NWN 2 Conclusion Campaign + Tomb of Horrors Revamp

[rjshae]

You probably already know about Bounce's Drider pack.

[Sabranic]

Looked it over, and was very impressed by it - we might consider it for the portions where the party is gearless and scavenging in the Underdark. For the faction portion of the campaign though, I don't think we can shoehorn them in, during the " D&D era" in which NWN2 takes place, driders are outcasts, punished by Lloth. I doubt Sendai's traditionalist Drow force would tolerate the abominations in their ranks.

Edited December 2, 2016 by Sabranic

[Sabranic]

Development Diary 12/02/16:
- We've Finished the Githyanki Faction, and have them ready for battle! Surely you didn't think "all was forgiven" did you? ;)

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/gith_army_1.jpg

From Left to Right: Githyanki Launchers, Githyanki Strikers, Githyanki War-Minds.

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/gith_army_2.jpg

From Left to Right: Githyanki Warriors, Githyanki Sword-Stalker, Githyanki Knight, Githyanki Illithid-Slayer

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/gith_army_3.jpg

 

From Left to Right: Red Dragon Thrall, Lich Queen Vlaakith CLVII, Red Dragon Thrall

Edited December 2, 2016 by Sabranic

[Sabranic]

Development Diary 12/03/16:
- We've Finished the Graz'zt's Legion Faction, and improved upon the antagonist's design.

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/demon_army_1.jpg

From Left to Right: Infernal Vrock, Infernal Hellhound, Infernal Succubus, Infernal Balor

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/demon_army_2.jpg

From Left to Right: Infernal Hezrou, Golgamauth Shredder of Souls

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/demon_army_3.jpg

 

From Left to Right: Plague Beak the Defiler, Houndmaster Hak'leth'arn

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/demon_army_4.jpg

 

From Left to Right: Thraxxia, The Kaiser (With Helmet), The Kaiser (Without Helmet).

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/the_kaiser.jpg

 

A Close-up of The Kaiser, the primary villain in our story.

Edited December 31, 2016 by Sabranic

[Sabranic]

Development Diary 12/04/16:
- A bit of a fun Dialog Sample for this evening:

 

Since we're working on "The Kaiser" we thought it might be fun to share a dialog sample and spotlight his personality. The Campaign's primary antagonist is extremely genre savvy and tight lipped throughout the whole adventure - he's clearly read "The Evil Overlord's List."

He's not one to waist resources, kill minions without good cause, or create self-destruct buttons. He won't twirl his mustache and spill his plans to the heroes, or abandon them to his subordinates to dispatch. The Kaiser knows full well that the appearance of piety and goodness is a valuable asset, and he is quite generous with his wealth. (Of course, every copper of it was was earned through, theft, murder and conquest). You could say he rewards his subordinates quite well with OTHER people's wealth. At his heart, The Kaiser is a genius at social manipulation and planning. He hatches plans where most of the possible outcomes advance his goals - this way, even when he's defeated, his overall scheme is still plodding forward. His ability to network and manipulate people helps him pivot when things don't work as planned, and this flexibility allows The Kaiser to play Xanatos Speed Chess on a level equal to, or surpassing that of The Knight Captain.

In other words, he's a worthy foe.

For example, this exchange as the Knight Captain finds himself cornered attempting to flee Neverwinter:
____________________________________________________________________________________________

- Area Title: Neverwinter Docks District
- Required Characters: Safiya, Khelgar
- Points of interest: 3 way intersection

The party continues the running battle into the Docks District, having ditched Isho, (for now), and will face a constant onslaught of Wa Mercenaries and Night Masks. The party will eventually be channeled into a two way street, and find themselves face to face with The Kaiser and Orbakh, spearheading a force of Night Masks. Isho and his forces then spawn behind the party, leaving them trapped.

The Kaiser: "I must admit… I’m a bit disappointed in you Knight Captain… walking into such an obvious snare? I've mistaken competence for dumb luck perhaps. A pity."

Lord Nasher: "Wretch! I should have seen through your smarmy facade from the outset – Nevalle certainly did. Save me the trouble of cutting down your underlings and toss yourself upon my blade!"

The Kaiser: "…and look at this… you’ve kidnapped my “guest.” How inconsiderate."
________________________________

Player Dialog Options:

1: Did you expect to usurp the throne unopposed? We are but the first… should we fall, others shall rise up and defeat your plans. You’ll not long fool the Lords of Waterdeep with this farce!

2: Well isn’t this just convenient. Lure us all in, flush out the spies and then kill off the resistance before it even gets started. You’re too clever by half if you think Baldur’s Gate will tolerate your rule. You’ll have ten thousand Flaming Fist beating on the wall by this time next month.

3: What a banal plot! What limited vision! You’ll not long hold this city Kaiser. If the true powers of the Sword Cost fail to rout you out, then the Luskans will dance their army over your crow-pecked bones. I laugh at your shallow ambitions!
________________________________

 

The Kaiser: "Oh… is this supposed to be the part where I divulge my dastardly plans? You insult me."

Khelgar Ironfist: "Heh... well... was worth a try."

 

The Kaiser: "Men… you are to kill every last one of them, dice their corpses into tiny pieces, burn the kibble and then scatter their ashes into the harbor."

Orbakh: "Assuredly."

The Kaiser: "All except the Red Wizard. I want her corpse - or at least her torso - mostly intact. Assuming that’s reasonably possible."

Safiya: "Me? Flattering... and… now I’m actually quite curious… why?"

The Kaiser: "I need your fresh, still beating heart for… something. (Smiles wickedly)."

Safiya: "I’m afraid my heart is rather necessary."

The Kaiser: "Not if you’re dead."

Safiya: "That’s actually… distressingly logical. We could use a miracle about now…"

 

The camera pans upwards, revealing the Knight Captain to be completely trapped, with Isho and his forces approaching from the rear, and The Kaiser’s troops walking from the front. To the North is a narrow alley, blocked off with a wagon and barrels. As the camera continues to widen, and Edwin and his Red Wizard minions charge into the alley, catching a glimpse of the Knight Captain and his party. The narrow corridor and their late arrival to the scene means the Thayans are unaware that the party is surrounded...

Coder’s Note: Play the drum-beat music from MotB’s final battle.
_______________________________________________________________

Edited December 4, 2016 by Sabranic

[Sabranic]

Development Diary 12/04/16:
- We've Finished the Westgate Faction:

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/westgate_army_1.jpg

From Left to Right: Lathanderite Paladins, Fists of Lathander, Favored Souls of Lathander.

 

http://www.dethguild.com/wp-content/uploads/images/nwn/ck_bioware_images/westgate_army_2.jpg

From Left to Right: Tylanna of the Seventh Rose, Olive Ruskettle, Alias of Westgate, Dragonbait

[4760]

From Left to Right: Infernal Vrock

From Left to Right: Plague Beak the Defiler,

Hi Sabranic, you might be interested in knowing there was a faulty animation in the Vrock/Hook horror animations. Grab the fixed one here.

[Sabranic]

I will so so immediately - thanks for the excellent models! You did great work on them! NWN2 has tons of devil but a sad lack of demons.

Edited December 4, 2016 by Sabranic

[Sabranic]

So what's the deal with all these factions you ask?

 

Ahhhh - the wonders of Startear and Chir's teleportation pad are not to be discounted.

 

In the final chapter, the KC has to defend the CK for a time against an unstoppable horde - holding out long enough for Nasher and Nevalle to return with the Lord's Alliance in tow. To manage this feet, the player can travel to a location associated with each Companion, (and several more related to the choices they player made over the course of the series), and attempt through bluff, diplomacy, intimidate, wisdom, charisma, and intelligence checks to convince these factions to send aid.

So, for example, with Mantides in the party - and with a high enough diplomacy/intimidate/bluff/intelligence/wisdom/charisma - the KC might be able to recruit a group of Lathanderites to fight during the final battle. With Rinara, you might be able to talk Alias, Olive and Dragonbait into assisting you. Kaelyn can attempt to convince Susah the Crow, Efram the Stag, Josu the Lion and Bekkah the Lion to put the crusade on hold long enough to help.

Some non-companion options are based on the player's choices during the OC, MotB, and MoWG. For example, you can ask for aid from the Orcs if you spared their villages near the song portal, or the Lizardmen of the Mere of Dead Men. If you didn't destroy the Slumbering coven, (and you're a horribly evil KC), you might be able to GIVE them Gann in exchange for them sending Hags and hag spawn to help you. If you allied with the Were-rats in MoWG, you can attempt to get their aid. Depending on your choices in the OC, you can end up with Shadow Thieves or The City Watch defecting to aid in the defense of Crossroad Keep.

 

Some possibilities are entirely new - an evil KC will be able to seek aid from the Luskans in exchange for Port Llast. While a good Knight Captain can approach West Harbor and plead for militia assistance and help from Tarmas.

 

A few options will be quest based - those the players are seeking help from will requires quests - for example, the Ironfist Dwarf Clan.

The idea is to allow many of the big decisions the Knight Captain has made over the coarse of the series to impact the final outcome. We can do this with a combination of checking for history feats and a questionare that sets flags that the player takes at the campaign's start.

Edited December 6, 2016 by Sabranic

[Sabranic]

Tying It All Together:

Question: "How did you tie Mysteries of Westgate into the Knight Captain's Saga?"
Answer: What a great question - here is our answer:

 

MoW was left open enough in its timeline - and was in the Knight Captain's direct path home after MotB - so there's nothing in the cannon precluding our hero from having experienced it. The whole narrative ties together nicely. (Here is our timeline of events, cross-referenced with the Forgotten Realms Wiki Events of Note: Timeline).

 

1: If you play MoW directly after MotB, the game will deduct ten levels from your character - you can explain this as the portion of your soul surrendered to restore Akachi. Achieving the optimal ending did not come without cost.

We assume the optimal conclusion (or, at a minimum, the ending where Akachi is expelled from the Knight Captain), as cannon. Simply put, we lack the resources to account for every possible choice the player might make. Additionally, if the Knight Captain chose to remain in Kelemvore's realm or consume Akachi, they would either not be returning home, or would be returning to The Sword Cost as a literal god of destruction, a greater threat than anything unleashed on the realms EVER. While a fun game notion, it's far beyond the scope what we can convincingly shoe-horn into the narrative. Dark-god-mode-Knight-Captain would simply consume any adversary that gets in his way. What could stop him? The Chosen of Mystra? The Heroes of Mithral Hall? Orbakh? The Seven Sister? The Simbul? The Zentarium? Cult of the Dragon? Bedtime snacks all. Pretty much the only cannon heros that could reasonably stand up to DGMKC is the Bhaal-spawn pre-losing his divine essence.

As much fun as that sounds like, we'd need to make a whole separate campaign just to account for it. So for out purposes, the Knight Captain either saved Akachi or expelled him from their soul.

2: There are numerous very good reasons Safiya, Gann, Oku, One of Many and Kaelyn would not accompany the Knight Captain for a time directly after MoTB.

 

- The Knight Captain was long absent their duties, friend and family. (Or, if evil, they would be fearing the loss of their power and land). They were anxious to return home as quickly as possible, so he/she left ahead of his companions. On the sea-voyage to Westgate, their ship was driven ashore to avoid a storm, and in a dungeon on this nameless, forgotten island, the KC discovered the Cursed Domino Mask. Being unable to rid themselves of the thing, (even OOM cannot to consume the spirit possessing it), and with it slowly but surely driving them to madness, the KC had no choice but to seek salvation Westgate.

 

- Safiya had to conclude her business at the Academy for a time. It was her entire life, and she had many loose threads to tie up before abandoning everyone she ever knew. Friends, responsibilities, students and all of her possessions needed to be collected. Even if she loved the Knight Captain, one does not simply walk away from their old life. Once Safiya finished her business, she reached their intended meeting place, and found no sign of the Knight Captain. She spoke with Khelgar, relaying her tale, and he gave her a room in Crossroad Keep to use as a laboratory. The Cursed Domino mask thwarted all attempts at scrying or magically communicating with The Knight Captain. Safiya's magic was powerless to locate them.

 

- Gann, (being... well, Gann), wished to indulge himself for a time among the elated spirits of Rashemen. Even if he was in love with the Knight Captain, the hagspawn still harbors a substantial selfish streak, and there is no reasonable way he could be talked out of his richly earned victory. Eventually, he grew bored, (or decided to seek out his lover), and departed his homeland. He arrived at Crossroad Keep and found no sign of his companion, and waited for a time at the Phoenix Tail. When his friend/lover failed to appear, the Hagspawn communed with the Spirits, but the Cursed Domino Mask concealed the Knight Captain's whereabouts. Gann was powerless to locate them, and was preparing to depart in search of the KC.

- Kaelyn wished to return to her Crusade, and did so with renewed vigor. After a time, Ammon Jerro sought out the Menagerie and informed them the KC didn't return to Crossroad Keep. She immediately returned with the Warlock to The Sword Coast to help in the search.

 

- One of Many followed the Knight Captain around until they ran across the Cursed Domino Mask. The Mask grafted itself to the KC, and OOM attempted to consume the artifact's malign consciousness to free its master - it nearly lost control of the many in the attempt - similar to how other powerful consciousnesses can wrest control of the collective. (Myrkul for one example, The Child for another). While OOM managed to save itself, its physical form was dispersed, and it was some time before the monster could once again manifest. Once OOM reformed its body, it began seeking its master, (Thus explaining it's appearance in SoZ), eventually catching up to them shorty after the KC returns to the Sword Coast.

 

- Okku will not leave Rashemen - the bear is tied to it, and he returns to his barrow to sleep. In the final battle, if the KC is in love with Gann, the Hagspawn will summon Old Father Bear to save them from The Kaiser.

3: The Knight Captain's other companions were not idle:

- Ammon Jerro, after having his soul restored to his body, helped the Knight Captain hold off the Tana'ri at the Gates to Kelemvore's city, (using a host of devils he bargained with The Still Lord to obtain). Immediately after the battle, Jerro returned to the hells to pay off that debt. Once he finished serving The Still Lord, Jerro appeared in Crossroad Keep and found not only the Knight Captain still missing, but discovered an intolerable, fawning drow named Quarrel - who simply would not LEAVE HIM ALONE! Jerro was preparing to tear Faerun apart in search of the Knight Captain, but they returned before the Warlock could put his plan in action.

 

- Bevil Starling, (a short time before the events in MoW), lead an elite group of Greycloaks East in search of the Knight Captain. They become lost, and were eventually rescued by Daeghun (as the ranger conducts his own search). They catch up to the Knight Captain when they [the KC] is ambushed by a huge force of revenge seeking Night Masks.

- Daeghun Farlong, on advice gained from Tarmas, began slowly making his way towards the Unapproachable East, in his own fruitless search. On his way, he finds Bevil's group and rescues them. Together they make their way to Westgate, but the Knight Captain has already left. They turn around and pick up the Knight Captains Trail - and that of a large group of Night Masks sent by Orbakh to kill them.

- Khelgar Ironfist was preparing to launch a large expedition - in direct defiance of his orders from Neverwitner - spearheaded by Ammon Jerro and Safiya. The Knight Captain makes it back before the dwarf can do it.

Edited December 6, 2016 by Sabranic