Agrenost - Beneath the Cobbles: the DIY Review

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

                I have cobbled together a review composed of quotes from play-testers, commenters from the vault and private correspondence based around the reviewer’s guild format.  I would greatly appreciate any feedback from the community, either in commentary or digital (numerical scores in the various categories) form. 

This kind of detailed feedback really helps me improve my modding skills, and lets players get a better idea as to whether the mod is one they would enjoy playing.

Thanks!
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Bubba McThudd, 15 août 2010 - 01:20 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

               Agrenost – Beneath the Cobbles
The DIY Review

Quick Pros:
“This module is a hidden gem that deserves a lot more exposure. It’s deeply atmospheric and it contains one of the best-designed cities I’ve ever seen. With its seedy, darkened alleys bustling with peddlers, prostitutes, beggars, and thugs, Agrenost feels like a living city, full of hidden mysteries to explore. I played a rogue, and not only did the author make the shopworn rats-in-the-cellar quest interesting, he used it to immerse me in the story and the environment. I really did feel like I was starting as a lowly gutter-rat who, through the twists of fate, rises to the level of hero... Little details, such as town criers shouting the news in the street, or the run-down appearance of the chapel in the slums, really give the module flavor and make it come alive. The NPCs, while not astounding, do have personality, the story is interesting, the author makes good use of custom tilesets and other content to give the module a fresh appearance, and the combat is very challenging.” Razide0506 (voted 9)

Quick Cons:
“The henchmen can be difficult to control, especially in tight areas like sewers.” Krum (voted 9.5)

Summary (No Spoilers)

A novice cleric of noble birth with dreams of glory.
An apprentice mage seeking to prove to the world that one’s destiny is not determined by one’s parentage.  
A lowly rat-catcher’s apprentice with nimble fingers and dreams of adventure and riches beyond the walls of the city.  
An ambitious street tough searching for a way to escape from the poverty and violence of the slums.  
A carpenter’s apprentice with dark secrets and dreams of rebellion and revenge.

Five young citizens whose lives are about to become entwined beneath the cobbles of the city of Agrenost in a deadly tale of deceit, theft, murder, necromancy and civil war - five young citizens who are about to become adventurers.

Number of Players: 1
Hours of Game Play: 12-20 hours/path (5 paths to play)
Start Level: 1
End Level: 6-9
Hak Size: Large
Death: No Respawn
Resting: Some restrictions
Requires: SoU; HotU
PNP conversion: No

Author Description:

“The Northern Empire stands on the brink; News of a terrible defeat in a distant land has stirred talk of civil war. A forbidden tome of great power is stolen. A condemned necromancer escapes the day before his scheduled execution. Four visiting priests on a mysterious mission walk into danger. More than just rats are being driven up from the lower sewers by the ceaseless rains. Evil is stirring beneath the cobbles of Agrenost.”

This module has been designed as an "urban origins" story for new characters set in and under the lower wards of a port city. It is really 5 modules in 1 as there are 5 sets of starting adventures. As the game begins your character will be sorted into one of five factions depending on your class/alignment (Church, Mage, Thug, Thief and Cultist).  Each faction has about 9 core quests before the final main set of quests, which are common to all factions.  Along the way there are also about 20 side quests open to most factions, which you can also explore as well as a number of encounters not part of any specific quest.  Each faction path reveals new aspects of the plot and new areas, so replaying is encouraged.


Review (Spoilers)

Gameplay (1-10)

“I played the Fighter thread. I finished F6/Rogue2/SD1, and felt like my leveling options both fit the roleplaying and suited my needs.  The low-magic setting was great. Getting +1 gear was a challenge, especially at first… Best use of Great Cleve ever. I felt like I was cheating I had so much fun killing zombies, skeletons and undead 6 at a time. A must-have feat. Awesome.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“The fact that there were five different stories made the locked-doors boundaries, which are usually very artificial, much less so. When many places are just somebody else's story (this time), and some places you can actually reach are nobody's story in particular, it makes the setting feel much larger than it is. When I'd actually like to see some of the areas you didn't build, that's telling.” Cain Maris (9.75)

RP/Storytelling (1-10)

“Overall the design was good, the roleplaying intriguing, the quests interesting, NPCs both useful and fun, and the layout and visuals outstanding. The overall plot unfolded slowly and effectively "zoomed out" from the PCs perspective from lowly [whatever] to hero without being overblown and messianic.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“Five fully realized viewpoint characters in three converging plot threads. Relative morality within the alignment system. Multiple plot paths within that framework for the henchmen, as well… Characterization, scripting, writing, and an eye for busy detail. Multiple henchman plot paths, for God's sake.  Criminey, man, how are you ever going to follow this up? Which said, do follow this up. Please. This sort of interactive fiction is the reason I'm still playing this game.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Action (1-10)

“So far, interesting city layout and difficult combat throughout, requiring use of strategy/tactics in order to make it through areas.” Krum (9.5)

“I love the idea with the different gangs controlling the slums. Soon I learned that it's a tough life and you have to be wary of every street corner. It's either avoid fights or die for my lvl 1 monk. I got stabbed by a hostile gang captain because I refused to pay him. I fell for the potion trap in the harbor area and got killed by the lurking thugs. I save often.” Olivier Leroux

“Excellent creep factor with the zombies and the spiders. Way too easy to get too cute with variety rather than using a few appropriate critters well, and you handled that part superbly. It made the surgeon and the cook stand out all the more when you did go for a bit of the esoteric, and you didn’t stretch it trying to explain them - again a common trap you avoided… The way you mostly had creatures spawning from somewhere was very well done, and the bit with the undead coming up out of the water was effective as all hell every time… That was certainly a bang-up finish. When you promise a horde of undead, you deliver.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Visuals (1-10)

“Physically, the extra tiles that only provided background across the docks or over the walls was an excellent choice, and the cluttered interior detailing was also very well done… A crowded urban setting that makes Honor Among Thieves look sparse, and an amazing eye for visual detail in the design.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Sound (1-10)

“I really, really liked the having-a-musician-per-bar thing, and beyond that you matched their quality to the fiscal level of the bar, which was beyond outstanding. Your general attention to social scale was like that across the board… That kind of sustained attention to detail is what makes this mod just so damned good.” Cain Maris (9.75)

"omg! The singing sword of Balazun? You CAN'T make that stuff up! Wait... I guess you did. Awesome!" bolero

“You worked musical theatre in to it. You made me sit here and listen to five minutes of, what, The Hunchback? I cannot believe the things you have pulled off here that shouldn't work but did. This ranks up with Aielund and Saleron.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Replayability (1-10)

“I like that it starts five different ways, depending on my character’s class and alignment. It makes me look forward to playing this again in the future.” Razide0506 (9)

“I've started three separate threads (mage, rogue, fighter) and they're all fun.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“Really impressive mod in terms of size and replayability. I've gone through the church faction and I'm looking forward to trying it out with the other factions! Thanks to the author for all the hard work” Dags (9.75)

“Overall, you did an excellent job setting up what everybody else gets to see from the other side. Most of the details were bang on, such that now I have to play the fighter and thief openers just to see the full spectrum.” Cain Maris (9.75)

“My toughest decision is which version to play next. 8-D…Thanks again for an awesome mod.” Nelson The Geek (10)

Polish (1-10)

“You did a good job with the sense of physical and cultural place. Culturally, using a coherent naming convention - in this case Romanian - worked wonders to give a sense of the people, and you didn't violate that with your dialogue, for which kudos.” Cain Maris (9.75)

“My first impression was very good. The dream scene was funny and innovative… I appreciate very much that you customized items and clothing… The sleeping quarter, the hallway with the view out of the window (I was delighted, which tileset is that?) and the downstairs area with the beggars were all very cool. Great atmosphere.” Olivier Leroux

“You must have tied yourself in knots keeping the logic straight. Not to mention the geography. I really like the way you used blocked-off bits of the sewers to keep it all consistent, but to let you run multiple plot threads through the same area without running into each other. This thing is choreographed like a Marx Bros. movie.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Fun Factor (1-10)

“I really loved this module. I appreciate all the work done by the author. I have been playing NWN since the release and I this is one of the best I have played. Thank you again.”  Ddbrenne (9.75)

“I found this one of THE BEST mods I have ever found on the Vault. If I could give a score higher than 10, I would. The city is the best one I've seen since Bloodright. I also played the rogue tree first and found the background and setting totally immersive. There is so much to do that I never found myself bored - occasionally frustrated, but never bored.” Nelson The Geek (10)

“The truth is this is one of the best mod to have come to NWN 1 community in a long time and it deserves my recognition. Great mod, thanks Bubba!” Chaos_Himself (10)

“There is a whole lot about this mod that I really like - I think it's the best 2009 release I've played...” Luspr

“Again, this was the first mod to hold my attention in some time, and I really enjoyed it, even to the point where I wanted to continue even when I was frustrated.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“I found the game truly excellent. Well worth playing the different options as the overall storyline becomes more clear. Due to this replayability is a must and this is the main part of the game that is groundbreaking. Sometimes you can have good and evil options. Here you have goodish? neutral and evil options and using different classes. The best NWN mod to appear for some time.” Eric Doman (10)

“Dragon Age is sitting and waiting on this, only partly because of computer power issues. Take that as a compliment.” Cain Maris (9.75)
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Bubba McThudd, 06 août 2010 - 11:05 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_The Amethyst Dragon]

               Nice work.  I like how you've got it formatted just like one of the regular reviews, but fill it in with others' comments.  Very cool idea.



I know what you mean with reviews not being particularly quick (or happening at all)...I submitted my PW 3 or 4 years ago for review (it got accepted by a reviewer after just a short time, months went by with no review, then it disappeared from the "pending list", but if I try to resubmit it says that it's "Being Reviewed").  I've long since given up on expecting a review (or even a "mini-review") from the reviewer's guild.



Of course, now I have to at least take a look at your module. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Tren of Twilight Tower]

               Heh, I saw Amethyst posting here, so I said to myself: "Let's see what is it about."



Now, after reading through the review, I can promise you, Bubba, that your modul is the next on my to-play list.  Thank you for sharing your work with our community!



Tren
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_galelabriel]

               I started your module once before Bubba and was quite impressed by what I saw. I am meaning to get back to it soon. RL gets in the way.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

               AD, T3 & Galelabriel,



Thanks for the kind words; I look foreword to your feedback!



Bubba
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Queensilverwing]

               

Bubba McThudd wrote...

So I patiently waited over 200 days for the reviewer’s guild to finish
the review of my mod only to have the reviewer drop my mod last month
and start the review of another mod without so much as a
“whoopsie-daisy.”

I know we have spoken via e-mail in the last couple of days about the above, but I would like to make a public appology to you as well Bubba. One of the reasons we recently introduced the new Mini Review system was to be able to give authors of shorter modules a chance at review (as well as be fair to them because the full review system wasn't suited to their module types). While we can't publish your review within our NWVault system, I really do hope that you get a lot of exposure for your module and that the suggestions I made in our e-mail help.

The Amethyst Dragon wrote...

I know what you mean with reviews not being particularly quick (or happening at all)..

*Gives a friendly grin* We have publsihed 15 reviews in the last 11 months...

.I submitted my PW 3 or 4 years ago for review (it got accepted by a reviewer after just a short time, months went by with no review, then it disappeared from the "pending list", but if I try to resubmit it says that it's "Being Reviewed").  I've long since given up on expecting a review (or even a "mini-review") from the reviewer's guild.

Now this is bugging me, because I feel almost sure I saw your PW on the Pending list years ago. During 2005/6 I was * I think * the only reviewer who played MP and reviewed PWs. I've done some checking and I can't find any record of your PW on our Pending list, nor one of it being archived, deleted either (on our admin side we can see deletions and the admin reasons given). I do know that we 'cleaned up' the Pending list 2 years ago in September. We removed a few PWs and some modules that were already HoF...but WoA was not on the list although Aertheca was, as well as Realms of Mythology.

 Module/PW owners who have their mod removed from the list are e-mailed with a full explanation. The fact that you cannot add your PW to the list means there is a glitch on the Vault system, and only Maximus can fix that.

I'll be honest, I simply don't think we have the reviewer power to review PWs these days '>. I am truly sorry that so many modules wait on our Pending lists for so long, but we simply don't have the reviewers, and at this point in time, we have 1 reviewer for NWN2 modules who also is a rather prolific NWN1 reviewer as well.

Now, because I don't want this excellent thread to be highjack with explanations galore, I'm copying and pasting Bubba's player review here again '>

Agrenost – Beneath the Cobbles
The DIY Review

Quick Pros:
“This
module is a hidden gem that deserves a lot more exposure. It’s deeply
atmospheric and it contains one of the best-designed cities I’ve ever
seen. With its seedy, darkened alleys bustling with peddlers,
prostitutes, beggars, and thugs, Agrenost feels like a living city, full
of hidden mysteries to explore. I played a rogue, and not only did the
author make the shopworn rats-in-the-cellar quest interesting, he used
it to immerse me in the story and the environment. I really did feel
like I was starting as a lowly gutter-rat who, through the twists of
fate, rises to the level of hero... Little details, such as town criers
shouting the news in the street, or the run-down appearance of the
chapel in the slums, really give the module flavor and make it come
alive. The NPCs, while not astounding, do have personality, the story is
interesting, the author makes good use of custom tilesets and other
content to give the module a fresh appearance, and the combat is very
challenging.” Razide0506 (voted 9)

Quick Cons:
“The henchmen can be difficult to control, especially in tight areas like sewers.” Krum (voted 9.5)

Summary (No Spoilers)

A novice cleric of noble birth with dreams of glory.
An apprentice mage seeking to prove to the world that one’s destiny is not determined by one’s parentage.  
A lowly rat-catcher’s apprentice with nimble fingers and dreams of adventure and riches beyond the walls of the city.  
An ambitious street tough searching for a way to escape from the poverty and violence of the slums.  
A carpenter’s apprentice with dark secrets and dreams of rebellion and revenge.

Five
young citizens whose lives are about to become entwined beneath the
cobbles of the city of Agrenost in a deadly tale of deceit, theft,
murder, necromancy and civil war - five young citizens who are about to
become adventurers.

Number of Players: 1
Hours of Game Play: 12-20 hours/path (5 paths to play)
Start Level: 1
End Level: 6-9
Hak Size: Large
Death: No Respawn
Resting: Some restrictions
Requires: SoU; HotU
PNP conversion: No
Author Description:

“The
Northern Empire stands on the brink; News of a terrible defeat in a
distant land has stirred talk of civil war. A forbidden tome of great
power is stolen. A condemned necromancer escapes the day before his
scheduled execution. Four visiting priests on a mysterious mission walk
into danger. More than just rats are being driven up from the lower
sewers by the ceaseless rains. Evil is stirring beneath the cobbles of
Agrenost.”

This module has been designed as an "urban origins"
story for new characters set in and under the lower wards of a port
city. It is really 5 modules in 1 as there are 5 sets of starting
adventures. As the game begins your character will be sorted into one of
five factions depending on your class/alignment (Church, Mage, Thug,
Thief and Cultist).  Each faction has about 9 core quests before the
final main set of quests, which are common to all factions.  Along the
way there are also about 20 side quests open to most factions, which you
can also explore as well as a number of encounters not part of any
specific quest.  Each faction path reveals new aspects of the plot and
new areas, so replaying is encouraged.


Review (Spoilers)

Gameplay (1-10)

“I
played the Fighter thread. I finished F6/Rogue2/SD1, and felt like my
leveling options both fit the roleplaying and suited my needs.  The
low-magic setting was great. Getting +1 gear was a challenge, especially
at first… Best use of Great Cleve ever. I felt like I was cheating I
had so much fun killing zombies, skeletons and undead 6 at a time. A
must-have feat. Awesome.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“The fact that there
were five different stories made the locked-doors boundaries, which are
usually very artificial, much less so. When many places are just
somebody else's story (this time), and some places you can actually
reach are nobody's story in particular, it makes the setting feel much
larger than it is. When I'd actually like to see some of the areas you
didn't build, that's telling.” Cain Maris (9.75)

RP/Storytelling (1-10)

“Overall
the design was good, the roleplaying intriguing, the quests
interesting, NPCs both useful and fun, and the layout and visuals
outstanding. The overall plot unfolded slowly and effectively "zoomed
out" from the PCs perspective from lowly [whatever] to hero without
being overblown and messianic.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“Five fully
realized viewpoint characters in three converging plot threads. Relative
morality within the alignment system. Multiple plot paths within that
framework for the henchmen, as well… Characterization, scripting,
writing, and an eye for busy detail. Multiple henchman plot paths, for
God's sake.  Criminey, man, how are you ever going to follow this up?
Which said, do follow this up. Please. This sort of interactive fiction
is the reason I'm still playing this game.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Action (1-10)

“So
far, interesting city layout and difficult combat throughout, requiring
use of strategy/tactics in order to make it through areas.” Krum (9.5)

“I
love the idea with the different gangs controlling the slums. Soon I
learned that it's a tough life and you have to be wary of every street
corner. It's either avoid fights or die for my lvl 1 monk. I got stabbed
by a hostile gang captain because I refused to pay him. I fell for the
potion trap in the harbor area and got killed by the lurking thugs. I
save often.” Olivier Leroux

“Excellent creep factor with the
zombies and the spiders. Way too easy to get too cute with variety
rather than using a few appropriate critters well, and you handled that
part superbly. It made the surgeon and the cook stand out all the more
when you did go for a bit of the esoteric, and you didn’t stretch it
trying to explain them - again a common trap you avoided… The way you
mostly had creatures spawning from somewhere was very well done, and the
bit with the undead coming up out of the water was effective as all
hell every time… That was certainly a bang-up finish. When you promise a
horde of undead, you deliver.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Visuals (1-10)


“Physically, the extra tiles that only provided background across the
docks or over the walls was an excellent choice, and the cluttered
interior detailing was also very well done… A crowded urban setting that
makes Honor Among Thieves look sparse, and an amazing eye for visual
detail in the design.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Sound (1-10)

“I
really, really liked the having-a-musician-per-bar thing, and beyond
that you matched their quality to the fiscal level of the bar, which was
beyond outstanding. Your general attention to social scale was like
that across the board… That kind of sustained attention to detail is
what makes this mod just so damned good.” Cain Maris (9.75)

"omg! The singing sword of Balazun? You CAN'T make that stuff up! Wait... I guess you did. Awesome!" bolero

“You
worked musical theatre in to it. You made me sit here and listen to
five minutes of, what, The Hunchback? I cannot believe the things you
have pulled off here that shouldn't work but did. This ranks up with
Aielund and Saleron.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Replayability (1-10)

“I
like that it starts five different ways, depending on my character’s
class and alignment. It makes me look forward to playing this again in
the future.” Razide0506 (9)

“I've started three separate threads (mage, rogue, fighter) and they're all fun.” SatorArepo (9.75)


“Really impressive mod in terms of size and replayability. I've gone
through the church faction and I'm looking forward to trying it out with
the other factions! Thanks to the author for all the hard work” Dags
(9.75)

“Overall, you did an excellent job setting up what
everybody else gets to see from the other side. Most of the details were
bang on, such that now I have to play the fighter and thief openers
just to see the full spectrum.” Cain Maris (9.75)

“My toughest decision is which version to play next. 8-D…Thanks again for an awesome mod.” Nelson The Geek (10)

Polish (1-10)

“You
did a good job with the sense of physical and cultural place.
Culturally, using a coherent naming convention - in this case Romanian -
worked wonders to give a sense of the people, and you didn't violate
that with your dialogue, for which kudos.” Cain Maris (9.75)

“My
first impression was very good. The dream scene was funny and
innovative… I appreciate very much that you customized items and
clothing… The sleeping quarter, the hallway with the view out of the
window (I was delighted, which tileset is that?) and the downstairs area
with the beggars were all very cool. Great atmosphere.” Olivier Leroux

“You
must have tied yourself in knots keeping the logic straight. Not to
mention the geography. I really like the way you used blocked-off bits
of the sewers to keep it all consistent, but to let you run multiple
plot threads through the same area without running into each other. This
thing is choreographed like a Marx Bros. movie.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Fun Factor (1-10)

“I
really loved this module. I appreciate all the work done by the author.
I have been playing NWN since the release and I this is one of the best
I have played. Thank you again.”  Ddbrenne (9.75)

“I found this
one of THE BEST mods I have ever found on the Vault. If I could give a
score higher than 10, I would. The city is the best one I've seen since
Bloodright. I also played the rogue tree first and found the background
and setting totally immersive. There is so much to do that I never found
myself bored - occasionally frustrated, but never bored.” Nelson The
Geek (10)

“The truth is this is one of the best mod to have come
to NWN 1 community in a long time and it deserves my recognition. Great
mod, thanks Bubba!” Chaos_Himself (10)

“There is a whole lot about this mod that I really like - I think it's the best 2009 release I've played...” Luspr

“Again,
this was the first mod to hold my attention in some time, and I really
enjoyed it, even to the point where I wanted to continue even when I was
frustrated.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“I found the game truly
excellent. Well worth playing the different options as the overall
storyline becomes more clear. Due to this replayability is a must and
this is the main part of the game that is groundbreaking. Sometimes you
can have good and evil options. Here you have goodish? neutral and evil
options and using different classes. The best NWN mod to appear for some
time.” Eric Doman (10)

“Dragon Age is sitting and waiting on
this, only partly because of computer power issues. Take that as a
compliment.” Cain Maris (9.75)
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Queensilverwing, 12 août 2010 - 07:47 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_amers1015]

               I'm very sorry I couldn't finish the review of your module. Next time I give birth and have my RL fall all to hell I'll make sure to do so on a better schedule.

I don't think it's fair to say I picked up a new module without so much as a "whoopsie-daisy" as we did communicate about it. I'm sorry you didn't feel you could talk to me personally about your disappointment, maybe we could've worked something out. As I explained to you, I dropped your module because I knew it would be able to get done more quickly and effectively by someone with more time on their hands. The other review I took was for a shorter and less-complicated module (yours has all of those separate game paths by class). I had your module for 200 days because I was pregnant, sick and miserable. When I took the review I felt fine and had no way of knowing how the pregnancy and RL would shake out. The entire 200 days I was playing and working on it as often as I could but it was more than a little difficult.

This is a hobby and I don't get paid for it. I do my best, as do we all. Honestly I don't need any more guilt in my life than I already have so maybe I'll make my next review my last since I obviously am causing a problem here. I thought we were all understanding about each other's lives and that things happen, but apparently being sarcastic and going over my head was more mature.

Again, I'm sorry you were upset, I truly am. I did enjoy your module for the most part and I always appreciate the work of contributors to the community.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par amers1015, 12 août 2010 - 08:23 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

               QSV,

Thanks for the kind words - I understand your reasons why DIY reviews can't be used on the vault – standards are important.  Long queues suck, but there's only so much that unpaid volunteers can do.  Speaking as a player and a modder I appreciate all the work the guild does.  Your reviews have guided me to some unforgettable adventures and improved my modding skills by pointing out common mistakes and uncommon strokes of genius.  Thanks!

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

               amers,



Bubba, like all Barbarians, knows better than to argue with a new mother.  



Congratulations on the bambino!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shia Luck]

               You know Bubba, I think most every visitor to these forums appreciates, or thinks they appreciate, the amount of work that goes into making a good module. You, I, and everyone who's actually tried to make a module know it is even more work than that, no? I gave up. YOu didn't. I congratulate you.



And you know, if you want to promote your module in the module section of the forum, I don't think anyone is going to complain.



And using the RG framework is simply a compliment to RG, not a shameful marketing technique.





So next time, don't try to blame someone else as if you were forced into this 'shameful' decision to self-promote by the Reviewer's Guild letting you down. If you feel like a victim, don't victimise someone else so you can feel better. Instead, recognise that you simply feel under appreciated for your efforts and therefore fully justified to go promote your module, no? YOu think it's good, no? YOu have some good comments, no? Go promote it!



(If only barbarians had the apology gene, life would be so much easier for everyone. '> )
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_The Amethyst Dragon]

               Revisiting this thread and I see a bunch more postings since I did mine above.  I just want to make it clear that I have absolutely no problems with the reviewers guild...I understand technical glitches and I definitely understand how real life can reduce the time for unpaid work related to a game (my wife and I have 4 kids in the house, including infant twins).

I just gotta say thanks for volunteering and for publishing all the reviews over the last few years. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Queensilverwing]

               @ The Amethyst Dragon  - You're welcome, and thanks for your many contributions over the years to our smashing community '>

@ Bubba - I'm really pleased that our reviews have helped you discover some grand adventures. That is what this game is all about, and I know that I've had a heck of a ride these last 6 years!

Agrenost – Beneath the Cobbles
The DIY Review

Quick Pros:

“This module is a hidden gem that deserves a lot more exposure. It’s deeply atmospheric and it contains one of the best-designed cities I’ve ever seen. With its seedy, darkened alleys bustling with peddlers,
prostitutes, beggars, and thugs, Agrenost feels like a living city, fullof hidden mysteries to explore. I played a rogue, and not only did the author make the shopworn rats-in-the-cellar quest interesting, he used
it to immerse me in the story and the environment. I really did feel like I was starting as a lowly gutter-rat who, through the twists of fate, rises to the level of hero... Little details, such as town criers
shouting the news in the street, or the run-down appearance of the chapel in the slums, really give the module flavor and make it come alive. The NPCs, while not astounding, do have personality, the story is interesting, the author makes good use of custom tilesets and other content to give the module a fresh appearance, and the combat is very challenging.” Razide0506 (voted 9)

Quick Cons:

“The henchmen can be difficult to control, especially in tight areas like sewers.” Krum (voted 9.5)

Summary (No Spoilers)

A novice cleric of noble birth with dreams of glory.
An apprentice mage seeking to prove to the world that one’s destiny is not determined by one’s parentage.  
A lowly rat-catcher’s apprentice with nimble fingers and dreams of adventure and riches beyond the walls of the city.  
An ambitious street tough searching for a way to escape from the poverty and violence of the slums.  
A carpenter’s apprentice with dark secrets and dreams of rebellion and revenge.

Five
young citizens whose lives are about to become entwined beneath the
cobbles of the city of Agrenost in a deadly tale of deceit, theft,
murder, necromancy and civil war - five young citizens who are about to
become adventurers.

Number of Players: 1
Hours of Game Play: 12-20 hours/path (5 paths to play)
Start Level: 1
End Level: 6-9
Hak Size: Large
Death: No Respawn
Resting: Some restrictions
Requires: SoU; HotU
PNP conversion: No

Author Description:

“The
Northern Empire stands on the brink; News of a terrible defeat in a
distant land has stirred talk of civil war. A forbidden tome of great
power is stolen. A condemned necromancer escapes the day before his
scheduled execution. Four visiting priests on a mysterious mission walk
into danger. More than just rats are being driven up from the lower
sewers by the ceaseless rains. Evil is stirring beneath the cobbles of
Agrenost.”

This module has been designed as an "urban origins"
story for new characters set in and under the lower wards of a port
city. It is really 5 modules in 1 as there are 5 sets of starting
adventures. As the game begins your character will be sorted into one of
five factions depending on your class/alignment (Church, Mage, Thug,
Thief and Cultist).  Each faction has about 9 core quests before the
final main set of quests, which are common to all factions.  Along the
way there are also about 20 side quests open to most factions, which you
can also explore as well as a number of encounters not part of any
specific quest.  Each faction path reveals new aspects of the plot and
new areas, so replaying is encouraged.


Review (Spoilers)

Gameplay (1-10)

“I
played the Fighter thread. I finished F6/Rogue2/SD1, and felt like my
leveling options both fit the roleplaying and suited my needs.  The
low-magic setting was great. Getting +1 gear was a challenge, especially
at first… Best use of Great Cleve ever. I felt like I was cheating I
had so much fun killing zombies, skeletons and undead 6 at a time. A
must-have feat. Awesome.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“The fact that there
were five different stories made the locked-doors boundaries, which are
usually very artificial, much less so. When many places are just
somebody else's story (this time), and some places you can actually
reach are nobody's story in particular, it makes the setting feel much
larger than it is. When I'd actually like to see some of the areas you
didn't build, that's telling.” Cain Maris (9.75)

RP/Storytelling (1-10)

“Overall
the design was good, the roleplaying intriguing, the quests
interesting, NPCs both useful and fun, and the layout and visuals
outstanding. The overall plot unfolded slowly and effectively "zoomed
out" from the PCs perspective from lowly [whatever] to hero without
being overblown and messianic.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“Five fully
realized viewpoint characters in three converging plot threads. Relative
morality within the alignment system. Multiple plot paths within that
framework for the henchmen, as well… Characterization, scripting,
writing, and an eye for busy detail. Multiple henchman plot paths, for
God's sake.  Criminey, man, how are you ever going to follow this up?
Which said, do follow this up. Please. This sort of interactive fiction
is the reason I'm still playing this game.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Action (1-10)

“So
far, interesting city layout and difficult combat throughout, requiring
use of strategy/tactics in order to make it through areas.” Krum (9.5)

“I
love the idea with the different gangs controlling the slums. Soon I
learned that it's a tough life and you have to be wary of every street
corner. It's either avoid fights or die for my lvl 1 monk. I got stabbed
by a hostile gang captain because I refused to pay him. I fell for the
potion trap in the harbor area and got killed by the lurking thugs. I
save often.” Olivier Leroux

“Excellent creep factor with the
zombies and the spiders. Way too easy to get too cute with variety
rather than using a few appropriate critters well, and you handled that
part superbly. It made the surgeon and the cook stand out all the more
when you did go for a bit of the esoteric, and you didn’t stretch it
trying to explain them - again a common trap you avoided… The way you
mostly had creatures spawning from somewhere was very well done, and the
bit with the undead coming up out of the water was effective as all
hell every time… That was certainly a bang-up finish. When you promise a
horde of undead, you deliver.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Visuals (1-10)


“Physically, the extra tiles that only provided background across the
docks or over the walls was an excellent choice, and the cluttered
interior detailing was also very well done… A crowded urban setting that
makes Honor Among Thieves look sparse, and an amazing eye for visual
detail in the design.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Sound (1-10)

“I
really, really liked the having-a-musician-per-bar thing, and beyond
that you matched their quality to the fiscal level of the bar, which was
beyond outstanding. Your general attention to social scale was like
that across the board… That kind of sustained attention to detail is
what makes this mod just so damned good.” Cain Maris (9.75)

"omg! The singing sword of Balazun? You CAN'T make that stuff up! Wait... I guess you did. Awesome!" bolero

“You
worked musical theatre in to it. You made me sit here and listen to
five minutes of, what, The Hunchback? I cannot believe the things you
have pulled off here that shouldn't work but did. This ranks up with
Aielund and Saleron.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Replayability (1-10)

“I
like that it starts five different ways, depending on my character’s
class and alignment. It makes me look forward to playing this again in
the future.” Razide0506 (9)

“I've started three separate threads (mage, rogue, fighter) and they're all fun.” SatorArepo (9.75)


“Really impressive mod in terms of size and replayability. I've gone
through the church faction and I'm looking forward to trying it out with
the other factions! Thanks to the author for all the hard work” Dags
(9.75)

“Overall, you did an excellent job setting up what
everybody else gets to see from the other side. Most of the details were
bang on, such that now I have to play the fighter and thief openers
just to see the full spectrum.” Cain Maris (9.75)

“My toughest decision is which version to play next. 8-D…Thanks again for an awesome mod.” Nelson The Geek (10)

Polish (1-10)

“You
did a good job with the sense of physical and cultural place.
Culturally, using a coherent naming convention - in this case Romanian -
worked wonders to give a sense of the people, and you didn't violate
that with your dialogue, for which kudos.” Cain Maris (9.75)

“My
first impression was very good. The dream scene was funny and
innovative… I appreciate very much that you customized items and
clothing… The sleeping quarter, the hallway with the view out of the
window (I was delighted, which tileset is that?) and the downstairs area
with the beggars were all very cool. Great atmosphere.” Olivier Leroux

“You
must have tied yourself in knots keeping the logic straight. Not to
mention the geography. I really like the way you used blocked-off bits
of the sewers to keep it all consistent, but to let you run multiple
plot threads through the same area without running into each other. This
thing is choreographed like a Marx Bros. movie.” Cain Maris (9.75)

Fun Factor (1-10)

“I
really loved this module. I appreciate all the work done by the author.
I have been playing NWN since the release and I this is one of the best
I have played. Thank you again.”  Ddbrenne (9.75)

“I found this
one of THE BEST mods I have ever found on the Vault. If I could give a
score higher than 10, I would. The city is the best one I've seen since
Bloodright. I also played the rogue tree first and found the background
and setting totally immersive. There is so much to do that I never found
myself bored - occasionally frustrated, but never bored.” Nelson The
Geek (10)

“The truth is this is one of the best mod to have come
to NWN 1 community in a long time and it deserves my recognition. Great
mod, thanks Bubba!” Chaos_Himself (10)

“There is a whole lot about this mod that I really like - I think it's the best 2009 release I've played...” Luspr

“Again,
this was the first mod to hold my attention in some time, and I really
enjoyed it, even to the point where I wanted to continue even when I was
frustrated.” SatorArepo (9.75)

“I found the game truly
excellent. Well worth playing the different options as the overall
storyline becomes more clear. Due to this replayability is a must and
this is the main part of the game that is groundbreaking. Sometimes you
can have good and evil options. Here you have goodish? neutral and evil
options and using different classes. The best NWN mod to appear for some
time.” Eric Doman (10)

“Dragon Age is sitting and waiting on
this, only partly because of computer power issues. Take that as a
compliment.” Cain Maris (9.75)
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Queensilverwing, 19 août 2010 - 07:12 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               Hi Bubba Thudd,

I'm starting Agrenost - Beneath the Cobbles right now, the wizard and female way, and there is one thing surprising me I don't seem to be allowed to use my fav Customize Character, by Kamiryn in it.
Am I doing something wrong or is it your author's choice?
I was thinking such a new and CEP module like yours couldn't avoid using such a marvellous tool.

Let me know!
And thanks already.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 18 septembre 2010 - 12:52 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

               Hi jmlzemaggo,

Thanks for trying my mod out!

What exactly is the mod doing when you try to load the custom character? Are you getting an error message? I designed the mod for starting characters, so I didn't test it with custom characters very often.