Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer Community Update

Obsidian’s lead designer Kevin Saunders answers some of the questions submitted by the BioWare Community in the latest MotB Community Update on Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer.Saunders is the bearer of good news as far as changes to the crafting system, especially for Warlocks. Items can be enchanted now using a portable container rather than having to look for one of those pesky work benches. Scrolls will also be used and recipes can be created to work with Warlock abilities. The tool set is also receiving some attention with several bug fixes and small new features that should streamline the interface.

Not all the news is good. Saunders starts the update with this quote:

“Hi folks. Unfortunately, my answers to a lot of the questions below are “no.” It give me no joy to let you down like this, but I’d rather inform you of the reality than just ignore your questions. We really do wish that we could implement everything you’d like to see and more. We do our best to concentrate on where we think we can benefit you all the most – when we don’t address certain concerns it’s not because we don’t think it’s a good idea or that it’s unimportant issue, just that for the resources required it feels like the wrong thing to focus on.”

There are several questions that Saunders can’t answer at this time or that he has had to just say no to altogether and most of them have to do with mod development. There won’t be a more beginner friendly tool set at this time and a Script Generator Wizard is not forthcoming. There is also no plan to work on the walkmesh system at this time.

The other thing that has members up in arms is the availability of only four classes per character. In response to complaints my favorite comeback, submitted by Conan2005, is:

“It would be nice for the munchkin in us all, but is not necessary.”

The BioWare Community is always a lively bunch.

The Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer expansion is due out this fall.