http://www.shsforums.net/files/file/1135-disable-enhanced-edition-npcs/

I do not know if this mod by Argent77 was posted before so I am posting it for people who are looking for something like this.

This is for people who enjoy the technical enhancements of the Enhanced editions of Baldur's Gate 1&2 but would like an unadulterated version. The mod can remove those new companions which Beamdog should have released as a seperate DLC but decided to make a permanent part of an already established story which they did not write. Now you can live without them.

On a similar note, this mod restores the original movies to BG1:EE.

http://www.shsforums.net/topic/55573-mod-bgee-classic-movies/

That isn't the biggest problem with the game, imo.

Beamdog ruined the balance of both BG and IWD by putting them into the BG2 engine, with no thought given to game balance. Take for example:

https://lilura1.blogspot.com/2017/08/Baldurs-Gate-2-Changes-and-Additions.html
and
https://lilura1.blogspot.com/2016/12/Icewind-Dale-Enhanced-Edition-Review.html

You can't mod that crap out. Thus, the originals are the way to go. Want more features: mod them as you like. At least you have more control of your experience this way.

That is true. I am just afraid that support for the originals will wane now that the Enhaced Editions are out. I hope GOG and the community of modders keeps supporting the originals.

GOG has already abandoned the originals to Beamdog. Beamdog are comprised of a percentage of old school modders. There is little future to be seen for the originals, only stagnation, Beamdog have seen to that.

Still, the "stagnated" originals are a better experience than those silly EEs.

repost

Thank you so much for this mod. Those fan-fiction level new companions should have been optional DLCs in the first place.