Where is everyone?

[Calen]

Recently decided to come back but indeed setting up the nwn2 client is a pain.
From finding the updates to downloading every single hak.
Still worth it though ^^.

[NCrawler]

Most online stores still sell the unpatched version and ppl won't go through the annoying process of patching manually and figuring out you need skywing. If someone doesn't figure out an easy way to get started, NWN2 will go from mostly dead to completely dead in the not too distant future.

Weeding out a few of the toxic, impulsive DM's wouldn't hurt either.

GOG sells the complete game fully patched: https://www.gog.com/game/neverwinter_nights_2_complete

[CommanderKrieg]

Its always interesting to see this topic, because it is up for discussion at least once a year. I have been considering taking the the numbers of the server 3 times a day for a year and building a graph to prove a point. It would be a simple experiment, I would just go to NwNList and take the number of players online. We would then be able to quantify the situation.

I just find it interesting that we find a reason to explain why there as such low numbers on the server. Some of which include: "The holidays, school year, and winter season" the list goes on and on. We are currently in the summer without the school year, and the steam summer sale is over. There are currently 18 people online. I would like to come up with an excuse for it, but I would just be feeding thee beast.

I am not currently part of the server, so I am certain I am missing some information. There can be peaks of players I am missing, or other matters I am unaware of. Being so on and off, with returns and vacations I am not an expert of the server by any means. However, I really feel we are in trouble. Not only as this server but for NwN2 in general. Kingdom Haven have 2x the players BG does currently. By the last two times I checked, consistently.

Baldur's Gate is a great community, with some of the best stories I have heard. It has the best playerbase, the best admin, and the best content builders we have seen. Many of the other servers can only boast with players that were once part of BG. I am commenting not to add to the stress on BG, but to say this place has been incredible to me. Thats why I am willing to say I think BG has a problem. I am sure that several people will crack their knuckles and hammer out defensive statements about the matter, but its not about one person or a group of people. I could be wrong, but it would be nice to start a conversation about what we could do to make it better.

I am not saying BG is going to die, but it might end up in a retirement home.. Where people only visit 3 times a month.

[NegInfinity]

it would be nice to start a conversation about what we could do to make it better.

Sigh.

There are pages and pages and pages of threads in suggestions forum that were shot down. You guys could start with that.

Sigil's admin managed to revive his server by making new stuff. From 0..1 people online to 26. That took months. They introduced large number of new playable races, started remaking areas, added couple of classes that are not available anywhere (not even in kaedrin) and people flocked in.

Gaining and losing players is slow process. Even if you start working now, it'll take weeks or months to get perceivable effect.

[joleda]

it would be nice to start a conversation about what we could do to make it better.

Sigh.

There are pages and pages and pages of threads in suggestions forum that were shot down. You guys could start with that.

Sigil's admin managed to revive his server by making new stuff. From 0..1 people online to 26. That took months. They introduced large number of new playable races, started remaking areas, added couple of classes that are not available anywhere (not even in kaedrin) and people flocked in.

Gaining and losing players is slow process. Even if you start working now, it'll take weeks or months to get perceivable effect.

I must admit, Sigil looks tempting. Playing a Kobold, Goblin, or Gnoll sounds like fun to me. I picture the roleplay for the true monster races, such as Drider, Illithid, Dragon, Ogre, Troll, Outsiders and Undead to be a bit pigeon-holed.

[Ivan38Rus]

The setting is too epic for my tastes.
People RP monster races as yet another outlet for slave - master relationship (it goes either way), which gets boring and pretty much nulifies unique RP opportunities.

IMO, Dark Ages of Britain had best setting but mechanics got in the way and everyone was playing BG or Dalelands at the time.

[7threalm]

working all the time 60+ hours is the main reason, still intend to build when i get time, I just wish the server would get back to medium RPISH. I come to bg to relax, some times trying to get things going feels like



I personally feel its gotten to hardcore RP for the my tastes. But setting and areas are awesome

[grymhild]

and I wish it were more "hardcore" :/

[NegInfinity]

and I wish it were more "hardcore" :/

There's project "A land far away: alfa" with 6 people online (peak) for that. As hardcore as it gets, IIRC, because they punish you for pursuing xp/wealth "at expense of roleplay".

IMO, going "more hardcore" is generally a waste of time, because of diminishing returns.

In my experience character defined by 3 lines of text is more convincing and more interesting than the one that has 50 pages of text in biography, because while biography increases amount of stuff that happens in your head, it pretty much never surfaces during in-game interactions. "More interesting" means for both player and people that interact with character. It happens because when there is not enough info for the full picture, BUT just enough to hint at something, your brain starts filling in the blanks and invents something much more interesting than the actual story.

You can get amazing illusion of living breathing world with medium rp character or random encounter. When people go for "hardcore" rp, the only thing that happens is increased amount of squabbling, drama and rule lawyer-ing. Enjoyment of the game does not increase.

============

Also, people, you might want to go back to topic suggested by CommanderKrieg.

[Klaggeddin1121]

I personally feel its gotten to hardcore RP for the my tastes. But setting and areas are awesome

Would you do me a favor and point me to the bg that you play on currently that is "too hardcore rp?" I would very much love to find that server. I've been missing it for a lil longer than a year now

[Lockonnow]

play something eles

[joleda]

I think the deity and domain restrictions and other rules lean to the hardcore side of the fence, but not much else else does. BG is remarkably balanced in that regard.

[MopKnight]

BGT could use a voluntary leaning towards the hardcore side of things IMO.

[Empoweredfan]

There is MopKnight. The key word there is 'voluntary'. If you want to roleplay your character in a hard core way, then that is completely fine with the server rules. What is against the rules, is to force it upon other players.

And this is as simple an issue as to communicating with those you play with in a constructive way.

[TheKai]

but it would be nice to start a conversation about what we could do to make it better

Personally,

I think once the new content comes IG, players will flock back here by the droves as there is some great stuff coming soon hopefully!

But in the mean time, negativity on the forums do not help one bit. Many prospective players view these forums as their introduction to the server and seeing an overwhelming amount of that never helps.

I'm a fond believer of the saying "Be the change you want to see". Set the example, and others will follow. If it's not their cup of tea, don't bash them, move on until you find a suitable player who thinks and plays like you. Be positive in your outlook and your playing, not judgmental. Good RP, of all kinds, happens. Even when you least expect it.

Promote RP, promote other player's RP and in time, it'll come back to you. If something doesn't go your way, brush it off and continue on. This is a game. Getting angry at IG consequences and griping about it is really a waste of time and stress I am sure you don't need in real life. Go with the flow, even if it flows in the direction you don't want it to flow in.

Have fun people. This server is a gift that if we let it, will keep on giving. Like any beautiful thing, it needs to be nourished.