Putting Idyll's of the Rat King on Hold

It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to put Idyll's of the Rat King on hold. I did not come to this decision quickly or lightly but I feel it is the right one for me at this time. I have a lot going on between Family, Work and the shear amount of work that needs to go into the creation of a module have me swamped.

I am however not getting completely out of the module creation fun, I have offered to help Wyrin with the recreation of the city of Marsember for his Dark Avenger series and he has accepted my offer.

I am looking forward to assisting Wyrin in this effort and hope to have some areas created in the next few weeks.

Two New Polls

I have two new polls up to get a feel for what people have and what people are thinking of buying. I have yet to buy Mask of the Betrayer. As for the Mysteries of Westgate they have created some custom content that will fit exactly what I need for my module so I wanted to get a feel if people will be buying that adventure pack when it comes out which would be good for me, or should I make sure that I not use it as people will not be getting it.

Small Update

I know its been a little while since my last update, I have been taking a little break by playing through some more of the OC to get some ideas on dialog options and companion side quest ideas. So just bare with me for a little bit while I try and work up some creative juices in the old noggin.

Module Update 3/13/2008

Just a quick update.

I have not had much of chance to work on my module as work has been sending me all over the place the last few weeks, family events also kept me busy.

I can tell you that I have been working on my dialoge for the various cut scenes in the module. I can already see that I am going to need some feedback from the beta testers on this as I still feel this is my weakest area in module creation.

That's about it, I hope to have another update soon along with some screenshots of the cut scenes.

Neverwinter Nights Podcast: Episode 46 Developers Round Table

The team over at Neverwinter Nights Podcasts have posted their latest episode number 46. This episode among other things contains the Module Developers Round Table we have a few weeks ago. I have a link to hit below for you listening pleasure. I also wanted to say Thank you to the NWNP Team for inviting me to participate in this event.

Neverwinter Nights Podcast: Episode 46 Developers Round Table

Player Dialog Poll Closed

Well it looks like the Player Dialog Poll is Closed, I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to make there selection and give me some feedback.

It looks like the majority say it should be 3 choices for a player. A Good, A Neutral, and A Evil/Evilish selection.

A Tribute to E. Gary Gygax

I felt I needed to do some kind of tribute to Sir Gygax for co-creating something that has changed my life. So I have go to the websites I know of and found the different tributes and memorials I could and linked them here. I also thought another good way of giving a tribute to Sir Gygax would be to tell how I got started in D&D and for anyone reading this to post a comment about your story as well.

It all started when I was about 10 so we are talking roughly 1986ish. My (older almost cousin) Zack was a DM and my brother and I would go to his house once a week so in order to give us something to do he decided to run a game for us. The moment I saw the books (this is when Advanced Dungeons and Dragons was out) I thought this was going to be cool. I then opened them and started creating a character. Well that was it for me I was hooked one could say addicted. The first character I made was a thief (which would explain my love of them. I always play a thief/rogue character in just about every fantasy rpg I have played.) . So it was my brother, my other (almost cousin) Josh and myself as the players. We played D&D for several years, my brother and I also bought the red box D&D and played at home just the two of us. My brother also had some friends how played and after much nagging from me allowed me to join in.

We also played a few other RPG's at my cousins house - Marvel Superheros, TMNT, Star Frontiers and a few others I can't think of any more. I have to say I loved them all.

Around the time I hit high school, my brother went to college and my link to DM's and playing was gone. So I decided to DM a game myself So I gathered up my friends and taught them how to play. They got hooked just like I did. So there I was a DM now the Master running a game of my own creation. It was awesome, I had a creative outlet. I bought all the books and different game settings I could get my hands on or more importantly could afford at the time.

As the years went on we tried different systems from Rifts to Paranoia, but always D&D was my favorite. I have stopped DMing an in person and online game as I could not put in the time I wanted to make it a great game. I could not stay away completely so I am currently DMing a Play by Post game over at Helms Deep RPG. I am also a player from my friends DM game who took up the reins when I retired. And now I am creating a NWN2 module. So as I said before I was hooked and addicted to D&D and rpg's in general. So thank you Gary Gygax for 22 years of fun, creativity and friendship.

The Vault Networks Memorial page

A great comic tribute


From Enworld.org:

Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and often known as the Father of Roleplaying, has passed away at the age of 69.

As well as Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Gary authored his Dangerous Journeys and Lejendary Adventures RPGs, along with sourcebooks for Troll Lord Games' Castles & Crusades system and generic d20 sourcebooks. He was also the author of numerous fantasy novels, including Greyhawk Adventures, Gord the Rogue, and much more.

You can read the CNN obituary here.

Gary was also a regular poster here on EN World's messageboards, under the username Col_Pladoh. He will be missed.

EN World member charlesatan has put together a list of tributes to Gary from across the web:

• Nick Mamatas
• Jay Lake
• Richard Dansky
• Aaron Williams
• Erik Mona
• Keith Baker
• Chris Pramas
• Michael Erb
• Mike Mearls (1, 2)
• SF Signal
• Slice of Sci-Fi
• Ken Hite
• Matt Forebeck
• Ari Marmell
• Robert Schwalb
• Paul S. Kemp
• Monte Cook
• Rob Rogers
• The Game Master Show
• The Gamer Traveler/The Digital Front (Podcast)
• This is Shadowrun
• Way of the Geek
• Stephen Chenault via NPR (Podcast)
• Jeff Rients
• Merric Blackman
• Dragonlance Canticle
• Crazy Monkey
• Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
• Elaine Cunningham
• Rich Burlew (comic)
• here)
• James Jacobs
• Elizabeth Bear
• Penny Arcade
• Dean Alfar
• R.K. Millholland
• The Tome
• GeekeratiGrimm Studios
• Have Games Will Travel (podcast)
• The Basics of the Game
• Wapcaplets (podcast)

Player Dialog

Ok, I have working on my cutscene dialog for a few days now and I am struggling with how many options to create for the player to respond with. So I have created a poll and would love your feedback on this topic with how many you think and also if you can reply here with may be some advice based on your experience. Looking forward to all of your responses.

Campaign World Map

Ok I have created a campaign world map but I would like your opinion on it. This was taken from a supplement from Goodman Games and there for has text on the map. Should I remove the text or does it look ok on the map. Keep in mind my Photoshop skills are very limited. (unless someone with more skill then I is willing to help :) )

Screen Shots 2/24/2008

I have some new screen shots for you all. I know I have not updated in a while I have not had much time to work on the module lately. I have worked on it a little this morning and I can see the one part that I am going to hate is creating the village ambiance ie. the villagers walking around, the bar setup with patrons. I think part of my concern comes from the fact that I am not sure how to do it yet. Hopefully once I do it once it will be a lot easier in the future to do.

Round Table Update

Well we had the Modules in Development Round Table last night, after a little rocky start due to no fault of the Neverwinter Nights Podcast team (bloody Skypecast server went down as soon as we started) we had a great discussion. I didn't say much being the new kid on the block I was some what intimidated by the sheer quality of talent that was around the virtual table.

It was very informative everyone had some really good advice and best practices. It was great to meet everyone and I know have to download a few of there modules so that I can learn from them.

I hope to be invited to another round table and to contribute a little more for the next one.

Thats it for me at the moment.

Ohh one last thing, Duncan I hope you got some sleep and did not fall asleep at work.

Screen Shot 2/05/2008

Ok here is one screen shot of the mine area. Hmmm it looks like some strange altar to an unknown rat god.

Module Update 2/04/2008

Just a small update today. I have only had a little bit of time to work on my module but work is still going on. I am just about done with the first pass at the first level of the mines and will continue with adding in more detail and then the npc's with conversations, creatures, treasure, traps, and such.

No screenshots just yet but be passionate as I will get some out hopefully soon. I hope to have time this week to work on it some more as I will be traveling for work to San Diego for a conference this usually leaves me more free time at night to work on my module.

On a personal side note: I am once again a home owner as my family and I have decided to build a new house so that has taken a lot of my time over the last few weeks. The reason I mention it here is that I will be creating a few pages here on my blog for friends and family that don't live close by to see the progress on the house.

Live Round Table Discussion on Skype

When: February 10th at 8:30 pm or 20:30 Eastern Standard time -05.00 (US & Canada)

Where: Private SkypeCast


I was asked by Michele and crew over at Neverwinter Nights Podcast to participate in a Live Round Table Discussion with fellow module builders: LadyElvenStar, Amraphael, Raith Veldrin, Nalencer, Stygius crew, Enoa4 and Wyrin. We will be talking about our current projects and answering questions from the audience and each other as I have questions I would like to ask the others.

This is a huge honor for me as this is my first module (so I am the new kid on the block) and to have this kind of visibility and recognition is great. I am looking forward to this event and hope that you can join us.

Just in case you are not sure what the others have been up to here is a brief description:

• LadyElvenStar: Lady E. is hard at work on her own module "A Time to Die" which is looking great so far. She is also a member of the Gaming Parents Studios and is assisting them in creating the squeal to "Night Howls in Nestlehaven".
  
• Amraphael: is in the progress of recreating Zork I which he is calling "ZORK – The Great Underground Empire". I am looking forward to this one being an old Zork fan. If this was not enough Amrpahael has also created custom content for several other module projects.
• Raith Veldrin: is knee deep in creating Sands of Solvheil II: Beneath the Hearleforne the squeal to Sands of Solvheil I: Ruins of Kazatharis. This is a custom world created by Raith that I find a very interesting place.
  
• Nalencer: has been working on his own original idea module called "Northwinds Trilogy" this looks to be a very interesting module and some of the ideas that Nalencer is considering already put into place like an Achievement System or Companion influence.
  
• Wyrin: is hard at work on a new module and making some great head way do to some planning ahead of time. Which is also working for me.
• Stygius crew: they are working on a new module that looks to be good with lots of custom content.
  

The discussion is being run using Skype and anyone interested can log in and ask questions - by voice or text. So, come February 10th at 8:30 pm or 20:30 Eastern Standard time -05.00 (US & Canada) sign into skype and use this private link to join in the fun!

Screen Shots 1/19/2008

Module Update 1/18/2008

I noticed that I have not made a new module update in a little while so I thought I would give a small one today.

I have been making progress on the module however slow progress with work sending me all over the place. Things I have been working on: With the help of some great community members namely Jclef I have been experimenting with textures in my areas and I think you will like what you see. I have also started to painful task of creating the indoor areas to the major houses in the village I am about 60% down with them.

Also I was asked to participate in a NWN2 community event. I wont give any details just yet so you are just going to have to wait and see.

I am going to have time this weekend to work on the module more and hope to have updated screen shots shortly.

Screenshots 01/02/2008

Module Update 01/02/2008

Well its a new year, hopefully this one will bring lots of new and interesting modules to NWN2. I am also hoping for some cool custom content to be added by the community.

Ok to the post at hand. I had a great deal of time to work on my module this weekend and was able to get the following done.

Finished a custom respawn script. I am not going to give to much away on this but in certain areas of the module something will happen when the player and all companions die. Also there is NO Respawn allowed. So save, save and save often.

Started working on the companions as you can see in my previous post.

The starting area is 90% done and that includes sounds, lighting and such. Just some minor details to add and one trigger.

The town of Silverton as been laid out. I just need to add in the npcs, sounds, lighting and some detail to make it come alive.

The design document is done for the most part so I will be making that a pdf version and updating the NWVault entry with it.

I will post some screenshots shortly of the areas I have done along with part of the dialog of the first NPC you meet.

I know it doesnt look like much but I have learned a few things I didnt know how to do and also did a lot of reading on how to do somethings that will be coming up namely how to make a village/town/city seem alive.

Thats it for now. As always comments/feedback welcome.