i Entire installation instructions for the Baldur's Gate Mega-Mod

APPENDIX
I. Mods, bugs, patches and fair play - how BWP works technically and legally.
Gamers and modders sometimes have different views regarding megamods:
Gamers want to download the whole bunch all in one go, preferably in just one gigantic file from a single website.
Modders however would rather gamers only download their mods from their authorized sites. They prefer you
visit their homepages and have the opportunity to get additional information about their mods. They also want
to ensure that gamers are downloading the correct version of their mod, not one that may have had unauthorised
changes made to it.
BWP will satisfy both sides. With the link-list you can download the original mods from their respective authorised
sites and install them with batch files. Then you will have the megamod ready to play on your computer.
The required patches are inserted only on your computer. In order to not infringe on any copyrights, BWP includes
no modified mods, only instructions on how to install the mod as well as complete solution proposals
(the patches and the batch files). If you alter the mods yourself in the privacy of your own home, it is solely by
and for yourself and completely legitimate.
This is important information for those players who find a solution themselves, but are uneasy about making it
public.
The best example is the BGT mod itself. It modifies the complete BG1 game. The modified game may not be
distributed, but you can create this modification by yourself on your computer!
It would be unfair to the modders, not to inform them if an error is found. It is also unfair to the players, not to
publish a solution due to concern for getting on the wrong side of the modder. Nothing is more frustrating for
other players than to read that although a solution has been found to a problem, no patch is available or published.
Taking the honourable attitude “Never touch someone other’s mod” may mean there will be no further
development because it often takes months before an updated version appears, assuming the mod is still generally
supported. Also, for any number of reasons, some modders are not interested in making their mod compatible
with other mods (including BGT) if they have to add even one single line of code. Such a mod would
then not be playable at all.
BWP is working closely with the modders. Once we have a new bug fix, it will be installed with the BWP Fixpack
and is immediately available to all players. At the same time, the modder will be informed about the
patches made. - Unfortunately, this is no longer continued since Leomars retirement.
Many of the modders support their mods further and as a general rule include the patch with the mod’s next
update. However, this can sometimes take several months. Until then the patch is able be used by all players
and tested in combination with other mods. Once the correction in the original mod is done and the patch is no
longer needed, we delete it again from the Fixpack. This is also helpful for the modders, because it means all
the found fixes are bundled up in one place instead of scattered over the whole net. The same is true for all
text patches.
This is fair to both sides and has long been accepted. After all, the BWP with its wide dissemination and consistent
structure is an enormous and best test platform for the modders.
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