100 replies to this topic

[BobTokyo]

OK, you're gearing up to make an NPC, or trying to pick one. What do you look for? Do you want plenty of cut scenes and music? Cool fights? An NPC that feels like He/She has always been part of the game? Humor? Power? New spells? Endless banter? Endless flirtation?

Of course we all want more than one of the above, but what is most important in an NPC?

[Shed]

BobTokyo, OMG it's the librarian :D

[BobTokyo]

BobTokyo, OMG it's the librarian :D

Paul Kidby rules all!

[hlidskialf]

It's the interaction with the party and the PC. Everything else, (Encounters, kickass abilities, etc...) I can do myself even with a multiplayer party. So I look for the 'new' interactions of an interesting NPC with personality to keep me intrigued and provide the angle of role-play. Without that, you're just playing IWD.

[yasu]

Reason why I don't like IWD.

[Meira]

I voted for 'Interaction with other NPCs and CHARNAME' (isn't that almost the same as 'Lots and lots of banter', BTW?), though I consider 'Seems to fit perfectly into the game world' important. By that I mean fitting story wise - not so much the rules. I'm all for char breaking class / alignment / etc. rules for example, if serves the story.

[BobTokyo]

I voted for 'Interaction with other NPCs and CHARNAME' (isn't that almost the same as 'Lots and lots of banter', BTW?)

Almost. I think I was thinking from a quality vs. quantity point of view, but that hardly came through in the question.

[Erephine]

It's definitely the PC-NPC / NPC-NPC interaction that makes me play NPC mods.

Edited by Erephine, 03 July 2008 - 03:44 AM.

[Ragnar]

Quality Interaction is the most important factor for me as it helps shape out the NPC :turnip:

[Plasmocat]

*looks for "k) all of the above"*

I think I would go for overall entertainment value, in which case if any one of the elements mentioned was lacking too much it would affect the quality of the experience.

**Edited to amend**

Except for the Romance/Sex aspect. I suppose if I were choosing a romance mod, that would be different. But I mainly play for the puzzle solving, battle strategizing, lots o' gratuitous violence and nifty battle toys. The banter/interaction is fun and does affect the quality of the experience though. If the character is annoying, it doesn't matter what quest you want to endeavor or what kind of assest s/he is to the party. If s/he is too annoying, they just find themselves killed off or shuffled back home with a pat on the head.

Edited by Plasmocat, 19 July 2004 - 08:30 PM.

[Meira]

IWD is ideal for multi player, a part where the BG series just sucks.

I thought that MP was awesome feature in *both* series. Don't really see the difference between on that aspect. I admit though that IWD series would suffer more if played alone.

[jester]

Game companies should look at this poll and tell me again that not most players are female. I think good story would be the real deal. Other than that 3rd from the bottom.

[BobTokyo]

Game companies should look at this poll and tell me again that not most players are female. I think good story would be the real deal. Other than that 3rd from the bottom.

I'm thinking of pinning this for NPC makers who want to know what people are looking for.

[SConrad]

Yes, Bob, please do. It's a great help for those undecided.

Not referring to myself, though. I've got enough job as it is.

[Feanor]

The interaction with the other NPC, of course. That was the best improvement from BG1 to BG2. But I also would add one thing : some special abilities which should be unique for them. Some of NPC have such things (see Mazzy with courage, for instance), but not all of them. I always thought that not all the fighters (as a random example) should not have the same abilities. After all, they are not clones and I believe they should have (beside their class' abilities) 1-2 personal powers, granted from the start or gained through the game due to level advance or some quests (which way you prefer).

[Briannandoah]

Quality interaction, yes. Love and romance is nice too (though maybe it is my age, I do prefer them with a bit of sex too). I myself don't want any more hard battles, no thank you. They interfere too much to the storyline . And more puzzles to solve, quality puzzles, like the ones in Riven, not any stuuupid word games or riddles, please .

[fallen_demon]

interaction with party is the most important, but i enjoy a little of all the choices

[Feanor]

After I thought a while about that, I have to reconsider. In fact, not only banters matters. If you want your NPC to be good, it must have more components : banters and interaction with NPC, of course, but also it would be nice to personalize him : you could give him some personal items, some personal abilities, fitting perfectly in the game world and some new minor quests. It's like a car in fact : banters are its engine, but a car is not good nor without his gears, wheels or doors.

Edited by Feanor, 02 August 2004 - 08:08 AM.

[Immortality]

HK-47 romance, plsthx

[BobTokyo]

HK-47 romance, plsthx

My net-speak skills are limited. I can't tell if this is a request for the elimination of Romance based NPCs, or a request for a romance wih an HK-47, or what?