Mod compatability and installation.

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Hi,

I am looking to replay BGII; I'd like to use a few mod though.

I have this list of mods I would like to install:

BG2 Fixpack (obviously)
Ascensions
Auren...
G3 Tweakpack
Questpack
de'Arnise romance
eSeries
npcdamage
Romantic Encounters
Item Upgrade
Underrepresented Items
IEP Banters
Unfinished Business
IEP Yoshimo Friendship
IEP Mazzy Friendship
IEP Viconia Friendship
Assassinations
Turnabout
Amber
Banterpack
Crossmod banter pack
D0Tweak
Divine Remix
Kivan
Oversight
Refinements
Song and Silence
Tactics/SCSII
Wheels of Prophecy
Freedom's ROV
Ashes of Embers
NPCFlirt
Virtue.

So, I would really appreciate any advice on installing these. Any compatability issues and installation order etc.

Are there any that are unnecessary (included in another mod or something)?

I have tried to do a bit of research and figure it out myself but it's a lot to take in. I have read that it is best to install Fixpack first - unless you install Ascension (which should go first?).

I think Ascension and maybe another both have improved bosses - which version is best to install? In the readme of Ascension it says Illera (sp) is "widely regarded as being insanely difficult" maybe just install the "Ascension" component and not the improved bosses?

I want to install either tactics or SCSII - tactics is pretty old now so I don't know about compatability - SCSII also seems better apart from a few parts of Tactics I wanted (improved Illyich etc.). Any advice on this? Could I just install those parts of tactics I want and SCSII after?

Thanks if you read all that - I really appreciate any help - been researching how to install mods for 3/4 days now and I just want to play the game .

 

You call this installing "a few" mods?

I don't know anything about some of the mods here, so I can't give you a comprehensive answer. My personal feeling is that this is too many mods - there's no defined limit with BG2, but the more mods you install (even if they're meant to be perfectly compatible with each other) the higher the chance of messing something up. One imoirtant general guideline to keep in mind is that you can only have one mod that replaces dialog.tlk and that mod must be installed first. Most of the older mods that did this now have a Weidu version (Ascension being a prime example) so make sure you grab the Weidu version of these to maximise compatibility. The large number of NPC mods you're installing could also invite trouble, as these may end up changing the same script or dialog in ways that make them incompatible (for example, you're installing 2 banter packs and a friendship mod that affects the same NPC). Check the forums of each mod individually and look for any posts dealing with (in)compatibility with other mods. If you see any serious issue, you will have to take one of the mods off the list.

One other thing (though I guess you're already aware of this), both Ascension and Tactics (and possibly other mods too) make the game much more difficult. If it's a challenge you're looking for go for it, but know what you're going into first. Also, Tactics kind of compensates for the crazy high difficulty by handing out some incredibly overpowered items as a reward for some of its very difficult fights. Just keep in mind that combining so many mods will change the game balance drastically, irrespective of compatibility issues.

If you do manage to get all these mods running together - have fun!