A7-HiddenGameplayOptions VS IEP_Extended_Banter

Reveal hidden gameplay options - the AOE indicator for spells is really nice.

Reveal Hidden Gameplay Options: adds options to the in-game menu that otherwise require editing the ini file. Options include: show spell AOE, debug mode, limit cleric/ranger spells, pause during dialogue, improved pathfinding, no cosmetic attacks, frame rate slider. For best results, install after Tweaks Anthology.

Hidden Gameplay Tweaks. Then enable it through the in-game menu.

As far as the pathfinding goes, some people claim that some versions of the EE actually made it worse. I don't remember the classic games (or the earlier versions of the EE) well enough at this point to confirm that, but it might well be true. In any case, there are two options I'm aware of that can improve the pathfinding. One is to increase the Path Search Nodes value in your baldur.lua file. The other is to install the Hidden Gameplay Options mod and enable the Enhanced Path Search setting. Still, you'll sometimes have to micromanage party positioning, especially during combat in tight locations, and there's just no way around that. You can also enable the debug/cheat mode and use the Ctrl+J shortcut to teleport your party. Irrespective of any pathfinding issues, I routinely use that shortcut just to save time when traveling through areas that have already been explored and have no enemies.

Might be easier just install a mod that unlocks the console for you.

According to the readme of Reveal Hidden Gameplay Options the settings I am talking about are options 28 & 29

Easiest way to add teleporting command (Ctrl + J to teleport to mouse cursor location) is to install Reveal Hidden Gameplay Options mod. You want the "Enable Debug Mode" for it. There are two other QoL updates you should grap "Show Area of Effect Range" and "Show trigger icons on tab".

Not that I usually recommend changing mod configs midgame, but what happens if you install a banter accelerator (ie, this one)?

Minsc, Yoshimo, Valygar, Cernd, Imoen, Korgan, Mazzy, Viconia. Pair these with the Banter pack and IEP for even more chatter.

Banter: Banter pack and Extended Banter. The latter contains an optional timer that makes banters (dialogues between NPCs) occur more often (choose whichever timer you prefer).

With Spellhold Studios down right now, I can't link the handy all-in-one forum page, but this is all of them, I think. The expanded banter pack is great as well. I like these a lot, they feel very true to the characters. Yoshimo's was probably my favorite because I like when games emotionally devastate me, but I've liked all the ones I've played (haven't finished Cernd's because, well, Cernd).

Interaction expansion project and the related friendship mods. Same as above - a nice addition if you want more chatter.

IEP Extended Banters https://github.com/SpellholdStudios/IEP_Extended_Banter/releases And even more great banter.