chevalier
Sat, 31st Jul '04, 10:55am
Here are today's BioWare forum highlights, collected by NWVault (http://nwvault.ign.com). Please take into account that these are only single parts of various threads and should not be taken out of context. Bear in mind also that the posts presented here are copied as-is, and that any bad spelling and grammar does not get corrected on our end.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Tim Smith, Tools Programmer</font>
Determining where the ITP doc in a BIF file applies to. (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370822&post=3050885&forum=74&highlight=)
All resources have names. BIF files by themselves are worthless since they do not contain the resource names. However, when used properly with the master KEY file, the toolset and game engine can identify any resource in the KEY/BIF files by name. As far as "special" files, yes there are some. Both the game engine and toolset require some resources with fixed names. That is how it finds such things as the creature palette.
Verify Massive Memory Leak in Script Editor? (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370630&post=3050893&forum=47&highlight=)
You can not "force" memory to be released. If the program isn't deallocating the memory, it can't be "forced" to release it because no external program can judge what memory is still in use and what memory isn't.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Craig Welburn, Live Team Programmer</font>
can't log on to multiplayer (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=349031&post=3051759&forum=49&highlight=)
Interesting that it starts to work for a few people after changing their install directory (or copying over a new one). Out of curiosity,
What is the install path that you installed NWN to (e.g. c:\games\nwn )
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Robin Mayne, Webmaster</font>
28 Jul 2004 - BioWare Community Celebrates 2 Million Members With Giveaway (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370382&post=3048761&forum=41&highlight=)
<hr>Hey it says I had to answer a "skill-testing question" but after I updated my e-mail address (which is old) it says that I have already been entered...but I was never asked a question. Does this mean my entry is doomed???<hr>
The skill testing question will be asked when the names are drawn.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Georg Zoeller, Designer</font>
Would you play on a server that didnt... (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370707&post=3049635&forum=77&highlight=)
<hr>Have you tried to make experience changes not show up? I don't think you can, unless you used an experience system run through a database or something, and only updated the real experience when you broke level limits. How are you planning on doing this?<hr>
That sounds like the way of doing it. 1.63 will remove the "XP gained: 0" messages if you get 0 xp, so you just set the xp slider 0% and don't give out any visible XP but instead do it in the database. I can imagine playing that way, we use to do that in pen and paper (DM would track XP hidden and just inform you on level up), worked quite well.
About beta testing.... (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370648&post=3050196&forum=77&highlight=)
<hr>I'm curious: When the beta testers play through all 3 OC's prior to a patch release - Do they have to play fair? Or can they give their character all kinds of unfair advantages just to speed things along? I can imagine if I was playing through them all again after having been through them a few times already like a beta tester must be, I'd probably be making use of the debug commands to get like 50 on all attributes, or importing items to get DR 255 vs. everything, et cetera.<hr>
I think it depends things like fast movement make sense, however by giving you immunity against everything you would pretty much screw up your chance to notice if some damage or attack types are broken...
Would you play on a server that didnt... (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370707&post=3051235&forum=77&highlight=)
<Hr>For pen and paper ad&d sure. But for a video game? There has to be some level of indicator of progress. AD&D is a very number-based game.<hr>
Thatis really debateable - if someone is role playing, in a more traditional sense (read: socializing, in multiplayer) - there is no need for a progress indicator, as the game does not neccessarily revolve around character progress (i.e. levelup) but the task/quest at hand (or progress in a more social sense). The numbers can be big fun in D&D (i.e. people breaking their dice in), but I have to say, the best and most memorable PnP sessions I remember were those where no dice was were rolled. Now that said, Role playing on the computer is definitly more roll playing, (it's not really possible to socialize with a computer...), and dice-less playing requires a good and dedicated DM. In the end a world that does not give out a continual flow of XP will "filter" the player base, you'' get probably more socializers and less roll players, so if that is your intention, I think it's a good way.
Ok Bioware..c'mon..Give Us the Power!! (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370971&post=3052481&forum=47&highlight=)
The reason those scripting commmands are not there are related to ELC and the design paradigm that the player should hold control of the base properties of his character. While latter has a bit shifted since NWN was released, ELC is still there and won't go away, so I don't think we'll see those scripting commands in the near future.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Stanley Woo, Quality Assurance</font>
28 Jul 2004 - BioWare Community Celebrates 2 Million Members With Giveaway (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370382&post=3049440&forum=41&highlight=)
If any of y'all happen to win and don't want any of your prizes, I would gladly trade for BioWare swag freshly swiped from some unsuspecting employee's desk. Want Jay Watamaniuk's mouse pad? I'll take the video card. Want Ray Muzyka's chair? I'll take the Alienware computer. Hey, Derrick Collins is on vacation, I'll just give you a few of his CDs!
2 million community members. Ever!
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Tim Smith, Tools Programmer</font>
Determining where the ITP doc in a BIF file applies to. (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370822&post=3050885&forum=74&highlight=)
All resources have names. BIF files by themselves are worthless since they do not contain the resource names. However, when used properly with the master KEY file, the toolset and game engine can identify any resource in the KEY/BIF files by name. As far as "special" files, yes there are some. Both the game engine and toolset require some resources with fixed names. That is how it finds such things as the creature palette.
Verify Massive Memory Leak in Script Editor? (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370630&post=3050893&forum=47&highlight=)
You can not "force" memory to be released. If the program isn't deallocating the memory, it can't be "forced" to release it because no external program can judge what memory is still in use and what memory isn't.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Craig Welburn, Live Team Programmer</font>
can't log on to multiplayer (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=349031&post=3051759&forum=49&highlight=)
Interesting that it starts to work for a few people after changing their install directory (or copying over a new one). Out of curiosity,
What is the install path that you installed NWN to (e.g. c:\games\nwn )
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Robin Mayne, Webmaster</font>
28 Jul 2004 - BioWare Community Celebrates 2 Million Members With Giveaway (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370382&post=3048761&forum=41&highlight=)
<hr>Hey it says I had to answer a "skill-testing question" but after I updated my e-mail address (which is old) it says that I have already been entered...but I was never asked a question. Does this mean my entry is doomed???<hr>
The skill testing question will be asked when the names are drawn.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Georg Zoeller, Designer</font>
Would you play on a server that didnt... (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370707&post=3049635&forum=77&highlight=)
<hr>Have you tried to make experience changes not show up? I don't think you can, unless you used an experience system run through a database or something, and only updated the real experience when you broke level limits. How are you planning on doing this?<hr>
That sounds like the way of doing it. 1.63 will remove the "XP gained: 0" messages if you get 0 xp, so you just set the xp slider 0% and don't give out any visible XP but instead do it in the database. I can imagine playing that way, we use to do that in pen and paper (DM would track XP hidden and just inform you on level up), worked quite well.
About beta testing.... (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370648&post=3050196&forum=77&highlight=)
<hr>I'm curious: When the beta testers play through all 3 OC's prior to a patch release - Do they have to play fair? Or can they give their character all kinds of unfair advantages just to speed things along? I can imagine if I was playing through them all again after having been through them a few times already like a beta tester must be, I'd probably be making use of the debug commands to get like 50 on all attributes, or importing items to get DR 255 vs. everything, et cetera.<hr>
I think it depends things like fast movement make sense, however by giving you immunity against everything you would pretty much screw up your chance to notice if some damage or attack types are broken...
Would you play on a server that didnt... (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370707&post=3051235&forum=77&highlight=)
<Hr>For pen and paper ad&d sure. But for a video game? There has to be some level of indicator of progress. AD&D is a very number-based game.<hr>
Thatis really debateable - if someone is role playing, in a more traditional sense (read: socializing, in multiplayer) - there is no need for a progress indicator, as the game does not neccessarily revolve around character progress (i.e. levelup) but the task/quest at hand (or progress in a more social sense). The numbers can be big fun in D&D (i.e. people breaking their dice in), but I have to say, the best and most memorable PnP sessions I remember were those where no dice was were rolled. Now that said, Role playing on the computer is definitly more roll playing, (it's not really possible to socialize with a computer...), and dice-less playing requires a good and dedicated DM. In the end a world that does not give out a continual flow of XP will "filter" the player base, you'' get probably more socializers and less roll players, so if that is your intention, I think it's a good way.
Ok Bioware..c'mon..Give Us the Power!! (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370971&post=3052481&forum=47&highlight=)
The reason those scripting commmands are not there are related to ELC and the design paradigm that the player should hold control of the base properties of his character. While latter has a bit shifted since NWN was released, ELC is still there and won't go away, so I don't think we'll see those scripting commands in the near future.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Stanley Woo, Quality Assurance</font>
28 Jul 2004 - BioWare Community Celebrates 2 Million Members With Giveaway (http://nwn.bioware.com//forums/viewpost.html?topic=370382&post=3049440&forum=41&highlight=)
If any of y'all happen to win and don't want any of your prizes, I would gladly trade for BioWare swag freshly swiped from some unsuspecting employee's desk. Want Jay Watamaniuk's mouse pad? I'll take the video card. Want Ray Muzyka's chair? I'll take the Alienware computer. Hey, Derrick Collins is on vacation, I'll just give you a few of his CDs!
2 million community members. Ever!