Greyhawk: The Temple of Elemental Evil Forum News
Posted Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 23:01 CET by Z-Layrex

Here are today's official Neverwinter Nights forum highlights. Please take into account that these are only single parts of various threads and should not be taken out of context.

Huy Nguyen, Interface and Magic System

Conversation:

Quote: Will we be able to tag a diplomat character as the default talker for speech events, or will the first person in the group (i.e. that dumb half-orc with about as much charisma as a rock) be chosen as the group's linguistic leader?

The group may be separated on different sections of the map - you could hide your diplomat wizard in one corner, and then fight your half-orc to the other side and then somehow initiate a conversation with your diplomat.

Sorcerer Vs Mage: If you're concentrating on combat, then a sorcerer is probably your likely choice. the ability to cast 5 or so fireballs at will is kinda nice.

However, as people have mentioned, the sorcerer isn't very versatile in the less common situations...

At 6th level, a sorcerer knows 1 3rd level spell (no more, no less). however, he/she can cast that one spell 3 times (+bonus spells via CHA modifier).

An extreme example is, if the only spell the sorcerer knows is lightning bolt, then facing off against a group of Shambling Mounds is certain death. or even if the sorcerer knows fireball, the Shamblers have Fire Resistance 30.

So its pro's and con's; in the more common case, yes, the 3 fireballs are going to be more useful against your typical enemies then a wizard who has instead prepared, say, 1 dispel magic, 1 vampiric touch, and 1 sleet storm.

In addition, at 10th level, a sorcerer knows one 5th level spell, and can cast it 3+ times. a wizard at 10th level, can cast (conceivably) any 5th level spell twice per day.

Will there be highlighted ranges for Area of Effect spells?: In short, yes. you'll toast your own PC's only if you want to.

Steve Moret, Lead Programmer

Like BG or IWD?:

Quote: Forgive an ignorant fool.... but........
Will TToEE be like BG where you create 1 PC and recruit NPCs into your party?????
or
Wil it be more like IWD where you create your entire party???????
Also will you have total control over your party????
Thank you for your time.

> there's two NPCs that can join you
> throughout the whole game? or will there
> be a lot, but you can only have two of them?

I'm not sure on the NPC follower limit. It is either going to be 2 or 3. This is the most you can have at one time. However there are at least 8, probably more like 16-20 NPC followers you will be able to pick up for portions of the game. You may have to make decisions on who you are bringing with you, and they may require a share of the treasure.

> can you dump characters you make?

It is currently planned for you to remove any PC character from your party, and for you to be able to (at the INN) add any new 1st level characters to your party.