Caltrops - Gamerasutra - Neverwinter Nights 2

Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra

by Worm 11/15/2006, 1:34pm PST

Looks and runs great on my machine, which is a pretty updated machine. So I'm just bragging here. There's a bit of slow down when a bunch of crap piles out at you, but it never really effects your party negatively.

The 3.5 D&D rules are implemented which means positive AC numbers, prestige classes, and non-retarded multi classing. Also the QT3 guys assure me that almost everything else about it is a million times better. There are lots of races and sub-races, the better races carry a level penalty, starting with tieflings where level 1 = 2 and ending with drow where level 1 = 4, I think. It seems like there is some reaction to your races, but not much. I ended up with a human bard.

There are enough dialog checks to pleasantly remind me of KOTOR, and overall it seems like there is a bit to do with your party members. Each one has a Vision Quest which allows you to change their class/alignment. The only problem is that none of those checks are based on how motherfucking super smart you are, but based on how much you suck the NPCs dick to get your influence score up. I don't know if later in the game you run into situations that allow you to easily build influence in a conversation box without losing it on the other characters. The more groups you have made of opposite alignment characters, the more influence scores are going to either level out, or just get out of control. Almost anything you say or do can influence the influence scores. Hopefully this won't be a huge pain in the ass.

AI has improved from NWN1 from horrible to bad. You have the option of turning off AI, however there is nothing that made such micromanagement easy in BG2 included in NWN2. You can't highlight multiple characters. Clicking on their models targets them, you can only select them with their little image on the side. Some of the rather simple AI is horrible, a mage will launch all fireballs at your party and simply go downward through the spellbook, even in the conservative casting mode. Bards will sit back with sanctuary and buff, they refuse to attack even if they have a weapon.

It's pretty fun so far, my biggest problem is being asked to raid a warehouse or save a guy in his house and run into a dungeon with warehouse/mansion skins on the walls, and have it chock full of whatever the hell they said would be in it. I can imagine myself replaying it as a total prick, and it seems like your party members will put up with you no matter what.