Session Start: Wed Feb 11 12:13:24 1998
 *** Mod3 sets mode: +m
 <Ilibard> I'd like to welcome you all to the first monthly chat sponsored by the Vault Network (http://www.vaultnetwork.com).
 <Ilibard> Tonight, we are very pleased to have with us Ray Muzyka, the CEO of Bioware Corp, who is producing Baldur's Gate for Interplay.
 <bw-ray> CFO and joint-CEO, actually
 <Ilibard> Ray - I'll let you introduce the other members of your staff who are here as well.
 <bw-ray> Don is one of the senior programmers, Lukas is my lead writer, and Ben is my line producer...think that's about it who made it here.
 <bw-ray> All good fellows.
 <Ilibard> Before we begin, is there anythging you'd like to say in opening, Ray?
 <bw-ray> Just to thank everyone for coming out, and that we'll try and answer as many questions as possible!
 <Ilibard> OK.  On that note, let's get the ball rolling. Go ahead and send questions to the moderators.
 <Ilibard> [Harliquin ) okay...There are lots of configuraable options for controling your party, can you give us some examples?
 <RayAtBio> Well (welcome Caspiar = James, my lead designer), we allow the weapons to be configured for quick use, the spells for quick use, and the items for quick use.
 <RayAtBio> Similar to the way that Diablo allowed spells to be configured to four buttons, but slightly more complex, and a little more flexible.  For example, for an archer character you can have one bow set up to fire magic arrows, one for poison arrows, and one for regular arrows.
 <RayAtBio> A mage might have the dagger set for throwing as well as stabbing.  Spells can be similarly hotkeyed, as can items.
 <RayAtBio> Each of the bows in the above example would correspond to a key on the weapon hotkeys, which map to the function keys.
 <Ilibard> <Gryst> How much control will we have over NPCs in our party? Example: if a thief NPC is in my party, can I ask him to pick a pocket for me?
 <RayAtBio> Yes.  You have full control over everyone in your party - they are all full PC's (player characters) once they join you.
 <RayAtBio> And we have picking pockets in the game - it randomly chooses an item from the victim (if you are successful).
 <Ilibard> [GregS     ) Exactly how will starting stats be determined for your character ?  ANy rolling ?  A minimum amount plus a pool to distribute ?
 <RayAtBio> Feargus is the main man at Interplay's RPG division - welcome Gus!
 <RayAtBio> Starting stats are determined by rolls, which can then be modified by adjusting stats up or down.
 <Ilibard> <MMartigan> Is there a "main" character, where if he dies the game is over, even though the rest of the party may be alive?
 <RayAtBio> The main character is the first character you create, and if he or she dies, you must load the game from a saved slot.
 <Ilibard> <Harliquin> What can you tell us about the AI scripting language?
 <RayAtBio> It is fairly complex, and is a scripting language that we have created here.  There will be three ways to approach editing a PC's script: 1) don't touch it (if you don't want to muck with scripts, you don't have to); 2) edit it by loading in a new script from a premade list that we provide (easy and quick); or
 <RayAtBio> 3) edit the scripts line by line in a text editor outside the program (can be simple or complex, depending on how much you edit).
 <RayAtBio> The AI scripts will provide a lot of flexibility in how the characters in your party react to the world...
 <RayAtBio> e.g. if a mode dangerous foe is seen you can tell your party members to act accordingly.
 <Ilibard> How much will your party be controlled by AI, and how much by the player?
 <RayAtBio> Now, the editing of scripts might be able to occur within the program, if we can get this working...else it might have to be done via a text editor outside the program.
 <RayAtBio> The realtime editing of scripts is a complex issue.
 <RayAtBio> The AI can be turned on/off as you wish...if you want the PC's to be free of AI control, you can immediately toggle this off (i.e. if they are doing something stupid).
 <Ilibard> <ReDDoG> what about interactivity with environment?  I thought one of the low points in Diablo was that you couldn't manipulate very many objects.  How will BG rank in this field?
 <RayAtBio> Even while AI is on, you can still give them orders.  But they might respond to new threats...
 <RayAtBio> You can manipulate the objects in the environment that have uses.  We have a LOT of interaction with the characters in the game world, but we chose to limit the number of forks you can pick up.
 <RayAtBio> You don't need to hoard silverware in BG, nor do you have to worry about going to the bathroom.
 <Ilibard>  [Crumwell  ) at present, how many spells in game, and also how many type of monsters in game!
 <RayAtBio> There are...lessee...do you know the exact count of spells James?  Close to 100, right?
 <RayAtBio> And I think there are...about 40-50 types of distinct monsters.
 <RayAtBio> Over 100 spells.
 <Caspiar> Okay............there's probably close to 100
 <RayAtBio> There are close to 500 creatures in the game world (uniques), and these represent about 40 or so different monster types.
 <RayAtBio> Kevin is one of the lead QA types here at BioWare.
 <Ilibard> Will there be many sub-quests in the game, or will the focus be on the main plot?
<RayAtBio> There are about 100 subquests in the game, James says (and he and Lukas wrote most of them, so he would know).
 <Ilibard> Will there be a demo version released before the game ships?
 <RayAtBio> John!  Johnny G is my art director, and the prolific creator of art concepts for the game.
 <RayAtBio> There will be a demo version of the game, and it will come out shortly before main game release.  There will first off be a non-interactive demo, which should come out shortly, and then a full interactive demo, with a short adventure to play through.
 <Ilibard> <Ueser> How much of the plot is based on the Known history of Baulder's Gate from AD&D Forgotten Realms ?
 <Caspiar> We have used every source book published concerning Baldur's Gate.
 <RayAtBio> We have heavily researched the game using the source materials from TSR.  We draw very heavily on these books...
 <Ilibard>  [CDR-1 ) Will wizard's be able to enchant or make there own spells?
 <Caspiar> The plot is original, but many of the characters and locations will be familiar to those who have run campaigns in the Sword Coast region.
 <RayAtBio> No.  That might occur in the sequel though...higher level.
 <Ilibard> [|Zen|     ) How many subquests/extended main quests will be in each addon pack?
 <LukeAtBio> The first mission pack planned has an extensive number...
 <RayAtBio> There are a few main quests in the mission packs...go ahead, James or Lukas...
 <RayAtBio> And a lot of subquests.
 <LukeAtBio> ranging from new areas, to adding new quest in pre-existing ares
 <Ilibard> <Malix> Can you recruit monsters into your party? Or just people of the 5 races?
 <RayAtBio> You can charm monsters, and summon monsters.  They can't be the six main characters though.  But you can control them.
 <RayAtBio> And undead....you can control those too, though it's bad for the reputation and alignment might switch to evil... :)
 <Ilibard> [Sleemer   ) <Sleemer> will new character class choices be available in add-ons?
 <RayAtBio> Perhaps.  This is not known right now.  But we'll try.
 <Caspiar> I really think it would be cool to have the Psionicist in the sequel.  What about you Ray?
 <RayAtBio> Um...maybe in the Dark Sun universe, but Interplay doesn't have that license
 <Ilibard> Ray, could you explain briefly how the multiplayer component of BG works?
 <RayAtBio> The multiplayer game has exactly the same story as the single player game...it's just with 5 humans rather than 5 AI's.
 <RayAtBio> You log on with your fellow adventurers much as in a pen and paper game...remember the box sets of old?
 <Ilibard> <ReDDoG> will there be various types of multiplayer matches, such as CTF or King of the Hill type things?  Or can multiplayer matches involve two teams racing to complete a quest?
 <RayAtBio> Not in this game.  Cooperative play only (you can fight, but this is between yourselves)
 <RayAtBio> The key thing is the story, which is like a module from the AD&D roleplaying games.
 <DonAtBio> The multiplayer experience Baldur's gate provides will be much different than what many got used to in Diablo.
 <RayAtBio> Very different.
 <RayAtBio> Long term game play with the same group is one difference.
 <Ilibard> Will you be able to save the game and resume it with your friends later?
 <RayAtBio> Yes.
 <Ilibard>  <Zarth> Has there been any decissions made about having a Multiplayer join different games? I know I'll be adventuring with different people at different times, and would like to continute to use my character and not someone elses.
 <RayAtBio> We contemplate having the players who don't show up for later sessions being AI controlled.
 <DonAtBio> You can also let a new player take over an character that was played by a previous person.
 <RayAtBio> You will probably be able to export the CHARACTER, but items have to be left behind.
 <Ilibard> jer_777   ) will there be a place like Battle.net where you can find people to play with?
 <RayAtBio> We contemplate having a message board, where you can exchange IP addresses and find people to adventure with.
 <RayAtBio> It won't be quite like battle.net, but since you find a group and largely stick with that group, there is less need to log on continually with the board.
 <RayAtBio> But the same general idea.
 <Ilibard> <Crumwell> How big of a factor will lag be in multiplayer, and can you setup minimum ping levels
 <RayAtBio> The game is quite lag tolerant (we believe - this has not yet been fully tested).  As for minimum ping levels...since you adventure with 5 others, you can choose to quit at any time if the lag is too high.  Interesting idea though.
 <Ilibard> [Sleemer   ) if the host of the multiplayer game leaves, can another player control his character?
 <RayAtBio> No.  The host will be required to play (and serves as the leader of the game).  He or she starts the game out.
 <Ilibard> So a host computer is required?
 <RayAtBio> Only in the sense that one player serves as the host - the leader, who creates the game.
 <RayAtBio> I.e. server host, yes.
 <Ilibard> So if he crashes, it doesn't take down the whole game?
 <RayAtBio> It might.  We're still working on this.
 <Ilibard> [jer_777   ) if you played a multi player game with 2 people, who would control the npcs in your group? can everyone in the group control the npcs?
 <RayAtBio> RIght now it would probably be the server host.  But we're working on making these assignable to others in the party.
 <Ilibard> How much did the inclusion of multiplayer delay the production of Baldur's Gate?
 <RayAtBio> Several months.  Not mostly because it takes a long time to put it in (it doesn't), but rather because QA for multiplayer will take longer.
 <RayAtBio> More variables to worry about...
 <DonAtBio> Multiplayer also affects the single player game, not in how it plays but in how it is implemented.
 <RayAtBio> Yes, and because we were firmly in favor of putting in multiplayer, we decided to make it as clean as possible and put it in the main release.
 <Ilibard> [Cadfael   ) Will there be autosaves for multiplayer games?  Or will AI take over immediatly if say a router failed for a player that is not the host?
 <RayAtBio> Autosaving is possible.
 <Ilibard> <GILSHADU> What about an auto pause feature for the game sort of Psuedo Realtime?
 <RayAtBio> Auto pause is possible.  We might put this in as an option.
 <KevAtBioW> We'll see in playtesting...
 <Ilibard> [Sleemer   ) what animals could the Druid possibly change into? Will there be any way to fly?
 <RayAtBio> Druids can shapechange into any available animal in the area that they are in. No, no flying.
 <RayAtBio> Only when Druids reach 7th level in the game can they do this (it's normally 8th level).
 <Ilibard> Are you concerned at all about people hacking characters or cheating in multiplayer?
 <RayAtBio> No, since you play with a small group for an extended period cheating is somewhat pointless.
 <RayAtBio> Cooperative gameplay...
 <RayAtBio> You'd only hurt your friends...
 <KevAtBioW> It won't be worth your effort to cheat...and no one would want to play with you...
 <Ilibard> <MMartigan> if a player in a multiplayer game are being asses, can the person running the server boot them out of the game?
 <Ilibard> OK, folks.  We're finishing with the Q&A phase, so we're going to unmoderate the channel in just a sec and let the guys from Bioware hang out.
 <KevAtBioW> Music will be a big part of Baldur's Gate....
 <KevAtBioW> As well as sound effects....
 <Ilibard> I'd like to send a big thanks out to Ray and the whole gang at Bioware for showing up for the chat.  Thanks a ton!
 *** ChrisLTD sets mode: -m
 <BADWished> Is there Still going to be  a DVD Version? and can the game be complety installed to a Harddrive is so How big?
 <RayAtBio> DVD...yes.  Complete install.. yes.
 <PJ_>  what about line of hearing(kinda like the line of sight?
 <RayAtBio> No line of hearing.
 <Ilmarin> When engaging in HTH combat, is distance from foe a factor? Or do you simply move into a set range and automatically swing at them?
 <RayAtBio> You move to set range and swing.
 <Ilmarin> Music won't be streaming, so how is it handled?
 <RayAtBio> Music is streaming.
 <Harliquin> QUESTION: Is the AI scripting basically like C++? or Perl or what?
 <RayAtBio> Scripting is like C++, yes.
 <Valdier> Ray, like C++ including functions and all?
 <RayAtBio> No C++ functions...we have our own scripting language.


