>>6138995So Neverwinter Nights 2 is a good fantasy game, I think it is underrated, the modding is overshadowed by NwN1 with vastly more content for its engine, if you want better voice acting / deeper character cutscenes there is Bioware Dragon Age. The graphics of this 2006 game (Obsidian Studio ex Black Isle, Icewind Dale not Bioware) are excellent, full 3d free switch between isometric style overhead or witcher 2 style npc chase camera yay arguably crpgs meandered backwards graphically with Pillars Of Eternity. NwN2 is the bridge game between BG2 and Dragon Age - it is very linear, predictable, stereotypical campaign, all the archetypes are there, Khelgar the warrior dwarf, Neeshka Tiefling thief, the gnome bard etc everything you expect to find in a stereotypical dnd campaign is there (look, the villain that has been chasing you... is only fighting you because you unknowingly aid the EVEN GREATER EVIL lol) nonetheless the pacing, the narrative rhythm is really well structured. The voice acting is uneven, the aforementioned dwarf Khelgar and Neeshka thief are good, sarcastic elf mage Sand is amazing (I genuinely laughed at his hilarious delivery) but Ammon Jerro, who arguably is well written, an emotionally tragic character (his archetype is the classic to defeat evil I MUST BECOME THE EVIL lol) his voice actor is miscast with perpetual throat bubble growl. Similarly the only romance option the Elf druid lady Elanee is lobotomised, her character just sounds superbland and barely conscious, you are forced to use her as the main healer for two thirds of the game. I enjoyed the game story more than Pillars of Eternity, the setpieces are memorable (I almost have no memory of what any of Pillars 1 and deadfire walking god nonsense was about lol) whereas NwN2 follows the narrative rhythm of classic fantasy. I prefer the NwN2 story which does not involve THE GODS, GODS BECOME A GOD lol I am benumbed by the inevitable apotheosis storyline used in every game from Divinity OS2 to BG1,2 and Pillars Of Eternity etc.
I remember the keep management game in Pillars Of Eternity and it is in NwN2 also (was NwN2 the first crpg to incorporate a castle?)
I think it could be adapted to a text or forum game, you have a few actions like construct buildings, roads fortifications; assign tasks to your soldiers eg train, recruit, patrol (choose whether to patrol lands or roads) collect tithes and the resources are gaining peasants and merchants (tax income) and upgrading soldier weaponry, armour. You specify where you recruit soldiers from eg peasant levy or mercenaries and you assign sergeants (NPCs with various attribute bonuses), manage wandering encounter type events eg brigand attacks, monsters or recover treasure. In NwN2 the keep management minigame isn't too consequential to the story, but it has a good ludological structure, I think it could easily be adapted to a text format here etc.
