What do YOU hope Neverwinter Nights 2 will be like?

Some FUN in the original campaign, no more go east, south, north, west and fetch items, collect cash or get something good... Thats just plain boo-poop, no offense Minsc :)

I would like to see some action in there! Some cool quests, like you direct the battle in Underdark. Something like that :) or something other interesting. Like... A handful of action a pinch of humor? :rolleyes:

I hope that it would be a game that is fun to play in single player mode, something NWN is not.

I want ridable horses and ridable beasts!!! It's a bloody medieval setting people!!! Come on! Multiple NPC followers, and better monster AI. I want opponents to use all their skills!!!

That's the one thing I love about DM'd games, the npc's tend to bring everything they have to bear on you!

Other things I'd like to see:

More armor/weapon variation in the customization screens

More variety in landscapes and buildings. Have you ever seen that Tir Na Nog setting that guy built?!?!? It's fantastic!

More clothing variations

More spells

Cloaks that you see on your pc avatar in game

Actually, have all the equipment you are wearing show up on your avatar, boots, cloaks, amulets, braces, etc...

More monsters

Chances for more epic style (large scale) battles

They should really scour the NWVault and pull the best of the best into the game.

Is that enough? I'll try to think up more!!!

I'll tell ya what I'd like to see.

Jello wrestling.

Yes - I want it to be interesting in Solo Player mode with high replayability value otherwise I won't bother with it.

Better single player.

Better graphics. (make that better engine actually)

Better interpretation of the D&D rules.

Better game balance between classes.

A Z-axis.

Like NWN but...
In order of importance:

Z-Axis.
Easier scripting.
More flexible toolset.
More tilesets.
Better graphics.
Horses.
Decent singleplayer.

Taza - Ridable Horses!!!! They already have horses in the game, but you can't ride them!

Hell, they had ridable horses in Daggerfall - 10 YEARS AGO!!!

I hope they focus on the single-player campaign in this one. No more stupid Waterdhavian creatures this time around, there should be quests that affect alignment and have multiple outcomes. Sort of like that one village quest in chapter 2 of the OC, whose name escapes me.

A graphical update would also be pretty sweet, it could even be done with the same engine, just look at the screens of The Witcher.

However, I have a nagging suspicion in the back of my mind that this NWN is going to be even more simplified and will be a PC and Console release.

A new engine but not a lame repetitive limited one and a good story.

I hope it has a story, unlike the OC (I'm almost glad I got my computer stolen, it kept me from forcing myself to finish this game....).

I'd like to see an alignment system similar to Planescape: Torment.

It'd be very nice if there were instances where you actually have to think your way through.

NPCs with personalities like in Baldur's Gate. Add to that "party based".

Finding interesting and different items, unlike finding 7 copies of the same dull one - 7 copies after only halfway through the game that is!

Like most people, I'd like to see a game that's more like the BG series. A party with NPCs who talk to each other, not to mention -you-. It bugged the heck out of me that the NPCs in NWN had 1) next to no personality 2) didn't say anything to you unless you talked to them and 3) involving quests. There's nothing so lame as to have someone tell you they want an item, one that's rare, valuable, and possibly magical and then to just find it laying around in some dungeon unattended with next to no explanation of how it got there at best.

The lack of control over NPCs (did that change in the expansions? I thought I heard something about)was totally mind boggling. If you can't have the option of telling NPCs what to do, you get people doing things like stopping in the middle of healing your severe wounds to chase fleeing goblins and casting negative energy spells on undead.

I hated the way NWN just seemed slow. The movement, casting, and other animations of sprites in the BG series just seemed so much faster. I have a computer that more than meets the recommended specs for NWN and with the game running at its best (it wasn't my comp slowing it down) it still seemed a little like my character was moving through water. If NWN2 was going to be like BG with slightly better graphics and the same caliber of storyline, quests and NPCs, I'd buy it in a second.

Also, it seemed like there weren't that many items in the game, at least compared to BG. Maybe it had something to do with the random item generation, but they need to fix it. I really don't care if I play the game through for a second time and find the same tings in every chest. I've played BGII through three times now, and am playing a fourth time and in part it is because I can count on that +1 dagger to be behind the portrait that makes it interesting. The luster of a Robe of Good Archmagi diminishes after I've managed to get a hold of seven after the first chapter.

How about some good farseeing and transport spells? Reveal the map, (or at least reveal it around enemies or on the overland) and have teleport spells to move you to places you've been.

Also -true- bags of holding. Make them rare, but able to hold anything you want. Honestly, people are supposed to be able to build villages inside of them, why can't I fit more than four sets of clothing in one?

Anyway, this post is looking more like a rant than a speculatory musing, but I really hope Bioware does better this time. If people stealing games is bringing down revenue as much in the single player game market as it' purported to, then develop better protection and make registration of CD keys mandatory as a prereq of complete installation. Then get back to work and design something new and interesting.

*deap breath in*deapb breath out*
*deap breath in*deapb breath out*

Horses are nice but what I'd like to see are ridable ships and boats. It would be nice to get a little water action going at times.

More colours in the interface. For example, all the spells in the radial thingy were the same colour so you have to look really closely to make sure you're casting the right spell.

Just make it more interesting! Even the much maligned IceWind Dale II linear story is more interesting than the NWN OC plot. It's got to be worthwhile playing it more than once.

I want it to come with a free sword. And a magic wand. And a stick. (I couldn't think of what Druids use to cast their magic.)

Right. Just like Mystra's Chosen I want the game to enhance my sexual prowess, of course (Or did I get your Magic wand/stick metaphor wrong ;) ). In addition, it would be nice to have a single player campaign that actually is demanding and challenging .

I can't think of a single fight in NWN (single mode) where I had to figure out a specific tactic. Too much Hacken Slash...

2 things I want. 2 things and only 2 things. Wait, make that 3...

1) A toolset and DM client. NWN wouldn't be NWN without it.
2) Some sort of program which will convert NWN modules into NWN2 modules. That will save me a lot of time, and the rest of ALFA as well.
3) The most important one. I want NWN 2!

Yea, yea, ridable horses... i am more intrested in ridable shadow hounds. :p

Of course, support to module PC name filter in character creation (Please!)(Meaning that one can keep anyone from naming their char "Legolas" or "Drizzt Do'Urden" in my module instead of using DM kill) and support to subraces would be nice. :p

And if it's going to have a console version, i'm surely staying away from it.

Everything Sir B. said. Especially the mounts. Sub races too! Monster character classes! I want to play as a half-troll or mind flayer!

I would want it to come with some gameplay, making it fun to play. NWN was a great idea and the mp was well thought out but the entire game atleast for me lacked gameplay. I did not think it was fun to play, even if I was on a great MP server with really good people.

Everything related to single player should be better than in the first one. After all, I'm probably not going to play any multiplayer games with this game either.

I would like to see more depth in the quests and NPC's. Own personalities would be cool.

An option to have a party with their own personalities.

More emphasis on the single player part of the game than the multiplayer.

More of the world to explore and more other things to do then just run errands and kill goblins.

I don't care much about graphics, just give me a more challenging and detailed world!!!

I want you to play the hero who saved Neverwinter, it would be nice to finish that story.
I also hope the story will take place all over the multiverse (Krynn or Ravenloft, for example)

As long as I can play an Aasimar Hierophant of Lathander, I'm happy.

Although there is not much there at the moment there is a website set up for the game

nwn2 homepage (http://www.atari.com/nwn2/)

Graphics/features on the NWN2 is excellent imo. The community still need some work though, not as friendly as here ;)

Gothic-style NPC schedules would also be welcome now that I think about it. It would make NWN2 seem more alive than the original, when (nearly) everyone would stay rooted to their spots day and night.

What would be nice is if they could produce a game where the combat rules are something that makes sense. When you tell an NPC to "Stand Your Ground", THEY SHOULD.....not ignore you and attack anyways. IMO, that was a fatal flaw in battle strategy. One shouldn't have to remove a character from the party just to get them to stand still. And it makes no difference in proximity either. I was recently in a battle where I told a character to "Stay" (we were OUTSIDE of a temple). I enter the temple to find her right there. Very, very frustrating and I hope I don't see it in this new game. (Frankly, I'm ready to throw SoU outside in the garbage heap.)

Damnation!!! The damn forum just ate my response! I hate it when that happens! Here we go again, this time the short version.

First NWN was a dissapointment. They will surely do better this time, but will it be enough? They have much to work on. Baldur McGate, Stormhand, Rednik, Lil'Guy, Harbourboy (I agree, IWD was more fun), Darkthrone and Durgar have already voiced opinions that are almost the same as mine.

Horses don't make up for lousy gameplay and a lack of imersive story => Sacred.

Quick question: Do we know which rules they will use for this game? Will it be 3E as the first NWN or will it be 3.5?

(I don't even know which rules the expansions use!!)

I don't even know what the differences between those rules are. I wish they wouldn't keep changing the rules all the time. I want to be able to take the rules I learn in one game and apply them in the next. Even when the rules are the same, they're different. Arent IWD2 and NWN supposed to be both 3e even though there are loads of differences between the actual rules applied in the games?

NWN2 will use 3.5e rules.

Obsidian will be focusing on the single-player experience to make it just as in-depth and rich as the first game.(Taken from here (http://pc.ign.com/articles/536/536518p2.html).)

Let me just say this: OMG! Please say that ain't so! :(

"in-depth and rich as the first game"? So... it's going to be a complete flop?

He had to say that since he needs to suck up to BioWare, he can't just say "The OC sucked, but we'll make it better." I have enough trust in Feargus that they'll improve on the OC significantly.

[ August 10, 2004, 13:31: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

So by reading between the lines we should interpret it something like this:

"Obsidian will be focusing on the single-player experience to make it just as..."
Here his eyes glaze over as if possessed by some evil demon and the rest is spoken in a language which you don't recognize. ;)

If I had somebody working for me I wouldn't want them to be "Yes" Man. I want somebody who can honestly tell me my decisions suck. Not some ass-kissing gutless coward who'll stick to release dates (in case you don't know... release dates = bad, postponing game = good - there is usually a better game out of it).

^Yeah, like Doom 3, Half Life 2, and all other overrated hypes. I think what you wanted to say is: release dates = bad, postponing game = good - there is usually a better game out at the time the original arrives (e.g. Far Cry instead of HL2 or Painkiller instead of D3). ;)

yes but obsidian isn't working for bioware, but with bioware, and it is considered bad tone to criticize a partner in public plus it is bad fore further business to say in public that your partners work sucks

Besides which, Bioware have themselves admitted that they'd rather have spent more time making it better, but there wasn't any more time. Since NWN is still being sold, it would be bad business to publicly slam the contents of a game that may lead to more purchases of one on which you are working.

Exactly. I'm sure the CEOs don't use euphemisms when they talk to each other about design decisions and what needs to be done to fix the bad impression the official campaign made on most true role-players. But they can't go on a mud-slinging contest in public, obviously. Especially since the majority of gaming media would be genuinely surprised what it's all about, at least judging by the reviews which praised NWN's OC. Whether under the hype influence, pressure to write a good review to stay on good terms with BioWare, or actual liking of the OC, the majority of reviews actually praised NWN's OC, something I'll never be able to figure out myself.

Whether under the hype influence, pressure to write a good review to stay on good terms with BioWare, or actual liking of the OC, the majority of reviews actually praised NWN's OC, something I'll never be able to figure out myself. Hype, definitely. I remember when I got the game, I was in heaven that it was finally out, shaking with joy. Only when I finished it did the realization of what kind of crap was SP part of NWN struck me.
Few months ago Gamespy put NWN on their list of "10 most overrated games of all time" or something like that. I think they were the first (and so far the only) to admit the mistake.

Well, I actually read a review (in French) that praised nwn in the heavens, but they admitted it was for the potential of custom development and not for the game in itself. (for those interested, it was in a gaming magazine called Gen4)

In my opinion there were a lot of ideas that were just left out the last minute or half-done like the alleged romancing. All you got in every case was a big fat MAYBE at the last dialogue. No chance of seeing this romance through.
Furthermore this one-npc thing (2 on HotU I think) killed all interaction between NPCs (like in BG2 between Viconia and... well pretty much everyone else!)
Oh, AND REAL ****EN IMPORTING OF YOUR NWN1 CHARACTER, LET THE PLAYER DECIDE WHETHER HIS CHARACTER IS TOO STRONG FOR THE CAMPAIGN. In any case the XP a high leveled character will get is pretty lame so soon enough he/she will be at the right level after a while

i'd surely want to see some more personality in NPC's. I also wish more classes to obtain and unlimited character creation. I hate it to be bound to 3 classes max. I once had an idea of Rogue/Assassin/Shadowdancer/Blackguard, but yay, i couldnt make it :(

I think it would be a good idea if you could manipulate the environment more. Like being able to start a Tavern brawl with chairs and tables for weapons, the ability to throw someone through a window or wall (if your strong enough)and the ability to hide in a closet until its all over. :D

I'd like to see the class limit dropped and an xp multiclassing penalty implemented, this would be actual DnD rules. I'd like to see a different min/max skill system, the current one I think is both restrictive AND abusable. Not a good combination. And please, please, do away with the Henchman system. I know they've already said they're sticking with it but when are they going to get it through their thick skulls that giving you full control of your NPC's gives you more options, which gives you more varied tactics, which allows you to make the game more challenging? I just hope Obsidian doesn't inherit Bioware's stubborness.

Yup. The henchmen are stupid, no argument on that. They are useless most of the time due to their crappy AI.Fully controlable NPC's with personalities (like those in BG2) would be so much better.

Do you know how annoying was it when I tried to battle a bunch of sceletal mind-controlers-what's their-name and my cleric henchman instead of coming to fight by my side would just keep casting turn undead which to this high-leveled creatures did absolutely nothing over and over again?
Or when I'd fight a bunch of low level kobolts and she would cast hammer of the gods. And there wasn't even a command use spells depending on how many enemies you have before you and of what level, something to keep her from throwing everything she got to a single wolf. I mean ARGG!

I'd like to see the class limit dropped and an xp multiclassing penalty implemented, this would be actual DnD rules. <snip>NWN does have the XP penalty for multiclassed implemented exactly as specified in the DnD 3.0 rules. 20% penalty if any two non-preferred, non-PrC classes are more than one level apart.

I too would like to have access to more than three classes sometimes. I'd like to see what a Bard/Fighter/Dragon Disciple/Paladin could do. :D

I never saw anything on the character sheets about favored classes or xp penalties (like in IWD2) so I just assumed they weren't there. I remember one post by one of the guys on the NWN team regarding the 3 class limit and he said it was to limit people's powergaming. I find this rather stupid since that's exactly what xp penalties are for, there's no reason to limit players further.

As for the Henchman issue, I can understand their reasons for its implementation, but it isn't worth it to try to make them seem like their own minds (especially when other NPC's don't even acknowledge they're there) when you limit gameplay as much as you do. Bioware has stated repeatedly that they want it to fell like table top combat where you don't have control over the other partymembers. Well, I don't know about you, but when I play PnP I've always worked with the other PC's, setting up our characters in flanking positions and whatnot. I think the TOEE system was a good compromise where you didn't have control over how their character leveled up and their more personal choices, but you had complete control over them in combat.

****! ****!

I DON'T LIKE THAT POLL ON THE FRONT PAGE!

I'm pretty sure that they are "feeling the pulse" with that one. Getting hit on by [snip] in a game is not how I want to spend my free time.
**** being PC! Can't they concetrate on more important issues?!
Except if we're talking about lesbians. Or maybe even elven lesbians. Now THAT is surely welcomed. :D

[Offensive content removed, warning pending.] -Tal

[ August 17, 2004, 11:57: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

The poll was posted based on ideas suggested in the chatroom, and it's a good one. I'm quite interested what the results will be. Anyway, if you want to comment on the poll, open a thread in SS, this isn't the proper forum.

Are you telling me that the poll has nothing to do with NWN2? I'm pretty sure it does. If that is the case, then this IS the proper forum for such a discussion.
The topic name is "May the speculation begin". Based on the poll I'm therefore speculating that they are thinking about putting in a homo-romance.
If you say that I am wrong and that such a thing is not being considered, then fine, I'm droping the subject.

btw I have nothing against gay people, the forced PC is what bothers me.

The poll is a site feature, and as such should be discussed in the SS forum. While there has been some discussion on the official forums regading gay romances, OUR poll is purely speculative at this point, and it applies to both BG3 and NWN2. Feel free to discuss the potential gay romance in NWN2 here, but not based on our weekly poll, which is in no way official. I hope this makes it more clear to you.

"...in no way official"

Then you guys must have a fortune teller in your staff because these polls have been a very good prediction for events that followed them. Or the polls have been used as a marketing research tool which is a far more likely situation.

I now have a strong conviction that a gay romance is being seriosly considered for an upcoming game, be it NWN2, BG3, or even both of them, basing it on my experience with your polls which I have started to take as a "matter of fact" over the years for reasons mentioned above. Being that the curent poll's results are mostly positive, maybe we shall soon be entertained with a new press release from BW, and then we'll see how (un)reliable the information in your polls really are and are my asumptions (in)correct.

I have made a 180 turn in opinion on the gay romance possibility (pun not intended). I can just kill the guy if he pisses me of by being too pushy and not taking no for an answer! :D Or by being an idiot on some other matter. :) The gay people, on the other hand, can have their fun with him. Everyone happy. Butt they better make that attack icon and not make him relevant to the plot...

Let's try this again. The poll was made AFTER discussions about gay romances started in the BioWare Dragon Age forum (which isn't even a D&D game). About two weeks later, in fact. You can go check the news archives if you don't believe me. And as much as I'd like for BioWare/Obsidian to pay me for market research (or anything else), they don't. So rest assured, there's no hidden agenda behind the poll.

BioWare already put a lesbian romance in SW: KotOR, so another one wouldn't be much of a surprise really.

As for our polls, I'm not really sure which were so prophetic... most of them are created based on ideas I get from people in our chatroom, community events, or simply from inspiration at the moment. Not a single one on the site in all the years SP has been around has been "supported" or in any way endorsed by any of the game developers. Believe it or not, BioWare and all other game developers have their own sites, and if they wanted to post polls, they would (and have in the past) without the help of anyone else.

It IS quite likely, however, that D&D game developers check the polls on SP, and sometimes act based on the results. Which I'd say is a good thing, wouldn't you?

Absolutely. This is the place where some of their most devoted consumers stop by.

Played KotoR, didn't know about the lesbian possibility...

It's a rumour actually. The thing is, a female protagonist can have a closer relationship with the catwoman character than a male one. But it is by no means a lesbian romance. Many have tried it and found that over-enthusiastic teens merely went and read more in it than was actually there.

Well, one of the BioWare devs mentioned it in the topic on gay romances in Dragon Age on the BioWare forums... I haven't played KotOR, so I don't really know any specifics on this romance.

A BioWare person mentioned it?

Dang I hate this with this internet era. You read a couple of forums, you try it yourself ( how could I not have, a lesbian romance afterall :rolleyes: ), and you assume the text in the net is right.

Could be I was mistaken, in which case I'll have to play that again soon. I've been craving for yet another game of KoTOR anyway.

Could it be that they will go for a more seamless environment like Morrowind, or, more accurately, Dungeon Siege. They could try and do without the umpteen areas system and take this route instead.

For the love of everything holy, PLEASE don't let it be more like Dungeon Siege. I have no problems with seamless enviroments in theory, and think it's a wonderful idea, but IMO this just invites the sort of terrible level design in DS where you just sort of meander aimlessly for ages. One of the things I hated about DS is the dungeons were too far spaced out, and too often I ran into the problem where I'd be halfway into a dungeon in the middle of nowhere, leagues and leagues from the nearest town, and out of healing/mana potions, etc. Also, and I know this sounds weird, but they were just way too big. It wasn't immediately apparent where you were supposed to go in places, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I ended up backtracking for hours (especially in the *@@#^! ice caves). And there's the aforementioned running out of supplies problem, no matter how well you plan ahead.

I would much rather they tweak the umpteen areas system than throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. I'm actually more concerned about them recycling graphics and enviroments. I'd like to see all-new stuff.

I know how you feel. I like Dungeon Siege, for its graphics and the slow-motion mode. That mode is just so great. It gives me that movie feeling I always wanted. Especially cool with the archers. Still, NWN2 won't be DS because DS is all about hack'n slash. No skills whatsoever. So a slow-motion mode is always a welcome addition.

For NWN2, I hope (as probably many of you do) it will be more or less the same, but with more roleplaying and less playing errand-boy, which I hate. Eventually better graphics and maybe more animations and character models. So I'm glad if the graphics change a little. From my point of view the Aurora engine is already getting old, where as the Infinity engine is still good. (probably they'll use the Aurora engine again for NWN2)

As simple as it sounds, I would love an overlay map, like in both of the Diablo's. It was very handy, and if you didn't like it, you could turn it off

Huummm... a fun game? I was utterly disapointed with NWN, and I fear the NWN 2 would be the same thing.

I hope for a mutli-sided story-line. Eample, if the main char is evil, he/she start with the invasion party and will have the evil wins ending, but if the main char is good, he/she start with the defending party and will have the goody wins ending. If the main char decided to change side and betray his/her previous party, then he/she gets the ending that goes along with his/her new party.
I hope for such a system, as I find it hard to role-play evil in the official game.

- better graphics
- better online storyline

more characters, more romance, more guilds, more quests

FIRST PERSON view, I've dreamed about a fp-rpg since i tried the good old *system shock*.

If they could only make the controls like a fp game, i got dizzy in NWN every time i had to turn around :shake:

Seriously - Why haven't the developers thought of this, instead of using an engine that is already outdated ? Then i liked the Infinity Engine a lot more ;)

Severance blade of darkness was like that I think. It was a good game too.

FIRST PERSON view, I've dreamed about a fp-rpg since i tried the good old *system shock*.Err, this is the next to last thing I would like to have implented. Morrowind anyone?


The last thing I would like to have implented is Hentai.

I think the idea of having various "factions" that the character can join, which would alter the events in the storyline, interactions, etc.

Sorta like: joining the Shadow Theives in BG (even if you werent a thief) OR like the Knights Templars in Lionheart (yeah the game flopped, but oh well)

It would add a lot of replayability, and more npcs to interact with. You can have faction-associated quests, and npcs who will (believeably) follow you to the ends of the earth (or Faerun) <----- unlike plain ol' hirelings

It would be a good idea too cause you could test how good your character was at his own (and other) class skills (thieving, fighting, devine magic etc...)

NWN was ok, but disappointing after the Baldur's Gate series. It wasn't even as good as IWD2.
NWN2 (imho) needs:
more party members
more control of party members
more interaction with party members
more interaction between party members
possibility of running the main story MULTIPLAYER
make the rules more like D&D (3rd Ed, not 3.5)
:bang: NOT ANOTHER PLAYSTATION GAME :bang:
They spent way too much effort on 3D effects and not enough on characters and story.

I think it would be cool if, instead of choosing your alignment, your actions would decide it for you ... although that would probably mean that paladin would have to be a prestige class but I'm sure it could work out

I DEMAND a better A.I. for the Henchmen!

@Hedron--- That would be against D&D rules, so I doubt it will come in the game- However it's a nice way I like it!

Well in the First place the OC of HOTU was pretty good... IMHO HOTU sould be NWN in the first place

Anyway-- As long it's fun to play and much more like bg2 it will be good.

Everybody here is talking about an improved single-player mode, but how about an improved multi-player mode...??? Man we had some trouble MP'ing the first NWN, it was pure horror! Everyone needed to have an original copy of the game, and even then the game was extremely bugged...! It almost ruined my appetite for rpg's, so I really hope they improved that part...!

Yes. There is a lot of truth here. Even the older games of yesterday have a more immersive story than NWN does. Remember Ultima? Their storylines were great! BG and BG 2 were good stories. The story must be great! Hacking and slashing through your enemies gets boring if you have no real goal in mind!

Other things that would make the game better:
Variety variety variety!
Mix and match capability like someone else said earlier (as in with Daggerfall and Morrowind) is a great idea.
How about the ability to own your own building? Have a store with a storekeep working for you?
Maybe have another PC wanting you to craft some special armor (if you have high crafting skill) or enchant something and you charge for it?

I mentioned some other things in the other post about wishes. Maybe a way to switch to first person view like in Daggerfall or Morrowind if you are interested in that?

The ability to target specific body parts with magic or weapons?

They need to keep in mind where the OC failed, and where the expansions (such as SoU) succeeded. I really enjoyed SoU, but the OC bored me off my ****. There was just to much relentless hacking through really easy monsters, with genuinely interesting battles coming all to infrequently and then the Greater <whatever>'s Belts would often mean an easy contest. Chapter 2 was horrible for that. The whole thing was like chewing on gristle. SoU, on the other hand, always kept you on your toes a bit (no easy regeneration items, for one thing), and every magic item gained a real bonus. It really felt a suitable reward getting Blackguard plate (for instance), versus the effort to get there. I never got that with NWN itself. I still haven't got far with HotU (and probably won't for a while), but hopefully it's not as relentlessly HnS.

And lastly, if they want to make NWN2 really good, they should use the Infinity Engine, but balance AC better than IWD2. :p That would be badass, but it won't happen. :(

Some things I'd like to see in NWN2

-Improved Graphics, Models and spell effects.

-NPC's with some hint of personality

-An upgraded toolset with dozens of new placeables, tilesets and... 'stuff'

-A more rich and engulfing storyline, that is not linear. The thing I loved about BG series is that you could be evil, to an extent.

-Maybe some new classes

Thats all I can think of right now :p

I know this idea may not be popular and against the rules, but they never obeyed them strictly anyway .. but instead of having to memorize spells you could choose whichever spell you wanted on the fly .. I really can't stand sitting there for an hour picking out spells just to find out that I need to use a protection of fire spell 5 minutes later ... then having to rest do what i had to do w/ pro. from fire then rememorizing the spells i want .. I mean .. I'm not Ms. Cleo :rolleyes:

True...and that's what Sorcerer's are there for. It's all about natural spellcasting ability mate! :)

I for one want more prestige classes, better AI and more challenging fights. IWD2 fights were the BEST! It's a pity that IWD2 was too linear, but my best moments were the fight with the Guardian in Jungles of Chult, the Defense of Kuldahar, the Battle at Shaengarne Bridge, the huge fight in front of the Ice Temple with Sherincal and many more.

If they can get that epic heart-in-your-throat feel with NWN2, I'd be willing to forgive a not so very engrossing storyline etc. I mean, I solo games like IWD2 and BG2 anyway! :D And after the 6-7th time through...you stop paying attention to the story anyway...non linear games are great for that! :D

"True...and that's what Sorcerer's are there for. It's all about natural spellcasting ability mate!"

Oh, my bad, I was really referring to clerics. *shrugs* It makes sense since they pray for spells, why should they have to memorize them like a wizard? Maybe dependent of what God they worship they would get different spells to balance it. Like an evil cleric would only be able to cast cure wounds once per day but get more cause wound spells or something along those lines.

What I'd like is:
1. A more coherent storyline. Aribeth's betrayal WHAT.. in her story she is chosen by a God to become a paladin and she throws it all away because a crowd said give us blood and it was her lover... If she was that unstable would Tyr have chosen her and he didn't interfere when she fell because reptiles scared him or ....
2. NPC's that bring something to the table and better interaction between Npc's and (dare i say) protagonist.
3. A longer campaign just as I was really beginnning to enjoy the game it ended (Baldur's gate II SoA/ToB was the best for this).
4. Banks and gold that weighs something, in one go at this game I was playing a sorcerer who could carry 115lbs of equipment and yet had over 300,000 gold coins allowing 1oz per coin this means that he was carrying over 8.4 tons of gold ???

That's all I can think of initially :D

I'm seriously inclined to agree with Darkstrider about the story aspect.
The story for NWN was weak in a lot of places. The concept of a Paladin which Tyr himself chose turning against Neverwinter simply because her lover was executed was rather poor.
After playing BG2 i found NWN a serious let down. I must have been through BG2 around 6 or 7 times now with both good and evil characters and there is still a LOT of new material that i havnt seen before. I've only been through NWN around 2 maybe 3 times and i allready get the impression that i've seen everything or at least very nearly everything. There was no variety. The game was far too linear.
I dont know what the designers were thinking when they made the NPC's for NWN. The NPC's for BG2 were numerous, found in multiple locations and interacted with you and each other in a colourful and sometimes hilarious way. I mean what happened? The NPC's for NWN were only around 6 and all conveniently found in the same location. After having a party of 6 people which were either laughing with each other, irritating each other or trying to rip each others heads off in BG2, only having 1 virtually mindless drone following you in NWN was rather depressing.
I personally hope that NWN2 is a lot more like BG1/2. Theres a distinctive atmosphere and magic to BG2 that i'm afraid NWN sadly lacked. And before anyone says 'NWN is its own game and should have its own atmosphere' please......it hardly had ANY atmosphere!!
FurriusBane has a good point about the stronghold concept. The option to have a Morrowind or BG2 style stronghold would be a great addition to NWN2. Yet another thing NWN lacked in.

You all make a very good point about Aribeth's betrayal. I never thought about that ...

I only enjoyed small sections of the OC, and never could get into any of the Mods for the game (especially now that the graphics look so horrid to me, even though I can still play the IE games with no problem at all).

So I'm hoping for a stronger focus on the Single Player aspect of the game, as if I buy the game, I most likely won't be downloading Modules or playing with other people.

I'd also like the game to be completable with any class, as my pure Rogue in NWN stood no chance whatsoever against the dual Dragons at the end of the game (having used Traps to off the previous Dragons). Not to mention the final battle is very much geared to Fighters or whoever has Harm. -.-

Well, ive been playing nwn for 3 and a half years now... and i gotta say the NWN DOES lack the magic BG and espically Torment had. Although with the new 3d games we will probably never see the magic happen again. Id rather not sound pestimistic but ive see some screen shots and talked a lot about it and it seems we are in for a long repetitive ride...

Hi all:
I would like to see a combat system like the one used in TOEE. I thought it was refreshing to actually see the threat area around an opponet, (close enough for an attack of opportunity) and radial menus for spells, feats, items, and so on. I for one would hate to see a morrowind type approach to the game. Most of the things everyone is wanting seems to be present in TOEE, maybe they could just fix that engine and use it.

Well, Obsidian already announced they would keep the engine from the first NWN. Luckily for you, SirChet, you used the term engine a bit loosely (and also wrongly). What you describe is not so much the engine, as well the graphical renderer. Since Obsidian has completely rewritten that one, we can only hope it will look better than NWN.

The toolset and scripting part was awesome in NWN. I hope they won't screw it up. I never liked the OC either, but the thing that got me into NWN was the endless possibilities of custom content.

Well we want hencman like Jaheira in BG2. (I am going to use her as an example). We want to control the spells, inventory, the route she walks, who she attacks etc etc. We all agree on that because that was wrong in NWN1. The party system works, as proved in both Kotors. But Jahaeira is a thinking sentient being who knows how to level up. jaheira want to keep some itmes, as her part of the loot. she will buy on occassion better stuff taht cannot be removed. She is the druid, so she levels as one and uses the stuff. It makes hencman more personal and less servant like.

This levelling can be done by interaction of the party. Like: Oh fearless leader do you want me to fight or just be a hospital? It is also a way to steer newcomers through the game.

It is a bit back to NWN1, I agree, but total control is a step to far.

In decreasing order of importance:
1. Have the option of creating a party and not merely carrying one henchman around with you.
2. (As a continuation of 1) Less frequent, but more difficult fights. Fights that force you to make use of all the skills available - cleric (not just for healing), wizard, thief, fighter.
3. Better control over party members, specially what spells they memorize, what they cast in middle of battle and whom they fight.
4. Better skills and feats. Skills are almost useless in 3rd edition games. More skills like tumble which actually improve you combat skills are required.
5. Racial disparity: The racial differences in IWD 2 were quite interesting. Problem is, the 1 extra feat & extra skills that humans get was nothing as compared the racial disadvantages. Ideally, each race must have different strengths but in the end, no particular race should have any huge advanatage over other (deep gnomes were really overpowered).
6. Storyline: Nothing like a good storyline to keep the interest in game. Storyline should have a strong motive for the NPC to do the things he/she does.
7. Talking NPCs: Already there have been many demands that NWN2 should be more like the BG series. Characters that talk and have a their own personalities was a important factor in the BG series.
8. Level up system: I understand that in 3rd edition, level up system was changed to promote greater emphasis on single class. But then, it is a well known fact that becoming a jack of all trades is easier than becoming master of one. If you are a level 20 mage, becoming level 21 mage will require much more effort than learning a bit of sword fighting and advancing as 1st level fighter. I still prefer the level system of 2nd edition.

1. Have the option of creating a party and not merely carrying one henchman around with you.
3. Better control over party members, specially what spells they memorize, what they cast in middle of battle and whom they fight.From what I understand, this may be possible. A few quotes below from the NWN2 FAQ page :)

http://www.atari.com/nwn2/faq.php?sec=4#1
2. Will will be able to recruit companions?

Yes, there are companions who join the player’s party over the course of the campaign. In addition to managing themselves as they did in Neverwinter Nights, you have full control over companions in combat. If you want make all the decisions for your companions in combat, you can – if you don’t want to, you won’t have to. 3. What changes have been made to the interface? (Back to top)

Several changes have been made to the in-game interface to make it more intuitive for end users. One of the many changes is that in addition to the standard Neverwinter Nights controls, you’ll be able to select a new control scheme that will be more RTS-like – something to help if you are coming to Neverwinter Nights 2 not having played the first game. 4. Better skills and feats. Skills are almost useless in 3rd edition games. More skills like tumble which actually improve you combat skills are required.Could you explain this idea a bit more? I thought them very useful, from an online game perspective.

7. Talking NPCs: Already there have been many demands that NWN2 should be more like the BG series. Characters that talk and have a their own personalities was a important factor in the BG series.Once again, looking at the FAQs it does seem likely :)

All the thigns about the story and horrible henchmen AI have been more or less discussed, so I'll go for a more prosaic thing to complain about: characterisation.

I want to feel like I'm stalking when I'm stalking with my rogue. How about a little crouching and tip-toeing when Hide in Shadows is selected? Not as exagerated as in Arcanum, but that would be something.

Rapiers are piercing weapons. The are not used to slash. Ever. If you try to slash with a rapier you'll sunder the blade. Please don't let me see my character slashing with a rapier.

Seeing my human character in NWN ducking a blow to the kness from a halfling was nearly a religious experience. If spiders can jump to avoid blows, so should my character. Or move to the side. Make size counts.

I want to see my weapon when I sheathe it. Either hanging from a belt, on the character's back, or something. I want to see the cloaks I use. CEP implemented cloaks quite nicely, use that. Also, I'd like to see the quiver where I am putting all those arrows. I want to see open-faced helmets, circlets, hats, and hoods.

Please hire someone who has actually seen different types of real armor in his/her life. Suggestive metal clothing for women warriors may be the latest fashion in Paris, but it doesn't really work for people whose hormones have calmed down some time ago. And a chainmail that protects your stomach while leaving your torso bare may be nice to keep the old belly in, but it looks plain silly.

Performing a "Whirlwind Attack" should be quite hard while carrying 100lbs of armor and weapons. In fact, it shouldn't be possible at all. I do hope that they change the animation to something less... "flashy", or that they prevent the character from using it unless wearing light armor.

Rotku,
I never play online games. I have only played NWN (as was as BG & IWD) as a single player. So it is possible that you actually found some use of skills.
My biggest dissatisfaction was that very few skills help in combat. Really, a intelligent fighter would learn to hit his opponents better than an unintelligent one, even if he was not as strong. Fighting with a weapon is a skill and not a pure strength function. Only tumble contributed directly to improving combat prowess.
As single player, the skills I used were - Concentration, Spellcraft, Discipline, Tumble, Use Magic Device. Others I chose only if I had spare points.
Appraise: I never had to develop this skill as there was always enough money in the game.
Craft armor/weapon etc: From the description of these skills, I never thought I would be able to come up with a armor better than what was available with merchants. So I never used it.
Open Locks: I can always bash open things with items that do elemental damage.
Disable Trap: Not required for rogue/monk because of evasion. Not required for cleric/wizard becasue of protective spells. Fighter classes are the only one that need to disable traps. Really, I have never bothered to search areas for traps even when I was playing for the first time. I just walked over them, and never died.
Persuade: Good skill for roleplaying purpose.
Set Traps: Well, NWN monsters were always too easy, so I never had to plan any traps etc.
Parry: Very limited usefulness becasue of limit placed on number of retaliations (3 I think).
Hide/Move Silently: Good skills for scouts/rogues but I always used invisibility spell/potion for scouting purpose.
Lore: Can always identify item at shops.
Search/Listen/Spot: Never needed these skills throughout the game.

Search/Listen/Spot affected your perception... For example, points in listen/spot allow you to detect characters hidden in shadows. But then, I never met any NPC's that hid in shadows during the OC. It had its uses in multiplayer only, if anywhere.

So... Make people actually need the 'old' skills before making new ones. :D

@Shivi

Agreed on the fighting issue. It is a matter of skill over simple brawn. Unfortunately, it wont be changed, it's too basic D&D rules. Skill increases just about anything, except for damage. Sadly, a 6 intelligence fighter gets the same increases as a 15 int fighter, except for skills, which a fighter doesnt need anyway.

What i want... just more realism. I dont mean no magic or such rubbish, but just common sense when creating the campaign. You could hire a professional crate basher in the original, for all the crates and boxes and chests around, for instance.

In this topic, members have posted many important points out of which even if 50% are implemented, NWN2 will be a good game without doubt.

However, a very basic question; may be out ignorance but I didn't find anything which answers my question in forum rules.

Does the feedback from here actually goes to the game developers?
Has someone summarized this whole discussion and actually rated the various demands i.e. the feature demanded by max. members to be given highest priority etc.?

Developers of D&D games pretty much as a rule stick to their own official forums. Some of them read other forums here and there too, but that's about it. If any of them look here now and then unofficially, there's no way of knowing it.

I cant say for sure what I want... except, story-wise, I sure as heck hope they make the ending of the new game BETTER than the ending of the first.

That, to me, was a HUGE disappointment.

I'm more concerned about the story, than the gameplay. (Hell, look at FF7 and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: crappy graphics, camera-problems, glitches all-around--but great stories.)

That's about it.

I'll tell you what i want to see! I want a spruced up clone of baldurs gate 2. More liches! AND BRING BACK IMPRISONMENT!!! Neverwinter Nights only had one evil evil henchman, that just wont do.

After seeing the screens and gameplay movies, I have a feeling this game is going to be another big disappointment. I'll just hang until gamespot review it, and if it's any less than 9.0, I'll pass.

NWN's original campaign sucked. Every review pointed out all the glaring problems it had. Nevertheless, NWN turned out to be a very fun game for many of us due to modules created by the player community and online play.

As a tool for re-creating the table-top experience, NWN was great. A good DM and a group of good RPers could have fun for hours in a basic tavern or dungeon with a couple goblins. In that sense, NWN2 can only be an improvement.

For me, the game won't be made or broken by the campaign it ships with.

That said, the graphics are not blowing me away. Much of the game is looking like recycled NWN: many of the same sounds, same monsters, same NPCs and same basic setting.

I thought the online play was stinking awful actually, the toolset was fun to play with for a few hours, but is so limited. I found gameplay incredibly dull, and everything seemed lifeless. By the looks of things, nothing has changed. The campaign for me is the single most important thing.

I agree. The single player campaign is what this game should be judged on, even though the graphics look to be a huge improvement from the first neverwinter nights. Hope there's a good storyline and ending to it, with a variety of scenarios dependant on your characters attributes. It gets boring to play to the same ending and consistent storyline unless there was more than one route to get there. I haven't played a game to an exciting storyline since Baldur's Gate & Baldurs Gate 2. That aside, I hope there are some fascinating magic items in the game and interesting characters to meet.

I agree as well. The only thing I will be judging the game on is the enjoyability of the single player campaign.

I agree as well. The only thing I will be judging the game on is the enjoyability of the single player campaign. Well... Don't get your hopes too high.