Will world map in NWN be non self explorable as in BG2?
If so this makes me really sad.
You loose about 80% of laud proclaimed non-linearity in such case.
AD&D system rules. Graphics ruled even in its ancestors not to mention story. But there is a feeling thats something misses here. And it is the feeling of interactive world what you explore and conquer.
If you dont know what i mean try Fallout1,2.
The main (and only) strength of this game was its fully explorable world map. You are free to go every where. Lots of settelments, lots of non linear quests... Dont you agree that if added this to ad&d rules as well as NWN graphics and (i believe) excellent story that would not be the game of year.. THAT WOULD BE THE GAME OF THE ALL TIMES AND COUNTRIES!!!

I think that IWD did not expose or allow you to go to different parts of the world map but BG did not appear to have that limitation. Encounters should have a natural progression of development so PC are guided/encourged to take a certain path, but not have that path 'locked in'.

As for you opinion of Fallout 2 being a bad game I disagree. It was one of the best CRPGs ever made. Why didn't you like it?

How big and how self explorable a NWN world is depends on who builds it. I can only speak about the ALFA world of Faerun. We are still awaiting the server maps but imagine an area like 'the North' split into say 100 sub areas (eg Waterdeep might be one.) Now, if when the game starts they have 25 servers up and running you will be able to explore in detail those 25 areas. If two areas are adjacent you will be able to travel from one to the next. If you wish to travel between areas without an operational server in between it will be something like BG2. As more servers come on line the map will fill in.
Please do not take the numbers as accurate, they are just examples.

If the world is anything like the Video of Shadows of AMN then were in for a treat!
-Snoz

So when are we going to see the server map? I just can't wait to see the size of the city NW and the city Lusken.