Rostere

Enemies should DEFINITELY drop what they are wearing. On the other hand, I don't mind if what they wear is slightly randomized, as long as the mechanism is very down- toned and the game does not become a piñata- smashing Diablo clone.

I fail to see how you think being nice to one another is an unsound social foundation. If you go back to read my earlier posts you will see how I write a lot about moral convictions and how those are the only limiting factor against the unity of humanity as a whole. Some people do not believe in democratic principles, and in tolerance. Unlike you, who seem to group together this with "ethnicity" (whatever that means in your vocabulary, I'm not sure) I think tolerance and understanding for different people in spite of superficial differences is a sign (and a product) of an advanced, healthy society. Acceptance and tolerance are neccessarily found in all healthy societies. You speak of multiculturalism as having no "underlying fabric", this couldn't be more wrong. In fact, multiculturalism has the strongest possible (and indeed also most general) underlying fabric - the one of mutual respect, tolerance, the recognition of the democratic rights of our peers. This is so simple, yet so very powerful. I can't imagine a more powerful "underlying fabric" to bind together a society.

Just reading this makes me sad. I haven't the time to comment on all the misconceptions...

They will not be. Dark elves are an old concept, but the dark-skinned "drow" are a Gygax invention. We have a few elven subraces, some of which will seem more familiar than others. In addition to the subraces, there is significant cultural division between separate groups even within one subrace. The elves that came across the sea with their human allies to settle in the Dyrwood encountered Glanfathan elves that looked almost identical to them, physically, but spoke a completely dissimilar language, dressed differently, had different values and customs, and lived virtually at a Stone Age level of technology -- all this despite abundant evidence that an ancient empire once stood around them. As a result, the elves who settled in the Dyrwood tend to feel much more kinship toward human neighbors, with whom they share a language and hundreds of years of coexistence, than the Glanfathans. It's great to hear about the different races and cultures having well- thought out backgrounds. This is what truly adds depth to a game setting.

Finally, wallpaper- worth content! On the other hand, "Lake of Drow Tombs"...

This is exactly what I feel. I want a serious RPG, not fantasy- themed softporn for 15- year olds who have never seen a naked woman in their entire lives. It's so tragic when games almost subconsciously repeat the same silly, immature sexual objectification of women because it's "always been done that way" in the male- dominated field of computer games. When people put thier thoughts to it, I think most would prefer a realistic portrayal of women in games.

Only problem is, she would not fit in that. Most probably, she would.

How do we even know that the entire concept of "metaphysical" purpose is not just a creation of language and imagination? I would start any discussion about it with defining exactly what it means. I'm sure you will find out that is an eye- opener...

Sweet. I actually think I might know someone working on that project. That is great news. I wonder when Obsidian will follow? I already own a NWN 2 T-shirt, which I would like to complement with more...

Contrary to what a lot of people in this thread seem to think, I think that the combination of gun + full armor + shield and war hammer is both sufficiently realistic and unique enough to stand out from all the generic D&D blandness. I like the art direction a lot, everything we've seen, with the sole exception of the tendency to boobplate in the last image. The chest armour should probably have a more realistic, deflecting shape. Unless of course the character in question is a high priestess of a fertility goddess and is wearing ceremonial armour, but I HIGHLY doubt that.

Good to see some acknowledgement.

I'm referring to numbers from 1945-1990. The source of the costs was that Sweden had an entire internal arms industry, to back up the idea of "neutrality". If that has left any trace in accessible data today, it can be found in the fact that Sweden is the world's ninth largest weapon exporter (and if some of the huge Gripen deals there is talk about in the news take place, we might as well jump ahead in the list, leaving only the major countries US, Russia, China, UK, Germany and France as larger exporters...) This arms industry is a rest from when it was used to supply Sweden during the Cold War, when it was also much larger and more costly. I'd also like to add that it's very strange debating these things with a non-Swede...

What. You're a depressing person... You know, there are people who enjoy BOTH a good story and tactical gameplay.

YES! From the two previous updates, which were stained by touches of awful, this is a really solid update.

I could use larger text too. For DA:O some one made a mod that made it possible to adjust text. Personally even with the mod I hated that UI. What ever happened to the KISS principle? I think DA:O has a nice looking UI, especially compared to NWN and NWN 2. The big text thing and the big buttons thing are two important points for me. I don't ever want to squint when I play this game...

This is the worst bull I've ever heard. I'm referring to the part about spending comparatively little on defence. Sweden used to have an entire internal arms industry, with among other things a nuclear programme which was terminated in 1968. I'm sure Scandinavia was protected from the USSR by the threat of American nuclear arms, however, that does not equal having a low defence budget. Sweden was always defended by Finland in the modern area anyway. Let's face it, the Finns are ****ing badass. The last time the Swedes were badass, Gustav Adolf Rex Sueciae was on the throne. I think that Soviet plans said that entire Scandinavia should just be nuked, because it lacked strategical significance and airports in Sweden (and definitely Norway) could be used by American aircraft. So there wouldn't really be a war, just a nuclear holocaust. Honestly I can't understand all the investments into artillery and tanks, there would have been nothing left to fight for after the nukes fell.

This is the worst bull I've ever heard. I'm referring to the part about spending comparatively little on defence. Sweden used to have an entire internal arms industry, with among other things a nuclear programme which was terminated in 1968. I'm sure Scandinavia was protected from the USSR by the threat of American nuclear arms, however, that does not equal having a low defence budget.

Well, you are wrong, and it's obvious that you don't know much about translating, so let me say a few words on this behalf. You see, there is a term charactonym used in linguistics. It means that the name of the character is given by intent and with some purpose. The brightest example is probably Bilbo Baggins. J. R. R. Tolkien stated himslef that the language of the Middle-Earth is not English, and that's why translators have to translate his name. As a result Bilbo became "Торбинс" (Torbins) in Russian, where "torb" means some kind of bag. And so on and so forth, there are tons of other examples in different books. What I mean is you have to translate wisely. Your example - Michael - doesn't have anything to do with charactonyms as it is a usual name. While Bilbo, and Mr. M'Choakumchild from "Hard Times" (translated into Russian as "Чадомор", "Chadomor", where "chado" means "child" and "mor" means torturing) were named for a reason. The same goes with the name of the places. "Pearl Coast" is like that for a reason, even if the reason is that it just sounds poetically, and that's why translators should probably translate it. Unless guys from Obsidian are against, of course. Fine and dandy that you think like that. Only that they translate every ****ing name even if it doesn't make sense. Even the most generic ones. Like Riverwood. Heck. They felt the need to change stuff for no reason. They changed Riften to Rifton. Or lets take WoW for example where they also translated EVERYTHING. Jaina Proudmoore. Became Jaina Prachtmeer. It doesn't even mean the same thing. Prachtmeer in English would be Splendorocean. You could also say Glorysea. Ugh. There are so many stupid translations of names it's impossible to name them all. Yes, maybe there are people who truly don't know English in Germany, France and Spain who will be happy for the translations. Personally I would feel insulted if they translated the game into my native language.

Yes, to me it's looks like you need to raise taxes.

What? I think you misread my post. If I'm forced to allocate my points in various ways, of course that limits my options. I honestly can't see what your post has to do with what I wrote... From what I understand, you said that having different pools of ability points for combat and non-combat abilities limits your roleplaying options, no? Yes, because I can't make a character who's specialized in non-combat skills, an "auxiliary class". Why not? Having combat abilities doesn't make your non-combat abilities go anywhere. You're free to design a pacifist character with good diplomacy, bluff, barter etc. and use those primarily those skills, without ever picking the option to fight. It's the difference between not taking an option because you can't and not taking the option because you choose not to. How is that limiting? Because other characters of a comparable level will have the same amount of auxiliary skills, (and challenges appropriate for this level will require them) of course! I think you've missed the point. An auxiliary class is a class which excels in non- combat skills. This means, that such a class is better prepared for non- combat challenges than other characters of the corresponding level. Capisce? I'm sure that if you're so inclined, there will be a way to gimp your characters combat abilities to the point where they will be pretty bad at combat. What abilities other people's characters have shouldn't matter. It's a single player game. Sure I can gimp my character, for example by skipping to allocate my "combat skill points", assuming that is possible, of course (which it isn't in Torment and BG, but let's pretend it is). But I'm not done yet. I must also see to it that my character is better at the non- combat skills. I don't know how to do this in- game but let's suppose it was possible to cheat. Essentially, I've thorugh these actions modded the game to include an auxiliary class. Do you see now why your argument does not work?

Wat Is that not accurate or something? I actually haven't played it myself yet, but from what I've read it seems to have been pretty well received. Do hardcore geeks enjoy Skyrim to begin with? I thought it was an action game for consoles. But, I haven't played it myself, so I don't know.

Well, it kind of depends on what you're asking. I was actually wondering whether the UI should have a thin, wiry and transparent feel or a solid one. It's a trend I've seen going on in many recent RPGs. It's not strictly about functionality versus visual look. Although the NWN UI is ugly, I can imagine a thin and transparent good- looking UI. Maybe "wiry" is a negatively loaded word in this context, but I don't think "thin" or "transparent" are. Also, I don't think everyone agrees that the Baldur's Gate UI has a good visual look. The only "functional" aspect I want to discuss is how much of the screen the UI should be allowed to occupy. New RPGs tend to have both fewer and smaller buttons in their UI, and more transparent panes. I feel that in the days of yore, developers didn't feel they had to hide the UI so that the gamers could enjoy more of the "zomg asum graphics" on screen, resulting in the classic, more solid UIs of Fallout, Baldur's Gate, and Jagged Alliance. Arcanum also has a nice UI. The DA:O UI is way more beautiful than NWN, but it still feels like it's suffering from the same syndrome. Tiny, tiny buttons...

Wat