I wrote a quick guide a few weeks back, maybe it's of help:
The quick rundown would be like this:
-Install the game (but not in Programs folder)
-install latest official critical rebuild patch:
http://www.neverwint...s.htm#critpatch
(find the one that fits to your version)
-try to run the game, and if it's too crashy, see if this guide can help:
http://forum.bioware...nks-for-all-os/
-if you want to play online, install CEP, it is the package that is required on most online worlds these days:
http://www.neverwint...ts.info/cep.htm
-highly recommended: get the Community Patch Project
http://neverwinterva...patch-171-final
It fixes many visual errors client side (that is you), and also many gameplay errors when you play single player modules.
-To play online, you need to find the servers and logins you can play on. Official support for the in-game multiplayer world list has ended, though there is an easy community solution:
http://www.neverwint....info/nwncx.htm
(just take the files from the main folder, not the sub folders. Add them to your NWN folder, where the game-exes are. Start the game from the new loader exe you just added. Give admin rights and Win XP compatibility to this file. When doing this, online servers once again appear in the in-game list. If you get a half filled list at first, try your scroll wheel on the mouse (it's just a slight syncing error).
You can also try some of the other solutions mentioned here:
http://forum.bioware...er-server-list/
-If you are looking for modules to play on your own or with some friends, check the Neverwintervault modules selection:
http://neverwinterva...y_tid=11&=Apply
-all this and much more info can be found here:
http://www.neverwint....info/index.htm
http://www.neverwint...nfo/players.htm
highly recommended to read through these two quick introductions, this should bring you up to speed for anything else
Have fun and welcome to NWN
