Ravenloft: Prisoners of the Mist approaching Beta testing

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Tue May 24, 2005 10:58 pm

Hello all,

As some of you may know, I've been spending the last year or so as part of a group making a "peristent world" for Neverwinter Nights set in Ravenloft. Well, it's been a long ride, but we're getting ready to have our first beta test on June 1st. This early test will feature Vallaki and some of the outlying areas immediately close by. If anyone is interested, you can apply for inclusion in the first phase at http://www.nwnravenloft.com and tell 'em I sent you.

To play, you will need both the Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark expansions, as well as the CEP haks. We will also provide beta testers with our own unique hak files, containing special tilesets, monsters, and placeables.

Hope to see you there!

(oh, and I'd also like to thank Dion again for generously allowing us to use his Darklord emoticons. Thanks, Dion!

)

Catman Jim · Post by **Catman Jim** » Wed May 25, 2005 7:16 am

Sounds awesome, Blue! I'm very much looking forward to new Ravenloft modules for NWN! A question; is the beta testing limited to group play online, or can it be done solo off-line?

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:28 pm

Catman Jim wrote:Sounds awesome, Blue! I'm very much looking forward to new Ravenloft modules for NWN! A question; is the beta testing limited to group play online, or can it be done solo off-line?

It's online-only. Persistent worlds for NWN are kind of like mini-MMORPGs (instead of thousands of players online, there are maybe 50, tops, for example). One of the things we really need to test right now is how our persistence is functioning (like, if the database saves information on stuff you've done).

I see you signed up on our forums

We could use a few beta testers that are as knowledgeable about the setting as you are.

Oh, and I'd just like everyone to know: we're *not* using that Ebon Gargoyles/Sherriff Von Zarovich/"Cold War with Darkon" silliness from Champions of Darkness. You have my word on that!

alhoon · Post by **alhoon** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:12 pm

Online only? Wouldn't there be a solo-world?

Anyway, when the Beta testing will be over so that we could enjoy the finished project?

And also, Thanks for your efforts! They are really appreciated!

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:36 pm

alhoon wrote:Online only? Wouldn't there be a solo-world?

Well, one of our goals was to make a better persistent world than what's available right now. Besides, I found Neverwinter Nights much more enjoyable in multi-player than in solo play...in multi-player you can actually role-play your character.

alhoon wrote:Anyway, when the Beta testing will be over so that we could enjoy the finished project?

I wish I could say I knew when it would be done. But the more people we get who are serious about testing for bugs, the more information we'll get, and the sooner we can fix it and open it up to all. So if you're interested, sign up for the beta!

alhoon wrote:And also, Thanks for your efforts! They are really appreciated!

You're welcome! And I hope we'll live up to your expectations.

Ivana_Boritsi · Post by **Ivana_Boritsi** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:07 am

Holy....

Wow. All I have to say is...wow. The pics look absolutely gorgeous. I can't even imagine the amount of time it must have taken for you all to build what I'm looking at.

Great job, guys! I'm totally impressed.

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:49 pm

Ivana_Boritsi wrote:Holy....

Wow. All I have to say is...wow. The pics look absolutely gorgeous. I can't even imagine the amount of time it must have taken for you all to build what I'm looking at.

Great job, guys! I'm totally impressed.

Thanks!

It took us over a year to bring this to life, and it's really been a labor of love. Now comes the hard part: living up to everyone's expectations.

*crosses fingers*

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Fri May 27, 2005 4:45 am

Please let me give you one benevolent advice:
Give the usual clothing more power!

Nothing sucks like RPGing a ranger, bringing him to level whatever and then get butchered by a fighter five levels lower than you...

Besides, as a Tepestani, I want to wear a hat, but without loosing AC!

This will be the blast! Can't wait to play it! (BTW, can I import my own NWN character there?)

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Sat May 28, 2005 12:42 am

We've got all sorts of custom armor and clothing in the works, and adding more later will be fairly easy, so don't worry!

Unfortunately, you'll have to make a brand new character for our server, as it will be server vault only. Allowing local vault characters will open us up to a lot of exploits, hacks, cheats, and griefers.

When you make a new character, you can make it either native or an outlander, but if you're making a native, we ask that you do not make your PC from Barovia without clearing it with us first, as we'd have to work your background in somehow.

alhoon · Post by **alhoon** » Sat May 28, 2005 9:22 am

Bluebomber4evr wrote:
alhoon wrote:Online only? Wouldn't there be a solo-world?
Well, one of our goals was to make a better persistent world than what's available right now. Besides, I found Neverwinter Nights much more enjoyable in multi-player than in solo play...in multi-player you can actually role-play your character.

I agree, but. . . I would be able to enjoy the game only in my house in Chania, and I have no internet connection there. This is the problem with the Beta testing also. I only have NWN in my PC in Chania.

Also I would like to use the world you built as a foundation to create adventures etc. Is this allowed? Or you will be the only ones able to intrude in the world?

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Sun May 29, 2005 6:19 am

Bluebomber4evr wrote:We've got all sorts of custom armor and clothing in the works, and adding more later will be fairly easy, so don't worry!

Very nice to hear!

There's little chance that I'll play a Barovian... Better a dwarf from Darkon or a Tepestani fey-touched bard (Gaz V fever).

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:07 am

alhoon wrote:I agree, but. . . I would be able to enjoy the game only in my house in Chania, and I have no internet connection there. This is the problem with the Beta testing also. I only have NWN in my PC in Chania.

Also I would like to use the world you built as a foundation to create adventures etc. Is this allowed? Or you will be the only ones able to intrude in the world?

Sorry, we're not releasing the module itself to the public. We want to keep our secrets for ourselves.

If you ever get an internet connection where your PC with NWN on it is (or get NWN on your computer with an internet connection wherever you are), you could join the online game though.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Mon May 30, 2005 3:44 am

alhoon wrote: I agree, but. . . I would be able to enjoy the game only in my house in Chania, and I have no internet connection there.

Just a totally useless note: In the vicinity of my village in Spain is another small settlement called Chane - there goes the biggest party in the region every year...

I miss my friends there...

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

Ravenloft: Prisoners of the Mist approaching Beta testing

Ravenloft: Prisoners of the Mist approaching Beta testing