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The correct order for installing MODs?

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VonDondu
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The correct order for installing MODs?

Post by VonDondu »

I just installed a fresh copy of SoA/ToB with the official ToB patch, and now I would like to install a bunch of MODs:

Baldurdash Fix Pack
English Dialogue Update Patch
Ease-of-Use
Item Upgrade
Tactics
Spell-50
Oversight
Ascension
Redemption
Imoen's Romance
Tashia

They're in all WEIDU format. Does it make any difference in which order I install them?

For the record, my new party is called "The Goofy Group", and I intend to be silly and have as much fun as possible. My party will consist of a Wild Mage, Imoen/Yoshimo, Tashia, Minsc, Jan, and maybe Haer'Dalis converted to a Swashbuckler. I'd prefer not to include a sour**** like Jaheira, but I could use a Fighter/Cleric--I thought about recreating Yeslick--and I hear that Tashia has a lot of dialogue with Jaheira, so maybe I'll give Jaheira a chance. I might convert Minsc to a Berserker if I need a stronger "tank". If I have room, I might recruit Edwin for a while and let everyone make fun of him.

BG2 is a very dark game when you get down to it, and I'd like to see if I could have a new and different experience this time. Since it's so heavily combat-oriented, my options will be limited (for example, I can't pickpocket my enemies' weapons and leave them empty-handed when they want to fight me), and I won't be able to avoid as many fights as I would like to. But if Improved Ilyich is any indication, the dialogue might still be fun. I don't mind using cheese and munchkinism this time; my goal is to be sneaky and to defeat my opponents in colorful, creative ways. I'm not really a power-gamer because, although I tend towards that, I'm just not talented enough to maximize my powers. :) I intend to add a lot of tougher battles to the game, so I think the game is going to be pretty challenging for me. For example, the Improved Mages are going to get the benefit of the Spell-50 MOD just like I will, so I think it's going to be "balanced" in the end. :) I just defeated Improved Ilyich in my "test bed" a few hours ago (yes, it was difficult, and it required brains, brawn, and luck), and if it's any indication of what's to come, I think I'm going to like it this way.

But in the meantime, I want to make sure that I install everything the right way. That seems like a lot of MODs to me. Any suggestions? Thanks!
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Necrotaur
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Post by Necrotaur »

That's a lot of mods!

I believe the order is this:

SoA/ToB > official patch > Baldurdash patch > larger mods (Ascension, TDD) > smaller mods (ease of use, item upgrade) > NPC addons

Bear in mind that's generally speaking. Make sure to read each mods documentation to see if it has a specific installation procedure and which other mods it won't work with.
"Game Balance" is getting all players to complain equally.
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Ron_Lugge
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Post by Ron_Lugge »

Other than patches -> baldurdash (WTF haven't the bug fixes been incorporated into a patch yet?) - > ascension -> anything else (Note: Redemtion requires instalation post ascension because its a mod of that mod)
There are 10 types of people in the world:

Those that understand binary and those that don't
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Mini Me
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Post by Mini Me »

I was told on the bioware forums:

SOA
TOB
Official Patches
Unofficial patches (baldurdash)
TeamBG Mods
Forgotten wars Mods
Weidu Mods
'My pantaloons are full of weasels. Inform the Queen, so that she might shoo them away. Here we go 'round the mulberry bush. Go monkey GO!'-Wanev
Have you ever heard any more inspiring or logical words? I sure haven't.
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SimDing0
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Post by SimDing0 »

All those install orders are pretty dodgy or inspecific in some way or another.
The general order should be:

1) SoA
2) ToB
3) ToB Patch
4) Baldurdash Fixpack (And dialog fix)
5) TLK-overwriting mods (Such as TDD; only one of these can be installed at a time unless they are specifically engineered to be compatible, such as with the Big Picture mod.)
6) IAP mods (Such as Freedom's Reign; these don't mangle the TLK, but still dump files in the override where WeiDU might not need to.)
7) WeiDU mods (You all know these; it's generally best to install mods that make major changes, such as Ease of Use, first, followed by those that make more specific changes, hence the suggestion of NPC addons going in last. Also, mods that add specific content to other mods should go in afterwards, so Kelsey is installed after Ascension.)
The Dragonlance TC - a total conversion for Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
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