Ernie Noa's RPG Blog

I wanted to share a 4th edition D&D adventure I wrote between 2009 and 2010.   It's called, "Hythum", the name of the world where the story takes place.   It started out as a Neverwinter Nights 1 module, then I tried to convert it to Neverwinter Nights 2.  The project was too large and complicated, with my kids growing I couldn't finish it.  4th edition D&D came out and although I don't really have the time or opportunity to play right now, I wanted to read about it and learn it.  I decided to write it as a 4th edition pen and paper module.   It's quite large, about 400 pages if I recall correctly.   It should take a group of 4 or 5 brand new 1st level characters to 10th level.    Hythum can be downloaded from   https://docs.google.com/ folder/d/0BxT- GD94MNQfWUFsZHV2RWUySWc/edit      The module is in PDF and word format.  There is spreadsheet with notes about XP that should be ear...

Tomoachan seems to run in 1.10. I've been reading on and off about what would change, but wow it performs better on my computer, or at least it seems to. The mouse was almost too loose and responsive. I also liked the change to the journal system, where journal updates are quickly splashed on the screen. (see below). Makes me want to play a few mods again.

I had a nice family vacation last weekend, but did a bit more dialog last night. I had a rough plot outline with all my locations to start, and now I'm plowing through the dialog. I'm hoping this works out like a movie script, where I only build the locations I need to tell the story. I've seen some other posts about folks who have built large areas that people may never see. I've done this in MANY of my modules, and I think that can lend to an open ended feel. Doing all the dialog first is a different approach for me and hopefully it will produce good results.

I got a lot of knocks in Keep On the Borderlands regarding lighting. I have found a brief lighting tutorial which gives me some important bits of info I did not have. Anyone know of other lighting tutorials let me know. I posted on the bioware forums looking for help with making a character and NPC hug and or kiss in a cut scene. Perhaps there is something obvious but I haven't started digging yet. I know it was a pain in NWN1, and if you know of a good way to do this or a trick to accomplish it please let me know. Cheers!

I've got two fairly well developed ideas scrawlled on bits of paper. Both have been turned over and over in my head for 6 months, one of them for a year and half. The ideas are taking a bit of shape. I've elected to go with one of the two stories, the smaller easier one to build. I'm going to build key locations, and dialogs first, fleshing out the encounters and loot at the end. I am really going to try to pace myself, taking long breaks when I want or need to. For now here are three screen shots of an location I've had in my head for quite sometime. It still needs a few changes but it's a start. Enjoy! (Bruce your going to have to hit me even harder to get me to stop)

I recently rated Berliad's FRW Character Creator an 8.75. The character creator is an excellent resource. I have always found it difficult to create an 'appropriate' character using a level editor. This does a great job and I got quite a kick out of seeing some former adventuring companions around from other modules I have played recently. I also met some companions in modules I was about to play. I find it very difficult to self regulate in a character creator and I felt like this resource took the guesswork and the temptation out of the equation. It was very entertaining along the way. Kudos to Berliad. On another note, I inched forward spending 20-30 minutes on a new module last night.

I am tempted to write again. I thought of resurrecting my efforts to port C1 Hidden Shrine of Tomoachan over from NWN1 to NWN2. I had an expanded plot outline. The original C1 was the dungeon and nothing else. I figured I'd add a back story and wrap up after the dungeon. I really got burned out after Keep on the Borderlands which was frustrating because the module could have been so much more. However with Keep so warmly received and having been given a very kind review I was tempted. It's raining where I live and I'm inside and my three young sons are either absent or quiet so again it's tempting. I opened the editors, and I started pursuing various scripts. I popped in a movie soundtrack (great mood music) and settled in. Then I called my friend Bruce (aka Darmok) and asked him to remind me why I am not writing another module. He had to tell me six times (I made him repeat it), but I closed the editor and came to my senses. Perhaps next Fall/Winter. Maybe w...

I had a chance to check out Berliad's Character Creator last night. Following are my comments from NWVault. If you are not familiar with Berliad check out his blog . He has a great deal of interesting things to say about NWN1 and NWN2. I check his blog almost every day. Without further ado here are my comments: ...I really liked what I got to see last night. Created a character for The Subtlety of Thay after finishing Tragedy at Tragidor. I was thrilled to see my old travelling companion from Tragidor as well as a few other familiar faces, such as Sal from the original campaign. I usually find it difficult to build a well balanced character in a character creator. Money is too easy to get and so is gear, but yours was very well balanced. I definitely plan on using it again. I'll try it again, and talk to more NPCs before rating, but I really like it!

I finished Tragedy in Tragidor . I was going to give it an 8 or 8.25 but really enjoyed the end and wound up at an 8.75. Good module. Well done! I enjoyed the beginning, particularly the way the town and people in it changed after I turned in for the night. The middle was good, but I found myself falling into a pattern with the battles. Lure a few out, run, sometimes flee to an adjacent map and rest then back. I got through it but they were a bit on the tough side. I was playing a warlock so perhaps that had something to do with it. There were a few visual defects, pillars missing 1 side/corner, object floating, but no bugs to speak of. The end... ok, the end really sold me on the whole thing. The battle in the town was good. The recap of who lived was rewarding. Working in the NPC stories at the end was nicely done. After the final battle the recap in the inn was terrific and very well told. I used to study music, and had a professor who told me if you have a good beginning...

I played The Birthday in a just a few hours. Although short it was unique and outstanding. I absolutely loved it. The story was interesting and quite moving at the end. I gave it a 9.25 GREAT JOB! ** Good gravy this tempts me to write another mod. This was so darn good it was inspiring **

I just finished Stormchaser . I gave it a 9.0 Excellent! The module looked good, the NPCs were believable. The scripting was great. Battles were tough and I had to think my way through a few of them. The module was solid, no problems at all. Most important, a really good story, the kind of tale I like to tell, read and play. Well done! ENoa4

I hit a bug in Dark Waters a while back and haven't wanted to reply the module, as I was a few hours into it. I started Stormchaser last night and I am greatly enjoying myself. I started as a warlock then quickly started over as a fighter, it just felt 'right' playing that particular class. I'm a few hours into it, no bugs and it's entertaining. I'll rate it when I'm done, but it's quite good so far.

I'm sitting at about 5 votes and 350 downloads and the mod hasn't been up 24 hours yet. It appears stable and I think folks are enjoying it. The ratings are fair and the comments are constructive. I'll keep my fingers crossed for more of the same.

I just learned about Wendersnaven a resource site for builders. Looks pretty good. If you are builder I'd recommend taking a peak. http://www.wendersnaven.com/

Well, I was going to do a final walk through anyway, now with a new build of NWN2 it's even more important. I did find a small problem, not large, that I am fixing now. It's still playable without the fix.

The readme file has been written and the files packaged up and compressed. More importantly my good friend Bruce (aka Darmok) took time out of his busy schedule (he just moved) to help me with a test deployment of the module on his computer. I was able to determine what files he needed and where he needed them. Success! He didn't run the whole module, but we checked enough bells and whistles that I am confident it will work, at least beyond any bugs I have missed. I would like to run the whole module with a brand new character. I've run parts of it this way, but my only full module test have been with an uber-character. I have high hopes that I am ready for release. If you would like an advance copy of the module, and if you can figure out an easy way for me to transfer a 46MB rar file to you, I'd be happy to give you a sneak peak before I complete my final walk through of the module. Drop me a line here or e-mail me at enoa42001@Yahoo.com. If you've got an FTP ...

I finished playing the 1st of three planned chapters in The Pool of Radiance Remastered for NWN2. I really enjoyed myself and gave the module a rating. It was over too quickly, but it was very fun while it lasted. Having just finished my module I am aware of what is required to build an adventure of this size and scope. Kudos to the author. I downloaded Dark Waters Part 1 tonight and played the first few minutes. The voice acting is pretty cool, some of it is great, other bits... well the acting isn't terrific, but the cool factor is pretty hight.

Dark waters will be released tomorrow. Looks great to me. Wow! This is going to blow my mod out of the water. No pun intended.

It looks like Adam Miller is about to launch the first part of his NWN2 series Dark Waters. This guys modules are the best I have played for NWN1 hands down. If you haven't played them you should. Check out his web site for more information . Adam noted in his recent post that he works as a web developer and has a few young kids. In that regard he and I are similar. I work as an IT manager and spent half my time developing web sites. I've also got three young kids. My modules have been well received by the community but my work does not hold a candle when compared to the work done my Mr. Miller. I am eagerly awaiting Dark Waters. Good luck Adam!

There is a module contest afoot for nwn2. I won't be building anything for the contest. My module is close to completion and I am pretty burned out on writing for NWN2. I've commented before this was supposed to be a quick 'learning' experience before I get to my original ideas, but I'm strongly thinking this will be it.