll balanced items (some are rather over-powerd.. but thats only a few on the long list)

Cromwell and Cespenar upgrade existing items for you, modifying them to even more powerfull versions of them... for a price ofcorse.. you must gather several components for each item before it can be upgraded (some of the components are rare and so its hard to get your hands on them), another thing if you don't have enough cash... leave this mod because it will cost you dearly to upgrade the items [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

Just a little preview of what I intend with this Thread.... so lets get it rolling people ;)

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[ 04-14-2003, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: Annatar ]

<font color=white> Nobody except Xen... come on people we all play with mods, even some have their own mods created... anybody? </font>

Xen? Are you doing such things on purpose or what?

4. Weimer's Ease-of-Use mod
Many options that makes Baldur's Gate easier, better and more enjoying experience.
Some of them:
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• Infinite Weapon and Potion Stacking - reduces inventory management part of the game: no more tedious arranging and shortages of space!</font>
• Shut up "You must gather your party before venturing forth." - the best option, you'll never play the game without this anymore!</font>
• Wear Magical Armor AND Magic Rings - a bit cheating, some would say, but it is surely toned down (and a big help) if you install Tactics mode.</font>
• Stop NPC Alignment-Reputation Complaints is useful if you have mixed party of all alignments.</font>
• All Races/Gender & Concurrent Romances - Wanna romance three chicks (and Annoyman) simultaneously? Here ya go.</font>
• Turn off the Hideous Cloak-of-Mirroring and Spell-Trap Animation - If you have ever equipped that cloak, you will install this ;) .</font>
• Bottomless Bag of Holding - Bag of Holding has a limit? Doesn't make sense.</font>
• Bonus Merchants - Some people have them, some don't - these are official and legit.</font>
• Keep Drizzt's Loot, Disable Malchor Harpell - To each his own.</font>
• Female Edwina Portrait - Hillarious!</font>

Stephen Mackey recently put up some reviews that include lesser-known works (like the Hell Trials and Goo).

http://www.angelfire.com/alt/karkadinn/modreviews.html

Valen Mod
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• I tell you, your Valen NPC mod is cool! Valen definitely rocks! Excellent ideas were put together, Valen most unique user-created NPC I've ever seen. So keep up good work!</font>
• Nice different NPC if you are evil.</font>
• I rather like Valen. ... I prefer a more powerful set of NPCs anyway. ...</font>
• Besides, it's nice to finally be able to turn that annoying level drain against my enemies! *chuckles* So, anyway, kudos to you for this mod.</font>
• I had a great time using her in my party. While others said she was weak, I have found her rather powerful. She leads the party in kills ( and thats with korgan with crom faeyr and the warrior archer kit for a lead character). Kudos to you on a great mod NPC.</font>
• I recently downloaded the Valen Mod, and I must say [that] I'm very impressed with the work. I liked how you did the whole sunlight enfeeblement, which made it a lot more realistic.</font>
• She is a mortal, silent and effective pet, just as any good undead should be! A very great work. A PNG that an evil party cannot miss to have the rigth respect.</font>
• A very vell put together NPC and MOD.</font>
• By the way just wanted to let you know that the Valen Mod is my favorite NPC</font>
• Mod I've used yet. Way to go!</font>
• I really like your mods. Great work!</font>
• Valen is a fun addition to any party. My first party with her was good.</font>
• Valen is awesome. Plain and simple. I really like the automatic "hide in shadows and try to find traps" thing you set up. Keep it up.</font>
• Valen ROCKS! Best NPC I've got, MORE!</font>
• This NPC addition is probably the best I have tried out of about 20 from other sites! Nice work! (It is not often I compliment work!)</font>
• OK, This is a great mod.</font>
• Wes has links to other mod authors as well.. it's generally accepted that his Sola and Valen mods are good to choose.</font>
• Awesome mod, AWESOME!</font>
• Great mod, BTW....IMHO the most interesting and fun NPC in the game.</font>
• Just to say this mod is really great. Valen is so COOL, and a really nice addition to my evil party. Evil female vampire hottie simply rocks! ;)</font>
• I loved the Valen mod.</font>
• I've recently installed the mod for Valen and Sol...I just want to say Valen is the best NPC I've ever had, and possibly the most interesting.</font>
• Not to give anything away but Wes did a really great job with Valen, especially when you CAN'T control her and her basic instincts kick in.</font>
• I like the Valen mod a lot. Now adds some much needed spice.</font>
• Valen is great. She brings out the chaotic in chaotic-evil. It's a real shame Korgan wasn't more like her. The other good thing is that she also brings with her the true downside of CE, forcing you to deal with that little thing called a really bad reputation.</font>
• I especially love the extra dialogue with Valen, hunting valygar, Roger the Fence etc and it was great to walk into the Order of the Radiant Heart and be attacked by the paladins.</font>
• I really like what you've done with the VALEN mod, and it's a great evil add-on NPC.</font>
• I really I think Valen mod is your masterpiece. No villain has character such as this! Especially because Valen don't gloat over it and never has regrets! Well done!</font>
• I'm enjoying every step of the mod. The dialogues are great especially the ones she has with Lonk The Sane in SpellHold and with Saemon Havarian.</font>

Ease-Of-Use Mod</font>

• First off, thank you for the time and effort that went into making not only the NPC, but the wonderful endless stacking of arrows and bolts, the lifting of the experience cap, and, especially, the ability to SHUT UP the announcer when exiting! I often felt, through the original Baldur's Gate and my first run-through of SOA, that all I did was inventory management. This makes it sooooo much easier!</font>
• I've used your ease of use and item upgrade utilities for BG2 and enjoyed them quite a bit</font>
• I stand in awe!</font>
• I just want to say how much I appreciate Westley Weimer's Ease of Use mod pack. I was reluctant to mod my game at first - nasty experience with DSoTSC some time ago - but I'm so impressed. So many niggling things fixed...wish I'd done it ages ago.
  ... especially the ease of use one. It did what it said on the packet: thanks!</font>
• I`ve been using your mods for Baldurs Gate 2 for some time, and I`m really impressed. These really bring some new experience to the game.</font>
• I would like to thank you for the fine work you did with the Ease-Of-Use Mod. It is simply brilliant.</font>
• I'm incredibly impressed, sir. Thanks ever so much for taking the time to make the "Ease of Use" utilities.</font>
• I have just installed and I am playing the easy mod. The changes are fantastique. The game is more playable and increases the fun factor in it.</font>
• I downloaded your Ease of use mod collection- it's very good! Plus I appreciate the small download size.</font>

Items Upgrade Mod</font>

• Great stuff, BTW!! Helps keep the game feeling new...and what it's like to be on the receiving end of some enemies who actually prepare and react appropriately (I went for the upgrade because Bodhi and friends are slicing me up - 2 more False Dawns from the buckler are a godsend...)</font>
• I've also enjoyed the latest releases like the Item Upgrade mod. It's a great work!</font>
• Anyway, I really like the mod.</font>
• First, I just wanted to thank you for your work. You and the other mod makers have done some wonderful work, and it is kind of you to make it publicly available for free.</font>
• I really like the Acension and Item upgrade mods, I was stoked when Cromwell forged the Celestial Fury +5 for my Kensage. Bad guys, look out, I'm coming!</font>
• GREAT mod!</font>
• Great fun. I didn't find anything to be ridiculously overpowered. It often prevents you from having to do annoying switching between certain items (.Here comes a vampire, everyone put on their Helms of Charm Protection.). All in all, it.s kinda fun to have some incentive to collect some items that normally aren.t needed.</font>
• First off, great work. I've enjoyed using the Mod. The bottom line is: the upgrade IS fun.</font>
• The item upgrade mod made the game more enjoyable, as there was always a debate on my part whether to restrict myself to weapons that I knew to have higher-end magical versions, such as the bastard sword and two-handed sword, as opposed to using clubs or spears.</font>
• I liked your upgrades to BG2 - they make the game more challenging, for the most part.</font>
• This ROCKS! Fresh.</font>
• By the way I love the item upgrade mod. Makes playing new and exciting. Thank you very much.</font>

Up to 50th Level Spells Mod</font>

• I don't see this as as the right way to go about it.</font>
• I am a hardened BG player. I got BGI in 1998 when it came out. I pre-ordered BGII half a year before it was out. This rules.</font>
• Feel free to submit yours.</font>

Good enough? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 04-14-2003, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: Gangrell ]

Annatar, when i saw this thread and saw you made it, the first things that came to my mind... Ease of Use and Tactics Mod.. why? because we all know Annatar is in love with those mods :D Anyway, my favs are

Bonus Merchants
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• Some may not consider this a mod, but its a modification to the game.</font>
• These merchants sell some of the best items in the game.</font>
• Where would all our Kensais be without Dakkons or Robe of Venca?</font>
• These merchants are available from the very beginning of the game, As soon as you are free from Ch. 1</font>
• Joluv's items bring back memories from IWD 1 [img]smile.gif[/img]</font>

Solafien</font>

• This mod has allready been described by <font color="White">Annatar</font></font>
• In addition, he is just so cool! Hes a very powerful drow with romance, special items/spell, and plenty of banters.</font>

Valen</font>

• This mod has allready ben described by <font color="white">Gangrell</font></font>
• I mean.. shes a vampire thief.. what else do i have to say ;)</font>

<font color="red">Xero</font>

Mod is an abbreviation for modification.
And BM isn't a mod. It is a part of the game, just some versions don't have it.

Mod is an abbreviation for modification.
And BM isn't a mod. It is a part of the game, just some versions don't have it.</font>[/QUOTE]Only special limited edition versions came with it. i had to download it like a mod and it modified my game, so therefor, to me, its a mod.

<font color=white>Kelsey</font>

- Fixes BG2's shocking lack of a Sorcerer!
- Finally gives the game a character who says the things *I* want to say! (Get a load of his reaction to Priestess Demin.)
- Truly kickass party banters, especially with Jan!
- Spiffy Cloak!
- Reasonable stats!
- Flirt ability adds a whole new dimension to the game! (Scandalize Keldorn by engaging in Public Displays of Affection in the middle of the High Hall of the Radiant Heart.)
- Encounters with some really messed-up people!
- And more!

[ 04-14-2003, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: SixOfSpades ]