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BioWare Wednesday Archive - 2003

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Wednesday, Dec 17 2003

Dracolich and Adamantine Golem
Two Hordes of the Underdark creatures are revealed this week! Nothing says 'paladinhood is for chumps' like a giant dragon shaped skeleton. The Adamantine Golem has been also been released to fan sites, and is truly one of the most feared and unstoppable juggernauts in existence! Discuss.

Knights of the Old Republic Guides
If you are looking for some tips on playing through Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, check out these two guides: the Boss Guide posted at IGN will help you lay waste the top villains, and the Walkthrough posted at Gamespot will take you through the Lower City Level on Taris. Discuss.

Jade Empire Producer's Cut Video
Filmed from the Tokyo Game Show demo, check out some actual footage of Jade Empire in action! Part 1 focuses on the roleplaying and exploration aspects of the game, Part 2 takes a look at some of the stylish combat you will experience in Jade Empire. Discuss.

BioWare Holiday Card
Check out this year's BioWare Holiday card featuring Jade Empire. You can download and print the pdf version for cardboard cut-out action! Happy holidays from BioWare! Discuss.

Wednesday, Dec 10 2003

Prismatic Dragon
These magnificent magical creatures are fun, festive, and prone to unexpected mood swings. Prismatic Dragons keep a very neat lair with tasteful, yet bold use of space and color. They're also 40th level, and have over 1000 hit points! Discuss.

Deekin's Big Adventure Part 5
Hordes of the Underdark takes adventurers to a vile, lightless world of festering evil and corpulent nightmares fashioned from horrors undreamt. Who better to brave this dark world of creeping malice and lurking doom? Deekin of course! Check out the last installment of Deekin's Big Adventure featuring the new Drow Interior tileset! Discuss.

Deep Rothe and New Spell
Similar to the very unterrifying cockatrice for sheer undiluted lack of horror, the Deep Rothe is a big cow. The only way that a party of adventurers might give these creatures a second thought would be if the Deep Rothe fell asleep on the road! There is also a new Paladin spell released to fan sites this week, Deafening Clang. Discuss.

Wednesday, Dec 03 2003

Red Dragon Disciple Prestige Class
It is rumored that the magical powers of sorcerers and bards are somehow connected to the presence of dragon blood in their family tree. Red Dragon Disciples are sorcerers, and sometimes bards, who use their magical power as a catalyst to ignite their red dragon blood, and are one of 6 new Prestige Classes in Hordes of the Underdark! Discuss.

NWVault Module Contest has Two Winners!
In a flurry of voting, the community has selected Papermonk’s The Nether Scrolls and Xxtayce’s Shadohaunt! Both will receive prizes, and sometime this month the overall winner will be choosen. All 11 entries from this talented community are impressive, so give them a try! Discuss.

Shadow Dragon
Many, many layers of oil-black evil coat this vilest of the living dragons. So baby-seal taunting evil is the shadow dragon that prancing do-gooders simply detonate in a shower of law-abiding fragments within 30 feet of this foul wyrm. One of 16 new creatures in Hordes of the Underdark! Discuss.

New Game Owner Forum and Portraits, plus Spell!
Register your copy of Hordes to unlock 21 new class-specific account portraits, and gain access to discuss the Official Campaign in the HotU Spoilers Forum. Then check out the new Hordes spell released, Stone Bones! Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 26 2003

Dwarven Defender Prestige Class
Dwarven defenders are skilled combatants trained in the arts of defense, and are one of six new Prestige Classes featured in Hordes of the Underdark. A line of dwarven defenders is a far better defense than a 10-foot-thick wall of stone, and much more dangerous! Discuss.

Deekin's Big Adventure Part 4
Hordes of the Underdark will take adventurers to a vile, lightless world of festering evil and corpulent nightmares fashioned from horrors undreamt. Who better to brave this dark world of creeping malice and lurking doom? Deekin of course! Check out Part 4 of Deekin's Big Adventure featuring the new Mind Flayer Tunnels tileset! Discuss.

Character Customization in Hordes of the Underdark
Hordes of the Underdark offers a wide variety of new options for character customization, and this article posted on GameSpy outlines many of the features such as new heads, portraits, wings and tails, robes, and new voice sets! Discuss.

New Hordes of the Underdark Spell and Feats
Summon a dagger as your loyal servant you with Shelgarn's Persistant Blade, the new spell released to fan sites this week! Feel like rampaging through the forest as a dragon? Then check out the 3 new Epic level feats posted on RPG Vault, including Wildshape (Dragon)! Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 19 2003

Pale Master Prestige Class
NWN: Hordes of the Underdark will be in stores Dec 2 and includes 6 new Prestige Classes! For those who desire power over undead, the pale master draws on a font of special lore that provides a macabre power all its own. Discuss.

New KotOR Portraits and Forums!
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for PC is now in stores! Once you've purchased your copy, register yourself as a Star Wars: KotOR (PC) Game Owner to unlock new KotOR PC portraits for your account and gain access to exclusive game-owner only forums! Discuss.

ScriptEase... Non-Scripters Unite!
The ability to design complicated, engaging, and exciting modules using all the crazy scripting power of the Aurora Toolset is now within reach. A group of talented programmers at the University of Alberta has created the answer to our non-programming dreams - ScriptEase! There is also a step-by-step tutorial with lots of screenshots to get you started on this powerful software. Discuss.

Hordes Spell and Feats!
In celebration of the Dec 2 release date for Hordes of the Underdark, head over to RPG Vault and drool over 3 new Epic level feats, including Improved Ki Strike and Overwhelming Critical, and then visit your favorite fan site to find details on the newest spell, Death Armor. Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 12 2003

Robes and Skies Screenshots!
The beauty of the open night sky is upon us! Check out the new Hordes of the Underdark screenshots featuring Robes and Skies, including a new panorama image showing a day to night sky transition! Discuss.

Eyeball, Feats, and New Wallpaper!
Known for causing a lot of embarrassing running and screaming in seasoned adventures who mistake it for its soul-devouring older cousin the Beholder, the Eyeball has been posted to fan sites. A new wallpaper featuring the Drow Matron is now available, and RPG Vault has also released 3 new Epic level feats. Discuss.

Deekin's Big Adventure Part 3
Hordes of the Underdark will take adventurers to the vile, lightless world of festering evil and corpulent nightmares fashioned from horrors undreamt. Who better to brave this dark world of creeping malice and lurking doom? Deekin of course! Check out Part 3 of Deekin's Big Adventure! Discuss.

Module Contest Update - 11 Finalists!
The submission date for the NWVault Module Contest to create a module that bridges the Shadows and Hordes expansions has past, and the final entries are in! There are a total of 11 qualifying adventures and voting will tentatively take place at the end of the month (details soon). So start playing today and note your favorites! Discuss.

Wednesday, Nov 05 2003

White Slaad, Black Slaad - Quite Mad, So Bad!
Slaadi are representatives of planes that are entirely alien, wholly violent and utterly lethal. Hordes of the Underdark will introduce the White and Black Slaadi - caffeinated, extra-salted, high in fat versions of their multi-colored cousins, and not to be messed with! Discuss.

Deekin's Big Adventure Part 2
Hordes of the Underdark will take adventurers to the vile, lightless world of festering evil and corpulent nightmares fashioned from horrors undreamt. Who better to brave this dark world of creeping malice and lurking doom? Deekin of course! Check out Part 2 of Deekin's Big Adventure featuring the new Beholder Tunnels tileset! Discuss.

Hordes Feats, Spell, and New Screenshot!
A new Hordes screenshot has been added, and a new Druid spell Vine Mine is posted up on fan sites! Then check out the 3 new Epic level feats at RPG Vault: Epic Skill Focus, Bane of Enemies, and Improved Combat Casting! Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 29 2003

Deekin's Big Adventure
Hordes of the Underdark will take adventurers to the vile, lightless world of festering evil and corpulent nightmares fashioned from horrors undreamt. Who better to brave this dark world of creeping malice and lurking doom? Deekin of course! Check out Part 1 of Deekin's Big Adventure featuring the new Underdark tileset! Discuss.

NWCon Chat Log - Robes Are In Hordes!
Last night BioWare employees attended a community chat organized by Neverwinter Connections as a part of NWCon. Maximus has organized a chat log available on NWVault, revealing tidbits like Robes being included in Hordes of the Underdark! Discuss.

Hordes Spells, Feats and a Screen!
Cover your ears before checking out this loud new spell released to fan sites, Horizikaul’s Boom. 3 new Epic level feats have also been posted at RPG Vault, and a new Hordes screenshot has been released! Discuss.

Module Contest Update - Close Date Nov 9th
The close date is nearing for the NWVault Module Contest to create a module that bridges the Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark expansions. Everyone is invited to participate - so check out the details and submit your module before Nov 9th! Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 22 2003

New Prestige Class - Champion of Torm
Champions of Torm are mighty warriors who dedicate themselves to Torm's cause, defending holy ground, destroying enemies of the church, and slaying mythical beasts. Champions of Torm are one of the 6 new Prestige Classes included in Hordes of the Underdark. Discuss.

New Hordes Scripting Commands
Get the technical details on a collection of the new scripting commands coming in Hordes of the Underdark, including the oft-requested function to change a creature's appearance. Discuss.

Hordes Spells, Feats and a Screen!
Get your sneak on with Improved Sneak Attack, Self Concealment 10% and Epic Dodge, three new Hordes feats posted at the RPG Vault. Absorb the Scintillating Sphere, a new Hordes spell currently electrifying fan sites. Feast your eyes on a new Hordes screenshot and a Harpy profiled. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 15 2003

NWCon: A Neverwinter Nights Online Gaming Convention
BioWare and Neverwinter Connections are proud to announce the first online Neverwinter Nights convention, NWCon. This community organized 10 day event, running from Oct 25th to Nov 2nd, will feature some of the best Neverwinter Nights gaming action found in the community, as well as a number of expert panels to be held via IRC. Discuss.

Azer
There is no denying the fact that, however mighty you think you are, the diminutive Azer walk around with their heads on fire! The Azer is one of 16 new creatures in Hordes of the Underdark. Discuss.

Harpy and 3 New Feats
Shrieking horrors sporting razor sharp nails, and capable of dropping from the sky like a falcon to tear hapless adventurers to shreds, the Harpy has been released to fan sites this week! As an added bonus, RPG Vault has posted 3 new Feats. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 8 2003

Demilich
No matter how huge your holy sword is, when you encounter a floating skull with gems for eyes, you know you're in for a challenging fight! The Demilich is one of 16 new creatures in Hordes of the Underdark. Discuss.

Jade Empire Screams and Portraits
Think you are furious enough? Choose Furious Ming or the Horse Demon as your BioWare Community account portrait. Then listen to what we put ourselves through in the making of the Premiere Trailer in this new Jade Empire Scream Sessions BioZone article. Discuss.

New Hordes Spells and Feats!
Blade Thirst and Bless Weapon are the spells released to fan sites this week, and allow you to magically enhance weapons! RPG Vault has also posted up 2 new feats: Perfect Health and the Epic level Mighty Rage. Previous weekly releases can be found in the Hordes feats and spells sections. Discuss.

Wednesday, Oct 1 2003

Demonflesh Golem, Spells and Feats!
A nightmarish collection of body parts, the Demonflesh Golem is one of 16 new creatures in Hordes of the Underdark (it will also be released to all NWN owners in an upcoming update). Additionally, 2 new Hordes feats, Curse Song and Improved Spell Resistance, have been posted up at RPG Vault, and 2 new Hordes spells, Infestation of Maggots and Monstrous Regeneration, are available from fan sites. Discuss.

Jade Empire Trailer and FAQ
Don't miss this exciting new trailer for Jade Empire, BioWare's newly announced upcoming game. Check out the beautiful vistas, enticing action, and the ultimate in evil known as Death's Hand! Then get more info from the new FAQ. Discuss.

Hordes Fan Site Kit
The Fan Site Kit for Hordes of the Underdark is now available for download, and contains goodies you can add to your site such as screenshots, creature images, fact sheet, logos, and game art! If you have a fan site, and want to participate in our NWN Fan Site Guild to gain access to exclusive fan site content, please submit your site into our links section. Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 24 2003

New Prestige Class - Shifter
Shifters have no form to call their own, instead they change into one of many possible shapes, choosing one that is suitable for their current situation. Shifters are one of the 6 new Prestige Classes included in Hordes of the Underdark. Discuss.

Hordes of the Underdark Chat
Last night Neverwinter Stratics hosted a House of Commons chat where several loose-lipped BioWarians discussed the upcoming Hordes of the Underdark expansion with the community. You can *head* over to the chat log here, which is worth a read as it contains many interesting tidbits about Hordes of the Underdark, including several features that have not previously been mentioned! Discuss.

Hordes Spells and Feats!
2 new spells from Hordes of the Underdark have been released to fansites, and will provide a sting your enemies will remember! Additionally, 2 new epic-level feats have been posted up at RPG Vault! Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 17 2003

Weapon Master
The Hordes of the Underdark Prestige Class featured this week is the Weapon Master, for whom perfection is found in the mastery of a single melee weapon. Additionally, a new Hordes spell has been released to fan sites, and 2 new feats have been posted up at RPG Vault! Discuss.

New Site Feature - SoU Modules Online!
In addition to showing the number of players currently playing Neverwinter Nights online, the percentage of those people playing modules made with Shadows of Undrentide content is now displayed on this site as well (located in the "NWN Site Status" side panel). If you don't already have Shadows of Undrentide, be sure to pick it up to join the online action, and stayed tuned for Hordes of the Underdark! Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 10 2003

New Hordes Spells
The Hordes of the Underdark spells featured this week are Battletide, Great Thunderclap, and Iron Guts! There is also an additional spell released to fansites this week - you can find a list of participating sites here. Discuss.

Spurn's Weapon Pack
Like to hit things? Is there something about a mace that just makes you want to smash something? If so, then Community Member Spurn has created a Hak Pak for you! We profile Spurn and his weapon Hak Pak for Neverwinter Nights in this article by Jay Watamaniuk. Discuss.

Wednesday, Sept 3 2003

Mithral Golem
The Hordes of the Underdark creature featured this week is the Mithral Golem, a construct of such power that iron golems will regularly gather around it at parties and act all giddy. A new Hordes spell has also been released to fansites - participating sites listed here! Discuss.

Module Contest Update
Several weeks ago Maximus from NWVault announced a new contest to create a module that bridges the Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark expansions. This week we have some new details regarding the requirements and parameters of the module so that it smoothly transitions to the beginning of Hordes. Everyone is invited to participate - so check out the details and start your module today! Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 27 2003

Hordes Treats!
Several Hordes of the Underdark goodies have been unchained for you to feast on. Several spells including the fiery Flame Weapon have been posted up, and some cool screenshots have been added to the gallery. In addition, 3 new feats have been released to fansites - you can find a list of participating sites here! Discuss.

Easter Eggs Updated
The BioWare Game Secrets section has been updated with some new easter eggs! Console commands have been added for Neverwinter Nights and Shadows of Undrentide (try out "dm_cowsfromhell"!) and an infinite Light Side point loop has been added for Knights of the Old Republic. Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 20 2003

Hordes of the Underdark Site Launch!
The new Hordes of the Underdark site has been launched! Head on over and check out details about this upcoming expansion - including 4 creature profiles, tileset info, and screenshots! Discuss.

Neverwinter Vault Module Contest
Maximus from NWVault has announced a new module contest! Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark take the player all the way from fledgling first level character to a grizzled veteran of epic power. Maximus wants to have the talented members of the community create a module that bridges the two expansions and allows a smooth transition from Shadows to Hordes. Modules will be judged, with very fine prizes given from IGN and BioWare to the top creations. Watch for more information over at NWVault in the coming weeks! Discuss.

Wednesday, Aug 13 2003

Preview and Screenshot!
GameSpy has posted a NWN: Hordes of the Underdark preview with an early look at some of the many features packed into this upcoming Neverwinter Nights expansion. As an added bonus, we have also released a new Hordes of the Underdark screenshot! Discuss in the Hordes of the Underdark forum.

Lands of Lore Profile
The Neverwinter Community is sustained by the passion and commitment of role-players, artists, designers, writers, and technical professionals and amateurs using their skill and dedication to take Neverwinter in new and unimagined directions. We caught up with Herner, the grand high overlord over at Lands of Lore, to talk about his thriving Neverwinter community that has grown with Neverwinter over the last year. Discuss.

For Developers
The For Devs section has been revamped as 5 file type documents have been updated, and 5 new documents have been added. Discuss this new documentation and third-party applications enhancing our products in the Developers forum.

Wednesday, Aug 6 2003

Shadows of Undrentide Modules
Neverwinter Vault has launched a top rated SoU modules list showcasing fan created modules made with the Shadows of Undrentide expansion pack. We have updated our 'Modules' sidepanel to reflect this list, and our Modules section has also been updated! Be sure to check out all the great fan created adventures available on NWVault or Stratics! Discuss.

Hordes of the Underdark Forum
A new Hordes of the Underdark site will be launching in a few months and will provide an early glimpse into this dark and dangerous world of adventure. Until then, you can watch for online and print previews (such as the preview in the Sept issue of Computer Games Magazine) and you can chat about the expansion in the new Hordes of the Underdark discussion forum!

Wednesday, July 30 2003

NWScript Scripting Course at NWVault
Maximus over at Neverwinter Vault has created a series of viewlet tutorials that many have been waiting for: an introduction into the murky world of scripting. The series of lessons have been crafted to introduce what scripting is, how it can enhance a module, and covers the systems of the Aurora NWN Toolset all the way up to scripting actions and special effects. Simply sit back and watch the tutorials unfold! Discuss.

Icon Wallpaper
A new wallpaper has been released featuring all the icons from Shadows of Undrentide. You can find this new desktop, along with all the others, in the wallpaper gallery. Discuss.

Wednesday, July 23 2003

Androsphinx
The Androsphinx is a good natured and extremely intelligent creature that can be a powerful ally or a savage enemy if provoked. It possesses great strength, the ability to cast powerful spells and a roar that will obliterate the most stalwart of warriors. Discuss.

Shadows of Undrentide - Complete Spell List (Printable)
The remaining Shadows of Undrentide spells have now been posted, including Stone to Flesh, Banishment, and Inflict Serious Wounds! There is also a printer friendly version of the page. Discuss.

Grenade-like Weapons
Shadows of Undrentide introduces grenade-like weapons to combat. These items can be thrown at your enemies for different devastating effects, and include Acid Flasks, Alchemist's Fire, Caltrops, Choking Powder, Holy Water, Tanglefoot Bags, and Thunderstones. Discuss.

Wednesday, July 16 2003

Multiplayer Survey - Free Giveaways!
We want to know what you think about the games you play! And for taking a few minutes to complete this survey, your email address will be entered to win either one of five free copies of Shadows of Undrentide, or copies of the four exclusive game posters that were available only at the Electronic Expo in L.A.! Discuss.

Female Frost Giant
The hands-down squirrel-screechingly, craziest cousin of the giant family, Frost Giants are wildly unpredictable and fantastically dangerous. Somewhat weaker than their fiery cousins they still have the ability to squash cow-sized objects into special sauce if provoked. Rest assured that provoking them into a rage is about as hard as not finding an anvil that floats. Discuss.

Female Fire Giant
I would expect that if you forgot an anniversary with this woman you would be in for far more than a few days of simmering silence followed by years of guilt. The Female Fire Giant would set your favorite building on fire and eat your car. Fire Giants are far more civil than their frosty cousins and yet are far more calculated and malicious in a behavior very similar to second graders. Discuss.

Shadows of Undrentide Feats
The remaining Shadows of Undrentide feats have now been posted, filling out the list of 31 with feats such as Great Cleave, Arcane Defense, and Divine Might. There is also a printer friendly version of the page. Discuss.

Wednesday, July 9 2003

Asabi Profile
Famous for being in the thrall of more powerful creatures, the proud Asabi race make very fine lackeys and lickspittles, and are one of over a dozen new creatures in Shadows of Undrentide. Discuss.

Shadows of Undrentide Spells
In the upcoming weeks we will be listing all 30+ Feats and 50+ Spells available in Shadows of Undrentide for online reference. This week we have added to the spells section with incantations such as Isaac’s Lesser Missile Storm, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, and Earthquake! Discuss.

Wednesday, July 2 2003

Doyleyboy's Skies!
Nothing makes the game more immersive than walking through the forest under a sky filled with wispy clouds when using a camera hak. Community member Doyleyboy has created a hak that utilizes eight different skies, including cloudy day/night, stormy day/night and a new sunset texture for those long walks on the beach, which you can read about here. Discuss.

Shadows of Undrentide Feats
In the upcoming weeks we will be posting all 30+ Feats and 50+ Spells in Shadows of Undrentide for online reference, and this week we have filled out the feats section with the likes of Divine Shield, Blooded, Resist Poison, and Strong Soul! Discuss.

Wednesday, June 25 2003

Blackguard Wallpaper
A new Shadows of Undrentide wallpaper has been added to the wallpaper gallery. This new desktop features the Blackguard and Basilisk imagery used on the Shadows of Undrentide site, and is available in several sizes. Discuss.

Role-Players Guide to Multiplayer NWN
Community Member Gruush has created the ultimate document for both new players and experienced veterans looking for helpful tips on how to bring their game up a notch or two. Read more in this profile of Gruush. Discuss.

Shadows of Undrentide NPCs
As you journey through Shadows of Undrentide, you will encounter many new and interesting characters - several of them are now profiled here on the NPC Profiles page. The original GameSpy article also contains interviews with Dave Gaider, senior designer! Discuss.

Wednesday, June 18 2003

Hilltop Walkthrough
So you have just purchased Shadows of Undrentide, and would like some help with Chapter 1? Then check out our new walkthrough of Hilltop (caution spoilers!) Also available in printable format. Discuss.

Pit Fiend
While girls may be sugar and spice and everything nice, Pit Fiends are bloated and vile with boat loads of bile. One of 19 new creatures (3 of which were previously available online) added in Shadows of Undrentide, the Pit Fiend will also be available to all NWN owners in the upcoming 1.30 patch. Discuss.

Wednesday, June 11 2003

Arcane Archer
Master of the elven warbands, the arcane archer is a warrior skilled in using magic to supplement their combat prowess. One of five new Prestige Classes added in Shadows of Undrentide, arcane archers have a repertoire of magical arrow attacks, including the Arrow of Death. Additionally, 2 new Shadows of Undrentide screenshots have been posted! Discuss.

Forum Portraits and a New SoU Forum!
As a bonus to registered Game Owners, you will now have your account portrait appear by your name in the forums! As an additional bonus, when you register your CD Key for Shadows of Undrentide, you can select from a set of portraits exclusive to Shadows of Undrentide owners only! So register your CD Key on the Edit Account Details page, and select your portrait today! We have also launched a new SoU Spoilers forum for SoU owners to discuss Shadows of Undrentide. Discuss.

Wednesday, June 4 2003

Hobgoblin
Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide will include 19 new creatures, (3 of which were previously available online), and this week the creature we feature is the Hobgoblin! The rowdy distant cousins to the highly underwhelming goblins are known for tipping cows over and performing amusing practical jokes like eating peasants. Discuss.

Rural Winter Tileset
The Shadows of Undrentide expansion will also include 3 new tilesets, and this week we feature the Tiny Turf Hut, Giant Turf Hut, and Caravan tiles from the Rural Winter Tileset. Discuss.

More Screenshots!
Three new Shadows of Undrentide screenshots have been added to the Screenshot Gallery. Discuss.

Wednesday, May 28 2003

Assassin Prestige Class
The assassin is the master of dealing quick, lethal blows and excels at infiltration and disguise. One of five new Prestige Classes added in Shadows of Undrentide, assassins often function as spies, informants, killers for hire, or agents of vengeance. Their training in anatomy, stealth, poison, and the dark arts allows them to carry out missions of death with shocking, terrifying precision. Discuss.

For Devs: Generic File Format Documentation
The For Devs section has been expanded with documentation for the Generic File Format (GFF). GFF is an all-purpose generic format used to store data in BioWare's games, such as a NWN's object blueprints, conversation files, journals, palettes and more. Updates include the GFF documentation, a Conversion Program Tutorial, and an example GFF Editor (Windows only). Discuss.

Wednesday, May 21 2003

E3 Coverage & Reviews
E3 2003 is now over, and after an amazing week running demos of Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the reviews, previews, and first impressions are now filtering in! You can also find pictures of us at E3 here and here. We will add more reviews and pictures throughout the week! Discuss.

SoU Screenshots!
We have added some new Shadows of Undrentide screenshots to the Shadows of Undrentide screenshot gallery. Discuss.

New Creature: Basilisk
The Basilisk is one of over a dozen new creatures in Shadows of Undrentide. Teeth that glint like expensive fountain pens, lightning fast predatory reflexes, and an icy glare that can paralyze any citizen unfortunate enough to cross its path are all characteristics of this terrifying six-legged creature. More on the Basilisk in this profile - screenshots included! Discuss.

Wednesday, May 14 2003

NWN: Hordes of the Underdark
BioWare revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) that the second expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights will be called Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark. Discuss.

Builder Profile: Lisa
From parasols to mage staffs, from dragon trapestries to miniskirts, Lisa (or her screen name of Tiamiat) is a great example of a beginner who started with no technical knowledge at all and now is at the top of her game. We caught up with Lisa to talk about her work. Discuss.

Wednesday, May 7 2003

For Developers
Our new community section provides resources for software developers in the community who want to produce new and exciting utilities for our BioWare Aurora Engine and Toolset across multiple platforms. With this launch we release the Encapsulated Resource File (ERF) format complete with documentation, tutorial and an example internal editor. Visit our new For Developers Forum, and read the For Developers FAQ. Discuss.

Builder Profile: Placeables Galore!
For those of you who have discovered the secret to making your module unique is the clever use of placeable objects- look no further! Here we feature Renato's "AoB Super Placeables 1.0" as well as Spoonmerlin's and gnomad's freaky placeables packs. Discuss.

Wednesday, April 30 2003

The City of Doors Initiative: An Introduction
The City of Doors Initiative (CODI) is one of the most ambitious community projects in the works for Neverwinter Nights. Meet the folks preparing to bring the Planescape setting to the Neverwinter Nights gaming experience and see exclusive creature previews. Discuss.

Builder Profile: Martin E.
You can never have enough placeables! Martin E. has created an exceptional hakpak that will expand and enhance the beauty of your module's forested areas. But this hakpak of trees and plants is just the beginning... read the interview with Martin E. Discuss.

Wednesday, April 23 2003

Danmar's 3D Modeling Tutorials
Danmar has created a series of tutorials using .avi movies that step through everything from creating placeables and weapons to creating new creatures and adding animations. This week we profile Danmar and his tutorials! Discuss.

Got Balor?
You can now download Texture Bundle 5 from the Textures Download area, which contains the Bodak, Bugbear, Balor, and Ettercap textures that can be used in our re-skinning creatures tutorial! Discuss.

New Community Site Portraits
We have added new portraits that you can choose from for your community site account profile! Your portrait is seen by others when they search for players in the Guilds and Registry system, or "view your profile" when reading your forum posts. Discuss.

Wednesday, April 16 2003

Database Access Beta Test Contest!
We want to run a beta test of the upcoming database access stuff, and we are looking for the best minds in the community to help us out. Full details inside! Discuss.

Rustic Shelters and Shipwrecks!
This week's builder profile showcases Shipwrecks and Rustic Shelters placeables created by Brother Roth that you can use to to breathe life into your campaign. Discuss.

Wednesday, April 9 2003

Blackguard Prestige Class
The blackguard epitomizes evil. He is nothing short of a mortal fiend. The quintessential black knight, this villain carries a reputation of the foulest sort that is very well deserved. Head over to RPG Vault to see a first look profile of this anticipated prestige class! Discuss.

Gorgon and Cockatrice Revealed!
What's a rodeo clown's worst nightmare? A Gorgon. And where can you read about this beast? IGNPC! They have an exclusive profile of the new Gorgon and Cockatrice creatures included in the upcoming Shadows of Undrentide expansion! Discuss.

New SoU Placeables
This week we start taking a look at some of the fabulous new placeable objects that are being included in Shadows of Undrentide for the module builders out there to use. Fansites have received an exclusive profile this week outlining these new placeables. Discuss.

Pseudodragon
A profile of the playful and curious Pseudodragon was released to fansites last week, and in case you missed it, you can now read about this fascinating creature here. Discuss.

Alleys and Doors Hak Paks!
In the upcoming weeks we will take a closer look at some of the excellent community made Hak Paks out there that can be included in your own modules. This week we profile Alleys and Doors by ThallionStellani and Na. Discuss.

Wednesday, April 2 2003

New Creature: Faerie Dragon
Faerie Dragons can be familiars only to the worthiest of magic users, and companions to the powerful. The Faerie Dragon is one of over a dozen new creatures included in the upcoming Shadows of Undrentide expansion. An additional creature has also been released to fan sites! Discuss.

New Spells Revealed!
New spells from the Shadows of Undrentide spell list: Wizards and Sorcerers flame enemies with the power of Firebrand, Druids crush enemies from above with the new area of effect spell Bombardment, and there is a new cantrip, Flare. Two other spells have also been released to fan sites! Discuss.

Hak Pak Attack
Myconids, Galleons, and Scarecrows, oh my! This week's builder profile showcases custom content by Schazzwozzer, including fungal myconid creatures and galleon-style ship tiles, as we launch a new series of profiles examining excellent community made Hak Paks out there that can be included in your own modules. Discuss.

Wednesday, March 26 2003

New Bard Feats!
Perform your inspirational music more often and ensure that even the memory of your music can sustain the weariest and most battle worn of companions. This week we reveal Extra Music and Lingering Song, two of the 30 new feats included in the upcoming Shadows of Undrentide expansion. Three additional feats have also been released exclusively to fan sites this week. Discuss.

Guild Profile: Dor Maeglin
This week Jay profiles the dark and merciless world of Dor Maeglin. Dor Maeglin is a visually striking world balanced around how people play on-line. Their guild currently has a membership of 250, and is run by TempusMagus and SlayerNFC. Discuss.

Additional Bigby's Spells
The Shadows of Undrentide spell list has been updated with the two additional Bigby's spells released to fan sites last week: Bigby's Forceful Hand and Bigby's Clenched Fist. Discuss.

Wednesday, March 19 2003

Ruins Tiles Preview
The Shadows of Undrentide expansion will include 3 new tilesets, and this week we feature the Pool of Water, Stone Stage, and Descending Stairs tiles from the Ruins tileset as well as a new Ruins tileset screenshot! Discuss.

New Bigby's Spells!
Another 3 spells have been revealed from the Shadows of Undrentide spell list: Bigby's Crushing Hand, Bigby's Grasping Hand, and Bigby's Interposing Hand, and a screenshot of Bigby's hand in action! In addition to these spells, 2 other spells have been released to fan sites today! Discuss.

Community Leader Profile - Lilac Soul
This week's Community Leader Profile features Lilac Soul, the creator of NWN Script Generator. This useful application asks you questions in English and generates the corresponding scripts you can cut and paste into your module. Discuss.

Wednesday, March 12 2003

Shadowdancer Prestige Class
The Shadows of Undrentide expansion will introduce five new prestige classes to Neverwinter Nights. This profile examines the mysterious and deceptive shadowdancer class. What does it take to join the troupe of shadowdancers? We reveal the background, requirements, special and spell-like abilities of this exciting new prestige class! Discuss.

New Shadows of Undrentide Spells
Another 3 spells have been revealed from the Shadows of Undrentide spell list: Amplify, Balagarn's Iron Horn, and Wounding Whispers are all welcome additions to any Bard's repertoire of spells. In addition to these spells, 2 other spells have been released to fan sites today! Discuss.

Guild Profile: Tarala Online Adventures
This week BioWare Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk profiles Tarala Online Adventures. Tarala is a medium sized persistent world catering to the adventuring crowd, people who like to dive deep into dungeons, slay monsters and gather treasure! Discuss.

Wednesday, March 5 2003

New Feats: What's Your Background?
Are you overly stubborn and determined, or perhaps have some Yuan-Ti in your bloodline? A little heritage goes a long way, and this week we reveal several new feats from the upcoming Shadows of Undrentide expansion that provide you with some interesting new background choices.
Update: Two extra feats added March 7. Discuss.

Spells Update
We have updated our Shadows of Undrentide Spells list with 2 more spells that were released last week exclusively to fan sites: Displacement and Quillfire! If you have a fan site, and want to participate in our NWN Fan Site Guild, please submit your site into our links section. Discuss.

Guild Profile: World of Arleah
This week BioWare Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk profiles the World of Arleah guild. The guild is currently in the Top 5 most active guilds, and was founded by MA Sword. Great screenshots of Arleah and its citizens included! Discuss.

Wednesday, Feb 26 2003

Formians!
The Shadows of Undrentide expansion will include over a dozen new creatures, including ant-like monsters called Formians. Ants so big that they don’t ruin a picnic by stealing tuna crumbs and getting squished under your bare feet, the Formians instead ruin a picnic by burning down your village and selling you into slavery after eating your mom. Discuss.

New Shadows of Undrentide Spells
This week we feature three new spells that will be added in Shadows of Undrentide - Acid Splash (an arcane cantrip for Wizards and Sorcerers), and two additions that give Druids a 'boost': Blood Frenzy, and Drown. Discuss.

Prestige Class Updates!
Earlier this week we revealed that there are now 5 prestige classes planned for Shadows of Undrentide! The FAQ has been updated to reflect this announcement. We have also made several important updates and corrections to the Harper Scout profile (including spell updates and a new class skills list). Discuss.

Wednesday, Feb 19 2003

Harper Scout Prestige Class
The Shadows of Undrentide expansion will introduce two new prestige classes to Neverwinter Nights. This profile examines the dedicated Harper Scout class. What does it take to join the ranks of the Harpers? We reveal the background, requirements, and special abilities of this exciting new prestige class! Discuss.

Guild Profile: Ancient Mystic Order of Old Fogeys
A group of BioWare staff had the pleasure to spend an evening in a game organized by the expert gamers within the Ancient Mystic Order of Old Fogeys guild. The adventure was filled with everything a game should have - intrigue, deceit, violence, romance, and, of course, plenty of thinly disguised conversations of dark deeds using assorted fish metaphors. Discuss.

Wednesday, Feb 12 2003

Shadows of Undrentide Wallpaper
Creatures of the desert unite! This new wallpaper features an abundance of many-legged creatures massing in the desert! Discuss.

Desert Tiles Preview
In upcoming weeks, we will be showcasing aspects of the 3 new Shadows of Undrentide tilesets, starting this week with the Giant Statue Head, Chasm Stairs, and Oasis tiles from the Desert tileset! Discuss.

DM Profiles: Sweeney Todd and Duncan
You played the Official Campaign, you've downloaded modules, you've even played multiplayer with your buddies... what's next? It's time to rule the world as a Dungeon Master. BioWare's Jay Watamaniuk talks with two of the Top DM's around, Sweeney Todd and Duncan. Discuss.

Wednesday, Feb 5 2003

Shadows of Undrentide Goodies
We're stuffing over 50 new spells into the Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide spell book. Feats are nice and all but, as a spell caster, I need to instill mind-melting terror in my enemies so bring on the darn spells! This week we feature a fine selection of spells that range from making Clerics an angry bit of business to girding Fido for fighting the onslaught of evil that surely awaits you in the next dark dungeon. And there's spells a-plenty going off in the desert in these new screenshots. Discuss.

Fan Site Kit for the Mac Community Ready to Go!
You asked for it and the fine folks at MacSoft came through and magically created just the thing for our Neverwinter Mac fans out there wanting to create there own fansites. Our fan site kit includes web page background images, web page buttons with source to create your own, logos, screenshots, wallpapers, character portraits, game art, box art, game information and text, and a FAQ. BioWare thanks MacSoft for their nearly inhuman cat-like reflexes in putting this excellent package together. Discuss.

Wednesday, Jan 29 2003

Shadows of Undrentide - New Feats Profiled!
Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide will include over 30 new feats when it is released, and this week we are profiling 3 of them. You can be sure this fistful of feats will put more punch into your attacks! Update: visit RPG Vault to see the additional feats announced this week. Discuss.

Creature Profile: Gnolls
The upcoming 1.28 patch will include the much anticipated Gnolls! This new creature profile provides a sneak peak at the 2 flavours of Gnolls that will be released, and provides an interesting theory regarding the Gnoll's ferocity. Discuss.

Tileset Construction Tutorial
We have updated our 3DSMax Files section with a new Neverwinter Tileset Construction Tutorial. This document covers tileset creation for the BioWare Aurora Engine, and it includes the tutorial (in Word and PDF format), several unsupported Windows utilities we use internaly when creating tilesets, and many sample files you can reference when working though the tutorial. Discuss.

Wednesday, Jan 22 2003

Shadows of Undrentide Goodies
There are several Shadows of Undrentide items this week, including new wallpaper, and new screenshots featuring the desert tileset! We have also updated the Shadows of Undrentide FAQ, and posted a Shadows of Undrentide Fact Sheet. Discuss.

PLT Exporter Plugin and Templates
You can now download the BioWare Photoshop PLT Exporter plugin from the Miscellaneous Tools section. This package includes several Photoshop templates (including a belt, head, arms, shoulders and more) and the Photoshop PLT plugin which will allow you to export your own custom PLT files. The PLT files allow you to customize textures so that you can utilize the colour selection in the BioWare Aurora Toolset for Neverwinter Nights. Discuss.

Witch's Wake Survey
Welcome to the Witching Hour! It's finally time for everyone who played "Witch Wake 1: The Fields of Battle" to give us a little piece of their minds. What sorcery is this, you ask? Basically, it's your chance to tell us what you thought of the module and what you'd like to see from "The Witch's Wake" in the future. Login and fill out the survey in your inbox!

Community Leader Profile - Eligio Sacateca
Last week we profiled Eligio Sacateca's Custom Content Guide, an excellent resource for fans of Neverwinter who are not sure where to start building there own content. This week BioWare's Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk profiles Eligio, discussing the guide and custom content for Neverwinter Nights. Discuss.

Wednesday, Jan 15 2003

Shadows of Undrentide FAQ
Do you have questions about the upcoming Shadows of Undrentide expansion for Neverwinter Nights? Well, we have answers! This Frequently Asked Questions document addresses many of the questions posed to us, and we will continue to update it on a regular basis as more information becomes available. Discuss.

Live Team Neverwinter Nights Road Map
Wondering what's in store for Neverwinter Nights? This new road map outlines what the BioWare Live Team is planning for Neverwinter Nights! From new creatures and features to upcoming modules, this ever-changing road map will be updated frequently to reflect our plans for the future. Discuss.

Eligio's Custom Content Guide
Eligio Sacateca has compiled an amazing resource for Builders in the form of his Custom Content Guide, now at version 1.1. Building upon various resources from the community, the guide is easy to understand and full of helpful notes and tips covering the basics for creating custom Spells, Voicesets, Weapons, Portraits, Items, Armor, Music, Load Screens, Creatures, Movies, Tilesets and more! Discuss.

Wednesday, Jan 8 2003

Neverwinter Nights at Macworld!
Neverwinter Nights is currently being showcased at Macworld in San Francisco, and we have video footage from the event taken by BioWare community member Gentry. The video features interviews with BioWare's Jay Watamaniuk and MacSoft's Al Schilling. Discuss.

Guild Profile: Knightsbridge PW
BioWare's Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk profiles Knightsbridge PW, a guild currently in the top 6 most active guilds. Dedicated to role-playing, the Knightsbridge PW is currently at 120+ members, and head of operations Irv Drost shares his insights on NWN guilds. Discuss.

Witch's Wake DM's Guide Update
The DM's Guide for Witch Wake 1 has been updated, and now includes details on all the NPCs encountered in the Witches Wake I, Fields of Battle. Warning! This entire document is a spoiler! If you would prefer a spoiler-safe introduction to the module, please read the Player's Guide instead. Also, be sure to check out the Witch's Wake review at Silven Crossroads! Discuss.

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