Gauging Interest in DM'd Campaigns

[Legacy_Mad.Hatter]

               So we all know that NWN was originally designed for a PnP, DM led adventure format. I prefer this style of play and have participated in several campaigns over the years. NWN DM, a prominent member of the NWN1/2 community has been doing the same thing for several years and is passionate about the playstyle. We've been tinkering with NWN2 for a while and decided that despite it simply being a better game (sorry, it is), the build cycle and server structure is unsustainable for individual DMs who are OCD about how their areas look (like us).

So we had a brilliant idea: Why not switch back to NWN1?
Then we had another brilliant idea: Why not combine forces to create a single module that we could both update and run our campaigns in thereby splitting the burden of creating a masterpiece sandbox?

Our one concern is that we will not be able to find enough people interested in long-term DM'd campaigns*. We simply do not know how to gauge interest. We would obviously use NWC, but I would like to see if any of you would be interested in such a game. We have years of experience with NWN1/2 building and DMing. We just need interested players.

*For the uninitiated, a DM'd campaign is played on a persistent NWN module online with the same group of adventurers at a set schedule (every week, every other Thursday at 6pm CST, etc.) with everything led by a DM. In many ways it tries to emulate the feel of D&D. Because the module is not concerned with balancing and persisting for 100s of players the world can be altered as a result of PC/world actions much easier than a traditional PW.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_AngelRogue]

               I'm sure my gf and I would be interested. Of course, that's if it doesn't conflict with the PnP game I'm DMing. How big of a group are you planning to put together? And are there already any set players? If so what character types have been chosen and what will be starting level? Also will this mostly be homebrewed campaigns or will it be taken from published adventures?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Aleron]

               Off Topic:

I passionately...PASSIONATELY disagree that NWN 2 is a better game (buggier, horrible pathfinding, insane amounts of crashing, horrid DM client, incredibly difficult to build with, rather...well ugly graphics imo, etc). Ugh. Gave it more than a year and was constantly disappointed, came back to NWN and never ever ever looked back.

On Topic:

I've been looking for a good DMed campaign, though my own scheduling is a bit difficult. If it worked out, I'd love to take part though. I also run my own DM'd campaign (five PCs involved) so I have some knowledge and experience in them. '>

As for times, I have actual D&D Wednesday/Thursday and run my own DM'd campaign on Sunday afternoon. Friday evening or anytime Saturday would work fine though. I actually do shiftwork, so only those times are consistently available. I'm on GMT -06:00 for a timezone. 

*edit* Had messed up times available.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Aleron, 10 mai 2011 - 02:17 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Mad.Hatter]

               NWN DM and I are in the design stage so this wouldn't start for a bit. I am measuring interest before we adapt our existing work and add to it.

@AngelRogue: Each DM will set up his own group. We'll be using the module as more of a communal sandbox than anything else. I prefer a group of 4-5 PCs. I'm not sure what NWN DM prefers. These would be exclusively home brewed campaigns (though I don't promise to not steal ideas).

@Aleron: We can agree to disagree about NWN2 vs. NWN1. I found 3.5 to be a better ruleset, the NWN2 engine to be more powerful and flexible, and the patched game to be just as stable as NWN1. My only reasons to change back to NWN1 are (1) incredibly faster build cycle, (2) more custom content, and (3) mounts and mounted combat as an option. We'd love to have you aboard though, and you're in this thread so you can expect to be contacted when NWN DM and I get ourselves together (I will begin my party before he does because he is on his off-season).
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Aleron]

               Agreed on the agreeing to disagree hehe. Lots of bad experiences more than likely jaded me toward NWN 2 and I'll admit that. There was a lot of bad though...

Anyway, will look forward to it! Sounds like it should be quite fun. It is safe to assume this is somewhat RP oriented, as in playing ICly as the character you create? It sounds D&D oriented, but as each DM has their own style, I figured I should ask just in case.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Mad.Hatter]

               Ah yes. This would be as close to PnP as we can within the realistic limitations of the medium (I.E. we will be using a proper coin system, bleeding to -10, etc. but won't do things we wouldn't do in a PnP game [like forcing you to eat and sleep to recover fatigue]).

While we have our own unique styles we're going to play within the same basic framework so that the world remains consistent and immersive.

We will choose either Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk as our setting, mainly for the brand and the generic fantasy setting that gives us a backdrop for the story.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_muvs32]

               This post is almost exactly what I proposed on the NwConn forums yesterday. I was am going to receive the PW mod I used to DM on and run my own campaign but hope it attracts interest in that it could be used as a sand box for the DMs/players to take turns ext. I was thinking I could have in place an "almost" persistent world but restrict the hours of operation and have use of the pause button so that PnP style is more viable.

I would probably be interested in something like this but I also like the idea of using the PW mod that is already built and is a homebrew. I tend to feel to constrained in canonical lore, unless all involved were of a mind to use as a model only and not limit the use of personal imagination and story writing too heavily.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_TSMDude]

               So making a new persistent world like the other worlds or (and this sound smore like what you are saying) making a Multiplayer world you put up at scheduled times for a group that gathers at set times to play?

Just seeking clarification is all...
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Karvon]

               I might be interested, depending on the the time slot.

Karvon
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_NWN DM]

               

TSMDude wrote...

...making a Multiplayer world you put up at scheduled times for a group that gathers at set times to play?

Just seeking clarification is all...

You've got it.

With Greyhawk Adventures, it is/was always able to run like a PW, but needed DM presence to provide quests and NPC interaction (outside of shop keepers, etc...).

We'll see how this develops.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Metaldwarf]

               I personally would like to have the opportunity to have more of a focused online multiplayer experience so this sounds like something I'd potentially be interested in. I admit that my knowledge of Greyhawk is not as extensive as other settings, but then one thing I've always liked about Greyhawk is how open-ended the world was designed to be.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_muvs32]

               As I stated I pretty much put the same concept out there on NwConn. forum so of course I am more then a little interested in this idea. I would much rather leave the tech. department to those who can script as I can only do a bit of building and think others more qualified would do a better job of things on the whole. I would be willing to lend my support in things such as DMing, if you wanted to take turns or be a player once in a while, and play testing, consultation ext. I would like to see this happen so let me know.

The PW scene is just a little too disappointing to me these days. Nothing personal, they all suffer some the same limitations and a broader platformed, multi-player, DM campaigned world offers more of what I am looking for, and a pause button:). Let me know how it goes and if it comes to fruition I can probably draw in 2 more players myself. Both have DMed and are more into a PnP multi so more of same as for what your looking for I think.

Best of luck, muvs (Cosmonaut is muvs32 on NwConn BTW)
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Mad.Hatter]

               I'm encouraged by the response (and all the PMs). I know that regardless of what happens, NWN DM and I will be running these kinds of campaigns well into the future. Expect to hear from us as we try to gather parties and set scheduling.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Jenna WSI]

               We've gotten some good results from DMed games. Me and a friend from WSI might join if it's set in FR. What kind of characters are you looking for? Any info yet about how the game starts out for the players, to see if we'd find it interesting? I admit I'm curious to see what NWN DM can do '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Mad.Hatter]

               I'm an FR fanboi as well. '>

We really don't have much information at the moment -- like I said, we were simply trying to see if anyone would respond to the thread and be interested in such a game. We got out answer!