That was super fast, thank you!

For #1, my concern is, obviously, providing a backup plan. Having backup download is 50% less useful if BWS can't switch to it automatically. Something akin to TheWizard's IEGMC mirrors (if you remember that ancient times). As for obvious reasons, these are not so obvious to me I'm afraid

 

For #2, I know that BWS will update itself if launched via "Update If Needed" option and will not update itself if launched via "Without Update" option. However that quoted snippet of readme made me think there might be another update at some later step of BWS logic because "when it starts a BWP install" is something user will select few steps after selecting which vbs file to launch BWS with. So, my concern is if it might so happen that even if I launch BWS with "Without Update" file something will be updated later as soon as I select "BWP install", erasing all my locally made changes to general or mod related ini files.

Hopefully there's still some experts left to know the answers

1. Is there a functionality implemented in BWS allowing to provide backup link for a mod, which should be used when BWS decide that the main link is unavailable? Like may be

Down=http:/ /mods.pocketplane.net/AlassaNPC_v3.zip;http:/ /some.other.place/AlassaNPC_v3.zip
Save=AlassaNPC_v3.zip
Size=2129400

or

Down=http:/ /mods.pocketplane.net/AlassaNPC_v3.zip
BUDown=http:/ /some.other.place/AlassaNPC_v3.zip
Save=AlassaNPC_v3.zip
Size=2129400

or any other way to the same end.

2. There's this short and obscure remark in BWS readme:

BWS/AutoIt3 goes online
The BWS will try to update the mods data when it starts a BWP install. This is done by looking for some files hosted in the internet. The BWS (which uses the AutoIt3.exe) will attempt to fetch these files from the servers and continue.

What mechanic is behind this description, what exactly is downloaded and where from?

We are happy to announce that halls of our dear Spellhold is now also a home of Argent77 and many of his mods. His works were available for quite some time both here and on Beamdog forum and became both renowned and praised, and are now getting well deserved personal subforums for easier access and discussions, while Argent77 himself is joining the ranks of official Spellhold modders.
 
So check out his chambers, and enjoy what he has prepared for all BG, IWD and PST fans. Here is the list of his projects now officially hosted on Spellhold:

Afaaq, the Djinni Companion: forum, download, info
A djinni and faithful traveling companion throughout BG2, BG2:EE or IWD:EE.

Golem Construction for Spellcasters (EE): forum, download, info
Allow spellcasters to build their own golems.

PS:T Unfinished Business - Reloaded: topic, download
A continuation of Qwinn's PS:T Unfinished Business that restores content cut from the game!

PS:T Varieties: forum, download
This will be a home for smaller mods from various authors, but Argent77 is the first to settle there.

Reveal Hidden Gameplay Options (EE): forum, download, info
Reveals hidden gameplay options within EE games.

Skip Chateau Irenicus: forum, download, info
Provides a sensible shortcut to quickly escape from Irenicus' Dungeon.

This is not, by any means, complete list of Argent77’s mods, both released and being developed, so stay tuned for more!

Rylorn is here (or here for that matter) but far as I see it doesn't have version number in tp2 and marked as being 1.0 in readme, so I'm not 100% sure this is exactly what you're looking for.

Almateria's Restoration Project has been well known and gathered popularity for years now. It started as a restoration of unused sounds, but then it become much more than that. Today it includes many components that bring back items, characters, encounters, dialogues and many many other things! It is a great option for those who are fishing for unfinished business-kind of content as well those who enjoy seeing new bits here and there. Note that the mod affects both Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal content. It should also work fine on BG2EE.
 
ARP has just been updated, and we are happy to use this opportunity to give a recognition long due: to welcome that mod among all the other SHS projects, and welcome the author, Almateria, among SHS modders.

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 The mule looks like a man with a mushroom head.

I first read that as "a man with a mushroom beard" and almost asked for a screenshot! But sorry for offtopic

We are happy to announce that the mod Test Your Mettle! is now available on SHS. This mod provides you with an adventure that has been tailor-made for the intrepid adventurer. You have the opportunity to meet exotic races, uncover a devious plot, or simply enjoy battle with an endless stream of monsters.

Mod authors and supporters: Argent77 (writer, coder), typo_tilly (proofreading) and Jastey (additional help).
The mod is available for BG2:EE and EET, patched to 2.0 or higher.

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The most worrying thing is that whenever an enemy casts Web or Entangle, the computer slows to a crawl and the spell effects refuse to end

Had that once, long ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy on the cause, but I think it was Galactygon's SpellPack. Do you have it installed?

We are happy to announce that we do not only release Haer'Dalis Romance updade (v2.2), but we're also happy to welcome a brand new NPC IEP mod: Haer'Dalis Friendship!

Haer'Dalis Friendship, as other NPC IEP mods, adds many new lines to the existing companions. This time it's for the famous bard, wielder of Chaos and Entropy. There are a total of 20 new dialogues added by the mod, 15 in SoA and 5 in ToB. Some of these do have particular circumstances in which they occur. The mod was brought to you by Aeryn (writer), with some help from Rhaella (coding and release preparation) and Lava (coding).

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If you are interested in more intimate relationship with the tiefling bard, try Haer'Dalis Romance. Version 2.2 includes: improved BG2EE and EET compatibility, the SoA romance track will now turn off properly if the romance is ended, ToB banters will no longer fire repeatedly. The update was provided by Rhaella.

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Wilson Chronicles is now officially a Spellhold Studios mod. The mod includes party dialogues and some encounters to make sure those groups who will decide to travel with the BG2EE hidden bear companion won't suffer from a lack of interesting events. The added dialogue maintains the style of the original game: bears have their own language, after all, and we should all respect that.

So if you want Wilson to turn into a full NPC, install the expansion and enjoy the beary adventures!

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I have no idea about romance cheat. Installing "Adjust XP" second time might very well work, you just had to keep in mind that current, already adjusted, amount of XP will be treated by installer as 100%.

Do you know Interaction Expansion Project? It was created with one purpose - to give even more life to the existing NPCs. The project adds new friendships, interjections and banters to fill the game with new interesting dialogues. All were created with high quality in mind.

We are happy to announce that all the Interaction Expansion Project mods are now up to date. Here is the list of all changes:

IEP Banter Pack (update from v.4.1 to v.5.4):
-Added French translation (provided by Isaya)
-Added Chinese translation (provided by merzbau)
-Added EE/EET compatibility
-Fixed Aboleth talk variable
-Fixed Minsc-Anomen script blocks
-Isaya's .tra and .tp2 fixes

Imoen Friendship (update from v.2.1 to v.3.3):
-Added French translation provided by Isaya
-Added Spanish translation provided by Clan DLAN
-Added Chinese translation provided by Merzbau
-Adeed BG2EE/EET compatibility with tranlation support
-Fixed hell talk
-Isaya's .tra fixes

Mazzy Friendship (update from v2.1 to v.3.2):
-Added German translation provided by Kerzenburgforum
-Added Chinese translation provided by Merzbau
-Added better EE/EET compatibility
-Fixed a missing token in one of the dialogues
-Implemented Lollorian's fixed for ToB talks

Sarevok Friendship (update from v.1.0 to v.2.3):
-Added Chinese translation provided by Merzbau
-Added French translation provided by Isaya
-Added Polish translation provided by Astharoshe, member of Stars of Mystra
-Added better EE/EET compatibility
-Changed readme path to the up to date one
-Added translators to tp2

Viconia Friendship (update from v.3.2 to v.4.3):
-Adeed Russian translation provided by Fess, Aldark, Silent, Cutter and Prowler of arcanecoast.ru
-Added Chinese translation provided by Merzbau
-Added better EE/EET compatibility
-Isaya's .tra fixes

Yoshimo Friendship (update from v.3.1 to v.4.3):
-Added French translation provided by Isaya
-Added Chinese translation provided by Merzbau
-Added better EE/EET compatibility, along with UTF-8 converter
-Shadow Thieves talks won't appear if working for Bodhi
-Isaya's .tra fixes

Updates: Lava Del'Vortel along with help of SHS users and K'aeloree, who gave the updates the green light

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After a long while, Aeryn's Sarevok Romance is now officialy updated to 1.3.  The new version includes handle_charset function, Polish translation by Astharoshe (member of CoB's Stars of Mystra), EET for game check and WeiDU update.
 
About the mod: "Sarevok Anchev has been many things. Once a murderer, deceiver and despised enemy, he has become an unlikely ally to a PC facing an uncertain future. Though many facts about both his past and his former plans are common knowledge, little can be determined about his current motivations now that life has been returned to him. Has death shaken his perceptions, or merely hardened his resolve to ruthlessly seize whatever power he can take for himself? Is it possible for mortal foes to becoming something more than reluctant allies?"
 
Thanks to Lava Del'Vortel for the update and K'aeloree for the green light to update it.
 
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I am happy to announce that new mod series is now available at Spellhold Studios. Athkatlan Grounds has a very specific aim - to make Athkatla, our well-konwn BG2 city more interesting by introducing new places, quests and encounters. Mods that are already released:

Southern Edge - this mod has already been available for a while. It introduces a brand new district with its own quest and characters, like Mairo Mudclapper: a halfling arcanist in need of some help in trackig down dangerous parasite hiding somewhere in the district.

Ooze's Lounge - that brand new mod adds a new part of sewers. It can be entered through the grate next to Jansen house... but you must first find the key lost somewhere in Athkatla. The mod adds new areas, mini-quests and some new, quite unusual merchants.

Both mods are available for both old BG2 and BG2EE, even though they were made with EE in mind.

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