Posted July 20, 2015
Congratulations! You have purchased perhaps the best Dungeons & Dragons™ game ever developed. This is the best simulation of the original PnP (Pencil and Paper) game around, and with an active Neverwinter Nights (NWN) Community, has become only better. Enough with the KUDOs for the developers, let's get into the meat of the subject: Now, what do I do?
I'll assume that you got here AFTER downloading and installing the game. I'll also assume the game runs on your system. If not, you're reading the wrong thread. STOP here, and go to one of the very many 'Help-Me' topics on the GOG NWN forum to get the game downloaded, installed (with CD keys), and running properly, THEN come back here to continue.
. . . . . . . .
OK, now that the game runs on your computer, what's next? GOG supplies the v1.69 patch (upgrading the game to the newest edition), but its NOT complete (at least is wasn't when I bought it back in April, 2015). Go here to get the patch: http://www.neverwinternights.info/players.htm#critpatch to complete your installation of the game.
Critical Rebuild Patch - This file may be needed to update your installation of NWN to the most current version (1.69) and fix any possible missing resources. Just download the correct file for your installation and run it:
Windows:
NWN + SoU + HotU: If 'Shadows of Undrentide' and 'Hordes of the Underdark' is installed (this is the edition you got from GOG)
There is also a NEW v1.71 COMMUNITY patch that's just become available, but I have no experience with this one, so I won't recommend it (yet).
Next Best advice to get started: READ THE BOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS! (comes with the game download as a .PDF file) At least the first parts that introduce you to the different screens that are used in the game. I'll make another assumption here that you already have some experience with D&D-type computer games, so I'm not going to teach you what all the terms mean or how to 'roll up' a character. Personally, I've been playing game of this ilk since the days of the C=64™.
Link to More help playing this game: http://forum.bioware.com/forum/43-neverwinter-nights/ WARNING: the link that comes with the game for the Bioware forums DOESN'T WORK. This one does. Lots of help getting started.
Another good link is to the Neverwinter Nights Wiki. Lots of great info about the game and how to play, terms, FAQs, Walkthroughs for the OC (Original Campaign), etc. Link: http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
STOP, and think carefully at this point. What are you going to do with this game? Well, if you just want to play the game out of the box, GO FOR IT! Its ready to go, and a pretty good game it is too. It also comes with several 'Premium' Modules to continue the game (which used to cost up to $20 each when originally released). However, if you even think that 'someday' you might like to play online, there are some things you will need to know
First - the GameSpy support for NWN has ceased, BUT there is also a fairly easy fix for this. Go here:
http://www.neverwinternights.info/index.htm . Actually, this is one of the best sources for all info about NWN on the net, and its (mostly) up to date, with many links to 'other' forums. For the GameSpy replacement, scroll down the home page for the link to NWNCX version 0.2.9 . Installation instructions are included in a readme.txt file inside the compressed archive. This is a very small download, just over 100 kb.
For the "patch" option with this, players need to start with an unmodified nwmain.exe file. (That's why you need to do this NOW) If you already have your game modified with a camera angle hak, this will not function properly for you. NWNCX works only with Windows. NWNCX also has a 'server search', and works just like GameSpy used to work. Problem Solved!
Now that you have gotten the game all 'patched up', and (assuming again) that you have played at least some of the OC, you want to try playing online. Just hit the 'Multiplayer game' on the NWN Main Menu, and it will show you all the up-to-date servers, types of games, etc. Just click on a server that might interest you, and click Connect on the menu, and there you are (you might need to 'roll up' a character to use on the server - some use 'local' characters, others use PCs that you roll up for just that server). Some servers use what's called a HAK that you will need to play on that server. A HAK is an addition to the game for more 'Tilesets', 'Placeables', NPCs, etc., etc. Details for which HAK you (may) need will be found on the server. More about HAKs later. Here's a good PW (Persistent World) to try out http://playnwn.com/ (server web page), http://aldohral.forumotion.com/forum (Forum page), Direct Connect to 96.31.77.127 (ArgentumRegio game server, also listed in the 'Server Look-UP' in the NWN Menu).
You can also 'build' your own adventures with the (included) Neverwinter Nights 'Aurora' Toolset (nwtoolset.exe). This very well designed and POWERFUL tool makes it easy to build your own adventures (called MODS or Modules). There is also a 'modernized' patch for the toolset you may find useful (Neverwinter Nights Toolset Extender (NWNTX) http://www.neverwinternights.info/nwntx.htm ) (Well, relatively easy - let's call it a 'Learning Experience', but that's a completely different subject for another day. If you just want to try someone else's effort, you can find HUNDREDS of user-built mods at the Neverwinter Vault, as well as tutorials, scripts, HAKs, and anything else that deals with Neverwinter Nights. Here's the link to the Neverwinter Vault:
http://neverwintervault.org/
I hope I've given you enough information, along with Links, to get you well on your way to enjoying this game, no matter what your 'final' destination may be. The Neverwinter Nights Community has been very supportive of this game, even though it was originally released 'way back in 2002 (thirteen years ago). It is certainly NOT OBSOLETE, but an ever growing game platform that just gets better with time.
Good Adventuring to you!
Roger Dodger
I'll assume that you got here AFTER downloading and installing the game. I'll also assume the game runs on your system. If not, you're reading the wrong thread. STOP here, and go to one of the very many 'Help-Me' topics on the GOG NWN forum to get the game downloaded, installed (with CD keys), and running properly, THEN come back here to continue.
. . . . . . . .
OK, now that the game runs on your computer, what's next? GOG supplies the v1.69 patch (upgrading the game to the newest edition), but its NOT complete (at least is wasn't when I bought it back in April, 2015). Go here to get the patch: http://www.neverwinternights.info/players.htm#critpatch to complete your installation of the game.
Critical Rebuild Patch - This file may be needed to update your installation of NWN to the most current version (1.69) and fix any possible missing resources. Just download the correct file for your installation and run it:
Windows:
NWN + SoU + HotU: If 'Shadows of Undrentide' and 'Hordes of the Underdark' is installed (this is the edition you got from GOG)
There is also a NEW v1.71 COMMUNITY patch that's just become available, but I have no experience with this one, so I won't recommend it (yet).
Next Best advice to get started: READ THE BOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS! (comes with the game download as a .PDF file) At least the first parts that introduce you to the different screens that are used in the game. I'll make another assumption here that you already have some experience with D&D-type computer games, so I'm not going to teach you what all the terms mean or how to 'roll up' a character. Personally, I've been playing game of this ilk since the days of the C=64™.
Link to More help playing this game: http://forum.bioware.com/forum/43-neverwinter-nights/ WARNING: the link that comes with the game for the Bioware forums DOESN'T WORK. This one does. Lots of help getting started.
Another good link is to the Neverwinter Nights Wiki. Lots of great info about the game and how to play, terms, FAQs, Walkthroughs for the OC (Original Campaign), etc. Link: http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
STOP, and think carefully at this point. What are you going to do with this game? Well, if you just want to play the game out of the box, GO FOR IT! Its ready to go, and a pretty good game it is too. It also comes with several 'Premium' Modules to continue the game (which used to cost up to $20 each when originally released). However, if you even think that 'someday' you might like to play online, there are some things you will need to know
First - the GameSpy support for NWN has ceased, BUT there is also a fairly easy fix for this. Go here:
http://www.neverwinternights.info/index.htm . Actually, this is one of the best sources for all info about NWN on the net, and its (mostly) up to date, with many links to 'other' forums. For the GameSpy replacement, scroll down the home page for the link to NWNCX version 0.2.9 . Installation instructions are included in a readme.txt file inside the compressed archive. This is a very small download, just over 100 kb.
For the "patch" option with this, players need to start with an unmodified nwmain.exe file. (That's why you need to do this NOW) If you already have your game modified with a camera angle hak, this will not function properly for you. NWNCX works only with Windows. NWNCX also has a 'server search', and works just like GameSpy used to work. Problem Solved!
Now that you have gotten the game all 'patched up', and (assuming again) that you have played at least some of the OC, you want to try playing online. Just hit the 'Multiplayer game' on the NWN Main Menu, and it will show you all the up-to-date servers, types of games, etc. Just click on a server that might interest you, and click Connect on the menu, and there you are (you might need to 'roll up' a character to use on the server - some use 'local' characters, others use PCs that you roll up for just that server). Some servers use what's called a HAK that you will need to play on that server. A HAK is an addition to the game for more 'Tilesets', 'Placeables', NPCs, etc., etc. Details for which HAK you (may) need will be found on the server. More about HAKs later. Here's a good PW (Persistent World) to try out http://playnwn.com/ (server web page), http://aldohral.forumotion.com/forum (Forum page), Direct Connect to 96.31.77.127 (ArgentumRegio game server, also listed in the 'Server Look-UP' in the NWN Menu).
You can also 'build' your own adventures with the (included) Neverwinter Nights 'Aurora' Toolset (nwtoolset.exe). This very well designed and POWERFUL tool makes it easy to build your own adventures (called MODS or Modules). There is also a 'modernized' patch for the toolset you may find useful (Neverwinter Nights Toolset Extender (NWNTX) http://www.neverwinternights.info/nwntx.htm ) (Well, relatively easy - let's call it a 'Learning Experience', but that's a completely different subject for another day. If you just want to try someone else's effort, you can find HUNDREDS of user-built mods at the Neverwinter Vault, as well as tutorials, scripts, HAKs, and anything else that deals with Neverwinter Nights. Here's the link to the Neverwinter Vault:
http://neverwintervault.org/
I hope I've given you enough information, along with Links, to get you well on your way to enjoying this game, no matter what your 'final' destination may be. The Neverwinter Nights Community has been very supportive of this game, even though it was originally released 'way back in 2002 (thirteen years ago). It is certainly NOT OBSOLETE, but an ever growing game platform that just gets better with time.
Good Adventuring to you!
Roger Dodger