Why do people just stand around in Faerun?

Bruce Lee · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2001, 12:03 PM

Everyone you meet in the game just stands around doing nothing. It is as if there was a global feeblemind. Wouldn't it be cool if parties you came across were busy doing something?
I would also like for kobolds and goblins to run away in fear when they see me. Their morale is really high considering how weak they are. Talk about self confidence.
I tried to scare them once by shapechanging into an Iron Golem but hey, they still attacked.
Back to the topic. I would like to run in on some illegal activity where they flee when I find them, kinda like Reijek I guess.
What do you think?

fable · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2001, 12:31 PM

What you're proposing about peripherals characters *doing* something is planned for Bioware's 3D Star Wars CRPG. The trailer I saw at E3 moved your character into a broad, open space between a hanger and a wall, where many operations were occuring, and various characters were in conversation. As we watched, some conversations ended, and the characters left. We were told that you could hear snippets of conversation if you approached, and that if you waited too long, you might not get a chance to speak these figures--or new ones might emerge. You might even be drawn into a conversation if sighted while passing by.

I'll be curious to see the implementation. Right now, I'm still very skeptical of 3D CRPGs, even if Star Wars, unlike NWN, still allows me to pause the game and give individual orders to my party members.

Xyx · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2001, 01:45 PM

I've messed around some with the "default" AI scripts to let creatures much weaker than the party try to run from the party.

It'll be part of a large, general AI improvement, though I cannot promise I'll finish it any time soon...

Coot · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2001, 01:55 PM

Some of the people in Faerun aren't just standing around. Has anyone noticed a lot of them scratch their backs a lot, specially the men? Or at least I thinkit's their backs they're scratching.

Mr. Sprinkles · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2001, 06:09 PM

Boys do that in the game, too. But I've seen Noblemen jingle the coins in their pockets (at least, I hope that's what they're hands are doing)...

Bruce Lee · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2001, 06:11 PM

Xyx that sounds really cool! What program do you use? Infinity explorer?
Fable, is NWN going to be 3D? I hope not.

UserUnfriendly · #7 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 02:32 AM

boy, you're right, they sure scratch themselves a lot

i've noticed some people scratching their nose too....

Mr Sleep · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 04:04 AM

Did anyone play No One Lives Forever. That had these fantastic scenes where one could overhear the conversations the guards were having. You would come across these guards talking about alcohol and how it could be the cause of poverty or merely a release from the terrible depression of poverty.

These guys were having really interesting conversations, i spent most of the game listening to them, only to turn round the corner and shoot them. I felt bad about it, there were quite a few of them i would have happily let live if only they didn't start shooting at me.

There is one hilarious conversation about decorating.

The reason i mention this is that when the superfulous characters are personalised then one changes your feelings about them. I don't even notice most of the people of Faerun, but having superfulous conversaitons would add a certain personality to the game.

Nice thread

Quitch · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 06:05 AM

Fable, is NWN going to be 3D? I hope not.

Yes it is, didn't you watch the NWN trailer that comes with the game??

Frankly I'm an anti-3D person most of the time, but I think it makes sense to head in that direction. I've had too many battles where I couldn't quite see what was going on because of other characters, or the scenery.

I didn't know you wouldn't be able to pause, which disturbs me. If you are going to handle more than one character, and can't pause, then it turns into a click fest, not a tactical battle. No fun IMO.

fable · #10 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quitch:
Fable, is NWN going to be 3D? I hope not.

Yes it is, didn't you watch the NWN trailer that comes with the game??

Frankly I'm an anti-3D person most of the time, but I think it makes sense to head in that direction. I've had too many battles where I couldn't quite see what was going on because of other characters, or the scenery.

I didn't know you wouldn't be able to pause, which disturbs me. If you are going to handle more than one character, and can't pause, then it turns into a click fest, not a tactical battle. No fun IMO.

Exactly my opinion. I still remember the general outcry when Ultima VIII didn't let you pause while examining inventory. Since you cast spell scrolls from it, that aspect of the game was an unmitigated disaster--actually, one of several. I really can't see controlling a party in a realtime battle, particularly if you have to select spells for your party members.

Now, TORN was going to use the NWN engine but add-on a pause function; so it clearly is possible. I'm afraid I don't understand why NWN itself won't include this. Possibly they're afraid the enemy AI isn't going to be as adept in handling 3D strategies, so they're compensating by forcing you to act in realtime.

josh · #11 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Lee:
Everyone you meet in the game just stands around doing nothing. It is as if there was a global feeblemind. Wouldn't it be cool if parties you came across were busy doing something?

It would make it hard to click on a person to talk to when they won't stand still.

Dottie · #12 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quitch:
I didn't know you wouldn't be able to pause, which disturbs me. If you are going to handle more than one character, and can't pause, then it turns into a click fest, not a tactical battle. No fun IMO.

you are only going to handle one character in NWN and bioware have promised that the game will not become a click fest, its up to you to belive them or not but i dont have any doubts it will be a great game.

Quote:

Originally posted by fable:
Now, TORN was going to use the NWN engine but add-on a pause function; so it clearly is possible. I'm afraid I don't understand why NWN itself won't include this. Possibly they're afraid the enemy AI isn't going to be as adept in handling 3D strategies, so they're compensating by forcing you to act in realtime.

The reason for removing the pause function in NWN is probably that the game is supposed to focus on multiplayer where a pause function will cause serious problems.

[ 10-03-2001: Message edited by: Dottie ]

Xyx · #13 (**permalink**) 10-03-2001, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dottie:
The reason for removing the pause function in NWN is probably that the game is supposed to focus on multiplayer where a pause function will cause serious problems.

Yep. The DM can pause, though.

I really hope I'll be able to write my own AI scripts for the NPCs... Even if the AI scripts that ship with the game are ten times better than the BG ones, they'd still be pretty horrible.