The Tactics Mod: Comments

Definetly the most challenging, most enjoyable, most dramatic and most rewarding battle I have fought so far. The improved version blows the old version out of the water.
I just installed the [Tactics Mod] that includes the improved Sahuagin city. This is a MUST have mod. The city used to be so boring. Not any more!
This is a bit off-topic, but all these improved fights, tactics, etc... have really increased my enjoyment (and frustration, but in a good way) of the game. Anyway, thanks again, absolutely great stuff.
Thanks for making the MODs. Even though some of them are not my cup of tea, it's fun to have the choice and to experience other visions of the game and its world. Your MODs are easy to install, try and uninstall if need be; they also fit well with the game environment, not causing problems.
... and I must say that I enjoyed the more intelligent black dragon battle.
I've GOT to try that battle. The dialogue is pure genius.
Nice, very nice! I went up against the Shadow Dragon in the Umar Hills, completely forgetting I had [the Smarter Dragons component] installed. Whoops. I'm in Chapter 3 now, average party level 10. Though I did get it down to Near Death, it killed Anomen and then leveldrained Mazzy out of existence. The unimproved Thax was a breeze (with my party having enough resources left to sneeze at the Shade Lord and thus kill him in about, oh, one and a half rounds (and that was because I dawled)). *This* Thax is a lot more challenging. Perhaps I *should* sleep and memorize Lower Resistance first... :-) Can't wait to go up against Firkraag. As I said, nice work!
I found just about all the improved battles to be challenging in some way and I felt a real sense of achievement in completing them all.
I do have the smarter mages patch in, and enjoying imensely, I might add.
This [one component the Tactics mod] guy is fabulous! Fun, tough, well-written dialogue and no cheese.
You get high marks for improving that fight, by the way. ... Oh yeah, and the improved Twisted Rune was a lot more credible,
Let me say just 1 more thing, Wes: you did a hell of a job with his AI compared to Bioware AI!
I've played through BG/TOB three times and decided it was time to stop being so repetitive, but the [Tactics Mod] and Valen / Solaufein mods have definitely made the game more interesting.
Just to let you know, I greatly enjoyed your works. The additional challenges on the [Tactics Mod] are great fun.
I'm testing right now the Improved Irenicus... Great work indeed with that fight!
Westley, I don't know if you are aware but improved tactical encounters are superb. They make this game challenging even for powergamers! Good work Kensai Ryu, Blucher and others!
Congrats, this encounter's wonderful. That was such an entertaining fight!
Truly, this is how the end of SoA should have always been, a hard and long fight for your soul!!!
The Kensai was really tough but enjoyable.
The enhanced tactical encounters are awesome.
I've just played [the Ritual component of the Tactics mod], it's quite nice, and it feels like you still enjoy the same humour as the eclipse's one! I liked Pontifex's dialogue a lot, and I really took notes about what he was saying! The fights were not too difficult. [ ... ] But it was ok, for you do the scripts a clever way. [ ... ] Anyway, this is a really cool mod, and it's amazing to see all what you do with bg2! I'm quite impressed!
IRC Conversation:
- (PersonA) Okay, so, how many TANAR'RI (Is that right?) are in the Ritual [component of the Tactics mod]?
- (PersonB) He says you should be level 11-12, so I bet there are only four. "Actually, this particular mod was an experiment with low level opponents. They are all 70-stat-point characters with 300,000 XP and at most generic +2 items." Ah, I think he's trying to prove the point that his combat scripting skills will enable him to kick your ass with a kobold commando and a hobgoblin if he really puts his mind to it.
When I saw the finale of [the Ritual] as well as the name of a certain character.. I was thinking how this is, really, quite ingenious.
All in all, [the Ritual] is an enjoyable mini-mod that goes to show you don't need flashy effects or endless hours of questing to bring a fresh, entertaining new aspect to a game we all know and love. Kudos to thee, Westley-san!
Tried [the Ritual] last night, and it was still a good challenge for a party at the 14-15 levels. Very nice work. The dialogue is pretty humorous
I've finished the Ritual quest yesterday, and really enjoyed it.
Having installed and played out your "Ritual" mod a couple of days ago, I can't recall the last time I was moved to bawl out so many angry obscenities. Great stuff from first to last!
Again, enjoyed the [Ritual component of the Tactics mod] and am impressed with the amount of work that went into it.
By the way great job on [the Ritual component of the Tactics] Mod.........it's definitely made BG II more enjoyable.
It took me about 20-30 reloads [editor's note: this seems high] each before I could beat Improved Irenicus, Eclispe and Ascension on Core level. Improved Bodhi and Kuroisan both took a brave few reloads as well. Improved Maevar, the Guarded Compound and Twisted Rune were only easier because I tackled them after the Underdark. I originally tried to get C Fury early on but got an ass kickin, then had to reload!
10 out of 10 in my books.
I had never needed to use items such as wands or protection scrolls to win a battle in SoA until I installed the tactics mod. I wish Bioware had provided the option of advanced scripting as a way of making the game more challenging instead of just increasing the amount of damage cause by opponents. The enjoyment of defeating a foe that had previously kicked my ass is so much sweeter. Kudos to you, you've made SoA an A+ game.
I merely installed the anti-paladin kit. I found it to be an excellent way to play through the game as an evil character. Again, a thoroughly enjoyable mod.
As an aside, I would like to give praise for the improved Ilyich fight. Wow! The most humorous dialog from any group that so thoroughly cleaned my clock! That was a very tough fight for a very unimproved group. ohmy.gif
gosh, i loved improved mages....so fun, especially the telly field trick, its so hard to cheese battles, so fun....
"Tactics" mod is a very useful tool. Great idea! We really needed something like it.
At least you script in some kind of "happy ending" rather than forcing the plot to go the way you intended, I think that's a rather nice touch.
I am enjoying the mods so far,you really did some excellent work here
You and the other [authors] have done a very great work with this mod.
I especially appreciate the improved dragons and the improved Irenicus.
The changes to many, many quests and encounters in the Tactics mod, in particular, make it (apart from the plot itself) almost like playing through something else for the first time. Highly recommended, but don't expect it to be easy.
I found the mod to be excellant so far, it's actually forced me to be so much more involved with the tactics rather than cheese.
No, the frustration is good, as it forces me to stop thinking along the lines of 4 uber characters can just walk into any battle and expect to win. That is why so many people appreciate tougher battles that force you to think!
Just had a battle with the Drows group near the Souls Stone in the Underdark... Damn, those four improved spellcasters were tough for my level ~13 party... I really liked (well, after I won, of course) their use of Death Spell, Breach and PfMW. Great job, Wes!
Whomever did the Improved Bodhi version...where she is using some sort of shroud, surronded by Grim Warders and awesomely powerful...well I've met her. Holy hell...one of the first times I've ever really been terrified for my characters. Very good job!
First, to let you know how much I am enjoying the Mods you've created (or compiled) for BGII. The Tactics Mod is kicking my butt BIg-time..but I thrive on the new challenge.
Great Mod by the way Wes, I've just completed the skull battles with my f/m/t on hard and it was very challenging!
I am a Baldur's Gate II fanatic and I have played Baldur's Gate II (with ToB) for the 30th time yesterday. I am grateful to you for making Baldur's Gate SO MUCH more interesting and challenging. I am one of those who benefitted greatly, especially from the tactics mod.
Weimer is not getting a Christmas card from me, Tactics mod is kicking my ass. (no offense to Mr W, it's quite the challenge)
With the coordination of thier attacks, I figured it had to be the product of a Weimer Mod.
Man, Improved Irenicus is great! ... I cannot think BG2 without tactical encounters! The game rocks! Yes powergame! But not cheasy anymore!
Note, that I'm not asking for help, but want to state, that I really like the challenges thrown my way by this mod.
Great Mod so far. Brings much needed Infinity Engine freshness, that NWN just didn't capture.
Tactics is way cool, Illyich had my party going for a good few reloads until i had a good root through my mage and cleric spells for some decent protections!
Imp Irenicus was an amazing battle. Fun, thrilling, scary, challenging - what more can we ask for?
I think it was a great mod, its nice with a quest so different from the regular ones.
improved Irenicus: let me tell you that is a great fight,
Hello. I must tell u that tactics mod is great mod, the best i have ever played. [It's] better than mods that are 500 mb or more. And [it's] soo small. Congrats is all i can say.
Except for the situations that resulted in my character suffering 78 deaths tactics didn't really present much of a challenge.
Ever since I installed the Tactics Mod, I've been having a lot more fun with the game (damn, I sound like I'm advertising or something ). There are some cheesey items you can get in it (Boots of Preserving, for one), but a work-around is to not even use the item, obviously. It was nice to see the major battles in ToB spiced up since I found the original ones too easy even my first time through.
I just got my ass handed to me by Bodhi as in 'reduced to charred, smoldering corpses and drained husks within two rounds'. And I loved it ... Note, that I'm not asking for help, but want to state, that I really like the challenges thrown my way by this mod. ... I must once more praise the tactics mod for providing fantastic challenges.

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Westley Weimer < Email : weimer@cs.berkeley.edu >