Neverwinter Nights 2 - GWJ Community Multiplayer Catch All - OC Co-Op?

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If you bought Neverwinter Nights 2 in the December 2010 Steam Sale, or if you bought the original years before, we're going to try and set up at least one multiplayer campaign. Feel free to post here with your availability (including time zone).

The D&D tabletop type of game is running Sunday 8:30pm EST. There is a potential to switch to Saturday, but currently still going on Sunday.

Current Module
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view...

If you're new to multiplayer in Neverwinter Nights here are a few sources for you to check out.

Good multiplayer match making community - www.neverwinterconnections.com
Good online resource for mods, add ons, PWs - Neverwinter Vault - http://nwvault.ign.com/
Bioware's new NWN2 forums - http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/su...
The DM Friendly Initiative on bioware's (old) forum - http://nwn.bioware.com/dms/profile_d... (mostly NWN 1 but there is a NWN2 DMFI trainer module)
DMFI's site - http://dmfi.slightlysilly.net/
The DM 101 module for NWN2 on the vault not required to play, only to DM multiplayer- http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view...
Guide to roleplaying in NWN - for those interested in a tabletop D&D type experience - http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view...
Mulitplayer connection guide - http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums...
Multiplayer guide also tips for connecting multiplayer - http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view...
DMFI player tools http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view...

A list of participants will updated in this first post of the thread.
Try to include these specifics:

GWJ user name - Bioware user name - Preferred play time with time zone - preferred co-op or DM'd regular campaign - RP preference (heavy, med, light) Light tending toward H&S

Interest List

D&D Style Game:

Ghostship (DM)
Running Man
Liquid Mantis
Xeknos
tanglebones
bighoppa

still hoping these guys will join in:
toph513
Black Anchor
mateofalcone

Casual Co-op:
Hobbes2099 - weeknight - 8pm+after EST
Minarchist

Interested, Currently Observing:
Citizen86
SpyNavy
LockandLoad
Blotto The Clown
StupidHaiku - weekend, possibly weeknight 7pm+after EST
duckilama
duckideva
drdoak
doogiemac
tanglebones

I posted that I'm willing to learn the DM toolset.
Hardcore "rule keen" DnD specialists will have to be very patient with me. I don't know DnD that well, but I have done a fair amount of playing MP in NWN 1 & 2.
NWN players will have to be patient with me because I've never DM'd a NWN campaign. The first couple of sessions will be trial and error. Hopefully it goes smoothly after that, and I can pre-play a pre-built module ahead of the session and make it fun.

I played one of the NWN a long time ago but only single player, this would be my first MP attempt.
I currently own the December 2010 Steam Sale Version (Platinum, if I recall).
I haven't played WOW or anything MMO related, so feel free to explain what a PVP and PV-something means before you bash my skull.
I'll take a look at the links provided in the OP to learn some of the lingo.
Monday through Thursday are my surest bet, anytime after 8.00pm -EST

In the interest of coordination, could we all mention time availability in EST so I don't have to do time-math?

Playing NWN2 MP is more like playing D&D than it is like playing Dragon Age.
You play your character, and you can surpass what the game engine can do.
Example, if you were in a room and you fed this to the chat: *tries to peer through crack in the door* ...with a DM present, even though the game engine can't or won't show you what's on the other side, the DM can chat back to you with a description of what you might see. On top of that the DMFI toolset adds player dice rolls. You can roll against your skills which are handled by the engine, and the DM sees your roll, and your skill at the same time, and can alter the game, or the reactions of the NPCs based on what you rolled. This puts a lot of things into the game that aren't handled well by the engine, like bluff, intimidate...

If D&D roleplaying isn't your style, try Co-Op of the campaign. This can be done as a roleplaying experience, or as a hack and slash experience more like most people play WoW.

So... here's the interest list. Remember, I think it's 6 people to a party (if we're playing the vanilla storyline), so we may need to get multiple games going. I'm pretty much available whenever.

Ghostship
Citizen86
Xeknos
Hobbes2099
SpyNavy
Running Man

LockandLoad
Blotto The Clown
Minarchist
StupidHaiku
duckilama
duckideva

Which is perfect; depending on what we do, we have enough for two different vanilla groups.

Maybe we should start separating those who want to do a D&D type campaign with roleplaying, and those who want to co-op the OC casually.

I'm actually ok with either, though it would have to fit my schedule. I doubt I'd be able to realistically do either more than once or twice a week. I can do weekdays after 7 eastern if absolutely necessary, but prefer any time on weekends.

Put me down on the OC list. Once I see how much I can enjoy the OC (in MP), how much time I have available I'll see if I venture into the deeper side of the pool.

Ghostship wrote:

Maybe we should start separating those who want to do a D&D type campaign with roleplaying, and those who want to co-op the OC casually.

In that case, when you confirm your availability, please also state what game type you'd like to play:

DND:
Ghostship

Casual Co-op:
Xeknos
Hobbes2099

TBD:
Citizen86
SpyNavy
Running Man
LockandLoad
Blotto The Clown
Minarchist
StupidHaiku
duckilama
duckideva

Please remember to post your play time and timezone, I'll try to add it to the OP list. I'll be copying Xeknos' list.

Hobbes and Haiku, you guys may want to include your bioware user name once you get installed. Much like minecraft, we're not going to know who is who by GWJ user names.

Hobbes2099 wrote:

Put me down on the OC list. Once I see how much I can enjoy the OC (in MP), how much time I have available I'll see if I venture into the deeper side of the pool.

I think it will be like going from the pool to the hot-tub. A different climate, yet somewhat similar at a fundamental level.

Noob question: Does the Mac version (not on Steam) do all these MP stuff as well? Or is it only the SP game? Can you use the expansions/user-generated content with NW2 on Mac?

So I only have the original and The storm of zehir... Does not having all the expansions exclude me?

also doing the family Xmas tour so I won't be available for another week I am guessing

It sounds like we'd be playing the OC, so Mask of the Betrayer isn't needed -- though you may need it if we decide to continue the campaign and import our characters.

It sounds like Ghostship will be a hell of a DM, so put me down for DND campaign. I work some weeknights, and when I'm off I don't play til the kids are in bed at 8:00 mountain (10:00 eastern). Sundays are my most predictable night, and Saturday night would be second choice.

I should probably start in the OC, just to get my feet wet. How is the SP experience for getting a feel for the game?

Minarchist wrote:

I should probably start in the OC, just to get my feet wet. How is the SP experience for getting a feel for the game?

That depends.
Are you a D&D guy, an MMO/CRPG guy? What are your expectations?

The single player campaign is good way to see how the engine handles the 3.5e rules. If you know D&D it will feel very familliar.
I only ever played the OC in the original NWN. I bought everything after the first one to keep my versions up to date to play online and use the game as a virtual tabletop.
It's a much faster and simpler way play D&D remotely online, compared to things like Fantasy Grounds, and some of the open source virtual table tops. Those replicate the tabletop experience very well, but they also replicate how long it takes to make progress in a campaign. My life has changed to where I can't sit around playing for 14 hours a day. This is a nice middle ground.

Some multiplayer connection guides added to the OP.

re playing on the mac

http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/viewfo...

You can probably find some answers in here. A dev was posting up until about a year ago. At one point in there I read that they planned to release the mac updates with the PC updates. Not sure if it happened. I found some indications on the internet that mac players would be able to connect to PC players. Again, not being in the mac world, I don't know for sure.

I would certainly love to give this a shot at some point. If you already have enough/too many people this time around, that's fine. Just put me on a list for the future and PM me if there's an open spot.

There's no cap; especially if you're looking for a casual co-op of the Official Campaign CRPG type of game. Just take five others and go. This is just a convenient place to organize that.

If you're looking for D&D tabletop type game, you're limited by the number of people who volunteer to DM, or try to learn to DM. So far interest in this type of game is low, and we may just end up hooking up an RP focused co-op.

If "roleplaying" is a hangup for you, here's my outlook on it. I prefer not to use voice. I have no interest in LARPing. In silence behind a keyboard, so my wife can't hear me, and nobody can read what I'm typing, I feel much safer "acting" the role of a fantasy character. This is a great way to secretly explore the world of D&D and nobody has to know about it. You're just an ALT-TAB away from "oh nothing dear, just surfing. Don't worry, I'm not acting dodgy because I'm surfing porn." In fact, I have more fun playing anonymously like this, than face to face D&D because you can explore the character more, and act out the situation more. Face to Face D&D always felt like rule mongering, and number crunching to me; a board game without a board. This is just a fun way to see what would hapen if this guy was a: dumb warrior... religious zealot... narcissistic psychopath... and what ends up being even more fun is, what do those other guys [their characters] do when this guy [your character] does his thing. It's a kind of imaginative banter.

The way we solved the problem with our earlier experiments in online d&ding was to use voice for non-character chat, while character chat went in the box. That way we get to use voice for random questions, etc. while keeping the game focused and helps separate the game from the "behind the scenes" chatter.

I'd love to participate. I've only ever done the campaign, and though I've never done it terribly roleplay-y, I'd be up for trying. Sunday evenings also works for my schedule.

stupidhaiku wrote:

The way we solved the problem with our earlier experiments in online d&ding was to use voice for non-character chat, while character chat went in the box. That way we get to use voice for random questions, etc. while keeping the game focused and helps separate the game from the "behind the scenes" chatter.

I played in Fantasy Grounds with a group where we did this. Not sure if it was the group, or just how much easier it is to say something, but just about everything came out in voice chat instead of trying to make your character react. I always found it more fun if you challenged yourself to only interact through your character with occasional OOCs. This kind of kept things in check, since people got annoyed if you spammed OOCs. It was there if you were really stuck, but the characters were really active in the session.

...again for those who haven't RPd online, you can tailor your preferences by agreeing ahead of time with your group. There are no "rules".

Okay then. My group: full costume.

Ghostship wrote:

an interesting insight into online roleplaying

I happen to love tabletop roleplaying, but I agree that it is potentially very different than an online experience - and that's not always positive. Of course, I also do not suffer from RP shame, so...that may affect my outlook. In any case, I'm game for a more RP-focused game.

Maybe we should cast our nets for potential DMs? That's certainly the more limited resource.

An interesting article on how DM'd NWN events transcend traditional CRPG play where you just manage stats and inventory. ...and a shameless bump.

http://dmfi.slightlysilly.net/module...

toph513,

sounds like you're infor DM'd event? Though you just said RP focused game. Which list would you like to be on?

drdoak wrote:

Okay then. My group: full costume.

I will bring the candles and mead.

Ghostship wrote:

Which list would you like to be on?

Sorry, Ghost, I wasn't being clear - but you figured correctly, I was talking about an RP focused game with a DM.

I jumped on the steam sale for NWN2 platinum. I would like to get involved in some Coop or DnD game. The preferred night is Sunday after 8pm EST. Bioware name is the same as GWJ.

drdoak wrote:

Okay then. My group: full costume.

Thank goodness my character is a druid.

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