OTS Neverwinter Nights Test Server

[Canis Lupus]

This is to let our members know that we have put up a private Neverwinter Nights server that you are welcome to join and try out. This will be a possible regular server for those who like to play story-based games or just your basic dungeon crawl, and will be a welcome departure from servers crowded with all sorts of First-Person Shooters.

This, of course, requires that you already have Neverwinter Nights installed (classic or with the expansions). We have put up a "training" module so that you can easily try and experiment with possible character classes, skills, levels and abilities without going through the usual rigors of levelling up in story-based gaming and dungeon crawling. The character level you can experiment for in this module is up to level 20 for now, because not everyone owns the expansion(s), anyway. There is an area where you can train your experimental character against some token enemies (from mummies to an ancient dragon), and there is even a PvP arena where you guys and gals can try out your character experiments against each other.

The training module is pretty self explanatory (just read what the NPCs have to say and you would be fine!) ... From the game menu, choose Multiplayer, then Internet Games, then choose the category "Tech Support" from the left... after that it should show OTS NWN Server as one of the choices in the main list. Connect to it and use ots as the password.

And let me know if you have any problems or suggestions! Next week I'm gonna try to put up some campaigns, maybe some dungeon crawl modules, and even a couple persistent world modules if it gets popular enough. In any case, feedback would be welcome :)

[uh...ok]

Woo! Time to reinstall NwN! :D

[Wacheif]

haha i just got NwN this will be great :D

[Tecil]

I still can't find my damn copy, and I swear I've gone through all the moving boxes we haven't unpacked yet.

I could buy another copy, but I was really hopping to pickup Max Payne 2 this week. :(

[INeedHelp]

YES!!! about time!

1st edit: dude that server kicks ass!!! i can instantly raise to lvl 20 and experience w/ different classes and different skills by fighting the golems in the PvP hall!!! dude you rock!

[uh...ok]

o_O

You could also just use cheat codes if you really want to experiment with character classes, skills, and abilities. Though by fighting to get them you may get to experience the skills first-hand as they come.

[Canis Lupus]

that's why it's a training module ... you can try and adjust your skills, stats and abilities within the game and try it out first-hand ... it;s even got merchants selling you various equipment that you can try out ... there is even a lender! ;) Definitely less tedious than incorporating cheat codes each and every time.

Anyway, since the modules I'm putting up next week are gonna enforce legal character limits, any characters exported from the training module won't make it there anyway ... the training module is essentially an easy way for players to see what class they want to play beforehand and catch a glimpse of what to expect at higher levels instead of trying to do some guesswork within the campaigns...

[uh...ok]

Yea, I posted that before actually checking out the module (was still downloading the 70mb patch on this 56k ;)). I see now that the trainers make it even easier than using cheat codes.

Are characters exported from the training module tagged as illegal, or is there some other mechanism that checks for legality?

I was surprised that you made available all the equipment and items in the game. It was cool to be able to check and see whether the equipment I was using was already the best, or if there were still a step or two to go. ;)

(NwN possible campaign spoiler)
Though I did notice that the swords merchant didn't have Aribeth's sword in stock. :D

[Gunslinger]

I should be picking it up and logging on within the next couple days.

[Canis Lupus]

Glad to see there's a fair amount of interest :)

uhawk, the training module only makes standard and custom items available... quest/story-related items are only found with the rare finds vendor, and weapons/armor/jewelry aren't included...

Exported characters may be playable in some modules I plan to put up which does not require a server vault (besides, it's more fun to start new characters, anyway). There is a setting in the server that prevents you from choosing pre-made characters if level and item restrictions are enabled.

The Neverwinter Vault has a host of modules we can try out ... a few are persisten-world types (Nordock, ShadowRealm, Ascension, etc), but since we don't know yet how many players will be playing this thing, I'm choosing those that would not yet require a DM to initiate the quests... Basically, dungeon crawl and hack-and-slash modules are popular so I'll find some of those...

I'm also trying to modify the Diablo 1 module so that it can work as a persistent world... the one already made is too slow and buggy for my tastes...

A friend and I are thinking of trying to create a huge Diablo 1/2 hybrid module ... it would require that players have the Shadows of Unredentide expansion for the desert and snow terrain... too early to speak on this one (getting a crash course on C) so we'll see how it goes...

I just hope that the server would have at least 5-7 people online at regular times, so that we can spur some interest in it ... 1 or 2 people logging on, checking the module out, then logging off after a few minutes won't be very encouraging :D

p.s. I'll try to download and put up a more advanced training module that will be allowing higher levels, more options and equipment, and a better sparring arena in the next few days.

[uh...ok]

Hrm... is Shadows of Undrentide really worth the money? :D

[Canis Lupus]

honestly, no ;)

Hordes of the Underdark, on the other hand, is a much better expansion and well worth the purchase ;)

[INeedHelp]

but you don't have to have "shadow" before installin "hordes" right? you can install "hordes" directly upon the original NWN

[uh...ok]

I just checked out reviews for Shadows and Hordes... yea, I think I'm gonna go pick up a copy of Hordes of the Underdark tomorrow. :D

[Canis Lupus]

Originally posted by INeedHelp
you can install "hordes" directly upon the original NWN ? yep, I think so :)

[INeedHelp]

also, has anyone finished the original NWN's official campaign? about how long was it?

[Canis Lupus]

I finished the original campaign more than a year ago... took me about a week and a half to finish it (playing around 5-7 hours a day)...

[Canis Lupus]

I'm fooling around with the new prestige classes introduced in SoU and continued in HotU ... I would have to say that they can be pretty sucky if you want an uber character - but looks like they're hella fun to RP with ;)

I already have Bard/Fighter/Red Dragon Disciple, Bard/Fighter/Blackguard and Sorcerer/Fighter/Palemaster builds ... the advanced training module in the OTS NWN Server is a big help :D

[Gunslinger]

'ots' is no longer accepted as the password for the OTS server.

[Canis Lupus]

hmmm, that's weird ... anyway, I restarted the server, and I accessed the module using the ots password with no problems ... my SP campaign character is in the server, in case you wanna try logging in again...

[Gunslinger]

I'm stilling getting a 'password incorrect' error.

[Canis Lupus]

I can access it just fine ... hmm, have you checked if you typed it lower case?

[Gunslinger]

I used every possible combination of case when it didn't accept it the first time. Still nothing.

[Gunslinger]

This is getting irritating. Every single time I get "incorrect password".

Edit: Fixed. I'm logged in now.

Edit Edit: So, how long is it going to stay on the training module? It'd be good to get some games going.

[Canis Lupus]

next week, I'm gonna put up a couple playable modules ... will post something about it :) ... then we'll see what other modules we can play over there on a regular basis...

in the meantime, try to fool around with character classes :D

[Gunslinger]

Eh, I don't know if I'll mess with it too much while it's on training. I'll probably hit the single player campaign.

[Canis Lupus]

even better :)

[Wacheif]

ive been messin around in single alot and been readin through manual and stuff... but i cant seem to choose a class....=\ dunno if i cant get into the game or if i just cant find the right combo for me... anyone have a way or maybe figuring out what class to be sides trying them all out?

[Canis Lupus]

Depends on how you play, and what role you feel comfortable with ... most people choose fighters since they're the easiest to play, with almost no micromanagement necessary except to change weapons or chug potions.

I often play either a Barbarian or a Paladin, coz they're fighters with special bonuses and abilities. When I play spellcasters, it's often a Sorcerer or a Bard.

If you really can't make up your mind, just go for the default Fighter...

[uh...ok]

I always play Half-Elven Ranger coz my favorite character is Tanis Half-Elven from the DragonLance series...

Then someone tells me that Ranger happens to be one of the strongest classes in the game, so I was like "OK."

Druids are cool though, and I've started one (but have yet to return to her) and got her to level 4... of course she has the benefit of inheriting a lot of cool stuff from my Ranger. :D

[Gunslinger]

As per the usual, I get my ass handed to me in DnD games. The sorcerers in the pits of the peninsula prison are owning me.

[uh...ok]

So I pick up HotU today, and this is what's going on:

1) Updater *still* doesn't work. So I'm stuck on v1.59, which might be a good thing, from what I've read in the NwN forums on the Bioware page.

2) I can't play NwN anymore (well not until I uninstall everything tomorrow and install *just* NwN again). HotU just doesn't load. I posted my problem here:
http://nwn.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=303382&forum=49

[INeedHelp]

if my aligenment is neutral (50) and neutral (69), what does these two number means?

and where can i get that diablo mod?

[Canis Lupus]

It measures your alignment numerically ... there's an alignment grid on the NWN manual's appendix :)

As for the Diablo mod, you can search for "diablo" at the Neverwinter Vault and it should show you a couple links (pretty big hak file on that one).

I'm currently making my own Diablo mod, but not like the one I downloaded from the NWVault ... this one would contain the quests removed by Blizzard before they shipped the game, as well as additional areas :)

[INeedHelp]

oh ok, i checked the manual, and it means i'm 69 towards evil, probably because i was messing around and killed couple guards, is there anyway to move my alignment back towards good?

[Canis Lupus]

What area are you in anyway? if you find some wounded commoners, heal them using potions, kits or spells ... you get a point towards good each time you do it... or just choose the course of action that leans towards good alignment - you know the difference between good and evil, right? :D

[Gunslinger]

What's the status of putting a different module on the OTS server?

[Canis Lupus]

I am already running a small little dungeon crawl module from NWVault that I downloaded... I'll also put up another one, depending on whether I can finish a small portion of the custom module I'm making ... it's unfinished but it's a fairly nice dungeon crawl (no quests yet, tho) ...

[Cinderno4]

About what time does everyone get on the server?

[Canis Lupus]

Once I get all my shit sorted out and decide upon regular modules to put up, I'll be online from 8PM to midnight Pacific time ... I'll also DM a little if there are enough players and if the module supports it :D