A Gibberlings Three Mod
Authors: berelinde and jastey
On the web: Home page and discussion forum
Version 15 - Check for the most recent version
Languages: English, Russian, French, German, and Simplified Chinese
Games: BGII(ToB), BGII:EE, BGT, and EET
Alternatives offers two new possibilities to consider when making the decision about whether to side with the Shadow Thieves or with Valen's Mistress. In addition to the traditional two, the player may now opt to side with a group even the paladins in the party could have no objection to... or he may opt to skip the whole decision entirely and set sail for Maztica.
Alternatives also offers a different way to satisfy Mae Var's demand that the protagonist steal an artifact from a temple and an alternate way to complete the Riddle of the Sewers.
For bug reports and suggestions, please visit the Gibberlings Three forums.
This mod is designed to work with BG2: Shadows of Amn, with or without the expansion pack Throne of Bhaal. There are no known or suspected problems with compatibility. The mod was tested on installations that included Quest Pack, and if both mods are used (recommended), Quest Pack should be installed first.
Alternatives is compatible with "Faster Chapter 1&2 Cut-Scenes & Dreams" (component "Convenience Tweaks and/or Cheats") from Tweaks Anthology mod.
Please note:
As of v12, Saerileth mod and Alternatives are fully compatible. For this, Saerileth has to be installed *before* Alternatives so Alternative can patch the IncrementChapter action. If not, it is not possible to accept alternative routes to Brynnlaw for both Saerileth and Alternatives mods, as it will break the chapter numbering of your game!
BGII:EE
If you use BGII Enhanced Edition from GOG or Steam, you need to prepare your game with
modmerge before
installing any mods. Also, BG(II):EE are actively supported games. Please note that every patch
update will wipe your current mod setup! If in the middle of a modded game you might want to delay
the patch update as even after reinstalling the mods, you might not be able to continue with your
old savegames.
Windows
Alternatives is
packaged and installed with WeiDU and
is distributed as a self-extracting archive. To install, simply double-click
the archive and follow the instructions on screen.
Alternatively the files can be extracted from the archive using WinRAR or any other software capable of extracting RAR archives. If properly extracted, you should have an alternatives folder and setup-alternatives.exe in your BG2 directory. To install, simply double-click setup-alternatives.exe and follow the instructions on screen.
Please run setup-alternatives.exe in your BG2 directory to reinstall or uninstall components.
Mac OS X
If the mod was previously installed, uninstall it before extracting the
new version. Alternatives is packaged and installed with WeiDU.
To install, simply extract the contents of the mod into your BG2 directory. If
properly extracted, you should have an alternatives folder, setup-alternatives,
and setup-alternatives.command in your BG2 directory.
To install, simply double-click setup-alternatives.command and
follow the instructions on screen.
Linux
Extract the contents of the mod to the folder of the game you wish to modify.
Download the latest version of WeiDU for Linux from WeiDU.org and copy
WeiDU and WeInstall to /usr/bin. Following that, open a terminal, cd to
your BG2 installation directory, run 'tolower' and answer Y to both queries.
You can avoid running the second option (linux.ini) if you've already ran
it once in the same directory. To save time, the archive is already tolowered,
so there's no need to run the first option (lowercasing file names) either
if you've extracted only this mod since the last time you lower cased file
name. If you are unsure, running tolower and choosing both options is the
safe bet.
Run WeInstall alternatives in your game folder to install the mod. Then run
wine BGMain.exe and start playing.
One of the things that always bothered me (berelinde) is that it is nearly impossible for a lawful good character to go through the game and remain completely true to his or her alignment. Siding with thieves is not a very lawful thing to do, nor is allying with undead a particularly good deed. The "Paladin Route" offers a third option, the ability to work for an unimpeachably good organization and eliminate two evils. The "Assassin Route" came about a bit later, as a result of some musing about how a character who has no real interest in either rescuing Imoen or going out of his or her way to take revenge on Irenicus might want to avoid the whole decision entirly and get the hells out of Amn. Jastey never liked the idea of having to kill Quallo's only friend to obtain Lilarcor, or the concept of stealing prized artifacts from temples while running errands for Mae Var, so she created workarounds for those, as well. "Temple Thievery Alternative" is incorporated in Jastey's Ajantis mod, so if Ajantis is installed, the "Temple Thievery Alternative" component will not be installed.
Both new Chapter 2 options begin after Valen and Brus make their traditional appearances. To begin the "Paladin Route," visit the Government District after speaking with Brus. To begin the "Assassin Route," go to the Slums, where a garishly dressed nobleman by the name of Malficus will make an attractive offer. He is standing outside the Copper Coronet, not far from the road that leads to the southern entrance to the Slums.
Once the protagonist has committed to performing the first task of the "Paladin Route," by paying the gold, all other paths are disabled, but it is possible to do two of the three tasks Malficus sets before you and then change sides.
Please keep in mind that for recruiting Edwin, the PC needs to work for Renal Bloodscalp long enough before accepting one of the alternative offers.
To access the "Temple Thievery Alternative" options, speak to people in the temple about your concerns.
If you would like to avoid killing Quallo's "friend", you will see new options in Quallo's dialogue.
SUGGESTIONS: When one deals with dishonorable people, some treachery and double-dealing is only to be expected. Also, when embarking on a new venture, it is always advisable to tie up loose ends first. Thieves, especially, or those wishing to get to know Renal Bloodscalp a little better or recruit a certain Red Wizard, would be well advised to complete all thieves' guild tasks prior to going to the Five Flagons in or making any final arrangements with Malficus. The quest givers of both routes will warn you when you are approaching the point of no return.
Comments: Yes, the "Paladin Route" is unoriginal. It was never intended to be otherwise, as it was designed for the protagonist who wants to go in, get the job done, and get out without compromising his morals along the way.
This mod was created by berelinde and Jastey. For support or bug reporting, please visit the Gibberlings Three forums and post into the Alternatives Mod Forum directly.
Thanks to jastey for allowing the inclusion of her "Temple Thievery Alternative" and her "Blood of a True Friend" Alternative, to Epantiras for the BAMs used for the puzzle box, and to Lava Del'Vortel for voicing Malficus Rhodendril. Also, thanks to Domi, for finding a way to make the "Assassin Route" more believable. Thanks to the testers, K'aeloree, Lava Del'Vortel, Kitanna, Jarno Mikkola, Arashi Kai, eric, and Yarpen!
Tools Used in Creation
WeiDU by Wes Weimer
IESDP maintained by igi
Near Infinity by
Jon Olav Hauglid
Crimson Editor by
Ingyu Kang
WeiDU Crimson and ConTEXT Highlighters by Idobek, updated by cmorgan
DLTCEP by
Avenger
IEEP by
ToddTeamBG
Audacity
Ogg Vorbis
BAM Workshop by Glenn Flansberg
This mod may not be sold, published, compiled or redistributed in any form without the consent of its author. Modders are assumed to have free use of Alternatives variables, may extend whatever scripts they choose, interject into Alternatives dialogue, or otherwise mod the mod. Alternatives is ©2010 by Ruth Tannahill.
Version 15 - March 28, 2021
Version 14.1 - June 05, 2020
Version 14 - May 28, 2020
Version 13.4 - August 28, 2018
Version 13.3 - April 05, 2018
Version 13.2 - January 26, 2018
Version 13.1 - January 26, 2018
Version 13 - January 22, 2018
Version 12 - April 07, 2017
Version 11 - June 14, 2015
Version 10 - January 9, 2011
Version 9 - September 21, 2010
Version 8 - June 29, 2010
Version 7 - June 3, 2010
Version 6 - April 30, 2010
Version 5
Version 4
Version 3 - February 1, 2010
Version 2 - January 16, 2010
Version 1 - January 14, 2010