Too Much Snow

Most of this post was actually written yesterday, in stages, so I apologize for any incoherency that may result. I don't write well in stages.

Well, I'm glad that's settled. Despite which, this post is going to be a major decent into geekdom. Specifically, RPG geekdom. So those of you with little to no interest in such things may wish to change the channel.

Snow is what we call tinly little ice crystal flakes that fall from the sky. People like me, who live in the Northern Midwest, are well familiar with snow. Odd little person that I am, I actually look forward each year to the time when I have to brush the snow and ice off the car before I go to work. The simple joy that I get when the cabin of the car starts warming up as I begin a nice long drive over snowy roads. Punch that 4-wheel drive, dude. We're off.

I have another definition of snow, however. Snow is also used to refer to the noise pattern you get on a TV when your reception is poor, or your cable is out. That's the definition I use to describe what I see on a lot of message boards. Snow. More noise than signal. With all due respect to those who frequent message boards, (and blogs for that matter, mine included), most of what is out there is just noise. This I kept in mind this morning as I read the trials and tribulations of the MMORPG denizens of World of Warcraft. The abuse of power scenario described was something I just had never experienced in that realm, as I don't play these games online. I have tried doing so, and the sheer volume of idiots, be they apathetic, rude, or even openly hostile, kept me from doing so again. While it was nice to see Blizzard handle the situation appropriately, better for the gaming world in general if the problem had never existed. The problem, though has been resolved and that's that.

However, as I waded through the snow on the WOW message boards this morning, I began to think about Blizzard the company, and why didn't I play their games anymore? I still have a fondness for the music, which is a large part of what makes me enjoy a game. I'm listening to the Diablo II soundtrack right now as a matter of fact. Diablo, the Lord of Terror has consumed a lot of my life. There's quite a few hours there that I won't get back... All spent in the name of beating all three difficulty levels of the game. Sad, yes. But I did say I was a geek. I also spent more than my fair share of time whomping Zerg butt in the world of Starcraft as well. Again, good music. They key to a good game, for me.

No, their games are good, and the internal/external politics and issues of the MMO world just don't affect me, since I don't play there. I have given up on D2 for a more seductive mistress. Her name is Neverwinter Nights, and she's been better to me than D2 ever was. Why? In an RPG, you need role playing, and Bioware has really gotten it right in NWN. The story is more involved, the gameplay more sophisticated, and the music...

Well, I may be listening to D2 right now, but only since I haven't copied the NWN soundtrack over to the laptop yet. Maybe I'll do that tonight.

I D2, the interface is relatively simple, which is a good thing, compared to the complex series of menus and quick-select bars in NWN. One of the best contributions to the world of gaming was the 'repair all equipment' button. Thanks, Blizzard.

The world of D2 however, seems... I don't know... cold. I don't think it's a graphics issue, and it's not the snowy wastes of the Barbarian Highlands. In fact, there's a rather sizeable segment of the game set in the ruins of The Deserts of Aranoch. (Yes, I am up on my D2 folklore, though I have not read the books. Yet.) Still, there's something just a bit impersonal about the game. You know what I think it is? Interaction. There is none in D2 except what you can accomplish with a sword or a well placed spell. There's no dialog, as such. Just characters giving you quests or information.

In Neverwinter Nights, there's actual dialog. You can ask questions, make jokes, or even insult and taunt the NPCs. Just about everyone you talk to has a purpose, and seems to make the world more complete. That's what it is. More complete. It seems like a place you could actually visit some day, in a ren-faire, theme park kind of way. With real people that have real lives, and real day to day business. The evil doesn't seem quite as obvious as it does in D2, either. It's just as pervasive, but more shadowy, mysterious. Just as bent on world domination, but in more subtle, devious ways. The big battles and conquests are merely distractions. All pretext for the coming evil.

Fun.

I have to give credit though, to D2, without which I would not have gotten back into role playing games the way I have. So I guess sometimes you have to get through the snow to find the nice warm cottage on the other side, eh? As long as you bundle up, and stay relaxed in the process you can get through the occasional storms without any damage. And maybe kill a troll or two along the way.

Happy hunting.