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Edited by Leviticus http://www.bgchronicles.com


*** Orko- sets mode: +m
<Orko-> Alright
<Orko-> First off, let me thank you all for showing up
<Orko-> Especially the BioWare and Interplay people
<Orko-> To get started
<Krys> Thanks for having us
<Orko-> Why dont you guys introduce yourselves and tell us what you do?
<Orko-> In the meantime
<Orko-> message all of your q's to me
<Krys> Chris, you start
<ChrisAtIP> Chris Parker, I am the producer at Interplay/Black Isle Studios.
<ChrisAtIP> That means I do peripheral stuff that Bioware doesn't do.  They do all the art, design, and programming, I do things like audio, QA, and PR and marketing...and int'l stuff.
<Orko-> Cool
<Krys> Luke?
<Krys> John?
<LukeAtBio> Luke here...Lead Writer on BG...design and dialogue n' such
<Orko-> whats the story?  Somewhere around 180,000 words?
<LukeAtBio> 200000 +
<Orko-> hehe
<Orko-> Okay, what about you john?
<Stick_Fig> Wow. :)
<ChrisAtIP> Actually, its more like 260k, 280k.  I can't get these guys to stop writing...
<Orko-> Neat

<Orko-> *CloudWolf* 1. How many NPC's are there really I have heard between 24-30
<ChrisAtIP> It depends on what you mean by an NPC... do you mean those who can join your party?
<SilverBGC> yesyes
<Orko-> I beleive the ones that can join your party
<LukeAtBio> if so...there are 25
<Orko-> Cool
<LukeAtBio> that you meet at various times...not just lined up for the picking
<Orko-> Oh, and by the way, tell us when your done answering the question so we dont interrupt with another question
<ChrisAtIP> Done then.

<Orko-> *FirePath* HOw far can a players be apart in multiplayer?
<ChrisAtIP> They can separate over one area.  One area is really big though...
<Orko-> How many screens, would you say?
<ChrisAtIP> There are roughly 50 above ground areas, each encompasses 10x10 game screens.
<ChrisAtIP> Along with those above ground areas, you have all the associated interiors..dungeon levels..etc.
<Orko-> Cool
<LukeAtBio> 8x8 screens...64 total area
<Orko-> Oh, by the way
<ChrisAtIP> I think people are going to want to stay together most of the time however.  Otherwise, you might wind up in a bit of a bind.
<Orko-> Krys is the PR Lady at Interplay
<Krys>  Lady?
<Krys> Public Relations Professional
<Orko-> Yes :)
<Stick_Fig> Orko-: hehe.
<Orko-> Silver is from BGChronicles
<Orko-> www.bgchronicles.com - good site
<Orko-> anyways
<Krys> I handle all of Black Isle Studios products (BIS is the RPG div of IP
<Orko-> next question

<Orko-> <SilverBGC> What is the status of the designing contests mentioned on the message board for the last month?
<ChrisAtIP> We have talked about this, but I don't think anything is final at this point.
<LukeAtBio> none of them were ever confirmed really, though I'd still like to see something like that happen
<Orko-> Alright
<ChrisAtIP> We want to do something like this... but we haven't had time to officially decide on all rules and stuff...  
<LukeAtBio> maybe a "design a char for the mission pack" or something.   Upt to the boss guys tho :)
<Orko-> hehe
<Orko-> Done?
<ChrisAtIP> Anyhow, I guess you can just say there are ideas bouncing around, just nothing official.  Done

<Orko-> *iVilDeD* Does the NPC combat scripts take the NPCs alignment into consideration?
<Krys> Yep, we're working on something
<ChrisAtIP> To some degree.  The NPCs alignment may conflict with the party's current reputation.  This will affect things like morale, which affects things in the combat scripts.
<LukeAtBio> Some members will take off pretty quick if your actions are despicable enough...or too good, as well
<Orko-> So you can actually scare people off?
<Orko-> or get 'too close' to them? :)
<ChrisAtIP> You won't scare them off as much as make them mad.  
<Orko-> cool
<LukeAtBio> I meant you own party members...if they disagree with your "style" of leadership
<ChrisAtIP> Some of the characters will just leave if you irritate them, some will attack you. 
<Orko-> alright
<LukeAtBio> common folk will react in hostile manner if your reputaion is low enough, though
<Orko-> alright... next question

<Orko-> *ritual* Are you going to be concerened with hacks coming out for save games allowing people to creat all powerful characters with amazing stats?
<ChrisAtIP> I think our opinion is 'hack away'.  
<ChrisAtIP> If you want to enjoy the game the way is was meant to be played...please do.
<LukeAtBio> not too much...the host of the game controls who enters and who doesn't
<ChrisAtIP> If you want to hack it up and make an all powerful guy.  Feel free.
<Orko-> okay, next question
<ChrisAtIP> As Luke said, the host is really going to decide if anybody can cheat in their game.
<Orko-> Yeah, that seems logical


<Orko-> *iVilDeD* Are the "common people" (NPC's that can't join the party) stationary or do they walk around? And what do they do nighttime?
<ChrisAtIP> Some are stationary, some walk.  Most tend to do strange things at night...like sleep.
<JohnGBio> brb
<Orko-> hehe
<ChrisAtIP> This is actually one of the funnest times to be an evil character.  

<Orko-> *TopFlite* Q: Can ya'll elaborate on the replayability aspects? Difficulty levels, random sub-quests, etc?
<LukeAtBio> less respectable people will be strolling about at night
<ChrisAtIP> Luke?
<LukeAtBio> there are no random subquests...just a bloody lot of them...
<Orko-> How many are we looking at?  
<LukeAtBio> doing some will close options for others...
<Orko-> I heard somthing around 400?  Is that correct?
<LukeAtBio> including simple "fetch item" ones and such...about 200 now
<Orko-> awesome
<LukeAtBio> hey there ben
<Orko-> alright, moving on...
<Orko-> But first
<Orko-> Ben, why dont you introduce yourself and tell us what you do?
<BenAtBio> I'm Ben Smedstad  The Assistant Producer here at BioWare
<Orko-> Cool
<Orko-> Alright, moving on...

<Orko-> *Connor* How long did it take to write the initial design for BG
<BenAtBio> Months
<BenAtBio> and we are revising stuff even now
<ChrisAtIP> Ben, how long did it take to come up with the stuff you guys sent to IP originally?
<BenAtBio> I started on it in march of 96
<LukeAtBio> what do you mean by initial?  Dialogue has taken about a year and we're adding to this day
<BenAtBio> the initial design books were (there were 3 of them ) hundreds of pages long
<Orko-> wow
<Orko-> a lot of books
<Orko-> Alright, next question...

<Orko-> *ritual* how are you going to balance mages? Initially mages have basically no hitpoints, cant hit anything, and have very few spells.  Wont being a mage for the first 1/2 of the game be very boring, since you'll be saving spells and watching the fighter?
<ChrisAtIP> We use the AD&D system.  If you make a mage, you have to put up with their problems at low levels.  But you only have to make it to level 5 before they are...well...powerful.
<BenAtBio> playing a mage is tough early on... that is true.  But the payoff is in the higher levels
<BenAtBio> You never travel alone.. there are like 25 NPC's who help you out
<LukeAtBio> We won't be messing with the basic TSR rules much, but mages hardly sit on the sidelines...
<BenAtBio> No party is complete without the right mix of people
<ChrisAtIP> And we do have some low level scrolls in at the beginning of the game so that mages will be a bit more active in combat.
<LukeAtBio> any character that takes off by himself with no party is basically dead
<Orko-> What about vice versa?
<Orko-> Are you at all worried about mages becomming too powerfull?
<BenAtBio> unless he's Biff Kickass (my debug character
<Orko-> O:)
<LukeAtBio> you da man, ben
<KrysAtIP> That's great, Ben!
<KrysAtIP> LOL
<Orko-> Alright, next question...
<LukeAtBio> at higher levels the difficulty goes up with appropriate opponants
<LukeAtBio> that have resistances to magic and such
<Orko-> Ah
<LukeAtBio> done

<Orko-> *Whiskey* What do you think the impact of upcoming online games such as Everquest will have on BG?
<ChrisAtIP> Good question.  I think that well written single player RPGs will always have a place in gaming.
<BenAtBio> They are very diffrent types of games... but it does raise the bar in RPGs in general
<LukeAtBio> Don't think it will do much to BG...different kind of animal.   There's room for both.
<LukeAtBio> It will be interesting to see how they keep people interested int eh long term
<Orko-> Yeah.. dont get me started with UO :)
<Orko-> moving on..
<LukeAtBio> I still play UO occasionally, but it's a different experience than bg

<Orko-> *Savathar* Question: Will there be "voice" in the game, meaning that players will be able to talk to each other 
<BenAtBio> I assume that is a multiplayer question
<Orko-> I hope it is...
<BenAtBio> um.. Communication in multiplayer is done through text only at this point
<Orko-> alright
<ChrisAtIP> I don't think I understand the question...  The players can chat in multiplayer.  Many of the NPCs in the game have audio voice overs and such....

<Orko-> *Connor* The 100 spells that is said to exist are from 1st to 3rd level. Or are there more powerful spells only available to npcs?
<JohnGBio> and players do have slots for personalized wavefiles to customize character disposition
<ChrisAtIP> There are some higher level spells that the players will be able to cast in addition to NPCs who have some higher level spells
<LukeAtBio> Some NPC's will be higher level, but generally they have the same spells that the player will.
<ChrisAtIP> None of the spells in the game are higher than 5th level though.  And trying to cast these in the game will be more difficult for your characters since the spells are more difficult.
<ChrisAtIP> Oops.  I meant to say there are some scrolls with higher level spells....
<Orko-> neat
<ChrisAtIP> Done

<Orko-> *swizin* question on dialog in multiplayer, do all players have to watch the leader talk to npcs, or can they carry on their own dialogs at the same time?
<ChrisAtIP> All players watch dialog.  However, it doesn't have to be the leader's dialog.  
<ChrisAtIP> The host has a list of options for each player that he can toggle on and off.
<ChrisAtIP> These include things like dialogue, access to money, access to inventory...etc
<ChrisAtIP> But in order to keep the game synchronous and to make sure that no players were confused about what was going on, we decided that dialogue text comes up on all windows.
<ChrisAtIP> Done
<Orko-> neat

<Orko-> *BeoWolve* In multi-player, after all the pc's create their own unique scripts and connect with each other will all the scripts be automatically downloaded to each individual in the multi? so that everyone will experience each others unique reactions to circumstances...and what processes are in place to do this?
<ChrisAtIP> Yes.  Done

<Orko-> *dreaderus* Question : Is there a particular type of character suited for being your main guy? would a thief be less useful then say a mage or a fighter?
<BenAtBio> James is playing through as a thief right now
<BenAtBio> any class is good. It's whatever you wish to play
<BenAtBio> I like the fighter mage myself
<Orko-> Cool
<LukeAtBio> all the classes have their uses...undoubtably someone will come up with the "perfect combo," but they will be fairly even in the long run
<ChrisAtIP> I have been playing with rangers and cleric multi-classes.
<BenAtBio> :)
<BenAtBio> healing is for losers

<Orko-> alright, next q
<Orko-> *iVilDeD* How many NPCs are there that *cannot* join the party?
<ChrisAtIP> we
<LukeAtBio> hundreds

<BenAtBio> 900+
<ChrisAtIP> we'll talk about losers in our next multiplayer game....Ben.
<Orko-> Wow, thats a lot
<BenAtBio> over 900 NPC's and creatures in the game
<LukeAtBio> that many already?  I'm taking anotehr holiday :)

<Orko-> *iVilDeD* Can a thief break into houses usually of limit to the other classes?
<BenAtBio> thats a definite bonus of a thief
<BenAtBio> there are some nasty traps that are better off disarmed as well
<BenAtBio> and a backstab always gets the combat rolling
<Orko-> neato

<JohnGBio> as does getting caught pickpocketing
<Orko-> *Aldaris* Will the playable demo be available soon?
<ChrisAtIP> The playable demo is on perma-hold.  
<BenAtBio> Theives are really cool in BG.  I really enjoy playing them...and for the first time they are usefull in a RPG
<ChrisAtIP> We want to finish the game and give it all the polish and bug-fixing that it deserves.  We are still planning on a demo, but its second priority to the main game now.
<Orko-> Theifs are also a requirment for any party venturing into dungeons, with their dissarming abilities and detection, correct?
<ChrisAtIP> It will be a good demo though.  It will actually be worth playing if you play it after the game is out.  It uses art from the full game, but it has a totally different scenario and characters.
<ChrisAtIP> Done.
<JohnGBio> Especially at disarming traps, most of which are...sadly...lethal

<Orko-> <Smak> Will there be a space to write in your character's custom bio/character description for mulit player
<ChrisAtIP> Currently there isn't, but that's actually a pretty good idea.  We'll have to bring that up with the programmers.
<BenAtBio> I think he is checking
<Orko-> hehe
<BenAtBio> It shouldn't be a problem
<BenAtBio> I'll write it down
<BenAtBio> ask and ye shall recieve

<Orko-> okay, next q..
<Orko-> *Maligor* How will multiple magic items in a multiplayer game, with the same history be handled.  Will both players be allowed to carry the same item or something else?
<BenAtBio> The server or host, can decide who and what get into his/her game
<BenAtBio> If the server doen't want 2 +2 longswords in the game...there won't be
<Orko-> or, you could find elven chain growing in the apple orchard...
<Orko-> you never know :)
<ChrisAtIP> The game itself isn't going to care if there are 2 copies of the same item.  It treats them both as objects the same way....so its just up to the host...done.
<BenAtBio> it's basically totally up to the server

<Orko-> *dingo* so who's scoring  BG and roughly how many mins of orig music can we expect?
<BenAtBio> I gotta go boys
<BenAtBio> Been FUN
<BenAtBio> later
<Orko-> thanks
<Orko-> for comming that is

*** BenAtBio has quit IRC (Read error to BenAtBio[AMANUJAKU.bioware.com]: EOF from client)
<LukeAtBio> back
<ChrisAtIP> Interplay's internal audio department is handling this.  The composer is a contractor and I'm not sure if I can say who he is at this point.  But he's been working on the music for quite some time and the stuff is pretty awesome.  
<ChrisAtIP> Its going to be a classical type....conan flavor... of music.  Right now we are looking at about 35 minutes of music in the score.
<Orko-> neato
<ChrisAtIP> And just to clarify...that's Conan the movie...not the TV show....   :)
<ChrisAtIP> done
<Orko-> hehehe
<LukeAtBio> shivers
<LukeAtBio> ugh

<Orko-> *Smak* how playable is the game with an evilly aligned char, are there enough missions, like minded npcs, etc. ?
<LukeAtBio> We are somewhat limited in this area due to teh TSR code of content...
<ChrisAtIP> There are enough like minded NPCs... however, we do have to make it harder for an evil character per TSR.
<LukeAtBio> so we are not allowed to present evil as an "acceptable" way of life...
<LukeAtBio> though you can be a right bastard in many sittuations
<Orko-> heh
<Orko-> cool

<Orko-> okey, next q..
<Orko-> *Overlord* If hacking is "acceptable", then how will 
<LukeAtBio> you are still the "hero" though your motivations may be evil
<ChrisAtIP> The host controls what goes on in his game.  
<LukeAtBio> mulitplayer games are moderated by the host...the player who starts teh game...
<LukeAtBio> he will have the option of allowing or not allowing characters based on teh game that he wants to play
<ChrisAtIP> If the host wants no hacked characters, he can choose to limit imported characters a) not at all, b) they bring no xp, c) they bring no items, d) they bring no items/xp.
<LukeAtBio> if he wants "unlimited" characters, then so be it
<ChrisAtIP> Also, if somebody hacks...the host can always give them the boot.
<LukeAtBio> a nice big shiny BOOT button.   
<Orko-> A booting he wont forget!

<Orko-> *Ariakas* How many cities are there?
<LukeAtBio> one city...several towns...Baldur's Gate itself is the biggie
<LukeAtBio> 7 or so communities of varying sizes

<Orko-> *^JAK^* How many actual characters (heroes and such) from Forgotten Realms are there that can be encountered? And can the be part of your party?
<LukeAtBio> You will encounter several recognizable faces...but they will not be joining you...
<ChrisAtIP> There is actually one 'one' city....Baldur's Gate.  There is one big town, one little town, a massive fortress town, and a bunch of settlements and camps.
<JonnyAtIP> And don't even -ask- about Drizzt...
<LukeAtBio> they would overshadow your party due to their levels and reputations...we want your characters to be the "stars"...
<Orko-> Oh, that leads me to another question up in muh queue :)
<LukeAtBio> besides...with the heros so come the villains...I don't wanna hang with Drizzt if Balors keep knocking on the door

<Orko-> forgive me whoever asked this, but somebody asked "What would happen if you were to kills Drizzt"
<LukeAtBio> you would get his stuff.  good luck
<JonnyAtIP> The BG team would come and pumel you. J/K
<ChrisAtIP> Hahahaha.
<ChrisAtIP> I hope all you hackers are just that good.

<Orko-> *Armand* Please ask them "Will Baldur's Gate support 3D sound (I.E. SoundBlaster Live! or A3D)?"
<ChrisAtIP> Sorry.  No plans for 3D sound in the fashion you mention.
<ChrisAtIP> We are including several spacialized SFX, which is essentially 'old-fashioned' 3d sound.
<ChrisAtIP> Done.
<Orko-> *Star-Fyre* Question : Does that mean at nigh we can go into homes and murder people as they sleep?
<ChrisAtIP> Of course.
<ChrisAtIP> Don't expect the rest of the people in the town to be very happy about it.
<ChrisAtIP> And don't have a paladin in your party when you decide to go running around whacking people in their beds.
<ChrisAtIP> You'll lose massive amounts of reputation for these types of acts.
<ChrisAtIP> Done.
<LukeAtBio> careful though...eventually maybe anotehr group of "heroes" will come after YOU

<Orko-> *Talbot* How restrictive is the storyline in BG? Does it follow a real time line? Is it possible to actually fail to acheive an objective due to being late?
<LukeAtBio> careful though...eventually maybe anotehr group of "heroes" will come after YOU
<ChrisAtIP> We've tried not to do this much, but I think it happens sometimes...Luke?  you got a better answer?
<LukeAtBio> restrictive?  we have stayed away from time limits fro the most part...
<LukeAtBio> though members of your party may leave if their concerns are not met in a resonable amount of time
<LukeAtBio> If they're on some sort of mission, they cannot afford to dilly dally about

<Orko->  *TopFlite* As far as that 'fun to be an evil character' I'm assuming like fallout there'll be multiple endings for the overall story?
<ChrisAtIP> The way the story is structured, if you accomplish the main goal of the game, you only get one ending.  There are other endings along the way, but those aren't 'win' endings.
<Machette> will thre be any cgi cinematics in the game?
<LukeAtBio> as far as the "main"story goes, no.  Whatever your motives, you essentially have the same goals.  
<ChrisAtIP> Some CG movies, but not a whole lot.  I think the grand tally is up to about 12 or 15 mintues now...
<ChrisAtIP> A good portion of that is the intro and end movies.
<ChrisAtIP> Done.

<Orko-> *Bombadill* for someone not familiar with ad&d or rpg will BG be as much fun and accesible as for someone with lots of experience
<LukeAtBio> Teh game will not beat you over the head with rules...
<ChrisAtIP> We hope so.  We have tried to include the necessary rules wherever it is you have to use them.
<LukeAtBio> most of the imposing stuff will be handled automatically behind the scenes...
<ChrisAtIP> For example, during character gen, a text box tells you what all the different abilities are, etc.
<ChrisAtIP> Yes.  And if you want to see the rolls, we have options for them to come up, if you don't want to see the numbers, you can turn them off.

<Orko-> *Connor* Exactly what rules do you use (2nd edition or what?)
<ChrisAtIP> 2nd edition rules and the 2nd edition FR Campaign stuff.
<ChrisAtIP> We have access to all the core rules, and all FR.
<ChrisAtIP> FR = Forgotten Realms, btw
<Orko-> alright
<Orko-> next q

<Orko-> *iVilDeD* If an NPC dies, can you pick up his/her body (will it act as normal equipment?) and carry it to the local temple to be raised?
<ChrisAtIP> Sort of.
<ChrisAtIP> Its assumed that you are carrying the body.  If you don't want to, you kick them out of the party.  Then their dead body will appear on the ground.

<Orko-> *Elrond* How object-based is the world? (ie: can you relocate chairs, take cups with you, pick up rocks and use them in slings, break mirrors, etc...)
<JonnyAtIP> not really, the artwork is pre-rendered so there isn't much interaction with the smaller pieces around you
<LukeAtBio> non plot based items are usually part o fthe pre-render...
<ChrisAtIP> We didn't feel it was necessary to play with chairs.
<Orko-> Alright
<LukeAtBio> we didn't want to clutter teh game with mundane items...
<JonnyAtIP> However, you can still open up trunks and whatnot and peruse the findings.  Most of what you've described is just eye-candy and deters from the game
<Orko-> I have been informed that chris has to go
<Orko-> Thanks for your time chris, we really appreciate it

<Orko-> What are all of the five chapters?  Can you explain them?
<KrysAtIP> I think John at Bioware has to go too, right, John?
<SilverBGC> Seven chapters
<KrysAtIP> There are actually 7 chapters
<JohnGBio> yep
<KrysAtIP> Go, Silver!
<Orko-> I just ask the questions :)
<KrysAtIP> Right. We just work here.
<Orko-> John, thanks for stopping bye
<JohnGBio> thanks everyone--later all and good gaming
<LukeAtBio> they are the divisions in the plot we arranged teh story around...basically key events that progress teh story
<LukeAtBio> the time in which you get to them is pretty much up to you

<Orko-> Alright
<Orko-> Before the rest of you BG guys leave
<Orko-> im going to open up the chat... good luck :)
*** Orko- sets mode: -m









