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I really want to love this game. I'm a huge fan of cRPGs and 'classic' ones in particular. However, I've tried to get into NWN three times since 2004 and I just find it boring and frustrating. I wonder if I'm missing something?

To be clear, I'm not trying to bash one of your favorite games if this happens to be one. I'm just perplexed as to how this game seems to be as popular as it is, as highly reviewed as it was, as well as being the exact kind of game I like and yet I just can't get into it.

My issue with NWN is that it seems to try to exist in this nebulous space between being a party-oriented tactical RPG a la Baldur's Gate and point and click 'action' RPG a la Diablo, the latter of which I'm not really into. In the end this seems to amount to clicking on something then sitting back as a series of rolls are made, the outcomes of which determine whether you win the battle or die.

This is of course how games like Baldur's Gate work, fundamentally, but in BG you can control your entire party of six which provides many, many variables over which to influence the outcome of the combat. The inability to control party members in NWN even makes things as simple as having an ally drink a potion tedious. Whilst fighting Cailik in the aqueducts my PCs job in the battle was to stand by my barbarian henchman and dole out potions one at a time. (!?!?)

Having so little control over the party basically makes each encounter a game a chance. Given the way the D&D round works, there isn't a whole lot for one character to do. I basically get to manipulate one thing in a battle then wait to see what the computer does with the other 6-7 entities involved. It's like watching my computer play a game, basically.

So far I've played a fighter/thief up to around 6 or 7 character levels. By the time I got a rogue level or two I realized the tedium wasn't going to change. I decided to try my hand at a Druid. This path gave me a couple more options, I guess, but quickly seemed to amount to about the same thing.

Having a 'tank' pet that I can't send out ahead of me - not to mention the henchman - has provided for some pretty ridiculous situations. Assuming they don't get lost along the way, they always hang back a few paces. This means that my armor poor low HP druid has to run out, grab enemies and run back to my fearless squad of summoned beasts and a half orc. Then I have to run in circles until the computer decides it's time to attack something. If I'm lucky they will attack the ones who are after me but, you know, there are no guarantees.

If you've taken the time to read all of this I would really appreciate knowing what you think it is that makes NWN worth playing. Like I said I really, really, really, want to love this game. There's so much content for it and it's so highly regarded that I would love to sink my teeth into it but the basic mechanics just seem dull and lacking. Am I missing something? Do I just need to push on? Does it eventually open up into something that I'm not yet seeing?

Thanks.
Single player huh? Na man, take your game online, Ravenloft is one of the best.
Playing the game single player, I did just that Played single player with no henchmen.

If you want henchmen, installing Tony K's AI would at least give you a little more control.

The real power of the game is in multiplayer, where your fellow party members are other players, with an active DM who can take control and direct the flow and flavor of the game.
Be aware that if you're playing the main campaign it's widely regarded as being pretty terrible (the campaigns for SoU and HotU are typically regarded as being quite a bit better). This is because the main campaign tends to be fairly combat heavy and rather uninspired both in terms of combat, characters, story, and area design. The real strength of NWN is in the many user-made modules (either single-player modules or multiplayer modules/persistent worlds, whichever is your preference). If you're having trouble getting into the OC (and it sounds like you are) then I'd recommend giving SoU a shot (mainly just to get the hang of the game with a fairly forgiving module) and from there check out some of the top user-made modules. I can almost guarantee that you'll be able to find something to your liking among the many modules out there.
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ChaseDuncan: If you've taken the time to read all of this I would really appreciate knowing what you think it is that makes NWN worth playing.
Like others have said, multiplayer is where you should be looking. When you get a party all working together with the right synergy and strategy to accomplish otherwise impossibly difficult adventures, the real power of the game shines through. Your mileage will of course vary depending on where you venture online, as some worlds are more party/strategy oriented than others.

There's a reason I can count the number of times I've played the original campaigns on one hand, and it's not because I have a bitter hatred for Tomi.
Thanks so much for the replies. I will look into user made modules. SoU and multi-player. I signed up for the gamespy portal (or whatever you want to call it). Do people just hop in games?
Give campaign play a try. The SP game is kinda lame but in the hands of a good DM this game is magic. Check out NeverwinterConnections.com for events.
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ChaseDuncan: Having a 'tank' pet that I can't send out ahead of me - not to mention the henchman - has provided for some pretty ridiculous situations. Assuming they don't get lost along the way, they always hang back a few paces. This means that my armor poor low HP druid has to run out, grab enemies and run back to my fearless squad of summoned beasts and a half orc. Then I have to run in circles until the computer decides it's time to attack something. If I'm lucky they will attack the ones who are after me but, you know, there are no guarantees.
I haven't played in a long time, but I don't remember having such trouble with henches and the various other party type members. Oddly enough, pathing problems bring BG more to my mind than NWN. Not that NWN, especially fan-made mods with "heavily loaded" areas, can't produce some ridiculous hang ups.

I seem to remember various druid PCs leading their troops as you describe, but then using radial commands to move them in front of the druid, halt and wait for the attack command. Which of course left the druid free to cast spells and/or use a missile weapon.

I can't really speak to any of the NWN original campaigns though. I started the first, but dropped it when I discovered the fan-made mods. I fought through various climactic battles in the expansions, but never played them in their entirety. (Basically, a friend would call me in whenever he got stuck.)

So, yeah, that's another roundabout vote for the fan-made mods.

Cheers
NWN does indeed exist in the space between more tactical party based games like BG and action clickety-click games like Diablo. Proto-KotOR if you will. Play it for the plot, smooth action and infinite options in character building.

If you want a tactical CRPG, I highly suggest Temple of Elemental Evil.

If you want a tightly packed roleplay adventure in NWN I highly recommend Elegia Eternum.

Something else? Browse the rest of NWN Vault.

But NNW remains between action and tactics, it's neither and it's your choice whether that makes it a failure or a masterpiece.
Post edited April 19, 2011 by Jarmo
Spiderweb Software specializes in Baldur's Gate style isometric tactical RPGs. They're worth at least trying out the demos.