Citadel Community News Update: 07/04/2009

[dunniteowl]

Citadel Community News Update: 07/04/2009

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
A Yankee Doodle do or die!
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam,
Born on the 4th of July!

I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart
She's my yankee doodle joy.
Yankee Doodle went to London
Just to ride the ponies...

I am that Yankee Doodle boy~!

Yes folks this is it! The Independance Day Edition of the Citadel Community News Update is here! The Suits and Ties are Coming, the Suits and Ties are Coming! Don't shoot till you see the stripes on their ties!

I have the normal list of usual suspects in the news this week, plus I have a really cool surprise for you for a US Birthday present (and don't feel bad all you guys and gals in other places, you get to savor this present just as well!)

Talk about your lead-in to the news, huh?

Without any further ado, here now, the news, or what passes for it in this Community:

New Entries: NWN2 Vault Submissions

NWN2 USER SCREENSHOTS

BLOODLINE preview part 2 by ALCHEMYstudio

This is the second part of a three part sneak peek into a module currently under development by ALCHEMY studio. Be sure to check out Part 1 posted on Tuesday, June 30th for a general description of the region and to view the "world map" for the module. This preview features the region around the Wyrmwood...

NWN2 GAMEWORLDS

IMPERO - Warhammer Multiplayer MOD by Gades

IMPERO is NWN2 Gameworld based on warhammer fantasy.
All classes an races have been changed.
Accurate Overland Map.
A deep ingame plot with many possible choices.
News kind of weapons and armors, crafting options, raids, sieges and much more.

This is a take on NWN2 that shows what can be done if you apply yourself. This is a Warhammer 40k versioned PW. I have no idea how well done it is, but you can rest assured that this isn't your father's NWN2. Talk about declaring your independance!

You can find their website here: IMPERO: A Neverwinter Nights 2 Adventure and the forums are here:
IMPERO - Warhammer Multiplayer Mod per NWN2

Kingdom of Haven 2009 by Arkosis, Barfubaz, KEMO

Significant updates and changes in management warrant an entirely new entry.

Haven is an adult-oriented persistent world. A beautiful island with a host of dark secrets, Haven is the perfect tropical paradise for your character. Open and friendly, player-focused and positive, Haven is a restful choice for the mature player.

Wow a shakeup on Fantasy Island! That must have been exciting! If you are a mature (that means over 18, not simply mature for your age, sorry kids) and seek such an environment such as this, Haven might be for you to run around free and natural.

Their website is here: Haven, which is something of an oddity as I thought initially I had been directed to a Wiki Site and not their website. It's both a website and a wikia gaming entry, now how much would you pay? So don't let that catch you with your pants down.

Their forums are here: Haven Forums and you could do worse than showing up here with a total of 3 less than 3000 registered members. Wow! (that's 2997, btw)

Dor Maeglin for NWN2 by Dor Maeglin Team

Dor Maeglin is a Drow themed world with a rich history, carried on from its predecessor of the same name in the original Neverwinter Nights. Dor has a friendly existing player base, willing to help and guide new players.

This PW's been around for some time now and for all you Drow lovers out there, this is the Underdark for you. They have been featured twice by Bioware here: Guild Profile: Dor Maeglin and here: Drow On The Prowl - Dor Maeglin Underdark, by Jay Watamaniuk

Their website is here: Welcome to Dor Maeglin Underdark! and their forums are there as well based on the fact that accessing each link takes you to exactly the same place.

Altogether, you could do worse as a Drow then coming to Dor Maeglin.

Nymri RPPW by WizardStorm Think Group

"Welcome to me fire stranger. Drop yer pack by that rock there and warm yerself. Tis a cold night out and with the clouds so thick, it'll be pitch black before long. If ya na want to end up on the bloody end of some Uraak's spear, ye best rest here til morning. Me? Oh, I am Durin Girmok. Ye can call me Girmok. I'm a watcher in the third shield of Durin. Tis me cycle to be on patrol. I been patrolling one cycle out of seven for ner eight years now. Me primary duty is to watch the eastern hills for Uraak movement. They usually keep to the sands, but come cold weather, when food be sparse, they come up into the hills here. They na care if'n they eat boar, deer, wolf or man. It all be meat to them."

And thus opens the description to Nymri. Nymri is an ultra Hardcore Rules, Role Play heavy server that strives to make as deep an experience as possible. It takes place in a low magic, war-torn world where time is consistent *(by which I take it to mean that it flows in a 1:1 ratio to Real World Time [RWT]) and a realistic economy.

Their website is here: Greetings and Welcome to Nymri and their forums are here: Nymri General Forum

If you really wish to Role play with seriously dedicated players and an Admin/DM team that takes their fun seriously, then Nymri just might be a place to stick a feather in your cap and call it macaroni.

NWN2 COMMUNITY NEWS

ALFA June 09 Update by ALFA PR

ALFA June 09 Update

Welcome to the second of ALFA's new monthly updates. This month we have a few exciting things to mention.

After ALFA's inception many years ago, a players manual was drafted to cover the details that all players in ALFA needed to know. Six years on has seen many changes to ALFA so, after a long and tedious process, the APM (ALFA Players Manual) has been updated and replaced with the New Player's Guide to ALFA. This new guide is set out to be easy to navigate and understand to make it as easy as possible for new players to get started in ALFA.

And believe me, there's a lot more to their update than what's in the quotes. I just don't have the room to place it all in here. Suffice to say that if you have interest in ALFA, then click the link and read it all for yourself.

Lots of cool stuff in the report. Sadly I couldn't seem to find a link -- until I got the Exact Very End. So, in case you don't want to read the whole thing or would rather read it in the ALFA website, then go here:
Welcome to ALFA, A Land Far Away

ALFAs been around for quite some time and many consider it a premiere role playing server set in the FR. If you're into RP and like the FR, then you really should be checking to see if ALFA might be a good fit for you.

NWN2 IDEAS

OC Helmets by 2Scribble

In the NWN2 OC (unlike the expansion packs) you can put helmets on your characters but they don't show up...

Is there a fix for this somewhere? And, if not, can there be one ?

Short, simple and succinct.

NWN2 OTHER

Cozmo's Buffing system by Neil Dupree a.k.a. Cozmo the Magician

New buffing system for NWN2. One click casts mutliple spells instantly. Each spell can target Caster, PC, or THE WHOLE party.

Each caster has own buffing rod. Spells are selected from a menu. No need to cast spells to prepare rod.

And much more.

Accidently placed in the NWN archive. Now in proper place.

And, due to the mixup, you can find a more complete description of Cozmo's buffing system in this thread on the NWN2 Custom Content forums: New buffing system available

NWN2 UI

KEMO PC Scry by KEMO

KEMO PC Scry is an adaptation of NWN1 (and NWN2-adopted) "scry" scripts that places the information in a GUI Panel similar to the Player List panel. The panel's contents update every few seconds.

Like previous scry systems, this one provides a few different status options, selectable from the buttons at the bottom of the panel.

To know more, follow the links. It's a pretty cool idea for MP/PW information on players you're looking for.

SlimGUI v2.74 by Sliders

It all started out as a desire to compile all the various gui tweaks i was using into one (xUI, Slate's Tiny Spell book, Cyricc Compact Character Stats, Gaoneng Player's Handbook etc). I play in 1024 res and the default layout just takes too much space. I really loved the Baldur's Gate UI by Trevor Morris, but it took up even more space. Then I thought of modifying a few things myself...

From such humble beginnings... This slim GUI is an example of the power of XML (if you have the script-fu to use it...) and what can be done for the User Interface. Pretty amazing stuff, really. If you like playing in higher resolution settings, then you should prolly get this UI offering (and who isn't playing in higher res's these days, yeah?) It could mean the difference of seeing a couple of enemy characters/creatures in the corners of your screens, too. That's always good.

NWN2 VISUAL EFFECTS

Second Skins by B.B.

Whether you're going for an elemental, planar, super-hero or other look, Second Skins have you covered!

Second Skins are a collection of visual effects, much like stone skin, which envelop a creature head to toe, armor and all.

Dozens of existing skins to choose from and an easy process to create many more of your own. Mix different heads and armor sets for many different looks for each skin!

Now you gotta admit, this is pretty cool stuff. There are many different things you can do with the editor and toolset, and in many ways, I think we have barely scratched the surface. Boozehound Blue has done us all a great service in placing this out for our use. Thanks B. B. ! And you can find a link to the thread where BB posted this initially: Second Skins (VFX Collection)

NWN2 PREFABS: BLUEPRINTS

Magical Miscellanea Package by Apep

This package consists of a large number of items (currently ~350) intended to supplement the current NWN2 item list by providing items in previously underrepresented categories (e.g. gloves, boots, belts, jewellery, skill-boosting items, useables). The current inclusions are too numerous to mention individually, please see the attached item list for an exhaustive overview and more notes (See: Item List v1.1 (with notes).txt).

I haven't had a chance to really even look at this and I am not sure exactly what is being presented. Then again, there are ~350 items, so I guess it's quite a lot of things.

You can find discussion on this here: Magical Miscellanea Package

Custom NPCs by Ayrik

This is a pack of 48 custom made "Generic" NPCs ranging from level 2-5, including all 7 of the standard races (Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, and Half Orc).
...
***Updated***

I have added in more NPCs now, including Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, and Halfling Nobles, two additional Human Nobles, and a couple re-works of some of the shabbier NPCs to be more acceptable in a city environment.

This is one of those things that, when it shows up, usually does so without any great fanfare. However, having these sorts of submissions available is a boon to new builders and folks who have a hard time coming up with NPC looks. If you don't seem to have time or the inclination to make some NPCs, these are ready for you, just waiting for names and dialogue.

NWN2 AREA PREFABS

Dream Village by Ninthletter

This medium size village is inspired in part by Maxwell Parish. This the shire and you'll be close. I hope you enjoy it.

Well, that about sums that up, I guess. You should check out this prefabbed area and see if it'll save you some time. Definitely check out the screen shots. It's definitely worth a look.

Manor Grounds by Ayrik

Another first attempt for me, this time an exterior area to go along with Grey Manor. It's pretty unpolished, but should not be too hard to spruce up.

If anyone has any suggestions to make it pop a bit more, please let me know.

**UPDATE**

This has been long delayed for no good reason really, but here is the reworked version of the Manor Grounds. I believe that it looks far better now than before, thanks a lot for the suggestions.

Unfortunately, I cannot really tell much about this one from the screen shots. My monitor is slowly dying out. So the nighttime shots leave me pretty much in the dark. Others out there should look into this and shed some light on this prefabbed area for the rest of the Community.

Grey Manor by Ayrik

This is my first shot a creating an interior area in NWN2, and I rather like how it turned out.

It uses almost entirely the Estate tile set, includes an entry way, three guest rooms, a banquet hall, throne room, guards quarters, large kitchen, and two sets of stairs, one up for additional levels and one down for a potential dungeon.

**UPDATE**
A few minor changes to the area, including changing the direction of the staircase in the dining hall to match the upstairs area I am finishing up.

This is a companion interior to the manor house by the same author. Now these I can see. This is a nice place. If you were an adventurer and needed a manse in the local equivalent of the suburbs, this would be a really good starter home. Worth the DL, I'd say.

NWN2 SCRIPTS

Combat AI by Alban

CAUTION !
===================================

1.23 patch is required for this code to work, due to new functions like GetIsLocationValid().

===================================
WHAT IS IT ?
===================================

Combat AI uses nwnx plugins by GrinningFool, which also provided a large part of the system's design.

In a few words, it is as spawn system based on the idea of a "controller" handling a whole team which shares information and morale.
...
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
===================================

It uses party level, delay and time of the day to decide if spawning occurs when a PC enters a trigger.

The builder can set a "Fear Factor" for the team, as well as stackable "traits" for each team member ( Boss, Coward, Archer, Caster and more ). Each member receives also a min/max amount, a CR and one or more (randomized) waypoints to spawn by.

The encounters then behave as a team, share targets, morale, following their own role. They flee to a waypoint or randomly.

XP can be distributed when they flee, and it is possible to have a team reinforcing the other.

The use of unique heartbeat and sometimes simplified behaviors as well as other (missing text?)

This is another aspect of Combat AI. From the description it sounds pretty cool. Unfortunately, those of us who are primarily SP mod players will have to wait and see if this can be modified to work in SP mods. Right now it's only useable for PWs using nwnx.

Still. You gotta check out the full description and possibly find out more. No comments on this yet as it is so new. I don't imagine anyone in the PW scene has really had a lot of opportunity to stress test this. So, get in on the ground floor of a party style Combat AI testing and let us all know how it works.

Abyssya Weather System by Zweiander

No haks required!

UPDATE 6/27/09 -- Added snow effects. This is experimental and may work better with a effects hak due to the wonky nature of the snowfall effect in NWN2.

We showcased this one very recently and if you think weather for atmosphere is your bag, baby, then you really should use this system as a barometer for any others blowing in from other points of the compass. The update includes the addition of snowfall. Cool.

Dynamic Ambient Population System by AmstradHero

Creating a realistic population to bring your areas to life with activity has never been easier!

This package allows players to create a dynamic population that will roam around an area. I developed this system for use in Fate of a City, and it offers a realistic way to have a population enter and exit an area and also allows for a significant degree of customisation.

Capabilities:
+ Dynamic creation and destruction of an ambient population.
+ Ability to adjust population number during night and day.
+ Ability to increase base population size and have multiple variations of outfits on the same base population character model.
+ Ability to have specific waypointed "day walkers" with their own unique waypoint set.

Included in this package:
+ 1 Trigger blueprint
+ 3 scripts - 1 for the trigger and 2 for the ambient population
+ 23 creature blueprints
+ 115 outfit blueprints - 5 additional sets of clothing for each creature.

Now, along with the NPC package, you can breathe life into your towns, hamlets and villages of fantasy. AmstradHero is a well known man about town and has some skills, so this is certain to be a well thought out and constructed scripting system.

If you're looking for ambiance, then you should definitely shout out to a vendor in the local market, "One Please!"

Spell Fixes and Improvements version 6.0 by Reeron and Trekari

Various spell, bard songs, and invocation fixes for NWN2 and MoTB.

Spells that were just fixed (no balancing done to the scripts or not brought into line with PnP) are in the "Spellsfixed" folder.

Spells that were just fixed (no balancing done to the scripts but are already in-line with PnP) are in the "SpellsfixedPnP" folder.

The "Spellsimproved" folder contains spells that are tweaked a little, such as the summons spells having longer durations.

"SpellsPnP" contains spells that were either improved to use their PnP stats or were fixed because they were broken, and in the process, I fixed them to use their PnP stats.

"3.5 Classes" contains custom class changes to bring them more in-line with PnP.

This is just touching the tip of the information iceberg in this Vault Offering. Reeron and Trekari have labored long and hard to continually improve the spells from the Devs. They've done an amazing job and you can bet your bottom dollar that any further expansions, patches or what-have-you the devs produce, they'll be glad that Reeron and Trekari (amongst others) are there for the Community as well.

Even if you don't use this offering yourself, there's a reasonable expectation that these names are ones you'd recognize if you use the Vault or peruse the Official Forums at all. They have definitely earned their propers.

Hats Off guys, we salute you!

NWN2 ENGLISH MODULES

The Greypeaks BETA by seryn

This is a download for beta testing only. If you are interested in beta testing and would like more information, visit the Forgotten Realms Weave page at the NWN Citadel forums: The Greypeaks

seryn, creator of The Red Prison and The Zelbross Affair as well as some new potions and a few other things of merit. This is a beta module and I swear, if you DL this and don't provide some good feedback, I'll hunt you down and feed you to fire ants after covering you in clover honey in the Texas heat. (Wow! Where the heck did that come from?)

Seryn is another Citadel member of merit and the Red Prison as well as the Zelbross Affair are so well recieved that you cannot deny the prowess of this module maker. Do him proud and provide some Beta feedback if you DL this module. Heck, if you beta for anyone, make sure you take the time to actually do just that. Looking for how well the module plays, spelling, broken quests, pathing issues, anything that doesn't seem to work right as well as where you're really having trouble making it through an encounter -- balancing an encounter is part of the beta's purpose.

Arithel by Hilltop2012

**Updates / Version History**
06/28/2009

Fixed as many there/their spelling errors as I could find. Also changed 'Plan' to 'Phlan'

Made ruins entry door transitional, so it can be used to return to the surface.

Goblin cave door is now unlocked! And no longer has a coversation attached to it.

Added armor to the weapon merchant, outside the Inn.

Set a door in Thar Underground to Static.

Tinted the ground in Elton a little bit.

Hilltop2012 has been steadfastly improving Arithel. Lucky him! As he improves and updates his module, it keeps showing up in the New Entries.

Fair? Sure, if you're working to improve and update something you've released, it shows you care. I care about that and so should the rest of the Community. The time Authors and creators take in improving and updating the content they release, the better for all of us and that makes it worth keeping in the news.

The Last of the Danaan by J.E. McKellar

The Last of the Dana'an - v1.04
J.E. McKellar

A single-player module for new characters.
You have grown up on the frontier of the Empire, getting by with a little hunting and the few head of cattle you raise with Dei'dre Dana'an, daughter of old ranger famous for his exploits during the last Goblin War. His Dana'an Rangers have kept the peace since then, but a new time of troubles is approaching, and soon you will be called to join their ranks and fight to restore the peace that was lost.

Length: ~20 hours, level 1-10. (Level 12 or higher is possible)
Custom Setting.
Low gold, Low magic world.

FIXES in v1.04
-implemented masoon's fix for the Bookshop crash bug
-added script check to resolve issue with two Mosbys in Exodus quest
-added redundancy to insure Schurzkarl's presence in Tide quest
-Shipwreck corpses no longer lootable
-Nymph conversation modified to mention respawned ogres
-issue with Cockfight factions resolved

This is a pretty particular module, focussing on Rangers and Druids more than other classes. It seems to work pretty well for that. I think specialized adventure modules are a good idea. You can't please everyone, so sometimes, it's better to just pick a topic, release that and let those who like it enjoy it. It's a workable plan.

I am looking forward to seeing any further offerings from J.E. McKellar and hope that he branches out into other modules that focus on a specific set of Classes as the centerpoint of the adventure. It's definitely a cool concept and should allow for a richer experience for a smaller set of players.

Jester's New Nudes (With Clothes) by Jester_v01

******Really fixed it*******

*****Fixed the pinkiness.. sorry****


*****All Dresses done****
All the dresses are done now - phew.. going to be week or two to get the male base done unless a cunning idea I've had works.

Let me know any problems and I'll do my best to fix them.

Well, you're either a fan or you're not, right? This is an update and fix for Jester's New Nudes (With Clothes). It's definitely not PG-13, so make sure the kiddies are not DLng this one. I have a funny feeling that Jester, with the whole chainmail bikini obsession (his words, not mine) going on, is a fan of Esther Friesner, author of Chicks in Chainmail. Me too.

If you're pushing the envelope of clothing tastes, then most likely you're going to be interested in this offering. I've a funny feeling that The Haven may have something like this in the required haks.

Exotic Dream Placeables 1.1 by dreatern

-----Added with 1.1------
-Tree Hive HONEY
-Tree Hive STONE
-HoneyFall
-Tree Trunk With Hole

ALL FULL TINTABLE

You must edit the 2DA to work with other haks (if you are using different haks)

HAK and ERF(blueprints) within .rar file

You can watch this video to see the placeables in-game here and have an idea of how to use the HoneyFall with the Tree Hive YOUTUBE VIDEO ->Exotic Dream Placeables (NWN2)

I watched this You Tube video. This stuff's pretty frickin' neat! The honey drips from the beehives (which are AWEsome) create a dripping honey VFX for it. Everything else, is pretty much beyond my normal imaginative processes, so hat's off for that!

If you're looking for something really different for your module area, this could really be the bees knees. Sweet!

New Entries Vault News Ends

Well, that covers the NWN2 Vault New Entries for this week. Its a slow week as we all here in the USA get ready to celebrate the birth of our nation's identity. Still in this case some news is always good news, as it means we have something else to check out and that there is still vibrant life in the Community.

Rob McGinnis, Associate Producer, Leaves Obsidian Entertainment!

Well, people, unless you never frequent the forums or only stop by once in a great Blue Moon (that's a 2nd full moon occurring in a single calendar month, btw) then you've heard that Rob McGinnis, the vaunted McGnome announced that the 2nd of July would be his last day on staff at Obsidian.

He will be missed. Not to worry, though, Rob is also a player and gamer and intends to maintain some sort of presence on the forum boards. (I suspect the downtime on the forums on the late evening of the 2nd was a result of the Planar Shift that occurred as Rob was cleaning out his desk... or as the Heavens realized, What? He's LEAVING!?! )

Not to put a fine point on it, Rob has been a valuable and approachable Community Asset while working at Obsidian. This guy has been a mountain of patience and good humor in a pretty thankless position of being the de facto face of Obsidian to all of us on the boards over the last 3 years. So his leaving is something to note and take a moment of silence for in respect for all that he's done for the game and for the Community.

(please wait 60 seconds... aht! I said 60, not 28. I'm watching you...)

I have the distinct pleasure of providing you something this week that isn't something I am picking up from somewhere else. This week I have a scoop of Major Proportions and I absolutely know you gonna like it.

In the course of Rob's departure from Obsidian, I managed to sneak in through a 3rd story window while the glazier was scraping Rob's last name off the office door (the noise covered my botched entry as I fell over a potted plant under the window.) I waited patiently for Rob to walk in and I was not disappointed. He quickly opened the door, fired off a rapid series of nerf missiles down the hall and closed the door.

I can only tell you, his reflexes are good. I cleared my throat to introduce myself and I was instantly assaulted by volley of blue tipped yellow darts of Nerf foam. You could put an eye out with those things at close range!

Once the shock wore off, I was able to make greetings and present to the Venerable McGnome a list of demands -- whoops, I mean a list of questions that BrianMeyer/Pain and I whipped up the other day as a sort of Community Exit Interview From Obsidian.

I wish that I had had more time to interview Rob, and I wish I was better at interviewing. In any case, here is the interview's questions and answers from Rob McGinnis. Remember, you found it here first!

Rob McGinnis Exit From Obsidian Interview

1) Rob, what advice would you give to the gnome they are building to replace you with as Community Coordinator?
I think my replacement would have to be some sort of dwarf, or maybe even a drow. In either case, I would tell them to be patient and realize that the people are on the forums because they are passionate about the Neverwinter series.

2) As Associate Producer for NWN2, what thing did you want to add to NWN2 that you were never able to?
Two things: Custom Spellbooks and better support for custom content developers.

3) Without naming names or giving up on confidentiality, can you tell us what you feel your "Highest Moment" was while at Obsidian?
That's a tough one. There were so many. This is going to sound cheesy, but my "highest moment" at Obsidian occurred every time I was able to work with the fantastic people on the various Neverwinter Projects. The level of dedication and creativity was inspiring.

4) The 1.23 Patch is a pretty dramatic set of features done by a person outside the company, which has really taken things to the next level. Is this a sign of greater involvement by the Community in developing the game in the future of NWN2?
As Bioware did with NWN1, we contracted with members of the community to help improve the game. We chose to go with Grinning Fool, a leader in the community, for his phenomenally-cosmically powerful program-fu. The end result is the content autodownloader for multiplayer. I think involving the community is a great way to help forge the partnership that should be there between the developer and the community from the beginning. The Neverwinter series was never about the developer, or what the developer could do. The Neverwinter series was always about the community and what the modders could do.

5) Along those lines, what do you see as the progression of gaming and Community involvement, vis a vis the Community Forums from NWN and NWN2?
Not quite sure what you are asking with this one. Do you want to know how the two communities will be involved together, or how the Neverwinter community (as a whole) will be involved with the game and developers?

6) A while back you were promoted to Associate Producer after being the Community Coordinator, but you still seem to be just as active as before in the forums. While most of us know you as almost another gamer with inside answers, and quite a few things you could not say, what areas, specifically, did you manage in NWN2?
The quick answer: patches and much of the NX2 project and delivery.

7) Rob, from your posting history and gaming comments as a gamer, we all know you've played D&D for a good long while now. If you had the chance to make the game of your dreams, would it be wholly D&D or is there some other milieu or genre you'd shoot for?
The game I most want to make is based on White Wolf's World of Darkness, or something very much like it. The game of my dreams I think I will not know I have made it until it is over - I think that would have much more to do with the people I work with and how smoothly the project goes. I have had a great experience at Obsidian. I could not have asked to work with a better bunch of people on NWN2 and its expansions, but I do not think I have worked on the game of my dreams yet.

8) I remember when Community members were trying to get some action taken to help PWs, and quite a few people were posting how no one at Obsidian listened to what the players wanted. Then we saw you personally respond that you did listen. We've seen this repeatedly: statements that the folks at Obsidian weren't listening. What things can the Community do to make sure the developers hear their concerns in a way that actually helps them in the long run, instead of producing this counter current of negative posting?
Some negativity will always happen. For every person that likes a game, there is another that doesn't. For persistent worlds, we have given a lot of time and support. We have visited various PWs, played on PWs, helped PW administrators troubleshoot their issues, given script support, added features and fixes specifically for PWs, and we have even gone as far as going through people's PW files to find problems with modules, scripts and objects.

9) This is a follow up question to the 1.23 patch question: After so much work you've done in getting the 1.23 patch ready, it must be a shame to leave before it's release. Could you give us all an update on its status?
Yes, it's a little disappointing, but I will be lurking in the shadows to see how everything goes. Just remember, if a hot fix is needed, it's someone else's fault

10) Hey Rob, we know you're a player as well as a gamer. What are some of your favorite Community made modules?
Alas! If only I had more time to play them. I was always impressed by Adam Miller's Dark Waters modules and card game. Phoenixus' Tragedy in Tragidor was good, too. I am currently looking forward to Bouncy Rock's Misery Stone, Nihlar's Zork module, and a host of others.

11) Along with that, it's been mentioned that you've had your share of playing PWs. Is that true?
I've bounced to a few of them, sometimes as an OEI employee and other time as my super-secret alter ego. PWs, for me, require a whole lot more time than I have had available. Perhaps I will be sneaking into some more now.

12) So, as a player of both SP and PW modules, what is your outlook on the future of Patches for NWN2 in terms of what you'd like to see coming up in the future? (Clearly this one only makes sense in light of both being true, but feel free to provide as viable an answer as you see fit.)
Our plan, moving forward, is to open as much of the game and toolset to the modder community as possible. I don't see that changing.

13) Speaking of the future, there's been discussion for a while about a Successor to NWN2. Do you have a point of view on a spiritual successor to NWN2, vis a vis. a moddable cRPG w/toolset? In other words, if there were one, how would you envision it -- in broad strokes?
I would like to see something disconnected from any licensed rules system, and opened up a bit more for the modders. Will we see this anytime soon? I don't know. The D&D license gives a product some weight. Without it, I don't know if the money would be there to make this option seem shiny enough.

More Votes On the Poll RE: NWN MMO: Vote here:

Citadel Community News Update: 06/13/2009

I like to leave things on a high note when I can and I know that a lot of you are going to be partying like it's 1999 in the next couple of days, so I am going to NOT do an Opinion Piece this week. I don't want to spoil your celebrations with some heavy thinking or anything. And believe me, I can always whip something up. How do you think I manage to do this whole News Update thing in the first place? You don't honestly think this is on my mind all week, week after week do you?

Well, okay, it is, but I can multitask pretty darn good.

In any case, I leave you with Rob's Interview and my best wishes for those of you who are celebrating the 4th of July as Independance Day and Canada Day (July 1st) to have a safe and enjoyable time of it.

As always, your opinions, comments, points of view and suggestions are welcome.

my very best regards to you all,
dunniteowl