The Trees of Knowledge work differently. On this map, with SoD_SP, you can eliminate the experience penalty on the first day by generating a free level-up in the tree. Also, the hero can level up from 88 to 100 in the tree. Without SoD_SP, this is impossible.
I tried this. With a negative experience value, the game completely freezes when visiting the tree (without HD+). If the editor has the lowest possible value (-2147483648), if you set a more modest number, say -214748, then a little experience is added from the tree, but it doesn't offer to choose a secondary skill, and the primary skill also doesn't increase. And yes, with SoD_SP, level-ups also occur after level 88.
Regarding how to play, one of the main features of the map is the hero's negative experience. But Grigor himself writes in the comments about playing on HotA, and the map's time events also include an ERM code, which, as I understand it, fixes some things during the vogification process.
Screenshot of the current progress on the 4th month; the entire underground is still closed.
It's not called that for nothing