I've posted a list of my personal recommended mods in the comments below, if you're not sure where to start.

How to install mods:

1. Your Switch must be hacked, you must have BGEE on PC, and your Switch copy of BG must be on the latest update.
2. Download and install the homebrew NXDumpTool from here: https://github.com/DarkMatterCore/nxdumptool/releases
3. Open NXDumpTool via the Homebrew Menu. Select "Dump SD card / eMMC content" and navigate to BG. Select "RomFS options".
4. On the following screen, scroll down to "Use update / DLC" and press RIGHT to select v131072 (if you have a later update, that's fine, just as long as you have v131072 or higher), as seen in this screenshot.
5. With v131072 STILL selected, select "Browse RomFS section". Depending if you're modding BG1 or 2, select BGEE_SOD for BG1 or BGIIEE for BG2. For this tutorial, I'll be using BG2. screenshot
6. Navigate to the "lang" folder and select the language you'll be playing the game in; for this tutorial, I'll be using American English, as seen here.
7. Inside that folder is a file called "dialog.tlk". Select it and press A to extract a copy to your Switch. screenshot 1, screenshot 2
8. Also grab the file "PATCH26.BIF" from the "data" folder and the file "chitin.key" from the root.
9. Copy dialog.tlk, PATCH26.BIF, and chitin.key to your computer by plugging the SD card in or using an FTP program. The file is in switch\nxdumptool\RomFS.
10. Make a clean install of the game you're going to mod on your computer (I've not tested this on IWD or PST, but it should work with them also).
11. When it's done installing, go to the clean install's root folder, go to the "lang" folder, and select your language (e.g., en_US). Delete or rename the dialog.tlk file there, then move the dialog.tlk file you extracted from the Switch to that folder.
12. Copy PATCH26.BIF to the clean install's "data" folder, and chitin.key to the root folder (overwrite the chitin.key file that's already there).
13. After copying the Switch's three files, install all the mods you want to your clean install. The reason we had to copy these files over is because the game text is different between versions, and this lets us mod the Switch port's text directly, making it compatible with mods.
14. After you're done installing mods, go to your Switch's SD card. Enter the folder of the CFW you're using; for this tutorial; I'll be using Atmosphere.
15. Enable LayeredFS on your CFW if it isn't already (Atmosphere has this enabled by default).
16. In your atmosphere folder (or whatever your CFW is), find the "titles" folder. Inside "titles", make a new folder and name it "010010A00DA48000" (the game ID of BG on Switch).
17. Inside the new "010010A00DA48000" folder, make another folder called "romfs". Inside "romfs", make another folder called "BGIIEE" if you're modding BG2, OR "BGEE_SOD" if you're modding BG1.
18. Copy your "override" and "lang" folders from your PC install into the BGIIEE folder (or BGEE_SOD if you're modding BG1) on your Switch.
19. You're done! If you want to save some space, you can delete the other language folders in "lang" (just don't forget to leave your language's folder there).

How to import custom portraits:

Overwrite some of the game's default portraits (which aren't used by NPCs) with your custom portrait.

For male characters, rename your portrait files to "MAN2(L/M/S).bmp" and place them in the override folder.

For female characters, rename your portrait files to "WOMAN2(L/M/S).bmp" and place them in the override folder.

The format and size you need to put your custom portrait in can be found in this thread: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussi...raits-bg1-bg-ee-bg2-bg2-ee-iwd-iwd-ee-iwd2/p1

If you wish, the same method can be used to support custom soundsets: give your soundset the same filename as a default soundset (again, one not used by NPCs) and put it in your override folder.


How to import saves:

Install the homebrew Checkpoint from here: https://github.com/FlagBrew/Checkpoint/releases

On Switch, start a new game, and as soon as you have control, save the game. Title it something like "dummy". Quit out of the game once the gear icon in the top left has stopped spinning.

Launch Checkpoint from the homebrew menu, select BG, and then hit L to backup all the saves.

Plug your SD card into your computer or connect via FTP and go to switch\Checkpoint\saves and open the BG folder there.

Inside, you should see a folder named after the date at which you made your save and your Switch profile name, e.g. "20191101-210018 Cirosan".

On PC, go to C:\Users[your name]\Documents\Baldur's Gate (II) - Enhanced Edition\save and open the folder of the save you wish to import. Copy BALDUR.bmp, BALDUR.gam, and BALDUR.SAV from this folder into the Checkpoint folder, overwriting the dummy files you made.

Back on the Switch, open Checkpoint again, select BG, and then hit R to restore the save. Open BG and load the dummy save. It will take a minute to load due to the portrait files being mismatched; this is normal, just wait for a bit. Your save has now been carried over, and once you save again on the Switch, the portrait mismatch will be automatically fixed and the long load time will be gone.


How to edit Baldur.lua:

If you haven't already, install the homebrew Checkpoint from here: https://github.com/FlagBrew/Checkpoint/releases

On Switch, launch Checkpoint from the homebrew menu, select BG, and then hit L to backup all the saves.

Plug your SD card into your computer or connect via FTP and go to switch\Checkpoint\saves and open the BG folder there.

Inside, you should see a folder named after the date at which you made your save and your Switch profile name, e.g. "20191101-210018 Cirosan".

Opening that folder, inside you should see a number of folders as well as two files: "args.lua" and "Baldur.lua" screenshot

On PC, open Baldur.lua with a text editor and make all the changes you wish, then save it.

Back on the Switch, open Checkpoint again, select BG, select the same folder with Baldur.lua in it that you just edited, and then hit R to restore the save. None of your save files will be altered in any way; Checkpoint is just overwriting the default Baldur.lua with your new, custom one. You can now play with your changed .lua settings!


Have fun!
Ciro

 

[Cirosan]

Mods I recommend, friendly for first-time players and people on a replay. The order I list these mods in is also the order you should install them in! No further research on your part is necessary; just google their names for the link if I don't include a specific link.

Ascension - Absolute must have. Revamps the lackluster final battle of the series into a grand showdown, and it was made by one of the original BG2 narrative designers to boot. Make sure you get the EE-updated one from here: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/75640/ascension-v2-0/p1

BG2 Fixpack - solely for the Wizard Slayer ranged attacks tweak. Otherwise a whole class is near-useless.

Pocket Plane Banter Pack & IEP Banter Pack - more inter-party member dialogue, all of it well-written and fitting the tone and style of the game.

Unfinished Business EXCEPT FOR THE COMPONENTS "The Suna Seni/Valygar Relationship Restoration" AND "Sarevok's Remorse" - restores cut content to BG2 and a bunch of neat quests. Except for the two I mentioned which are hot garbage, and also the Suna Seni one is currently bugged. You're asked to install each one individually so make like the DARE program and just say no to those two.

Almateria's Restorations - same as above, restores lots of cut content. DON'T INSTALL THE FINAL SLAYER DREAM; I haven't tried it yet but what I see doesn't make me hopeful. Again though you're asked to install each part individually.

SimDing0's Quest Pack - adds a bunch of options to resolve quests that really, really should've been in the game to begin with. Also revises a late-game morality trial to make sense for neutral-aligned characters (in vanilla, there's only a good and evil option and neutral characters have to pick good to stay neutral or they'll become evil; the mod adds a third path for neutral). It also comes with some AI stuff and creature stuff which I can't comment on. My advice: skip the "General AI Improvements" and "Creature & Area Improvements" but install everything else.

Turnabout - An absolute must-have, to the point where I personally took over maintaining it after the original authors vanished from the internet. It's another mod that helps make ToB not as disappointing and ho-hum (a lot of my mod recommendations do this, huh? yeah, that final expansion was really low-effort on the part of the narrative designers). In short, without any spoilers: The final boss of the series has the power to bring back all the enemies you've fought over the course of the series and have you fight them all over again, even the villains who were established to have their souls be completely destroyed (see what I mean about the narrative designers not caring?). In vanilla, it comes off as a cheap, lore-breaking way to pad out the final battle. This mod turns that concept on its head and just asks one question: "If the final boss can bring anyone back to life, and you have the same powers as them, why can't you do the same?" That's right, this genius mod lets the player bring back some of the NPCs who forcibly died as part of the plot to help you in the final battle - and even allows you to resurrect one of them permanently, giving them a brand-new epilogue along with all the canon party members that explains what they did with their newly-restored life. Reunite with lost loved ones! Forgive (or take horrible vengeance upon) those who betrayed you! Struggle with the choice of who out of everyone you've lost gets to come back for good! Every familiar face returns for a giant, explosive final battle that - in conjunction with Ascension and Wheels of Prophecy, below - finally makes ToB into a satisfying ending to the series. The writing is spot-on and it gives closure to a lot of forgotten NPCs, plus just having your own army of fallen friends to fight the final boss' army of fallen baddies is the kind of bombastic ending the series should've had to begin with. Please note: this is not self-promotion because I came along literally 14 years later to fix bugs; I was not behind any of the design or writing. Here's the thread for my updated version: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/77311/turnabout-ee-updated-to-1-2

Wheels of Prophecy - another one of my absolute must-haves. Dear God, cannot recommend highly enough. The finale of BG, the Throne of Bhaal expansion pack, was very lazy and phoned in. It assumed the player character was an idiot and you spend 95% of it working with an NPC that is clearly behind everything and going to betray you. Spoiler: they do and they're the series' final boss! Just terrible writing. No subtlety, everyone with half a brain sees it coming from miles away. This mod rewrites things so that you do not have to keep working with Notsuspect McWontbetrayyou for 95% of the thing and call them on their bullshit and foil a good bit of their plans. Incorporates elements from Ascension, above, and best used in combination with it and Turnabout.

Homeward Bound - at two points in the game you're locked into a point of no return, which would be fine except for, at those places of no return, you get party members that you can only recruit then and there (well you can grab them later but not without consequences). If this is your first playthrough, you'd have no idea this was coming and no way to get around it. This mod fixes that by letting you send people home from those points of no return without consequence. Again, something that really, really should've been in the game to begin with.

Tweaks Anthology - If it's your first playthrough I'd advise sticking to the convenience tweaks and maybe the XP cap remover.

IF AND ONLY IF YOU'VE PLAYED BG1&2 BEFORE:
NPC_EE - lets you give any of the NPCs a kit (basically a subclass that does very specific things) and even change the class of some of them entirely. Perfect for adding more replay value! Grab the latest github release: https://github.com/UnearthedArcana/NPC_EE

 

[lordelan]

Great, thanks for the tutorial!

 

[Maximilious]

Wow, amazing work and thanks for this. I haven't gotten these yet but this looks like a lot of fun to play around with, especially since you got it working on the Switch versions! Last time I played BG1/2 and NWN was late 90's early 2000's, but have never forgotten the experience of playing them.

 

[Swampy3]

Hi, i know im 3 years late lol, but is it mandatory to replace the portraits? cant i just add new ones?

 

[GloriousCheese]

Hi, i know im 3 years late lol, but is it mandatory to replace the portraits? cant i just add new ones?

Don't think it's possible to add on new ones, as there is no "Documents" folder on the Switch. Normally on PC there's a "portraits" folder within the save folder for adding custom portraits.

 

[GloriousCheese]

Mods I recommend, friendly for first-time players and people on a replay. The order I list these mods in is also the order you should install them in! No further research on your part is necessary; just google their names for the link if I don't include a specific link.

Ascension - Absolute must have. Revamps the lackluster final battle of the series into a grand showdown, and it was made by one of the original BG2 narrative designers to boot. Make sure you get the EE-updated one from here: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/75640/ascension-v2-0/p1

BG2 Fixpack - solely for the Wizard Slayer ranged attacks tweak. Otherwise a whole class is near-useless.

Pocket Plane Banter Pack & IEP Banter Pack - more inter-party member dialogue, all of it well-written and fitting the tone and style of the game.

Unfinished Business EXCEPT FOR THE COMPONENTS "The Suna Seni/Valygar Relationship Restoration" AND "Sarevok's Remorse" - restores cut content to BG2 and a bunch of neat quests. Except for the two I mentioned which are hot garbage, and also the Suna Seni one is currently bugged. You're asked to install each one individually so make like the DARE program and just say no to those two.

Almateria's Restorations - same as above, restores lots of cut content. DON'T INSTALL THE FINAL SLAYER DREAM; I haven't tried it yet but what I see doesn't make me hopeful. Again though you're asked to install each part individually.

SimDing0's Quest Pack - adds a bunch of options to resolve quests that really, really should've been in the game to begin with. Also revises a late-game morality trial to make sense for neutral-aligned characters (in vanilla, there's only a good and evil option and neutral characters have to pick good to stay neutral or they'll become evil; the mod adds a third path for neutral). It also comes with some AI stuff and creature stuff which I can't comment on. My advice: skip the "General AI Improvements" and "Creature & Area Improvements" but install everything else.

Turnabout - An absolute must-have, to the point where I personally took over maintaining it after the original authors vanished from the internet. It's another mod that helps make ToB not as disappointing and ho-hum (a lot of my mod recommendations do this, huh? yeah, that final expansion was really low-effort on the part of the narrative designers). In short, without any spoilers: The final boss of the series has the power to bring back all the enemies you've fought over the course of the series and have you fight them all over again, even the villains who were established to have their souls be completely destroyed (see what I mean about the narrative designers not caring?). In vanilla, it comes off as a cheap, lore-breaking way to pad out the final battle. This mod turns that concept on its head and just asks one question: "If the final boss can bring anyone back to life, and you have the same powers as them, why can't you do the same?" That's right, this genius mod lets the player bring back some of the NPCs who forcibly died as part of the plot to help you in the final battle - and even allows you to resurrect one of them permanently, giving them a brand-new epilogue along with all the canon party members that explains what they did with their newly-restored life. Reunite with lost loved ones! Forgive (or take horrible vengeance upon) those who betrayed you! Struggle with the choice of who out of everyone you've lost gets to come back for good! Every familiar face returns for a giant, explosive final battle that - in conjunction with Ascension and Wheels of Prophecy, below - finally makes ToB into a satisfying ending to the series. The writing is spot-on and it gives closure to a lot of forgotten NPCs, plus just having your own army of fallen friends to fight the final boss' army of fallen baddies is the kind of bombastic ending the series should've had to begin with. Please note: this is not self-promotion because I came along literally 14 years later to fix bugs; I was not behind any of the design or writing. Here's the thread for my updated version: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/77311/turnabout-ee-updated-to-1-2

Wheels of Prophecy - another one of my absolute must-haves. Dear God, cannot recommend highly enough. The finale of BG, the Throne of Bhaal expansion pack, was very lazy and phoned in. It assumed the player character was an idiot and you spend 95% of it working with an NPC that is clearly behind everything and going to betray you. Spoiler: they do and they're the series' final boss! Just terrible writing. No subtlety, everyone with half a brain sees it coming from miles away. This mod rewrites things so that you do not have to keep working with Notsuspect McWontbetrayyou for 95% of the thing and call them on their bullshit and foil a good bit of their plans. Incorporates elements from Ascension, above, and best used in combination with it and Turnabout.

Homeward Bound - at two points in the game you're locked into a point of no return, which would be fine except for, at those places of no return, you get party members that you can only recruit then and there (well you can grab them later but not without consequences). If this is your first playthrough, you'd have no idea this was coming and no way to get around it. This mod fixes that by letting you send people home from those points of no return without consequence. Again, something that really, really should've been in the game to begin with.

Tweaks Anthology - If it's your first playthrough I'd advise sticking to the convenience tweaks and maybe the XP cap remover.

IF AND ONLY IF YOU'VE PLAYED BG1&2 BEFORE:
NPC_EE - lets you give any of the NPCs a kit (basically a subclass that does very specific things) and even change the class of some of them entirely. Perfect for adding more replay value! Grab the latest github release: https://github.com/UnearthedArcana/NPC_EE

Tried using the files from Switch, and when trying to install Unfinished Business it says that the 'chitin.key' file is missing a resource.

ERROR locating resource for 'APPEND'
Resource [STATE.IDS] not found in KEY file:
[./chitin.key]
Stopping installation because of error.

 

[Stellar]

I had success with my particular set of mod installations, but I was wondering if it was feasible to try and go for a big world mod like EET? I would think the biggest hurdle is the new main menus made for the Switch.