I loved Kotor 1 back in the day but have come to find out that Kotor 2 is far better and less lib (?). I know it's kind of an unfinished game with lots of bugs but I also heard people made it complete over the years.
What are the essential mods for Kotor 2 that I should install before I play?
The plot triggers on Nar Shadda can be a real finicky mess. Talk to literally everyone there. You have to make almost every interaction imaginable happen before you get your local reputation high enough for the plot to move forward. Even with the best fixes and mods, that planet in particular is bug central.
Save often, in general.
And have fun. It'll feel slow at times but it's absolutely worth it, especially with the restoration mods.