Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir hearkens back to the days of the Baldur�s Gate and Icewind Dale franchises by including full party customization, dungeon crawling, and free exploration of a non-linear game world via an Overland Map. The gripping storyline foreshadows the events that will take place in the Forgotten Realms with the coming of release this June of the Fourth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game.
In the aftermath of the defeat of the King of Shadows, the Sword Coast is in the midst of an uneasy economic recovery. Trade syndicates have sprung up to exploit the post-war confusion for their own ends. The players� party will wade into this uncertain environment; in order to increase their own fortunes, they can either ally with a syndicate to create a trade empire, or cut their own path through Faerûn by preying upon caravans and selling the goods on the black market. As they attempt to extend their influence, players will become aware of a new faction working behind the scenes: the evil, shapeshifting, serpentine Yuan-Ti.
In addition to trading and economic manipulation, the Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Overland Map allows players to explore the Chultan Peninsula and Sword Coast in a non-linear manner never before seen in any of the Neverwinter Nights games. Exploration will take players from well-known locations, like Neverwinter and Crossroad Keep, to more exotic areas, such as the xenophobic jungle nation of Samarach. Groups of highwaymen and monsters populate the Overland Map and the farther from civilization the player roams, the more difficult the encounters become. The 15-hour campaign in Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is also packed with new classes, spells, creatures, and playable races.
Fans of the compelling multiplayer features of Neverwinter Nights 2 will also be able to take advantage of new improvements to the multiplayer experience, while modders will be able to take advantage of the power and flexibility of the Overland Map and Trading System features along with other world-building enhancements.
* Game Features -
# Travel the Sword Coast and Samarach using the open ended exploration of the new Overland Map. Use skills like Spot and Survival while on the Overland Map to avoid ambushes and even find hidden locales and lost artifacts.
# Create your own full party of adventurers. Devastate your foes with a squad of fireball-flinging Sorcerers, form a solid wall of steel with a party of Fighters, or strike the perfect balance in your party by spreading out the classes you choose for your characters.
# Improved party gameplay including streamlined party conversations, a new Teamwork Benefit System, and powerful party feats.
# The world's economy reacts to your adventures and choices. And, through trading and quests, you can expand your merchant company into a massive trading empire.
# Updated classic features: New classes (including prestige classes), spells, creatures, and playable races.
For a co-op game with buddies, this plays way better than the OC. And, unlike the OC, it feels like it's actually been playtested in multiplayer. Yeah, sure, there are some "issues" but none of them (at v1.21) have spoiled our gaming experience. Most importantly, all of the new functionality works fine (overland map, trading, group conversation, party roster). Ignore everyone who's voted "1" or "10" on this thread and you'll get a fair idea of the quality of this mod.
Posted by ericdoman at on03/08/09
Well I have played through it again and increased vote. This time using a N/E party and finishing as a Wd Elf 20 Rgr, Human 20 clr, 19 sorc/1 RDD and a 5 rg/ 5 ftr/ 10BG. Predominantly it is exactly the same ie no options really available but found/spotted more "blue" encounters and fed One of Many. So it surprised me (spoiler here,you will prob receive 15,000xp for feeding and then killing one of many), I had less xp than my previous CG group who did not fee one of many. Probably fought more often (a lot more) as my CG leader had no real H and MS skill while my NE Rgr was at max. Well prepared for the chicken encounter but could never find them damn.
Posted by a_c_ulusoy at on03/03/09
I found it really good. The story finished abruptly I agree with that, nevetheless I really enjoyed it.
Posted by ericdoman at on03/08/09
Having read through (very quickly), all of the vote reviews, my goodness, a 1 then a 10 an 8 then a 2 etc. I will stand with my 8. I will always give a mod a minimum of 7, especially when it is done for free. This mod is of course a "professional" module. But I really enjoy playing NWN2 and the vote is based on this and hopefully will give those potential authors of new modules, some extra content. There is a literal famine of NWN2 modules, due to ? In particular the truly epic ones ie start at 1st lvl and finish 20+. SOZ is one OC and "A Slave Destiny", although it is in French and I am waiting with anticippppation for the English translation. If we as players had hundreds of NWN2, 5 hour + modules to play. I would have to give SOZ a 5 (Again a min of 7 for independent/free mods) because that is what it would deserve.
Posted by ericdoman at on03/08/09
Played through this and finished? as a 21st lvl, Wood Elf 1 rgr/ 5 ftr/ 10 FB/ 5 NW Nine, Human 11 clr/ 10 SL, Halfling 1 rg/ 20 bard and a moon elf 5 wiz/ 1 ftr/ 5 EK/ 10 AA. Originally I was about 4000xp short of 21st lvl when we agreed to work with Sasani and ending a bit abruptly. Althugh really liked the part where once Volo vinished the narration yu can use lore to correct him. Your character is not exported at the end, although you can export each of your characters. Very good about rolling for you own companions and then being able to use the necessary companion for skills. Gained quite a bit of xp by using wiz as leader when travelling on overland map as she could spot magical stuff. Decided on changging her to AA because in overland encounters you'd be lucky to cast 3 spells before NME was fighting you. In Chult there was less time and enhanced bows (+2, +2d6 vs evil and +1 d 6 sonic) with fire/piercing (piercing arrows cost me 4 gp from Jacob), very powerful. Combats upto mid level were challenging, first encounter with Yuan Ti very difficult. Thereafter pretty easy except the main bosses, had to refight Herald 3 times until I was successful. Early on trading was very good quite toughish but as soon as we could upgrade etc. Well at the end I had 7 million gold and 200000 tradebars. The story line and plot were poor I think. I hadn't heard anything about Zehir and what it was until near the end and then it seemed to me that the game thought I knew about it? Nothing in the journal. Very poor really no hints at the beginning. Couple of gliches. Mid level all of my characters would not be using shield, bows, spear, grt sword. Whenever we had a shield in the inventory it would always be used in combat, lot of punching. Spells. You could have one overland battle and cast some long term spells. 100 yards down road, jungle etc andother combat all spells, inspirations are gone. Apart from extended grt magic weapon and shocking/bursting weapon used by SL? But 100 yards further down everything has disappeared. Played hardcore and didn't use any of the npcs. They were all to low in xp ie when we were mid teens they would be 10th. Although because all of the main characters were mine, did miss out on companion interaction this is a big minus in my view. I really enjoy playing games where you have interesting companions, possibility of romance, hiddens secrets etc The behaviour options, my goodness there are so many. Have to figure that one out maybe something to do with the shield and when some of my characters would charge off on their own. The chickens because none of my party had any remove curse, dispel spells we could not help so had to leave. Rested up chose all types of dispel etc spells and when we clicked on them again, entered random area they were not there. Could see them on map but nothing. Used crafting to a certain point but because we had so much gold ended up purchasing. Not sure how the game ends if you kill sasani or wish to continue adventuring. Don't think it does. Not sure if I'd want to replay this as I believe I chose the best group of characters
Posted by Deomin at on02/21/09
Very Little Appeal. The story is weak and uniteresting. Was really disappointed with the fact that most of the towns were basicly the same and again uninteresting. Hated having to fight randomly for no cause over and over again. AI-good thing, but should have been a part of the original campaign or at least MotB. So basicly, it sucked.
Posted by mefaldi2 at on02/18/09
A healthy, deep breath of fresh air after the morbid fog of death of that thing called "MotB", where corpses, skulls and skeletons replaced treasure chests, doors, walls, companions and NPCs (and houses, sky, earth and so on...Depressing). The party customization, like Baldur's Gate, was great, the overland map very interesting and innovative and the crafting system nice and easy. The main setback was the lack of interacion with cohorts and some bugs here and there (for example, the infinite XP sphere in the Temple of the World Serpent and some journal entries that did not trigger always properly), but these were nothing to the sense of freedom you feel when roaming through the overland map, fighting encounters and selling resources. According to me a MUST HAVE (and I have not been payed by the developers to write this).
Posted by ericdoman at on03/08/09
Managed to install SOZ finally. Uninstalled NWN2, then a disc defragmentation, virus scans, disc cleanup and then installation of all NWN2 stuff. Now waiting to multiplay with a friend.
Posted by ericdoman at on03/08/09
serwadion or anybody else Help Bought my first SOZ end of November but froze in the middle of installation. I am sorry I can not remember where exactly. Tried to reinstall nothing and again nothing and again, was told by computer I would need to format the (SOZ) disc. Contacted Atari who told me could not use SOZ, NWN2 or MOTB with vista. The latter 2 have worked OK except for this new patch and I have been playing NWN1 with vista no problems at all. Anyway nad after 10 weeks approx, I receive a new SOZ disc. Tried to install and near enough immediately, game stops stating there is a CRC error. Tried again and was told that the keys are not valid. Could not even enter NWN2 so after a number of failed attempts of uninstalling reinstalling NWN2 OC and MOTB are OK. Have sent email to Atari technical support and waiting for feedback and I do not wish to try and install SOZ as it took me hours to uninstall reinstall OC and MOTB..Bought my computer in July 2008 coud it be I only have geforce 8400 video card not 8800 is the problem. Other specs I believe are ok inc 512 gb HD and 3GB ram. As I mentioned there was a crc error when I tried installing SOZ but everything worked fine when uninstalling/reinstalling OC and MOTB. A bit worried now especially as Mysteries of Westgate will be arriving "soon"?
Posted by Yakbeard at on02/12/09
Enjoyed having a core party of my own while still having NPC's along. The conversation system advances are great. The overland map is ok. I'm sure this community will improve it. The music, sound, and visuals are some of the best yet in NWN2. The trade game was a nice side thing sort of like dealing with a stronghold. The multiplayer and program in general seems more stable to me. Along with the usuall new Class/Race/Feat etc. this was a strong addition to the family.
10 - A Masterpiece, Genuinely Groundbreaking 9 - Outstanding, a Must Have 8 - Excellent, Recommended to Anyone 7 - Very Good, Deserves a Look 6 - Good, Qualified Recommendation 5 - Fair, Solid yet Unremarkable 4 - Some Merit, Requires Improvements 3 - Poor Execution, Potential Unrealized 2 - Very Little Appeal 1 - Not Recommended to Anyone
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