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Big picture vs BG1


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#1 Waverley

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Posted 31 March 2006 - 03:02 PM

Hi folks

Sorry to ask what is probably a very obvious question - but I've looked at many posts in here and am not sure of the answer

I have the urge to play Baldur's Gate 1 again, this time with as many mods as possible and I'm currently downloading all the stuff described on the Infinity Engine modlist which is listed here in Spellhold as compatible. I don't expect to reach the end in less than about six months, so have no desire at this time to download or install anything which is purely BG2, and would not especially want to take my characters on to BG2 anyway - its purely for the benefit of BG1.

I'm expecting to install BGTrilogy as I think I need it to make some of the mods work, and I definitely want the BG2 interface.

But do I need, or will I benefit from Big Picture? Almost all comments on BP threads refer to BG2 (I'm sure I've missed something somewhere but clarification would be nice) so does it impact BG1?

And if I do install BP, should I be looking at other mods which I have always assumed to be BG2 only, or would that be a complete waste of time?

Thanks in anticipation - David

#2 horred the plague

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Posted 31 March 2006 - 05:16 PM

But do I need, or will I benefit from Big Picture? Almost all comments on BP threads refer to BG2 (I'm sure I've missed something somewhere but clarification would be nice) so does it impact BG1?

And if I do install BP, should I be looking at other mods which I have always assumed to be BG2 only, or would that be a complete waste of time?

Thanks in anticipation - David


You can indeed derive "some" benefit in Bg1 from BP, even though it is geared to BG2. There was once a mod called BP-BGT, that was a mess to install but had BP coverage throughout.

Some of this has been retained in BP-weidu, though not to the former extent. BP overhauls the generic enemy AI. BG1 uses basically the same scripts as BG2. So, BG1 creatures have the same basic scripts. Thus, BP will directly influence a good portion of the BG1 creatures.

What you will miss by not continuing on into BG2 is all of BP's many enhanced encounters and scenarios that were SoA-geared. Several of these unique to a BP install. Most are included in the core, not even listed as components. I added a LOT of stuff over 3 1/2 years; even I can't remember exactly what! :lol:

#3 Waverley

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Posted 31 March 2006 - 05:57 PM

Thanks, Horred, for such a quick response

Yes I've played BP in BG2 with quite a lot of the mods before and I will redo it with the latest offerings once I've finished BG1 again. You did indeed add a lot of stuff which made many of the earlier quests much more challenging - all good fun. But am quite happy to start with a new party then and install what I need at that time - it will no doubt be a big job (there's lots of options) and I am trying to postpone as much of that as necessary.

Impression I get from you is that if I install BP just for BG1 I will get different scripts for the enemies, but no extra game-play, quests etc?

Thanks again

David

#4 Waverley

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Posted 31 March 2006 - 05:58 PM

Sorry, double post

Edited by Waverley, 31 March 2006 - 06:01 PM.


#5 seanas

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Posted 01 April 2006 - 01:45 AM

Impression I get from you is that if I install BP just for BG1 I will get different scripts for the enemies, but no extra game-play, quests etc?


that is correct, yes.

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