Lightweight Modding

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I asked a similar question relanescape awhile back and got some good responses so if anyone is willing to indulge me, here's my question: I'm looking to play IWD for the first time. There are literally hundreds of MODS, what I'm looking for is some lightweight mods that fix broken aspects of the game without adding a tonne of items, equipment, characters, etc. I know that modding can change the "whole" game but I'm not looking for that just yet, just a few essential mods. I've browsed through the forums a bit and this list seems to be pretty spot on:

• One Pixel Productions Animation Fixes for IWD:TotLM
• The IWD Fixpack
• One Pixel Productions High-Quality Music
• Improved BAMs
• Item Upgrade for IWD
• Unfinished Business for Icewind Dale (aka IWD UB)
• Icewind Dale NPCs (aka IWD NPCs)
• Full Plate & Packing Steel
• One Pixel Productions (aka 1pp)
• Icewind Dale Tweak Pack (aka Tweaks)
• The Widescreen Mod

The only one I'm unsure about it Auril's Bane (aka AB). I feel like it might implement "too many" changes. Anyhow, if there's anything I'm missing here that you recommend, let me know!

- Ludovik

 

Honestly, scrap most of that list.

Don't add item mods to IWD because there are already tons of unique and interesting weapons and armor to find. I just finished a run-through that was exquisite, and all I used were:

• Heart of Winter (not a patch, but you didn't mention it so I didn't want to assume)
• Official patches
• Trials of the Luremaster
• IWD Fixpack
• IWD Tweakpack
• Widescreen mod

...and that's it. Done. Especially if you're playing for the first time. Don't add a bunch of extra junk, play it pure. Pure with bugfixes.

The only other thing I would recommend is using Dalekeeper to make minor cosmetic changes (like giving an elven Fighter/Mage an Elf Mage avatar, etc.) if that sort of thing enhances your experience.

Admittedly, I'm not familiar with the One Pixel's animation fixes, but I never thought the animations were all that broken.

 

The 3 mods DR listed are a must. I like UB as well. Item Upgrade? If it's your first time, not necessary.

IWD NPCs is a great mod IMO. It limits your party composition but adds character depth. But, I would skip it on your 1st run, save it for a later run.

 

I like the 1pp mod, and its basically the only mod I use besides the widescreen mod.

The 1pp mod is purely graphic. It doesn't change the gameplay. The 1pp mod restores the old BG1 style graphics and paperdolls instead of using the BG2 style.

For example, remember how BG1 had more natural looking shields while BG2 had more angular gothic looking shields? The 1pp mod reverts back to the BG1 style shields. Also BG1 had much better looking paperdolls, especially elves, which were redone and looked much uglier in BG2. Also remember when BG1 flaming weapons actually had flames and didn't just glow like they do in BG2?

Here's a comparison screenshot of BG1 style versus BG2 style.

 

What about the individual items in the tweaks? I know it'd be a pain to say "yeh" or "neh" to every individual item in the tweak pack but my impression is for my first playthrough I only want a couple ticked off anyhow. I'm not sure about the rule changes though.

 

The changes are pretty straightforward. Most of the rule-change tweaks are geared toward bringing the goofy 2nd Edition ruleset a little closer to 3rd Edition. If you don't like them, leave them out. They don't change the game drastically. Giving your fighter/druid the ability to use a bow isn't what I would consider game-breaking. The un-nerfed Thac0 and spell progression tables might be pushing it, but again - they're all optional, and they don't break the game. If anything seems off to you, leave it out and enjoy.