p.jakub88 on 9/9/2025 at 14:14
Hello everyone,
that's my first post on this forums.
Could you tell me please if there are any Thief 2 fanmissions compatible with the Thief 2 HD Texture Mod?
I already played the Thief 2X: Shadows of the Metal Age with its own dedicated HD mod, which was great.
Thanks in advance for any info!
Regards
Jakub
trefoilknot on 9/9/2025 at 22:33
For the most part, hd texture mods will not cause any technical problems with any missions (there may be rare exceptions). In this sense, basically every FM is “compatible.” But they will distort the intended art style for any mission that was not designed with HDMOD in mind, and often make FMs look very different (and much worse) from how they were intended
Also, note that HDMOD will only replace stock textures. Any custom textures will be unaltered.
Estel Randir on 10/9/2025 at 02:32
The most I have seen it mess up, is occasionally there will be a missing texture that creates an eyesore in game or an npc has the front & back reversed. The majority of fan missions use vanilla resources which these texture mods replace with more detailed or artistically different versions. When a modder takes time to create custom textures to fit their aesthetic, the effect is very pleasing. So a texture pack in this case is not all that useful unless you just like playing around with different looks. Many of the early missions imo greatly benefit from EP2 or the T2 upgraded textures.
There are a few long time modders that are die hard about having T1 orginal textures & they get a bit touchy about this subject. But EP2 does not ruin the effect. I say just play various missions and get the feel for the original textures and then play with a texture pack or two for fun. There is no shame regardless of what some may say. Play a mission vanilla & for a while, then play with HD Mod, EP2, NecroAge, etc. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I will say however, using a texture pack on a Soul Tear mission should be a criminal offense and the taffer who does so should server some time in Cragscleft prison.
I will comment that the HD Mod is I think the most hated. It just simply changes the textures so drastically that it is like playing a different game. I use it occasionally for fun. But I personally refuse to use the most up to date HD Mod as the author forces you to use some very specific changes to zombies (black blood, vomiting at you, etc) that a lot of people - including me - hate. I do mean hate. The author refused to make the changes optional even when asked nicely.
p.jakub88 on 10/9/2025 at 09:44
Thanks for quick replies @trefoilknot and @Estel Randir! I will keep that in mind.
For me the HD mod for both Thief Gold and Thief 2 was a great addition, increasing my immersion while playing. I like the new flame and water textures plus other features.
I don't mind the changes to the zombies, since i don't like supernatural elements in Thief anyway. I am not a purist, unless the mod makes a complete overhaul of the game (like the Enhanced Edition for Baldur's Gate 1 which i don't like).
Also in the NewDark Graphics Settings Tool v1.1 of the Thief 2 HD Mod 1.0 there is an option called "Fan Mission Mode". I enabled it, then i clicked "Start FM Selector", configured FMSel and launched The Seven Sisters FM using it. So far everything works. I assume, that's the intended way to play FMs using Thief 2 HD Mod 1.0?
p.jakub88 on 10/9/2025 at 12:12
Quote Posted by trefoilknot
For the most part, hd texture mods will not cause any technical problems with any missions (there may be rare exceptions). In this sense, basically every FM is “compatible.” But they will distort the intended art style for any mission that was not designed with HDMOD in mind, and often make FMs look very different (and much worse) from how they were intended
Also, note that HDMOD will only replace stock textures. Any custom textures will be unaltered.
For example in the readme of The Black Parade FM it is stated, that it's not compatible with Thief Gold HD mod.
trefoilknot on 10/9/2025 at 14:09
I don't think TBP will break or fail to run if you have HDMOD installed (though I've never attempted this).
I think they're saying is: (1) we've taken steps to ensure that HDMOD does not affect the visuals of TBP (ie HDMOD will not work); and/or (2) the mission is not designed with HDMOD in mind, so using it will result in you playing an FM that is not what the authors created.
