E3 07: Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask Of The Betrayer
Being, as I am, an overwhelmingly enthusiastic RPG, D&D, Forgotten Realms and Neverwinter Nights 2 fan (now that they've patched my performance issues, at least), getting over to Atari's room and seeing what Obsidian has cooked up for the expac was more of a personal thrill than a professional one. The fact that Obsidian is incorporating some player requested features (like a camera overhaul, thank you) was a sight to see, although some of those features had been updated in patches since my time with the game - such as customizable, multiple toolbars.
The 20-30 hour new campaign takes place largely in Thay, where the Red Wizards rule, and Rashemen, where spirits roam and suffuse the land - a different type of enemy from most D&D archetypes, spirits aren't quite undead. The witches of Rashemen commune with and control them, but they fit into more of a Russian/Slavic-style mythos and are a bit more nebulous than simple undead.
While you'll be perfectly fine importing your NWN2 charater into Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer, the new creation options might tempt you to do otherwise: the four types of genasi, the elemental equivalents of tieflings and aasimar, are playable races with tres cool effects. Fire genasi have flaming (literally) hair, while the heads of air genasi crackle with electric energy.
You'll also want to check out the two new base classes: the Favored Soul is to Clerics what Sorcerers are to Wizards, namely spontaneous casters who don't need to prepare their spells beforehand. Spirit Shamans are the same equivalent but for Druids, and they'll have powers over spirits just like Clerics do over undead.
Make the jump for more of Faerun!
Hallo travelers, glad to see you made it through the portal. It's one-way, don't bother checking. Have a seat and read some more about Red Wizards and prestige classes!
Lots of new prestige classes have made it into the campaign, including my long-desired Red Wizard (for nongood alignments) as well as the Storm Lord, Sacred Fist, Invisible Blade and more.
The first companion you meet will also be a Red Wizard, whom you meet at the beginning of the campaign when your character wakes up to discover that the shard of the silver sword lodged in his or her chest, which played a pivotal role in the first campaign, has been removed. The companion system has received an overhaul as well, with influence playing more of a role than it has since the days of Baldur's Gate. Your companions are optional, will get cranky, leave or even attack you if you make the wrong choices for their alignments, and selectable by dragging a selection box around them - at last.
Performance continues to be improved and by the time Mask of the Betrayer ships in September or October, will hopefully be more processor-friendly than before.
tiny dancer
Posted to E3, Hot Stuff, Video Games on 18 July 2007
Other stuff like this: atari, e3, forgotten realms, mask of the betrayer, neverwinter nights 2, obsidian
