32 replies to this topic

[Kaeloree]

This is something I've been meaning to do for a while, to help serve as a guide for modders creating new NPCs for BGII: SoA. It'll only take a few moments for you to fill out, so if you have a spare moment, it would be greatly appreciated!

Just five very simple questions--the shorter the answer, the better; a simple number is the best response we can get in this case!

When answering this, throw out all of your preconceptions--ignore the numbers current NPCs have; what would *you* like?

• Approximately how long does it take you to play through Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in hours? (or if you have two types of play, post both times!)
  
• How much time do you prefer between romance/friendship dialogues?
  
• How many dialogues is optimum for a friendship, in your opinion?
  
• How many dialogues is optimum for a romance, in your opinion?
  
• How many banters do you like per NPC pair?

[Kaeloree]

I'll start off by answering myself...

• 20 hours
  
• 45 minutes
  
• 15
  
• 20
  
• 3

Simple as that--no need for any detailed answers, just approximate ones!

[Zyraen]

1. 15 hrs for inclusive of ToB
10 hrs Shadows of Amn, if all the way.
about 4 hrs if on a for-fun game (basically once I get all the good gear and victory is assured, I quit...)
2. 10-20 mins
3. 7
4. 11 (excluding quest etc) plus 3 resting
5. 3

Edit : just noticed it was Shadows of Amn...

Edited by Zyraen, 26 April 2008 - 08:36 PM.

[berelinde]

1. Approximately how long does it take you to play through Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in hours? (or if you have two types of play, post both times!)

Playing for fun: 20 hours
Playtesting: 100+ hours

2. How much time do you prefer between romance/friendship dialogues?

40 min

3. How many dialogues is optimum for a friendship, in your opinion?

Depends on the friendship.
10-15

4. How many dialogues is optimum for a romance, in your opinion?

20-30

5. How many banters do you like per NPC pair?

3-4

[Tempest]

Approximately how long does it take you to play through Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in hours? (or if you have two types of play, post both times!)

Normal: 20-25 hours
Fun: 3-5 hours

How much time do you prefer between romance/friendship dialogues?

Doesn't matter. AdvanceRealTime makes the answer "Whenever I feel like it".

How many dialogues is optimum for a friendship, in your opinion?

Really depends on the npc-10 or so in most cases.

How many dialogues is optimum for a romance, in your opinion?

However many it needs as long as it doesn't go overboard. 20 or so seems about right.

How many banters do you like per NPC pair?

At least two, but as many as the writer can do well.

[Choo Choo]

1. Around 30. I tend to be a little slow and I insist on doing all the subquests and stuff.
2. 45 minutes.
3. 15-20.
4. 20-25.
5. Well, the more the merrier, but.. at least three.

[Psycho Data]

1. Approximately how long does it take you to play through Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in hours? (or if you have two types of play, post both times!)

I...I honestly have no idea. I never keep track. Maybe 20? 30? 15? Pi? I just don't know.

2. How much time do you prefer between romance/friendship dialogues?

About a half hour or so...Unless I feel like using AdvanceRealTime (Because I have no patience)

3. How many dialogues is optimum for a friendship, in your opinion?

As many as you can give me without the entire friendship becoming banal.

4. How many dialogues is optimum for a romance, in your opinion?

Eleventy billion. Actually, as many as you can give me without the romance becoming insipid and uninspired.

5. How many banters do you like per NPC pair?

However many needed to extrapolate the relationship, I suppose. Really, I enjoy reading, and since I have a pathological fear of this new invention called "A Book", I must feed my brain on digital words.*


*Note: Noccy does not actually suffer bibliophobia. It is a well-documented fact, however, that she does indeed suffer greatly from arachibutyrophobia and dutchphobia.

[Kellen]

1. I have never timed myself, but I'd guess 40-45 hours. I'm one of those who stops to talk to anything, who rests the moment my spells are out. I've probably wasted 2 hours talking to commoners, yes commoners.

2. As little as reasonably possible. Obviously a dialogue every minute might irritate, but I'd probably be interested(if the NPC were good) in dialogs as little as every 15 minutes. (See next points)

3. As much as can fill the entire gaming time.

4. As much as can fill the entire gaming time.

5. As many as fit for the pair, and as many as the author feels like writing. I will read them all.


As you can see, I like Banter. Lots and lots of it.

Edited by Kellen, 27 April 2008 - 06:10 AM.

[Abigail]

1. 20-25
2. 45 minutes
3. 15+, but (see below)
4. 20+, but many more are welcome, just like in friendship talks. I suppose I'd like some meaningful core talks + just some chats (like flirts, but more complex)
5. 3+, but the more the more better, as long as there are ideas

I love banters

[Scipio]

• 30+ as an estimate although I don't actually know. I spend an inordinate amount of time managing my party and talking to or investigating everything for the nth time.
  
• 30 minutes seems good. It's easy for the player to change this setting.
  
• As many as the friendship needs to develop fully. Dialogues are what add the most new interest to replaying with new NPCs.
  
• As above.
  
• As above.

Great idea for a poll, L. Mods are products and products are customer-driven.

[Solar's Harper]

• About 38 hours since I generally try to do everything, even if I'm cheating for impatient reasons.
  
• 30 minutes is optimal, unless I'm testing dialogues.
  
• 12 friendship talks is adequate in my opinion.
  
• 20 romance talks, since they are a bit longer and more personal than friendship.
  
• 3 Banters is usually enough, more are always welcome, so long as they don't get excessive in number (ie: 15)

[Jarno Mikkola]

1. To test from 5 mins to 10 h.
To play, 20h+
2. 15mins
3. 5, but more the merrier, if they have content.
4. 1
5. 5, but more the merrier...

[Kaeloree]

Fantastic--keep them coming!

As I mentioned earlier, though, the more specific the better--once we have a fair amount of set numbers I'm gonna do the maths and post up some results for averages, and continue updating it when we get a fair amount more.

[Miss Sakaki]

1. Approximately how long does it take you to play through Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in hours? (or if you have two types of play, post both times!)

No idea, I'm afraid. It's been a long time since I've played all the way through.

2. How much time do you prefer between romance/friendship dialogues?

30 minutes for romances, 45 minutes for friendships.

3. How many dialogues is optimum for a friendship, in your opinion?

10-15, but more or less depending what sort of material it is. I wouldn't want the dialogues to be stretched beyond a length that feels comfortable.

4. How many dialogues is optimum for a romance, in your opinion?

20-30 (plus see above)

5. How many banters do you like per NPC pair?

3-4

[Lysan Lurraxol]

1) About 100 hours. I do everything and go everywhere.

2) about 20 minutes between romance/ friendship banters.

3) 15+ dialogues for a friendship.

4) 20- 30 depending on the romance and character.

5) Ideally as many as possible, but generally 3+

[Phlegmatic]

1. Errrr..... Guessing here but maybe around 10-15 hours, leaning closer to 10.
2. Unless Im trying to see a lot quickly, 25-30 minutes. Just call it 30.
3. 12
4. 20/+ if its really great.
5. 3 at least

[VIIIofSwords]

1. Approximately how long does it take you to play through Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in hours? (or if you have two types of play, post both times!)

Around 10 to 15 hours, when playing good or neutral. My evil PCs tend to go through the game a lot faster, clocking in at around 5 or 6 hours.

2. How much time do you prefer between romance/friendship dialogues?

Around 40 to 45 minutes is good.

3. How many dialogues is optimum for a friendship, in your opinion?

Depends on the character, but I'd wager 8 to 10 would be a good range.

4. How many dialogues is optimum for a romance, in your opinion?

15 to 20, depending on the character.

5. How many banters do you like per NPC pair?

3 or 4, but that may vary depending on the pair.

[Naxylldritt]

1. Speed Run/Fun Game: about 30 or so hours; Playing Everything: well over 75 hours, I think (I never time myself, I'm too busy completing quests...)
2. 30 minutes.
3. 15 sounds good.
4. Somewhere around 20, enough to be lasting, but not too much to lose my attention.
5. Anything above 3, as long as it's quality stuff. The more, the merrier, I say!

[Alatariel]

I can't answer 1, because I honestly don't know. I am a slow player, though.

2 - like Tempest - whenever I feel like it.

3,4&5 - the more the merrier. And I MEAN it. I can't remember any mod that I have ever played with which I didn't run out of friendship/romance talks and banters prematurely. I enjoy lots of *real* content. Main reason while I loved P:T so. Life and experience are so much more than fighting, or fetching balorian beer. Imho it's the dialogues that signify an RPG.

[Kaeloree]

Any more numbers, people? Would love to hear what more people think!