Advice for a new player

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

bussinrounds wrote...
And what would you advise a new NWN player as the first things to do ?  Start looking into character builds, or technical stuff like hacks & overrides  ?    Or just play  ?      

PLAY! '>

   And, i know theirs THOUSANDS, it's a tough question, and very objective, but what are some of the modules that are considered, the cream of the crop, say ?  (especially the classic p&p ones redone )       I'm an old school p&p guy, so ones with that classic d&d feel to them, i would def love.

Understand that opinions are always based on personal bias so in that case only YOU can decide what is best for yourself.  We can only make suggestions based on own preferences.  Some like getting absorbed in the story, some could care less and revel in H&S aspects and building uber toons.  Some prefer the social aspects, others enjoy making all the decisions themselves.  Diversity is the fruit of the community. Until you begin to sample the game (and the OC is just as good a starting place as any and thoroughly debugged... IMO!), any subsequent decisions like if/when to hak/modify resources, etc.  is totally subjective. 

When you get to the point of boredom, visit the NWVault.  There are ratings assigned and discussions of each submission to help one decide if it is their "cup of tea".

Check jml's list of suggested resources if you have any technical questions about how the basic NWN engine works and to understand NWN's version of D&D which is version 2 rules.

Dive in and break your noobness!  None of us are getting any younger '>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 25 décembre 2010 - 04:13 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

                I am. Every year. 
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_bussinrounds]

               

HipMaestro wrote...

bussinrounds wrote...
And what would you advise a new NWN player as the first things to do ?  Start looking into character builds, or technical stuff like hacks & overrides  ?    Or just play  ?      

PLAY! '>

   And, i know theirs THOUSANDS, it's a tough question, and very objective, but what are some of the modules that are considered, the cream of the crop, say ?  (especially the classic p&p ones redone )       I'm an old school p&p guy, so ones with that classic d&d feel to them, i would def love.

Understand that opinions are always based on personal bias so in that case only YOU can decide what is best for yourself.  We can only make suggestions based on own preferences.  Some like getting absorbed in the story, some could care less and revel in H&S aspects and building uber toons.  Some prefer the social aspects, others enjoy making all the decisions themselves.  Diversity is the fruit of the community. Until you begin to sample the game (and the OC is just as good a starting place as any and thoroughly debugged... IMO!), any subsequent decisions like if/when to hak/modify resources, etc.  is totally subjective. 

When you get to the point of boredom, visit the NWVault.  There are ratings assigned and discussions of each submission to help one decide if it is their "cup of tea".

Check jml's list of suggested resources if you have any technical questions about how the basic NWN engine works and to understand NWN's version of D&D which is version 2 rules.

Dive in and break your noobness!  None of us are getting any younger '>

  I thought NWN was version 3 rules, not 2  ?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

bussinrounds wrote...
  I thought NWN was version 3 rules, not 2  ?

Right. My bad. It's the 4th edition that stirs the pot more than some would like, not the 3rd.  Nevertheless, NWN runs on a modified version of the rules, which was really my point.  It's not like PnP.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_NorthWolf]

               Also, if you're a hardcore D&D player, you might find the main campaign a little too generous with magic items, etc. I personally did, but maybe my dungeon masters just hate me in real life.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par NorthWolf, 26 décembre 2010 - 01:13 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_avado]

               The only thing the OC was good for, in my opinion, was to learn the keyboard and mouse.  It was my first game on a PC so I played the OC one time only to learn the techy stuff.  Character building is one thing, though it seems to be a specialized field (alot think they are good, but very few actually are - which is fine, since it takes YEARS to be good at it).  Play the game.  learn the ropes.  If you have already, go online.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_bussinrounds]

               

HipMaestro wrote...

bussinrounds wrote...
  I thought NWN was version 3 rules, not 2  ?

Right. My bad. It's the 4th edition that stirs the pot more than some would like, not the 3rd.  Nevertheless, NWN runs on a modified version of the rules, which was really my point.  It's not like PnP.

      But it could be the closest thing you can get to p&p d&d, in a video game though.  Especially if your talking about a mp experience, where you can party up with a few friends.  And the whole DM thing too, with creating modules and running games, that's crazy.      Not that i ever was a p&p DM or anything, but i did have great experiences with d&d because of my DM though.

      What exactly does a DM do during the session though ?    I thought that's what the cpu is for, to run the game for you ?    

   And if your playing a mp adventure with friends, say,  how does the dialog work ?   Whoever initiated the conversation, gets to pick the responses ?      I guess ppl talk it over and decide on a response together, if that's the case ?    
   
       I know,  i should have been into pc games and playing this a LONG time ago, being a lover of d&d.   Haha,  it really hit me when i looked at the module list sorted by prime materal plane !  

      And what exactly are the persistent worlds ?     I read mabye a paragraph on it, but it sounded like some mmo type thing.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_olivier leroux]

               Persistent worlds are multiplayer online environments but not really massively these days. '> Instead you'll most probably find small but friendly and mature communities. What a PW is totally depends on what its builders envisioned it to be. Some aim at simulating MMO's but most try to do their own thing and not just a few are focused on players roleplaying with other players, sometimes even with DM's moderating and drawing them into group adventures. Contrary to MMO's in PW's the players often have an important impact on gameplay and story.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_SuperFly_2000]

               

bussinrounds wrote...
But it could be the closest thing you can get to p&p d&d, in a video game though..

Yes it is actually.

bussinrounds wrote...
What exactly does a DM do during the session though ?

Well...the DM client is pretty powerful. The DM can do almost everything...except doing mayor building on the fly. Well actually...with some extra HAK files he can almost do that as well.

Anyway...the most common things you will see DM's doing is taking control of monsters and NPC's....also placing/creating more of them.

Start as a player though...you will have a lot to learn there to start with as well....

bussinrounds wrote...
And if your playing a mp adventure with friends, say, how does the dialog work ? Whoever initiated the conversation, gets to pick the responses ? I guess ppl talk it over and decide on a response together, if that's the case ?

Well...this is the advanced part. There is no game up-to date that has solved that in a good way for what I know.

Anyway...it is all depending on the design of the module you are playing. The OC is probably not the best at this...there are many other modules that better handle multiple players.

Personally I play on persistent world's mostly....where the above could be even more lacking...but a live DM will of course rock your socks....

bussinrounds wrote...
I know, i should have been into pc games and playing this a LONG time ago, being a lover of d&d. Haha, it really hit me when i looked at the module list sorted by prime materal plane !

Yes you should have hehe....damn I thought I was late into NWN about 7 years ago. Anyway...very welcome...there are tens of thousands left of us still...spread out in the NWN universe.... 

bussinrounds wrote...
And what exactly are the persistent worlds ? I read mabye a paragraph on it, but it sounded like some mmo type thing.

Oh man...I should get the nobel prize or something if I answer this in a good way.

Here goes...

Basically that is what multiplayer servers are called in NWN. Actually not the kind of multiplayer that you where thinking but the kind where anyone can log in. It is an open world. Yes...you could say it is like an MMO...only the playstyle that you will find is very different from your standard MMO...

This is like WoW for grown ups...and much more fantasy and roleplay feeling...

...and yes...as you mentioned yourself....this is as close to PnP as you will get on a computer...
               
               

               

                     Modifié par SuperFly_2000, 27 décembre 2010 - 03:09 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_avado]

               

SuperFly_2000 wrote...

Here goes...

Basically that is what multiplayer servers are called in NWN. Actually not the kind of multiplayer that you where thinking but the kind where anyone can log in. It is an open world. Yes...you could say it is like an MMO...only the playstyle that you will find is very different from your standard MMO...

This is like WoW for grown ups...and much more fantasy and roleplay feeling...

...and yes...as you mentioned yourself....this is as close to PnP as you will get on a computer...

You get the award!  LOL

The other thing with PW's, there is no one HOST server for all pws.  Each PW is hosted by someone, like you or me.  Some folks go through ALOT of effort to make you feel at home.  That also means that each PW can play by different rules (using the nwn game as a base). That is what makes it so amazing.  In my mind, the campaigns were only there to show what bioware felt was possible way back in 2004 or something.  Things have changed since then.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_NorthWolf]

               I think in the end you'll inevitably graduate to playing online. Play the original campaign until you get bored, then sample multiplayer. What you'll need for multiplayer varies, but experience with the base Neverwinter Nights classes/prestige classes helps (not always). Neverwinter Nights is a great game, but it largely smells like multiplayer and is, in my opinion, best enjoyed that way.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_bussinrounds]

               A live DM sounds interesting.  How do you find a good DM anyway ?    In these persistent worlds ?    Do they communicate with the players during the adventure ?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_avado]

               

bussinrounds wrote...

A live DM sounds interesting. How do you find a good DM anyway ? In these persistent worlds ? Do they communicate with the players during the adventure ?

It depends.  A dm can follow you through a pw.  Look through your inventory, character sheet, etc, all night long, and you wouldnt know it.  You get hints sometimes when they drop something that shouldnt be there, or possess a creature of the area making it harder to fight than normal. 

It totally depends on the pw if you find a dm or not that you can work with.  In the past, I would shout (which can be forbidden on some pws) or do a DM channel message to see if anyone is on.  Sometimes they are, sometimes not.   I cant remember if a dm shows up as a count when you log a server.  Its been a while since I have played. 

Remember, they are people.  Treat them with respect and ask good questions and they should be reasonable with you (DONT go asking for top teir gear!  This could get you bumped!).  Its really a crap shoot.  The only thing is, on good and popular servers (5-10 players av at any time) the dm staff are usually fairly good.  They dont give DM access to bone heads!  (DM client on a pw can be a serious imbalancing in the wrong hands).

Good luck
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_NorthWolf]

               The quality of the dungeon master depends on any given persistent world. They're not quite the same as traditional D&D dungeon masters because they don't have as much control over the world, but most often they run plots similar to the quests you might go on during a pen-and-paper campaign or take interaction with NPCs off the rails of engine-based conversations and into more realisitc freestyle conversations. They can also change your experience in dungeons, etc.

Again, it really depends on where you're playing.

Player count is not a good indicator of dungeon master quality in my experience, you mostly have to fish around the existing worlds to see what's available. Generally the quality of the server and the player base will directly indicate what to expect from the DM staff. Servers with high quality content are likely to have a staff that wants to hire similarly high quality DMs.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par NorthWolf, 28 décembre 2010 - 03:25 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Angelzbl0od]

               now how about installing a PW? i have installed a couple mods n haks but they are very easy just drop in mod folder or hak folder but the PW's come with many different files and folders and i cannot find a good instruction or help forum for the life of me