Planescape Torment - Fully Modded!

This is the ultimate guide to running Planescape: Torment on Windows XP, Vista, whatever, in the best possible configuration!

What follows is a complete step-by-step guide to installing, fixing and modding Planescape: Torment on modern machines. This guide will fix hundreds of bugs, add missions that the designers were not allowed to finish, tweak the game, improve graphics and allow it to run at a modern (and widescreen) resolutions.

In short: This is how Planescape: Torment SHOULD be played. All recommendations in this guide assume you are new to Planescape: Torment, so nothing will be spoiled or ruined. This guide will prepare the game for it to be experienced in the best possible way.

All of these things are possible thanks to the hard work of Planescape: Torment fans: Qwinn, scient, GhostDog and Biggs. I've also used additional help from Jake. I'm sure there are also many others who have worked hard to make your Planescape: Torment experience the best it can possibly be. Thanks a lot, guys!

Note: The order in which you do the following steps IS important, so don't skip one unless it's 'optional' or 'recommended'.

Step 1: Install the Game (Required - of course)
You should have no problems using the normal installer, but it will only install the files found on Disc 1 (and then possibly force you to sit through an Icewind Dale trailer - arg). Don't worry about doing a full-install now though, we'll get to that later in Step 2.

Step 1a: Install the official patch (Required - Only on the 4 CD version!)
Note: If your copy of Planescape: Torment came on 2 discs then SKIP this step! (The patch is already pre-installed on the 2CD version, and installing again it will cause problems within the game.)

How to install (4 disc version only): Download the official patch (trmt11.exe) and run the executable (it will automatically know where you've installed the game). This will bring Planescape: Torment up to version 1.1.

Step 1b: Install language packs (Optional)
Install the language packs you want (if any).

Ok, that's the basics done. Now let's take full advantage of your modern machine, and improve the loading speed and the graphics quality...

Step 2: Improve loading times on faster machines (Required)
Note: The step is necessary before you can perform the Steps 3a and b, below.

What it does: Copying all of the game's files to your harddrive improves the game loading speed immensely and allows you to improve the graphics, too. It requires approximately 1.3GB of HD space, which should not be an issue for modern machines.

How to do it:

1. First, create a new directory in your game directory (where torment.exe resides) and name it "CDALL".
2. Then copy all the .bif files from disc 2 into this directory. (You'll find the .bif files in a folder called "cd2" on the disc).
3. Now copy the .bif files from discs 3 and 4.

It will take a while to copy all these files to your HD and Windows will alert you that some of them already exist. This is perfectly normal: These are duplicate files (the same files stored on different game discs to reduce the amount of disc swapping when playing the game from CD). Just skip them or overwrite them and you will be saving yourself 500 megabytes of HD space inthe process.

Now we just need to edit the configuration file to point to our new directory instead of the CD drive.

4. Open torment.ini in Notepad. At the top should be a section called [alias] and it should look something like this:

HD0:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment
CD1:=D:\
CD2:=D:\cd2
CD3:=D:\cd3
CD4:=D:\cd4
CD5:=D:\cd5

Please note: Your configuration file might not be identical to this!

The top line ("HD0:") is where the game is installed on your harddrive (as mentioned, it may be different than shown here). The next lines point to your CD/DVD drive on your computer.

We need to change it so that the "CD" lines point to this "CDALL" directory you created. So, in my case, my torment.ini file now looks like this:

HD0:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment
CD1:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD2:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD3:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD4:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD5:=D:\

Note: You can ignore the CD5 line, it's not used.

5. For the next step, we're going to speed up loading times even more. Look the for the following line in the torment.ini file:

CacheSize=600

and change it to:

CacheSize=1

6. Finally, to make the game look smoother and play better make the following changes to the torment.ini file:

Path Search Nodes=32000
Maximum Frame Rate=40

7. Save the file in Notepad and you're all set! (Note: In Windows Vista you may need to save torment.ini onto your desktop and then copy it back to the game directory.)

Step 3a: Install Bigg's Widescreen mod (Highly recommended)
(Currently at version 2.1)
Note: You MUST complete Step 2 before attempting to install this mod!

What it does: This awesome patch allows you to play Planescape: Torment at a higher resolution, making the game look a whole lot better, especially on flatscreen monitors.

Warning: Installing this mod will invalidate your existing savegames, so be prepared to start over once it has been installed! If you're in the middle of a game, and don't want to lose your progress, you should stop now (come back when you're ready to play a new game!).

How to install: Download Bigg's Widescreen mod (ignore the name -- it doesn't matter whether you actually have a widescreen monitor or not!).

Double-click on widescreen-v2.1.exe (it doesn't matter where it is) and Browse to the directory on your computer where Planescape: Torment is installed. (This is the directory where torment.exe lives and is usually something like: C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\). Click Install once you've done this.

When the new window opens, choose to install "Component [Widescreen Mod]" -- even if your monitor is not widescreen -- by typing "I" and pressing ENTER.

When asked for your X-coordinates enter:
1280

When asked for your Y-coordinates enter:
800 (if your monitor is widescreen)
OR
1024 (if your monitor is not widescreen)
OR
720 (if you're playing on an LCD TV)

Note: Do NOT be tempted to enter a different resolution. Yes, you can do it and yes, the game can run at higher resolutions, but graphics will become distorted.

You should now have 1280x800 (if your monitor is widescreen) or 1280x1024 (if your monitor is not widescreen) or 1280x720 (if you're playing on an LCD TV). If this is correct, type 'Y' to install.

Note: You MUST follow the next step in order to fix the graphics at this new higher resolution!

Step 3b: Install Ghostdog's mod (Required)
(Currently at version 1.2)
*Note: If you have installed Bigg's Widescreen mod (above), then you MUST install this mod or some of the game's graphics will be broken!

What it does: Increasing the resolution of the game will knock many special graphical effects out of place and making many menu screens look ugly. Luckily this mod fixes all the special effects, graphics and menus for higher resolutions.

How to install: This mod is a little tricky to install, but all of the following updates are installed the in the same way, so pay attention.

Before you begin you will need some software capable of opening .rar files. If you don't already have some, I recommend downloading and installing the excellent (and free) utility 7-Zip.

Once you've got some software capable of opening .rar archives you're read to download Ghostdog's mod.

Once you've downloaded it, open it with 7-zip (usually just be double-click on the file). Now extract the entire archive to the game directory (this is the directory where torment.exe resides - usually C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\).

Once you've done this, double-click on the setup file Setup-GhostDog's-PST-UI.exe from within the game's directory.

In the window that opens you will then get three options:

1. Install the mod with the default fonts
2. Install the mod with 30% bigger fonts
3. Install the mod with 50% bigger fonts

I personally like option 1, but you may prefer running the game with slightly bigger fonts. You can see a preview of the differences here (click to see full size):
To pick an option, just type a number associated with it and press ENTER.

Note: Don't worry! As with all of the patches and mods below, you can always run the setup file again in order to change your options. So if you don't like the font size you picked, simply run the Setup-GhostDog's-PST-UI.exe again and pick a different option!


Step 4: Install the Ultimate Fixpack (Highly recommended)
(Currently at version 3.02.)

What it does: Fixes hundreds of bugs left in the game. You definitely want this installed before playing the game.

How to install: As with the previous mod, download the Ultimate WeiDU Fixpack and extract the entire archive to the game directory (this is the directory where torment.exe resides - usually C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\).

Then double click on the set-up file, Setup-PST-Fix.exe, from within the game directory.

In the window that opens, enter your language number (for example, enter "0" for English) and press ENTER. Then choose "N" (you can view the readme later if you want).

You'll then get the option to install the following items:

• Ultimate WeiDU Fixpack, by Qwinn
• Dialogue Spelling/Grammar Corrections (English Only)
• Subtitled Cutscenes

You should choose to install all three of these items, one-by-one. To do this, just type "I" and press ENTER for each one.

Explanation of the things you've just installed options:

• The Ultimate WeiDU Fixpack is, as you'd expect, a ton of bug fixes for the game. You definitely want this.
  
• The second option, Dialogue Spelling/Grammar Corrections, again corrects mistakes in the game's text (some serious, some not so serious, but all recommended).
  
• The final option, Subtitled Cutscenes, is also recommended as there's some very important stuff said during the cutscenes -- that you don't want to miss!

You can now play a bug fixed, generally improved, version of Planescape: Torment, but why stop there when there's so much other great stuff to add...

Step 5a: Install Unfinished Business (Recommended)
(Currently at version 3.02.)

What it does: The Unfinished Business patch adds many missions back into the game that the designer's didn't have time to finish. These are missions that should be in the game, but time and money constraints meant they were left out, despite being close to completion.

How to install: Download Qwinn's Unfinished Business patch.

Extract all files to the game directory (where torment.exe lives) and double-click on Setup-PST-UB.exe.

You will then be asked, as before, which items you want to install. All recommendations in this guide assume you're a new player to Planescape: Torment.

The first two SHOULD be installed:

• All Recommended PS:T Unfinished Business Components
• Expanded Deionarra's Truth Mod

Do NOT install the following:

• Restored Cheat Items

Step 5b: Install Tweaks Pack (Recommended)
(Currently at version 3.51)

What it does: This patch tweaks and rebalances elements of the game. These are things that make the game more enjoyable to play, and have been requested by players since it was released.

How to install: Download Qwinn's PS:T Tweak Pack

Same as before, extract all files to the game directory. Then run Setup-PST-Tweak.exe.

As a new player you SHOULD install the following:

• Banter Accelerator (30 mins)
• Maximized HP Per Level for TNO and Party
• Maximized Friends Spell
• Stackable Rings, Charms, Bracelets, Scrolls

Do NOT install:

• Scale of Souls

You SHOULD install:

• Save Nordom! Tweak

Do NOT install:

• Tome Of Cheats
• Power Action Leprechaun Annah, by Black Isle
• Easter Egg Morte, by Black Isle

You SHOULD install:

• Explore City Areas

Do NOT install:

• Rest Anywhere
• Identify All Items

These are very minor changes. I recommend NOT installing them, but it's up to you:

• Use Floating Text Font Globally
• No Battle Music

Do NOT install:

• Early Glabrezus Tweak

Note: You can change your mind and add/remove any of these items later by running Setup-PST-Tweak.exe again.

You can now play Planescape: Torment better than ever before.

One list thing: If you're playing the game on a nVidia 8 series graphics card (for example a 8800GTS) then you will also need to install the nVidia fixer. If, after installing this, characters start walking backwards, go to the ingame video options and enable "Software mirroring".

Congratulations! Lots of work, but you're done! You can relax, start-up Planescape: Torment and enjoy one of the greatest games ever made.

As a special bonus treat, you may want a higher quality icon associated with the game (especially when playing on Vista), so I've created a new game icon.



Download the Vista compatible icon (right-click save as...).