Sundren a NWN multiplayer free game

Servers which host Mulitplayer Persistent Game Worlds typically divide each world into genres to help prospective players choose their game, genres are usually things like ‘Action’, ‘Role Play’, ‘PvP’, ‘Story’, ‘Social’, ‘Melee’, ‘Team’, ‘Arena’ and so on. This indicates the primary interest of the creators and the intention for the online game, PvP for example is a world where the intention is for players to take direct combat action against each other i.e. player versus player (PvP).These worlds really come alive though with the participation of DM’s or Dungeon Masters, the creators of the game world and experts in its myths and laws. These players create unique story lines and quests, award experience and gold to creative players.

Three excellent examples of  Mmorpg persistent RPG worlds designed for Neverwinter Nights are:

Forgotten Realms

This is the largest and most popular game world and is a mix of action and role playing, a vast world with great dungeons and good DM presence. If a vote was held amongst NWN2 players it is certain this place would be voted the best free online PC game.

Shores of Haldun

This is a beautifully drawn and detailed world specialising in exciting quests and thoruroughy worked out geography. The story line is unique and the Dm’s talented, many fun times have been had here.

RoME – The Return of Middle Earth

This server sets out to recreate aspects of Tolkiens Middle Earth many years after the end of The Lord of the Rings story. Extensive quests and a large world with great NPC AI to keep you on your toes. Completely different in feel and appearance to Lord of the Rings Online, which specialises in Middle Earth, and yet the creators of this persistant online game must have put hundreds of ours into this environment all to give you … remarkably… a free… place to play for as long as you wish.

Here is an example of adventuring for just experience versus adventuring for a storyline reason. This is an example of how two different parties going into the same cave can behave very differently. The latter is preferable if the aim is to develop plot lines and get the attention of DM’s for better game play and surprises. The former is for those who wish to speed along and bash some creatures and gain experience in an easy and casual fashion rather then role play which can be very time consuming and much harder. Imagine these parties have discovered a clue that something might be happening in the cave.

A) ACTION style of play

Grimbum:                  “Hey! Lets go bash some orcs. I’m almost leveled!
Astrid Slaver:           “Cool! I hear there might be a DM event going on….

…something about magic scrolls.”
Grimbum:                  “Ohh..good…maybe there will be DM giving out items.
Astrid Slaver:            “Yea..lets do it…Those vile creature gotta die!”..///brb going for a piss

[party enters cave and runs from cavern to cavern slaying things, with no spoken interaction]

Grimbum:                             “woooot 150 points to level! let’s get the boss!’
Flemenger the Orange:    “Ok…let me rest first. Outta spells “
Flemenger the Orange:     “hang on, buffing”
Astrid Slaver:                       “We better go soon..im overloaded, lets cash in loot”.
Grimbum:                              “Cool..I gotta log soon anyways.”

B) ROLE PLAY orientated style of play

Celia the Wild:                   *Face darkens with concern*  “Do we really have to go in here?….

………… I don’t like the look of this!”

Ernst Longflint:               “I’m afraid so..The town guards said the orcs had raided the Mages’

Tower in the woods…always a reason for concern.”

Celia the Wild:                 *pulls at her hair nervously*

“Perhaps we should gather reinforcements?”

Ernst Longflint:               *Gives her a  smile*    ” No we can do it….

….stay behind me and keep your eyes peeled”

Celia the Wild:                  *walks cautiously behind him drawing sword*

Ernst Longflint:                *Whispers*        “Shh… Something ahead… sounds like wolves..”

(rolls tracking skill)

[later after leaving the cave]

Ernst Longflint:                   “Well I am exhausted, time for a nap in this bush” *yawns*

Celia the Wild:                        “try not to snore, Orcs will hear you” *laughs*   “I am heading to town”

Ernst Longflint:                     *waves* “see you in a few days friend” [logs off the server]

These are just two differnt play styles, one is not superior to the other, but if you do seek a persistant world where Role Playing is emphasized and in fact rewarded by the DM’s then it is the second example that you should strive for as you play your role playing PC games, but most importantly have fun and use your role playing to help others have fun too, this is especially important if you are making use of a free online server.