The fantasy realm is overdone, simple as that. D&D can will obviously survive because it practically gave conception to all modern rules of fantasy and sets its stage. However, there is always the option of someone actually taking an RPG out of the fantasy realm, and into say, cyberpunk? System Shock did this, Deus Ex did this as well. If an isometric RPG could be done in cyberpunk, it would ultimately stand as a testiment that the fantasy realm is not the only perveyable means of playing. In other words, why doesn't someone do something different for friggin once?

#11 "Other possibilities: Dungeon Seige or Morrowind."

If you want to make that Sci-fi game yourself buy Dungeon Siege. It comes with everything you will need to include the Siege Engine and GMax.
Gas Powered Games got the whole GMax thing going. So now you'll get a custom scaled down version of 3DS Max free with a lot of games. Or download the regular version.
The possibilities are almost endless. And Dungeon Siege is almost done.... just a few more months of polishing.

I've had a chance to play with the scripting language and talk to a few people about it, the designers are quite impressed with what it can do, and so am I. A ton of things can be done with it...if you thought BG2's scripting was robust you haven't seen anything yet.

12: "I just wish companies would try to do something different with it, you know? Most of the D&D RPGs coming out now seem like the same thing with better graphics, and maybe a different camera view. I think BioWare's idea to have public servers up with customizable worlds and stories is a step in the right direction."

I agree with you about Bioware's ideas. Some other bits of info for you: They are doing different things with the D20 system in paper and pencil now (the D20 system is 3rd Edition D&D's core mechanics open sourced for any to use -- with some restrictions). If the Bioware engine is custmizable enough you might get your futuristic RPG. There are several D20 paper and pencil rules sets coming out soon -- including a D20 version of the classic Traveller sci fi RPG. The 3rd edition of the D&D game (and it's core D20 rules) is the most modifiable version of D&D ever. If this game spawns a significant mod community (and I think it will), D&D is only the beggining.

Some of us like the D&D rules, even though we've played them a looong time (26+ years now).

Well it's not that I don't like the D&D rules. I played D&D too "back in the day." And I loved the coveted goldbox D&D games. I just wish companies would try to do something different with it, you know? Most of the D&D RPGs coming out now seem like the same thing with better graphics, and maybe a different camera view. I think BioWare's idea to have public servers up with customizable worlds and stories is a step in the right direction.

One thing I'd really like to see is a futuristic RPG done with D&D rules, or at least modified rules to fit the setting. As long as it was done well, it could be fun.

Granted, there's not really much you can do to modify a set system that has worked for many years now... but I'm sure some company will do it some day, and hopefully it won't flop like so many others have.

Some of us like the D&D rules, even though we've played them a looong time (26+ years now). This one will have the possibility of a human referee to keep you on your toes. Computer AI can only do so much on it's own. Speaking of which, it sounds like they ran into the limits of their AI and are reducing NPCs to a single, manageable, assistant. Too bad. Maybe a future expansion can bring back the NPC party idea.

Oh, and if you want the bells and whistles of NWN without the setting their other upcoming RPG (same engine) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic might be your cup of tea. Of course it's based IIRC on another paper and pencil game (by the makers of D&D...).

Other possibilities: Dungeon Seige or Morrowind.

It's going to be a good year for RPGs.

I'd much rather have a Fallout clone than ANOTHER RPG based on the same D&D people have been playing on paper, and on computers for the last 2 decades

Thats a fair point of view. I'd say though that there is a reason AD&D has lasted so long. Its a damn fine way of creating a varied reasonably balanced (up to say 12th level) world with challenge and reward for all playing styles and individual tastes. An awful lot of the alternative RPG systems out there just don't work as well as general system for creating role playing experiences.



Anvil

BG2 had a robust scripting language for both NPC's and player controlled scripts. I bet NWN takes that language and improves on it.

or the Fallout series

Heh, I really liked the Fallout series.

Anyway, I'd much rather have a Fallout clone than ANOTHER RPG based on the same D&D people have been playing on paper, and on computers for the last 2 decades.

You mean like Arcanum, or Vampire, or the Fallout series, or Wizardy, or...

An even bigger question is, how will NPCs be handled if the combat is purely real time with no pause?

All the modules that ship with the game will be both single/multi-player capable. All of this info has been rehashed again and again at forums.bioware.com, as well as nwvault.ign.com

Indeed it has been rehashed, but now we have new information. Perhaps you did not read the entire article. There has been a major change in game design here. No longer will the player be able to directly control more than just his one character in the single-player campaign. The NPC party concept has been removed from the game.

So it seems perfectly logical to ask: if the NPC party memebers are thrown out of the SP campaign, what about PC party memebers?

Just for once I'd like to see a good looking RPG like this NOT based on D&D rules. D&D is fine and good and all, but really, once you've played one of these PC D&D RPGs, you've played them all, just with better graphics.

I do like the idea of public servers where DMs can make up their own worlds and stories though. This should add some replayability to the game. It will also be interesting to see what kinds of stories and worlds the fans will come up with.

Yes, it will be fantastic- the big question, though, is who will be the publisher?...

All the modules that ship with the game will be both single/multi-player capable. All of this info has been rehashed again and again at forums.bioware.com, as well as nwvault.ign.com ... this is going to be a truly excellent game. There is no technical difference between a single and multiplayer module, the system is client/server, the scripting language rocks ... it will be fantastic.

This is a big change, and one that I think is for the better. But one question left unanswered is whether the player will still have the option of playing the single player campaign in multiplayer mode. I hope so.