Never in the Lands of Nordock
Originally created by Marc Richterm

Character Information
Started: Never: Halfling - 1st Level Bard

01/23/03
So... I took my first timid step into the trecherous land of MMORPG, and got my ass handed to me on a plate. Behold... little Never... shy, kind, quick and cute... but alas... his hopes for survival are slim indeed. Within an hour, he had already died four times. At least, he met a dragon before he met the end (of my patience).

The Lands of Nordock have some really great "extras" and special rules, including the ability to learn trade skills and professions. There are also some truly innovative custom items and beautiful inventory icons as well.

Death and sleep are also handled in a unique manner in this world.

What I liked most: Again, the ability and option to learn trade skills and professions is a nice implementation. It's worth checking out.

What I disliked most: Quests aren't automatically entered into the Journal. It seems you have to enter them yourself manually. You have to be a good record keeper; it's easy to forget the names of places and people.

Official Website: http://www.nordockonline.webhop.org/

The Winds of Eremor
Released by BioWare, Designed by BioWare's Rob Bartel

Character Information
Started: Steel: Human - 2nd level Fighter / 8th Level Bard

01/26/03
The winds came out of nowhere, relentlessly driving the tiny vessel before them. Even your ship's grizzled captain looked shaken. Suddenly, through the torrential rain and storm-tossed spray, there loomed an island before you, fires blazing upon its well-fortified peak. Days away from any known shoreline, your captain decides to see what shelter he can in the island's paltry harbor... Welcome to Eremor, island of the winds.

What I liked most: This is the first of the three Bioware custom modules I played. I immediately fell in love with the dark brooding atmosphere. The concept and storyline was the richest of three.

What I disliked most: You find some really great treasure scattered across the island, but unfortunately there is no resident merchant to sell all your acquired loot too. You'll have to stash it somewhere safe (I used the throne room), where you can retrieve it once your done with the adventure.

Hint: I would investigate the entire island, and gather up the scattered riches before talking to the Lord of the fort. It's easier to collect the stuff before the undead arrive and infest the island. You CAN do it the other way too, but they are a lot tougher than you would expect.

Official Website: http://nwn.bioware.com/

The Dark Ranger's Treasure
Released by BioWare, Designed by BioWare's Rob Bartel

Character Information
Started: Steel: Human - 2nd level Fighter / 10th Level Bard

01/26/03
The mists swept in with the night, leaving the bridge glistening and damp. In the nearby marsh, frogs have already begun their chorus, deadened by the heavy air. You pull your cloak tighter and approach the ramshackle building before you. Dim light streams from its grimy windows and you can smell old ale and wood smoke. The doorknob creaks within your grasp... Welcome to the Inn of the Lance. This may be the last time you ever see it.

What I liked most: Out of the three adventures, this is the only one where you get a henchmen.

What I disliked most: The Dark Ranger's Ruins were anti-climatic and quite frankly disappointing. The loot you acquire is ridiculous - almost thirty pieces of armor... the true challenge is getting back to the Inn alive with them (see SPOILER below).

Hint (*SPOLIER*): Once you leave the Dark Ranger's tomb (with your treasure in tow), you will get attacked by tons of little Nixies, Will O'Wisps and St. Elmo's Fire. They aren't physically tough, but their spell effects are. You will be walking and moving exceptionally slow becasue of the high encumberance (I was carrying over a thousand pounds of armor and shields) You can choose to either pick them off with a bow from a safe distance, or do that for awhile and turn invisible (via spell or potion) and safely walk your rest of the way back to the Inn.

Official Website: http://nwn.bioware.com/

To Heir is Human
Released by BioWare, Designed by BioWare's Dan Whiteside

Character Information
Started: Steel: Human - 4th level Fighter / 12th Level Bard

01/26/03
When a baron of Battledale is destroyed by a Zhent army and his sole heir has been kidnapped; a troop of rangers is hired to track and return the young boy. The troop follow the trail of the child's abductors into Cormanthor, near the ruins of Myth Drannor. Just as the rangers think they have found the missing child, they are set upon by a drow army and barely escape their evil clutches. Now the rangers have given up hope of ever recovering the missing heir. Who dares face the might of the Drow to save an innocent child?

What I liked most: Drow and Spiders and Webs, Oh my!
This is probably the largest of three modules, and it's tough! Most of the money I earned in the previous other two modules was spent buying healing potions, and a few supplementary magical items for that little extra boost. You will most definetly need it! Prepare to get your ass handed to you on a plate several times over before the end of the module.

What I disliked most: Sate my greed! Where are the powerful custom Drow items? Their magic cloaks, unique spells, and enchanted weapons? Drop stuff! Drop stuff! >sniff< ... please.

Official Website: http://nwn.bioware.com/

Rats in the Sewer
Released by BioWare as part of an update

Character Information
Started: Druga: Dwarf - 1st level Barbarian

02/14/03
Happy Valentine's Day. I spent it as a fat Dwarven chick in a sewer swatting rats.

What I liked most: Appropriately enough, there was a half-naked Dwarven man to greet her at the entrance of the sewer. I thought it was very romantic. "Come here often?"

The sewer environment was really cool looking too.

What I disliked most: I'm getting technical here (and maybe I'm just in a bitter mood): but the rats are a little out-of-porportion. They're about the size of domestic cats.

Official Website: http://nwn.bioware.com/

The Witch's Wake
Released by BioWare as first in a series

Character Information
Started: Jeneth Unden: Human - 1st level Rogue
Finished: Jeneth Unden: Human - 1st level Rogue / 2nd level Sorceress

06/04/03
The Witch's Wake is a multi-module story arc created by Rob Bartel, Lead Designer on the NWN Live Team, and utilizing selected systems developed by the online Neverwinter Nights community. It is set in a non-Forgotten Realms world of Rob's own creation and will be released in episodic format, one chapter at a time.

What I liked most: The atmosphere and the storyline were truly captivating. This is one of the few modules that I have felt truly pulled along, with a real genuine interest in the plot. So much was handled differently and originally in this module than in previous Bioware releases. There was a lot to like in this one!

What I disliked most: The series seems to have been cancelled. That's the only negative thing I can say. I've kept my saved game file, in the event that they continue the series. This would be a "must play".

Official Website: http://nwn.bioware.com/

Penultima
A NWN Campaign created by Stefan Gagne

Character Information
Started: Jeneth Unden: Human - 1st level Rogue / 2nd level Sorceress
Finished: Jeneth Unden: Human - 3rd level Rogue / 7th level Sorceress

06/09/03
Penultima... it's a kingdom where nothing of great importance ever happens. A place where the primary challenges of the day are not fighting for your life against hordes of orcs or scouring the local dungeon for shiny metal, but trying to find a good cup of coffee or debating proposed tax reform laws.

Oh, there are warriors and monsters and wizards and adventures aplenty -- but they're halfhearted echoes of the greater glories available elsewhere in the world. A perpetual lazy afternoon seems to settle over Penultima... an aura of modernized living, proper civilization, nothing out of place, nothing too alarming, nothing too exciting.

Shame it's all about to go to hell.

What I liked most: This series had wit. I found myself laughing a lot through it, and I think that's what made it really enjoyable. It had a fun storyline; just enough of a plot to keep you playing it.

What I disliked most: Not really a game critism, but I still haven't been able to finish the Dragon contest in Pentultima City. Damn it! - What level do you have to be to go through all those damn critters?

Official Website: http://www.pixelscapes.com/penultima/