In 2023, the controversial Baldur's Gate 3 modpack 'No Alphabets' — which removed LGBTQ+ aspects from the game — was delisted from the Nexus website, along with the infamous Ser Aylin gender swap, which was explicitly done to make her relationship with Isobel heterosexual. This modpack unfortunately continues to exist and take shape on alternate sites, but the poster was banned, and thus unable to share these creations on one of the largest modding platforms.
However, two days ago, modpack creator orinEsque made a Nexus account to post a new mod called Dignify. On the surface, it appears benign, but at its core, it's a clothing pack that updates several outfits throughout the game, including Astarion and Gale's. Though when it was first uploaded earlier this week, it was a completely different story. Originally, the mod required you to download the 'Alternate Wyll Origin Appearance', which makes him white (this isn't hosted on Nexus itself). After much backlash, the requirement — which, given the nature of the mod, made no sense to begin with — was removed, and the comments disabled.
"You Can See His Bigotry Shine Through"
Even after this update, many have noted that, while not as overt as outright removing LGBTQ+ characters or whitewashing Black companions, Dignify is still rooted in the puritanical sentiment of the 'No Alphabets' pack that made orinEsque such an infamous name in the modding community, as each adjustment to clothing covers up skin or suggestive elements, while an optional download also makes underwear permanent, thus preventing any nudity.
"If you look closer at the mod, you can see his bigotry shine through: of course women have to wear long skirts instead of pants and being modest, Astarion doesn't have any kind of shape in a very tight pant," u/Lavinia_Foxglove noted on r/BG3mods.
It's unclear why Dignify is still available considering the original requirements, especially when taking into consideration Nexus' statement on the whole debacle with the No Alphabets modpack: "We are for inclusivity, we are for diversity," it said. "If we think someone is uploading a mod on our site with the intent to deliberately be against inclusivity and/or diversity then we will take action against it."
orinEsque likewise has not been banned because of Dignify or their association with other controversial mods, which they hint at in their bio, noting that if you like their work, "you can find more" of their mods on other platforms.
