Overview


This mod expands the thief stronghold to make it more interesting by adding new quests and importing Narlen Darkwalk and Black Lilly from the Baldur's Gate Shadow Thieves guild into Athkatla.

  ► Original note from Gebhard Blucher


I've heard quite a few people complaining about the Thief Stronghold in BG2: some said that it is either dull, too short, annoying, or all three. Well, I like it. Along with the Mage Stronghold, it's my favorite stronghold in the game. I do agree however, that it could use some spicing up.
That's where this mod comes in - it expands quite a bit on the original stronghold, fixes some existing bugs and has a lot of (I hope) cute touches.


Note: This mod that was first released at Gebhard Blucher's web page. As this site is no more available since many years, it was time to save it from disappearance. It is now hosted at Spellhold Studios with Gebhard Blucher's authorization.



➽ Visit the mod forum for all the latest updates.


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Compatibility


Games supported

Expanded Thief Stronghold is designed to work on the following Infinity Engine games:

  • The original Baldur's Gate II, with the Throne of Bhaal (ToB) expansion. Make sure you have Throne of Bhaal patched to version 26498. Check the ReadMe files related to your patch in your game folder and the BioWare website if necessary.
  • Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (BG2:EE).
  • The conversion projects based on ToB, Baldur's Gate Trilogy (BGT) and Enhanced Edition Trilogy (EET).


Other Mods Compatibility

This mod is a WeiDU mod, and therefore should be compatible with all WeiDU mods. If you encounter any bugs, please report them on the forum!



Installation Order

➽ Although it is not required for Expanded Thief Stronghold to function properly, original games players are strongly recommended to also download and install the BG2 Fixpack before proceeding with the installation of this mod.

  • Please install Expanded Thief Stronghold after TobEx, BG2 Fixpack, and EET.
  • Please install Expanded Thief Stronghold before EET_End, and any final "biffing" routines.

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Installation


Notes

If you've previously installed the mod, remove it before extracting the new version. To do this, run  setup-gbthfkp.exe , un-install all previously installed components and delete the 📁 gbthfkp folder.

When installing or un-installing, do not close the DOS window by clicking on the X button! Instead, press the Enter key whenever instructed to do so.

Disable any antivirus or other memory-resident software before installing this or any other mod. Some (particularly avast and Norton!) have a tendency to report false positives with mod activity, resulting in failed installs.

You can extract files from the archive using 7zip, WinRAR, ZipGenius, or another file compression utility that handles .zip files.



Enhanced Editions Note

The Enhanced Editions 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 (if possible) as even after reinstalling the mods, you might not be able to continue with your old save games. Alternatively, copy the whole game's folder into a new one that can be modded and will stay untouched by game patches. It is important that you install the mod to the language version you are playing the game in. Otherwise, the dialogues of the mod will not show but give error messages.



Windows

Expanded Thief Stronghold for Windows is distributed as an extractable compressed archive and includes a WeiDU installer.

Extract the contents of the mod to the folder of the game you wish to modify (the folder which contains the "CHITIN.KEY" file). On successful extraction, there should be a 📁 gbthfkp folder and a setup-gbthfkp.exe file in your game folder. To install, simply double-click  setup-gbthfkp.exe  and follow the instructions on screen.

Run  setup-gbthfkp.exe  in your game folder to reinstall, un-install or otherwise change components.



MmacOS

Expanded Thief Stronghold for macOS is distributed in the same compressed archive and includes a WeiDU installer.

First, extract the files of the archive into your game directory. On successful extraction, there should be a 📁 gbthfkp folder, setup-gbthfkp and setup-gbthfkp.command files in your game folder. To install, double-click  setup-gbthfkp.command  and follow the instructions on screen.

You can run  setup-gbthfkp.command  in your game folder to reinstall, un-install or otherwise the components settings.



Linux

Expanded Thief Stronghold for Linux is distributed in the same compressed archive and does not include a WeiDU installer.

Extract the contents of the mod to the folder of the game you wish to modify.

Download the latest Linux version of WeiDU and copy weidu, weinstall and tolower to /usr/bin. Then open a terminal and  cd  to your game installation directory.

Optional: 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 lowercased file names. If unsure, running tolower and choosing both options is the safe bet.

Run  weinstall setup-gbthfkp  in your game folder to install the mod. Then run  wine bgmain.exe  (or  wine baldur.exe  for EE games), and start playing.



Note for Complete Un-installation

In addition to the methods above for removing individual components, you can completely un-install the mod using  setup-gbthfkp --uninstall  at the command line to remove all components without wading through prompts.


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Credits


Author: Gebhard Blucher

☛ For support or questions, please visit the mod forum.



Special Acknowledgements to:
  • Spellhold Studios team for hosting the mod (Forums).
  • Gebhard Blucher, where ever you are, for creating this mod!
  • Leomar, for having maintained it for so many years.
  • Native EE compatibility: Gwendolyne.
  • French translation: JohnBob.
  • Italian translation: ilot.
  • Russian translation: aerie.ru and prowler.
  • Spanish translation: Dufroise and Immortality of Clan DLAN.
  • German translation: Dyara.
  • AL|EN for his Infinity Auto Packager tool.
  • Everyone else from The Gibberlings Three, Spellhold Studios forums, and the other Infinity Engine gaming and modding communities who offered their help and support.


Programs/tools used in creation:


Copyrights

Expanded Thief Stronghold is not developed, supported, or endorsed by BioWare™ or Interplay/BlackIsle, Overhaul, Beamdog or the Wizards of the Coast. It was developed by Gebhard Blucher, based on material from the game Baldur's Gate II and its expansion.

All mod content is ©Gebhard Blucher.

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal © TSR, Inc. The BioWare Infinity Engine is © BioWare Corp. All other trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.


This mod was created to be freely enjoyed by all Baldur's Gate II players, and its content is free of rights. However, it should not be sold, published, compiled or redistributed in any form without the consent of its authors.


The modding community for the Infinity Engine has been going strong for more than 20 years now, and is the culmination of thousands of unpaid modding hours by fellow fans of the game. Modders produce their best work and players get the best, well-supported mods when we all work together.

There are two big ways to upset this harmony. One is to claim someone else's work as your own. The second is to host and redistribute a mod without permission from the author.

Be kind to your fellow players and modders. Don't do either.


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Version History


Version 3.0.1  (March 7, 2022)
  • Added French readme.


Version 3.0.0  (March 2, 2022)
  • Added gbthfkp.ini metadata file (including dynamic install syntax and global LABELS) to support AL|EN's "Project Infinity".
  • Replaced AUTHOR keyword with SUPPORT.
  • Added README command.
  • Added Immutability concept.
  • Added REQUIRE_PREDICATE conditions to avoid installing components in inaccurate games.
  • Added component DESIGNATED number and "ts_expanded_thief_stronghold_main" LABEL.
  • Externalized tp2 code into main_component.tpa library for more comfortable readability and maintenance.
  • Commented code as much as possible.
  • Added native BG2:EE and EET compatibility:
    • Added WeiDU's built-in HANDLE_CHARSETS function to convert string entries for EE games.
    • Added ADD_JOURNAL function.
    • Restored items' usability restriction flags in descriptions for original games and removed them for EE games with GW_UPDATE_ITM_DESCRIPTION_TO_EE WeiDU function.
    • Provided accurate sized NPC portraits for EE games.
  • Replaced old portraits with PPE ones to insure compatibility with EE games (it was impossible to resize the original ones), and gave Mae'Var and Kumuzu their PPE portraits.
  • Replaced .wav sound clips with .ogg files, rewrote their installation procedure with WeiDU's built-in HANDLE_AUDIO function, and provided localized missing sound clips only when needed.
  • Script files: removed OnCreation() action from blocks that have a LOCALS/GLOBAL associated with them.
  • Spells installation: removed useless SAY NAME2 patches.
  • Included BWP Fixpack Vlad's Timer problem fix here and here.
  • Modernized area patching with homemade GW_ALTER_AREA_ENTRANCE and GW_ALTER_AREA_REGION WeiDU functions.
  • Sword of Olidammara +4 (ts5loot1.itm):
    • Fixed wrong effects probability (15%, was 5%).
    • Fixed wrong portrait icon (Confused, was Charmed).
  • Hardcoded general items names and descriptions whenever relevant.
  • Moved installation messages from gwthfkp.tra file to setup.tra file for more comfortable readability.
  • Added foreign languages WeiDU prompts when available.
  • Proofread English strrefs (Gwendolyne).
  • Added French translation (by JohnBob).
  • Added Italian translation (by ilot).
  • Rewrote and renamed readme file to expanded_thief_stronghold-readme-english.html, then moved it into new 📁 "readme" folder.
  • Moved useless files into new 📁 "legacy" folder, and removed 📁 "backup" folder.
  • Lower cased files.
  • Included Linux and macOS versions in the same package (thanks AL|EN's Infinity Auto Packager tool!).
  • Added OggDec to v1.9.7 and sox v14.4.1 for mac.
  • Added archive libiconv-1.9.2-1-src.7z with iconv license info.
  • Updated WeiDU installer to v249.
  • Uploaded mod to official Spellhold Studios GitHub mirror account.


Version 2.20  (April 1, 2010)
  • Wisp's Unfinished Business compatibility fix.
  • Updated WeiDU installer to v215.


Version 2.19  (November 08, 2009) - by Leomar
  • Added Russian translation by Aerie.ru and prowler.
  • Updated WeiDU installer to v211.


Version 2.18  (November 08, 2009) - by Leomar
  • Updated Spanish translation.


Version 2.17  (May 25, 2009) - by Leomar
  • Completed and revised German translation by Roter Berserker.


Version 2.16  (April 01, 2009) - by Leomar
  • White Agnus added a BGT and language check, so no English wav-files.
  • Removed GBTfkp.bat.
  • Updated Read Me.
  • Updated WeiDU installer to v210.


Version 2.15  (November 23, 2008) - by Leomar
  • GBThfKp.tp2: Taimon's area crash fix.
  • Zeroed effects offset in TSPick1.cre, TSPick2.cre, TSPick3.cre, TSPick4.cre, TSPick5.cre, TSPick6.cre, TSPick7.cre and TSPick8.cre.
  • Added VERSION flag.
  • Updated WeiDU installer to v208.


Version 2.14  (July 28, 2006)
  • If you want the old "Improved Mae'Var" component, it can be found in the /_debug/impmaevar.rar archive; just extract the files into the override.
  • Also, added a few banters, and tweaked (reduced) the environnemental chat in the tavern front of the guild. Some other minor changes.


Version 2.13  (July 26, 2006): Some significant changes
  • After much deliberation and some discussion, I've decided to remove the "Improved Mae'Var" component of the mod completely. If you want him, it is still out there in Westly Weimer's Tactics mod (in pretty much the same form as when I sent him off to Wes). Increasing the difficulty of the game is not part of this mod.
  • Another change is that you may now enter the Dock Barracks before the assault on the guild house. I had originally cut that area off until the assault to prevent some possible exploits, but I've decided that it doesn't matter. Besides, as SixOfSpades told me, it's nice to go in there and talk to the guards when you aren't on the quest. This mod is about expanding the content of the game, not removing access to content (no matter how thin that content may be).
  • The storefront is now a proper tavern, a real "front" for the illegal activities within. Rattell now has drinks for sale (I highly recommend tasting the Old Winyards wine, myself), and there are a few patrons inside getting drunk, as well as saucy tavern wench! Brannel (the guard who used to be outside the guild) is now located inside. He serves as a bouncer keeping people out of the back rooms.
  • Every half a ten-day the chance that your thieves will be arrested is recalculated, based on the difficulty of the tasks assigned to them. Previously I had carried over a scripting (quirk? error? inconsistency?) made by Bioware that allowed thieves to operate with impunity, no matter how outrageous your demands, as long as you didn't change their activities. Now there is always a chance each week that your thieves will be caught by the law, unless you assign them to be inactive (in which case they are doing nothing but cooling their heels, and so risk no chance of getting arrested).
  • On a more technical note, I've made further changes to the .tp2 and other files in the mod package. Most changes were made with an eye to improving "friendliness" with other mods. (Though *some* small amount of destructive patching remains in place in regards to the few NPCs and areas comprising the stronghold experience. This is a conscious decision on my part, as obviously changes within the guild are quite extensive and many are vital to the proper functioning of this mod.) However, unless you install another mod making changes to the actual guild and its NPCs, there should be no problems. (Note that this only makes sense as two mods trying to do similar things logically won't work together despite the virtues of WeiDU without some coordination between the mod makers.)
  • Also I've cleaned up quite a few of the .tra and .d files to make them easier to read, and the changes to them more apparent. Lastly this version has the usual tweaks and buglet fixes, etc., etc.


Version 2.12
  • Fixed a dumb .tp2 file mistake. Doh!


Version 2.11  (July 23, 2006)
  • Tweaked the stores, added some new dialogue.
  • Extensive mod and .tp2 file optimization.
  • In this version you must be a thief to get the guild. I didn't like the way I patched Renal's dialogue previously. So if you still want the guild and your character isn't a thief, you will have to use the NotThief custom PC script in the GBThfKp/_debug directory (at least for now).
  • Mae'var and his goons will not attempt to move toward invisible characters if they can no longer see anyone. Feel free to cheese them for an easy win, if you are into that sort of thing.


Version 2.10  (July 21, 2006)
  • Fixed a compatibility issue with the Amber mod (tested).
  • Also this may clear up any issues the mod may have had with later versions of TTD (untested).
  • Some associated tweaks that I doubt anyone but myself would notice.


Version 2.9  (July 20, 2006)
  • Disabled the "Random Encounters" and the "Remove Improved Mae'Var" components. The random encounters may return, but right now I find them to be too annoyingly frequent. As for Mae'var, I like his "improveness" and feel the component to remove him is unneeded.
  • Also some minor tweakage and buglet fixes:
    • Fixed a problem with the area outside of the orc being flagged as a random encounter (no save) area.
    • Tweaked a few lines of dialogue.
    • Removed some extra gem, etc. bags from the stronghold.
    • Fixed the infamous "noblewoman 4" buglet.
    • A few other, very minor, changes.


Version 2.8  (Unknown)
  • Fixed a minor translation error (missing string with the new 'remove improved Mae'Var' component. Thanks again Dyara! (I translated the Spanish entry myself, and it probably shows.


Version 2.7  (Unknown)
  • New install-time option to disable the 'Improved Mae'Var' component of this mod.


Version 2.6  (Unknown)
  • Fixed minor compatibility issue with the Kelsey mod.
  • Made note that Renal will offer the guild to any class, not just thieves.
  • Very minor and long over-due fixes to this file. It's still ugly though.


Version 2.5  (Unknown)
  • Bug fixes (thanks Dyara and Sherman Wang).
  • Added Spanish translation (thanks Dufroise and Immortality of Clan DLAN).


Version 2.4  (July 1, 2002)
  • Minor changes.
  • Removed scripts (they're on my site if you want them).


Version 2.3  (Unknown)
  • German translation. Wow! Thanks a lot Dyara!
  • Fixed the readme.
  • Included the 'notthief' script.


Version 2.2  (Unknown)
  • Some minor tweaks, a few additions (don't want to spoil you).


Version 2.1  (Unknown)
  • Minor additions, scripting tweaks, NPC portraits, etc.


Version 2.0  (Unknown)
  • First WeiDU format release.
  • Minor additions.


Version 1.1  (Unknown)
  • Minor Bug fixes and additions.


Version 1.0  (Unknown)
  • Initial release.


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