Baldur’s Gate

[DeVaultSetter]

Had a beautifully working version of BG1 (DVD Trilogy) installed on a 500GB drive in the old kaput W7/W8 machine before said 500GB drive was transferred to this rig, (and still spins around very well).
Unfortunately, the drive names had changed in the original move, and no fiddling of the ini files changed it. Another side effect of continuing on in a game after ten years was the convenient omission of the existence of the following registry key.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\DirectPlay\Applications\Baldur's Gate
This key contains the last used drive letters in the CurrentDirectory and Path subkeys, and the game won’t start unless they match with current.

So “had” to re-install, rather than make two small edits in the registry. 🙄

Edit:
The game installation updates the following key:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\BGMain.exe
The Default subkey is the BGMain.exe location, the Path subkey points to the folder where BGMain.exe is located, if they are manually changed to other locations, the game won’t start.
Curiously, on 64 bit systems (who doesn’t have one these days?), modifications of the following key has no effect.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\BGMain.exe
Had a “delayed” effect, this particular type of key is synced by system it seems.

Currently using the complete 4 in 1 Boxset 1.3.5508 patched up to 1.3.5512. Some of the following patches were applied, and it so happens, if re-applied, cause assertion errors on startup, mostly related to resolution issues. Older patches on newer installs can overwrite the existing executable with an older copy, also causing errors on startup.  Watch out for enhanced edition patches and mods, as there may be incompatibilities, certainly in the game saves.
The experts at GOG say the original edition is better modded, unlike the enhanced edition.
Performed a Winmerge diff on the new and old BG1 installs, turns out there’s extra stuff in the override folder of the original install of unknown origin, which adds extra mystery to the coming experience.

Popular patches for games with the Tales of the Sword Coast come like:

• bgtosc_uk.exe

• BGTalesUS5512.exe

• BG1TOSCGameTextUpdate11.exe

• BG1FixPack11.exe

• DFxBG1_FixPack-1.zip, DFxBG1_FixPack-2.zip, DFxBG1_FixPack-3.zip

The NVIDIA settings on the GTX650 were mainly turned off:

Setting ID_PS_TEXFILTER_NO_NEG_LODBIAS_ID = 0x00000000
Setting ID_PS_TEXFILTER_DISABLE_TRILIN_SLOPE_ID = 0x00000001
Setting ID_VSYNCTEARCONTROL_ID = 0x99941284
Setting ID_PS_TEXFILTER_BILINEAR_IN_ANISO_ID = 0x00000000
Setting ID_VSYNCMODE_ID = 0x47814940
Setting ID_QUALITY_ENHANCEMENTS_ID = 0x0000000a
Setting ID_PS_TEXFILTER_ANISO_OPTS2_ID = 0x00000000
Setting ID_VSYNC_SMOOTH_AFR = 0x00000000
Setting ID_ANISO_MODE_LEVEL_ID = 0x00000001
Setting ID_AA_MODE_SELECTOR_SLIAA_ID = 0x00000000
Setting ID_AA_MODE_GAMMACORRECTION_ID = 0x00000000
Setting ID_AA_MODE_SELECTOR_ID = 0x00000001
Setting ID_ANISO_MODE_SELECTOR_ID = 0x00000001
Setting ID_AA_MODE_METHOD_ID = 0x00000000

Huge number of patches and mods (Dudley) here, browse through Weidu at Github and Gibberlings for mods for the original and enhanced editions.

NerdyPleasures offer a nice summary of releases, there is a modding discussion at PocketPlane, a handy PickPocket Reference, and a comprehensive modding guide at Reddit.

• This topic was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by DeVaultSetter.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by DeVaultSetter.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by DeVaultSetter.

[DeVaultSetter]

Reported the diffed files as follows, the mage.chr is also different, so could have installed a character mod back then.

Compare I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override with I:\games\baldur’s gate New\Override

10/09/2023 9:44:05 PM

Filename	Folder	Comparison result	Left Date	Right Date	Extension
ALBERT.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 3:58:56 PM		DLG
ALDETH.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 2/07/2001 2:22:40 AM		DLG
ALIGNMNT.2DA		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 9/06/2001 1:41:30 PM		2DA
AR0116.ARE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 10:43:50 AM		ARE
Ar0116.bcs		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 10:34:08 AM		bcs
Ar0128.bcs		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 2/07/2001 12:12:14 AM		bcs
AR0717.ARE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 13/06/2001 7:40:48 PM		ARE
Ar1100.bcs		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 11:36:12 PM		bcs
ARGHAI.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:20:44 PM		CRE
Arow05.itm		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 29/06/2001 8:16:26 PM		itm
AROW12.ITM		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 9:13:32 AM		ITM
AROW14.ITM		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 9:12:58 AM		ITM
BANDCAP.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:50:12 PM		CRE
BANDCR.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:49:50 PM		CRE
BANDIC.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:49:28 PM		CRE
BANDIT.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:49:14 PM		CRE
BANDIT2.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:46:28 PM		CRE
BANDIT3.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:45:34 PM		CRE
BANDITA.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:45:10 PM		CRE
BANDITC.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:43:22 PM		CRE
BANDITCY.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:42:50 PM		CRE
BILLY.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:42:24 PM		CRE
BRAC06.ITM		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 13/06/2001 9:08:18 PM		ITM
CANTO.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:41:34 PM		CRE
CULT3.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 29/06/2001 6:53:06 PM		CRE
DRIBBE.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:41:02 PM		CRE
Flamal.bcs		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 2/07/2001 3:33:30 AM		bcs
Flamal.cre		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 2/07/2001 12:21:10 AM		cre
GORPEL.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 1/07/2001 12:17:18 PM		DLG
HOBGOBC.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 7:39:48 PM		CRE
JALANT.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 30/06/2001 6:11:16 PM		CRE
JEMBY.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:39:22 PM		CRE
KNOTT.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:38:18 PM		CRE
MARL.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 15/06/2001 11:53:54 PM		DLG
NEVILL.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:37:58 PM		CRE
NOBW8.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 14/06/2001 9:52:34 PM		DLG
ORDULI.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 7/07/2001 9:09:44 AM		DLG
OUBLEK.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 30/06/2001 9:13:00 PM		DLG
RAEMON.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:32:16 PM		CRE
RAMAZI.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 16/06/2001 9:04:24 AM		CRE
REPMAN.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:24:10 PM		CRE
SPWI003.SPL		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 7/07/2001 8:50:46 AM		SPL
SPWI112.SPL		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 7/07/2001 8:52:32 AM		SPL
sw1h20.itm		Binary files are different	* 17/06/2001 11:52:44 AM	10/05/1999 11:18:18 AM	itm
SW1H22.itm		Binary files are different	* 17/06/2001 11:53:34 AM	14/04/1999 1:56:52 PM	itm
sw1h23.itm		Binary files are different	* 17/06/2001 11:53:30 AM	27/05/1999 2:37:08 PM	itm
TAEROM.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 30/06/2001 10:18:10 AM		DLG
TEYNGA.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:23:36 PM		CRE
THUG.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:22:34 PM		CRE
TRAPDIS.bcs		Text files are different	* 29/06/2001 10:53:30 PM	16/04/1999 3:32:28 PM	bcs
TREMAI.DLG		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 27/06/2001 11:54:00 PM		DLG
ZEKAR.CRE		Left only: I:\games\Baldur’s Gate\Override	* 28/06/2001 6:21:52 PM		CRE

[Spastic Hamburger]

Good to know. Have you tried the Enhanced versions? I wonder if they fix some of the quirks.

Do they mean that the original plays nicer with mods or that mods improve it more than they would the Enhanced version?

They are on the list! 🙂

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Spastic Hamburger.

[DeVaultSetter]

Probably not, for no other good reason than the other squillion games waiting on the to-do pile. 😛
Yeah, seems that way looking at this post at GOG, but things have changed somewhat since then. Reading from the general consensus from this thread at Reddit, if you were to acquire the game now, get the EE. In purchasing the game around 2007, the choice was not available, as Beamdog was not even embryonic. 😛

[DeVaultSetter]

Edited the OP, turns out the vanilla Override folder in the New directory was pointed to, and the extra files in the original Override folder caused the resolution exception. Must have contained some widescreen mod files that somehow got misconfigured or mangled – who knows? Edit: The extra files are viewable here, and all date from around 2001, so must be have been from a re-issue of part of another earlier official patch most likely 1.3.5521.
The nasty error occurred after the physical removal of the “baldur’s gate New”, upon which the initial reaction was: 😲

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by DeVaultSetter.

[Spastic Hamburger]

On Laurie Stearn said

Probably not, for no other good reason than the other squillion games waiting on the to-do pile. 😛
Yeah, seems that way looking at this post at GOG, but things have changed somewhat since then. Reading from the general consensus from this thread at Reddit, if you were to acquire the game now, get the EE. In purchasing the game around 2007, the choice was not available, as Beamdog was not even embryonic. 😛

Sounds good. I think the EE versions also added support for higher resolutions, which is always nice in these types of games to better see the playing area. 🙂

On Laurie Stearn said

Edited the OP, turns out the vanilla Override folder in the New directory was pointed to, and the extra files in the original Override folder caused the resolution exception. Must have contained some widescreen mod files that somehow got misconfigured or mangled – who knows? Edit: The extra files are viewable here, and all date from around 2001, so must be have been from a re-issue of part of another earlier official patch most likely 1.3.5521.
The nasty error occurred after the physical removal of the “baldur’s gate New”, upon which the initial reaction was: 😲

Possibly! I know widescreen hacks can sometimes cause issues. In Rollercoaster Tycoon, you need to manually add in the extra resolutions with a hex editor. The game engine itself can handle them but the resolutions are hardcoded into the executable. Not exactly an elegant solution but it works 😛

[DeVaultSetter]

Down deep in dungeons, the un-pausing of the game while in inventory gets one’s goat after a while, mainly due to the fiddly nature of full inventories. Fortunately, it can be paused, by copying over the saves to the multiplayer save directory, and setting up a solo MP game, as it were.
Fine, save for a couple of hiccups mentioned over at GOG. 😛

[DeVaultSetter]

Further random blatherings prompted by investigations from no dialogue from the courtesan in the NW section of East Baldur’s Gate. It turns out her message was the single utterance of a carriage return!

1. After a lengthy and somewhat painful Google-ude (Google interlude), found that Debug Mode=1 doesn’t work for console access in this game edition, rather:
   

   [Game Options]
   Cheats=1

2. The baldur.lua file popular with the EE is non-existent on this install, as is the existence of any My Documents\Baldur's Gate folder and the lesser known similarly named subdirectory which may show up in AppData\Local\VirtualStore.
3. There’s quite a variety of ini settings, many are explained as at Beamdog or Reddit, not yet found a meaning for:
   

   Memory Level=1

   Know that Memory Access=100 sets the blood & gore to that level. 😛

4. For EE, Github hosts an ini config app for Infinity engine here and here, no mention of the base game, so use at own risk.
5. The save file editor parses the contents well enough, haven’t tested it by writing yet.
6. One option for improved rendering in the game is the WineD3D patch, upside: nice program, downside: extra files.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by DeVaultSetter.

[Spastic Hamburger]

Weird! That sounds like a translation file got messed up somewhere

Memory access defines the blood level…? I really don’t understand that logic 😛

So are you running it on Linux, then?

[DeVaultSetter]

Yes, could be intentional as well – if only recollections of the previous gameplay 10 years back could shed light on similar! Right now, half a day on, the courtesan and her (conversationable) companion have disappeared from the area. As a matter of interest, it’s not immediately obvious if such movements and dialog of unnamed NPCs are moddable – or even trackable at all.
Haven’t got Linux installed yet, never was a question of if, but when! 🙂

Few more random gleanings:

• Another pitfall in running mods or patches on a DVD installation is the read only permissions on the root Baldur’s Gate folder set by the installer. If left untouched, there’s always the suspicion some mod installs will report a successful write or patch when actually nothing has happened.
• There exists a remnant log of an attempted BGT setup back in 2012, SETUP-BGT.DEBUG, the failure was because:
  

  Throne of Bhaal is required to install this modification.

  Weird, have the 4 CD set – maybe they wanted a full install to disk instead.

• Bioware also kind of messed up their versioning in the 1.3.5512 official patch. The BGMain and BGMain2 executables are replaced with files in the patch with version numbers 1.3.0.1. The launcher, Balder.exe has a version of 1.0.0.0., and the readme it links to shows a version of 1.3.5508!
• An option to provide a full stack dump in Baldur.ini exists, Debug Dump=1, might have been an issue back in the day when upon accidentally hitting the dump hotkey, finding the system in hard labour from the flush of activity from the disk drive.
• Inserting the following line in baldur.ini made no detectable visual change in-game:
  

  OpenGL VERSION=-1

  The setting is seen in a different form (and values 0 and 1) in some more recent LUA EE configs, not sure if the original game used it, OpenGL was version 1 at the time.

• Console commands are discussed at length in Chapter 11 at Pocketplane’s Volothamp’s Comeuppance:
  A more concise list lives at the IESDP appendices.
• Ooh, and the IESDP itself is whopping large, providing support for all the great Infinity games.

[Spastic Hamburger]

Could be a registry mix-up for the expansion not being detected. Have you checked there?

They also have active forums! Nice change from most places switching over to Discord 🙂

[DeVaultSetter]

Could have been, the relevant reg keys are in the OP above, but now with Widescreen and HD Gui working well enough, there’s no need. 🙂
Please forgive the above omission of GemRB for Linux and Windows, and yep, they have a forum up as well. 🙂

[Spastic Hamburger]

Looks like they’re still working on EE support. Will keep an eye on it!

[DeVaultSetter]

Yeah, there’s still issues with EE even after all this time, a major improvement would be to adjust the angle of view in the interaction area. By how much, and too how much it would or should impact gameplay and quest progression is more a question for a dedicated patch team than some random modder. For no other reason than a complete decompilation, followed by considerable restructuring of the game engine code. 😛
Another little quirky thing bobbed up regarding Windows and DirectX immersion, if you run Disk Cleanup during an active game, the cleanup progress bar window will flash in and out of the game screen until Disk Cleanup is complete. Even when the cleanup progress is moved off screen, the game doesn’t quite run how it should.

[Spastic Hamburger]

Yeah, adjusting the camera angle is an important feature. It really helps to see things that are blocked by other objects, even with the ghost outlines that a lot of games like to use.

Seen that with quite a few older games. Was pretty annoying when playing on newer versions of Windows as the notification feature would often trigger the weirdness, requiring either a restart of the game of alt-tabbing to bring back the focus lock. The method varied from game to game. It may have had to do with some focus lock features missing back then in Windows as it was so prevalent.

[Spastic Hamburger]

Anymore updates? 🙂

[DeVaultSetter]

On the shiny new SSE machine now, so won’t get back to Baldur’s until April. Do remember a large number of quests popping up once the team has passed Wyrm’s Crossing though. 🙂

[Spastic Hamburger]

Ah, okay. I’ve been playing a lot of No Man’s Sky the past couple of weeks. Been working on building out the power grid for my starter base. Once I get everything unlocked, I’ll make one on a nice lush planet I have access to. Of course, it’ll take a lot of asteroid mining to get the gold I need for the solar arrays 😛

Sounds good 🙂

It’d be nice to get some images together for our playthroughs but those would take up a lot of space!

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