Ascension-WeiDU and Improved Balthazar

[Jonathan Ellis]

I know that Original Ascension was supposed to *replace* Improved Balthazar.

     However, surely with WeiDU, it is no longer necessary to have them combined like this. Would it be possible to "separate out" Improved Balthazar from the rest of Ascension?

     (I would include the changed *dialogues* for Balthazar, persuading him to join your side, as part of Ascension rather than part of Improved Balthazar: but his improved powers and tactics, and those of his friends in the monastery, as part of the Improved Balthazar component, which could then be potentially installable separately just like the other Improved Tougher *foo* components of WeiDU-Ascension.)

Jonathan.
                   

[Kish]

Ascension does, in the final battle, mandate an appearance by all of the Tougher Five (even a Tougher Sendai who can't actually be encountered earlier).  It would seem weird if Balthazar, supposedly the strongest of all, was the only one who could be standard there, even if he was only standard if you recruited him.                    

[Blucher]

Though it makes as much sense as facing unimproved Illasera &co. earlier and facing the imp. versions in the final battle.

All along however, I was a proponent of separating the improved/tougher elements from the role-playing/expanded-story of Ascension.                    

[Jonathan Ellis]

Okay. So allow an "Improved Balthazar" mod that improves Balthazar in the FIRST fight against him - in his monastery. This does not change his dialogue, it merely changes his powers and his ability to use them, and possibly the powers of his friends.

And have the "Ascension" component mod, in which you face all the Five at once, in their "improved" versions, in the grand final battle. If you have installed this and NOT Improved Balthazar, you face Normal Balthazar in his monastery (either to fight with him or talk him into not fighting or into joining you), but Improved Balthazar in Ascension finale (on your side, or on Melissan's.)

And while you're at it, let's hear it for the option to face an Improved Sendai in her lair...

Jonathan.
                   

[Quitch]

There is no "Improved" Balthazar in Ascension, rather a "Smarter" Balthazar.