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<blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 5302376" data-attributes="member: 58197"><p>Indeed. Here's what I think would be needed to turn NWN into a true virtual tabletop:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Drag-and-drop level design; think of it as "virtual dungeon tiles." Have a bunch of pregenerated rooms and terrain elements that you can quickly slap together into an encounter map. Also include a tile editor so advanced users can make their own.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A big library of drag-and-drop traps and interactive elements, all with built-in scripted triggers. Again, include an editor to make your own.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Auto encounter builder. Allow the DM to specify a level and a "tribe," and automatically spit out a suitable encounter. For instance, you could say, "I want a level 7 encounter from the Orc tribe," and you'll get a 7th-level encounter made up of orcs and associated monsters. And, once more, include the ability to make custom tribes.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Built-in video conferencing. Audio chat is all very well, but there's nothing like being able to see the faces of the folks you're gaming with.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A set of RTS-style combat controls for the DM. I know this one is gonna be controversial, but let's face it, NWN is going to be real-time and there will be a lot of demand to have real-time combat at the gaming table. The DM can't hope to control a whole gang of monsters (especially if it includes minions) with the same level of precision as a single PC; the RTS genre has come up with a lot of clever ideas to streamline the process of controlling multiple combatants in real time, so plunder them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The ability to specify an automatic pause every six seconds of combat, simulating turn-based play for old-school gamers who want no truck with this newfangled real-time stuff. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A super-streamlined interface for having the DM call for skill checks, for individual PCs or for the entire party. Bonus points if there's an option to make the skill check secret (e.g., Perception check to see if anyone notices a secret door).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">House rule support is bound to be limited--there's no way a computer game could accommodate the huge variety of house rules that tabletop DMs come up with--but make things customizable as much as possible. At the very least, it should be possible to build custom monsters and magic items; new races, paragon paths, feats, and powers should also be possible within reasonable limits (you probably won't be able to come up with a totally new power, but you could take existing powers and alter damage type, area of effect, range, level, whether it's at-will/encounter/daily, et cetera). New classes, well, that's probably beyond the scope of any computer game.</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dausuul, post: 5302376, member: 58197"] Indeed. Here's what I think would be needed to turn NWN into a true virtual tabletop: [LIST] [*]Drag-and-drop level design; think of it as "virtual dungeon tiles." Have a bunch of pregenerated rooms and terrain elements that you can quickly slap together into an encounter map. Also include a tile editor so advanced users can make their own. [*]A big library of drag-and-drop traps and interactive elements, all with built-in scripted triggers. Again, include an editor to make your own. [*]Auto encounter builder. Allow the DM to specify a level and a "tribe," and automatically spit out a suitable encounter. For instance, you could say, "I want a level 7 encounter from the Orc tribe," and you'll get a 7th-level encounter made up of orcs and associated monsters. And, once more, include the ability to make custom tribes. [*]Built-in video conferencing. Audio chat is all very well, but there's nothing like being able to see the faces of the folks you're gaming with. [*]A set of RTS-style combat controls for the DM. I know this one is gonna be controversial, but let's face it, NWN is going to be real-time and there will be a lot of demand to have real-time combat at the gaming table. The DM can't hope to control a whole gang of monsters (especially if it includes minions) with the same level of precision as a single PC; the RTS genre has come up with a lot of clever ideas to streamline the process of controlling multiple combatants in real time, so plunder them. [*]The ability to specify an automatic pause every six seconds of combat, simulating turn-based play for old-school gamers who want no truck with this newfangled real-time stuff. :) [*]A super-streamlined interface for having the DM call for skill checks, for individual PCs or for the entire party. Bonus points if there's an option to make the skill check secret (e.g., Perception check to see if anyone notices a secret door). [*]House rule support is bound to be limited--there's no way a computer game could accommodate the huge variety of house rules that tabletop DMs come up with--but make things customizable as much as possible. At the very least, it should be possible to build custom monsters and magic items; new races, paragon paths, feats, and powers should also be possible within reasonable limits (you probably won't be able to come up with a totally new power, but you could take existing powers and alter damage type, area of effect, range, level, whether it's at-will/encounter/daily, et cetera). New classes, well, that's probably beyond the scope of any computer game. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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