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Engine upgrades in HotU?
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RPGDot Forums > Neverwinter Nights - General

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Wolfgarou
Guards Lieutenant
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Joined: 29 May 2003
Posts: 163
Engine upgrades in HotU?
   

Can anybody tell me where to find details about any engine upgrades (if any) in HotU? I just finished SoU and it's great, but IMHO the engine is starting to look pretty ugly after looking at upcoming games later this year.
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Post Wed Oct 22, 2003 5:18 pm
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Val
Risen From Ashes
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Joined: 18 Feb 2002
Posts: 14724
Location: Utah, USA
   

http://nwn.bioware.com/underdark/

Just new tilesets, from what I can see.
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Post Wed Oct 22, 2003 5:45 pm
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konny666
Noble Knight
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Joined: 03 Jul 2003
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Location: Babylon 6
   

By engine you mean graphics, I assume. I doubt that will change. They can however increase size of textures (more detailed, etc) and there are plenty of mods of character models which utilize more polygons than the default, making them look pretty darn good. Still, it suffers from the lack of a true Z-axis and that limitation will be with it forever. Hopefully in the next open-ended modular game Bioware comes up with, it'll have a true Z-axis so you can, for example, fly around in a griffon like it was a flight simulator, etc.

There are lots of "game engine" improvements though. 100 new scripting commands which basically translate into more power to create better mods, which leads to things like better AI, more control over henchmen, more character customization, etc.
Post Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:47 pm
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MageofFire
Griller of Molerats




Joined: 03 Oct 2003
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Location: Monastery of Innos
   

The graphics and textures look incredible now! There's competitive with just about any RPG out there. This is not without consequence of course. The system requirements have shot up from a 450mhz processor to an 800mhz processor and from 96mb RAM to 128mb RAM and from a 16mb 3D card to a 32mb 3D card. It'll still run fine on a reasonable system, but it is more taxing.
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Post Sun Oct 26, 2003 3:19 am
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Dhruin
Stranger In A Strange Land
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Joined: 20 May 2002
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Location: Sydney, Australia
   

As konny666 pointed out, there's over a 100 new scripting commands plus the tilesets and so on, but there won't be a graphics overhaul. I think it does OK but the biggest problem is intrinsic - tilesets (and not being able to mix them, makes it look repetitive. But that's the price that has to be paid for easy modding.
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Post Sun Oct 26, 2003 3:43 am
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MageofFire
Griller of Molerats




Joined: 03 Oct 2003
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I think the graphics look hellagood now. In NWN they looked good from a distance, but when you zoom in it reveals that they're a bit choppy. The textures (especially for creatures) in HoTU look smooth and detailed even when zoomed in on.
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Post Sun Oct 26, 2003 3:39 pm
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goshuto
Wanderer
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Joined: 29 May 2002
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Actually, one of the developers recently confirmed that they're trying to add skies to the game. This is because the camera will be unlocked by default in HotU, and it would be ugly if there were no skies when one looked up. In addition, the fog distance can now vary, which means module makers can make foggy dungeons, for example. There are rumors that bump mapping will be added, but personally I doubt that. As has been mentioned, poly count for all monsters has increased.

And don't forget the new robes, which can be worn over armor!!!!
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Post Tue Nov 04, 2003 12:05 am
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txiabxyooj
Fox Spirit
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Joined: 06 Dec 2001
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the new robes are a BIG bonus. i think the two reason i will be picking up HoU is because of the new epic classes and the robes. has anyone seen screen shots of the robes? i have read about them, but haven't actually been able to see them...
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Post Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:46 pm
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goshuto
Wanderer
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No screenshots posted by Bio so far show the new robes or the new skies.

EDIT: They just posted them.
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Post Wed Nov 12, 2003 7:23 pm
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Val
Risen From Ashes
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Joy!
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Post Thu Nov 13, 2003 1:38 am
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txiabxyooj
Fox Spirit
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those look alright. i was hoping that they would have some that looked appropriate for a rogue or ranger. something with a hood. i guess i'll just have to wait and see what they all look like.
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Post Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:29 am
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MageofFire
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Joined: 03 Oct 2003
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I agree that the robes and skies are a BIG plus! I also dig the whole dark creepy aura of HotU!
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Post Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:22 am
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goshuto
Wanderer
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Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 1142
   

quote:
Originally posted by txiabxyooj
those look alright. i was hoping that they would have some that looked appropriate for a rogue or ranger. something with a hood. i guess i'll just have to wait and see what they all look like.


All you have to do is choose a character head that is a hood, and then pick a robe.
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Post Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:29 pm
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goshuto
Wanderer
Wanderer




Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 1142
   

For those interested, there's a video showing the day/night transition here.


PS: Sorry about the double post, I had to bump this thread somehow.
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Post Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:11 pm
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Danicek
The Old One
The Old One




Joined: 15 Dec 2001
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Location: Czech Republic
   

Graphics seems wonderful to me.
Post Mon Nov 24, 2003 8:57 pm
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