jefklak
Scholar
Hello again! I've post a couple of months ago some info about videos, reviews, guides, ... on my recently made website. This very same website received some good and some negative feedback. I've been working hard to get all the bugs out of it and to streamline the game index e.d.
Lately, I've been playing too much roleplaying games and I've had some thoughts about NPC interaction and what could have been (much) better. I've mashed together a NPC theory about RPG games - read the main article here. Since this board may be against self pimpage I'll not talk about the main article, but just skip to the NPC tests.
Do read the excellent ex-troika member interview on rpgcodex.com where they explain the different bugs in Troika's games. for the lazy:
1. Arcanum
Okay, let's test that, shall we?
I loaded my old gunslinger savegame and captured some stuff (beware: old PC and camtasia don't produce nice FPS results... and youtube screws up all text) so I walk into a bar in Tarant, looking for a brawl. *looks evil*. Throwing a molotov results in splash damage within the bar, every NPC had their own reaction
- the dwarf attacked me (lvl45, dead in a shot with looking glass rifle)
- the dark elf did not care
- the bartender disliked it
- the woman flet but I chased her down
- even my own party members didn't like attacking neutral aligned people
Notice the bartender doesn't completely react the way it should be. At first, he dislikes it I attack his customers and his faction rating drops from 68 to 0 (hatred). If this rating drops below zero he'll attack me or flee. After the massacre, he simply offers me a drink. Ha!
Good, Troika passed. Let's see if Bethesda does.
2. Oblivion (not my vid, too slow pc to capture)
watch some amazing AI in Oblivion. There are more disaster vids at youtube concerning the AI.
During a NPC conference meeting, someone tries to interrupt the piece. Notice the cheering music in the background, which does not change at all while attacking key characters. They even stand up back again - instead of going to sit in the chair or running like mad. This is definatly not the best way NPCs should react.
You fail again Bethesda! Don't f*ck up Fallout 3 or i'll kill you...
3. Wizardry 8
Thé perfect example of NPC interaction. Why? because: (quote from article)
(click image for full screenshot)
Sir-Tech more than passes the test.
Right, now I want some videos from you guys!
(All NPC test videos located here)
Lately, I've been playing too much roleplaying games and I've had some thoughts about NPC interaction and what could have been (much) better. I've mashed together a NPC theory about RPG games - read the main article here. Since this board may be against self pimpage I'll not talk about the main article, but just skip to the NPC tests.
Do read the excellent ex-troika member interview on rpgcodex.com where they explain the different bugs in Troika's games. for the lazy:
What the player experiences: You walk into a bar. The bartender greets you with a fine "Hello Stranger! Come and enjoy a pint of ale on the house!" At this point, you shoot an arrow through his neck.... he drops dead, the bar maid and most of the patrons freak out and run for the door... You laugh maniacally until you notice some guy in the corner (who happens to be the bartenders' brother in law enjoying a pint himself) unsheathing his vorpal sword and coming after you with bloody vengeance in his eyes... You kill him too and take his sword. You search the inn and find a key underneath a bottle of whiskey behind the bar. The key opens a lockbox upstairs in his room where you find a map.
What Troika was thinking: Hey, what if I want to shoot the bartender? Yeah, I hate those stereo-typical jolly fat bartender guys. It'll be more trouble, but we'll make sure you can get the map some how. For the people in the room, we'll have them check against your faction and skills, if you attack anyone, they will determine if they are scared, hostile, or unmoved by your actions. If they are scared they'll run, hostile they'll attack, and unmoved they will just sit there drinking a beer while all hell breaks loose. Yeah, we should put at least on guy in the bar who's tough as nails. The tough quiet dude who calmly drinks his beer... The guy you DO NOT want to mess with. Yeah, and if you kill anyone in this inn, the cops in town will attack you on sight. The more neutral shopkeepers will still sell to you, but they will jack the prices up because even they think you are a cold blooded killer.
1. Arcanum
Okay, let's test that, shall we?
I loaded my old gunslinger savegame and captured some stuff (beware: old PC and camtasia don't produce nice FPS results... and youtube screws up all text) so I walk into a bar in Tarant, looking for a brawl. *looks evil*. Throwing a molotov results in splash damage within the bar, every NPC had their own reaction
- the dwarf attacked me (lvl45, dead in a shot with looking glass rifle)
- the dark elf did not care
- the bartender disliked it
- the woman flet but I chased her down
- even my own party members didn't like attacking neutral aligned people
Notice the bartender doesn't completely react the way it should be. At first, he dislikes it I attack his customers and his faction rating drops from 68 to 0 (hatred). If this rating drops below zero he'll attack me or flee. After the massacre, he simply offers me a drink. Ha!
Good, Troika passed. Let's see if Bethesda does.
2. Oblivion (not my vid, too slow pc to capture)
watch some amazing AI in Oblivion. There are more disaster vids at youtube concerning the AI.
During a NPC conference meeting, someone tries to interrupt the piece. Notice the cheering music in the background, which does not change at all while attacking key characters. They even stand up back again - instead of going to sit in the chair or running like mad. This is definatly not the best way NPCs should react.
You fail again Bethesda! Don't f*ck up Fallout 3 or i'll kill you...
3. Wizardry 8
Thé perfect example of NPC interaction. Why? because: (quote from article)
Wizardry VII introduced a nice system which allowed players to literally type in their questions. Typing "rapax" would give you information about the rapax, including the NPCs personal opinion about this race. If you type "where are rapax" the person would give you directions. This even worked beyond these simple questions. For instance, you ask a Trynnie about a forgotten monastery. He tells you it belonged to the Higardi but they left a long time ago. "In fact I ste... eurhm, got most of my stuff from them". Ha, the little bastard! You type in "steal" and he replies "technically it's only stealing when you get caught". (screenshot) Beautiful! Now this is interaction. Even using rude or aggressive words like "bastard" or "kill" would net you a funny reply. Wizardry 8 even took this concept a step higher. You can see some interaction with Rattus and Rapax in the Gameplay video.
(click image for full screenshot)
- test footage 1: marten (spoiler warning!). Here, I ask Marten, one of the main plot characters, about the dark savant, the higardi, "die", "f*ck" and some more stuff. I forgot to wear the helmet so all members went insane ha.
- test footage 2: He'li's bar in Arnika.
He'Li kicks my butt as I attempt to flame her. Vi teams up, shoving a boot through my rib cage. Amazing stuff, Sir-Tech. I love the voice acting. (Fully voiced, EVERY NPC.) - test footage 3: Trynton's Chief. After chatting with Trynton's Chief, I decide to attack him with Madras (a trynnie) in my party. That was *not* a good idea. Glad to see he reacts properly to my actions in the game.
Sir-Tech more than passes the test.
Right, now I want some videos from you guys!
(All NPC test videos located here)