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Ever since speaking to prolific Neverwinter Nights module builder Luke Scull, I have been on a Neverwinter Nights kick, working by means of among the big backlog of high-quality user-made campaigns for Bioware’s 2002 RPG. Whereas taking part in Swordflight, a standout hardcore, bold mod, I logged in at some point to note new UI parts, graphics choices, and quality-of-life modifications, stuff that simply wasn’t there earlier than. Certainly Beamdog is not nonetheless updating its 2018 Enhanced Version re-release, proper?
As reported by Gaming on Linux, that is precisely what’s occurred. Beamdog’s patch abstract characterizes the replace as “a year-long love effort” by group builders clippy, Daz, Jasperre, Llareth, niv, Soren, tinygiant, and virusman, packaged by the corporate into an official replace for the sport. The total patch notes are truthfully too intensive to repost in full right here, and may be discovered on Beamdog’s official web site.
The primary issues I observed had been modifications to how injury numbers are exhibited to make them simpler to parse, in addition to space of impact indicators for the place your spells will land—significantly useful on max issue the place pleasant fireplace is turned on. The AoE indicator is a small factor, however an enormous enchancment to the sport’s playability, particularly when you’re used to newer CRPGs that extra clearly show data like Divinity Authentic Sin 2 or Dragon Age.
I used to be very stunned by the brand new “Toon” shader that was added as properly—this creates a thick, comedian book-like border round most in-game fashions that is considerably harking back to the Borderlands video games. I wasn’t anticipating a lot—Beamdog beforehand put out a excessive decision texture and mannequin pack that, whereas a enjoyable addition, tanks the sport’s efficiency even on trendy {hardware} and by no means fairly regarded proper to me—however the Toon shader type of rocks. It preserves the unique NwN look whereas smoothing it out in an odd manner, making it really feel extra intentionally stylized versus simply low-tech. I solely performed round with it somewhat bit, however I is likely to be retaining this rendering mode on any more.
I used to be additionally intrigued by the brand new eight-way multiclass ceiling that may be turned on when making a module (a user-made space in Neverwinter Nights). The unique sport’s D&D third version ruleset solely allowed you to progress in three totally different lessons on the identical character, with NwN 2’s addition of a fourth consistent with model 3.5 of D&D feeling oh so luxurious and permissive. The module-by-module nature of the rule change means you possibly can’t take your Fighter/Bard/Weapon Grasp/Pale Grasp/Purple Dragon Knight/Purple Dragon Disciple/Arcane Archer/Shadowdancer again into the principle sport, however future modules or multiplayer servers can now pursue entire new frontiers in energy gaming.
To commemorate the replace, Beamdog additionally commissioned a brand new, higher-resolution model of the Hordes of the Underdark cowl artwork from former BioWare artist Mike Sass, who’s additionally liable for the unique Baldur’s Gate’s iconic portraits. Actually, it is simply good to see the sport’s legendary group proceed to maintain all of it these years (and two-and-a-half editions of D&D) later. If you wish to discuss a “ceaselessly sport,” Neverwinter Nights is it.
Patch Highlights
- AOE Indicator | Spells and spell-like skills now show a concentrating on indicator displaying their vary and, if applicable, their AOE form and measurement
- 8 Multiclasses | Added assist for as much as 8 multiclasses, configurable per-module
- Sooner Load Occasions | Improved space load instances by as much as 100x (!)
- Information Part | Added an in-game Information UI that reveals upcoming patches and group information
- Script-created UI Enhancements | “NUI” (script-created UI) will not break enter to the sport (WASD, drag & drop)
- Play NWN as a Cartoon | Added a brand new “Toon” post-processing shader as a graphical choice
- Goodies for Builders | Lots of of latest capabilities and goodies for module builders
- Lots of of Bugfixes & Optimizations | Extra bugs squashed
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