MMO Questions

Pen N Popper · 01-20-08, 11:08 AM

Will it support community content (scripts, areas, etc.)? To what extent compared to NWN?
If some of us wanted to get a head start on learning how to contribute to the MMO, what scripting language, graphics tools, and other things should we try to gain skill at?
What number of players will a GM quest support? To what extent compared to NWN? (NWN did not do well with large groups.)
Will there be mechanisms to support large-number PC/NPC battles?
Will the MMO server take advantage of multi-core processors?
Will there be mounted riding and combat support? Other transport like boats, carriages, and saddled flying eagles and butterflies?
Will there be NWN-style area transitions or a more seamless environment?
Will indoor areas be visible through outdoor doors and windows? (eg. Looking through an open door of a tavern to see occupants, or evesdropping beneath an open window.)
Will the current NWN out-of-game systems be available in the MMO? (LORE messages, PC stats, etc.)
Will the current NWN in-game systems be available in the MMO? (eg. writable parchments)
Will there be support for henchmen and animal companions? In what numbers (single, handful, multiples of ten)?

More later, I'm sure. :-)

Leanthar · 01-21-08, 04:41 AM

Thank you for the questions, but most of these questions can not be answered at this time, perhaps some will be in our next community update but even then I am not so sure.

Most of these questions are further down the road type things (as Dorganath explained to you in IRC).

I will answer #6 and #7.

"......6. Will there be NWN-style area transitions or a more seamless environment?....."

There will be transitions, however an area is much larger (by a large amount) than in NWN. It is not a seamless world and there are area transitions.

".....7. Will indoor areas be visible through outdoor doors and windows? (eg. Looking through an open door of a tavern to see occupants, or evesdropping beneath an open window.)....."

Yes, taverns and meeting places will be directly accessible and in those locations you can see out the doors and windows. Other buildings will be transitioned into at the door and will mean you can not see through doors/windows to the outdoors.

I have updated the FAQ with these answers.

miltonyorkcastle · 02-26-08, 10:30 PM

I got a question:

Will the new game have a way of representing advancement in age? either controllable by the player or by an automated system aligned with the IG time.

Dorganath · 02-27-08, 05:44 AM

Do you mean visually? Mechanically (i.e. changing attributes with age)?

Falonthas · 02-27-08, 06:30 AM

oooo so old foggies will look old and wrinkled and young whippersnappers will be a head taller

????

miltonyorkcastle · 02-27-08, 07:37 PM

I mean both, I suppose. It would be nice to be able to show the age of your character as time passes, at least visually.

miltonyorkcastle · 03-12-08, 03:55 PM

How much inventory space will a character have?

My personal preference is to limit it to the equivalent of two NWN pages, so as to represent more of what an actual person can carry (instead of a character being able to, even expected to, play the part of a pack animal). Also, have a limited number of bag slots so that those two pages of inventory aren't full of bags, heh.

I know I'm guilty of carrying far more than what my character could truly carry for his size, trying to "keep up with the jones' " in terms of adventuring gear (healing pots, shield amulets, weapon assortments, etc.). Limited space will put everyone on the same playing field, making everyone think carefully about what they need to take with and what they need to leave elsewhere.

Gulnyr · 03-12-08, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miltonyorkcastle

My personal preference is to limit it to the uquivalent of two NWN pages, so as to represent more of what an actual person can carry (instead of a character being able to, even expected to, play the part of a pack animal). Also, have a limited number of bag slots so that those two pages of inventory aren't full of bags, heh ... Limited space will put everyone on the same playing field, making everyone think carefully about what they need to take with and what they need to leave elsewhere.

I agree mostly and disagree a little.

Something I don't like about the typical sort of inventory management is that the amount of space available and the way it is handled are often more important than the weight and shape of objects. Think of someone like Acacea, or even Jennara, who carries lots of tiny things that might do a little something special or may have no more purpose than RP value, the sorts of things that weigh virtually nothing and can easily fit into any little pocket or pouch. Examples are the Twilight Ring, the humming crystal from Elzabeth, or Jennara's Knight's Acceptance scroll. For some reason, characters can only carry six of the tiny, weightless objects in the same space that a full set of plate armor fits (which is apparently some sort of malletspace). I think it would be kind of crappy to be able to carry fewer personally important items just because they take up a whole slot of rarefied and precious inventory space, y'know?

I don't have any idea how to 'fix' that right now. It just seems like it's time for a new inventory system that can treat a suit of armor differently from a pillow or three loaves of bread.

Dorganath · 03-12-08, 04:55 PM

Carrying capacity isn't fully defined yet, but we're going to, most likely, avoid "Inventory Tetris". Beyond that, many aspects of inventory management are still in flux, so I can't comment on how much one will be able to carry.

Eight-Bit · 03-13-08, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorganath

Carrying capacity isn't fully defined yet, but we're going to, most likely, avoid "Inventory Tetris". Beyond that, many aspects of inventory management are still in flux, so I can't comment on how much one will be able to carry.

The list can be a pain in the butt, but 'inventory tetris' is a burn. What I saw in Oblivion was the right idea. A list, with the name and all of the important information detailed right next to it for you, is efficient. Furthermore, over the Oblivion art-styled inventory list a simple one, similar to windows explorer on with Details view selected is even more efficient. Having very little to rummage through, or just easily scroll through, would be grand. An inventory system based upon carry weight alone would be wonderful.

ycleption · 03-13-08, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miltonyorkcastle

My personal preference is to limit it to the uquivalent of two NWN pages, so as to represent more of what an actual person can carry

I enjoy a certain amount of verisimilitude in most aspects of the game... this is not one of them.

I have no real justification, other than saying I loathe inventory management.
Games,even RP centric games, are in part about gathering money and stuff, often from the things we kill. In a sense, any sort of player inventory (with the exception of a small coin purse or something) is unrealistic... ever tried to swordfight with even a small backpack on? Certainly, trying to carry a full set of armor in your pack is absurd... so why try to make it realistic?

So I say, bring on the unrealism, and give me my absurdly bloated inventory!

miltonyorkcastle · 03-13-08, 10:35 AM

Of course, that's my point... to have it so folks avoid trying to carry around fullplate on their backs. Stick it on an ox, a mule, a giant lizard, or inside a magic bag that absorbs the weight and size.

And fighting with a backpack on isn't hard so long as you're trained with it and the backpack is securely fastened with rib-straps..... but now I'm just being difficult, heh.

Seriously, though, on Oblivion, you can stack the feather spells, and carry, like, eight tons (no, really, all eight) of stuff. It's rediculous (but can make you filthy rich, heh).

Stephen_Zuckerman · 03-14-08, 02:55 AM

Questions of my own.

Will there be slim (a la Rogue/Nethack) versions for inventories, stats, etc? Or will there only be the option of more traditional interfaces?

What size are you guys looking at (ballpark) in terms of user's filesize for the game? 500mb? 1gb? 5gb? 20gb? The idea of running this thing from a flash drive tickles me pink.

Dorganath · 03-14-08, 05:50 AM

1) *points to the undetermined inventory management statement above*

2) No idea. We're not done making game resources, so until that happens, we don't really have a clue how big it will be.