Now, this document isn’t for everyone, reader beware… (TROLL WARNING)
I freely offer my building experience & advice, you can throw it in the trash if you don't like it, nevertheless, here it is...
(You can quote me if you like) "My biggest turn off with offline modules are custom content / Haks / etc. is if I have to download and install a Hak and/or files manually to play the module, I'm not touching it!"
I'd highly recommend compressing the files with the nwn content builder so players can simply download, double click to install all the files & content, and quickly go play...
Most of the time I only check out the modules to see if it's worth playing, more often than not, I get to the first 4 or 5 areas and learn it's loaded down with way too many placeable objects &/or NPCs which hogs if not kills the player’s computer resources, the module may induce a constant lock (cut scene mania), or worse than all that, it's in movie mode, where you actually get to play like 10% of the time.
90% of the modules created are a fail in my book...
It makes me want to scream, truly...
"I don't want to play a movie module, I don't want to read a module, I don't want to wade through fancy overloaded areas (with way too many placeable objects & NPCs nor extremely large areas), and I sure as heck don't want to fight goblins offline for 2 XP and 1 GP, sorry, but I don't want to play those kind of modules, so please....
As one of my players visiting my online server module put it, "If I see Original Campaign content, I just throw it in the trash bin, or just leave if it's a Server."
(Wise words builders should listen to!)
If you’re going to do it, then do it right, THE FIRST TIME...
A module worth doing is worth doing well.....
If you need resources, ask, there are lots of people here to help you build your module....
If you want to be proud of your work, do a good job...
I remember one kid who said about my work "This has got to be like the best module, like ever..." Sure it may have been just his opinion, but hearing that made me very happy that I spent 6 months on the project... (Yes that's all the Kudos you may get or don't get, if it's a lame module)
I've made lots of modules, I know the frustrations you hit, truly, but that doesn't mean you should give it 1/2 of an attempt, making a module requires serious commitment, dedication, a mass amount learning, testing, tweaking, lots of patience, and most of all a lot of time...
When (not if) you get frustrated, take a break, you will come back later in proper spirits, ready to tackle the world. (Literally)
It's a daunting task to start a new module, knowing what lays ahead, for those who have made a module or two; you know exactly what I’m talking about. However, any kid could put together 100 areas (With Encounters) in a module in a few days, no joke…
(Will it be worth playing? Probably not.)
I know some people like 6 hour or less playtime in a module, but that's simply something I cannot stand building, cause, despite how rich a 6 hour module may be, it's only 6 hours, the fantasy dies too quickly for me...
Some people like high action, some do not, some like balance, some like Uber, but most just want to have fun!
That's worth repeating...
"Most Just Want To Have Fun!"
Is your module fun?
Have you actually play-tested / played the module yourself?
Is it too hard?
Is it too easy?
Is there enough interaction in the module for the PCs?
Are the NPC Conversations worth reading, is it a manuscript for a Play where the players have to read for an extremely long time? Is it funny? Do the NPCs have personality or are they bland?
I remember one module I downloaded, something that blew me away (in a very bad way), something about sexual content advisories, nevertheless, it was like watching a movie (with no talk, just subtitles which only worked when you clicked on them), lamest and dumbest module I have ever played on...
Introducing rape into a fantasy game = BAD TASTE, period...
Remember above all else, it's a fantasy game, so MAKE SURE< you got the fantasy part correct..!
The NWN Game is NOT a life like / ultra realism game, get real with yourself, people play the game to have fun & play (not live) in a fantasy world, they don't want to lift rocks or logs to look for food, all so they can press the R button to spend 20 minutes resting, (Staring at a blank screen for 20 minutes = Extremely Lame)
I've been a DM since 1987 in D&D, no I'm not a know it all, no, I'm not the best builder nor DM, nor even a master scripter, but my work doesn't suck either, though some may not like it, at least I got one thing correct, many people did enjoy it, because I'd rather build for the masses and a few highly opinionated persons who think the game should be this way or that way... Building for others is a talent & gift..
One question you should ask yourself is: Who are you building for?
I've expressed a lot of my opinion, much of which could be backed by solid material written in countless D&D Books, the #1 thing you need to know as a DM is, if the players are complaining / not having fun, it's YOUR JOB to fix it, and fast!
People get bored too, so keep that in mind the next time you’re tempted to make a 16 X 16 Map (or greater) with 3 spawns on it and nothing else to interact with... I disagree you should not build big maps, in fact, smaller maps are much better because it takes less time to load, they can be a little more detailed without adding too much lag, and please, for the love of the game, STOP PUTTING over 10 NPCs on a map, you only kill the player's computer resources, so just stop...
I've seen so many lame modules it makes me want to puke; seriously, just because they did it in the OC doesn't mean you should... Even the OC didn't get carried away in most cases. (In some town areas they did)
If your building for a server you need to be even MORE CONCIOUS of how you build, because taking up too many resources with congestive areas / NPCs spawned, can spell lag very quickly. (You should spawn & de-spawn NPCs by scripting always) Placeable objects on the other hand, well, that may be a bit much, but don’t get carried away with this either.
So you think you can build? I’ve seen quite a few servers and modules in my days, some are good, some are great, but most don’t make the cut… If you want people to like your work, give it the time & attention to detail, and love what you do, because you will get what you deserve. (Just look at all those people who bought those NWN 1 Wannabe games, lol) If your work is stellar people will praise you appropriately, if it’s lame they will curse you all the more…. (I kid you not)
I hope this dissertation inspired you to be a good builder, if not, well then you’re always welcome to take your lame Module and host a dead server… (Is your server dead?)
I’m not stabbing you, I’m calling you to MAKE IT RIGHT…
The players speak for themselves, if they don’t like it, they just leave…
You want votes? Put something up worth voting on...
Finally, on an ending note, many players are aware of why some servers are famous, look at Higher Ground, as an example, you can SEE the amount of work & content that went into that HUGE module... More than that, it's quality content...
Not QUANTITY but QUALITY!
That's the hardest thing to do, but the most important...
No, I didn't build nor am I associated with HG (Higher Ground), though I've made multiple modules, some are familiar with my work, while others are not, I try to make quality, though I don't always succeed, however, "Trying" is the key word...
NWN 4 Ever!
Modifié par Genisys, 26 juillet 2010 - 12:58 .
