
Log of Baldur's Gate Chat Session With Interplay and BioWare
October 6, 1998 9:00 PDT at chat.annex.com
Editted by Silverdawn@bgchronicles.com

Session Start: Tue Oct 06 20:40:20 1998
<Meghan> Hi Jonny :)
<Meghan> If you're waiting in line to ask a question, now is a good time to type it into a text editor like Notepad, highlight the text, hit ctrl-c to copy it, and when your turn comes up, hit ctrl-v to paste it in. Remember to keep questions short and sweet :)
<Meghan> And to plug my mailing list real quick..
<Meghan> If you want to get on a mailing list for Interplay press releases and event info, drop me a line at mjenks@interplay.com and let me know whether you want to receive info on PC titles, Console titles, or both. I will not share your email address with anyone else!
<KrysAtBIS> If you are logging on from Bioware, please send me a message. Thanks...Krys
<KevAtBio> I am so here...
<Meghan> 4Okay, I know it's after 6 so let me make a couple of announcements.
<Meghan> 4First, the queue for asking questions is closed - we have over 100 people on the list now, and there's no way we'll be able to get to all of them!
<Meghan> 4If you want to talk to other people, in addition to this channel you should join #baldursgate, #baldursgate 2, or #baldursgate3, and so on
<Meghan> 4Right now the #baldursgate channels have a 25 person limit and we can't change it tonight :(
<Meghan> 4PLEASE DO NOT MESSAGE ANY OF THE CHANNEL OPERATORS!
<Meghan> 4If you have a question, and you don't get called on, I'm sorry :(  Post it on usenet or one of the message boards and we'll try to answer it there.
<Meghan> 4THE RELEASE DATE IS FALL OF 1998!  Don't ask us to get more specific than that, because we can't :)
<Meghan> 4Anyone asking about the release date will immediately lose their turn.
<Meghan> 4Sorry for all the rules :)
<Meghan> 4For anyone who cares, the current number of people in teh channel is 197 :)
<Meghan> I guess we can start now, if you like.
<Meghan> Are you guys all ready?
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Yep
<LukeAtBio> fire away
<Ray_at_BioWare> Yeah
<Ray_at_BioWare> Hit me
<Meghan> Okay - could everyone involved with Baldur's Gate please introduce yourselves, and your role in creating the game?
<KrysAtBlackIsle> (or working on it)
<Ray_at_BioWare> I'm just this guy...I talk a lot
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Yep, he talks a lot
<ChrisAtBIS> He does talk a lot....   ;)
<Ray_at_BioWare> At least I make sense sometimes...
<Ray_at_BioWare> Heh
<LukeAtBio> Luke here, Lead Writer on BG...Story dev, and general game design stuff. dialogue and whatnot
<Ray_at_BioWare> Kidding :)
<Ray_at_BioWare> I'm the producer here at BioWare
<KrysAtBlackIsle> I work at here at Black Isle Studios, on the Interplay side. I do PR for the title
<ChrisAtBIS> Chris Parker, Producer at Black Isle Studios/Interplay
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Kev? Luke?
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Jonny?
<KevAtBio> -kevin c    lead QA - tester guy....
<JFinite_at_Interplay> oh, sorry... zoning
<JFinite_at_Interplay> I'm the Baldur's Gate webmaster
<KevAtBio> You the man!///
<JFinite_at_Interplay> well, I'm an Interplay webmaster, but I seem to spend a lot of time on BG for some reason. ;P
*** Zarth is now known as BGC_Zarth
<Ray_at_BioWare> The game is coming along well, and it's a lot of fun...playing it daily.
<ChrisAtBIS> Yeah, what he said.
<Ray_at_BioWare> I actually look forward to playing it!
<LukeAtBio> daily nightly...half the office is hooked
<Ray_at_BioWare> I love Baldur's Gate!
<KrysAtBlackIsle> No!
<Ray_at_BioWare> Yes!
<KevAtBio> Custom portraits rock!...
<JonnyAtIP> yes, actually, I do have a statement.  I'm an old AD&D player and I've seen many companies try to reach the true AD&D experience on the computer.  To date, this has yet to be seen (by me).  And then along comes Baldur's Gate and I've been playing the burns I can get my hands on and I must say, to the crew at BioWare, you've got me drooling.
<Ray_at_BioWare> Actually a lot of spouses are complaining because they SO are playing too much...they're all addicted
<Ray_at_BioWare> I mean, their Significant Others
<JonnyAtIP> It's by far the best CRPG I've ever had the experience to play.  I congratulate you and can only wait for the future titles to come.
<Ray_at_BioWare> The forest of cloakwood is quite fun, though deadly.  Lots of spiders, web traps...nasty!
<JonnyAtIP> oh, and btw, if you guys ever cut your ties with IP, I will personally hunt you down and pelt you with PEZ. ;P
<LukeAtBio> Don't you threaten ME with pez young man.
* JonnyAtIP grins at Luke
<Ray_at_BioWare> Young whipper snappers and their pez...
<Meghan> Okay.. we're starting.
<Grumbar> Will the optional rule for personal experience be used? ex. Defeating a creature in single combat. or casting a succesful spell in a mages case.
<Ray_at_BioWare> No.
<ChrisAtBIS> All the characters in the party share all experience.
<LukeAtBio> nope...no way to judge effective action on an individual basis
<Ray_at_BioWare> Too complex to implement...
<Grumbar> thanks
<LukeAtBio> what if your cleric heals your fighters? or your mage casts haste...less experience for them than the fighter that gets the killing blow?
<Ray_at_BioWare> You tell 'em Luke!
<LukeAtBio> easy ray...you'l spill your noodles
<Archmage> Are you planning any Dragonlance Modules? If not who do you see about using your engine to maybe make some?   And are Mages Able to have familars in BG? And YOU LOT ARE THE MOST ENVEYED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
<Ray_at_BioWare> No, IP has the rights to the FR and Planescape at present, not Dragonlance...
<LukeAtBio> No familiars in the first BG...we're looking into it for the sequel though
<ChrisAtBIS> We (Black Isle) don't have rights to the DragonLance materials.  We only have the Forgotten Realms and Planescape
<Ray_at_BioWare> However, licensure of the engine is certainly possible and we will be discussing this with IP biz and Feargus, division director of BIS when we next meet.
<Meghan> Guys, let me know when to go to the next question please :)
<Archmage> Thanks guys keep up the good work and Thanks Meghan
<Ray_at_BioWare> Familiars...in the sequel, we want to do this yes.
<Meghan> Welcome!
<Meghan> Next?
<Meghan> *nudge*
<LukeAtBio> fire away
<Dogman> It's an honor to speak to you guys...
<Ray_at_BioWare> Our pleasure sir!
<Dogman> First let me say, I can't wait to play BG!!!  My question is, how many copies of BG do you feel that you need to sell in order for you to consider it a commercial success?
<Ray_at_BioWare> It's a success if we would want to buy it ourselves.  Period.
<LukeAtBio> any idea on actual numbers chris?
<Dogman> Ahhh, but no particular amount of copies?  Like over a million, etc.?
<Ray_at_BioWare> That would be nice, true.
<Dogman> Unless, anyone else has another answer, that's my only question.  Thanks for your time!
<ChrisAtBIS> A success is difficult to guage, and I can't really get into the numbers because we are a public company and we are currently in a blackout period.
<Dogman> blackout period?
<ChrisAtBIS> I think anybody would be happy selling a million units.
<ChrisAtBIS> :)
<Paladyne> Will Gamespy be the only server browser utility to recieve support from BioWare?  Is there some sort of exclsuive Gamespy and Bioware have that will give them (Gamespy) the primary touch on everything?----Thank you for your time and hard work, I greatly appreciate it.... Jason R. Allen----
<ChrisAtBIS> We are currently in contact with other services besides Gamespy.
<ChrisAtBIS> While we know that we will support Gamespy, the other services haven't been completely decided upon.
<Ray_at_BioWare> Microsoft Direct Lobby is also supported in the game code.
<Ray_at_BioWare> That's more a protocol than a specific service.
<Meghan> Next?
<Paladyne> Thank you kindly
<Clutter> Sorry no question
<Clutter> Just listenin
<Meghan> :)
<Ray_at_BioWare> Make one up then! ;)
<Meghan> Hehe
<Meghan> Yetty?
<Yetty>  I am as clutter, for now, might have one later (many bows to bioware though)
<Che> If you join an existing party with players at different levels, how will the averaging work out and will it go both ways? Will haste age a character?
<Meghan> Sorry for the multiple go aheads; when people leave the queue it does that.
<LukeAtBio> No character aging in BG...and averaging? characters receiv equal experience regardless of level
<Ray_at_BioWare> If you join an existing party, then you get EP as the party does...you start at whatever level you join the game at.
<LukeAtBio> when you meet new NPCs they will be the same average level as your party.
<ChrisAtBIS> When you encounter NPCs that can join your party later in the game, their level is similar to the character level of the party.
<LukeAtBio> so that picking up new NPC's is always worth it
<Che> ok thank you :)
<ChrisAtBIS> next?
<Ray_at_BioWare> New NPC's are always cool as well because of their personalities, and new abilities
<Meghan> Thanks Che :)
<Actaeon> Thanks in advance for a great game. . .Will future modules be available as expansions or new programs?  Can we, the user, design modules, maps, etc.?
<LukeAtBio> the mission packs are add-ons to the existing game.
<Ray_at_BioWare> Any expansions would be developed internally.
<LukeAtBio> and no, BG won't be editable.
<ChrisAtBIS> The Bioware Infinity Engine, which is basically the Baldur's Gate engine, wouldn't really work well with editors, the data that needs to be handled is just too big.
<Tar_Palantir> I plan to play a Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric ... What, if any, would be my armor, casting and weapon restrictions and are you using the dual/multi-class restrictions in AD&D 2nd Edition?
<Ray_at_BioWare> The background art is not tile based.
<Ray_at_BioWare> AD&D 2nd edition restrictions.
<LukeAtBio> a fighter /cleric has no restrictions on armor or casting while wearing said armor
<Ray_at_BioWare> Clerics can not use any non cleric weapons (ever), and cleric fighters can wear any armor
<LukeAtBio> they obey the restrictions of the cleric's available weapons though
<ChrisAtBIS> As a cleric you will have limited weapon choices... otherwise, that character doesn't suffer from many class restrictions
<Tar_Palantir> thanks =)
<Ray_at_BioWare> Wow, good thing we all said the same thing :)
<Wildstorm1> (1) Based on your latest round of beta testing, what does your team find to be the most challenging monster that you've implemented? (2) Regarding the dialogue to add NPCs to the party, is it weak? For instance, other RPGs sometimes make it so they will obviously join the party no matter what you say. (3) Lastly, can NPCs sometimes join with cool goodies (like magic weapons and stuff)? My thanks to all your crew for reviving the RPG ge
<Meghan> Please just answer the first one guys.
<Ray_at_BioWare> You can insult NPC's no worries.  Luke insisted on that :)
<Ray_at_BioWare> Oops - sorry Meghan.
<ChrisAtBIS> (1) Haha!  The most challenging monster to implement would be the AD&D 2nd edition rules!
<LukeAtBio> they will leave if they hate you :)
<Ray_at_BioWare> Challengine monsters...it all depends on your level when you meet 'em.
<Ray_at_BioWare> Yeah, those rules are a pain in the *ss!
<Ray_at_BioWare> Gotta stay true to them though.
<Karl_Schmidt> Meep to thee, good sirs and ladies. His lord Void asked me to pose the following questions: Are you concidering including dual weapons for the sequels/expansions, or this game? Are you going to include additional classes in the sequels/expansions?
<KrysAtBlackIsle> The expansion pack on this game has not been announced, so we really can't discuss it to any length.
<LukeAtBio> dual weapons for the sequel is very likely, as well as additional classes.
<Karl_Schmidt> Thank yas.
<Argion> Is the game coming out on DVD? If yes, will it be at the same time as the CD version?
<ChrisAtBIS> That's all you Krys!
<ChrisAtBIS> :)
<Ray_at_BioWare> Yes, DVD - same as CD.
<Argion> Thanks :)
<Argion> looking forward to it
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Really, Ray?
<Ray_at_BioWare> Just one disc instead of multiple
<KrysAtBlackIsle> It hasn't been decided for sure -- we hope so. ; )
<CaptainHowdy> i have to start out by saying that all of you up there are doing a great job and we all appreciate it! my question is will i be able to make use of my new 3dfx card in BG, or will it have to wait for the sequel?  Meg you rock!  Thankyou everyone for your time!
<ChrisAtBIS> BG doesn't have any sort of 3d support.  It doesn't need it as all the backgrounds are pre-rendered.
<Blod> what are you doing to cut down on lag? how often will you change cd's? will dvd be the same price?
<ChrisAtBIS> Moving forward with the engine we would like to rebuild some of the display routines to make use of 3d hardware though.
<Ray_at_BioWare> Just on the phone right now...sorry for not answering more...
<LukeAtBio> changing cd's will be area based, so the number of times you change them will mostly depend on how often you go to (whatever) area.
<LukeAtBio> major blocks will be on the same discs
<ChrisAtBIS> The multiplayer code is asyncronous.  That means that the exact same stuff doesn't always happen on the connected systems.  The result is always the same though.
<ChrisAtBIS> At any rate, the asyncrous data transfer means we have to send less data and it doesn't have to be verified as much.
<ChrisAtBIS> Ray, did I screw up any of that answer?
<Ray_at_BioWare> No, sounds ok to me.  It's simplified of course...
<Blod> will dvd be the same price?
<Meghan> Oh, to answer the question - I do online PR for Interplay.  Mostly I hang out online and talk to the gamers, run chats, do whatever promotions I can on a negative budget, and so on :)
<LukeAtBio> no clue on price chris or krys?
<KrysAtBlackIsle> not right now
<ChrisAtBIS> I don't think we can comment on the wholesale price as these things change sometimes, and we would get in hot water if we were wrong.
<KrysAtBlackIsle> I can check into it, although I don't think anything is confirmed on the DVD
<Valentine> Ray, (1)What are your plans for the future and what was you first game or gaming idea?
<Valentine> (3) What do you think about old game Star Control 2?
<Valentine> Thanks for reply
<ChrisAtBIS> Star Control 2 rocks!!!!!
<Ray_at_BioWare> Yeah!
<Meghan> Hehe.. want to take the others, or move on?
<Valentine> and (1)?
<LukeAtBio> Bioware's first game was a mech title called Shattered Steel
<Ray_at_BioWare> Battleground: Infinity...was the genesis of BG, back in 1995-6
<JonnyAtIP> ah, the joys of computer crashes
<LukeAtBio> first released title anyway
<Meghan> *cough*  I need a GA guys when you're done :)
<LukeAtBio> next
<Eric_V> will the DVD box contain the same CD sleeve(sp?) thanks guys
<Eric_V> oops....as the CD version :>)
<ChrisAtBIS> The CD sleeve for the normal retail box is simply a 6 case, with the install instructions and what not stuck in the 6th slot.
<JonnyAtIP> Chris - I thought it was a tri-fold cardboard thingy...
<ChrisAtBIS> It is a tri-fold cardboard thingy.  Anyhow, packaging for a DVD would be different.
<Paydirt> Is there a maximum number of charmed members that you can have at one time?  Brown bears or town guards?
<Paydirt> (like if you cast Charm Person on a town guard and take him to the dungeon to help you fight?)
<LukeAtBio> I don't think so. Though i suppose you are limited by the number of spells you can memorize or buy and the duration.
<LukeAtBio> charm does not allow you to direct an NPC to fight
<ChrisAtBIS> We might change this, but currently you can have an unlimited number of 'extra' party members (via charm or summoning or whatever).
<Paydirt> Can you have charmies do your dirty work?
<ChrisAtBIS> I have had as many as 30 skeletons that I animated running around with me.
<LukeAtBio> They cease attacking you if charmed, but they cannot be made to do anything they wouldn't normally
<Paydirt> That's cool, does it cause slowdown to have lots? (thanks for a great game)
<ChrisAtBIS> Charmed folks have some restrictions in BG.  They can't leave the main area, and they can only perform fiarly simple actions.  Attack, walk, scout, etc.
<LukeAtBio> they also cannot leave the area.
<Nightstorm> Congrats on the final stages of a long awaited game!!...My question is......Will a "direct connection" be made during multiplayer games (like "Blizzards" Battlenet)?  In other words will your servers support chat and a meeting ground to play ?  If possible please elborate on the multiplayer interface:) Thanks! (p.s. is it "mountain dew" or "jolt" that keeps you playing (and living) longer in the testing?)
<ChrisAtBIS> Unfortunately, those 30 skeletons did chunk up my game a bit.  But I don't think you'll actually be able to do that without cheating in the release (that is, gather enough spells to charm/summon 30 things)
<ChrisAtBIS> Usually mountain dew....although recently our QA bought about 20 cases of IBC root beer
<KevAtBio> Dr. Pepper fer me!...
<LukeAtBio> you're a "dew" man? ick.
<LukeAtBio> Jolt jolt JOLT!
<ChrisAtBIS> On multiplayer, we will not be providing a server area.  We are looking at various other connection services to support.
* JonnyAtIP high-fives Luke
<Nightstorm> fee based?
<ChrisAtBIS> I personally mostly drink coffee and coca-cola.
<JonnyAtIP> Original Formula JOLT actually
<ChrisAtBIS> We currently don't have any arrangements with any fee based on-line services.
<KevAtBio> Everything with Caffeine...
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Lots of it, too
<Nightstorm> thanks......:)   dew for me by the way
<ChrisAtBIS> The interface itself is pretty straight-forward.  Pick protocol, join/create, connect to game.  That's about it.
<Bilbo> I just wanted to let you know that I am eagerly anticipating the release of this game!!!  :)  ?When will the demo be released?   ?What about and update on some screenshots?  ?As the release date draws near could you update the page more frequently?
<ChrisAtBIS> The demos on hold right now.  Sorry everybody.  We have everything we need for it, but we don't want to work on it right now because we're spending out time debugging the main game.
<LukeAtBio> an interactive demo won't be in the works until after the main release. basically, it would be just as much a pain to remove any story-sensitive items as it would to creat an all new area.
<LukeAtBio> can't just crop a section of the main game.
<ChaosMage> Will there be different endings and if so will they depend on characters' alignment?
<ChrisAtBIS> I was supposed to take screenshots on Monday, but I haven't gotten to it yet.  So new shots should be up late this week, early next.
<LukeAtBio> the overall ending is the same and will not depend on your alignment...
<LukeAtBio> basically, even if you are evil you can do the right thing, mabe just for the wrong reasons :)
<LukeAtBio> there are elements within the game that change with alignment and reputation
<Eric_V> oops, when you encounter an NPC at lvl 1 will they fumble according to their inexp. thanks again all
<LukeAtBio> Critical hits and misses are in, though actually losing their weapon would be difficult as we can't make them smart enough to pick it back up :)
<LukeAtBio> if they panic they'll drop and run though.
<ChaosMage> Do you plan a remake of old good GoldBox games basing on Infinity engine?
<ChrisAtBIS> We don't have any plans for that.
<LukeAtBio> a remake? only of the spirit, I think. not the actual content.
<ChaosMage> Thanks!
<Khaine> I'm going to play BG multi-player.  I will *not* be the host, however.  In the sequel, or add-on, will I be able to start as the protagonist?
<ChrisAtBIS> You don't have to be the host to be the protagonist.  The choice of who the protagonist is...is up to the host however.
<LukeAtBio> Yes. in multi player only the host is the "main character" but if you start a game by yourself, you are the main character regardless of who the host in your last game was
<ChrisAtBIS> Same as with the leader.
<Khaine> Cool, I feel better already >;-).  Thanks a bunch.
<LukeAtBio> chris is right too. the host can assign the "main char" to whomever.
<Khaine> Can that be changed in the middle of the game?
<LukeAtBio> not who the main character is, just who controls him.
<Meghan> Okay, we were about 10 minutes from wrapping up anyway.  Apparently Messenger has a problem with 200 people messaging it at once :(
<Meghan> So, we're going to cut the chat a little bit short.  I apologize for all of the errors tonight, although we did hit a new record for number of attendees.. there were 256
<Meghan> people here earlier :)
<LukeAtBio> yeesh
<ChrisAtBIS> Thanks everybody for showing up then.
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Wah hoo
<Meghan> So thank Bioware, and Interplay, for coming.. and I know you're out there on the message boards anyway, so it's not *too* bad :)
<ChrisAtBIS> Later all.
<KrysAtBlackIsle> Thanks for coming!!
Session Close: Tue Oct 06 22:18:49 1998

