I was just wondering if anyone ever uses the ToB BETA Patch '26499'. Does it fix anything other than the slow save/load times? It's over 4MB in size, so I would assume it fixes *something* other than the slowness. :confused:

Also, if I have over a dozen mods (14 to be exact) installed, will it affect the game in a negative way if I install this beta patch later on in the game if I start to have slow save/load times? Or should I install it right after the Official ToB patch...just in case.

Thanks! :rolling:

No, I don't use that patch, because I've never had slow save/load times. And I don't think that problem's likely to spontaneously crop up in any fashion that would be solved by the patch. Either you'll need it right away or you won't.

Actually, I've noticed in past games that it takes longer and longer to save/load as the game progressed. I always figured it was because the game had more info to save/load each time... :confused: :rolling:

Well, I think the patch is for save/load times of around a minute or so. It is true that the game does have more to load as you progress through the game, though, and you're rather shrewd for noticing that.

Also, if I have over a dozen mods (14 to be exact) installed, will it affect the game in a negative way if I install this beta patch later on in the game if I start to have slow save/load times? Or should I install it right after the Official ToB patch...just in case.There's a good chance that things will mess up if you apply this (or any) patch after having installed a mod (let alone 14).
You need a clean instal for that, I'm affraid. I don't know what this particular patch introduces, aside from what's in the latest stable patch version, but I wouldn't take any chances ;) . Furthermore it will most likely override any dialouge content introduced in the mods you've got installed (unless it only fixes the load/save problems, and doesn't touch anything else :hmm: ).

Yes, load times increase as the game has to save more data as you progress. (Each time you visit a new area it gets added to the save along with everything in it, for example.)

It probably takes 4MB for the patch to break spawning so successfully. (This is allegedly its other effect.)

I use it. As previously mentioned, the save/load times can be slow because of increased data. I noticed it more with too many save slots (20+). Once I determined it was the excessive number of saves slowing me down, I keep them down to around 15 max.

15 save slots? Wow. The most I've ever had was 5. Usually, I only have 3.

Auto save, quick save and leveling up? ;)

I save according to the districts. Meh. I have this patch because it's the current one, reguardless of its betaness.

Why would you want to save before levelling up?

Actually, I don't save before levelling up. I just install the maximum HP for all creatures in the game and Full HP at level up components from G3 tweaks. The third save slot is just there in case one of the other saves gets corrupted.

Some people don't have the mods for max hp and auto memorize spells to spell book. For the occasional mistake of allocating proficiencies or thief skills wrongly.

Meh, I have 3-4 save slots, plus one occasional quick save and auto-save. I also now have final battle saves of my two previous games, both in SoA (just before putting the last tear to unleash improved JonBon) and ToB (just before deactivating final pool to face Ascension battle!)

And if I feel like I have put a w proficiency or thief skill wrongly, I generally use SK. Less headache then.

So do your characters actually roll their HP when they level up, Kuemper? I may try that too in the future for extra challenge, and more original AD&D feeling!

With Core rules, they do.

Then do you load a save before level up, say, when your big bad fighter rolls a 1? Or accept it as it is and have 40-50 HP fighters? Just curious.

I don't consider what I do to be "cheating" since, with the mods I use, literally every creature has it's maximum theoretical HP total.

So do your characters actually roll their HP when they level up, Kuemper? I may try that too in the future for extra challenge, and more original AD&D feeling!That really doesn't happen much in BG2. After level 9, fighter types get 3 hit points per level and mages get 1. They do not roll after that point.