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| − | [[Neverwinter Nights]] (NWN) |
+ | The two '''expansion packs''' for [[Neverwinter Nights]] (NWN) are [[Shadows of Undrentide]] (SoU) and [[Hordes of the Underdark]] (HotU). Each expansion adds new [[feat]]s, [[skill]]s, [[spell]]s, and [[prestige class]]es, as well as providing a new [[official campaign]] (rated at 20 hours; the HotU campaign is single-player only) and resources (e.g. creatures) for [[module]] builders. In addition, the HotU expansion raises the level cap from 20 to 40 (in all modules, not just ones that require HotU). |
| + | The HotU expansion is the later of the expansion packs and includes the feats, skills, and spells that were added with SoU. The SoU expansion is still required to access its prestige classes and campaign. |
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| + | Once installed, the expansion packs are deeply integrated into the game. One consequence is that the new feats, skills, spells, and classes are available to players in (almost) any module they play, including the original campaign (but excluding those that specifically alter the normal selection). Another consequence is that, unlike some other games, there is no such thing as [[patch]]ing just the original game or just an expansion pack — the original game and all installed expansion packs are always at the same version number. This also affects the [[Toolset]]; once an expansion pack is installed, anything saved by the Toolset will be flagged as requiring that expansion pack. |
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| − | ==Shadows of Undrentide== |
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| − | The '''Shadows of Undrentide''' is an adventure featuring all-new [[skill]]s and [[feat]]s with which the player's [[character]]s may grow, as well as five new [[prestige class]]es. For this reason, ''Shadows of Undrentide'' has been created as a campaign that works best starting with a new 1st-level character. However, players who prefer to use a pre-existing character may do so. |
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| + | The campaigns of the expansion packs tell a single story that is intended to be started (in SoU) with a new [[character level|level]] 1 [[player character]]. (Part of the reason for starting over at level 1 is that SoU introduced some feats that can only be taken at level 1.) Various conversations in the campaigns indicate that the SoU campaign occurs at the same time as the original, while the HotU campaign occurs later. In particular, the HotU campaign features some [[non-player character]]s from both the original and SoU campaigns who will freely refer to events within their campaigns. These characters will furthermore assume the player's character had completed the SoU campaign and had not participated in the original (regardless of what a player might have actually done). As some of the events referred to would be considered spoilers, this leads to the interesting assumption that the player, but not the player's character, has completed the original campaign. |
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| − | ==Hordes of the Underdark== |
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| − | '''Hordes of the Underdark''' is an adventure featuring all-new skills and feats with which the player's characters may grow and even achieve epic levels. ''Hordes'' requires a high-level character; the [[Underdark]] is not the place for fledgling adventurers. Either continue a character from ''Shadows of Undrentide'' or the original NWN story or choose a pre-made character. If the character enters the game with fewer than 12 levels, the player will be given the choice to automatically level all the way to level 15 or manually level up. Characters of level 12 or highter are allowed to play, though the higher the character's level, the less difficult they will find the challenges in ''Hordes of the Underdark''. |
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| + | The SoU campaign is intended to get characters to level 12 (although ending at level 13 might be more common), while the HotU campaign is intended to be started at level 15. This leaves a gap in both the story and levels of the two campaigns. While going directly from one expansion campaign to the other is supported (the HotU campaign will accept level 12 characters; lower-level characters get promoted to 15), there was a contest held for community-created modules intended to fill this gap.<sup>[http://nwvault.ign.com/?dir=features/contests&content=IGNContestHotU]</sup> The contest was neither held nor started by [[BioWare]], but they did support it. |
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| − | ==Notes== |
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| − | *Chronologically, the story line in SoU occurs at the same time as the [[original campaign]]'s plot. |
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| + | == Other "expansions" == |
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| − | *Some [[non-player character]]s in HotU will assume the player's character went through ''Shadows of Undrentide''; they may refer to events in SoU. |
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| − | *There is also the [[Community Expansion Pack]] (CEP), which is free content and not sold for profit as SoU and HotU are. SoU and HotU both contain modules that are designed to be playable, while CEP only contains a module whose purpose is to demonstrate the [[object]]s contained within it. CEP is not really an "expansion pack" in that sense. |
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| + | There have been numerous endeavors by players to expand the content in NWN. The [[Community Expansion Pack]] (CEP) in particular is considered by some to be a third expansion pack. There are notable differences between CEP and SoU/HotU, though. Perhaps the most noticeable is that CEP is free, while SoU and HotU are sold for profit; CEP is from the players, while SoU/HotU were created by BioWare and underwent BioWare's quality control. In addition, SoU and HotU are integrated into the game, while CEP exists as [[hak pak]]s. Another notable difference is that CEP focuses on new resources for builders, rather than resources for players (such as spells, classes, and campaigns). |
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[[Category: Neverwinter Nights]] |
[[Category: Neverwinter Nights]] |
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Revision as of 18:30, 13 August 2011
The two expansion packs for Neverwinter Nights (NWN) are Shadows of Undrentide (SoU) and Hordes of the Underdark (HotU). Each expansion adds new feats, skills, spells, and prestige classes, as well as providing a new official campaign (rated at 20 hours; the HotU campaign is single-player only) and resources (e.g. creatures) for module builders. In addition, the HotU expansion raises the level cap from 20 to 40 (in all modules, not just ones that require HotU). The HotU expansion is the later of the expansion packs and includes the feats, skills, and spells that were added with SoU. The SoU expansion is still required to access its prestige classes and campaign.
Once installed, the expansion packs are deeply integrated into the game. One consequence is that the new feats, skills, spells, and classes are available to players in (almost) any module they play, including the original campaign (but excluding those that specifically alter the normal selection). Another consequence is that, unlike some other games, there is no such thing as patching just the original game or just an expansion pack — the original game and all installed expansion packs are always at the same version number. This also affects the Toolset; once an expansion pack is installed, anything saved by the Toolset will be flagged as requiring that expansion pack.
The campaigns of the expansion packs tell a single story that is intended to be started (in SoU) with a new level 1 player character. (Part of the reason for starting over at level 1 is that SoU introduced some feats that can only be taken at level 1.) Various conversations in the campaigns indicate that the SoU campaign occurs at the same time as the original, while the HotU campaign occurs later. In particular, the HotU campaign features some non-player characters from both the original and SoU campaigns who will freely refer to events within their campaigns. These characters will furthermore assume the player's character had completed the SoU campaign and had not participated in the original (regardless of what a player might have actually done). As some of the events referred to would be considered spoilers, this leads to the interesting assumption that the player, but not the player's character, has completed the original campaign.
The SoU campaign is intended to get characters to level 12 (although ending at level 13 might be more common), while the HotU campaign is intended to be started at level 15. This leaves a gap in both the story and levels of the two campaigns. While going directly from one expansion campaign to the other is supported (the HotU campaign will accept level 12 characters; lower-level characters get promoted to 15), there was a contest held for community-created modules intended to fill this gap.[1] The contest was neither held nor started by BioWare, but they did support it.
Other "expansions"
There have been numerous endeavors by players to expand the content in NWN. The Community Expansion Pack (CEP) in particular is considered by some to be a third expansion pack. There are notable differences between CEP and SoU/HotU, though. Perhaps the most noticeable is that CEP is free, while SoU and HotU are sold for profit; CEP is from the players, while SoU/HotU were created by BioWare and underwent BioWare's quality control. In addition, SoU and HotU are integrated into the game, while CEP exists as hak paks. Another notable difference is that CEP focuses on new resources for builders, rather than resources for players (such as spells, classes, and campaigns).