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I've been thinking... (Yes, it happens. ) We should get ourselves some thingy consisting of big, impenetrable illusions.

I'm thinking along the lines of the Thieves' Maze form D&D: The Movie, the Holodeck from Star Trek: TNG, Deathmatch, Capture the Flag... anything where one or more players can step into and have a little action. It could be used for various purposes: rank advancement, settling grudges, tournaments, practice, or simply killing time.

It'll be easy to build your own dungeons for NWN (as demonstrated in the videos), but nobody builds a new adventure every day. In order to have something to do after all DMs need a break, we'll need some thingy that randomly generates dungeons.

Different "modes" could be made for different classes or Wings. This adds variety and is useful for determining who the best thief/priest/fighter is. A few examples:

A maze with bits of treasure guarded by loads of traps, locks and monsters. Thieves must navigate the maze, pick locks, disarm traps and avoid or backstab monsters. The one that gets out with the most cash is the winner. Multi-Rogues will stand a better chance versus the monsters, but will have more trouble with the traps and locks than pure Rogues.

For the Divine Wing, substiture traps, locks and treasure for undead and "dying party members". The one to save the most lives (either by keeping undead away or healing the wounded) is the winner. Multis can still participate, but face a harder challenge.

For Fighters, Barbarians and Monks, the simple slugfest will do nicely. Fighting in an arena with bits of hostile environment (acidic vapors, for example) will seriously hamper spellcasting (but not make it impossible). That way, the Idiots should easily defeat the Brainers when fighting on their home grounds.

If anyone thinks this would be interesting, I'll try to build a suitable randomizing Testing Grounds once I get NWN in my hands. I'm sure that, with NWN's C-like scripting language, there wouldn't even be a need for a referee. On my own, I could probably make something small and slightly randomizing, with a couple of modes. With help, much bigger projects are possible.

Suggestions? Encouragement? Criticism? Wanna help?

Go for it. It sounds like a kick ass idea, and it should fly nicely...

Cool

*optimistic side* HELL YEA! today NwN holodeck, tomorrow.. a REAL holodeck!

*pessimisitic side* good luck making it random...

Bit of randomizing is no problem. Lots of randomizing is. I'm not the world's third best programmer yet, and maze algorithms are quite tricky (by my standards). I'll start out with a set pattern of rooms that spawn different stuff each time. That's easy.

I need some input on the various "modes". Thief mode seems clear enough (anyone ever play Tenchu?). Fighters and Barbarians is (of course) mostly combat. Monk mode should probably resemble some 12 Chambers of Shaolin stuff. What about Druids, Rangers, Clerics, Wizards, Sorcerers or Bards?

Maybe for Druids and Rangers they could be transportd to an outdoor setting where enemies of a level similar to the Druid/ranger are threatening the environment. They could have to fight orc poachers or pyro dragons.
Wizards and sorcerers could have spell duels with similar level spellcasters.
I have no idea about clerics...

for wizards, how about "the test" inspired by Dragonlance.

I've been checking the wizards of da coast's site and they are going to come out with a new software called Master Tools. Seems pretty cool. You can make your own dungeons and such. I wonder when ist coming out.

I thought it was already out. Doesn't it come with 3rd ed rules?

Originally posted by Xyx:
<STRONG>I'm sure that, with NWN's C-like scripting language, there wouldn't even be a need for a referee. </STRONG>

How 'bout a preprogrammed referee similar to Cespenar? He watches over the match, intro to all newcomers, maybe you'd have to report to him when you've reached a certain point. i.e. for thieves, return to Cespenar-type when you've acquired 1000 gold.

I think it's a great idea. If you can pull this off, Xyx, more power to you!

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: Rail ]

@Xyx, in your first post you talked about tournaments etc. How will that work, since the person who is defeated would possibly need to be revived with a scroll or suffer a loss of exp points.

As for the "modes" for Mages, what do you have in mind?

@Rail: Instead of Cespenar, we'll have The Spectator! He was the best!

@aegis: beholders are NOT in it really sucks

Originally posted by Meerlight:
<STRONG>Maybe for Druids and Rangers they could be transportd to an outdoor setting where enemies of a level similar to the Druid/ranger are threatening the environment.</STRONG>

Oh yes. Bonus points for saving endangered species. How could I forget?

Originally posted by Aegis:
<STRONG>for wizards, how about "the test" inspired by Dragonlance.</STRONG>

Tell me more! I myself have no ideas yet.

Originally posted by Tamerlane:
<STRONG>in your first post you talked about tournaments etc. How will that work, since the person who is defeated would possibly need to be revived with a scroll or suffer a loss of exp points.</STRONG>

From what I expect, just about everything can be scripted, including the area automatically resurrecting the fallen.

Aute. Res eh... could be useful...

in the arenas we could use (as "host"):
fighters: korgan
nature:minsc (and Boo of course)
magi: edwin (better not cause our mages would kill him as soon as he called them stupid simians)
divine: keldorn
rouge: jan or yoshi

i know my ideas suck but they are still ideas

Why not create chars. or our own. That way we don't get sewed for using Biowares creations...

I don't think we should use mortal creatures. They can either:

• Be killed. Then what?
• Not be killed. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Maybe som infinitely respawning imps. Or illusionary folk. Or no referees at all.