Cowled Menace v2.1.0

Changelog

• Added around 150 lines of possible interjections for vanilla NPC's throughout the quest. Every companion has at least 1 line (including Wilson!), although Korgan, Edwin, and Jaheira are the most represented.
• Reworked some of the dialogue at the same time, added new options and replies.
• Restored the original extended ending dialogue. Not sure why I cut it in the first place. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• The real Zallanora now has a simulacrum in the last wave of the Cowled Wizards in the form of the vanilla CRE file, re-purposed. This was added for better compatibility with other mods since the changes in v2.0.0, and also because it's cool as hell (thanks to jastey for the idea). The fight will now be harder as a result. The same is true for the Umar Hills Twisted Rune enclave when certain conditions are met.
• Further improved the rewards of the new Twisted Rune Enclave (added a powerful new helmet for divine spellcasters).
• Buffed the items received in the final encounter.
• Encounters in general begin faster, to give you less time to cheese them. And they're harder. The final encounter is now instantaneous so it's harder to cheese. It is still possible. It is always possible to cheese in this game. But at least now you can't kill one actor before all others join in (thanks to rubyFeedback).
• Fixed some continuity errors.
• Minor script fixes.
• Minor bug fixes.
• Fixed various typos, thanks to visionok.
• Cleaned the code.
• Some minor modifications to the 2nd component, "Appropriate Items for High-Level Spellcasters". One spellcaster from ToB has been added to the list. The readme has been updated with a list of all affected spellcasters in the game. Additionally, the appropriate XP rewards for Cowled Wizard fix from the main component has also been added to that optional component, which has been renamed to "Appropriate Rewards for High-Level Spellcasters" since it now includes xp as well (cowled wizards only). That's in case you want only that upgrade and not the full Cowled Menace mod.
• Transferred the last 2 optional components over to my Tweaks mod. They were a bit random and there was no link between Cowled Menace and these components, and they are best used in a separate tweaks mod encompassing all my optional tweaks to the game. Suffice to say, I invite you to check out my Tweaks mod as they could be of interest to you.

Cowled Menace v2.0.3

Changelog

• Fixed a bug where the mod's villain would appear again even after getting killed under a specific, uncommon set of circumstances (thanks to rubyFeedback).
• You are now required to clear all Twisted Rune enclaves before being able to reach the quest's conclusion, for continuity purposes.
• Fixed a minor missing visual effect in the final cutscene.
• Slightly extended the ambush timer making generic Rune ambushes a bit less frequent.
• Returning from the new enclave will return you back outside of the position going in (to prevent unwanted teleportation).
• Fixed typos.
• Updated the readme to include steps for SCS Insane players on how to add HLA's to this mod's spellcasters.

Cowled Menace v2.0.2

Changelog

• Fixed a jarring dialogue jump in the ally's first meeting in the Enclave caused by a bad trigger
• Simplified Chinese translation updated to v2
• Polish translation updated to v2

Cowled Menace v2.0.1

Changelog

• Fixed the optional component "Use pre-EE Spell Deflection Globe (EE only)". It's now working properly.

Cowled Menace v2.0.0

2.0.0 -- Major Update

• Ported the mod to BG2EE (specifically Shadows of Amn). I have tested it and it is still compatible with the Enhanced Edition Trilogy (during the SoA portion), but it doesn't require EET anymore. As such, the content that was in Amkethran previously is now found in late Shadows of Amn. Same for the content that was in BG1, which has been transferred to locations in SoA. Follow in-game clues/letters/journal entries to find them! And lastly, obviously, the ending of the quest no longer happens in the Pocket Plane, as that's exclusive to Throne of Bhaal. The entirety of the questline is self-contained in SoA now.
• All of the quest dialogue, journals, letters, scripts, locations, etc., have been adjusted to account for these changes.
• Added many more Twisted Rune encounters and better integration with vanilla questlines to try and build further upon the dropped threads for the Twisted Rune left by the original BG2 developers. Completing vanilla quests regarding the Rune will wake them up. You'll feel it more if you piss them off now. You might even regret it.
• Vastly upgraded the rewards of the evil ending (they were almost nonexistent, an oversight).
• Major edits to the dialogue and scripts to add more lines, give players more choices, and improve the writing. Fixed broken triggers in some dialogue as well as missing lines, opening up more options.
• My mod is now finally compatible with mods such as Unofficial Item Pack due to a change in the way the mod operates. I no longer rely on MAGE18Z, which is a vanilla NPC, for anything, improving compatibility enormously. It is now highly, highly unlikely that another mod breaks mine, it would have to do some pretty crazy wide-ranging edits, like SCS does. SCS is unaffected by this change, however. Although it does edit my NPCs (and I want it to and properly arrange for it), SCS has never broken my mod, neither before, nor now, because my mod was made with SCS overwriting it after in mind.
• Fixed a dead-end scenario where you could no longer progress the quest if certain conditions were met (it was linked with paying Corneil for the spellcasting licence in Athkatla at the wrong time). Now you can (normally) never get stuck. Hopefully.
• I have tried to account for as many fringe scenarios as possible.
• It's not much but the difficulty slider now has a small impact on which spawns can happen at one point.
• Made small revisions so the mod is as lore-accurate as possible.
• Better reward in the new Enclave.
• Cleaned up unused assets/scripts and fixed various minor bugs.
• Added a French translation for 2.0.0. Removed Russian, schinese, polish, and italian translations while I wait for updates. Will update as/if they come in.

I consider this port to BG2EE to be the definitive version of the mod. Even if you are playing through the Enhanced Edition Trilogy, I would strongly recommend using this version instead. The content is better written, more streamlined and polished, there is more of it, and it has just superior implementation. The old EET version 1.0.4 was rough. The mod wasn't properly finished to be honest. It remains available for those who want to use it though, as it still works.

Cowled Menace v1.0.4

Changelog

• Fixed typos in simplified Chinese translation (credits to Lewis Liu)
• Added Italian translation (threetimesdavey)
• Added polish translation (by my_summertime, SoM Membress, part of CoB Clan)

This is planned to be the last release of Cowled Menace specifically for EET, as I am currently working to port the mod for BG2EE

Cowled Menace v1.0.3

Changelog

• Added simplified Chinese translation (credits to Lewis Liu)

Cowled Menace v1.0.2

Changelog

• Fixed the player being stuck in the Pocket Plane at the end of the quest by automatically leaving the plane and going back to where you were. (if you want to go back to the Pocket Plane, feel free to do so) + added Russian translation for that part

Cowled Menace v1.0.1

Changelog

• Added Russian translation
• Fixed Servant of Khartak's level so that it isn't vulnerable to low level Turn Undead anymore.

Cowled Menace v1.0.0

Changelog

• Fixed Baldur's Gate Twisted Rune encounter not switching to enemy status in certain cheese situations where dialog couldn't happen. Fixed the same encounter not having any dialog in the beginning with SCS installed.
• Fixed a bug where you could endlessly repeat the last part of the quest to get massive amounts of experience when certain conditions were met.
• Evil players should have a proper (although still only partially satisfying) conclusion to the quest now.
• Improved Twisted Rune AI slightly compared to vanilla (they won't wait around in corner)
• Fixed a bug with the Twisted Rune ambush in the Guarded Compound not happening all the time. (If you have cleared the Twisted Rune enclave, they're still not gonna show though, that's intended)
• Fixed various weird behaviors with map region triggers.