Official Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Chat

March 2, 2000 at 6 pm PST at irc.vaultnetwork.com #vault
Around 80 people in attendance.

Edited chat log prepared by Silverdawn of Baldur's Gate Chronicles (http://www.bgchronicles.com)

In attendance:

BioWare:
BenAtBioWare: Ben Smedstad (Producer)
LukeAtBio: Luke Kristjanson (Senior Writer)
MarkDAtBio: Mark Darrah (Lead Programmer)
MarciaAtBioware: Marcia Tofer (Art Director)
ZarthAtBioware: Mike Geist (Designer)
KevinMAtBioware: Kevin Martens (co-Lead Designer)
JamesAtBio: James Ohlen (co-Lead Designer and Director of Writing and Design)

Interplay:
Parker_at_BIS: Chris Parker (Producer)
Doug-BlackIsle: Doug Avery (Assistant Producer)
buce: Lisa Bucek (Public Relations)

Run by:
RPGVault (http://rpgvault.ign.com)
Ilibard: Eric Neuman (Producer)
Jonric: Richard Aihoshi (Editor-in-Chief)

<Ilibard> Welcome to the our first Baldur's Gate II Developer's Chat, hosted by the premier source for RPG news on the net, the IGN RPG Vault (http://rpgvault.ign.com).  Your hosts for this evening will be Richard "Jonric" Aihoshi, Editor-in-Chief of the IGN Vault, and Eric "Ilibard" Neuman, Producer for IGN.com.  We'd like to extend a special thanks to all the people from Bioware who are here to answer your questions.
<Ilibard> This channel will be moderated, meaning only developers and moderators will be able to post.  If you have a question, do NOT message it to one of us, or the Bioware staff, or it will be ignored.  If you have a question, please post it in #bg2.  Please only post your question once in that channel, and we'll get around to as many questions as possible in the next hour.
<Ilibard> Before we begin, I'd like to let the Bioware guys take a brief minute to introduce themselves, and then we'll get started with the questions!  Guys?  :)
<KevinMatBio> I'm Kevin Martens, a co-lead designer on BGII:Shadows of Amn
<MarkDAtBio> I'm Mark Darrah Lesd Proggrammer on BGII: SOA
<ZarthAtBioware> I'm Michael Geist, Designer/Scriptor on BGII: SOA
<BenAtBioWare> I am Ben Smedstad Producer on BGIILSoA at BioWare
<Parker_at_BIS> I'm Chris Parker, producer at Black Isle Studios
<LukeAtBio> Luke Kristjanson, Writing and Design for BGII:SOA
<MarciaAtBioware> I am Art director on BGII:SOA
<Doug-BlackIsle> Hello all.
<JamesAtBio> I'm James Ohlen, director of the Design department at Bioware
<Ilibard> OK...go ahead and start posting your questions in #bg2.
<buce> Hi, I am Lisa Bucek, pr at Black Isle
<Ilibard> Here's the first question for Bioware:  <Keylaeris> Bio people : could you give us a quick rundown on how intricate the strongholds will be?  Will my general classed mage be able to create scrolls and potions once he reaches the appropriate level?  Secondly : will the amount of time spent in quests for the strongholds be roughly equal divided amongst the classes, or will fighters have more time spent in quests than mages or thieves for example?
<BenAtBioWare> James?
<KevinMatBio> Time= Roughly equal. We haven't actually timed the gameplay of each stronghold.
<JamesAtBio> Each stronghold plot will of equal size.  The strongholds are pretty intricate, and yes your generalist mage will be able to create magic items at higher levels
<luxor_vault> <Leo> What will be the balance between the storyline-ordained and player's own adventures? Are we only actors playing a role, only script writers creating our own adventure, or both? And if so, what is more? 50/50?
<BenAtBioWare> James again?  Type done when done answering
<JamesAtBio> There is a much more intricate story in BG2 than there was in the original.  However, we realize that people like the wide open world where they are able to create their own adventures.  We have tried our hardest to accommodate that kind of play
<JamesAtBio> Done
<Ilibard> <osprey> Will you, could you expound upon familiars in BG2?  Will there be familiars other than imps?
<JamesAtBio> There are more than just imps.
<BenAtBioWare> When you see a question you want to answer bio/Iplay PPL, just call it =)
<JamesAtBio> An imp wouldn't make a very good familiar for a good mage.
<luxor_vault> <Shad> Will the immunities to mind controlling / altering spells be added for those with Wisdom of 19 and higher (useful to those characters that used the tomes from BG1)?
<JamesAtBio> We might do that, though at the moment it isn't implemented.
<Ilibard> What changes have been made to multiplayer since BG1?
<BenAtBioWare> I got this one
<BenAtBioWare> We have listened to what the fans said about the first one and have made many changes to multiplayer
<BenAtBioWare> One of the major frustration points was stores.  When one player entered a store, the rest of the party just stared at the screen ...waiting
<BenAtBioWare> We have added the feature that makes it so that the store does NOT pause the game for the other players, and in fact they can go on and do whatever they want.
<BenAtBioWare> Another feature we are adding is "non-pausing multiplayer dialogue"
<BenAtBioWare> Only the most important dialogue will now pause the game when playing BG2. This means that people can run around and play the game the way they want, without constant interruptions
<BenAtBioWare> With these changes the multiplayer game of BG2 is sooo much smoother and flows like a multiplayer CRPG should
<BenAtBioWare> done
<luxor_vault> <Keldron> I was wondering what the status of avatars was... are you going to create a set of new player avatars or will they remain the same as in the original Baldur's Gate and the upcoming Icewind Dale?
<BenAtBioWare> I got it
<BenAtBioWare> We are in the middle of a complete character update
<BenAtBioWare> this means that we are touching up all the models, textures of all the characters.  We are also totally re-animating and re-rendering all the characters
<Parker_at_BIS> The character avatars will not be replaced in Icewind Dale.  Pretty much all of the rest of the art is, but not the avatars.  They will have new colors and items.  BGII will have completely new avatars.
<BenAtBioWare> Adding such things as dual wield and cleaning up/adding more frames to all the avatars in the game
<BenAtBioWare> done
<Ilibard> How has Planescape: Torment influenced your design decisions on BG2?
<BenAtBioWare> Anyone? I can take it if not, don't want to hog them all :)
<BenAtBioWare> k Got  it
<BenAtBioWare> Planescape we a VERY well done game.  When we played it we were very impressed at how they told their story
<BenAtBioWare> We looked at how they took a great story and told it very well.
<BenAtBioWare> We basically re-evaluated how strong our story was, and how well we could tell it to the player
<BenAtBioWare> It raised the "bar" in CRPGs and we are making sure that we not only meet it, but redefine it .
<BenAtBioWare> done
<luxor_vault> <Z_> *Again* we can still write custom AI Scripts, yes? and if so, is the syntax the same?
<MarkDAtBio> Me.
<MarkDAtBio> Yes you will still be able to right custom scripts for your characters.
<MarkDAtBio> The Syntax is mostly the same.
<MarkDAtBio> The action and Trigger list has been expanded 
<KevinMatBio> Has it ever! 
<MarkDAtBio> and some syntax modifications made (like an OR)
<MarkDAtBio> Man I wish I could touch type.
<MarkDAtBio> done.
<Ilibard> How large will BG2 be compared to BG1?  Will most of the game be wilderness or urban settings?
<KevinMatBio> got it
<KevinMatBio> BGII is larger in every way except that of areas. However, all of our areas are packed with things to do!
<KevinMatBio> We've used the space quite well.
<KevinMatBio> For things other than area, we have more spells, monsters, AI, dialog, interactivity, etc. 
<KevinMatBio> Done
<Ilibard> What level range will Baldur's Gate 2 cover?  Where do you start and where do you end up?
<MarkDAtBio> The XP cap is 2,950,000
<MarkDAtBio> You start at a minimum of 89,000 XP
<KevinMatBio> This means everywhere from 14th level to 24 depending on class
<MarkDAtBio> Though your XP could be higher (if you did the Mission pack)
<MarkDAtBio> Actually I think the 24 is a typo Thieves can only get to 23 can't they?
<KevinMatBio> sorry
<MarkDAtBio> done.
<luxor_vault> <Sylterix> What kind of Video and Audio systems will be used in BGII?
<MarkDAtBio> If you are referring to in game movies
<MarkDAtBio> Then BG2 uses the interplay movie format which is an incredibly efficient compression system
<MarkDAtBio> For audio we are improving upon our EAX support as well as adding AUreal support.
<MarkDAtBio> done.
<Ilibard> <Leo> Question: How closely related the SoA story is to the BG story? Will it be along the same lines of Bhall's progeny? Or maybe, it will ignore the ancestry altogether, starting a brand new plot? Perhaps, a mixture of both?
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<JamesAtBio> The story line will continue from the original; however, this doesn't mean we will be dwelling exclusively on the Bhaal story arc.  There are many new twists introduced in BG2.
<JamesAtBio> Done
<MarkDAtBio> I'm going to sneak in here
<MarkDAtBio> Going back to the previous question.
<MarkDAtBio> Video wise  we also have 3D support
<luxor_vault> <Telmar> Question: In what way will assassin's by different then the thief in Baldur's Gate?
<MarkDAtBio> And support for resolutions above 640.
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<JamesAtBio> The assassin is taken from the kit introduced in the Thieves handbook.
<JamesAtBio> He will be able to create and use poison.  However, he will be slightly weaker than the thief with respect to some of his thieving abilities.
<JamesAtBio> done
<luxor_vault> <Sithas> Question: Will there be more 'pure' fighter NPCs in BG2 that can join your party? There was around two fighters in all of BG, and only one had more than 2 stars in weapon skills
<Ilibard> <RedKnox> Will there be a subplot for Minsc and Boo?  (Find out about Boo's heritage as a space monster?)  LOL  ;)
<JamesAtBio> Kevin, why don't you take this one
<KevinMatBio> Ok
<MarkDAtBio> Go for the eyes Boo! Go for the eyes!
<KevinMatBio> Yes there will be pure fighter NPCs in BG2. Also, for the NPCs, we're balancing out there skills very carefully
<KevinMatBio> We'll keep them interesting, regardless of class
<KevinMatBio> As for Minsc
<KevinMatBio> Everday is an adventure!
<KevinMatBio> Done
<KevinMatBio> That would be, everyday
<luxor_vault> <Keylaeris> How will the system work for creating scrolls/potions/magic weapons/armor?  Will it be point and click or more complex?
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<JamesAtBio> You'll really have to wait for the game to find out how magic items are created.
<JamesAtBio> done
<Ilibard> <Kaiosh> Question: By no fed ex quests, do you mean we never have to find an item and bring it to someone?  Or does that mean no pointless deliver this item to this person?
<MarkDAtBio> You definately never have to put on the uniform and get the guy to sign the sheet.
<BenAtBioWare> lol
<luxor_vault> <Thais> Q: Can you list off some of the new and higher level spells that will be in BG2 and describe them? ;-)
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<JamesAtBio> We really don't want to reveal any more spells that we already have.  We have to leave some surprises in the game.
<JamesAtBio> Done
<Ilibard> <Reff> Will characters that played ToSC have a head-start on normal BG characters?
<BenAtBioWare> I got it
<BenAtBioWare> With Tales of the sword coast the Xp cap was raised to 161000, so of course they have some advantage
<BenAtBioWare> As well, there are many good items form the mission pack that will aid the player in BG2
<BenAtBioWare> BUT
<MarkDAtBio> Evil music...
<KevinMatBio> Neutral music... (just to be fair)
<BenAtBioWare> We have spent much time and attention to make sure that the game is balanced for the new player as well
<BenAtBioWare> advantage yes, neccissary, no
<BenAtBioWare> done
<luxor_vault> <Leo> Question: Will the player be rewarded/punished for acting according to/against his/her alignment in different situations? If so, and given that the party might consist of characters of different alignments, is the outcome and direction of the quests gonna depend on who in the party initiates them? Or is the protagonist always assumed to be the party leader?
<KevinMatBio> got it
<KevinMatBio> Typically, the person who is talking will be thought the represent the group by the NPC who you've approached
<KevinMatBio> When the story allows for it, acting outside of alignment has consequences, sometimes serious
<KevinMatBio> It depends on where you are and how you've approached the plot.
<KevinMatBio> Different plots have different endings depending on how you roleplay them
<KevinMatBio> Done
<Ilibard> <N|xHex> Here is a real question: Will any of the NPC's be kit characters, or just normal classes???
<JamesAtBio> got it
<JamesAtBio> Since most players won't have the time to test out all of the kits with their main character, we decided to give many of the NPCs kits.
<JamesAtBio> Some of the NPCs won't have kits (the multi-classed ones)
<JamesAtBio> done
<luxor_vault> <Silverdawn> Question: Which programmer was the "voice" of Boo?
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<BenAtBioWare> I got it
<KevinMatBio> No I got it
<BenAtBioWare> go ahead James
<KevinMatBio> Mark has it
<MarkDAtBio> David Falkner was the voice of Boo (squeek!)
<BenAtBioWare> lol
<MarkDAtBio> Hah I win!
<ZarthAtBioware> Hehe
<JamesAtBio> Damn, Mark was fast
<JamesAtBio> Done
<Ilibard> <Grendel> Question: will BG2 be supported under Windows 2000?
<MarkDAtBio> And I don't touch type
<MarkDAtBio> Me.
<MarkDAtBio> Yes Windows 2000 will be supported since it supports the newest Direct X
<MarkDAtBio> done.
<luxor_vault> <Default> Question: Will players be able to reach a low reputation score, and still continue playing the game instead of constantly fighting off guards until their deaths?
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<JamesAtBio> Much of Baldur's Gate 2 takes place in areas where there are no authorities, so you won't have to worry about a low rep
<JamesAtBio> However, if you're in Athkatla and you mass murder dozens of people, then yes, you'll have problems with the local law enforcement.
<JamesAtBio> We have tried to make it a little fairer than it was in BG
<JamesAtBio> DOne
<Ilibard> <Telmar> Question: Will Baldur's Gate 2 be more open at the start of the game? Like being able to go to the main city at the start of the game?
<KevinMatBio> Got it
<KevinMatBio> Yes, it will.
<BenAtBioWare> great answer kev :)
<KevinMatBio> The entire game is very open. Main plot advances are punctuated by times when you can do whatever you wish and go anywhere
<KevinMatBio> Really, there is as little or as much direction as you wish. You'll usually know where you need to go but you don't always have to go there right now
<KevinMatBio> Done
<luxor_vault> <Zeke_A> Q: Can the Kensai use any magical items whatsoever? And how is the Kensai's AC handled?
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<KevinMatBio> I've got to go now. Good night everyone!
<luxor_vault> goodnight, thanks kevin
<BenAtBioWare> night Kev
<Jonric> thanks kevin
<ShadowLight> Good night guys!
<JamesAtBio> The Kensai can use a certain small selection of magic items.  His armor class will be quite a bit weaker than a normal fighters, due to his armor and bracer restrictions.  This is to counter balance the fact that he deals out more damage than Godzilla
<MarkDAtBio> Except for a Kensai Godzila
<JamesAtBio> We have been very careful to keep the Kensai a balanced kit.  We don't want people thinking it's the only kit to play, not do we want people to think we undercut the kit.
<JamesAtBio> DOne
<Ilibard> <NigelTufnel> Will there be any changes to the advantage bow and arrows give players? 
<JamesAtBio> nor
<JamesAtBio> Got it
<JamesAtBio> We've done several modifications to the archery rules (taking cues from the official 2nd edition rules).  
<MarkDAtBio> nor?
<JamesAtBio> Suffice to say that an archer will no longer completely dominate the battlefield.  Creatures now move faster, and can so close the distance.  As well, an archer has no shield or melee weapon, so when someone engages him in hand to hand combat he receives an 'attack of opportunity'
<JamesAtBio> Which is to say he gets a combat bonus
<JamesAtBio> Done
<luxor_vault> <Todd> Question: How much time will pass between the beginning and the end of the game?  Will your characters age?
<BenAtBioWare> BG2 takes place several weeks/months after BG1.  IT's timeline itself is not long enough to age your characters signifigantly
<BenAtBioWare> Done
<Ilibard> OK...that's it for this session.  We've got to save some questions for next month, after all!  I'd like to give a huge thanks to all the Bioware and Black Isle folks for taking the time to chat!
<JamesAtBio> Thanks for having interest in our game!
<luxor_vault> thanks all! it was fun
<BenAtBioWare> Be sure to check out the message boards, where we answer stuff like this all the time :)
<Ilibard> I'll unmoderate the channel now, and anyone who wants to hang around and chat is more than welcome.  I'm gonna grab some dinner!  :)