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11-01-2000, 11:07 PM

Hey guys...I wanted to make this info. available to all of you, because it is important...
(Copied from Baulders Gate Chronicles web-page)

Continuing Viconia’s romance in an expansion: I've been doing some thinking on how the romances might continue on, and for Viconia in particular a possible alignment change certainly isn't out of the picture.

I don't know, though. Obviously, the player would have to urge her in that direction... but a shift from NE to NG is a large jump. Just how would Viconia feel about herself, were she to make such a leap of faith? Viconia may have been victimized since coming to the surface, but she's hardly a victim. By her own admission, she's done a lot of truly evil things in her past. Can she just chalk it up to her upbringing and leave it at that? Wouldn't becoming NG imply the growth of some sort of conscience?

And what about her faith in Shar? Viconia grasped onto despair and darkness as the center of her worship. What would an alignment shift do to her cleric class?

And to do all of this for the sake of a man?

A lot of things for us to chew on before a course is plotted for the story. Any thoughts you (or others) have on the subject are welcome.

Continuing the storyline in an expansion: Well, conflict is the central theme of any good story. Personally, I like the dynamic of self-conflict...and with the Child of Bhaal storyline, that's about the best thing it has going for it. I don't know if the expansion would continue the story or just add onto the current game (or both), but I think exploring the godchild theme and its pertinence to your character is the best path to take in the future.

Perhaps you'd agree, I don't know. I've certainly seen some different viewpoints, here.

Animations and romances in an expansion: Animated sequences are kind of at a premium. Continuing relationships built between NPCs and the PC or between NPCs is a definite thing, though.

Druids: We're aware that something needs to be done regarding druids. What, exactly, has yet to be determined. Hierophants seem nearly impossible to replicate properly, so we'll have to see.

Adding more NPCs in an expansion: For sure, although no more than one or two.

Strongholds in an expansion: The stronghold quests in BG2 will not be added to or changed in an expansion. That much is certain. If anything is added in an expansion (which has limited space) we want to make sure that every player has access to it.

Storyline criticism: I can take criticism. I can also take critique. In fact, both are valuable towards getting what did and didn't work in what I wrote.

What I said was that I didn't think there was much value in those who just said something like 'the story should have been better' or 'the dialogue was bad' without offering either examples of what they didn't like, specifically, or by writing something better. And by writing something better, I don't mean that they should go and write their own game...I mean that if you don't want to point out what you didn't like, write what it should have been.

My only other problem was with those who find some part of the game or story that they don't like, which is personal preference generally, and claim it to be some flaw of the game in general. Admit that you don't like it and move on.

People are certainly free to express themselves as they wish, I personally would just like to get something more constructive out of it, is all.

And, by the way, none of us claim to be experts. Professionals, perhaps, and avid gamers...we just do our best.

J.E. Sawyer Interview
Tuesday, October 31, 2000, 14:55 | MageDragon
Gamers Pulse has posted an interview with J.E. Sawyer about Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter.
GP: What are some other additions to game play to make life in Icewind Dale a little easier?

Sawyer: Our programmers are working on a number of small features intended to make troublesome tasks easier. Pathfinding is a large concern, as is inventory management. A couple of our programmers are working on optimizing the pathfinding algorithm, and others are working on implementing gem bags and scroll cases. The gem bags and scroll cases are really useful, as anyone who’s played BG2 can attest. Also, one of our programmers, Jake Devore, has implemented a hotkey that highlights doors, containers, and items on the floor. That’s extremely useful.

Monday, October 30, 2000

On the BG2 Board
Monday, October 30, 2000, 23:51 | MageDragon
From the Shadows of Amn message board.

David Gaider (Designer)
Storyline complaints: Being one of the discussed dialogue writers, I'll avoid taking any of this personally and just suggest that it is very easy to tear things down. One can find holes, problems and peeves anywhere if you look hard enough. Even Shakespeare can be torn down as absolute drivel if you try hard enough.

Am I comparing the writing in BG2 to Shakespeare? Hardly. Am I suggesting that the writing is perfect or, in some way, a work of art? No, nor was it intended to be. I am, however, suggesting that the plot and writing successfully carried the game along and kept you interested. If you didn't like it, chalk it up to personal taste and admit as much.

But people can go ahead and tear down whatever they like. You have free speech and your opinions and/or criticisms are welcome, here. I, for one, would like to hear what, exactly, you think the story or dialogue should have been if you think it should have been better. Write something better and let it stand up to judgement. Chances are that it's just something that stands up to your own personal taste... and that's not even counting the fact that it has to fit into a game.

I liked the story. And I think the dialogue flowed well. Hardly news, eh? A lot of other people seem to like it, too, which makes me happy... although I hardly expect everyone to like it. Heck, everyone (including me) has things about BG2 that they don't like... but that applies to all games (and most especially for those games we feel strongly about).
But if you aren't going to admit that you just didn't care, personally, for the story part of it and you can't offer a better example... then all you're doing is tearing it down. And that ain't hard.

Anyway, I just had to respond to this thread. Enough of me... back to the regular program... work on the patch awaits!

11-01-2000, 11:07 PM	#1
Larry Guest Posts: n/a	Hey guys...I wanted to make this info. available to all of you, because it is important... (Copied from Baulders Gate Chronicles web-page) Continuing Viconia’s romance in an expansion: I've been doing some thinking on how the romances might continue on, and for Viconia in particular a possible alignment change certainly isn't out of the picture. I don't know, though. Obviously, the player would have to urge her in that direction... but a shift from NE to NG is a large jump. Just how would Viconia feel about herself, were she to make such a leap of faith? Viconia may have been victimized since coming to the surface, but she's hardly a victim. By her own admission, she's done a lot of truly evil things in her past. Can she just chalk it up to her upbringing and leave it at that? Wouldn't becoming NG imply the growth of some sort of conscience? And what about her faith in Shar? Viconia grasped onto despair and darkness as the center of her worship. What would an alignment shift do to her cleric class? And to do all of this for the sake of a man? A lot of things for us to chew on before a course is plotted for the story. Any thoughts you (or others) have on the subject are welcome. Continuing the storyline in an expansion: Well, conflict is the central theme of any good story. Personally, I like the dynamic of self-conflict...and with the Child of Bhaal storyline, that's about the best thing it has going for it. I don't know if the expansion would continue the story or just add onto the current game (or both), but I think exploring the godchild theme and its pertinence to your character is the best path to take in the future. Perhaps you'd agree, I don't know. I've certainly seen some different viewpoints, here. Animations and romances in an expansion: Animated sequences are kind of at a premium. Continuing relationships built between NPCs and the PC or between NPCs is a definite thing, though. Druids: We're aware that something needs to be done regarding druids. What, exactly, has yet to be determined. Hierophants seem nearly impossible to replicate properly, so we'll have to see. Adding more NPCs in an expansion: For sure, although no more than one or two. Strongholds in an expansion: The stronghold quests in BG2 will not be added to or changed in an expansion. That much is certain. If anything is added in an expansion (which has limited space) we want to make sure that every player has access to it. Storyline criticism: I can take criticism. I can also take critique. In fact, both are valuable towards getting what did and didn't work in what I wrote. What I said was that I didn't think there was much value in those who just said something like 'the story should have been better' or 'the dialogue was bad' without offering either examples of what they didn't like, specifically, or by writing something better. And by writing something better, I don't mean that they should go and write their own game...I mean that if you don't want to point out what you didn't like, write what it should have been. My only other problem was with those who find some part of the game or story that they don't like, which is personal preference generally, and claim it to be some flaw of the game in general. Admit that you don't like it and move on. People are certainly free to express themselves as they wish, I personally would just like to get something more constructive out of it, is all. And, by the way, none of us claim to be experts. Professionals, perhaps, and avid gamers...we just do our best. J.E. Sawyer Interview Tuesday, October 31, 2000, 14:55 \| MageDragon Gamers Pulse has posted an interview with J.E. Sawyer about Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter. GP: What are some other additions to game play to make life in Icewind Dale a little easier? Sawyer: Our programmers are working on a number of small features intended to make troublesome tasks easier. Pathfinding is a large concern, as is inventory management. A couple of our programmers are working on optimizing the pathfinding algorithm, and others are working on implementing gem bags and scroll cases. The gem bags and scroll cases are really useful, as anyone who’s played BG2 can attest. Also, one of our programmers, Jake Devore, has implemented a hotkey that highlights doors, containers, and items on the floor. That’s extremely useful. Monday, October 30, 2000 On the BG2 Board Monday, October 30, 2000, 23:51 \| MageDragon From the Shadows of Amn message board. David Gaider (Designer) Storyline complaints: Being one of the discussed dialogue writers, I'll avoid taking any of this personally and just suggest that it is very easy to tear things down. One can find holes, problems and peeves anywhere if you look hard enough. Even Shakespeare can be torn down as absolute drivel if you try hard enough. Am I comparing the writing in BG2 to Shakespeare? Hardly. Am I suggesting that the writing is perfect or, in some way, a work of art? No, nor was it intended to be. I am, however, suggesting that the plot and writing successfully carried the game along and kept you interested. If you didn't like it, chalk it up to personal taste and admit as much. But people can go ahead and tear down whatever they like. You have free speech and your opinions and/or criticisms are welcome, here. I, for one, would like to hear what, exactly, you think the story or dialogue should have been if you think it should have been better. Write something better and let it stand up to judgement. Chances are that it's just something that stands up to your own personal taste... and that's not even counting the fact that it has to fit into a game. I liked the story. And I think the dialogue flowed well. Hardly news, eh? A lot of other people seem to like it, too, which makes me happy... although I hardly expect everyone to like it. Heck, everyone (including me) has things about BG2 that they don't like... but that applies to all games (and most especially for those games we feel strongly about). But if you aren't going to admit that you just didn't care, personally, for the story part of it and you can't offer a better example... then all you're doing is tearing it down. And that ain't hard. Anyway, I just had to respond to this thread. Enough of me... back to the regular program... work on the patch awaits!