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Legolas · 03-06-2005, 06:31 AM

I find it is in fact the lack of central GMs and the fact that anyone can start their own server that makes it possible to find a proper world.
A DM doing his worst to you doesn't keep you from logging off and then going someplace where that individual doesn't have the ability to bully others. While the lack of rules and official policing leaves potential for those kinds of situation, it also leaves potential for the opposite. Again, a matter of searching around.
For me the lawless hack-filled public servers were a good reason to play Servervault games (contrary to Localvault, characters start at level 1 and with standard equipment here as opposed to being able to import any item or character they can think to make into the game), and to try a few other places. These days scripting's become familiar enough that LV servers can be restricted just the same, and many of the obvious hacks have been patched. I'm also well pleased with the official support it's still receiving to this day.

Like I said though, NWN's perhaps not quite as massive as WoW and similar MMORPGs, so I realise it's not entirely similar.

As for Diablo 1 and 2, I have never once seen anyone there even trying to act in character. The only roleplay aspect is character advancement, but there doesn't seem to be a roleplay reason behind the choices made. It's all about which combinations are most powerful (and how many people you can kill with it). Perhaps it's due to the linear nature of the game, with its pre-set storyline on all three levels of play. Maybe it's the fact you can choose one of five (or three in D1, or a couple more with expansions) classes, the name, and nothing else to make your character unique. Maybe it's the kind of audience attracted to Hack & Slash styles of play. These days, it's the reputation of it being like that that maintains the community's composition.

03-06-2005, 06:31 AM	#27
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 41 Posts: 5,459	I find it is in fact the lack of central GMs and the fact that anyone can start their own server that makes it possible to find a proper world. A DM doing his worst to you doesn't keep you from logging off and then going someplace where that individual doesn't have the ability to bully others. While the lack of rules and official policing leaves potential for those kinds of situation, it also leaves potential for the opposite. Again, a matter of searching around. For me the lawless hack-filled public servers were a good reason to play Servervault games (contrary to Localvault, characters start at level 1 and with standard equipment here as opposed to being able to import any item or character they can think to make into the game), and to try a few other places. These days scripting's become familiar enough that LV servers can be restricted just the same, and many of the obvious hacks have been patched. I'm also well pleased with the official support it's still receiving to this day. Like I said though, NWN's perhaps not quite as massive as WoW and similar MMORPGs, so I realise it's not entirely similar. As for Diablo 1 and 2, I have never once seen anyone there even trying to act in character. The only roleplay aspect is character advancement, but there doesn't seem to be a roleplay reason behind the choices made. It's all about which combinations are most powerful (and how many people you can kill with it). Perhaps it's due to the linear nature of the game, with its pre-set storyline on all three levels of play. Maybe it's the fact you can choose one of five (or three in D1, or a couple more with expansions) classes, the name, and nothing else to make your character unique. Maybe it's the kind of audience attracted to Hack & Slash styles of play. These days, it's the reputation of it being like that that maintains the community's composition.