Nostalgic Mod

This mod aims to preserve the original Gothic II feeling while adding a few quality-of-life improvements and additions, especially a full version of the Valley of the Mines.

It provides installation instructions here.

This mod is a nice experience, if you want a spruced-up version of the original game with some additional gameplay features. It focuses on quality of life changes and, most notably, on companions you can take with you everywhere. This can make the game a lot easier, if you so desire.

Manual Instructions

1. Install base game with patches as described here
2. (Optional) Install Ninja
3. (Optional) Install D3D11 Renderer (with DLL override)
4. Install Nostalgic mod (optionally with additional textures and dialog animations)
5. (Optional) Install functional mods you like
6. In Systempack.ini set InteractionCollision=0 and EnableShields=1
7. Start the game with $BASE_DIR/system/GothicStarter.exe

Since this mod already includes some of the features other mods give you, you don't need to add much. Personally, I added the Sprint mod (which needs PatchMenu) for more control over this and OrderedLogs. Sprinting is supposedly already included in the mod but I think it's not configurable so I added it myself. Quicklooting and quicksave slots are already included.

Finally, start the game and change the settings to your liking of which there are quite a few. Specifically the options around friendly focus and friendly fire are worth considering because this makes having companions much nicer. Enjoy!

Lutris Install Script

description: "Installer for Gothic II Gold with Nostalgic mod, D3D11 renderer activated and support for Ninja and Union mods"
game_slug: gothic-ii-gold-edition-nostalgic
gogslug: gothic_2_gold_edition
installer_slug: gothic2-gog
name: "Gothic II: Gold - Nostalgic Edition"
slug: gothic2-gog
gogid: 1207658718
version: GOG
year: 2003
notes:
  "Hassle free installer of Gothic II GOG version with Nostalgic mod. Click \"Continue\" button in\
  \ any pop-up during the installation. Please be patient, some steps take time to\
  \ execute."
runner: wine
script:
  files:
    - setup: N/A:Select the GOG game setup file
    - nostalgic:
        filename: NostalgicEdition-3.2.0.exe
        url: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/public.php/dav/files/5tgBmqqRc7a447t/?accept=zip
    - textures:
        filename: "TexturePack Artemiano Gothic II - Nostalgic Edition.vdf"
        url: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/public.php/dav/files/eSzZCtiWwEaHYQQ/?accept=zip
    - animations:
        filename: Standanimation.vdf
        url: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/public.php/dav/files/LXatY9n3Nq5fydH/?accept=zip
    - report_version:
        filename: gothic2_fix.exe
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=833
    - playerkit:
        filename: gothic2_playerkit.exe
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=518
    - union_primary_universal:
        filename: Union_Primary_Universal.exe
        url: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/public.php/dav/files/siWrzBPkwYqPKQF/?accept=zip
    - union:
        filename: Union.exe
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=1625
    - ninja: https://github.com/szapp/Ninja/releases/download/v4.1.16/Ninja-4.1.16.exe
    - ninja_toolkit:
        filename: Toolkit.vdf
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.de/download.php?id=1861
    - gd3d11: https://github.com/kirides/GD3D11/releases/download/v17.9.7/GD3D11-v17.9.7.zip
    - intro_video:
        filename: intro.zip
        url: https://www.worldofgothic.net/download.php?id=1718
  system:
    env:
      UNIONPATH: $GAMEDIR/drive_c/ProgramData/Union/System/
  variables:
    gamedatapath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold/Data
    gamepath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold
    gamesystempath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold/system
  wine:
    overrides:
      ddraw: n,b
      dinput: n,b
      dsound: b,n
  game:
    arch: win64
    exe: $gamesystempath/GothicStarter.exe
    args: -game:NostalgicEdition -start
    prefix: $GAMEDIR
  installer:
    - task:
        arch: win64
        description: Creating 64-bit Wine prefix
        install_gecko: false
        install_mono: true
        name: create_prefix
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        app: win10
        arch: win64
        description: "winetricks: win10"
        name: winetricks
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /SP- /SUPRESSMSGBOXES /LOG /SILENT
        description: Installing Gothic II
        executable: setup
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        app: "directmusic dotnet48 vcrun2022 dxvk"
        arch: win64
        description: Install wine dependencies. This will take some time.
        name: winetricks
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - execute:
        command: mkdir -p $UNIONPATH
    - execute:
        command: printf "\r\nC:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold\\\\\\r\n" > $UNIONPATH/history_d.cs
    - execute:
        command: echo "ENG" > $UNIONPATH/Language.cs
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        description: Install Report Version
        executable: report_version
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        description: Installing playerkit
        executable: playerkit
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D"C:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold"
        description: Install Union Primary Universal patch
        executable: union_primary_universal
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D"C:\GOG Games\Gothic 2 Gold"
        description: Install Union patch
        executable: union
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win64
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        description: Install Ninja mod
        executable: ninja
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - copy:
        src: ninja_toolkit
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamedatapath
    - task:
        arch: win64
        description: Install Nostalgic
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        executable: nostalgic
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - extract:
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath
        file: gd3d11
    - move:
        src: $CACHE/textures/TexturePack Artemiano Gothic II - Nostalgic Edition.vdf
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamedatapath
    - move:
        src: $CACHE/animations/Standanimation.vdf
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamedatapath
    - extract:
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamepath/_work/Data/Video
        file: intro_video
    - write_config:
        data:
          GAME:
            playLogoVideos: 0
            scaleVideos: 1
            subTitles: 1
            enableJoystick: 0
        description: Updating 'gothic.ini' file
        file: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath/GOTHIC.INI
    - write_config:
        data:
          PARAMETERS:
            InteractionCollision: 0
            EnableShields: 1
        file: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath/SystemPack.ini
    - write_config:
        data:
          Display:
            Brightness: 1.0
            Rain: 1
            RainEffects: 1
            TextureQuality: 16384
            UIScale: 1.0
            VSync: 1
          FontRendering:
            Enable: 1
          General:
            AllowNormalmaps: 1
            AnimateStaticVobs: 1
            DrawWorldSectionIntersections: 1
            EnableDebugLog: 0
            EnableGodRays: 1
            EnableInactiveFpsLock: 1
            FpsLimit: 60
            SunLightStrength: 1.5
          HBAO:
            Bias: 0.5
            BlurSharpness: 4.0
            EnableBlur: 1
            Enabled: 0
            PowerExponent: 3.0
            Radius: 1.0
            SsaoBlurRadius: 1
            SsaoStepCount: 0
          SMAA:
            Enabled: 1
            SharpenFactor: 0.2
          Shadows:
            EnableDynamicLighting: 1
            EnableShadows: 1
            EnableSoftShadows: 1
            PointlightShadows: 2
            ShadowAOStrength: 0.5
            ShadowMapSize: 2048
            ShadowStrength: 0.4
            SmoothCameraUpdate: 1
            WorldAOStrength: 0.5
            WorldShadowRangeScale: 8.0
        description: Updating GD3D11 config
        file: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath/GD3D11/UserSettings.ini