SubtleMods: introducing Reflections of Destiny, version 0.9

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Introducing Reflections of Destiny, a mod aimed at fixing various issues with the plot of BG1, SoD, BG2, and ToB. This is a big departure for me: instead of kits, spell tweaks, and rule tweaks, this is all story, dialogues, and cut-scenes. The components of this mod focus on fixing or improving aspects of the central storylines of these games. In some cases they make small adjustments to make the mechanical gameplay fit better with the story as presented. In other cases the story may be partially or substantially rewritten. Each component here is completely independent of the others - users can mix-and-match as they see fit. But these components are written to all be consistent with one another. The games will play out normally with these mods installed; but the mod reflects an alternative vision of the games' plot, which has slightly different dimensions and is a bit sharper.

The Readme is here.

You can download the latest release of the mod here.

The main components are #100, which substantially expands chapter 7 of BG1 and improves the transition from BG1 to SoD and #200, which modifies the plot of SoD by revising the story and characterization of Caelar Argent (and the Big Bad Evil Guy). There are also a plethora of smaller components that tweak this or that character or area - a bit more flavor in Kanaglym, a slightly different interaction with Elandro, etc. There is also a component that brings some of the SoD areas over to BG2, if you did not play SoD (that one requires EET for installation.

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The SubtleMods compilation provides tweaks both large and small to almost every game mechanic, and also adds and expands game content to improve the player experience:

• SubtleD's Spell Tweaks overhauls some magic subsystems, like invisibility, familiars, and illusionary clones; and tweaks several dozen spells on an individual basis to make them more balanced, more distinctive, and more fun.
• SubtleD's Item Tweaks includes a flexible, customizable damage resistance system for armors, and improves several individual items to make them more engaging and useful.
• SubtleD's Stat Overhauls improves various aspects of ability scores, adding new bonuses, new penalties (!), and more interaction with other systems like spell memorization.
• 5th Edition Spellcasting allows casters to use 5th Edition D&D rules: you prepare a certain subset of your known spells, and then you can cast your prepared spells interchangeably.
• Combat Skills & Proficiencies provides alternate rules for weapon proficiency advancement and fighting styles, and adds a feat system that is integrated into the game's proficiency system.
• Magic Battles Revised streamlines the arcane "magic duel" system, making it more sensible and more fluid.
• BP-in-BG inserts the Black Pits 1 campaign as a single big prestige dungeon inside the Baldur's Gate 1 campaign.
• Reflections of Destiny revises and remixes SoD content and imporves the end of the BG1 campaign.
• IWD_EET_Integration alters the way tipun's IWD and IWD2 mods interact with EET: it allows those campaigns to be played independently from level 1, and optionally adds some IWD content into the BG2/SoA campaign.

Taken together, these mods represent a unified vision of how the game's mechanics and content can operate and interact in improved ways. However, because everyone's taste is different, these are designed to be as modular as possible, allowing players to pick and choose from among different components as they please. Compatibility with other mods is maximized wherever possible.