Neverwinter Nights 2 Forum News (Nov. 6, 04)

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Here are today's Neverwinter Nights 2 forum highlights, collected by NWVault from Obsidian Forums. 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.

FrankK, Programmer

Graduate Degrees
I went to grad school as a teaching assistant and it was a highly rewarding experience that I think helped me later on in my career (the teaching part that is, the classes were pretty much more of the same--I imagine research assistantship is probably a more intellectually challenging avenue).

Backwards Compatiblility

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Graphical content is unlikely to be compatible, as they are recreating every graphic in the game to have higher technical specs. While you might possibly be able to find a way to drop the NWN1 models into NWN2, they would look horrible in comparison and not fit in with the game at all. There will be no major changes to the way the scripting languages works, though function names might see a few, and there will certainly be additional functions and script parameters. Scripts will probably be compatible, but may not compile without a few minor tweaks. Dialog is likewise not going through major changes, though I suspect placeables and areas won't import directly. This is asked and answered in the stickied FAQ as well.

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The model format is 100% incompatible, as will be any form of terrain/tileset placement. What is likely to import are scripts and dialogs. The toolset has already been heavily modified to support a slew of new features for scripts and dialogs, but these changes are backward compatible--your script/dialog will import with default options for our new dialog nodes, etc.

Scripting Wizard
we are looking at some solutions to make scripting and script-like elements available to a broader audience, or at the least, quicker to implement.

Weird Henchmen And Sub-Quests
I think what made Deekin popular wasn't JUST the Kobold aspect of his being, but his personality as well. I think if Deekin had not been a kobold, he would still have made a popular character. To that end, the companion list for NWN2 is filled with interesting people who will have their own motivations for travelling with you and not just be 'heal-bots for hire'. I'm sure in the months before release when they are fleshed out, more information will be forthcoming. I like the direction the companions have headed thus far, however.

Video Cards

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I have an idea. Your texture artists probably always start w/ a high-res texture (maybe 2/3 times bigger than the final one) and then just resize it. Well, grab all those high-res textures, pack em up and let ppl download them. Then, whoever has the 512MB graphics card could just download the 2GB zip wink.gif unzip it into the "override" folder and enjoy sharp-texture goodness

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This is more of a resource issue. The problem becomes CD/DVD space or, as you suggested, bandwidth for downloads. Textures will probably be the single biggest space hog, compressed or not.

Camera Shots
Erik has already made some siginificant changes to the toolset and camera system. It looks neato. I'm sure the first several batches of screenshots will demonstrate the changes and the level of control should be something that keeps mod makers very happy.

Ferret, Developer

NWN2 Interview
Actually, I was using "artifact" in the more literary sense. Not the D&D terminology definition. Rest assured the player won't have an uber-powerful artifact at the beginning of the game.

Erik Novales, Programmer

Verbal Components for Spells

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I think we should use the ancient Welsh language for verbal components. WHO'S WITH ME!

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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllantysiliogogogochynygofod

 

LOL