First play-through, must have mods?

[streamuser]

Got the game on a recent sale and wanted to know - are there any must have mods for a first play through? Or any that are highly recommended (like the skip time one in Kingmaker?)

Thanks!

[zombygunner]

i would use mods because several quests dont work like ceremonial daggers its broken ive asked for help about it but this community is very slow to answer most of the time. so i dont use mods but from what ive read online it couldnt hurt

[Schlumpsha]

Unity Mod Manager, ModMenu[github.com] and TabletopTweaks[github.com] (base and core) are cornerstone requirements for a wide variety of mods for this game. I also highly recommend ModFinder[github.com] as a handy tool for finding, installing and updating mods with the press of a button.

[Super Cosmic Space Magnet]

I disagree with Schlumpsha. Unity Mod Manager is necessary if you want to install other mods, that much is true, but aside from character art packs (which debatably aren't even mods, as much as a feature the custom creator thingy allows) I wouldn't call any mod essential. Toybox is a wonderful cheat engine type thing with all the usage you'd expect, including the ability to fix bugs/restore lost items etc, but I don't really like playing with the temptation of a godmode button being just a click away. If you run into a horrible bug that breaks your campaign then go for it, but otherwise naaah. The game is amazing unmodded.

[Max Kojote, M.SC]

It's not a must have, but BubbleBuffs[www.nexusmods.com] is wonderful quality of life in the later game when you have a bunch of go-to buffs to apply.

[SmallGespenst]

there's a lot of mods that can smooth out you experience and let you enjoy the game better, but you aren't going to know what you'd want from that on a first playthrough, so I'd suggest just trying the game vanilla first.

[Schlumpsha]

Originally posted by Super Cosmic Space Magnet:

I disagree with Schlumpsha. Unity Mod Manager is necessary if you want to install other mods, that much is true, but aside from character art packs (which debatably aren't even mods, as much as a feature the custom creator thingy allows) I wouldn't call any mod essential.

It is objectively true that many mod authors use TabletopTweaks and ModMenu as hard requirements to make their own mods work as intended. Microscopic Content Expansion, Mythic Arcanist, Tome Of The Firebird, Character Options+, Mystical Mayhem, Added Feats and the Medium Class mods being all cases in point.

If you don't plan using said mods you also won't be needing their requirements. That much is true. Still, the game is even more amazing modded in my opinion.

[darkholyPL]

Must have? No. I've made my first run with zero mods installed.
That said, I second Bubble Buffs. This will save you so much time buffing, as you will be buffing all. the. time. Get it to save your sanity.

[streamuser]

Great, thanks everyone!

[Zaemon]

I second BubbleBuffs too. For me it actually improved my experience an incredible amount, because I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to buffing and preparing boss fights or even normal fights. One click and every relevant melee char/animal has barkskin, shjeld of faith, mage armor, shield, remove fear, heroism, pure stat buffs like cat's grace/bulls STR, Death Ward (needed), delay poison (needed), maybe vestment, also magic weapon/greater, bless weapon/align weapon, enlarge/reduce person, auto buffs like mirror image, alchemist ♥♥♥♥, falcon and hurricane bow or longstrider... and much more. Then another different click for all rounds per second buffs like Haste, Imp. Invisibility, righteous might and more. My Bubble Buff has like 90 buffs in the "normal" click, and like 12 in the others. Every time I click, i save like 10 minutes no exaggeration.

ps. never forget crusader sword or whatever, awesome buff