IMO, it's best to play vanilla versions of both games before heading to the mods. Experience it the way it was released, then mod it to get a different experience (and you'll then know exactly how you'd like to tweak the game(s) to suit your tastes).

It's been quite a while since I played vanilla BG1 and I did not realize that feature wasn't there. Another reason for one of those two mods.

Depends who you ask. Hickory will no doubt tell you that you should definitely play vanilla for your first game, but personally I've been playing through with BGT. When I tried to play with just vanilla BG1, I ended up losing interest, partly due to the awkward ui. There are also various features available in the tweak pack if you have BGT installed, like the ability to have other NPCs who can be party members in both games copy their statistics into BG2 when you begin it rather than using predetermined stats. For that reason alone, I'd recommend BGT, unless you decide you really want a 'pure' experience.

FYI, an install of BG2 is needed for TUTU as well. Not that it matters in your case, but it looks like you hadn't realised that from your post.

Absolutely, no shadow of a doubt, play it vanilla first. Why? Because if you go straight to the BG2 engine, you are not playing BG1 at all, you are playing BG1+ ... there are just too many differences and changes, and you will completely lose, forever, the unique BG1 experience. Play it at least once, beginning to end, as vanilla, and then think about having an enhanced experience with mods. Don't do it to yourself to go for the + version off bat... really.

Not really sure what to do now. I am leaning more towards Vanilla although I am thinking about adding unfinished business. I am actually fine with the way the graphics look. Completely unfamilliar with DnD rules too so I don't have the knowledge of future improvements to affect me at all. It is the apparent increased movement speed and improved journal that are tempting me. Only worry is that I would be unable to return to vanilla if I tried either BGT or TuTu. It isn't like these games are short either so I might think on it for a bit.


Thanks. I wasn't actually aware of that. Thought it was just BGT that needed it.

The dnd 2e rules can be a bit...unintuitive to a newcomer, so feel free to ask any questions you may have on the forum! To begin with, it's vital to know that thac0 (to hit chance), AC (armour class) and saving throws are all better when they're lower, and if the game says, say, a +2 bonus to AC, that'll reduce your AC by 2 (which is good, and exactly the same as if it says AC -2). If it says a +2 penalty, that's bad and would increase your AC by 2. Same applies for the other two stats.

I'm in the same boat I think ( have to learn the d&d rules). I will do a first time run now.

I have installed both BG1 & 2. And I have installed BGT +fixpack and widescreen mod. It works but I understand that it is not only graphical enhancement and screenresolution change.

So I should do a vanilla first time run in the BG1 folder? The unmodded BG1?

Your BGT folder is not BG1, it is modified BG2. So yes, if you want to play BG1 as BG1, you need to play from the unmodded BG1 folder, not BGT.