<center>Legacy of White Plume Mountain by Wyrin D'njargo
A 'treasure hunt' sandbox campaign for single/multiplayer parties of 7th level upwards
Requires: OC, MOTB, SOZ, latest patch</center>
What is a sandbox campaign? A Sandbox Campaign is where the players are given an area which they can explore, but how they explore it and which directions they choose to go in are not restricted by a predetermined plot. The gameworld, or sandbox, is theirs to uncover as they wish. The aim of this was not to create a epic adventure with a tightly woven character centric plot, so please bear that in mind before and during play. The game is intended to provide a framework for sandbox adventuring, albeit with more environment interactivity through skill use.
What is a 'treasure hunt' sandbox? 'Treasure hunt sandbox' is a term I've coined for LoWPM to reflect the fact that whilst the gameworld is a non-linear sandbox that players can explore in any order they wish, within that sandbox there is a 'hidden treasure', to which the players are given a 'map' or plot hook at the start. But how the players use this knowledge, if at all, is up to them. The idea is that a single player, or group in multiplay, can choose to explore the sandbox for as much time as they want, or dive straight into the hidden core plot.
So what is this 'hidden treasure'? In LoWPM, the hidden treasure is White Plume Mountain itself, and the more linear plot-driven dungeon crawl that lies therein. This set of adventures are based on the original D&D modules of S2: White Plume Mountain (by Lawrence Schick, 1979, and revised for 3rd edition in 2005 by Andy Collins, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, and James Wyatt), Return to White Plume Mountain (by Bruce Cordell, released in 1999 to mark D&D's 25th anniversary), and Ex Keraptis Cum Amore, a final White Plume Mountain adventure in the series (published in Dungeon 77, 1999, by Andy Miller).
Where is the campaign set? Originally, White Plume Mountain was set in the Greyhawk universe, but to reflect the NWN2 toolset, I have revised this to reflect a Forgotten Realms setting, and reimagined the plot to tie in with FR lore. The sandbox that the players can explore is covered by the High Moor and Serpent Hills in the Western Heartlands region of Faerun. The players will start in Soubar, a small tent city nestled in the Serpent Hills. This will also act as a place to stock up on equipment between forays into the region.
What does the campaign offer? My take on SoZ style play; exploration, an overland map, party dynamics, skill checks, crafting (OC and SoZ style), a wide range of locations and enemies. Resting restrictions. Multiplayer compatibility. A tour-de-force of the community custom content. Drop-in, drop-out gameplay allows you to tackle as much or as little as your time allows in a simple modular fashion, within a total gameplay time of over 15 hours. Challenges for parties of levels 7 to 16+.
What does the campaign NOT offer? Strong story driven adventure, developed romancable influencable companions, PC-driven plot with cinematic cutscenes and lots of dialogue. Alignment can be altered in game but has little bearing and there is no alignment based roleplaying. No Voiceovers. Player class/race will have no story impact. No Pickpocket/Sleight of Hand use (this may change).
Is there anything else I need to know? - SAVE EARLY AND SAVE OFTEN. It can't be said enough
- LoWPM was designed with a party of 4 7-th level PCs in mind. I suggest using a character builder mod to select suitable PCs. Additional party members up to a total of 6 can be introduced using the inn guestbook in Soubar (the starting area) or by using the party editor from the menu at any time during play. New characters created in / entering Soubar will gain xp for 7th level (but you may need to use the debug tool to give them starting gold). In the party editor, there is the option to increase your party size by up to 6. Custom NPCs are also offered at the inn guestbook in Soubar.
- THERE ARE RUST MONSTERS - PROTECT YOUR WEAPONS AND ARMOUR! Note however, that they only make an appearance in one area out of nearly 100, so losing precious items is not an ever present risk
- SoZ death/bleeding system is used
- Skill checks have use in dialogues but also to add flavour when exploring. Spot, Survival, Lore, Listen in approximate order of use. Other skills are used but for less common scenarios, particularly when a skill already has a developed use in other situations e.g. crafting, tumble etc. Race and class may effect the skill check result. An XP award is given to the specific character who passes the check, not to the whole party - 'scouts' may benefit more from this.
- Searching will reveal hidden doors and items. Search checks are automatic (no need for search mode to be on), but if Search Mode is turned on, there is a bonus to the check. An XP award is given to the character who passes the search check.
- XP is awarded for disarming traps and unlocking objects.
- Tracking will provide clues to the monsters that inhabit the terrain. XP is awarded to the character uncovering this information.
- You can create your own party (at inn, or via player menu), use pregenerated companions (guest stars form the Dark Avenger series, with some but little dialogue). Some henchmen are available, but only for specific sidequests.
- Rangers should find most favoured enemies accounted for. Undead, humans, yuan-ti and gnomes are probably slightly over-represented.
- Most enemies you combat are neutral/evil, and only very few are good. Blackguards/smiters of good take note.
- Tithe boxes are provided at the start to allow the PC to convert gold into useful items whilst dungeoneering, and also as a mechanism to handle any alignment shifts that may be desired/required.
- Support for Kaedrin's PrC work - but you must download the alternative hak for this to be compatible. NOTE TO KAEDRIN PRC USERS - you should delete the sub folder named 'SoZ' from the override version of Kaedrin's work to prevent bugs on the overland map.
Installation Instructions - Place contents of HAK in your Neverwinter Nights 2 hak directory under My Documents
- Place contents of MODULES in your Neverwinter Nights 2 modules directory under My Documents
- Place contents of CAMPAIGN in your Neverwinter Nights 2 Campaign directory under My Documents
Special Thanks to the NWN2 Custom Content Contributors without whom a project like this would not have been possible!
Tilesets RWS - Deep Chasms, Sewers, Deep Halls
Prefab areas/lighting Phd_Zaius -Mine + Cave, Kal-ahn'dur
Krusings - Roddenaughlye
SGK - Underdark Bazaar, Ritual sites, Pestilent lands, Tombwatch pass, Dwarven Stronghold, Swamp paths, Plains, Quarry
TiclaDesign - Snow Pass, Cavern Below
Maerduin - Castle Joyous
Nagual_nwn - Drow city and temple, dragon cemetary
Gremlin - Sanctuary of Sacred Strife, Unhallowed Ruins
Esluin - Lost Ruins of Zartoff 1 and 2
Jayalne - Desert Pyramid
ChanceyBillups - G_Hopeless, G_WizardLab, G_Mines
Anduraga - DayNight Settings
MagicalWisps - Mountain tombs
Sanjuro - Haunted Ruin, Mine Camp
JEMcKellar - Cavern prefab
Marcus 'Wayne' Schlegel - Svirfneblin Mine
AmstradHero - Hills of War
Amraphael - The Great Petrified Serpent, Keleidsa Estate
BoozehoundBlue - Mountain Summit
Prefab items Apep - Magical Miscellanea
Kaldor Silverwand - Apothecary and Miscellanea
Seryn - Potions and Drinks of the Forgotten Realms
Creatures BouncyRock/JohnnyRee - Beholder, Drider
RWS - Creature Conversion Project (Manticore, Purple Worm, Sharks, Naga, Ooze, Gelatinous Cube)
EvilEdison - Efreeti, Hill Giants and Giant Weapons
Arpharazon - Basilisk, Rust monster, Snake
Storyteller - Undead Blueprints, Gnoll blueprints, Lizardfolk blueprints
Qk - Goblin Worg Riders
GPS - Packhorse
SgtWhy - Barghest
Shaughn - Rock-hurling giants
Armour/weapon models VPJ - Trident pack
DaggerKnight - Elven Armour
MisterBritish - Glacier's Edge
MWMDragon - Warhammer pack, Ultima BlackSword
DMCB - Yeoman of the Guard
Alban and Qk - Rurual Pack
Wild Bill - Cloaks
Placeable weapons
FX Hellcow - Cobwebs
Camb - splatter and vines
Amraphael - circling birds
Misc. MSpytkowski - New Speed Trees and Mushrooms
And thanks to the playtesters: Tanlaus, dunniteowl, Quixal, nicethugbert, civilized, Damien Jnr, GilradtheGreat
To anyone I've missed, thank you, and let me know and I'll update the list
I'm haveing the same problems in the Gnoll mines. Crashing on exits half the time. I put up with it until I got to the box and now trying to get out of the mines and it keeps crashing at last exit. Do you know what might be conflicting are causeing this? So far what I played today I enjoyed.
Posted by Vaeterchen at on01/11/12
Excellent work, good fun and it looks really professional. I would have given it a ten if you repaired the broken areas or at least deleted them to avoid that people had to restart and reload several times.
Posted by ValhallaGH at on01/10/12
A truly excellent adaptation of a classic sandbox adventure. There were a number of small typos throughout (item descriptions, some dialogue, and a couple of journal entries) but not enough to detract from the enjoyment. The Gnoll mines (specifically level 3) crashed my game almost every time I tried to enter them, which left me unable to complete two side-quests. Which stinks, and is the main reason this didn't get a 9+ from me. The end boss was crazy-hard. I had stomped everything else and he still nearly killed half of my party. It was an interesting challenge. Still, it was a lot of fun, and nicely spans the mid-levels to low epic (7 to ~21). You have good reason to feel proud of yourself for putting this together. And I enjoyed my 18-20 hour romp in the amazing sandbox you provided. Thank you.
Posted by triathan at 2011-12-3017:49:46
Hi Wyrin, need some help please--how do I extinguish the flames which are regenerating Killjoy?
Posted by Seryn at on12/04/11
Wryin, This is truly a masterpiece! The size, scope, quality, depth, variety, complexity, artistry, balance, immersion, and level of fun was outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this epic adventure. Despite a few bugged areas that I couldn't enter without crashing, I still voted a 10, because even with a few unplayable areas (that did not hamper the overall plot), this module was so above and beyond my highest expectations of a community module, that it deserves my highest ranking. Having built modules in the NWN2 Toolset myself, I can appreciate the unbelievable amount of work that went into this. I can't say enough about how grateful I am for you sharing this with the community. You provided many people with hours upon hours of enjoyable gaming. Thank you very much!
Posted by ElectraAlicya at 2011-11-2413:06:30
Well I tryed to play your module 2 times but 2 times I got bugs... =\ This irritates me. I can say that This mod looks awsome but those bugs... are verry annoing
Posted by TheVanillaGorilla at on11/19/11
Ever consider an expansion for this? maybe the addition of some interesting overland encounters and a second chapter with some new areas in the same overland map? I can't get enough of this mod or this style of play.
Posted by TheVanillaGorilla at on11/19/11
This IS everything SOZ was meant to be. This is a fantastic work, one of only three modules I have rated a ten. I do echo Dave24's sentiments that returning directly to the overworld map instead of the town is a pain, but other than that, this is possibly the most fun I've had with NWN2 since my first run through MOTB
Posted by TheVanillaGorilla at on11/19/11
Initial impressions are that this is everything SOZ was meant to be. No bugs yet, but from reading the comments I am sure I will run into some. Fantastic area design, wonderful feel. Very big!
Posted by gumbee42 at 2011-11-1714:30:26
Does anyone know how to jump to the entrance of white plume mountain. I cannot enter through the wizard's entrance. The debug tool is also not working for me.(I can teleport to the overland map, and that is it.)
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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