chevalier
Wed, 7th Mar '07, 11:56pm
Here are today's Neverwinter Nights 2 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">Rob McGinnis</font>
Class Focus: Druid (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552526&post=4858348&forum=109&highlight=)
I seem to be running a bit behind this week.
Our class focus for the week is the Druid. The tree hugger.
So, tell us all why the druid is the best of all the classes. Why is the druid cooler than a fighter or a cleric?
Why do you hate the druid? Why?
Go for it!
Players crashing servers. Litterally (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552390&post=4858557&forum=118&highlight=)
We would love to help you but without information there is little we can do.
Perhaps have the player contact me and I can get files from him/her.
But really, we can't fix what we don't know is broken.
What's wrong with you Obsidian (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552636&post=4859867&forum=109&highlight=)
1.05 is on it's way. There have just been some interesting issues with it, so it get's kicked back in QA.
The way the NWN engine is built, it seems that when one thing is fixed, another breaks. So, it just takes time. A beta release should be out soon.
1.05 patch question (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552474&post=4859868&forum=109&highlight=)
<hr />What about bug fixes that are NOT module related - like fixing the defensive stance for Dwarven Defenders. If you are playing a DD would you have to load a save game from before getting that ability for it to be fixed?<hr />I think you should be fine for classes.
Editorial: The REAL reason NWN2 falls short (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552292&post=4859965&forum=109&highlight=)
There are some interesting points in this thread.
One thing I see throughout the forums is that people just transfer their opinions and experiences on to others. Those people that aren't having any problems with the game have a hard time understanding the issues that are experienced by those people that are having problems.
At the same time, those people disappointed or having problems with the game seem to think it is widespread and that the only people not having issues are fanboys.
To inject a bit of reality here: The NWN community (the people on these forums) makes up an extremely small part of the total customer base. I would have to say well under 1% of all the NWN2 customers actually visit the Bioware forums. Does that minimize the issues people are experiencing? No, but it does help to put things into perspective a bit.
I will also tell you that after having received a few hundred PMs and e-mails from people that have left the forums, the reason for the vast majority is because of all the bickering, "*****ing" and "whining." This doesn't mean that people haven't left because they are disappointed with the game, it just reflects what I have been told.
Is the community lazy? No, I don't think so. I do think there is a great reluctance or refusal to change and a lot of people that like to drag others down. I think there are some problems that people are waiting to see fixed before they invest any time.
As for the developer, we will keep plugging away at patches regardless of the complaints that go on. As I have said many times, constructive feedback gets attention. Whining, moaning, insults and insinuations get ignored. Especially when it is coming from the same person/people over and over again. It's like an overplayed song on the radio: the song comes on, I turn the channel.
So, for those of you that think that "*****ing" has its place and is useful; it isn't. Unless, of course, your intention is to do harm. Ever heard the saying "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vineagar?"
For bugs and requests for fixes, I look for the well-written posts that fully explain the issue and perhaps include a suggestion. I rely on the Community Reps since they are in the thick of it every day. I listen to the people in the IRC channel.
The time has passed for those people that like to thrust their fists in the air and 'rouse the rabble. Now it is time for people to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Neverwinter Nights was never a game about a developer. It was about a developer enabling the community. It was about the community taking a small piece of software and nurturing it to something great. That is all NWN2 is as well.
We will fix what we must fix, but the success and life of NWN is mostly in your hands. We will support you and help you make NWN2 your own, as you have done with NWN1, but the day is fast approaching when NWN1 no longer exists, and no publisher will want to invest time or money into a franchise doomed to failure because of a community that tears itself apart from the inside. Which means, in the end, you will have nothing.
As in life, greatness with NWN will never be handed to you. Sometimes it takes a while to get what you want. It just seems that the forward-thinking community we used to have is all focused on looking backwards now. We find excuses for why things are the way they are. "Well, the faces in the game suck." They sucked in NWN1 too.. what happened? The community re-skinned them. "Multiplayer sucks." Yes, I will agree it is painful right now. But it takes a while to fix the larger systems. Work on other things. Make your PW great, instead of just trying to have the words "One of the oldest worlds in NWN2" to go along with your name.
Well, that's about enough of my rant. I am sure everything will go back to the way it was and I have no doubt my post will be attacked. That still doesn't change the fact that we are in this together. We succeed or fail as a community. The life of NWN1 is tied to the life of NWN2, and vice versa. Just many have not realized that yet.
More: Actually, SpectralHare, I find your posts to be well-meaning and intelligently written.
More: Disclaimer: My post in no way minimizes SpectralHare's Curmudgeonliness.
A no-brainer suggestion for online that SHOULD already have been dealt with. (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552338&post=4859985&forum=109&highlight=)
<hr />We always put the patch number in our sever name for NWN. But still, the idea proposed certainly isn't a bad one. Right now, I know mp isn't on the front burner. But since I believe mp impromvements are being considered for the 1.6 patch, then anything really that could be done to improve the ease with which players can log in would be welcome. I can't prove it, but I do feel the online numbers aren't so low because of stability (isn't so bad) or lack of content (not a lot of servers yet, but the list isn't terrible). I personally believe it to be the general lack of info that tells players what to do to play, and the lack of info that tells that what it is they are doing wrong when they can't connect to a server. So anything that would help lead players by the hand would be welcome.<hr />I agree with this. I would like to see the error message for the lack of a file (PWC or Hak) be more clear as well. Perhaps a redesign of the GameSpy server browser screen is in order. Something that explains what the colors mean and talks about the files that may be needed.
Are you confused about how to connect to a multiplayer game? (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552671&post=4859992&forum=109&highlight=)
The subject line says it all. Have you tried to connect to a multiplayer game and can't figure out why you can't?
Do you want to play multiplayer and have no idea where to start?
Post here and let me know the issues you are having.
Thanks.
What was your favorite DM moment in NWN? (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552709&post=4860358&forum=117&highlight=)
I have had a lot of great times DMing in NWN.
What are some of your favorite moments? What was the funniest thing that you have seen while DMing?
Keep it clean http://forums.bioware.com/_commonext/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial" color="#cc6600">Rob McGinnis</font>
Class Focus: Druid (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552526&post=4858348&forum=109&highlight=)
I seem to be running a bit behind this week.
Our class focus for the week is the Druid. The tree hugger.
So, tell us all why the druid is the best of all the classes. Why is the druid cooler than a fighter or a cleric?
Why do you hate the druid? Why?
Go for it!
Players crashing servers. Litterally (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552390&post=4858557&forum=118&highlight=)
We would love to help you but without information there is little we can do.
Perhaps have the player contact me and I can get files from him/her.
But really, we can't fix what we don't know is broken.
What's wrong with you Obsidian (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552636&post=4859867&forum=109&highlight=)
1.05 is on it's way. There have just been some interesting issues with it, so it get's kicked back in QA.
The way the NWN engine is built, it seems that when one thing is fixed, another breaks. So, it just takes time. A beta release should be out soon.
1.05 patch question (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552474&post=4859868&forum=109&highlight=)
<hr />What about bug fixes that are NOT module related - like fixing the defensive stance for Dwarven Defenders. If you are playing a DD would you have to load a save game from before getting that ability for it to be fixed?<hr />I think you should be fine for classes.
Editorial: The REAL reason NWN2 falls short (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552292&post=4859965&forum=109&highlight=)
There are some interesting points in this thread.
One thing I see throughout the forums is that people just transfer their opinions and experiences on to others. Those people that aren't having any problems with the game have a hard time understanding the issues that are experienced by those people that are having problems.
At the same time, those people disappointed or having problems with the game seem to think it is widespread and that the only people not having issues are fanboys.
To inject a bit of reality here: The NWN community (the people on these forums) makes up an extremely small part of the total customer base. I would have to say well under 1% of all the NWN2 customers actually visit the Bioware forums. Does that minimize the issues people are experiencing? No, but it does help to put things into perspective a bit.
I will also tell you that after having received a few hundred PMs and e-mails from people that have left the forums, the reason for the vast majority is because of all the bickering, "*****ing" and "whining." This doesn't mean that people haven't left because they are disappointed with the game, it just reflects what I have been told.
Is the community lazy? No, I don't think so. I do think there is a great reluctance or refusal to change and a lot of people that like to drag others down. I think there are some problems that people are waiting to see fixed before they invest any time.
As for the developer, we will keep plugging away at patches regardless of the complaints that go on. As I have said many times, constructive feedback gets attention. Whining, moaning, insults and insinuations get ignored. Especially when it is coming from the same person/people over and over again. It's like an overplayed song on the radio: the song comes on, I turn the channel.
So, for those of you that think that "*****ing" has its place and is useful; it isn't. Unless, of course, your intention is to do harm. Ever heard the saying "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vineagar?"
For bugs and requests for fixes, I look for the well-written posts that fully explain the issue and perhaps include a suggestion. I rely on the Community Reps since they are in the thick of it every day. I listen to the people in the IRC channel.
The time has passed for those people that like to thrust their fists in the air and 'rouse the rabble. Now it is time for people to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Neverwinter Nights was never a game about a developer. It was about a developer enabling the community. It was about the community taking a small piece of software and nurturing it to something great. That is all NWN2 is as well.
We will fix what we must fix, but the success and life of NWN is mostly in your hands. We will support you and help you make NWN2 your own, as you have done with NWN1, but the day is fast approaching when NWN1 no longer exists, and no publisher will want to invest time or money into a franchise doomed to failure because of a community that tears itself apart from the inside. Which means, in the end, you will have nothing.
As in life, greatness with NWN will never be handed to you. Sometimes it takes a while to get what you want. It just seems that the forward-thinking community we used to have is all focused on looking backwards now. We find excuses for why things are the way they are. "Well, the faces in the game suck." They sucked in NWN1 too.. what happened? The community re-skinned them. "Multiplayer sucks." Yes, I will agree it is painful right now. But it takes a while to fix the larger systems. Work on other things. Make your PW great, instead of just trying to have the words "One of the oldest worlds in NWN2" to go along with your name.
Well, that's about enough of my rant. I am sure everything will go back to the way it was and I have no doubt my post will be attacked. That still doesn't change the fact that we are in this together. We succeed or fail as a community. The life of NWN1 is tied to the life of NWN2, and vice versa. Just many have not realized that yet.
More: Actually, SpectralHare, I find your posts to be well-meaning and intelligently written.
More: Disclaimer: My post in no way minimizes SpectralHare's Curmudgeonliness.
A no-brainer suggestion for online that SHOULD already have been dealt with. (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552338&post=4859985&forum=109&highlight=)
<hr />We always put the patch number in our sever name for NWN. But still, the idea proposed certainly isn't a bad one. Right now, I know mp isn't on the front burner. But since I believe mp impromvements are being considered for the 1.6 patch, then anything really that could be done to improve the ease with which players can log in would be welcome. I can't prove it, but I do feel the online numbers aren't so low because of stability (isn't so bad) or lack of content (not a lot of servers yet, but the list isn't terrible). I personally believe it to be the general lack of info that tells players what to do to play, and the lack of info that tells that what it is they are doing wrong when they can't connect to a server. So anything that would help lead players by the hand would be welcome.<hr />I agree with this. I would like to see the error message for the lack of a file (PWC or Hak) be more clear as well. Perhaps a redesign of the GameSpy server browser screen is in order. Something that explains what the colors mean and talks about the files that may be needed.
Are you confused about how to connect to a multiplayer game? (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552671&post=4859992&forum=109&highlight=)
The subject line says it all. Have you tried to connect to a multiplayer game and can't figure out why you can't?
Do you want to play multiplayer and have no idea where to start?
Post here and let me know the issues you are having.
Thanks.
What was your favorite DM moment in NWN? (http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewpost.html?topic=552709&post=4860358&forum=117&highlight=)
I have had a lot of great times DMing in NWN.
What are some of your favorite moments? What was the funniest thing that you have seen while DMing?
Keep it clean http://forums.bioware.com/_commonext/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif