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Mod version used for review: 2.0

This is a small mod that adds a lot to the game. Available for BG:EE and EET, the goal of this mod is to give more impact to the significant scene at Boareskyr Bridge in Siege of Dragonspear through descriptive text, NPC reactions, and some control over the outcome of the situation.

In the original scene, the Hooded Man states that this was an important step in the Bhaalspawn’s growth of power, but we don’t really see that narratively nor mechanically. The mod is broken up into four installable components.

Part 1: NPC Reactions

The reactions from your party members and the Flaming Fist entourage are all really well written and are a seriously welcome inclusion into the game. When you first encounter Jaheira, she warns you that crossing the bridge may be something of a bad omen for you and could possibly endanger those around you. Bence Duncan and Corwin want you to remain hidden when crossing the bridge due to not wanting to exacerbate the rumours of your heritage.

These warnings are well deserved, because we know what happens when you do cross the bridge. After the fact, the officers in the Coalition Camp will comment on the situation once again.

Part 2: Add Description Text to Scene at Bridge

This part changes the cutscene slightly, drawing upon the style of BG2’s descriptive text used during the Slayer transformation and in the Tree of Life. It fits perfectly in this situation and all the text is intricately written as to fit the game’s style.

Part 3: Bridge Scene has different choices

This third component adds three choices after the cutscene plays. These choices vaguely boil down to good, neutral, and evil choices. All the characters react in appropriate ways for each of these choices.

Part 4: Add stat changes to the choices

This is probably the most optional choice here, since it only really affects one ability score. However, it’s a really nice touch to give more weight to which choice you pick.

The “good” choice will give +1 Wisdom.

The “neutral” choice will give +1 Dexterity.

The “evil” choice will give +1 Constitution.

This is one mod that I consider absolutely essential to any playthrough including Siege of Dragonspear. I think that any new players to the series should have it downloaded for their first playthrough – it really just improves the scene in every single way and I can barely say a negative thing about it, save that it could benefit from a defter editing hand.

Thanks for reading.