Brian D. Lawson interview about NWN 2 and stuff

[Musopticon?]

 

But it's just a term. Nothing fundamental is changed.

Edited November 15, 2005 by Musopticon?

[Kaftan Barlast]

I prefer the term party members because that is what they are. They are computer simulations of what would be your friends characters in a regular PnP game.

[Child of Flame]

But...but I like saving the world. :'(

 

I dunno.  Personally, the concept I'd like to see isn't so much savg the Kingdom as helping the kingdom to Ascendancy.  Instead of killing the Huge Ancient Dragon to rescue the kingdom from certain doom, you go kill the last surviving member of a royal family in another country to allow your King to inherit.  Or sneaking into a city in the dead of night so you can open the gates to let your liege's army in, ending the siege before winter comes.  Or, in order to avert a war the country isn't ready for, the king requires tribute be delivered to the Emperor of the neighbouring country, and you must escort the jewels through bandit-infested hills. Instead of starting as a dirt farmer, you could start as one of the guards of the Crown Prince, sneaking him out of the palace before his younger brother's plan to make himself crown prince can be fully realised.  Y'know, an RPG where the quasi-medieval setting goes hand in hand with a game involving quasi-medieval politics.

 

Damn, I'm in a mod-making mood now, and NWN2 won't be out for ages! <_<

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Oh man, now I'm imagining a successful blend of Thief and Splinter Cell, with RPG elements.

 

It is so neat in my head.

 

 

Also, I think a neat 'original' setting could be one based on the Christian version of the End Times. It wouldn't have to be Biblically accurate (hell, that book is so metaphorical whatever you come up with would most likely be wrong anyway), but I am envisioning a game, or even a series of games where you could either evade or embrace the one world govenment, fight or side with the anti-christ and the false prophet. It could be pretty neato.

 

Also lots of opportunity for moral decisions, and character types of all kinds.

[Rhomal]

No, but it is implied everytime a phrase "a lot of work to do in a relatively short amount of time. " is said.

 

EVERY dev team says that for every game *yawn*. The orginial nwn team said things along those lines and they had FIVE YEARS; and still shipped a lifeless OC and dated graphics engine.

 

*shrugs*

 

The devs have said publicly they feel comfy with the 18-24 month time frame given. So I will give them the benefit of the doubt until I have reason to beleive otherwise.

[Rhomal]

It's pretty interesting how Anthony Davis can tell you flat out that zero of Aurora's rendering code still exists in Electron and you maintain that it's an update.

 

In physical terms, that would be the equivalent of removing an engine from a car, putting a new one from a different manufacturer in, and saying it's an updated engine instead of a new one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

NWN 2 game $50.

Video card upgrade for NWN 2 $225.

V getting 0wned by JE? Priceless.

 

Personally I think V has a love affair with Bioware and cant bear the fact someone else can do a better job then them with their own product.

 

 

I'm just razzing you V, all in good fun

Edited November 15, 2005 by Rhomal

[Rhomal]

From what i've seen and heard, the Aurora has been updated with better graphics (no doubt that about this); but the core Aurora is still what is powering the game just with changes.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

In all seriousness V, its obvious you have never done any programming. So allow me to clarify your misconception.

 

Most all major programming is modular (if written 'correctly'). Thus the rendering (graphics) engine code is seperate from the pathfinding is seperate from the AI is seperate from the game mechaincs is seperate from... etc

 

Thus what they did is pull out the graphics engine aspect (and a few other parts) and put in their own they wrote from scratch. So as a WHOLE you are correct, the ENTIRE engine isnt new. However, it IS accurate to say specificly the rendering engine aspect is new.

 

Hope that clarifies for you.

[metadigital]

...

The only real reason, at least for me, why the cliffhanger ending failed in  KotOR 2 because in the end I felt nothing for my character.  I didn't grow attach to him at all.  ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

None of the characters played a part on the endgame of K2, except for the Exile. And even that was tepid and the verbal conclusion unfulfilling. That's why it didn't work.

Really, post-apoc which is not Fallout-like, would rock on so many levels. I mean, does it always have to be mutants and deserts? How about a flooded world? Frozen jungles? Underwater? Post-NotLD? Hand of God?

 

And while I'm at it: Why does the end of the world have to result as just a rotten/torn down form of our old world, government, society and all? There was some tribe culture in FO 2, why not use it more?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sign me up for your church, reverend! I AM A BELIEVER!

NWN 2 game $50.

Video card upgrade for NWN 2 $225.

V getting 0wned by JE? Priceless.

...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

GOLD

Henchmen are NOT hirelings. Henchmen are friends, companions,a nd allies who choose to travel with you. Expert Hirelings are hirelings who get paid because because they are epxerts in their field and can include adventurers or any NPC with an important, useful, and specially trained skill that the PC(s) might need.

 

Again, the OC had Expert Hirelings - adventurers with specialized skills that you paid to adventure with you. SOU, and HOTU had henchmen. So did BG, PST, and FO.

 

Don't get tricked by BIo and Obsidian's false D&D terminology.

 

Again, henchmen are NOT 'hirelings'.

 

Imoen was a henchmen. Err Henchwoman.

 

Linu in the OC was a Expert Hireling.

 

Linu in HOTU was a Henchman. Err.. Henchwoman.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What about Deakin? He's more a lost puppy that befriends you and then won't leave ...

I rather have a solidly built Cyberpunk CRPG or a hard sci fi space opera.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cyberpunk = yes.

Hard SF = yes.

Space Opera = very dodgy ...

[kirottu]

Damn! The toolkit sounds like a dream come true ) I cant wait to get my hands on it

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Some new screenies and in two of them you see tools in action.

 

Linky

Edited November 16, 2005 by kirottu

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Should be out within about six months then. They said they dont step up the hype campaign until the game is about 6 six months from completion.

[Volourn]

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

 

I think it's funny that on one hand you caliom I know nothing about programming then on the next you say I am correct. Seems to me that I know more that what you give me credit for. And, if I am correct than it seems odd for you to claim Mr. Sawyer "owned" me.

 

 

"Personally I think V has a love affair with Bioware and cant bear the fact someone else can do a better job then them with their own product. "

 

1. Says the one who has a love affair going with Obsidian. I can point to a lot of places where I stated many negative things about BIO. People would be hard pressed to find much negative from you about Obsidian.

 

2. NWN2 isn't BIO's product.

 

3. How is saying that NWN2 is using the same engine somehow dissing Obsidian?

 

4. I'm on record stating that i believe that NWN2 will be better than NWN1. Seems to me you don't know what you are talking about.

 

5. Then again, I figured before its release that KOTOR2 would be better than KOTOR1 and I was proven wrong.

 

6. Obsidian should do better than BIO since thye often work on BIO scraps, and it makes things MUCH easier when taking someone else's work and adding to it.

 

7. You seem to ignore the fact that my post in this thread was never NWN1 graphis is better than NWN2 graphics. On the contrary, I have stated many times that NWN2 looks better than NWN1. Seems to me that sure doens't sound like someone who can't handle someone else's work being 'better' than BIO. yOU BETTER LEARN TO READ.

 

 

"and still shipped a lifeless OC and dated graphics engine."

 

Your opinion which is tainyted since you are obvious an Obsidian fanboy.

 

The OC, while not the best game ever, was better than 99% of games. Surely beats IWD, TOEE, SOU, and in many ways even KOTOR1 &2 which were both focused on the actual game.

 

The 'dated' graphics engine is still damn good. It sure beats the graphics of overrated brown poo like MW.

 

And, finally, let's quote you one more time for emphasis:

 

 

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

Edited November 16, 2005 by Volourn

[kirottu]

3. How is saying that NWN2 is using the same graphics somehow dissing Obsidian?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Because graphics engine was competely written from scratch.

[Volourn]

1. That wouldn't mean I was dissing them.

 

2. I meant to say engine. LOL

 

Obsidian fnaboys should hold their chin up. Obsdiian will not break apart if not everyone on their baords is kisisng their butt even thoguh I very much do like Obsidian. I wouldn't be watsing time on their baords if I didn't.

 

 

P.S. Dissing is when saying something sucks; not that uses the same thing.

 

Afterall, if I were to say KOTOR2 uses the same engine as KOTOR1 that isn't dissing either.

 

Saying something is the same as soemthing else isn't dissing.

 

Now, if I were to say NWN2 graphics looked MW that could be cosnidered a diss as everyoen know I hate MWMgraphics.

 

But, everyone here also knows I like NWN graphics so if I were to say NWN2 graphics were the same it shouldn't eb considered a diss as its a positive comparison.

 

Capiche?

Edited November 16, 2005 by Volourn

[Rhomal]

Ok V, change that tampon as its apparently that time of the month for you.

 

Done?

 

Good.

 

Nothing like taking my comments out of context and totally having selective vision to read what you want.

 

As a "whole" the engine isnt compleatly new. NO ONE from Obsidian has stated otherwise and on that level you are 'correct'. They HAVE said the "rendering engine is new" which it is. You fail to understand and fact you can replace entire aspects of the engine without totally re-writing the entire code base.

 

Once again, most commercial programs are writting in a modular format to allow just that.

 

In essence your argument boils down to if someone replaces their CPU in their pc and says "I have a new, better cpu" your argument would be equivlant to "No it isnt, unless you go buy a entire new PC your cpu isnt new/replaced". Its a silly and ignorant stance on your part to be blunt.

 

As for my 'fanboi'-ness. If thats what it takes for you to sleep at night so be it. But a few points.

 

- I have been critical several times of them in the forums on several topics and on nwn2news. But I, unlike you and others, dont need to hammer my issue in 902 threads. I say it once or twice, then move on. They heard what I had to say, repeating it like a broken record is futile and a waste of time after that.

 

- I suppose nwn1 looks good, if you have a TNT2 card and cant play any modern games. Bloodlines/HL2, Unreal 2004, BfME and even Civ4 look vastly better.

 

- You felt the NWN1 OC was up their with dante writing wise. And certainly you are entitled to. But you are in the vast minority and you should accept that by now its not as if my opinion is not the general concensus. If you want to go against the grain on that opinion feel free. But dont act all offended when you encounter such as if it the first time you heard such. Even Bioware finally admited the OC was lacking. Took them 2 yrs to finally have the balls to do so, but thats another topic.

[Volourn]

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

 

FDrom now on, anytime you bring up the whole graphics/engine thing; that's what I'm gonna quote. Youa dmitted I was correct. Not much more to be said on that dead issue.

 

 

 

"I say it once or twice, then move on. They heard what I had to say, repeating it like a broken record is futile and a waste of time after that."

 

Which proves my point. You are an Obsidian fnaboy. At least i'm consistent in how I treta different companies. Afterall, youa re still whining about NWN1 3 years after its release yet you stop complaining abot small aspects of Obsidian afetr once or twice. Hah. Thanks for that laugh.

 

 

" I suppose nwn1 looks good, if you have a TNT2 card and cant play any modern games. Bloodlines/HL2, Unreal 2004, BfME and even Civ4 look vastly better."

 

Outside of BL, those other games are plain old fashion crap.

 

 

"You felt the NWN1 OC was up their with dante writing wise. And certainly you are entitled to. But you are in the vast minority and you should accept that by now its not as if my opinion is not the general concensus. If you want to go against the grain on that opinion feel free. But dont act all offended when you encounter such as if it the first time you heard such. Even Bioware finally admited the OC was lacking. Took them 2 yrs to finally have the balls to do so, but thats another topic."

 

Obsidian and Troika fanboys are not genral censusus. And, don't make things up. I never said the OC was up to 'dante writing'. Why do people conviently ignore that i rated the OC around 75%? WOWSERS!

 

Don't think becuase you got fellow fnaboys to agree with you that is somehow fact.

 

And, BIO has said many of thier games is alkcing. Afterall, every devloper eveyrwher ehas said they would like to improve their games so that proves NOTHING.

 

And, to finish off with the only quote that matters:

 

 

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

 

 

Ok V, change that tampon as its apparently that time of the month for you.

 

P.S. "Ok V, change that tampon as its apparently that time of the month for you."

 

I'm having a ball. You are the one with your panties in a twist. Coming storming into a thread about an issue that Mr. Sawyer and I have settled. Then saying i was RIGHT yet still crying about my correctness.

 

Face it, youa re an Obsidian fnaboy.

 

How long til you bash the 3 year old OC and BIo again while ignore the stuff that Obsidian is doing wrong with NWN2? Hahaha. Yet you ahve the gall to claim you aren't an Obsidian fanboy.

 

 

P.S. One more time people. I believe that NWN2 will be better than NWN1. then again, there is no exuse for it not to be since it is a sequel.

 

 

And, remember, this is all that's important in this thread:

 

 

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

Edited November 16, 2005 by Volourn

[kirottu]

2. I meant to say engine. LOL

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You evil person you.

[Volourn]

No. Just horrible typist. :D

 

Well, I am evil; but not because of that. <>

[Rhomal]

V going in his semi-normal 'jackass' mode. Not possible to have a mature convo when that happens.

 

Moving on...

 

oh and I enjoy your selective quoting/replying. It is if anything entertaining

Edited November 16, 2005 by Rhomal

[Volourn]

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

 

 

As for being a jerk, I'm going to act even more chidlish than normal; but YOU started with your very first post diretced at me in this thread when your lame 'you know nothing about programming' (even though you said I was right), the accusations of fanboyism when it is you who is acting like a fanboy (in your words you complain about Obsidian once or twice on topics than move on yet you lamely whine repetively about things you dislkike about BIO), the 'ol 'someone who owns you comment' you made.

 

Sorry; but youa re the last perosn to whine about another being a jerk in this thread.

 

And, finally:

 

 

"So as a WHOLE you are correct"

 

Game over.

Edited November 16, 2005 by Volourn

[Kaftan Barlast]

Im going to quote my good friend Adrian here with the wisdom he spurted forth one day:

 

 

"Just because god looks like a pancake it doesnt mean you have to eat him"

 

 

and this post isnt spam.

[Gabrielle]

Im going to quote my good friend Adrian here with the wisdom he spurted forth one day:

 

 

"Just because god looks like a pancake it doesnt mean you have to eat him"

 

 

and this post isnt spam.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What a strange quote.

[Gabrielle]

Should be out within about six months then. They said they dont step up the hype campaign until the game is about 6 six months from completion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This would be good. I need something new to play. Waiting is the hardest part.

[metadigital]

Im going to quote my good friend Adrian here with the wisdom he spurted forth one day:

 

 

"Just because god looks like a pancake it doesnt mean you have to eat him"

 

 

and this post isnt spam.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why does God look like a pancake if God doesn't want everyone to eat God? Is God trying to trick creation? Why? God is omnescient and omnipotent and omnipresent, playing tricks on those less capable is regarded as bad taste for us ... is it okay for God?

[alanschu]

Henchmen are NOT hirelings. Henchmen are friends, companions,a nd allies who choose to travel with you. Expert Hirelings are hirelings who get paid because because they are epxerts in their field and can include adventurers or any NPC with an important, useful, and specially trained skill that the PC(s) might need.

 

Again, the OC had Expert Hirelings - adventurers with specialized skills that you paid to adventure with you. SOU, and HOTU had henchmen. So did BG, PST, and FO.

 

Don't get tricked by BIo and Obsidian's false D&D terminology.

 

Again, henchmen are NOT 'hirelings'.

 

Imoen was a henchmen. Err Henchwoman.

 

Linu in the OC was a Expert Hireling.

 

Linu in HOTU was a Henchman. Err.. Henchwoman.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Did you have to pay for all of the "henchmen" in NWN? I thought many of them could be had for adventure. At the very least they were in HotU.

[Volourn]

As I said, in the OC, all the 'henchmen' were Hired Experts. In the OC, all you had to do was go to the one inn or whatever, pay them gold (I believe it was 250gP) and they would automatically join you. Actually, now I think about it, I cna't recall if you actually paid the rogue gold when you meet him just before elaving the temple... Hmm.. In both the SOU, and HOTU expansions they were actually D&D henchmen - menaing they chose to adventure with you for whatever reason - to get rich off treasure found, they wanted to be heroes, they felt they owed, past friendship with you (in HOTU this would be Deekin and with the SOU npcs they were all part of your school)

[alanschu]

I'll take your word for it.

 

I thought some of the joinable NPCs in the OC could be convinced to come along without requiring that you pay for them. Especially in the later chapters.