Tuthrick: That's why it's better to play it as the first game. The BG1 engine is fine, it only may become annoying once you get used to easier BG2 engine. Besides, using these mods changes the balance of the game a lot. BG1 engine is not worse, it just plays differently. Funny that you call it ugly, where BG2 character models are inferior to the BG1 ones (paperdolls as well). For the vanilla experience in the first playthrough I wouldn't recommend fiddling with changing the engine.

BGT and TuTu are mostly for people who played BG2 before BG1 and can't get used to the earlier version of the engine. For someone who didn't play either a lot it's completely unnecessary.

As for pixel hunting, well that's what secrets and/or easter eggs are supposed to be - really hard to find. Especially in BG1 you can find some relly powerful items very early in the game and it's up to the individual player to decide whether it's fair, or even cheating to easily obtain these. I remember back in 1999 where together with my friend we were looking for one of those items, because his older brother told him about it. We didn't have the internet back then, so no exact coordinates. It took me some playthroughs to finally find it. I really liked the whole mistery about it, after many failed attempts we thought that his brother made it all up.

No pause in inventory is a feature, not a limitation of the engine (there's pause in multiplayer). It's quite similar to Fallout where you have to use action points in order to access your inventory mid-fight. It forces the player to make decisions that are sometimes a bit tricky - should I get that potion from the inventory, or is it too risky in the middle of a fight. This is also an example how BG2 engine messes up with the balance of the game.

Using widescreen mod + TWM-gui is the way to go, if the resolution is too low.

Sorry for that ramble, I don't mean to be nitpicky (though it may seem as such), I just wouldn't recommend such total-conversion mods for the first playthrough.

Engerek01: I finished BG1 original once in 1999, BGT 5 times and BG:EE once. I never finished BG2. So I am not one of those people who got used to BG2.

I agree that it changes the balance of the game. But I find this shift for the good way. Again, it is a matter of preference.

I completely agree that pausing inventory in the middle of the fight is kinda cheating. However, I read all the books in the game in all my playthroughs and that can take a long time. I dont want time to pass while reading outside of a fight. Or When I am reading stories of weapons. I am a slow reader and it can take 8 hour game time when reading 5 or 6 books. I hated it. :)) You can pause and read stuff in fallout if I remember correctly.

Also, If my memory serves me good, the journal in original BG1 was a mess. I had to go through all of those pages to understand what i did. BG2 engine does it more organized.

Also also... It wasnt possible to get "always" full HP on level ups. I remember my mage ended up having more hp than imoen. I know that is the hardcore rules but I think harcore rules suck and I love how you can set difficulty to normal on BG2 engine and get full HP on level ups.

Finally, I am not saying that people should definitely do mods. I only found that BGT is a better experience.

Engerek01: I finished BG1 original once in 1999, BGT 5 times and BG:EE once. I never finished BG2. So I am not one of those people who got used to BG2.

I agree that it changes the balance of the game. But I find this shift for the good way. Again, it is a matter of preference.

I completely agree that pausing inventory in the middle of the fight is kinda cheating. However, I read all the books in the game in all my playthroughs and that can take a long time. I dont want time to pass while reading outside of a fight. Or When I am reading stories of weapons. I am a slow reader and it can take 8 hour game time when reading 5 or 6 books. I hated it. :)) You can pause and read stuff in fallout if I remember correctly.

Also, If my memory serves me good, the journal in original BG1 was a mess. I had to go through all of those pages to understand what i did. BG2 engine does it more organized.

Also also... It wasnt possible to get "always" full HP on level ups. I remember my mage ended up having more hp than imoen. I know that is the hardcore rules but I think harcore rules suck and I love how you can set difficulty to normal on BG2 engine and get full HP on level ups.

Finally, I am not saying that people should definitely do mods. I only found that BGT is a better experience.

Tuthrick: That's why it's better to play it as the first game. The BG1 engine is fine, it only may become annoying once you get used to easier BG2 engine. Besides, using these mods changes the balance of the game a lot. BG1 engine is not worse, it just plays differently. Funny that you call it ugly, where BG2 character models are inferior to the BG1 ones (paperdolls as well). For the vanilla experience in the first playthrough I wouldn't recommend fiddling with changing the engine.

BGT and TuTu are mostly for people who played BG2 before BG1 and can't get used to the earlier version of the engine. For someone who didn't play either a lot it's completely unnecessary.

As for pixel hunting, well that's what secrets and/or easter eggs are supposed to be - really hard to find. Especially in BG1 you can find some relly powerful items very early in the game and it's up to the individual player to decide whether it's fair, or even cheating to easily obtain these. I remember back in 1999 where together with my friend we were looking for one of those items, because his older brother told him about it. We didn't have the internet back then, so no exact coordinates. It took me some playthroughs to finally find it. I really liked the whole mistery about it, after many failed attempts we thought that his brother made it all up.

No pause in inventory is a feature, not a limitation of the engine (there's pause in multiplayer). It's quite similar to Fallout where you have to use action points in order to access your inventory mid-fight. It forces the player to make decisions that are sometimes a bit tricky - should I get that potion from the inventory, or is it too risky in the middle of a fight. This is also an example how BG2 engine messes up with the balance of the game.

Using widescreen mod + TWM-gui is the way to go, if the resolution is too low.

Sorry for that ramble, I don't mean to be nitpicky (though it may seem as such), I just wouldn't recommend such total-conversion mods for the first playthrough.

foxthirteen: I'm just using a straightforward fighter cause I don't want to think much of spells (though, technically I still do spells when using spellcaster NPC like Dynaheir). My party is Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, Minsc, and Dynaheir. I heard good things about Edwin and Viconia but I guess I'll try them later in BG2 (They are also in BG2 right?). After BG1 I'm probably doing Icewind Dale or Planescape.