Neverwinter Nights
FAQ v4.0 - Dungeon Master
One of the most revolutionary things about Neverwinter Nights
is the inclusion of a special piece of software that allows a game
player to become the organizer of a Neverwinter Nights
module and campaign. This position is called the Dungeon Master
(DM) in D&D terms. He or she controls all other aspects of the
game except for the other players- the monsters, the encounters,
and the other characters in the adventure.
5.01 Do I need a Dungeon Master in order to play Neverwinter
Nights? (Back
to Top)
Not at all. The Neverwinter Nights Official Campaign will be
fully functional with or without a Dungeon Master. We cannot promise
anything with regards to player-created modules but we intend
to build the Aurora Neverwinter Toolset in such a way that encourages
modules suitable for both forms of play.
5.02 Can I DM my friends through a module that I have created?
(Back
to Top)
Yes. We intend to make the module creation process as simple
as possible. Feel free to locate your story in Medieval France,
the city of Waterdeep within WotC's Forgotten Realms, or a nameless
haunted forest. When it's ready, launch it on either a LAN or,
better yet, on our dedicated matching service, and let players
from around the world enter into the one dominion where you have
absolute control.
5.03 How difficult is it to DM a Neverwinter Nights
game? (Back
to Top)
Being a Dungeon Master, even in pen-and-paper, is definitely
an art rather than a science. Here at BioWare, we definitely feel
that the Dungeon Master is a very special person - someone to
be catered to. With Neverwinter Nights, we want to allow
our DMs to focus on that art of telling stories and drawing people
into their world, rather than on trying to navigate a clumsy interface
or learn a poorly documented system. For familiarity and ease
of use, the Dungeon Master interface is designed as an extension
of the player interface. If you know the one, you should be right
at home in the other and if you have any questions, we're committed
to providing documentation on how to use the DM interface to its
fullest either with the documentation that ships with the game
or through our Neverwinter Nights Community Site. Along with the
class-based player tutorials that mark the start of our official
campaign, we're also working on a thorough tutorial for potential
DMs, thereby providing a safe environment in which to get a feel
for the game, without the pressure of having live players actually
in the module.
5.04 Is the Dungeon Master there just to dump monsters
in the players' path or is there something more to it?
(Back
to Top)
The Dungeon Master role is whatever you make it. If you want
to run a simple dungeon hack, you're more than welcome to. However,
the tools at your disposal are far more powerful and evocative
than simply plopping down monsters and treasure. We give you the
ability to interact with your players on a one-to-one basis, to
truly be the character they are talking to. Tell a tale
of love lost, have a feared orc chieftain sheathe his sword in
the midst of battle when he learns that it is his half-orc daughter
who opposes him, breath life into everything. We envision the
Dungeon Master as a master storyteller, bringing wit and emotion
to the gameworld and enriching the role-playing experience of
the players. We want to challenge you, as DM, to have a deep emotional
impact on your players. Possess the game's characters and fill
them with drama. Build mood and atmosphere in everything you do.
Your players will love you for it and spread word of your campaigns
everywhere they go.
5.05 Can there be multiple Dungeon Masters in a single
game? (Back
to Top)
Definitely. The Dungeon Masters will be on equal footing but
we may give the initial DM the ability to modify the abilities
and permissions of other DMs if he or she sees fit. A good DM
team could enact complex scenes between non-player characters,
manage intricate multiparty battles, or even go head-to-head in
some strange new form of adversarial DM contest.
5.06 As a DM, can I alter a character's dialogue while
in the game? (Back
to Top)
Even better! When 'possessing' a character, you can not only
control their actions but also speak through them in real-time.
Drop a clue for a player in need, respond to an unanticipated
question, or heighten the dramatic tension of the moment. The
story is literally yours for the telling.
5.07 Can the DM make up his own magical items and rewards
for dungeons/missions? (Back
to Top)
Absolutely. The DM will be able to create custom magical items
within the Aurora Neverwinter Toolset. You will be free to create
a large variety of items ranging from mundane swords to artifacts
of great power. Provided you construct these items using the standardized
effects provided in our Aurora Neverwinter Toolset, these items
will be fully transferable between servers. Any item that is dependent
on custom scripting for its powers, however, will only retain
those powers in modules that contain the relevant scripts.
5.08 Can I log in as a Dungeon Master from a remote (ie:
non-server) location? (Back
to Top)
Certainly. The Dungeon Master does not have to be the host of
the game. It is possible, for instance, to establish your work
computer with a nifty T1 connection as a weekend Neverwinter
Nights server. The DM role is always password-protected so
you can be sure that it's ready and waiting for you to jump in
and manage once you get home.
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