ABOUT THE SMOLDERING MODS BAR

The Smoldering Mods Bar is the website that you are on. It is dedicated to fan-made content for the Infinity Engine games developed by BioWare, Black Isle, and Beamdog. It is run by Llewren, a writer and modder. The Bar features in-depth reviews for mods both old and new, as well as official information and links for mods brewed behind our doors.

About The Reviews

There is a wealth of fan-made content available online for Baldur’s Gate, and the very best of it can eclipse content from the original games, while the worst of it can rival the deepest dregs of quality. I’m here to wade through the sea so that others don’t have to.

A majority of the mods that I praise are ones that match the style of the games, seeking to bring something new to the table while remaining wary of straying too far from the game’s design philosophy. Immersion is a rather fragile veil, and one that is easily torn.

I do this for fun; I love writing, and I love this community. It’s okay if you disagree with me — I am not the leading authority on what classifies as “good art” or “bad art”, I am just here to provide a consistent, level-headed opinion.

Opinions expressed within my reviews do not reflect my opinion on the creators involved unless explicitly stated otherwise. Please do not harass anyone mentioned.

About My Mods

I make my own mods! You’ll be able to find them linked on this website, on the Beamdog Forums, or on Github.

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6 responses to “ABOUT THE SMOLDERING MODS BAR”

  1. Alex avatar
    Alex

    I’m taking my first steps towards creating a mod of my own. Great to read through your reviews- what to do and what not to do.

    One question- what are your thoughts on closed parentheticals to describe things? I can see it come through in your reviews from time to time. Am I right in assuming that you don’t like them?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Haze avatar
      Haze

      Personally, I’m not a fan of them. I understand that many writers use them to more accurately detail actions, but it’s my belief that if your writing is compelling enough, you can insinuate actions and emotions through dialogue alone. It’s more keeping with the original style of the games that way, and thus more immersive, which is something I praise in my reviews.

      Not to say that I’m CORRECT, but it’s purely preference. As always, my reviews are just my opinion as a player 🙂

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  2. Tempest avatar
    Tempest

    Never have I wanted to skip forward in time more than to read your next reviews. We need to sit you down in a Pocket Plane, where time stands still and just let you play through (almost) every mod for our great game.

    Keep it up, love your work. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Haze avatar
      Haze

      This is genuinely one of the nicest things I’ve read. Thank you so much for reading ❤

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  3. smallish avatar
    smallish

    My friend directed me to your reviews and I immediately read every single one of them. I’m absolutely smitten with the way you discuss mods–everything from the writing, to the gameplay, to the art and sound! I’ve definitely added (and removed!) a few to my to-play list. Looking forward to your next post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Llewren avatar
      Llewren

      Thank you so much! Always happy to hear when people came here via word of mouth.

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