Post by Shades of Night on Dec 19, 2015 4:38:23 GMT
[/url]fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
What do you look for in a module?
I'm sure between us we've played lots of community modules. So what does everyone like?
Here's my list
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:47 pm
[/url] [/url]
[/url]Ploobywoo
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: Long Island, NY
Let's see... the best mods I've played are all of Adam Miller's (Shadowlords, Dreamcather and Demon) and the Paladin series (Twilight and Midnight).
A good story is a must... as in non-linear game play and NPCs with personalities. After that, it is all gravy.
Yes, I enjoy a good romance, as much as the next Squee-headed Fangirl, but, in the Paladin series, there is no romance for a female PC (and I doubt that you could romance your henchie, even if you were a guy), but the ultra-cool story makes up for it.
The non-linear story is really big thing for me. I played one (can't remember the name) that you had to do A to do B and then you could do C, but you had to finish that to do D.
I don't mind a mod that doesn't look just like a Bioware mod, although the two Paladin mods are damn close, but I loved even the early Adam Miller's, even if the NPCs were a little goofy and some of the graphics just sort of ended. You have to give the guy credit, though, by the time he started Dreamcatcher... they guy was putting out spot on game play!
Personally, I have never played a premium mod... mostly because it would take me all day to download (still can't get DSL where I live), but I am not sure I would anyway. I think that there are plenty of super fan-devs out there to keep us busy until the next game comes out!
_________________
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:32 pm
[/url] [/url] [/url]
[/url]fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
I agree about the romance thing. It's the interactions and the personality of the companions that are most important and having a relationship develop from strangers to friends or lovers. Whether it's a romance or a close friendship like twilight/midnight doesn't matter so much.
Have you tried the penultima modules? I enjoyed these and IIRC the first series don't use hak packs so should be smallish to download. They're a parody of fantasy CRPGs and quite funny. Just don't get put off by the first module consisting mostly of killing goblins and it including a couple of linux jokes . The NPCs are interesting and reappear in the second series. Overall, like Adam Miller's modules, the second series improves on the first, but the first series will let you see if you like his style with less modem pain
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:42 pm
[/url] [/url]
[/url]Ploobywoo
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: Long Island, NY
Penultima, Fluffy? *scribbles down the name on yet another yellow sticky-note*
Did anyone play Demon with Talon, the evil version of Nooble? I did on a lark, after the DM character complained in the prologue part of the mod that no one plays with him and hat his dialog was pure comedy. LoL And it was! He is sexy and... well... sexy!
_________________
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:21 pm
[/url] [/url] [/url]
[/url]fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
I've not played with evil nooble, but I did read some of his lines in the toolset. They were cool. One day I'll try being evil, but i'm not very good at it
The first series is called penultima and the second penultima rerolled and they are by Stefan Gagne (to help you find them as the new layout of the vault confuses me no end).
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:02 pm
[/url]
Ploobywoo
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: Long Island, NY
Oh... I wasn't evil, either. I am usually CG. But they explain that away by saying that, alto he is thoroughly evil, he is also singularly devoted to you.
_________________
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:35 pm
Darchala
Joined: 21 Jun 2005
Posts: 4466
Location: Cania-da
-Good story
-An interesting cast of henchmen who have reason to be there
-Good character development
-Sane level design (what's that, I have to run across fifteen now-empty maps to get back to town and sell this junk? Snap!*)
-A lack of evidence that the module maker is simply trying to kill the player as quickly as possible
-And if you're going to write in a romance, for the love of mercy, do it well!
Quote:
Did anyone play Demon with Talon, the evil version of Nooble?
Yes. I played the earlier ones with Bad Nooble, too (and ye gods, what a stupid name that guy had...), and went, "oh, dear god, my ex has been killed and reincarnated as an NPC!"
Seriously. Looks nothing like the guy, but they act IDENTICAL. It was downright freaky. ;
*See Icewind Dale, specifically the Dragon's Eye levels. ARGH. >
_________________
Pervy tiefling fancier, bard and bookworm division
Deviantart gallery
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:43 am
email removed
Scopique
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 200
Location: N42.880740, W-71.501886
- Effective use of the environment
The area is something that should add to the experience not just act as a container for NPCs, chests, doors to other areas, etc. There's nothing more disheartening than loading into an area that's just large for no reason. That's why I'm always skeptical of these persistent worlds which boast that they have "[Insert gi-normous number here] different areas!", as if the number of areas makes the gameplay more enjoyable.
There's one hak out there that I love (and please forgive me, but I forget the name right now) which adds alleys between the tile-based housing. Even in a small area, it expands the usable space AND allows you to add that "rogue-ish, hiding in the dark alley-way" feeling.
_________________
Scopique
[/img]
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:00 pm
fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
Scopique wrote:
- Effective use of the environment
Adding to what you've said - monsters that make no sense for the area they're in. Layouts of lairs that would make them unlivable in too. Goblin: "me hungry" *trap goes off* "owwwwwwww, me forgot trap on storeroom floor again"
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:36 pm
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
What do you look for in a module?
I'm sure between us we've played lots of community modules. So what does everyone like?
Here's my list
*an interesting story that makes sense
*companions worth talking to
*correct use of <he/she> - this really annoys me
*no predefined PC forcing me to play a male character
*more to do than just hack n slash
*sidequests that fit with the main story
*a clear explanation at the start of any unusual things like henchmen control instructions
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:47 pm
[/url] [/url]
[/url]Ploobywoo
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: Long Island, NY
Let's see... the best mods I've played are all of Adam Miller's (Shadowlords, Dreamcather and Demon) and the Paladin series (Twilight and Midnight).
A good story is a must... as in non-linear game play and NPCs with personalities. After that, it is all gravy.
Yes, I enjoy a good romance, as much as the next Squee-headed Fangirl, but, in the Paladin series, there is no romance for a female PC (and I doubt that you could romance your henchie, even if you were a guy), but the ultra-cool story makes up for it.
The non-linear story is really big thing for me. I played one (can't remember the name) that you had to do A to do B and then you could do C, but you had to finish that to do D.
I don't mind a mod that doesn't look just like a Bioware mod, although the two Paladin mods are damn close, but I loved even the early Adam Miller's, even if the NPCs were a little goofy and some of the graphics just sort of ended. You have to give the guy credit, though, by the time he started Dreamcatcher... they guy was putting out spot on game play!
Personally, I have never played a premium mod... mostly because it would take me all day to download (still can't get DSL where I live), but I am not sure I would anyway. I think that there are plenty of super fan-devs out there to keep us busy until the next game comes out!
_________________
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:32 pm
[/url] [/url] [/url]
[/url]fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
I agree about the romance thing. It's the interactions and the personality of the companions that are most important and having a relationship develop from strangers to friends or lovers. Whether it's a romance or a close friendship like twilight/midnight doesn't matter so much.
Have you tried the penultima modules? I enjoyed these and IIRC the first series don't use hak packs so should be smallish to download. They're a parody of fantasy CRPGs and quite funny. Just don't get put off by the first module consisting mostly of killing goblins and it including a couple of linux jokes . The NPCs are interesting and reappear in the second series. Overall, like Adam Miller's modules, the second series improves on the first, but the first series will let you see if you like his style with less modem pain
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:42 pm
[/url] [/url]
[/url]Ploobywoo
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: Long Island, NY
Penultima, Fluffy? *scribbles down the name on yet another yellow sticky-note*
Did anyone play Demon with Talon, the evil version of Nooble? I did on a lark, after the DM character complained in the prologue part of the mod that no one plays with him and hat his dialog was pure comedy. LoL And it was! He is sexy and... well... sexy!
_________________
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:21 pm
[/url] [/url] [/url]
[/url]fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
I've not played with evil nooble, but I did read some of his lines in the toolset. They were cool. One day I'll try being evil, but i'm not very good at it
The first series is called penultima and the second penultima rerolled and they are by Stefan Gagne (to help you find them as the new layout of the vault confuses me no end).
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:02 pm
[/url]
Ploobywoo
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 2094
Location: Long Island, NY
Oh... I wasn't evil, either. I am usually CG. But they explain that away by saying that, alto he is thoroughly evil, he is also singularly devoted to you.
_________________
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:35 pm
Darchala
Joined: 21 Jun 2005
Posts: 4466
Location: Cania-da
-Good story
-An interesting cast of henchmen who have reason to be there
-Good character development
-Sane level design (what's that, I have to run across fifteen now-empty maps to get back to town and sell this junk? Snap!*)
-A lack of evidence that the module maker is simply trying to kill the player as quickly as possible
-And if you're going to write in a romance, for the love of mercy, do it well!
Quote:
Did anyone play Demon with Talon, the evil version of Nooble?
Yes. I played the earlier ones with Bad Nooble, too (and ye gods, what a stupid name that guy had...), and went, "oh, dear god, my ex has been killed and reincarnated as an NPC!"
Seriously. Looks nothing like the guy, but they act IDENTICAL. It was downright freaky. ;
*See Icewind Dale, specifically the Dragon's Eye levels. ARGH. >
_________________
Pervy tiefling fancier, bard and bookworm division
Deviantart gallery
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:43 am
email removed
Scopique
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 200
Location: N42.880740, W-71.501886
- Effective use of the environment
The area is something that should add to the experience not just act as a container for NPCs, chests, doors to other areas, etc. There's nothing more disheartening than loading into an area that's just large for no reason. That's why I'm always skeptical of these persistent worlds which boast that they have "[Insert gi-normous number here] different areas!", as if the number of areas makes the gameplay more enjoyable.
There's one hak out there that I love (and please forgive me, but I forget the name right now) which adds alleys between the tile-based housing. Even in a small area, it expands the usable space AND allows you to add that "rogue-ish, hiding in the dark alley-way" feeling.
_________________
Scopique
[/img]
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:00 pm
fluffyamoeba
NWN God
[/img]
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 663
Scopique wrote:
- Effective use of the environment
Adding to what you've said - monsters that make no sense for the area they're in. Layouts of lairs that would make them unlivable in too. Goblin: "me hungry" *trap goes off* "owwwwwwww, me forgot trap on storeroom floor again"
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:36 pm