http://www.dladventures.com/gallery/copperkat/raist_inn_la.jpg
It's been quite a journey for us so far and there's a way to go yet, but we'll keep you up to date (and the folks at DragonLance.com) as we get closer.
Just to clarify - no - it is not a Permanent World, it is a total conversion approach to implementing a modified "DL1: Dragons of Despair" to NWN. The mod features, among other things, BG style party control and custom environments and models for virtually everything.
And yes, we've been at it for nearly two years now. At about 35 members, DLA remains NWN's largest mod group.
Regards,
Also, will the mod cover the entirity of Ansalon, or just those areas of the modules?
The exception to that would be that we expanded Haven substantially and changed the plot of about the first two-thirds of the module.
Basically, the portions of DL1 not set near and about Xak Tsaroth are no very well done and are not Tracy Hickman's finest moments. As they have not aged well, we have re-written large portions where needed.
The idea is also to prevent meta-gaming issues from prevailing and wrecking the mod and to prevent a somwhat new gaming experience for those familiar with DragonLance, while still preserving the core of the story.
We've worked in various characters and storylines from other short stories. modules and novels in as well - so the DL fan should keep their eyes peeled.
We have also ignored things we didn't like from the novel series or that did not fit with the idea of a module series where the player is in control. In particular, the whole Fistandantilus/Raistlin interplay is wholly absent. Raistlin is free to choose his alignment and destiny.
So we must wait and play at UO & NWN server, Mods for Baldurs Gate 2 or the classic triologie from SSI!
The Glory of Istar
Makes me wonder though, why has Forgotten Realms been getting all the digital attention? And then there's Temple of Elemental Evil...so I wonder why, just now, is there a Dragonlance game being made...and it's a mod.
Just random thoughts.
Mainly, it's the problem with the setting not selling very well. It's just sheer numbers and DL no longer has them.
I can tell you that one of the biggest problems with doing DragonLance are the problems we have faced with meta-gaming issues and the familiarity of fans with the brand.
To most DL "fans" DragonLance is a series of novels, not a game setting. While it is true that the roots of the setting are a series of modules - not novels - for most fans this is not the case.
So - you have strong and compelling characters with a very decent plotline. Sounds good right?
Except....a good CRPG is about surprise. And to re-introduce a surprise element to the game necessitates a fair bit of messing with the plot.
This is not always acceptable to fans of a large multi-volume fictional series. There are a LOT of fans who cannot imagine the Chronicles going any other way. I fully expect howls and cries and gnashing teeth from thousands over the modest changes we have made.
Those complaints will not originate from within the NWN community so much as they will be screams from the DL purists on DragonLance.com.
To this, we can add the lack of an "evil path" in DragonLance. The original tale - which is where the main interest lies - does not lend itself to an evil path. I am with Tracy Hickman on this issue and I could care less about having one - but many mainstream computer gamers seem to think there is no "role-playing" without an evil path option.
There is also the view that party based CRPG's are not where the "real money" is, but hack 'n slash leveling adventures is where the dough is to be made. So we had a move away from party based play in BioWare's own NWN.
Morrowind was non-party based. Dungeon Siege decided that a story of any kind "got in the way" and the folks at Gas Powered Games do not appear to be changing that in DSII at all.
Diablo II - hack n slash all the way with no party.
All the MMORPG's are all focused on solo leveling and hack n slash. Ditto for console games like FF.
The only vestige of a party of any kind is in KotOR and HotU where the party size was 3.
Temple Of Elemental Evil - a steaming pile of crap if there ever was one - has chased Troika away from Atari for a good long time - and suggest to those who want to read the results that way that party based SP games are a poor bet. Nothing succeeds like success; nothing fails like failure.
In general, as games have gone 3d, they take more art resources and time to make, requiring more money. This ups the risk for a developer and publisher by a lot - and no game takes as much resources to develop as does a CRPG. Believe me, we know that all too well by now. (We could have made Counterstrike or Day of Defeat about 6 times over by now).
The only way to control that risk is to release multi-platform (PC, Xbox and/or PS/2) which most publishers want for any titles these days. Multi-platform releases means no party, high hack and slash for the most part. A console controller offers diminished control possibilities even if you *wanted* a party anyway.
Look at what the new Call of Cthulu game has turned out to be (an unmoddable console shooter with a *bit* of a plot) and you can see the sad turn of events for licensed RPG properties in the foreseeable future.
Anyways - a whole lot of reasons to suggest why a DragonLance adventure like this must come from a mod group - and not a mainstream developer.
Originally posted by Steel_Wind
All the MMORPG's are all focused on solo leveling and hack n slash. Ditto for console games like FF.
I assume you mean "console MMORPG game?"
Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior type games are still party based and story driven (although there are fewer and fewer of these types of games every year). Personally I always thought this would be the best kind of game for Dragonlance. It has a gaming aspect and flexibility...albeit limited (to hopefully satiate the DL gamers) and it'd be very story driven (to hopefully satiate the DL readers). I've always thought it'd be the perfect compromise for DL (with it's uniqueness in fan base as you pointed out).
I did feel a little saddened though when Planescape (and even Birthright) got video games while DL had to sit on the sideline.
If the taste of that opinion is unpalatable, I am sorry - but that does not change my view.
Everquest, DaOC, Lineage II et al are hack n slash leveling games. GuildWars promises to be another.
Originally posted by Steel_Wind
No I meant PC MMORPGs.
Right...but then you mentioned console games like FF being solo games and hack 'n' slash...which was where I got confused.
Originally posted by Steel_Wind
If the taste of that opinion is unpalatable, I am sorry
Where did that come from?Originally posted by Steel_Wind
Everquest, DaOC, Lineage II et al are hack n slash leveling games.
I agree 100% with that sentiment...but those aren't the kinds of games I was talking about.
I'm confused where we're getting our wires crossed here.
