Llyranor: what happened to MCA :((((((
AdamB:: MCA is working

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: Will dialogs feature descriptive sentences, as in Planescape: Torment? If not, then will the graphic engine allow for more complex facial expressions (both for PC and NPCs)?
DarrenM:: metallix: Yup
DarrenM:: metallix: We'll let you set emotions on a per node basis

DarrenM:: :)
Llyranor: Question: What graphical improvements can we expect from crate technology as compared to NWN1?
DarrenM:: Llyranor: Expect the most realistic crates of a 3rd person RPG evAR!

Lex[WRG]: arrays ?)
DarrenM:: Sorry no arrays in NWN2 script. But strings are really arrays if you think about it. But yeah, it's haXX0rish

Gromnir: sooooo... is anything from black hound being used in nwn2? characters, sub-pots, tangetial quests?
FerretB: Gromnir: We really can't, Gromnir. It's a new story. Josh Sawyer did do one of our areas, though.

Gromnir: ferret, josh is doing level design again? i thought he was sticking with technical/rules stuff
FerretB: Gromnir: Josh has done a bit of both, he's a talented guy. Smart, too.

Gromnir: ferret, smart is an overrated quality. good luck with nwn2.
FerretB: Gromnir: Thanks. :)

Artevere: I have a question. How does it feel to have this great a response from the NWN community?
DarrenM:: Artevere: It's incredibly awesome.
FerretB: Artevere: The community really is impressive and it's been great. :)

Lex[WRG]: So will we have more permanent character properties editing functions like SetAttackBonus(), SetAbilityScore(), SetACBonus() ?. Doing it through the "effects" is very buggy right now.
DarrenM:: Lex: Sorry dunno that one.

Artevere: heh. I t hink you just made everyone's day here in chat
Artevere: of course, you'll make everyone's decade as soon as NWN 2 is released
DarrenM:: Artevere: I hope!

Pacer776: By the way, are any more classes going to be confirmed soon?
DarrenM:: Other than the Warlock? Nope :)
FerretB: Pacer776: More prestige classes will be confirmed in the future, though.

PaTr0N: Will there be a "highlight all" button like TAB in nwn1?
DarrenM:: PaTr0N: Yep

Eleazar: Are you going to be taking advantage of Render to Vertex Buffer (R2VB)?
DarrenM:: Eleazar: English please :) Just kidding. Dunno on that one. :)
AdamB:: Eleazar: no

Benjamin: Will it work on my MMX pentium 166?
DarrenM:: Ben: Sorry kid, nope

Llyranor: so, how are you finding the job of lead designer, mr ferret? ^_^
FerretB: Llyranor: It's crazy, but in a very good way. :)

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: DO YOU HAVE SOIL EROSION!!?!?!?!
DarrenM:: Soil erosion? Of course! Isn't that standard in RPG's since like 1997?

Syrsuro: How many floppy discs will the install require?
DarrenM:: It ships on 4,106,122 floppies.

FerretB: Anyway, good night all. There'll be more news in the future. :)

Lanessar: Are 2da and tlk files being handled differently than in NWN1?
DarrenM:: Lanessar: No
DarrenM:: Lanessar: But you'll have campaign-level overrides

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: once again, will you try to incorporate grappling, charge, bullrush, and other special attacks/maneuvers?
DarrenM:: metallix: Sorry Met, dunno that one

Rine: Question: Will 1.67 bug fixes be implemented in NWN2?
DarrenM:: Rine: They should be. BioWare's going to provide the code changes

ShadowM945: Is a collision mesh system used in place of bounding boxes? are TXI files still used?
DarrenM:: ShadowM945: Nope, no more TXI's
DarrenM:: Shadow: We have two types of collision: Collision boxes for placeables that have various levels, and spheres for skinned objects (like characters)
ShadowM945: so using bounding boxes still?
AdamB:: ShadowM945: Yes we are still using Bounding Boxes.

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: teh hard one: Are you arranging things with Russian companies to localize it in Russia and CIS?
DarrenM:: metallix: Hmmm don't know. Good Atari question :(

Gromnir: do you guys punk the troika refugees
DarrenM:: Gromnir: Oh yeah, Brock gets punked all the time

Benjamin: How long is a piece of string?
DarrenM:: Benjamin: However long you cut it

Benjamin: How much water can you fit into a kitchen sink?
DarrenM:: BenjaminL However big the sink's volume is.

Shadowstrider: How long are the resrefs of items going to be? Limited to 16 characters, still?
DarrenM:: Shadow! Hey buddy, no they're 32 chars now
DarrenM:: We were actually going to support full 255 char names, but to keep hash tables small and such, we chose 32

Benjamin: Will we be allowed special characters? I hope not.
DarrenM:: Ben: You mean like extended ASCII?
DarrenM:: Ben: Don't actually know, but I think so.

Llyranor: will time-travelling lizards make a comback
DarrenM:: Llyranor: Do you have an inside contact here?

Lex[WRG]: Will it be possible to launch scripts in the DM client ?
DarrenM:: Lex: Sorry don't know :(

Shadowstrider: Darren, did you ever successfully quit smoking? (This is *so* NWN2 related)
DarrenM:: Shadow: Yes, I did! After leaving Black Isle, I haven't touched the stuff.

MoeB: Can you elaborate on the role of Strongholds? How much interaction will we have and can they be incorporated into player-created modules?
DarrenM:: MoeB: Can't talk about strongholds yet, but some features on it are coming

Ascadia: Wow... the mass of questions is makeing my poor head hurt
DarrenM:: Ascadia: nod
(Editor's Note: Tell me about it...)

righ: Darren: Walking speeds, will there be differences?
DarrenM:: righ: Errmmmm.... I think if your classes allow it, but dunno about race

Benjamin: There will be a z-axis
AdamB:: Oh oh, Z-Axis has been asked... time to explode
DarrenM:: Zaxis!

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: are the story/dialog finialized?
DarrenM:: meallix: Yep
DarrenM:: err metallix

Lex[WRG]: Character import is said to not be implented. But is there a chance we will see at least some basic importing of its tags, resrefs, etc data.
DarrenM:: Lex: Yep, it'll need human readover though

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: once again, will you try to incorporate grappling, charge, bullrush, and other special attacks/maneuvers?
DarrenM:: metallix: Sorry, I thought I answered that. I don't actually know.
DarrenM:: We have a new "type" of feats in NWN2 - Can't say more, but they're very cool.

DLA_Steel_Wind: DarrenM:: "spheres for skinned objects (like characters)" Pure sphere? - or is oval alowed? (Horses - sphere - not so good :))
DarrenM:: Steel_Wind: You can put as many spheres on a skinned object as there are joints to get it as fine as you'd like

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: Or, rather, IS THERE A MULTILANGUAGE SUPPORT IN THE TOOLSET?
DarrenM:: metallix: Yep
DarrenM:: metallix: Don't know about Russian though - That's a good Atari Europe question

Benjamin: Russia isn't europe.
DarrenM:: Benjamin: I know, but I think Atari Europe handles the rest of the world. Don't actually know that for sure though. :)

righ: Darren: Changeable ACs for different types of armors? Or hardcoded like in nwn1.
Shadowstrider: '_; --- thats me crying if we cannot change armor ACs
DarrenM:: Shadowstrider: Boy I wish Brock was on. He was just dealing with that a week or two ago

Rolt2000: Question: What options are in place to make pc's avatrs look unique?
DarrenM:: insane color choices :)

Lanessar: How about... What performance increases will we see as far as PW servers with hundreds of areas?
DarrenM:: Lanessar: Great question - We haven't yet tried a big PW set up yet.

Rolt2000: Question: Has any thought been made for female gamers in the game in anyway?
DarrenM:: Rolt: Yes, err, I think :)

weby_: On the overland maps: Are there going to be multiple maps and how are they handled in multiplayer?
AdamB:: weby_: I'm still working on the internals of the world map system. Some of it is still up in the air, but we will support multiple maps.

Syrsuro: Question: How will the campaign override work? Does it (and its files) have to be on both the client or the server or only on the server? Does this answer vary for different types of file (GUI, 2da, TGA, etc).
DarrenM:: Syruso: Wish Erik was logged in. Dunno :(

Lex[WRG]: Will the server client support plug-ins ?
DarrenM:: Lex: Dunno, but our toolset does

Benjamin: Question for all developers: How much do you like your job?
DarrenM:: Benjamin: I love it, especially chats
(Note: We didn't pay him to say this.)
DarrenM:: :)
AdamB:: Benjamin: I love it, especially when Darren buys me Dell Taco!!! :)
AdamB:: It's Del Taco.. Sorry!
righ: Darren: D'angelos or Subway
DarrenM:: righ: Never had D'angelos!

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: Do you feel yourselves constrained somewhat by the publishers and other (economical) factors?
DarrenM:: metallix: Sometimes to be honest, but it's all about how you build your relationships throughout the project

Grimshok: Have you found that you guys have made more stuff customizable than what you first thought, or less, than when you started?
DarrenM:: Grimshok: Way too much more
DarrenM:: Grimshok: Way way way too much stuff is customizable now
DarrenM:: Grimshok: It's actually a problem at the moment because there is SOO much that can be modified. Over the next few months we're putting in all the wizards and helper things into the toolset to hide some of that for general users
Asmodae: DarrenM: does that mean that you are hiding some features permanently or just from general usage?
DarrenM:: Asmodae: From general usage

Shadowstrider: Okay, this might be answerable: In NWN1, I found a nifty way to make cutscenes using standard dialogues. Has there been any signifigant changes (specifically, to how quickly conversations flow) which could possibly break this?
DarrenM:: Shadow: Hmmmm.... Adam, any comments?
AdamB:: Shadowstrider: We have made massive improvements to the conversation system and cutscenes. You are best off remaking your cutscenes with our new tools.

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: ARe you involved in any indie-projects, or do you plan to?
DarrenM:: metallix: I so wanted to be on an Ultima Online Free Server project, but yeah... no time. :)
DarrenM:: NO PK!
Benjamin: PK as in Player Kill?
DarrenM:: Ben: Yep
DarrenM:: Benjamin: I'm all 'bout PKing.
DarrenM:: Was on a PVP server on WoW too
DarrenM:: I hear EVE is the new old-school UO

DelmarWynn: Darren UO Free servers are fun to do. I have done quite a bit of scripting
DarrenM:: Delmar: I played UO as recently as last year

righ: Can you drink a gallon of milk in a short amount of time?
DarrenM:: righ: Not if I don't want to get very sick, no.

Gu7: Obsidian, team up with Stormfront Studios and make a Demonstone/NWN hybrid please :D
DarrenM:: Gu7 :)

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: now a very tricky one: Do you enjoy doing Bioware-started projects, or are you more interested in doing your original game?
DarrenM:: metallix: It's funny I don't really think of it that way so much - It's really exciting to work on NWN2, even if BioWare hadn't made the first. We're currently working on a new IP game right now too

BryanBlaire: [OE] Are you allowed to comment on the armor situation, and whether it will be piecemeal, like NWN, or full suits this time around?
DarrenM:: BryanBlaire: Armor in NWN2 is different, it's a collection of a bunch of pieces.
DarrenM:: We have helmet, cloak and boot slots for example

Lucky: Titan Quest is coming. It will be released aroudn the same time as NWN2. It looks a lot like NWN. Free Online with a toolset as well.
DarrenM:: I'm looking forward to playing Titan Quest, looks great

DarrenM:: -- so much text, brain hurting :)
Artevere: Darren: I feel you. I cracked open another beer and I"m just IM'ing and scanning
DarrenM:: Artevere: mmmm. beer.

Lanessar: Darren, just have to say this...THANKS for your guy's work on this title. NWN1 really got me creating when I'd dropped DnD and since, I've gotten a PW together, run well for 3 years, hell, even matched up three friends who got married from eeting in game. It's great to see what you guys are doing for this title.
DarrenM:: Lanessar: Wow! That's awesome! Well, you bet - we're super excited about the game that's for darn sure

RogerFachin: I finished my Guinness. What is OE's beverage of choice?
DarrenM:: Obsidian Stout of course
AdamB:: Obsidian Stout... yummy!

righ: Darren: Is linux and mac totally out of the question, I have plenty of friends who might not play because of that. =/
DarrenM:: righ: Doh :( Not totally out of the question
DarrenM:: I think having a Linux or Mac server is potentially doable - with the DirectX change though, that makes creating clients on those OS's a lot more work

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: IS NWN2 More nVidia-biased, or ATI?
DarrenM:: metallix: Neither
DarrenM:: metallix: It's all DX shader language
AdamB:: metallix: neither
DarrenM:: We run great on both cards

Game: Question: Any updates on the combat animations?
DarrenM:: We've added a variety of different animations to the game

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: DOES NWN2 HAVE PATRICK STEWARTT??!?!
DarrenM:: NO!

Hicks: in testing, how many monsters can you have on screen at once and still have playability?
DarrenM:: Hicks: Hmmm, we have a test combat module with 30 guys all fighting one another
DarrenM:: Seems to work ok
DarrenM:: Our pathfinding system is 100% different than the first game

RogerFachin: QESTION: I'm not sure if this has been answered: Do boots and gloves show up on your character? Do any other equipped items show up, like rings?
AdamB:: Boots and Gloves: Yes
AdamB:: Rings: I don't know

Vizier: and how about the DM client, any differences from the original NwN 1?
DarrenM:: Vizier, dunno on that one. That's more of a Rich T. question

Shadowstrider: Can I have pinstripes or polka-dots on my clothes? I need a court jester for my module named Gromnir
DarrenM:: Shadow: You can put in whatever texture you want :)

Eleazar: Has the treasure and loot system been improved in anyway shape or form?
DarrenM:: No more inventory Tetris - That's something I like personally, but some people may prefer that

HighPlainsDrifter: Question: What's the obsidian developed class called?
metallix|rpgplanet-ru: Warlock
DarrenM:: HighPlainsDrifter: Can't say yet :)
DarrenM:: metallix: Nope, not warlock

Syrsuro: So how WILL inventory work?
DarrenM:: It works more like EQ or WoW

righ: Darren: Will you be allowed single handed weapons to be held in 2 hands and viceaversa?
DarrenM:: righ: Dual wielding? Yes

Shadowstrider: Will there be hoods in NWN2? Every good Shadowstrider needs a black hood.
DarrenM:: Shadow: Yup

metallix|rpgplanet-ru: okay, thanks for your time guys. It's been a pleasure.
DarrenM:: You bet - I actually have to take off though. Thanks a TON for coming out here to chat with us, we'll see you all soon! Be sure to stop by nwn2forums.bioware.com to chat on the forums!
AdamB:: bye guys

AdamB:: Thanks everyone!!!!
DarrenM:: Thanks everyone, take care!