NWN Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition - Beamdog's final enhancement - now with new premium modules

[Infinitron]

No talk about David Gaider's departure here it seems, but there's footage of the new character models:



http://blog.beamdog.com/2018/02/february-9-livestream-recap.html

February 9 Livestream Recap


Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition is coming to Steam!

Today’s livestream with Beamdog CEO Trent Oster and Studio Director Phillip Daigle revealed two big updates for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition - new character models and news about the NWN:EE beta on Steam! They also shared news about the open beta for the upcoming 2.5 patch for Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition and Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition.

Missed the stream? It's on YouTube and Twitch!

Here's a quick summary of the highlights from the livestream:

• The 2.5 open beta for Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition and Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition is getting a continuation, this time with additional languages. BG:EE will get Hungarian, while BGII:EE will receive Polish, original Polish VO, Russian, original Italian VO, and original German VO. Other languages may be added to the 2.5 open beta, so stay tuned.
• A translation of Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear into Brazilian/Portuguese is nearly finished, we expect to release it with the full 2.5 patch.
• Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition will get a Czech localization (currently available only on Steam) on Beamdog, GOG and other platforms soon.

“Normals in action. Lighting looks much better than ever” ~ Phil

• Check out full patch notes for 8157 & 8158. 8157 brings regression fixes, while 8158 is all about neat stuff: Steam support, better support for Normal and Specular maps, and more.
• Last week we included support for Norm/Spec maps into NWN:EE. The talented Neverwinter Nights community immediately ran off with the new feature to start work on pretty crazy stuff. It’s still early days, but the difference Norm/Spec maps provides is exciting.
• Neverblender by Symmetric addedNorm/Spec maps and Symphony, showed us what is already being done with Normal and Specular maps in Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition.

The community has been extremely busy this week. We can’t wait to see what they will come up with next.


“What is going on?!! New character models?!!” ~ Phil

• New character models are coming to Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition! Lady Aribeth de Tylmarande is leading the charge on the new look. We are planning to update character models in steps as we move forward. After NWN:EE is released, you will continue getting updates with new character models.

“Volume and bounds... Vorpal Sassoon... Bouncy volume colors are coming through” ~ Phil

• New character models for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition will be available through the Steam workshop. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to use them or you prefer to play with original models.
• Once we push the beta for NWN:EE on Steam live, you will be able to populate the Workshop with your own creations.

Normal and Specular map testing on updated geometry are several clicks from the player.

• We have to finish the baseline before doing new content for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition. We’re still skimming and plotting ideas for new content.
• Animations in Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition work fine but we’d like to improve them.
• The NWN:EE toolset is one of the things we’ll look into. It’s a big project.

Familiar gameplay with the new look! When you use new models, everything works like it should.

• Throughout the coming week, we will be rolling out early invitations to the NWN:EE beta on Steam. If you hop over to our special Discord channel you will be able to request a Steam key. Invitations will be limited on a day-to-day basis. On Feb 16, we plan to email all Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition Head Start owners beta keys.
• Activating a Steam key doesn’t disable your Beamdog version. When the beta is over, beta Steam keys will deactivate and Head Start owners will be supplied full NWN:EE steam keys for all NWN:EE content purchased.
• The NWN:EE beta on Steam will support the Steam Friends List. It’s as easy to use as you could think: on your Steam overlay you choose the Friends List and invite a buddy into your game, without any port-forwarding on your router.

Excited for what’s next? Come and join the next livestream next Friday!

 

[YES!]

Nwn is a much better game than 2 in every way that matter and most that dont.

Well, that is a very compelling argument with tons of proof listed. Its hard to argue with such a great and well thought out argument. The great minds of the average codex poster has thwarted me yet again.

 

[Lhynn]

Well, that is a very compelling argument with tons of proof listed. Its hard to argue with such a great and well thought out argument. The great minds of the average codex poster has thwarted me yet again.

I dont think i have ever seen you concede, so whats the point?

Anyway, if you want a list heres a list

- Much better toolset (more flexible and accesible)
- Much better implementation of mechanics (to put it simply, nwn2 is a literal translation of the rules. In nwn some liberties were taken to make each class competitive)
- Much better played made modules, and hundreds of hours worth of good modules.
- Much better animations (RTwP means you spend a hell of a lot of time watching those, and nwn1 animations make for a fairly tense combat, nwn2 animations on the other hand suck).
- Much better visual effects (obsidian went overboard with the special effects, those guys just never learn. Not quite as much of a clusterfuck as piles of excrement, but it was bad)
- Much better portraits (actual portraits)
- Much better epic progression

etc.

Nwn2 had

- A well writen expansion
- Much better looking armor (tho i fucking hated robes, Nwn1 clothing was at least more interesting to look at, tho some of it was just silly)

 

[zapotec]

The original game uses the D&D 3.0 ruleset, do they have a plan to update it to the 3.5 version?

Main differences I remember are:

• Updated ranger class.
• Every 4(?) levels a sorcerer can unlearn a spell he already knows for a different one of the same level.
• Animal companions that level up with the character

 

[YES!]

Well, that is a very compelling argument with tons of proof listed. Its hard to argue with such a great and well thought out argument. The great minds of the average codex poster has thwarted me yet again.

I dont think i have ever seen you concede, so whats the point?

Anyway, if you want a list heres a list

- Much better toolset (more flexible and accesible)
- Much better implementation of mechanics (to put it simply, nwn2 is a literal translation of the rules. In nwn some liberties were taken to make each class competitive)
- Much better played made modules, and hundreds of hours worth of good modules.
- Much better animations (RTwP means you spend a hell of a lot of time watching those, and nwn1 animations make for a fairly tense combat, nwn2 animations on the other hand suck).
- Much better visual effects (obsidian went overboard with the special effects, those guys just never learn. Not quite as much of a clusterfuck as piles of excrement, but it was bad)
- Much better portraits (actual portraits)
- Much better epic progression

etc.

Nwn2 had

- A well writen expansion
- Much better looking armor (tho i fucking hated robes, Nwn1 clothing was at least more interesting to look at, tho some of it was just silly)

The point to making intelligent posts with a little thought put into them should be self evident.

I have no experience with the toolsets so I cannot refute your first point

I honestly see very little in difference in mechanical implementation of either. NWN1 has some hands-on classes thanks to the community, but Warlock and all the "Discipline" classes (whatever they are called, the ones where you pick disciplines) make the retardly easy combat take even longer for the same result (total easy boring victory). Being RTwP both games have really super-bad and way too easy combat that is hands-off, the community tried to remedy this in one but it didn't pan out well. I would love to see the discipline classes implemented into a game with actual good combat, which means twitch or TB. If they could be added to ToEE or the upcoming KotC2 that would be pretty awesome. NWN2's community didn't add those classes, but the devs did add a warlock class that isn't a pain as long as s/he is AI controlled. I think the easier controls and added functionality of NWN2, as well as the devs making the most popular community made NWN1 classes themselves instead of pawning it off on the community, gives a distinct advantage to NWN2 in implementation. Plus, 3.5 is just a plain better edition which vastly improved on some big and glaring flaws of 3.0. Just look at the bard for one huge example.

I am not an expert on player made modules but I, personally, played more from NWN2. If what you are saying is actual fact and not opinion I'll take your word for it, but there didn't seem like a big difference in the amount or length of seemingly good modules available to either. Now, persistant world modules factually and actually must be given to NWN2. There are a bunch of good ones with large communities still running. And if you base it off of weird sex pervert servers NWN2 still wins by a mile.

Your fourth point isn't a valid point in my opinion. And even if it was the absolute shit graphics of NWN would make combat less aesthetically pleasing to watch over the far superior graphics of NWN2. But, since I don't have Attention Surplus Disorder I can't just sit there and watch boring combat and I think about boobs and other good things until I notice combat ends. And since I do not have Attention Surplus Disorder and don't like to watch boring things like most people, this point has to go to me and the other normals who are not afflicted with ASD.

Your fifth point is invalidated by graphics quality and the same point above of people without ASD not having it in them to watch boring shit like the combat in NWN1 and 2. I don't know much about graphics and shading or any of that shit, but I am certain I am safe saying NWN2 had way, way, way better graphics than NWN1

I completely agree with you on your sixth point and NWN2 should be docked points for not having real portraits like all rpgs should, but have to add this is easily remedied by tons of portrait packs and the common GUI mods that fix this grave oversight.

I do not understand the seventh point. Besides minimal rule differences between 3.0 and 3.5 regarding epic leveling, I do not see a big difference. Please articulate.

----

I disagree the NWN2 had a well written expansion. I doubt you would either if you read real books by famous authors. Read Shogun or King Rat or Godfather and tell me any game was well written. Say it was a good story for a game. NWN2 did have two expansions people liked, just like NWN1. But 2 also had the best expansion in that one I forget the name of, but is in that port city and you have a vampire mask or something, with the big arena fight and the sea monster that attacks the ship. Its like the hidden third expansion and is really good and really not well known. Or not well liked judging by the shitty console-child game tastes of this community. Its a real expansion too, not a community made module, but it wasn't made by Obsidian.

I don't play games to look at the armor. I play the game to have fun and enjoy the combat, mechanics, and character development and sort-of pay attention to what is going on story wise. But, again, NWN2, even to a graphic-retard like me, clearly has way, way better graphics all around. And I honestly don't care about graphics for the most part, as long as it isn't ASCII. But the NWN type of 3d is just bad. Really bad. In all regards. Its like the ASCII of 3d graphics.

 

[Perkel]

Soon...

Pillars of Eternity Enchanced Edition !!!

Main changes:
- added playable companion
- added 2 new areas
Bug fixes
- fixed issue where every buff and debuff worked only for few seconds and generally all skills and spells being weak doing nothing.


Sawyer somewhere cries...

 

[DarKPenguiN]

I think the new character models are a massive improvement over the existing ones and am glad theyre updating them.

Now I want me damn steam key!

 

[YES!]

I think the new character models are a massive improvement over the existing ones and am glad theyre updating them.

Now I want me damn steam key!

You can play it now. Slightly less shitty looking models can't excite you this much.

 

[DarKPenguiN]

I think the new character models are a massive improvement over the existing ones and am glad theyre updating them.

Now I want me damn steam key!

You can play it now. Slightly less shitty looking models can't excite you this much.

Well yeah- And I am playing it right now.

I would call that model alot better than 'slightly better'- And once they end up getting more and more added and the community starts adding their own its going to be a massive visual improvement all around.

 

[purpleblob]

I think the new model of Aribeth look decent enough (seems like Beamdog did put a lot of effort into it) but I agree with Lhynn that there is no room for imagination anymore.

I also have a suspicion that Beamdog won't put so much effort into all character models like they did with Aribeth, who is one of the most well-known character in NWN1.

 

[Cael]

Seriously, guys? This doesn't scream male to you? Especially male elf?

Let's have a contest on which version has the more masculine jawline...

And no. The new 3D model is fine. Also, jesus, look at those cans. Nice ones, even if Tranny.

Sheeit....if you start thinking she has a penis codex will prolly buy the EE in droves.

One of these is a male named Lucien.

 

[Lhynn]

I honestly see very little in difference in mechanical implementation of either. NWN1 has some hands-on classes thanks to the community

but Warlock and all the "Discipline" classes (whatever they are called, the ones where you pick disciplines) make the retardly easy combat take even longer for the same result (total easy boring victory).

No idea what you are talking about. there was no warlock or disciples in nwn.

Being RTwP both games have really super-bad and way too easy combat that is hands-off

Its actually intended to be played in real time, the pause function was added for single player, but it shouldnt have in my opinion. Game plays badly if you use it.

NWN2's community didn't add those classes, but the devs did add a warlock class that isn't a pain as long as s/he is AI controlled.

Kaedrins pack is nice, but yeah, not very encompassing.

Plus, 3.5 is just a plain better edition which vastly improved on some big and glaring flaws of 3.0. Just look at the bard for one huge example.

Yet nwn had a far more interesting epic metagame with a more balanced and varied gameplay. And this was thanks to nwns particular implementation of the rules. Obsidian did something really strange and retarded with the epic content.

I am not an expert on player made modules but I, personally, played more from NWN2.

Man, you are missing out on some of the finest single player modules ever made for an RPG. Try the bastard of kosigan, the adam miller trilogy and demon, swordflight... Shit i get excited thinking of the sheer amount of cool modules you could be playing. Report to a nwn module recommendation thread asap.

Your fourth point isn't a valid point in my opinion.

Yeah, but your opinion is wrong. Combat in nwn comes alive, with attacks being represented with really smooth animations. Dodges, parrys, blocks, or plain old tough armor if the attack misses. It really helps making fights more interesting, and its not just for show, but actually represents the rolls, so you can get almost as good feedback watching the fight than watching the rolls.

I am safe saying NWN2 had way, way, way better graphics than NWN1

Graphics are rarely important unless they communicate something, but it wasnt my point anyway. Special effects are spectacle of particle effects. In nwn1 it looks cool and does the job at giving you the feedback needed to know whats going on, in nwn2 its distracting as fuck.

I do not understand the seventh point. Besides minimal rule differences between 3.0 and 3.5 regarding epic leveling, I do not see a big difference. Please articulate.

It wasnt due to the ruleset. The itemization worked differently in nwn1, it allowed to stack attribute bonuses up to +12, and there was a whole metagame around that. It made early low magic items valuable and allowed for a smoother progression into better gear.
Also epic level progression was different in nwn2, it gave half the levels and very few options as a result of that. Also allowed you to increase BAB and number of attacks at a normal rate, along with saves. Which created huge disparities when it came to compromising for flexibility and forced specialization even more than normal.

I disagree the NWN2 had a well written expansion.

Yeah but thats because you are retarded. This isnt meant as an insult, it just means you fail to grasp the nuances of game design, like a fat and greasy fingered kid trying to keep sand in his hands by making a fist.

I doubt you would either if you read real books by famous authors.

If famous authors had to write games, theyd do much worse. The sheer level of interaction in an rpg means a lot of compromises need to be made. And the fact that people play games to, you know, play, means the writing needs to step aside.

Say it was a good story for a game.

No, i say its good writing.

But 2 also had the best expansion in that one I forget the name of

Truly memorable. Storm of zephir wasnt a good expansion, it wasnt bad either. It just existed in that big place called mediocrity.

I don't play games to look at the armor. I play the game to have fun and enjoy the combat, mechanics, and character development and sort-of pay attention to what is going on story wise.

I ran out of good things to list.

But, again, NWN2, even to a graphic-retard like me, clearly has way, way better graphics all around.

Yeah, because you are a graphic retard. A graphic is more than it being high fidelity or looking pretty. Its about having a recognizable style that evokes the proper mood for the game. As shitty as nwn looked, items, playable races and monsters all screamed "adventure". nwn2 had that bland art direction that made it easy to confuse with a pretty looking euroshovelware.

In nwn1 i felt like i was playing an adventurer.

Spoiler

In nwn2 i felt like i was larping one

Spoiler

 

[Tom Selleck]

goddamnit now im gonna have to buy this fucking bullshit

 

[YES!]

No idea what you are talking about. there was no warlock or disciples in nwn.

Yes there certainly is. Do you not install the needed mods?

Game plays badly if you use it.

Or don't.

Yeah but thats because you are retarded. This isnt meant as an insult, it just means you fail to grasp the nuances of game design, like a fat and greasy fingered kid trying to keep sand in his hands by making a fist.

If famous authors had to write games, theyd do much worse. The sheer level of interaction in an rpg means a lot of compromises need to be made. And the fact that people play games to, you know, play, means the writing needs to step aside.

Sure, I'm the retarded one. Game designers also write books. I've read a bunch. There is no comparison to them and actual good and popular book writers. Its like comparing shitty game music to good music by professionals. I'm guessing you are a game music guy too, right?
​

No, i say its good writing.

Well, I'll just take comfort in knowing every book critic would side with me.

Truly memorable. Storm of zephir wasnt a good expansion, it wasnt bad either. It just existed in that big place called mediocrity.

Not Storm of Zypher - it wasn't an Obsidian campaign. SoZ was the one with full party creation and was official, right? This was a professionally done paid one, but not official. It has three recruitable companions and you start of in a city's docks, with a hilarious pirate in the first bar.

Yeah, because you are a graphic retard. A graphic is more than it being high fidelity or looking pretty. Its about having a recognizable style that evokes the proper mood for the game. As shitty as nwn looked, items, playable races and monsters all screamed "adventure". nwn2 had that bland art direction that made it easy to confuse with a pretty looking euroshovelware.

Sorry, I don't live in crazyland. NWN2 had way better graphics than 1. NWN1 looks like my balls were the art director. NWN2 - it was obvious my balls weren't involved in the art. I guess my balls scream adventure to you.

 

[fantadomat]

Seriously, guys? This doesn't scream male to you? Especially male elf?

Let's have a contest on which version has the more masculine jawline...

And no. The new 3D model is fine. Also, jesus, look at those cans. Nice ones, even if Tranny.

Sheeit....if you start thinking she has a penis codex will prolly buy the EE in droves.

It is obviously better but the older one looks more warriorly...kind off. The new one looks like a house wife and the hair is strange colour.

 

[Naveen]

Seriously, guys? This doesn't scream male to you? Especially male elf?

Is there a difference?

 

[Cael]

Seriously, guys? This doesn't scream male to you? Especially male elf?

Is there a difference?

Apparently not to the alphabet soupies at cuckdog... nor the ones here, by the looks of it... :D

 

[Mustawd]

Honestly, I think ppl just dislike beamdog, and are trying to find things to complain about. I don't like them much either, but I find it hard to like the old boxy 90s/early 2000s 3D over the new model. It's not perfect ofc, but cmon, it's much better graphicwise.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Honestly, I think ppl just dislike beamdog, and are trying to find things to complain about. I don't like them much either, but I find it hard to like the old boxy 90s/early 2000s 3D over the new model. It's not perfect ofc, but cmon, it's much better graphicwise.

Remains to be seen if they will implement single polygonal models throughout or for only select characters.
If it's the latter, I'm quite happy with Gunnar's mod as is.

 

[Cael]

Honestly, I think ppl just dislike beamdog, and are trying to find things to complain about. I don't like them much either, but I find it hard to like the old boxy 90s/early 2000s 3D over the new model. It's not perfect ofc, but cmon, it's much better graphicwise.

Better graphicswise means that you have to ensure that you become more skilled and detailed in creating things, especially faces. You can't wave it away as being grainy any more. What was portrayed there is definitely NOT feminine. In all seriousness, when I first looked at it, it did jump out at me as a man's face, and I would say the same regardless of who made it.

 

[DarKPenguiN]

Honestly, I think ppl just dislike beamdog, and are trying to find things to complain about. I don't like them much either, but I find it hard to like the old boxy 90s/early 2000s 3D over the new model. It's not perfect ofc, but cmon, it's much better graphicwise.

Better graphicswise means that you have to ensure that you become more skilled and detailed in creating things, especially faces. You can't wave it away as being grainy any more. What was portrayed there is definitely NOT feminine. In all seriousness, when I first looked at it, it did jump out at me as a man's face, and I would say the same regardless of who made it.

Its more feminine than Mrs boxface squarejaw that was there before...But the thing is, for each beer you consume she gains +1 femininity so she'll be pretty hot for me a good portion of the time (or I'll be dead from alcohol poisoning and wont care)

Seriously though guys, the model looks alot better- If they can maintain that quality through the rest of the models it'll be one hell of an improvement...And this gives modders making graphics more to work with as well doesnt it?

I think it looks good.

 

[DarKPenguiN]

Honestly, I think ppl just dislike beamdog, and are trying to find things to complain about. I don't like them much either, but I find it hard to like the old boxy 90s/early 2000s 3D over the new model. It's not perfect ofc, but cmon, it's much better graphicwise.

I think so as well.

And why the fuck does your join date say 2017?

 

[Mustawd]

Lord.....long story.

TL;DR, I got super drunk and went crazy and self ejected.

Just search for my name in Site Feedback. Let's not derail this thread for that.

 

[DarKPenguiN]

Lord.....long story.

TL;DR, I got super drunk and went crazy and self ejected.

Just search for my name in Site Feedback. Let's not derail this thread for that.

Yeah not trying to derail just wondering. I apologize for bringing it up just wasnt sure of you were you or you were an impostor lol.

/Commence thread

 

[Cael]

Its more feminine than Mrs boxface squarejaw that was there before...