Build Restrictions and leveling rules?

[Aarkon Draco]

with NWN1 we had 40 levels and thus having a restriction on some classes to a minimum ammount of levels helped with balance issues inherent in the game. however 30 levels in NWN2 limitations and minimum level requirements dont seem to be a good option. the only exception i would put is the SD even with a cooldown timer HIPS is a powerful ability and 90% or more of the best PvP builds have HIPS so perhaps a minimum of 3 levels for SD would help some tho admitedly quite a fiew builds use 2 SD levels already.

what is everyones opinion on level limits ect with the number of levels allowed in NWN2?

i also wanted to ask about what we can expect to be able to make as far as builds, meaning, will we have paladin RDD builds unlike NS4? will there be ranger assassins? will we have some form of alignment shifting available?

finaly what kind of faction system will we have will the "factions" have limited classes like in NS4? or can you be anything from anywhere?

just some questions for the staff so us players waiting on bated breath for the public version can get some ideas flowing about what we would like to try first second and third lol

[Flailer]

Good questions...

Currently, no minimum level requirements are planned, except perhaps for some certain classes/combinations of classes that seem to be particularly cheeseful.

In short, classes/factions will be handled a little differently than in NS4. In NS4, you were restricted from taking classes outside your faction. In NS5, you'll be restricted from choosing factions outside your classes.

In NS5, everyone starts are part of the same neutral faction. But, as you play, you'll be presented with different opportunities to join different factions. However, factions will only allow certain classes/alignments/races in. So, you could go the route of combining various classes together, but then miss out on some opportunities for some faction bonuses.

Also, Prestige Classes will be available based on 'training' you receive from various PrC trainers located across the realm. So, in order to take that class, there'll be some tasks that you need to accomplish.

We've talked about the alignment changes and feel that changing your true alignment so it lets you do funky combinations like paladin/blackguard has too much opportunity for abuse. However, we'll probably implement a parallel alignment tracking so that you can be penalized by consistently doing actions out of character for your character (ie, paladins killing good and neutral creatures, blackguards healing good players, etc) so you won't be able to further advance in a certain class until you right your alignment.

[Shadowalker]

It all sounds good.. especially the part of acting out of character/alignment..

A questions about the:

"In NS5, everyone starts are part of the same neutral faction. But, as you play, you'll be presented with different opportunities to join different factions. However, factions will only allow certain classes/alignments/races in. So, you could go the route of combining various classes together, but then miss out on some opportunities for some faction bonuses."

Will that mean some builds are unfactionable, (ie good mage in NS4) ?

[Flailer]

Perhaps, but probably not - we haven't set all the factions in stone and there will probably be a few that are just allegiance based. Also, the nice thing about this system is that factions can be added as you go along - you're not locked into starting with 7 and sticking with 7.

[Sodano]

I have to say that sounds outstanding.
The idea of unlocking paths as you make choices via your character really makes me want to play NS5.
It would be very interesting if there was no WIKI or material to read so there was no meta gaming thought into what you would be.
You 1st time playing would be very innovative with ones choices. Sounds fun

[Rufio]

It would be very interesting if there was no WIKI or material to read so there was no meta gaming thought into what you would be.
You 1st time playing would be very innovative with ones choices. Sounds fun

There is already a big gap between new and veteran players. The veteran players know the intricacies of the server and the changes it has made to the mechanics, not to mention they have the best gear that would take a new player months or more to amass. I really love the wiki in ns4. It is the reason I chose NS4 to play on. It greatly shortened the learning curve and gave me some idea as to how to get the gear I needed and what to do to have an effective build. Without the metagaming, when it comes to pvp, you are toast. Even the high level areas require good builds as they are built to be tough on ALL of the players, not just the newbies. On the other side of the coin, If you are a veteran, yeah, newbies are easy to kill, even if they are level 40, but you want them to be effective. There is nothing more annoying than to get a big party of level 37-39 players and have half of them afraid to go to the endgame zones because their builds don't have high enough saves, AC, or attack bonus to even be the least bit effective.

The idea that you "might stumble onto some innovative choices" is a nice idealistic way to view it, but really, I have quite a few toons that were built with no initial direction in NS4, and it would have been nice if I had stumbled on to some innovative build ideas, but instead, they just all sucked.

[Amoenotep]

sucky builds are part of playing games....

[frogofpeace]

they're certainly part of MY game