Unofficial patches.

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Are there any fan-made patches out there? I´m not talking about mods or so that ALSO corrects certain bugs, while installing features I´m really not interested in. What I´m looking for is a patch sort of like how Bioware would have made it.

I mean something like the patch that gameplayreviews.org made for BFME2: Rise of the Witch-king, since EA Games so far haven´t bothered. That unofficial patch removed tons of straight-up bugs and balanced some unit stats, based on what the community had complained about. But that was simply a patch, not any modding per se.

 

G3(?) and Baldurdash both have a fix pack (patch).

I prefer Baldurdash. The bug fixes have been verified as bugs from Bioware and if you don't want the fix you can simply remove it. There is also a tweaks patch available with various semi-cheating mods (although some ore quite good).

 

Jeezus, I have to download every component separately?

Edit: Ohh, nevermind...

Yes, another edit:
Well, it seems like Baldurash is the one I guess I need. Thanks, T & T2. I didn´t check that particular section of SP, since it´s named "Mods". Guess I´ll look through all sections first, next time I need anything...

[ October 30, 2007, 23:26: Message edited by: Yulaw9460 ]

 

I also recommend Baldurdash, it's known to be more stable than G3's fixpack.

Yulaw9460, any fan-made patches can be considered as a special type of mods. More accurately, everything depends on definition. If you mean that mods add not just bug-fixes but other things as well, indeed it happens. However, generally, a "mod" can be anything that affects your game*, and that is what unofficial (and of course, official) patches do: they affect your game, because they fix errors in the same way as other mods add new content.

* Simplified, vague definition, but it reflects the point.

 

For completeness sake, you may want to take a look at the BG2 Fixpack hosted at G3 as well. It is the currently maintained cross-community fixpack:

http://forums.gibberlings3.net/index.php?showforum=74

A number of the harder calls on fixes have been vetted with Dave Gaider of Bioware. Take your time and check out the documentation for it to see if it is what you like.

Also, if you want to customize it slightly to your tastes, http://forums.gibberlings3.net/index.php?showtopic=7890 contains detailed and well laid out instructions for how to do so.

 

Baronius, I figure that additions to the game that only fixes issues that wasn´t supposed to be there or corrects "stuff" that makes the game behave wrong or oddly is what I would consider a patch of some sort. Example: The Baldurash apparently makes sure that Kensais can´t use the Crimson Dart. Kensais should be prohibited from using it in the first place. That isn´t really modding, is it?

Another thing: Do the various patches... sorry, fixpacks conflict with one another?

 

It's best to choose one fixpack and stick with it since, for example the G3 BG2 Fixpack contains a the traditional Baldurdash fixpack plus additional fixes to correct bugs that were reported after the last update on the traditional Baldurdash.

Also, it is generally best to install fixpacks immediately after the official patch and prior to any additional mods.

 

As I said, it's a matter of definition, interpretation. I accept yours too, it's a possible interpretation as well.

Note that that the name "BG2 Fixpack" is misleading IMO, because it isn't a standard fixpack. Only its authors want all players to install it, but actually it exactly changes many things that are not fixes in your interpretation (i.e. it doesn't only patch). That is one of the reasons why I think it is not a fixpack or patch (another reason is of technical nature, i.e. that it has been proved that G3 BG2 Fixpack may break other mods, but this is isn't the subject of this discussion.) On a side note, I'm not affiliated with Baldurdash (or with G3 BG2 Fixpack), so I've no reason to prefer Baldurdash over "BG2 Fixpack" other than common sense and my years of experience in modding.

 

Heh, Baronius doesn't much care for the G3 BG2 Fixpack. I've contributed to both. Either should work for you.

If you are playing any mods, you might want to look at their documentation, as certain mods suggest or require specific fixpacks. They may work on both, but typically you'll have better luck and support if you use the recommended fixpack.

 

If you are not installing other mods, just using either Baldurdash or G3 Fixpack as your platform, either one provides different interpretations of what is broken and needs to be repaired. Either one will stop a good number of holes left by the development process.

This is common in modding communities - the fan-made fixes on R:TW and the fan extensions of X2, JA2, and the various players in the MechWarrior:Mercenaries patches spring to mind. Like in those communities, either one will do the trick. My prefence happens to be G3 fixpack.

If you are extending your install with mods to add quests, NPCs, etc., it is important to read the mod readmes before choosing which fixpack to use. While most released mods out there support/work with either, a few modders have specificly required Baldurdash (mostly BlackWyrmlair mods).

 

How couldn't I care while some modders do their best at any cost to convince players to install G3 Fixpack? As I've said, I really appreciate the much work invested to G3 Fixpack, but it has serious problems (which I detailed in several places), which introduce a risk to all players' install (even if some players won't actually encounter critical bugs). But to show visitors no one wants to change the present thread into modder bickering, I'll finish my post here and also let me link to a few posts by players (they don't make mods): luan, Ymarsakar, Iroumen. These are their own experience. (Iroumen's post can easily be understood even without reading more in relevant topics. His post is a good summary, based on common sense.)


Nonetheless, the most important is that you enjoy the game. In other words, what *you* experience in case of any patch, fixpack, mod etc., and not what *others* or *myself* tell you.

 

Baronius is spot on as usual. In addition to those links, I'd also recommend another post of his.