> > I'm a Wizardry fan who likes his games in 1st person. There are now some
> mods
> > for Wiz 8 availible that make it even more enjoyable.
>
> I have never heard of Wizardry. What is it?

Wizardry was a dungeon crawl way back when. The graphics were first person perspective similar to Dungeon Master or The Bard's Tale. I don't remember much about it other than it had fairly detailed character generation and skill progression, and I think at least in the one title I played (4? 6?) the storyline wasn't strictly linear.

> I'm a Wizardry fan who likes his games in 1st person. There are now some mods
> for Wiz 8 availible that make it even more enjoyable.

I have never heard of Wizardry. What is it?

I'm a Wizardry fan who likes his games in 1st person. There are now some mods for Wiz 8 availible that make it even more enjoyable.

---

Hmmm... Progress Quest... Just "Set and Forget".

Ziggy

---

> I don't think it's my firewall, it's more like my complete lack of
> understanding of how to join a game. And it took me a while to realise that a
> lot of the little "learning" multiplayer games were all passworded and that's
> why I couldn't join those ones. I would try to connect and then... nothing.

If you were in the lists, then I imagine one of two things were happening. One is, don't bother clicking on any server that is in red. Those are password protected "private" games.

The other is much more annoying. NWN is VERY reconfigurable. Many servers therefore require that you get on their website or Bioware's site and download "HAK" packs that override or add to your game's graphics for the modules that link to them (absolutely doesn't affect other modules, which is good because some of the haks are really bizarre, like adding realistic looking fingers and, shall we say, accurate but overly generous genitalia). Problem with the hak pack system is the module doesn't tell you you need one until you've already gone through the lengthy process of generating a character. VERY annoying.

Get online again and try a Nordock server. It's a popular module, and I've not seen one yet that was modded to require haks.

> I'd be interested in having a go with you sometime one weekend. I'm sure I
> could get the hang of it as long as I have someone reasonably patient giving
> me a bit of a hand. I just need to remember my username and password on the
> NWN site...

I think there's no penalty for just picking another name/pw. In any case, if you haven't uninstalled the game, it may have the info memorized. Let me know what time would be good for you (you're 19 or so hours ahead of me, New Zealand, right?), and what your username is. Make sure your buddy list allows me to see when you're on, too. I will do the same.

> http://eng.sacred-game.com/index.php?subsiteid=0
> It's got the main quest and subquests just like the other RPGs, but it doesn't
> run D&D rules.
>
> BTW have you tried Icewind Dale?

No, I haven't. I read the books by RA Salvatore a long time ago, but I've not bought the game. Unfortunately I'm not currently in a position to get a new game. :(

I met some world class rowers, ...and they had indoor rowing machines all wired up and links to interact with each other on websites.

They were telling me that they could contact other rowers worldwide and set up virtual races where everyone got the same gun for the start and then the machines reported the results to a main server or something...

I thought it sounded really helpful for anyone wanting to know if they had what it takes to compete with the best and brightest in the rowing world.

Wanna row in the Olympics, kid? ................ try this rowing machine and we'll see...

---

> Firewall problems or something? It should be easy on NWN just to select a
> username and password and log in. Then the list of servers, chat space, and
> buddy list will come up (my username is Murasaki10000. There are other
> Murasakis)

I don't think it's my firewall, it's more like my complete lack of understanding of how to join a game. And it took me a while to realise that a lot of the little "learning" multiplayer games were all passworded and that's why I couldn't join those ones. I would try to connect and then... nothing.

> I have often guided nooBs (newbies) in this regard. Trust me, it gets fairly
> easy. Either I go in partied with them with a similarly experienced
> character, or I just "shadow" them with Talon the Outcast (wizard) and raise
> them after they screw up. In any case, NWN is quite forgiving since it's
> based on the timing of the paper and pencils D&D, so it isn't usuall
> constant action like Diablo II or what have you until the really high levels.

I'd be interested in having a go with you sometime one weekend. I'm sure I could get the hang of it as long as I have someone reasonably patient giving me a bit of a hand. I just need to remember my username and password on the NWN site...

> > I've enjoyed playing Sacred, the reviews have said it's really similar
> Loved playing Diablo I/II online, but I kinda got tired of always being the
> guy who had to partner up with the Spanish-speaking nooB (very popular game in
> Central and South America) because nobody else could help him/her (I speak
> passable Spanish). I've never played Sacred.

http://eng.sacred-game.com/index.php?subsiteid=0
It's got the main quest and subquests just like the other RPGs, but it doesn't run D&D rules.

BTW have you tried Icewind Dale?

[...]
> Watched the 'replay', and now the kid and his buds are still studying said
> replay, trying to 'emulate' all the crazy ass moves.....
>
> I can't help them, ..... I have no idea what I was doing....

You are the zen master of NFL Football. :)

> I
> normally play neutral good or lawful good, because I find I just can't make
> myself nasty so chaotic and evil just don't work for me. :)

Same here.

> Once I got cable instead of dialup, I went to the NWN and Sacred sites, but I
> don't know how to join the online games. I went through the game and nothing
> happened - I just never managed to actually join one even though I had it
> selected.

Firewall problems or something? It should be easy on NWN just to select a username and password and log in. Then the list of servers, chat space, and buddy list will come up (my username is Murasaki10000. There are other Murasakis)

> I'm really only good at games when I can pause the action and sort out who's
> doing what - particularly with a casting/melee combination in a party. And
> I'm a past master at the "run away, run away" Holy Grail type approach as
> well.

I have often guided nooBs (newbies) in this regard. Trust me, it gets fairly easy. Either I go in partied with them with a similarly experienced character, or I just "shadow" them with Talon the Outcast (wizard) and raise them after they screw up. In any case, NWN is quite forgiving since it's based on the timing of the paper and pencils D&D, so it isn't usuall constant action like Diablo II or what have you until the really high levels.

> I've enjoyed playing Sacred, the reviews have said it's really similar to
> Diablo (which I also enjoy), but I'm finding it more similar to NWN. I just
> wish the sets of armour were easier to find.

Loved playing Diablo I/II online, but I kinda got tired of always being the guy who had to partner up with the Spanish-speaking nooB (very popular game in Central and South America) because nobody else could help him/her (I speak passable Spanish). I've never played Sacred.

I'm not a 'gamer'...

I did have some fun one day with my son and his buddies though,

They were playing some NFL football on a Playstation...

I'd never held the control module, had no idea what all the buttons were for, ..... (last game I played had a single joystick) Any way, I'm twisting on the whole control module like I could do the cheap whammmy bar thing with an old guitar....

Long story short, I got the ball and pushed all the 'wrong' buttons... the quarterback ran backwards, juked right and left, ran for the sidelines, cut back across the field, then..... turned upfield, ran like 90 yards and scored.

My son and his buds looked at me for a half beat.......... then we all cracked up.

Watched the 'replay', and now the kid and his buds are still studying said replay, trying to 'emulate' all the crazy ass moves.....

I can't help them, ..... I have no idea what I was doing....

---

> NWN AND Starcraft??? SISTER!!!! 8)

Bro!!! :) NZer term of affection. :) :)

> For the solo NWN campaign, I used a wizzie. With the SOU and HOTU expansion
> spells and Daelan Red Tiger as a meat wall, I could reconfigure spells to suit
> whatever was likely to come next. Using a wizzie does make the end of HOTU a
> rugged bear to finish, though. In case you've never been there, I won't say
> why.

Thanks for not doing a spoiler. I have a lawful good female monk in SoU, which I imported back in as I just can't get the last wind (Chapter 2?). I normally play neutral good or lawful good, because I find I just can't make myself nasty so chaotic and evil just don't work for me. :)

> I'm rarely online anymore, but I usually frequent a server called "0 '
> (N)Lands of Nordock" in the PW story category. The server is in Norway, so
> there are usually Europeans on in their afternoon/evening, then US and Aussies
> on in our afternoon/evening. Nordock servers use different rules on death,
> resting, etc than the basic game, so watch out.
>
> BTW, if you're just having TOO much trouble with the campaign game, you can
> play it multiplayer.

Once I got cable instead of dialup, I went to the NWN and Sacred sites, but I don't know how to join the online games. I went through the game and nothing happened - I just never managed to actually join one even though I had it selected.

I'm really only good at games when I can pause the action and sort out who's doing what - particularly with a casting/melee combination in a party. And I'm a past master at the "run away, run away" Holy Grail type approach as well.

I've enjoyed playing Sacred, the reviews have said it's really similar to Diablo (which I also enjoy), but I'm finding it more similar to NWN. I just wish the sets of armour were easier to find.

> I like Starcraft myself. :)

NWN AND Starcraft??? SISTER!!!! 8)

Generally I don't like real time strategy games because of their extremely annoying economic models (producing half a platoon of marines or building an entire city wall during a single battle, etc), but Starcraft in particular just worked for me. I loved the Aliens feel to it. I'm not GOOD at it, but I enjoy playing.

For the solo NWN campaign, I used a wizzie. With the SOU and HOTU expansion spells and Daelan Red Tiger as a meat wall, I could reconfigure spells to suit whatever was likely to come next. Using a wizzie does make the end of HOTU a rugged bear to finish, though. In case you've never been there, I won't say why.

I'm rarely online anymore, but I usually frequent a server called "0 ' (N)Lands of Nordock" in the PW story category. The server is in Norway, so there are usually Europeans on in their afternoon/evening, then US and Aussies on in our afternoon/evening. Nordock servers use different rules on death, resting, etc than the basic game, so watch out.

BTW, if you're just having TOO much trouble with the campaign game, you can play it multiplayer.

> World of Warcraft and the final fantasy series (I own them all) :)

I like Starcraft myself. :) How are you finding World of Warcraft?

And are your FF series for the PC or the Playstation?

:)

World of Warcraft and the final fantasy series (I own them all) :)

---

My favourite game is also Neverwinter Nights, although I can't finish it as my paladin keeps dying too quick at the end. I've also got the 2 expansions.

I bought Sacred with its expansion included for playing over the Xmas break, and really enjoyed that game. Managed to get quite a good Seraph, started a vampire but lost my saved game. :(

I've also started another go at Balders Gate II, but am a bit too busy with work and study and a small home business to do much gaming at the moment. And it eats into my BOINC crunching time as well. :) :)