How many still play NWN multiplayer

CM · Post by CM » Tue Jun 01, 2004 4:37 am

I was just wondering how many of you still play NWN with the expansions on line?

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 5:20 am

I would occaisionally play, but right now I'm infatuated with Total Annihilation.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 6:29 am

Haven't played online NwN in quite some time.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 9:12 am

Will play online after i finished HotU!

CM · Post by CM » Tue Jun 01, 2004 9:59 am

Anyway i can convince you three and the others to play on argyle? Xandax you willing to play again?

I am trying to do my best to help with the not enough players problem, so anybody who plays on line and would like to try out a truly exceptional server check out:

http://www.lonerhino.com/argyle

Ruminations is the forum where you can log on and see stuff.

I can give a brief summary of what Argyle is for those who want.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:20 am

Wanted to check out argyle soon. Been there about a year ago for a month or so. Then the PC crashed, and i never picked it up.
I'll let you know when I go there again.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 12:34 pm

I'm waiting for my new pc before I can play again.
Argyle's problem is that they waited way to long before they went gold. This drove many players off...

Do I need HotU to play or is SoU sufficient still?

Spell Chucker · Post by **Spell Chucker** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:14 pm

I've been looking for a place to play online. I played pen & paper D&D for about a year(almost 15 years ago) but don't remember much of the specifics. Is there anything I need to know before trying to play online?

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:00 am

Hmmm, according to a FAQ you must become an "active member of the Argyle community" in order to join the server. How long must I remain on the Argyle if I wished to play?

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:22 am

Originally posted by Noober
Hmmm, according to a FAQ you must become an "active member of the Argyle community" in order to join the server. How long must I remain on the Argyle if I wished to play?

Active is simply registring on the forum.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:23 am

Originally posted by CM
<snip>
Xandax you willing to play again?
<snip>

Well - there were some reasons as to why I left, and I might check back to see if some of them have improved (although I doubt it). There was little room back then for a 100% pure roleplayer as myself

Futhermore - my issues with especially a certain person still exists however.

If you want the full rundown of the issues I have, @CM/Fas, you can PM me

But as always - I still lurk over there once in a while to keep track (hey, something nostalgic around Argyle

) - but I'm not posting there.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:21 am

Originally posted by Xandax

But as always - I still lurk over there once in a while to keep track (hey, something nostalgic around Argyle ) - but I'm not posting there.

ditto

CM · Post by CM » Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:12 am

Well if you are lurking you should read the post by me about how to get old players back. It was originally Smass's idea. I am just helping him out. I would like to see you come back and play. There is a major update coming up with a whole lot of new stuff. Feats, skills, re-designed classes and stuff. It looks good.

Spell Chucker and Noober if you guys are interested in Argyle, sign up and play on line. Download the hak pack and stuff and pm when you want a tour of the place.

I will show you guys around introduce you to what is on and what you shouldnt do etc. If you are willing to play on argyle that is.

I can also write a description of Argyle here later on. The good the bad and the ugly etc.

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 5:03 am

I would be interested in a "The good the bad and the ugly etc." if you could provide it. And where do I download this hak (it doesn't seem to be on NWVault)? Or do I have to sign up first?

CM · Post by CM » Thu Jun 03, 2004 5:41 am

You have to download the hak which is at the argyle website. It is roughly 30 mb. You need to register on the forum and then go to the server part and download from there.

First the ugly:

Argyle is/was created by Rhino and a couple of others as a NWN module and also a PnP game. The whole world, race, gods is their idea. They dreamt it all up. Thus they were gonna produce a lore book. They started it all off on April 1st 2002. Its been two years and we still dont have any official lore to speak. All that is on the website is official and stuff, but it is not enough to keep DM's and players happy. We need the lorebook soon to get the place running. Its been two years and we get a tid bit every 8 months roughly. They want to produce it all in one go.

The Bad:

Very slow movement on the lorebook side has also affected the NWN module. Few players are still around, the server is now too big for the amount of people playing. There are 415 people registered but roughly 50 play on a regular basis. Regular is like once a week.

We have only 2 scripters and less than 5 builders. Which is honestly pathetic. They all do the work of 3 people each. They have done a great job all 7 of these people but they need help. 2 people cant script for the level of the mod.

Players leaving and more leaving and then more leaving. Nowerdays 5 players on at once is a good thing. 1 year ago 15 was the average number. Things have changed for the worse basically. Thus the desire to bring people back and get new players to stop the flow of people leaving.

The good:

One of the best servers out there bar none due to the DMs and the buidling/scripting. All the DMs have PnP experience and take a lot on themselves. They run weekly games on line and build their own areas and stuff for the quest.

They are core rules based and very very RP orientated. Magical items even a +1 are seen as rare as a +12 was on Baldur's gate. Very low magic world and very very high on difficulty.

It is extremely difficult and permanent death. Dire rats have the ability to kill you on level 1. So watch yourself out there. I personally like that about Argyle. If you have a level 5 character its because you played smart and fought well and ran when you had too. Very realistic. Its not like you can run into a bunch of goblins and live to tell the tale.

Good player group. Very heavy on the RP again. Powergaming is hated on argyle. You wont stay long if you powergame.

Dynamic setting. Mages are hated, strong undead prescene. Custom presitge classes (not coded yet) etc give it a very individualistic feel.

That is all i can think off. Xandax can add what he wants and i will ask Smass or Xyx to post here as well.

Edit: Here is what others who play think:

http://www.lonerhino.com/cgi-bin/ikonbo ... ;f=4;t=861

smass · Post by **smass** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:34 am

I play and DM on Argyle. We have a huge update for the server that will be coming out very soon. This update will include custom scripts that will make the Argyle experience even more unique and fun. Among them:

- armor movment rates - that right - try running from that goblin in full plate - you won't get very far.

- 3.5 rules spells - all spells changed to proper 3.5 rules.

- custom AI (artificial intelligence) - monsters will pursue you and will retreat if overwhelmed - smartest monsters around.

- CEP implementation - all Community expansion pack capabilities will be implemented.

- Classes, skills and feats - all customized to follow core rules.

This update is getting close to being finished.

If anyone has questions about Argyle or wants to get a custom DM walkthrough in-game - just pm me or give me a shout on the argyle boards at http://www.lonerhino.com/argyle/ruminations.

One more thing - if any "blades of the banshee" are out there and would like to give the concept a try I am working on a DM led campaign based on the blades - just let me know if you are interested.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:40 am

Originally posted by CM
<snip>
Very heavy on the RP again. Powergaming is hated on argyle. You wont stay long if you powergame.
<snip>

And this is one of the places I disagree.
Powergaming was very much practiced when I still played there - and most knew it, it was just not talked about in public (and possible still aren't as far as I can tell).

Originally posted by smass
<snip>
One more thing - if any "blades of the banshee" are out there and would like to give the concept a try I am working on a DM led campaign based on the blades - just let me know if you are interested.

This would likely peek my interest somewhat. BoTB was a great concept, and it has always pained me that it died out.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:50 am

But as all with Argyle, it took way too long and players simply left.

CM · Post by CM » Thu Jun 03, 2004 8:11 am

Robhin they still didnt finish. Its 2 years. They need to show something soon otherwise more will leave.

Xandax powergaming occurs when there is nobody online. I can say i power game, but i try to rollplay as well. I dont see sitting at the crossroads for 3 hours as RP. I see that as adventurers not doing what they are supposed to do. Its alot of fun, but come on this is a fantasy game you are supposed to want to go kill stuff.

It is not as bad as the other servers, you have to agree to that.

Smass i am up for that. Count me. Just let me know when we start.

smass · Post by **smass** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 8:28 am

@CM - I will post a thread in the quest area of ruminations within a week.

@Xan - powergamers come and go - and many of them change their ways with a little positive reinforcement. I can name several players (I won't name names) who started out as power gamers who I now work with on quests. One of the worst powergamers is now actually one of my best roleplaying players. People can change. Also, I know we have disagreed on this before, but a little hack and slash now and then is OK by me. For instance last night I was bored so I teamed up with another player and made a quick assault on the gnolls. No one else on the server at the time and no harm done.

Also I want to emphasize to everyone that NWNs multiplayer is designed to be a DM led experience. The persistent world can only be limited in its dynamics - you can't script roleplaying. That being said - many players have a great time roleplaying with each other without DMs present. DM led campaigns and quests are basically computer aided pen and paper gaming. This is where the real roleplaying happens because the DM can affect the world directly unlike in a persistent setting.

Also would like to mention that we have a nice core group of players and DMs on regularly weeknights in the United States time zones. There are four active DMs and about eight players on during the weeknight hours for GMT -5 to GMT -8 (east to west coast USA)

If any players out there would like to experience Argyle in a DM led small scale starter quest - just let me know. I am GMT -5 and can DM weeknights from 10pm - 1am. I currently run a campaign Monday nights and I am looking at Wednesday for a "blades" campaign - but until that is ready I would be happy to run a beginning player campaign on Wednesday nights. PM me here or at ruminations if you are a new player and are interested in this.