Obviously you have never played NWN with a Good DM and players.
A well DMed module, comes about as close to PnP D&D as you can get on a computer. The DM can "radically alter the nature of the game world on the fly." And there are work arounds for most of it's short falls.
Granted, changing the landscape on the fly during game time isn't an option, unless it was planned for. But almost everything else can be done to make it feel like tabletop D&D. Most DMs I know run modules that are lightly scripted. All communication with NPCs is done with the DM possessing their bodies. Full, rich conversation and character development occur on a regular basis. Nothing canned like you suggest.
You aught to give it another chance. Several people have said playing a well DMed game moved NWN from their rubbish bin to one of the best games they have ever owned.
I know I sound like a fan boy, but there are really 2 different games in the box you get from the store. The single player (not too exciting), and DMed multiplayer (rock your world).
Slashdot Mirror
Obviously you have never played NWN with a Good DM and players.
A well DMed module, comes about as close to PnP D&D as you can get on a computer. The DM can "radically alter the nature of the game world on the fly." And there are work arounds for most of it's short falls.
Granted, changing the landscape on the fly during game time isn't an option, unless it was planned for. But almost everything else can be done to make it feel like tabletop D&D. Most DMs I know run modules that are lightly scripted. All communication with NPCs is done with the DM possessing their bodies. Full, rich conversation and character development occur on a regular basis. Nothing canned like you suggest.
Check out http://www.neverwinterconnections.com/ if you want to find well DMed games. A lot of hardcore PnP RolePlayers hang out there.
You aught to give it another chance. Several people have said playing a well DMed game moved NWN from their rubbish bin to one of the best games they have ever owned.
You should see some of the Total Conversions that are being done. http://www.city-of-doors.com/ and http://www.dladventures.com/ are a couple of the most promising.
I know I sound like a fan boy, but there are really 2 different games in the box you get from the store. The single player (not too exciting), and DMed multiplayer (rock your world).