Neverwinter Nights 2!!!

[trancejeremy]

Um, that's what they do now, unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

Well, D'Karr was saying they weren't, that each head and helm/hat combo was a different model done by a modeller, not stuck together in the game, and what I was responsing to.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Well, D'Karr was saying they weren't, that each head and helm/hat combo was a different model done by a modeller, not stuck together in the game, and what I was responsing to.

Ah. I'm not sure if that is the case or not.

BUT, what I suspect is that since heads for different races are made at different scales, making a universal helm is problematic.

Again though, I don't know.

 

[trancejeremy]

Isn't one of the things of being in 3d, that you can re-size them on the fly in a game? Like Guild Wars, you can change the scale of your character, and the size of the equipment changes to fit your guy. (Or again, in the Sims 2, you can actually change the height of the character, but they sort of left that out - other than a cheat code - because the animations don't quite match up - like if two sims kiss and aren't the same height, one kisses their chin.)

 

[dpdx]

Honestly, the look of my PC with her headgear is a little annoying.

Which is why its called, "helmet hair." Don't worry, my PC looks like a dork, too, but I sure like the extra +1 to CON.

I'm getting extremely annoyed at two interface things as I play more:

I really, REALLY miss the Radial menu.

And in conjunction with that, I really, REALLY miss how you could drag ANYTHING off that Radial menu onto the Quickslot bar.

My dwarven tank in 1 had a 1st Quickslot bar of Imp. KD, Imp. Disarm, CS Arm, CS Leg, melee weap/shield combo, 2nd melee weap/shield combo, ranged weap, heal pots, pots pots pots. It was gorgeous, and I could put it together from squat in about 5 min.

I don't even KNOW how to put KD or whatever on the 2 Quickslot bar. And rumor has it that there are certain things I can't put on the bar, as in not allowed.

Between those two annoyances and things like cameras and party AI, I'm nearly ready to chuck this thing and go back to 1. I'll at least wait until I can get through the single-player quest, but still. This is a drag.

My opinion of NWN2 has gone down considerably since my first post to this thread.

 

[green slime]

Nwn2

So far, the NWN2 single player mode is a disappointment, IMO. It may have redeeming factors in the DM mode or ease of creating new modules, but I don't know about those.

I wish they'd spent more investing in the actual game rather than the pretty graphics. Distinct .feeling of railroading

I don't appreciate non-Intelligent NPC party members self-destructing.
Lots of other little things bugging me. How do I access my paladin's Lay on Hands?!?
Personally I prefered ToEE, even with its bugs, than this.

 

[LightPhoenix]

So far, the NWN2 single player mode is a disappointment, IMO. It may have redeeming factors in the DM mode or ease of creating new modules, but I don't know about those.

I wish they'd spent more investing in the actual game rather than the pretty graphics. Distinct .feeling of railroading

I don't appreciate non-Intelligent NPC party members self-destructing.
Lots of other little things bugging me. How do I access my paladin's Lay on Hands?!?
Personally I prefered ToEE, even with its bugs, than this.

In a kinda clunky way - go to the character's feats list, and drag LoH to the quickbar. Alternatively, though I don't use the Paladin NPC, you can right-click on a target. What you learn from being a Bard.

Like dpdx, as I've played the game, my opinion has generally turned for the worse, at least with regards to the OC. The game definitely could have used a couple more months in development - though I suspect Obsidian didn't have a choice in the matter. I wonder about the beta-testing that was done on the game... some of the bugs I've experienced or read about seem like they should have been caught pretty quickly.

Most of all though, I'm very frustrated with the general hack-and-slash of the game. I played a Bard because I didn't want to have to resort to fighting all the time. I know it can't be avoided (this is D&D after all), but it just seems to me that if you aren't a combat machine, you totally get the shaft. Specifically, any time I have to fight by myself, I usually get reamed and end up having to replay it a couple of times no matter what.

For two specific examples that come to mind, in spoiler text:

(Act II)

Spoiler

When the githyanki attack the inn, I finally realized the only thing I could do to survive was use Haven Song, run to the common room, and stand there. Sure, I used some inspirations to help my allies, but basically I was standing there. Any time I engaged, the enemies just cut me down.

(Act III)

Spoiler

Right in the beginning, getting to Nasher. Again, I'm just getting mowed down, nothing to do about it. Only reason I got through the first group of enemies was a Gem of Brightness.

I was excited to try out different characters in a replay through the OC when I started, especially a Warlock. Now, I'll be waiting for some fan-made modules to do that.

There were some good moments, yes. In particular, the start of Act II was a piece of cake as a Bard. For every instance like that though, there's an instance like the Bard-off in Blacklake, where my Perform skill didn't even matter. Only got through that because I was going to major in music, and I'm good at intervals.

Like I said, I've pretty much descended into frustration and a desire to just get through the game to get it done.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Lots of other little things bugging me. How do I access my paladin's Lay on Hands?!?

For accessing all matters like this, hit C to pull up the character sheet.

Scroll through the feats and abilities tab entries. Lay on Hands is there with an Icon by it.

Use it there - or drag the icon on onto your quick bar. You can access it there from now on.

The same approach works for disarm traps, etc.

Hitting "B" for book opens up the spellbook - again - same idea. Drag and drop spell icon on quickbar.

F for the quick cast menu works better for this, however, imo.

 

[trancejeremy]

Just out of curiousity, LP, did you play KOTOR2? What did you think of that? Because your statement "I've pretty much descended into frustration and a desire to just get through the game to get it done.", pretty much described my feelings about both games (once I got into them).

 

[LightPhoenix]

Just out of curiousity, LP, did you play KOTOR2? What did you think of that? Because your statement "I've pretty much descended into frustration and a desire to just get through the game to get it done.", pretty much described my feelings about both games (once I got into them).

No, I haven't... it came out when I was working at the hospital here, so I've missed a lot of stuff over the last two years. Best life move ever to leave!

I think there's a general trend towards grinding in RPGs, both console and computer, and if you're not into that, or your time is somewhat limited, then you tend to leave a lot of games unfinished. I fall into the former group, and previously fell into the latter as well.

I remember Piratecat saying something about the way he runs his game, and I'm going to paraphrase. He basically said that he tries to get a decent balance between the three cornerstones of adventuring - combat, puzzles, and talking/diplomacy. I definitely do not feel there is a balance in NWN2 at all. Puzzles are few and far between, and the only real example of talking/diplomacy is the start of Act II... otherwise it's all just to avoid battles.

 

[green slime]

Thanx for the tips on how to get LoH to the quickbar.

I'm getting quite irritated at some of the behaviours exhibited by some NPCs: Commander Tann rushes in and starts bashing in boxes, even while the rogue is picking the lock. I couldn't change his behaviour at all.

Seriously, did Oblivion think that this "behaviour" was a great improvement in gameplay? Why this cludgey system which fails to consider the fact that players may not appreciate weakened NPC characters charging between groupings of enemies which are beyond the PC's visual range (the screen)?

Secondly, considering the purpose of this "game" it would have been nice, if there was a way to create PC characters without having to start a module or campaign, in order to have a battery of characters available for various campaigns.

I find the user interface not at all to my liking. I keep finding strange bugs that irritate me; however none that affect gameplay. Fancy graphics with lips-synced dolls just don't cut it for me. I want an intuitive interface and great story. I'd be happier with a goldbox game, to be honest.

As a DnD junkie, I'll play through the darn thing, but I'll not recommend it as a solo RPG experience. It is a real shame my ToEE play-cd got scratched. Now I can't find the game in a shop here. I'll be lurking for a copy of that over the internet once I recover from the Xmas crucifiction of my wallet.

Lets hope NWN2 redeems itself with a strong showing from the community. Because as a solo game, it doesn't have the merits I'm looking for.