Home Neverwinter Wednesday Archive BioWare Wednesday Archive - 2002

BioWare Wednesday Archive - 2002

Wednesday Archives: Main Archive | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

Wednesday, Dec 18 2002

New Wallpaper!
A new wallpaper is available for download in the wallpaper area, showcasing some upcoming content. Discuss.

Witch Wake 1 Development Template
The first Witch's Wake Template Module has been released for download! This module is a development template only and contains no playable content. It contains the various systems used in "Witch Wake 1: The Fields of Battle" and is intended as a plot-free foundation layer on which future modules in the series can be built. Feel free to use it, in whole or in part, as part of your own modules. Discuss.

Witch's Wake Logo Pack
A new Witch's Wake Logo Pack has been added as an additional download in the Neverwinter Nights Fan Site Kit section. The pack contains several versions of the Witch's Wake logo in gif and jpg formats, as well as the source logo in Photoshop format (a layered psd file). Discuss.

Wednesday, Dec 11 2002

The Witch's Wake is Here!
After 3 1/2 months of development, the BioWare Live Team is pleased to announce that Part One of "The Witch's Wake," an official Neverwinter Nights module series, is now available as a free download. You can also get the module by simply updating your game using the NWUpdate program, and selecting the optional Witch's Wake download.

Integrating a number of fan-created components and drawing on extensive beta test feedback throughout its development cycle, "Witch Wake I: The Fields of Battle" offers a solid 2-3 hours of high-quality, story-intensive roleplaying. The best is yet to come, however, as the dark and complex storyline introduced here will be expanded on with each new module that gets released. To commemorate this release, we have updated the Witch's Wake section. As well, we have posted the DM's Guide, an updated Player's Manual, and a new wallpaper. Discuss Witch's Wake in the new Witch's Wake General Discussion forum and Dungeon Masters Discussion forum!

Wednesday, Dec 4 2002

The Witch's Wake Player's Manual
Death and dying, experience, resting, looting, curious devices and more are discussed in the new Player's Manual for the upcoming Witch Wake I: The Fields of Battle module. The manual provides players with the background information and tips they need to fully enjoy The Witch's Wake. Discuss.

Player's Guide to Persistent Worlds
Persistent Worlds - what are they? How do they work? Where can you find them? These questions are all answered in this new Player's Guide to Persistent Worlds by "A Land Far Away" project administrator Major Bill Marcellino. Discuss.

Guild Profile: Scripters Guild
This week BioWare's Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk profiles the Scripters Guild, a guild designed for scripters of all abilities. Guild Owner craggovi answers questions about the guild and discusses current guild projects. Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 27 2002

Shadows of Undrentide Expansion Announced!
The first official expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights has been announced and will be titled "Shadows of Undrentide". The expansion features a new single player campaign, additional monsters, classes and more! We have created a new Shadows of Undrentide section that will be populated with information as it becomes available, and there is a new Shadows of Undrentide forum. Read the full press release for more details! Discuss.

Rats Wallpaper - the Calm Before the Swarm
You may have seen the screenshot or profile of the new Rats that will infest the upcoming patch 1.27, and now you can have them swarm all over your desktop with this new rats wallpaper, featuring both Rats and Dire Rats. Discuss.

Profile: LadyRolePlay Part 2 - Great Games or Bust
LadyRolePlay expounds on multiplayer games, gives us anecdotes and tips on how to become a multiplayer gamer and how to get into a great game. This is the second part of a profile by BioWare Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk. LadyRolePlay is one of the top ranked players at NWConnections. Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 20 2002

Holimion Movie by Asgard
Created by the Korean clan Asgard, Holimion is an epic 6 minute movie of huge army battles, flying dragons, special spell effects, and much more. Available for download in both Mpeg and Avi format. Discuss.

Hak Updater Profile
Community member Polyhedral profiles the fan-created Hak Updater utility and interviews creator Artur "Revinor" Biesiadowski, discussing how this tool manages Hak Paks and reduces download times. Discuss.

Profile of a Player: LadyRolePlay
BioWare's Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk profiles community member LadyRolePlay, currently the top rated player at NWConnections, the premiere matching site. The profile introduces the fascinating LadyRolePlay, her background, how she got into RPG games, and the state of the union on RPG's from a female perspective. Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 13 2002

Creature Profile: Rats
An important element of urban decay will soon be added to Neverwinter's muck encrusted sewers and corpse strewn back alleys - big, bloated rats! The upcoming 1.27 patch will include 2 new rat creatures. The Rats profile has the details, and a new screenshot shows these vermin in action! Discuss.

Plot Wizard Tutorial
As we announced last week, the upcoming 1.27 patch for Neverwinter Nights will add an amazing new Plot Wizard for the Toolset which allows you to easily add simple or complex plots to your modules without having to write a single script or conversation. This new Plot Wizard Tutorial will walk you through the basics of the plot wizard, and to create 3 separate plots placed in the same area. Discuss.

Witchwork Feature List
The Witchwork Series is an exciting, multi-module story arc to be released in free, downloadable installments. The opening module in the series, "The Fields of Battle," will soon be available, and this new Feature List provides the details on what is in store! Discuss.

Guild Profile: The Broodslayers
In September, BioWare opened the Guilds and Registry system to NWN game owners. This week we profile The Broodslayers guild, one of the most active guilds, and includes an interview with guild owner Chokra Broodslayer. Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 6 2002

Upcoming Toolset Plot Wizard
The BioWare Aurora Neverwinter Nights Toolset is about to undergo its biggest change since the game was released! As outlined in this profile, the upcoming 1.27 patch for Neverwinter Nights will add an amazing new Plot Wizard for the Toolset which allows you to easily add simple or complex plots to your modules without having to write a single script or conversation. Discuss.

3DSMax Minotaur Model For Download
You can now download our Neverwinter Minotaur model as a sample creature to use with the recently released 3DSMax Export Scripts. The package contains the .max model file and the .tga texture file for the creature. Discuss.

3DSMax Online Documentation
The documentation to help you use the 3DSMax Export Scripts is now available in both HTML and PDF format. The HTML and PDF formats are viewable here, and are included with the Export Scripts package download. Discuss.

New Site Themes
As requested, the '100 Nights of Neverwinter' and 'Halloween' web site themes have been added as permanent themes that Registered Game Owners can select from the Edit Theme Settings page. To register yourself as a game owner, you need to enter your CD Key here. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 30 2002

Neverwinter Export Scripts for 3DSMax
You can now download the the 3DSMax scripts created by BioWare to export model's created in 3DSMax to a format that can be read by the BioWare Aurora Engine. The scripts can be used with Discreet's 3DSMax 3.0 / 3.1 / 4.2 / 5.0 , and include documentation to help you install and use them. Discuss.

Creating a Movie for a Module
Movies are a great medium for drawing players into your module, and are able to introduce the story with music, pictures, and dialog. This tutorial by community member Jeff "Dueeliz" Weaver shows you how to easily create and add a custom movie to your own module. Discuss.

Witchwork Screenshots and Status Update
Hallowe'en is just around the bend and we have some trick-or-treat Witchwork goodies just for you. Reach in and grab a screenshot from the bowl, or treat yourself to the latest status update, including more comments from the BETA testers. Discuss.

Self-Installing Modules for Download
We have added self-installing versions of all the BioWare created modules, allowing you to easily install this additional content. Self-installing modules can be created with the the Neverwinter Nights Content Installer Creator, available in patch 1.25 and higher. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 23 2002

Creature Textures for Download
You can now download Texture Bundle 4 from the Textures Download area, which contains Minotaurs, Wererat, and Werecat textures to use when re-skinning creatures. Previews of all the textures have also been added. Discuss.

New Site Portraits
New portraits have been added, so you can now choose from more than 30 portraits to add to your community site account. Your portrait will be seen by others when searching for players in the Guilds and Registry system, or viewing your profile when reading your forum posts. Discuss.

Profile: Hardcore Rules (HCR)
The fifth profile of fan-created content that will be used in the upcoming Witchwork Series looks at Archaegeo's Hardcore Rules (HCR). Originating out of a desire to create a more traditional 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons experience, what started as a small collection of tweaks and changes by Archaegeo quickly mushroomed into a large-scale team effort with fellow enthusiasts. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 16 2002

New Sass Wallpaper
This new wallpaper by Mike Sass features the image that graces the inside flap of the Neverwinter Nights game box. Sweet! Discuss.

Witchworks BETA - Now Open For All
After a successful private beta, the first installment of the Witchwork Series is ready to enter a more robust and open testing phase - it is now open for everyone interested! A note of caution: beta participants will be exposed to a lot of spoilers and will deal regularly with broken or unfinished plots, unbalanced combat and treasure, gamestopping bugs, and countless other oddities. You can read the full Witchworks BETA details here. Update: BETA application process is now closed. Discuss.

Stand-Alone Dedicated Server for Windows and Linux
This new version of the Neverwinter Nights Dedicated server is a free download that does not require a copy of the game to install or run (download is 140 MB). Instructions and download locations can be found on the Stand-Alone Dedicated Server page in our downloads area. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 9 2002

Creature Profile: Malar Panther
It rips, it tears, it shreds, it slices, it dices, it juliennes, it's the all-new Malar Panther, to be released soon with our 1.25 patch. The Malar Panther profile has the details! Discuss.

Content Installer Creator
The Neverwinter Nights Content Installer Creator (NWNCIC) will be available soon in the 1.25 patch, and was developed to make distributing and installing user-created content for Neverwinter as easy as possible. This tutorial guides you through the steps to make a self-installing file. Discuss.

Adding Custom Music: BMU Files
This tutorial will show you the steps needed to add custom music in BMU format to your module that can then be selected in the toolset as Battle, Day, or Night Music. Groove to your own beat. Discuss.

Profile: Inventory Spy
The fourth profile of fan-created content that will be used in the upcoming Witchwork Series looks at Georg Zoeller's Inventory Spy. The Inventory Spy allows a DM to examine a player’s inventory in an actual container, where the DM can then examine and modify the inventory before sending it back to the player. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 2 2002

Creature Profile: Kobold
A profile of kobolds: our featured new content to be released soon with our 1.25 patch. Ah, kobolds… It seems so harsh to call them "monsters." They're really just… misguided - like a pet Chihuahua that can't resist growling at the neighbor's Doberman... Discuss.

Profile: Improved Henchman and Battle AI
The third profile of fan-created content that will be used in the upcoming Witchwork Series looks at Pausanias' "Improved Henchman and Battle AI". These modifications will allow players to manage the inventory of their henchman, familiar, and animal companion, and it will make both friends and foes smarter in battle. Join the Witchworks Guild or discuss here.

New Wallpaper
In a fit of inspired creativity, Mike Sass whipped up this fantastic new wallpaper for our fans. Yup, it's the balor gracing our 100 Nights of Neverwinter banner fighting the Lady Aribeth. The wallpaper is available for download in our wallpaper area. Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 25 2002

Guilds and Registry Area Launched!
After a successful BETA (thanks to those who participated!), the Guilds and Registry area of the site is now open for everyone. Registered game owners can create and join guilds, and each guild has its own forum, calendar of events, news, member and server lists. You can also search the registry to find Players, DMs, Scripters, Servers, Guilds and more! Read the Guild and Registry FAQ for more info. Discuss.

Improved Buddy List! Now with 100% More IP
Your Buddy List has been improved! You can now have up to 32 people on your list, and if they are playing NWN online, the Server IP of the game is displayed, which you can use to connect directly to their game (see this tutorial for details). Guild Member lists will also show this info. Discuss.

The Witchwork Guild
There is now an official guild for fans of the "Witchwork Series". The Witchwork Guild is a great place to form adventuring parties with fellow players and Dungeon Masters interested in the series. Aside from our public forums where all members can discuss the series and interact with its creator, we also provide private forums where Dungeon Masters can discuss their art and Beta Testers can help Rob Bartel shape upcoming modules. Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 18 2002

Module Profile: Candle in the Dark
This profile of Candle in the Dark examines the module authored by Robert and Donna Burson. An adventure with layered and engaging story, Candle in the Dark is surrounded with beautiful areas and attention to detail. Discuss.

Profile: Lootable Corpses
The second profile of fan-created content that will be used in the upcoming Witchwork Series looks at Emmanuel Lusinchi's "Lootable Corpses" system. This is a system whereby creatures’ bodies litter the battlefield after death and can be looted and bashed like any other container. Discuss.

New Wallpaper
A new wallpaper is available for download in the wallpaper area, showcasing some upcoming content. Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 11 2002

Witchwork Status Update
[Sept 13 2002] A new update for the Witchwork Series has been posted on the Project Status page detailing a Template module that includes much of the content that will be shared throughout the series. Discuss.

Profile: The DM’s Helper
[Sept 12 2002] This first profile of fan-created content looks at "The DM’s Helper", a fan-created tool that will be used in the upcoming Witchwork Series. "The DM’s Helper" opens up a whole bundle of new abilities within NWN’s DM Client. Discuss.

Links Directory Ready for Submissions
[Sept 10 2002] Is there a Neverwinter site that you would like to add the Links section? Perhaps you know of a great online resource that you think others in the community should know about? Then submit a link today! Discuss.

BioWare's Neverwinter Chess Module *Updated*
[Sept 9 2002] The Neverwinter Chess Module created by BioWare's Jonathan Epp has been updated to version 1.2 (details here). The tutorial on adding Neverwinter Chess to your own module has been updated to 1.2 as well. Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 4 2002

Witchwork Section Launched
Last week we announced the new multi-module story arc, "The Witchwork Series." This week we have added a new Witchwork Series section of the site that includes an updated FAQ and Project Status page so you can stay informed as development of the series continues! Discuss.

100 More Spots!
The first 100 registered NWN game owners to visit the Guilds and Registry page will be added to the BETA to test the new Guilds and Registry section of this site. The feedback from the initial 500 testers has been great, and the next version of the system will be released for the BETA group next week. We will continue to grow the size of the test group as needed. Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 27 2002

NWN Guilds and Registry System BETA
An upcoming Guilds and Registry section of this site will allow registered players to find other like-minded players, find servers to play on, create and join guilds complete with your own private guild forums, news, and more! The first 500 registered NWN game owners to visit the Guilds and Registry page will be entered in the BETA to test this new system. Discuss.

NWScript Add-On for TextPad
BioWare's Derek French created this Syntax Definition File, adding NWScript syntax highlighting for TextPad. Great for users who code their NWN scripts using TextPad, you can install the file following the installation instructions on the TextPad site (TextPad available here.) Discuss.

Upcoming Roleplaying Module Series
The Live Team has started developing a new multi-module story arc called "The Witchwork Series." Free downloadable adventures will be released one at a time through this official community site (dates to be determined). The first module, "Witchwork 1: The Fields of Battle," will be targeted towards first-level adventurers. Stay tuned for further updates as development on the series progresses! Discuss.

Naval Battle Module
Naval Battle by BioWare's Keith Warner is a module based on the classic game of Battleship, NWN style. Take turns bombarding each other's boards until you have destroyed all of your opponent's tokens...then do it again! Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 21 2002

Module Profile - The Hullack Forest: The Sunken Cemetery
This module profile looks at The Sunken Cemetery module, by Lord Niah. BioWare's Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk talks to Lord Niah about creating this creepy adventure. Discuss.

Dance Club Example Module
This new Dance Club Example module by BioWare's Jonathan Epp is a single area featuring a dance floor and examples how you can use flashing lights and custom music to create a club environment. Includes Designer Comments on creating the flashing lights. Discuss.

Adding Custom Wave Files
This Adding Custom Sounds: Wave Files tutorial will show you how to add a custom .wav sound file to your module using a hak pak. The example used shows how we added the background dance music in the Dance Club Example module. Discuss.

BlackJack Inn Module *Updated*
This BlackJack Inn Module by BioWare's Keith Warner uses listening patterns to create a version of Blackjack where the Dealer will actually listen and respond to what you type! Updated Aug 21 to version 1.1 - players can now sit on the chairs while playing. Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 14 2002

BlackJack Inn Module - Listen Up!
This new Module by BioWare's Keith Warner uses listening patterns to create a version of Blackjack where the Dealer will actually listen and respond to what you type! Info on adding Custom Text Macros to the quickbar and Designer Comments about listening patterns are listed as well. Discuss.

Customizing the NWUpdater Skin
This tutorial describes how to visually customize the Update program you use to patch. It covers how to choose, install, and create new updater skins, and includes a new skin to download, as well as a template skin for you to use. Discuss.

Giants Textures for Download!
You can now download Texture Bundle 3 from the Textures Download area, which contains 7 different Giant and Ogre textures for Builders to use when re-skinning creatures. Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 7 2002

Creature Textures for Download!
You can now download Texture Bundle 1 from the Textures Download area. This first bundle contains the Troll, Umberhulk, Bat, Badger, and Panther original .tga textures. Discuss.

Texture Tutorial: Re-Skinning Creatures
This new tutorial describes how to take a creature texture, modify it, and use it to create a modified version of the creature. Includes DDS Compression Tool download, and describes how to create a Hak Pak. Discuss.

Creating Your Own Creatures!
This tutorial describes how to take an idea for a creature and create that creature with its proper stats and abilities so that you can add it to your own module, or export it for others to use. We create a Malar Panther as an example. Discuss.

Wednesday, July 31 2002

Game of Dice, Anyone? New Dice Bag Item!
Whether it's relaxing over a friendly game of dice in a local tavern or rolling custom skill checks in your DM's campaign, this handy new Dice Bag item by Rob Bartel can be a roleplayer's best friend. Discuss.

Contest of Champions Module with 2 New Maps!
This new Contest of Champions module by BioWare's Rob Bartel has 2 new maps that example how you can create something unsuspected using the existing tilesets - a vast mountain chasm and a Victorian London setting! Discuss.

Wednesday, July 24 2002

Scripting Tutorials
Looking for some Neverwinter Nights scripting help? We have added 22 Scripting Tutorials by David Gaider, one of the designers on NWN, to the For Builders section. David has posted these previously in our Scripting forum, and now they are available with printable versions. Discuss.

Creating a Hidden Wall Door
BioWare artists Tobyn Manthorpe and Jono Lee have created a new doorway placeable that can be added to your modules, and this new Hidden Wall Door tutorial by Robert Babiak uses this new upright doorway to create a secret door! Discuss.

Wednesday Wallpaper
This new wallpaper design hails from the days before the launch of nwn.bioware.com, as it was part of the splash page design we used for the previous Neverwinter Nights site. Head over to the Wallpaper section to download! Discuss.

*Updated* Windows Dedicated Server Instructions
The Windows Dedicated Server Instructions have been updated now that the 1.21 patch allows the dedicated server to manually save the game. You can jump to the updated info about 'Save Game', 'Slot Number', and 'Save Button' on the bottom of Page 5 in the guide. Discuss.

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Wednesday Archives: Main Archive | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002