have a pw server question that has been bounced around for years now

[Legacy_Falonthas2012]

               of all the players who try out new servers or even return to revamped ones when they are updated,

would having a hak stop anyone from going to a server that previously didnt use them?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               It did for me for quite a while.

Being Techless, I was afraid I would do something to ruin my game, and having me messing with files seemed to be a perfect storm. But as time moved on, and as I encountered several Techies that guided me in the basics needed to play solo and m/p versions, eventually I grew comfortable enough to the challenge.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_henesua]

               Some people would be dissuaded. Myself, no. With the amazing content available now, I don't even see why CEP is used anymore. Better to have a tight set of content that looks great and is tailored specifically for your world.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               No, but I'd need to see screenshots on a forum first, and that the world matched what I wanted to play.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_TheSupremeForce]

               I'm far more interested in setting, theme, and overall vision than in whether or not haks are used.  If something looks like it might be good, I'll give it a shot.  My NWN folder is already massive, so what's a little more?
               
               

               
            

[Baaleos]

               I've never been keen on using Haks  -  as mentioned - it does reduce the amount of players who can just browse into your server.

a good 50-60% of players become new players of servers, through random jaunts onto the server just because the name looked interesting.

If their very first impression of the server is - Hey.. I cant get in.
It kinda leaves a mark - in my opinion.

I try to use unblocking content.
I provide a Resource Downloader application, that provides Music and portraits, and sounds that are used in my server - Among some other interesting features such as Integrated Server status, and Start Server button - which jumps them into the server in less than 10 seconds flat (Disables the Master Server authentication requirement for that Startup of nwmain)

These content types are non-blocking, and will function outside of a hak.
They will not deny players access to the server if they do not have it.
The worst that will happen is that they just cant hear the music in certain areas - No Biggy.

Everyone gets really hyped about visuals, models and tilesets - Sometimes music and sound becomes one of the most overlooked, and yet easier of the content types to be implimented - and they can make an area, a true scene.
A snow covered mountain is just a snow covered mountain without music.
Add some music, and it 'can' make the player love the scene 10x more.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Fester Pot]

               

Falonthas2012 wrote...

of all the players who try out new servers or even return to revamped ones when they are updated,

would having a hak stop anyone from going to a server that previously didnt use them?

Not for me, especially at this stage of NWN's life. It's not like the early days when players would randomly try PWs using the multiplayer functions and get booted and not understand why. The casual surfer in a way. There were lots of posts like these back in the early days of NWN - players saying they tried to connect to PW World A and don't know why it won't connect, then be told to go to the PW's forum, only to reply they didn't know where to find that.

I like haks, especially if they add more for the player to use themselves to be more unique looking.

Screenshots help a lot too - as long as they don't have some character with a glowing sword, wings or a tail in it, I'll usually try it out.

FP!
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Fester Pot, 09 mai 2012 - 03:32 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Fester Pot]

               Edit: Double post
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Numos]

               At this stage in NWN I've often assumed that the days of people browsing and randomly joining servers are over. I'm actually a little surprised there are still people leery of using haks at this point - but I suppose it can present an obstacle to people who picked up NWN from GOG or just aren't very tech savvy.

What are people's thoughts on CEP as far as making persistent worlds accessible but pretty?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Fester Pot]

               

Numos wrote...

What are people's thoughts on CEP as far as making persistent worlds accessible but pretty?

There are a lot of PWs that make use of CEP and only CEP. It makes it easier for a player to jump from one to another.

FP!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Groove Widdit]

               Reading this made me feel better about making mod without haks.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Falonthas2012]

               well after years of debate, our awesome DM team has decided to use a small hak that is custom fit for the server. it will allow new players to enter and look around, but they wont get the full effect until they add the hak .
we are also heading into what we are calling Version 5 of City of Arabels evolution, once the team is ready for the jump into our newest version.
V4 is slowing wrapping up and all major plots are moving to completion, so dont hesitate to stop on by and give us a look , so then you can see how the server is transformed.
The DM team is giving hints and spoilers about whats coming in V5, with major NPC's and other bits to keep us drooling  in our chairs, like a 50 year time jump that makes current chars retire and their descendants taking the lead.