I believe I have actually found the solution to my problem, the reason for lost characters was patching it despite having the latest patch on the cds. Now after reinstalling and applying both widescreen and bg1tweaks I can enjoy the game as it was. :)

Of course, thanks for that!

I want to add that Item Randomiser works with vanilla BG1 if you select Mode 2.

This mod is only good if you completed the game many times and you know by heart the location of every magical item, so this offers a fresh experience each time you start a new game.

For those still wanting to try Dudley fixes (and tweaks, which is the single close to a Spell Revisions mod for vanilla BG1), I think I found the fix for Ulgoth Beard not being accessible if you follow the instructions provided on dudley page.

If you look here he says: "I have reinstated the option to travel to Ulgoth's Beard from behond Tenya's hut which was erroneously removed in an earlier fix."

The problem is that the FixPacks 1 from this page does not contain the latest version of fixes. If you download the separate Areas Fixpacks from the same page you will note that the file for AR0900 is newer than in the complete FixPack. So after extracting the fixpack you should download all the separate fixpacks (which are the latest versions of fixes) and overwrite those from the fixpack.

Loaded the Vanilla with the Conservative Guide to Upgrades.
All works except the Wide Screen. For what ever reason, doesn't work.
Though I know it is many years since these mods were done,
still wanted to state how impressive the upgrades so far have been.
Can't imagine how much time went into it, but the work is nothing but top notch and appreciated.

Two additions I think should be in the first-page:

Thalantyr ITEM UPGRADE https://github.com/CrevsDaak/thalan/releases
https://github.com/CrevsDaak/thalan/blob/master/thalan/readme.txt


Baldur's Gate Romantic Encounters Modification (BG1RE) http://www.gibberlings3.net/bg_romanticencounters/
http://www.gibberlings3.net/readmes/bg1re.readme.english.txt

- - -

Is the original poster around? Perhaps they can be convinced to add them to the first post?

Tried that. Started a halfling F/T. Got assfucked by Hull. Deleted the savegame. Uninstalled.

You're supposed to treat these things as a learning experience. You could have thought of yourself as Dornish...

I'm not a fan of heavily modding a game, especially BG1, for which I was only using very conservative additions such as UB and some Tweaks, but I have tried Fields of the Dead mod (1.07 is the last version for vanilla BG1, after which unfortunately became BGT, BG:EE only) and I must say I am impressed. It is the equivalent of SCS for BG1.

This is a worthy guide, but I would not recommend anything in excess of the Widescreen Mod, GUI Mod, and Baldurdash fixes for first-time players.

Yep, doesn't seem conservative at all. Anyway, I'm a first-timer and only the Baldurdash mods seem worthwhile. Is there a possiblity to get the text fixes without those extra hints? I really am not interested in those.

Anyone got a link for the GUI mod?

This is the TWM_GUI for BG1
https://www.gamepressure.com/download.asp?ID=42655

And this is a more modern GUI mod For BG1 (I haven't tried this one)
http://www.shsforums.net/files/file/1146-baldurs-gate-1-2-widescreen-hd-gui-in-1280-x-720/

Thanks olnorton!

I cant get field of the dead to work, keep on getting a no directory error