On a more unsettling note, I appear to have lost contact with Hosa, who was going to be designing some exterior areas for me. The last email I had from him was over a month ago now, and even though he seemed quite positive at the time, I have heard nothing from him at all from all my last emails trying to contact him. I have not given up hope totally, but the lack of response is disheartening.
I also had the opportunity to play a little of Wyrin's White Plume Mountain with a friend of mine. We don't play for long, but in the little time we did play, we managed to get our party together and equip ourselves. We did discover an error in the scripts that prevented players (apart from the main PC) and companions from acquiring the required XP and gold on start up, but it was easy enough to fix and I sent Wyrin an update to help him fix it. The error would not have affected anybody playing a SP game, but only those playing a MP game. If we discover any more MP bugs, I will be letting Wyrin know.
Party Creation
It was after playing Wyrin's module that I thought I would explain how my own module, Better The Demon will work with respect to party creation; especially as my module is geared towards MP play as much as SP. So, without further preamble, here is how it will work:
As soon as the host player (SP or MP game) has finished reading the introduction to the module and established the background for the party, they will be introduced to the Party Creation Rules for the campaign. This information GUI basically explains which classes are not supported in the World of Althéa and therefore not permitted to join. If a PC is imported or created with any of these anachronistic classes in it, then they will be prevented from entering the world.
The same GUI also explains that party creation is not a requirement, but merely an option. To begin with, if the player decides to take up the opportunity of rolling a party at the start of the game, then they are restricted to 3 additional PCs (to a maximum of 4) at this stage. This figure is reduced by one for each subsequent player that enters the world in a MP game.
The screenshot above shows the current party at the start of the game with the main PC already within the party (Adarkin Bundais) in a SP game. The player now has the opportunity to add 3 more PCs now, or wait to see if they find and recruit companions from the world instead. Subject to whatever the player decides to do, they will begin the game either as a single PC or a party of 4, or somewhere in between. Later on in the game, the player will be given the opportunity to increase the party again. (See next.)
Whatever the player decided to do at the start of the game, later on in the game they have the opportunity to extend their party further. This can be done by going to the local tavern and climbing the soap box stage to rally some troops, which basically brings up the Party Editor GUI again. Depending upon how the player responds to the options and whether the game is a SP or a MP game determines what happens next. In most circumstances, the current party members will be automatically temporarily dismissed (allowed to wonder the tavern) while the leader of the party "gives the speech". Basically, the player is able to create more PCs for every blank slot remaining. In a SP game, this will be another 3 PCs. In a MP game, it will be 4 minus the number of players. In other words, if there are four players joined at this stage (the maximum number of players supported), then no more PCs will be able to be created this way and only companions can be added.
The bottom line is, the party size can grow to a maximum of 6 PCs. This can comprise of any of the created PCs the lead player cares to spend time creating each time they use the soap box to rally troops. In other words, if they believe a previous created PC in not good enough for the job, then they can choose to create another one to take its place. Of course, the player does not have to use created PCs at all, but can use a complement of any companions they may find along the way to bring the party size to 6 as well. The best combination would probably be a combination of created PCs and companions. (Henchmen can be added over and above the maximum of 6 in the party. The 6 maximum is for created PCs and companions only.)
POLL: Maximum Party Size
This topic brought me to a poll I have been wanting to run for some time: What is the optimum party size in your opinion? Please cast your vote on the poll and then tell me in a comment your personal class combination in the following two circumstances:
a) What classes would you play if the party size was a maximum of 6 PCs?
b) What classes would you play if you could play any party size (if not 6)?
And tell me anything else about your party that would be interesting to know!
15 comments:
Sorry to hear about the area design. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to directly help you with them, but I do hope to have a guide some time that might help you in making them. Also, you could make a post on the forums looking for help. Your numerous modifications to the game will likely not go unnoticed.
My ideal party size is 4. A Ranger(archery), Cleric(healing), Fighter/Dwarvern Defender(tank), and Sorcerer(Evocation/Damage). They cover their weaknesses well and allow for a fair amount of creativity. However, that's only for a 'create your own party of 4' adventure. If I'm offered more, however, I'd probably take a rogue and probably another spell caster(Spirit Shaman).
I like the sound of your style, though. Using the SOZ is awfully interesting, and I think you have a unique take on it. :)
I voted for 4 too, although as i like to try odd/different builds, 5 can be nice to give me a bit of freedom to spread abilities/skills over more PCs
IN a party of 4, I can't really say there's a specific set of classes I use as it varies, but I can say that I'm more likely to multiclass rogues and spellcasters with other classes e.g. so my primary arcane caster may also be a ranger/wizard/assassin (backed up by a bard with high UMD), or a second line fighter may be a wiz/EK or a cleric/Dwarven Defender.
6 is good to have as an option for players from the feedback I've recieved, but can mean the player gets bogged down in character creation at the starts of the game if they have no premades and nothing else to do but churn out PCs.
thanks a bunch again for all your help too!
I vote for 5 party members, or at least that is what I am going for in my mod: 4 companions to provide the generally expected tasks (tank and healing, I suppose) and some specific sills/knowledges useful for the mod. So the player can comfortably be whimsical at character creation.
Me, I would play the same class irrespective of the party size: I don't really like spellcasters so I mainly go for paladin, fighter or ranger.
p.s. Your creativity always amazes me!
Hi Chaos Wielder,
I may well advertise for area designers on the forums now. My fear was, however, that it might give the wrong impression. I will have to make sure I word my advert carefully. ;) However, *if* you ever found you had more time, I would love to work with you with area designs. ;)
I hope my idea of combining Party Creation with companions will cover both preferred styles of play. Ihave an added system, however, that should hopefully give an added dimension when it comes to created PCs *also* speaking up in conversations at times, so they are not "boring" additions to the party, but have personalities of their own. :)
I was surpirsed at the choice of playing a sorcerer over a wizard. Can I ask why you chose this? The reason I ask, is because there is something "special" that has happened for the new era that *may* make you consider a wizard ... but it all depends why you prefer a sorcerer in the first place. :)
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Hi Wyrin,
You are welcome with the help ... I feel I can sometimes offer help where scripting is involved, just not much help in other areas. ;)
It's interesting to hear you like to multi-class your PCs. I never find I can do that very well and tend to stick to single classes. If you do play my campaign, I would be very interested to hear what you ended up playing.
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Hi Nacaal,
So, if I understand you correctly, it sounds like you will only be creating one main PC (fighter type) and then looking for four supporting class companions to join you?
Creativity in some ways I guess, but not too good in some ways (like design of areas). However, I hope I didn't give the wrong impression in this case, as many of the systems I use here were already available to me .. I just created a means to bring them all together and get the best out of them for as much flexibility to players as possible. Thankfully, now it is done, I have a system that I can take from campaign to campaign to allow players the same flexibility of party creation each time. Hopefully, when released others will also be able to make use of the system to offer similar party creation. :)
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Everybody ...
Interesting to read about your different party styles. My own would probably be between 4 and 6 myself, subject to how difficult I was finding the combats.
Ideally, I think I would like to play a party of four, inclding a fighter, a cleric, a wizard and a rogue. However, if I was finding things tough, I would consider adding another fighter, ranger or paladin. I'm probably too chicken to try playing any class outside of these.
Lance.
Four is pretty pointless to me because you are forced into the most generic, beat to death same classes and don't get to add any flavor classes.
I need six
Hi E.E.
Good job I allowed up to 6 then. ;)
What classes would your party be made up of then?
Lance.
Well, in BG I almost always used all 6. Three melee, one each rogue or rogue/mage, wizard, cleric.
In SoZ I generally used 5. Ranger with a couple thief levels, cleric, wizard, rogue/swash, and a cohort. Ranger runs in and melees with his animal companion (I normally got the dino companion), rogue/swash follows in a bit to get the sneak attacks. Cleric it depends, sometimes melee, sometimes support spells. wizard fires away of course.
Any. Thats why I liked having 2 float classes. Usually there is a 2nd well armored fighter and lately I've enjoyed a bard instead of the 2nd wizard. Having just 1 capable melee seems odd though, so for sure I will always have two, one may be mixed with something. The more high ACs I have the safer I feel.
Hi! I voted for three, a rogue, a warrior and a cleric/druid.
If the party was of six I would add a spellcaster (probably a sorcerer), a bard and another tank (paladin).
As I have said before six is the best.
The party would cosist of:
A rogue, a druid, a monk, a bard, a paladin and sorcerer.
(I chose sorcerer over wizard because I prefer his spellcasting mechanics. But if wizards get more interesting in your module, I would probably chooce one instead.)
Hi Kamal,
Thanks for the feedback. :) Your choices sound similar to my own, apart from the swash, which I have not yet experienced.
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Hi Shatiel,
Interesting to hear from someone who would brave less than four PCs by default. I will be interested to hear what you end up using in my module if you do play it. :)
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Hi Anon 1,
I am definitely in agreement about having as high ACs as possible. That always seems to be my priority when equipping. ;) If you end up playing my mod, do let me know how many you did use in the end.
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Hi Anon 2 (CW?),
Actually, there is a new mechanics regarding all spells, but it affects wizards probably the most. I introduce something called Arcaene Lore, which includes spells found on scrolls that can be cast all the while you have the spell remaining equivilent to cast it. In other words, if you found a Magic Missile Arcaene scroll, then you can cast Magic Missile using the scroll as many times as you have 1st level spells remaining. So, depending on how quickly you want to work with the mechanics available, it may be interesting to play a wizard with these potential new ways of casting in the offing.
Lance.
Lance, my preference has always been a party of 6. 2 Fighters, Cleric, Thief, and 2 Magic Users. Through back to my 1st edition pen and paper days.
Graham.
Hi Graham (Anon 3),
I know how you like to fry my monsters between the fireballs of two wizards, while the fighters kick away their ash. ;)
Lance.
Hey Lance,
Gotta say, after the one time I was stuck in the 'Caverns of Eternal Ice' with a wizard that only had Ice Storm memorized(despite having orb of fire as a potential spell), I was sold on the sorcerer. The flexibility is simply too great.
And it looks like people are going to help you out in the area department. I hope it goes well for you. :)
Hi CW,
I know exactly what you mean about flexibility. Interesetingly enough, that is why I designed the system to give wizards more flexibility with spells. I had the system in mind even before the sorcerer class became available. :) However, as Arcaene Lore spells may not cover all your favourite spells quickly enough (you have to acquire them), then I can see why you would want to go with a sorcerer early on .... :) However, if you find enough Arcaene Lore spells to give you enough flexibility, then there is nothing to stop you enlisting a wizard later on.
Yes, the response to "area designers" is going well. :) I have had three positive responses to date, which is indeed a blessing. Thanks for the encouragement to advertise.
Lance.
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