Lollorian asked in the BWS update thread for a list of all the mods currently marked Expert in BWS so that we can discuss them and perhaps over time solve the problems and move them out of Expert status. I think this is better discussed in a new thread, so here it is. I will try to update this original post over time to keep it up to date.
Here is some explanation of what we mean by Expert:
Spoiler
BWS considers each mod to be one of four types: Recommended (green), Stable (blue), Tactical (orange) or Expert (red). This is determined by the 'Type=' line in Config\Global\modname.ini. The mod type determines the color of the mod name in the "choose your components" window in BWS. BWS will ask for additional confirmation when starting a new installation if any Expert mods are selected.
Expert type mods are mods with known problems in a megamod installation that require modding tools or scripting or WeiDU code changes to resolve. If known problems with a mod can be resolved with CLUAConsole, the mod should not be Expert. All Expert mods should include in the mod description what the known problems are. New mods added to BWS should use the Expert type until the appropriate dependency and conflict rules have been created in the Config\gametype\Game.ini files for each of the game types (e.g., BWP/BGT, BG1EE, BG2EE) where the mod has been added to the Config\gametype\Select.txt file (the file that defines installation order and which mod components are select-able in BWS for that game type). Not having conflicts information for each component is a "known problem" even though it is not a problem with the mod itself.
In the Select.txt files, each component also has a "pre-selection" value, four numbers either 0 or 1, corresponding to the same four types used for entire mods above. For example, 0001 means a component is "pre-selected" for an "Expert" installation, and 1101 means it is "pre-selected" for a "Recommended", "Stable" or "Expert" installation but not for a "Tactical" installation. The leftmost 1 in that value decides the color of the checkbox icon for the component (0001 = red; 0011 = orange; 0111 = blue; 1111 = green). When BWS is building the tree-view for one of the default pre-selections, it enables all components that have a 1 in the position corresponding to the chosen installation type, then it removes components that are not "preferred" according to the conflicts rules in Game.ini.
This means that we can mark individual components as Expert if they have known problems, and they will appear with red checkboxes to warn users. We should also update the component descriptions (the text that is shown in BWS next to each component number) for any Expert with a hint about the problem.
With these definitions, any mod or component marked Expert in BWS is an invitation for an expert user to fix a known problem.
Contains a complete romance with Nalia, including the tree of life dialogs, beloved one in danger, Nalia's abduction by bodhi, and other love related quests. It also adds some new quests and character interactions. We strongly recommend having Minsc in the party. The mod hangs after the wedding because of faulty programming.
Keeping as Expert until someone reports the problems in the description are solved. Has anyone played with this mod recently?
Azure NPC (Beta) under BG2 NPC Mods
The druid Azure and and her guardian wolf, Sharo, is to be found in the druid shrine. The mod causes stuttering and it could be that the wolf doesn't show up in mod-areas or the game is crashing.
Keeping as Expert until someone reports the problems in the description are solved. Has anyone played with this mod recently?
Big Picture
Need more information on known issues and safe/unsafe components. Can we move parts of BP to Stable / Tactical?
NEJ (all variants)
Need more information on known issues and safe/unsafe components. Can we move parts of NEJ to Stable?
Throne of Bhaal Revisited (Beta) under BG2 Tweaks
Unsatisfied with Throne of Bhaal? Tired of being forced down a linear story with empty characters? This mod aims to fix that.
Needs conflict analysis. Needs description update with known problems from @Roxanne.
Psionics Unleashed under BG2 Tweaks
Psionics Unleashed is a mod that aims to add a fully functional psionic system and psionic character classes based on 3.5 ed. Dungeons & Dragons. Because of the nature of the Infinity Engine and because Baldur's Gate games are based on the 2nd ed. of AD&D, this reproduction couldn't be 100% faithful and some compromises had to be made along the way.
Mod components were included in Stable pre-selection but the mod itself is marked Expert. Components have been marked Expert pending conflict analysis due to Roxanne's report about the mod making significant changes to spell level progression.
Needs conflict analysis. Has anyone played with this mod recently?
Semi-Multi Clerics under BG2 Tweaks
This mod will add various clerical spells to wizard magic users via a new item, effectively turning them into previously unavailable X/Cleric kits/multiclass combinations. The semi-multi learns and uses spells as per a normal Arcane caster, and also has access to 35 clerical spells. It is not recommend to use "Semi Multi Clerics" with "Spell Revisions" as conceptually they are on opposite extremes. "Spell Revisions" is trying to "rebalance" spells, while that mod purposely makes them unbalancing again.
Needs conflict analysis. Has anyone played with this mod recently?
Spell-50 under BG2 Tweaks
The Spell-50 mod extends a number of priest, druid and mage spell effects to spell level 50. For example, the fireball spell will continue to scale in damage up to spell level 50. This mod has to do nothing with the level-50 ruleset of BP. Both can be installed at the same time. It is not recommend to use Spell-50 with "Spell Revisions" as conceptually they are on opposite extremes. "Spell Revisions" is trying to "rebalance" spells, while this mod purposely makes them extremely overpowered. Added: This mod replaces spells rather than patching, so it will overwrite any earlier spell changes from other mods.
(NOTE: BWS does not allow Spell-50 and Spell Revisions to be installed at the same time.)
Unconfirmed reports of stuttering when using Web spell, which might be caused by different mod (Lost Crossroads Spell Pack).
Virtue under BG2 Tweaks
This mod splits reputation into two separate variables: Reputation, which represents how people in the game feel about the party; and Virtue, which represents how morally correct the party's actions are.
Need more information. khelben12 has reported mod works, but some issues.
Zyraen's Miscellany under BG2 Tweaks
This Mod improves some aspects in the gameplay of Baldur's Gate 2. Some components of the mod breaks the compatibility in megamods.
Need more information. Which components are safe?
Oversight
Corrects alignments, character-kits and includes some tweaks. The component "Tougher Sendai" overwrites files instead of patching them and therefore it is risky to install it in megamods. Also some components are introduced in other newer mods, too, so Oversight is outdated.
"Tougher Sendai" component will stay Expert because it overwrites files.
Moved component 2 (Class Tweaks/Fixes) and 6 (Monk HLAs) from Expert to Stable (thanks to Roxanne for reports).
Needs conflict analysis for other components.
Unique Artifacts under BG2 Tweaks
Many items in Baldur's Gate, have their own history, and therefore should exist in a single copy. But, there are many cases when player gets the same item several times. With this mod excessive copies of supposedly unique items (like boot of the speed, ring of the magic etc.) are removed. This mod also removes duplicates from mods. At the moment "Unique Artifacts" is not supported anymore, but still the other mods, which "Unique Artifacts" changes. Therefore is "Unique Artifacts" not really compatible with a recent megamod until the mod is supported again.
Need more information. Has anyone played with this mod recently?
Exnem's Addon = Exnem's Vault under BG2 Stores & Items
This mod includes 21 new spells and 88 new items plus edited monsters and areas.
Needs conflict analysis. Issue with loot tables has been BWPFixpack'd.
1pp high quality music for BGT, SoA/ToB, Tutu/ToSC (mods are marked Stable but components are flagged Expert -- I recently tried installing these on my BGT game and Weidu was complaining about some files being too large, so that might be why)
Need to investigate large file warnings. Might need to use COPY LARGE instead of COPY.
Sorcerer's Place Item Collection under BG2 Stores & Items
This mod is a collection of several older items and spells. Instead of patching the files, the mod overwrites them. Therefore it could be a danger for megamods.
Keeping as Expert until someone reports the problems in the description are solved.
Jarl's BGT Adventure Pack
This mod expands various content for the BG1-part (BG2-part, planned) of BGT. The mod follows on unfinished, incomplete positions of the original and enhances them. Added: The mod puts some of its creatures in the same place of existing creatures which often makes them inaccessible and the plot gets stuck. The mod also replaces some creatures by hiding them and putting new creatures in their place, causing loss of content from other mods that modify the original files.
Keeping as Expert until someone reports the problems in the description are solved. Updated description.
Jarl's BGT Tweak Pack under BG2 Tweaks
Various adjustments of BG1 and BG2 kits, portraits, stats und Soundsets in a BGT megamod. Added: ||Warning: The mod replaces some creatures by hiding them and putting new creatures in their place, causing loss of content from other mods that modify the original files.
Keeping as Expert until someone reports the problems in the description are solved.Updated description.
The mod adds two new kits to the game, a new store, several rule tweaks, as well as improved bard song, improved version of Chapter One dungeon and a multi-ending quest. This mod is outdated and not really compatible for megamods. Some components are introduced in other newer mods.
Still has some Expert components due to file overwrite, but the rest seems OK. khelben12 and Greenhorn reported some components worked for them.
Les Exiles de Lunargent under BG2 Quest Mods
This mod adds a new mysterious group of the exiles of Lunargent to the game. There are a lot of new encounter throughout the game in well-known but also in new places as long as you are of neutral alignment or bad. The mod starts when you meet a strange old man in the Irenicus dungeon.
Roxanne has reported successful install and initial encounters, but some timing issues because the mod is not aware of other content. Micbaldur recently reported successful completion of the mod.
Helarine, Doomguide of Kelemvor under Smaller NPCs
Helarine, the Doomguide of Kelemvor NPC Cleric can be found in the Friendly Arm Inn. She has her own kit, friendship talk, plot-reactions and banters with some other NPCs.||Warning: Some players have reported infinite dialogue loops with this version. Please check the mod link for latest information and inform the BWS team on SHSForums if a newer version is available.
Stable. All known problems were patched by White Agnus.
Silver Star NPC under BG2 NPC-Related Mods
The evil elven assassin has crude and cruel dialogs. She has banters with NPCs from SoA, but not from ToB. You should always have Silver Star in your party if you install the mod, because if you don't do that, dialogues get scrumbled and it causes a faulty game.Revised: This evil elven assassin has crude and cruel dialogues. She has banters with NPCs from SoA, but not from ToB. She first appears in Irenicus' Dungeon.
Stable. Roxanne reported successful play-through with NPC removed and added from party multiple times. No sign of the issues described. Updated description.
Ashes of Embers
New spells, new kits (6 clerics, 1 fighters), new weapons and abilities. Some of the components changes the BG rules in such a way, that not everyone likes it.
Stable. Not enabled by default.
Need to improve component descriptions. khelben12 reported that some of the components make undocumented tweaks.
Dungeon-Be-Gone under BG2 Tweaks
This mod enables you to skip optionally Irenicus' Dungeon while still giving you loot and experience. Added: The mod will ask if you want to skip or not.||Warning: Many other mods add content to Irenicus' Dungeon including joinable NPCs that will not be available later.
Stable. Enabled by default. Updated description.
Touchstone NPC under BG2 NPC Mods
Touchstone is an Elven Fighter from the Great Forest. Added: You can find him in the Docks District of Athkatla. He has talks with the main character and the BioWare NPCs and brings his own task. Alternate portraits can be found in the portraits folder of the mod (touched\portraits). Simply rename the portrait you wish to use to BKtouch1, M & S and place them in the override folder. The optional component installs a custom Wild Elf Fighter kit for Touchstone only (the kit is not selectable for the player character). Otherwise Touchstone is a vanilla fighter class.
- Renamed mod to "Touch the Moon - Touchstone NPC"
- Moved from Expert to Stable and enabled by default
- Clarified optional component description (custom kit is for the NPC only)
- Expanded mod description (location, alternate portraits, kit description)
Needs GE, RU translation for mod description: any volunteers?
Kiara-Zaiya NPCs
Zaiya is chaotic-good half elves magician who is searching for her friend Kiara, a neutral-evil monk. The "BiG World Setup" installs the soundset automatically. If you use this mod with "Valen NPC", then not all Valen dialogues will show up. Added: The previous statement is unconfirmed: this mod has been successfully used together with Valen in recent play-throughs.
Mod was originally and is still Stable (I listed the mod here because I saw the mod under Tactical Encounters with a red icon because the first component in that section is component 5, which was Expert). Component 5 is now Tactical. (BWPFixpack now fixes component 5 so it will patch instead of overwriting files.)
Tortured Souls (old "BP-compatible" version)
Stable. Disabled by default because newer version is preferred.
Sylmar Battlefield under BG2 Quest Mods
Aid a nation of elves with an invasion into their holy burial grounds. This mod is meant to be a small sample battlefield, as a precursor of what is to come in Silmarillion. Added: The challenge starts somewhere in the Government District of Athkatla. It is a pure tactical mod, teleporting you to a continuous battle against wave after wave of enemies and then teleporting you back at the end. There is no special reward.||Warning: If the battlefield get too crowded, scripts may not fire correctly. If you can keep the number of living enemies low at all times, chances are that you can complete the mod, otherwise you may get stuck and need to set some Global via CLUAConsole to advance.
Moved to Tactical, enabled by default. Updated description (added location hint, more details, warning).
Cal-Culator under Mini-Mods
This is a silly little mod that keeps track of what type of creatures you've slain throughout the game. Basically, you summon an Imp named Cal, and through dialogue choices, you can figure out how many elves you've killed, or how many illithids, etc. At the moment the mod is buggy and doesn't show the defeated enemies.
Stable. Enabled by default. Updated description. Roxanne reported safe to install.
Questor Revised under Mini-Mods
This mod adds a joinable NPC in the Government District of Athkatla and a monster with a new item. This mod is not finished yet and has unrealistic stats and items without descriptions.Added: The NPC has unrealistic stats (all 25) and items lack descriptions.||Warning! This mod needs to be downloaded manually.
Stable. Not enabled by default because manual download. Updated description.
Drizzt NPC (Beta) under BG2 NPC Mods
With this mod you can take Drizzt Do`Urden into your group, when you leave the unterdark and go again into the town. You can summon the magic cat Guenhwyvar with "K" which attacks enemies then automatically. Not together with with "Region of Terror" because this mod adds likewise Drizzt and both are contentwise not compatible. The component with the Artemis Entreri encounter of "Unfinished Business" is compatible with this Drizzt-Mod. If Valen is in the party, it is actually not possible to take in Drizzt, because he becomes hostile immediately.
Stable. Not enabled by default because Region of Terror and Sandrah NPC both conflict and are preferred.
Authentic Mischievous Fairy Dragon under BG2 Rules & Tweaks (moved from NPC-Related)
Now your familiar fairy dragon is more useful and more authentic - like a 7th member in the party without taking a party slot. It can be summoned only by a chaotic-good magic user. You can install this mod without problems, but the familiar is overpowered in BG1 and weak in BG2.
Stable. Not enabled by default. Updated description. Added conflicts with WTPFamiliars and cbisson's Familiar Pack.
cbisson's Familiar Pack under BG2 Rules & Tweaks (moved from NPC-Related)
New familiars are added with this mod. Unfortunately there are some small negative issues with the familiars (depends on stats and familiar-icons), but you can install this mod without problems.
Stable. Not enabled by default. Added conflicts with WTPFamiliars and Authentic Mischievous Fairy Dragon.
Imoen Romance v2.5 under BG2 NPC-Related Mods
This is new version of mod, that is compatible with Imoen Friendship, but incompatible with BGT.
Stable. Enabled by default. Updated description (removed "incompatible with BGT" because the mod's tp2 file includes code for BGT.)
The older version of Imoen Romance, v1.202, is also Stable, not enabled by default.
The Undying
The mod includes the two NSCs Callisto T'sarran and Ninafer and the mod "Desecration of Souls".Added: The mod includes two NPCs and the quest "Desecration of Souls." Callisto T'sarran is a neutral evil elf berserker with a tragic and sadistic past, and Ninafer is an elf fighter/mage with a grudge against Irenicus, but she does not speak much about it. Callisto has dialogues and confrontations with the BioWare NPCs. Ninafer has several dialogues with the main character and Imoen, but has nothing to say to other NPCs. This mod also adds four new shops, new items and encounters.
Stable. Enabled by default. Improved mod and component descriptions, including German translation (didn't touch RU translation as it seems OK). Moved second component ("Harder Enemies") to Tactical. Roxanne reported successful play through with no apparent issues.
Bard Song Switching (Icewind Mode) under BG2 Tweaks
With this mod you can change between different bardsongs like it is in Icewind Dale. This mod should be installed with Rogue Rebalancing together. Added: ||Warning: This mod is intended to be installed with Rogue Rebalancing, but the copies of the Rogue Rebalancing kits used by this mod are outdated, so more recent changes to the bard kits from Rogue Rebalancing will be lost.
Stable. Not enabled by default because outdated. Added conflicts with IWDification, Might and Guile. Updated component names and mod description.
Universal Clear Fog of War under BG2 Tweaks
Removes Fog of War from maps, so you don't have to explore them.
Stable. Not enabled by default.
igi's Item Mod under BG2 Stores & Items
The iiItem Mod adds several dozen new items to the game, concentrating on lesser known item types (such as potions, bracers, arrows etc). Items are scattered randomly throughout the game world.
Stable. Enabled by default.
Mortis Mini Mod under BG2 Stores & Items
This mod adds two new stores to the game which sell items that transform the main char into different other creature like lich or vampire.
Stable. Enabled by default.
The Bigg Kit Pack under Character-Kits (adds Biotic Vanguard Kit and adds Biotic Charge to Hiass the Wolf)
Stable. Not enabled by default because lore-unfriendly.
LadeJarl's Tutu GUI
This is a GUI replacement which will give the game the original Baldurs Gate look. The mod supports 640x480, 800X600 and 1024X768 screen resolutions. Warning: This mod does not allow TobEx to insert an optional scrollbar. Additional kits or spells may be unavailable for you. Warning! Addon for this mod needs to be downloaded manually.
Stable. Not enabled by default.
W_GUI (Beta)
This mod is a partial replacement for BG2 ToB GUI - Graphical User Interface. Only a few screens have been redone. This version may be its final release, because the author lost interest in this mod a very long time ago. This mod is Expert, because the new GUI is not to everyone's taste. If you want another GUI, please visit the homepage and look at it first.
Stable. Not enabled by default. Updated description.