What do you like about SP Modules?

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               I'm collecting info for a little project. Just curious what elements of modules you really enjoyed. What keeps your interest, and what don't you like?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_olivier leroux]

               Hm, quite general question. I hope I can come up with some helpful answers nevertheless.

What I like:

- Exploration, which requires areas that are worth looking at, things to discover; that doesn't mean I enjoy modules that force you to explore because they hide crucial stuff but it's nice to be rewarded for having a closer look around. And not necessarily in terms of treasure or something, just beautiful scenery, clever use of placeables, jokes, one-liners etc. which brings me to the next point, closely related:

- Attention to detail. I don't blame any builder if NPCs, important objects or monsters don't have their own descriptions (I reckon most players don't even care about examining them) or if the portraits or voicesets aren't fitting, if there are only standard items and clothes and default books etc. But if discover a builder actually *did* pay attention to any of these things, I'm already sold on their module.

- A good story and/or unique setting, obviously. Humor, originality, creativity. Anything I haven't seen before (unless it's anything horribly distasteful or misanthropic '> ).

- Custom content! (If it's of high quality and used in a way that benefits the mod, of course; but generally I'm very fond of haks and custom music.)


What I don't like:

- Large areas with nothing much in it. I prefer small but exciting.

- Too much loot. I admit if there's a usable container, I'll try to nick its contents and I'll pick up everything a creature drops, no matter how useless it is. I know, it's compulsive behavior and I can't really blame that on the mod author but my enjoyment is often greater when I'm not constantly reminded of how greedy and obsessive I am. '> So personally I prefer less but more useful loot (or automatical gold instead of junk to sell).

- Grinding. I like some challenging combats but often my interest is mostly kept by the story or the curiosity about discovering new things. I don't like hack and slash if it adds up to fighting the same type of critters over and over again. If there's some diversity in the combat, different kinds of foes or at least different looks, the occasional one-liner or conversation, good treasure, opportunities for alternative tactics etc. I may even bear with heavy hack and slash content though.

- Walls of text - which doesn't mean I don't like wordy modules, just don't give it to me all at once.

- Bugs. obviously. Even or especially the small ones that are easily corrected, like typos or missing links in conversation trees.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Luspr]

               Very good list that, what Mr Leroux just said '>

And dialogue with 'anachronisms' - "Sorry I forgot to warn you about the guardian lol" etc. Which to be fair is only occasionally seen

And (most importantly, perhaps) being able to play them whenever I want rather than wandering around an almost deserted PW because of the time zone I'm in.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Luspr, 16 mai 2011 - 12:40 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               ^^ This for the most part; well written!

Personally, I do not need custom content as much. I tend to dislike a Hak being emplaced just to have one, but do like a Hak that adds something to telling the tale.

For instance, I did enjoy The Island by Hugie as it told the story whch started with a beached PC, and the Hak added crashing waves to the opening which made the opening more immersive; pardon the pun. But I tend to dislike tossing in a Hak that simply adds several more versions of daggers and exotic weaponry if the tale and setting do not support it; more so if there are no Feats to support their usage.

I am also known for my dislike of profanity. I do not care much for its use at all, and if used frequently, will drop the mod like a heated pizza pan; top rated or not.

I also wish for more higher lvl games; just not as captivated with recreating the wheel kind of origins and low lvl mods.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Elhanan, 16 mai 2011 - 12:45 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               

Luspr wrote...
And (most importantly, perhaps) being able to play them whenever I want rather than wandering around an almost deserted PW because of the time zone I'm in.

I don't get it. Isn't the SP mod just as deserted? Not sure how SP mod being empty is okay but a PW that's almost empty is not? If it tells a story you enjoy, who cares?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Jenna WSI, 16 mai 2011 - 07:27 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               

Elhanan wrote...

I am also known for my dislike of profanity. I do not care much for its use at all, and if used frequently, will drop the mod like a heated pizza pan; top rated or not.

I also wish for more higher lvl games; just not as captivated with recreating the wheel kind of origins and low lvl mods.

What about fake cursing, made up words for the setting?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               

Jenna WSI wrote...

What about fake cursing, made up words for the setting?

Pseudo-cursing like 'Maker's Breath' and 'Nug droppings' can also be overdone as it is meant to season the game; not dominate and define it. But it is usually personally acceptable as a rule to my ears, though it still may bother others.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Elhanan, 16 mai 2011 - 07:39 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               I'm curious, is this because of a personal religious belief or something, or just the way you like a game designed?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_olivier leroux]

               

Jenna WSI wrote...

Luspr wrote...
And (most importantly, perhaps) being able to play them whenever I want rather than wandering around an almost deserted PW because of the time zone I'm in.

I don't get it. Isn't the SP mod just as deserted? Not sure how SP mod being empty is okay but a PW that's almost empty is not? If it tells a story you enjoy, who cares?

I assume he means that most PWs are geared towards a different gameplay, not so heavy on linear story-telling and more depending on player-to-player interaction. For example, you don't usually get henchmen with their own personality and story on PWs because they are replaced by other PC party members. You very seldom get cinematic cutscenes on PWs. And most of the time the goal of a PW is not to play through it and reach an ending. It's more an interactive environment than a story.

Of course, that's not true for all PWs and neither is the opposite for all SP modules. There are sandbox SP modules without much of a story and PWs with lots of conversation and story progression. But Luspr probably didn't think of a story module when he wrote PW.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par olivier leroux, 16 mai 2011 - 08:21 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               Which PWs were similar to SP modules, if you remember names? I'd like to take a look.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Jenna WSI, 16 mai 2011 - 09:00 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_olivier leroux]

               None that I know of, to tell the truth. I was just saying that to be fair, in case there was one. '>
(And because there is a category Story PW on Gamespy, after all).

There are of course several that offer enough linear story progression in quests to make them interesting for a single player, too, at least during the lower levels (I like Hlontar and Realms of Mythology, obviously; a younger PW I checked out a few months ago, Evernight, also offers some linear story quests) but that's not really all that special in PWs (I assume World Serpent Inn falls in that category, too?). I have yet to see a PW where the story is really as consistent and important as in a SP module. Sorry. '>

I assume you don't want to reveal any information about the nature of your project atm? :innocent:
               
               

               

                     Modifié par olivier leroux, 16 mai 2011 - 09:31 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               

Jenna WSI wrote...

I'm curious, is this because of a personal religious belief or something, or just the way you like a game designed?

Both, I guess. It would be difficult to seperate my personal beliefs from the games I choose to play, and the decisions I make within them. While I can role-play a variety of characters that have different personalities from my own, I try and adhere to my belief system when playing any of them, and do not wish to choose lines I hold to be offensive, repugnant, and disrespectful.

I also contend that common cursing used in a fantasy setting often seems somewhat anacronistic; much prefer the language to match the environment of the character, and not that of the Player.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               I like being surprised, realising that I'm hooked, but a few hours after being hooked. I like easy modules sometimes, even classical ones, because NWN is such a great game, in any of its fields, but I'm here for written modules. Where the story is all. When NWN is being used for some personal creative purpose beyond gaming only. 
I love cosmetics, haks, override stuff, any single one of those unbelievable beautifying mods made over the years by so many unbelievable moders.
As much as I hate modules with thousands of chests, and love those with only one. I do abhor empty areas as well '>, and modules pretending to be "the funniest one around", and guess what... ... 
I love henchies, funny convos... as long as they let you choose and play your favorite line... without giving you a -15 evil points penalty just for having fun. Or even forbiding a quest sometimes. 
I recently very much enjoyed a 'typical NWN to me' piece: A Forgotten Evil - Chapter Two
(mind the bugs...)  
Even if the one in my heart and mind is the one I playtested right before, one which might be hiding in my signature somewhere...
You wanna know what's funny about that "What do you like about SP Modules?" question? I just read some NWN multiplayers saying that saga, the one I can't say the name yet, was their favorite module they ever played together... online. 
which could eventually open a fair point of discussion with my esteemed AME colleague above. '>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 16 mai 2011 - 10:06 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               Thank you for the comments, I'm mostly just absorbing and taking note of things I'd like to see myself or do in a game based on what you've said. So specifics are most helpful. And I'll send you a PM oliver '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               

Elhanan wrote...

Jenna WSI wrote...

I'm curious, is this because of a personal religious belief or something, or just the way you like a game designed?

Both, I guess. It would be difficult to seperate my personal beliefs from the games I choose to play, and the decisions I make within them. While I can role-play a variety of characters that have different personalities from my own, I try and adhere to my belief system when playing any of them, and do not wish to choose lines I hold to be offensive, repugnant, and disrespectful.

I also contend that common cursing used in a fantasy setting often seems somewhat anacronistic; much prefer the language to match the environment of the character, and not that of the Player.

Thank you for explaining. Very different from how I play, but interesting probably because of that. '>