Any, but short races (ie-gnomes, halflings and dwarves) will have an additional problem to solve.
Tricks & Traps
Non-existent
Roleplay
Medium
Hack & Slash
Non-existent
Classes
Any, but bards might uncover an amusing conversation route.
Scope
Small
DMNeeded
No DM Required
Single or Multiplayer
Single Player
Max Character Level
Any
Max # Players
01
Min # Players
01
Min Character Level
Any
Content Rating
Everyone
Gameplay Hours
<1
Description
This is my entry to the Bioware writers competition. The player assumes the role of someone lost in a blizzard who is searching for a bard and stumbles across a house, which by coincidence, is home to a bard. The problem is however that this one is sleeping, and his servant will take some convincing to awaken him.
It's possible to breeze through this in no time, but don't presume that just because you do that there is little present. Several routes through the conversation may only appear depending on class or race, and it's possible to annoy the servant which will slow things down.
As I spend 4 hours a day just travelling to and from work, this has been a major achievement for me, particularly as I have had to prepare the scripting myself. This simply wouldn't have been possible in what little time I had without Lilac Souls Script Generator. One thing was beyond me though, and that was making the conversation pause when the Quillmaster calls for his servant, but as this is only meant to display conversation skills, I'm hoping that will be overlooked.
It's worth right clicking on some items for further descriptions which help add to the story.
Leave giving the book to the servant as a last resort when trying to appease him, as this is the only item that will cancel all his bad feelings if you annoy him, and there are other means of lowering his annoyance level. Annoy him too much once the book is gone, and you'll never get to see the Quillmaster.
I thrive on story creation. If you want to find out more, visit my website.
Enjoy! :)
Version 2 notes:
***Changes Made***
The Dwarf is no longer angered by the presence of an elf, which may have led to players not knowing why they had offended him.
The Dwarf is no longer angered by those who haven't heard of him.
Success/Fail routes now accessable.
Alternate ending built in.
Spelling corrections and minor dialogue changes.
Deleted Bard/Monk conversation route to allow for Success/Fail visibility taking up extra space.
***Note regarding Dwarf getting stuck***
As I'm not terribly proficient in scripting (all scripting present is done via wizards or Lilac Soul Script Generator), I couldn't figure out how to make quillmaster conversation pause until the Dwarf was present, and depending on where the Dwarf is, he has been known to get stuck. The best way to avoid this so you can see all the dialogue is to follow the Dwarf when he goes to waken the quillmaster so that he stops closer to where he is needed. Simply click on him to continue once he has failed to open the quillmaster bedroom.
For those of you stating the Dwarf doesn't turn up in time to finish the conversation, I did point out in my original notes that I am not a scripter and couldn't figure out how to make the conversation pause to allow the Dwarf time to turn up. The best way to avoid the problem is to wait for the Dwarf once the Quillmaster calls him before continuing the conversation. As for appeasing the Dwarf if you annoy him, there are several methods of doing so. Just look around and talk to the Dwarf once you have acquired new items or done something new. _________________________ View my blog regarding the Relbonian Chronicles project --> Link
Posted by MikeLM9215 at on02/15/06
Great fun! I like modules where items get used more than plain conversation pieces. I never did get to use the spider. And yes the conversation broke for me as well after I found the Quillmaster. Gerboss got stuck in the library and never showed up to speak his lines. Couldn't finish the module so went to the editor. Game is linear up to end. Feels like a text adventure. _________________________ The road to Ravenloft is paved with good intentions.
Posted by Kimberlea at on02/15/06
I had some difficulty with this module in that it was more of a resume than a piece of writing. The dialogue with the dwarf was good, but not stunning, and when you get to the Quillmaster the writing quality dipped when it should have been at its best.
Posted by Wheldrake at on02/14/06
I thought I'd already posted a comment, but don't see it in the comments list. Excellent stuff, as we've come to expect. Loved the dwarf. Cheers, --- Wheldrake
Posted by The_Krit at on02/12/06
Let me start by saying that for the most part, the writing in this module was good. However, there were some things in it that brought down my evaluation of it. The first issue I noticed was that I was able to break the module on my first run-through. I annoyed the dwarf in our first conversation, and was never able to start the main "Quillmaster" quest. (I was also confused, not knowing that the dwarf was annoyed, much less why he was.) The focus of the contest is on scripting, but when the scripting is an added frill and breaks the module, I think it needs to be considered. (I did give it a second go, and was able to get things moving the second time.) Another important issue was that using the name "Bioware" made it difficult for me to accept the fantasy setting. This was compounded by the Quillmaster's modern-sounding dialog, and became fatal with the so-called "password", which sent me right back to the 21st century. One last issue: there is only one ending. The other outcome is being stuck, which is a frustration, not an ending. Overall, this seemes to be a module by someone who can write, but is prone to be distracted from the task of creating a module that is fun to play.
Posted by Mister_Leebo at on02/12/06
I apologize if I'm missing something that the other reviewers have found to be amazing about this module. Whenever my opinion differs from the public opinion on a module I spend some extra time with it to reflect why that is. SPOILERS!!! The whole point of this module was to direct the reviewer to other sources to display the author's skill. Works that do not qualify as valid contest submissions. In that regard, there is little gradeable writing within the confines of the module itself. Whether those other works are astounding or not I have no place to say as I did not read them, but the module itself (what little is left when you take out the references to the contest) is not much more than an item hunt. I'll give you that it was unique to make a contest module that had its plot tilt around good writing but when the module itself had writing that possessed only mediocracy then the premise falls short of its goal. Less of the module should have been devoted to journal entries and puzzles and reallocated to speaking with the Quillmaster and finding out what makes him so good and worthy of a position at "Bioware Isle". How the real reviewers take to these tie ins, I do not know, but as someone who isn't interested in hiring you they didn't impress me. I agree that another character needed to be introduced. The dog was not a character, just another obstacle to get past. Maybe a harsh contest critic would have made a great 3rd character, in keeping with the contest-within-the-contest theme. :)
Posted by Quillmaster at 2006-02-0915:52:55
Thanks Elorin, you make some valid points maturely put. I must confess that by the time I got to the Quillmaster, I was aware that my word count was running high, so I failed to give him the attention I would have liked to. If I'd have had more time (work eats up about 14 hours of my day on a good day, more if the trains are bad), I would have looked at pruning the Dwarf a little to compensate. _________________________ View my blog regarding the Relbonian Chronicles project --> Link
Posted by Elorin at on02/09/06
I had to think hard on how to rate this module. Dialogue: Some (few) mistakes aside, your module shows some good writing. Character development: Although there were two NPC's, only the dwarf presented himself as a well developed character. I felt he was an NPC that was alive and who had a personality, the Quillmaster wasn't though. Story: The resume vaguely disguised as a module was a very clever thought, but on the other hand too OOC and way too explicit. You should have put the emphasis on a story first I think. The story is the resume, not the other way around.
Posted by Quillmaster at 2006-02-0911:41:12
Thanks Zackspur, I thought mini puzzles an important element to making it feel like a mini quest. _________________________ View my blog regarding the Relbonian Chronicles project --> Link
Posted by ZackSpur at on02/09/06
I thought your module was without shame Quillmaster. And that is just fine by me. It was cute and very different. You did a bang up job with the books as well. I thought they were very well writen.
Site
