Confused possible consumer here

[Lucians Lances]

How do the modules work? Can you make one character, play the normal main game, then play all the other modules with your character, keeping progression and equipment? I don't know how this series works but I'm very interested in learning.

[Tesseract]

Yes, you can take your character from module to module. Most modules will list a recommended level range, so you can choose ones that won't be too easy or hard for where your character is.

You're not expected to take the same character through all the content, though you can if you really want to. Both the original campaign and Shadows of Undrentide are designed to start with a level 1 character for example. Hordes of the Underdark assumes that you are the same character from SoU but there is a level gap in between the two.

[Proleric]

A unique feature of this game is that there are thousands of fan-made modules, many of which are excellent.

You can generally take the same character through those modules, too. There's a guide called Hero's Path which identifies suitable options for your starting level.

You will max out at level 40 long before you play all of the best, so you can save versions of your character every few levels in order to play more campaigns at that level, or start a different character, or both. There are tools which you can use to level up and equip a different character without grinding.

Some fan-made modules will remove your character's equipment ("item stripping"). This is done to protect you from importing custom items that aren't universally supported, and to make the experience more balanced.

Some of the very best modules have class restrictions (e.g. "Almraiven" for wizard and "A Dance With Rogues" for rogue / rogue multi-class). Playing a different class is usually very interesting and it would be a shame to miss out.

[DrLoboto]

It depends on the modules you play. There are the official campaigns, of course, and there are the former Premium modules now called DLC, but Neverwinter Nights is mainly about custom, user built modules as well. Technically you can play everything with the same character (apart from the odd module that requires you to play a specific character and will kick you out if yours doesn't meet the requirements), and you will have a HUGE pool of custom built modules to choose from, but:

1. Most are built for specific levels, difficulty hardly ever scales, so unless you pick a module that's precisely built for the range your character is currently in, it will be either too easy or too difficult.

2. In general, I think lower level modules are more common than higher level modules; many popular ones require you to start with a fresh lvl 1 character.

3. Even if you find one fitting for your level, story-wise the background might not fit (it might be a completely different setting, or it might assume something about your past that doesn't match your earlier adventures etc.)

4. Some modules might strip your character of most equipment and items at the beginning, to make sure the difficulty is evenly balanced. (It's hard for the module author to guess what kind of equipment you're bringing into the module, as there are no universal standards all module authors adhere to - some modules are low magic or use loot very sparingly, others are "Monty Haul", as RPG veterans use to call them, deluging you with more magical equipment than you need and letting your character become overpowered quickly.)

5. If your character level is too low for a module, some modules will automatically give you enough experience points at the start to make you level up to the minimum level thats required. There are also modules that help you manage your characters before you import them into other modules; they will allow you to level up or de-level your character, provide them with more or less adequate money and gear for that new level, let you test character builds etc.

[Sticky Wicket]

Modules are so diverse and different you might not want to play them all with the same character, but if you are really stuck on the idea of playing that way accross all modules then you can always make manual saves of your character (which will save level and equipment). This is different to making game saves.

Certain modules are biased towards certain classes and professions and so making multiple saves of your character will allow you to play with different profession choices.

I strongly recommend you make multiple saves of your character at level 1. Then you can import them into a new module instead of making a new character.

[Lucians Lances]

Wow, thank you guys! So helpful. Gave me just about every detail possible on what I asked (atleast I hope so, man that was big good info) I really appreciate it :)

[Lucians Lances]

I think I might do a family tree sort of thing for new characters, or pretend they're all part of the same guild, regardless of in-game background, or something. I'm very ocd and like my stuff to match what I want in my head. Very good suggestions and points duderinos :)

[DrLoboto]

You could imagine them as a future supergroup of mighty heroes from all corners of the Multiverse who will meet in Sigil, the City of Doors, to form their own secret society of interplanar meddlers, like the Harpers but across all boundaries, not stopping at Faerun, instead including all kinds of prime marterial worlds and the planes. And the modules that you play would be their backstories, how they started their careers on their home worlds, how they came to be where they are today. That way it wouldn't really matter that much if the modules take place in completely different settings and what kind of epic saving the world adventures they already go through, because it will still be small scale compared to what they will do in the future, at level 40, across the whole Multiverse. ;)

[krivoklat]

The real gem of this game are the online worlds in multiplayer. Some specialize in maintaining a very close version of actual D&D immersion if that's your thing.

[Lucians Lances]

Very good idea DrLoboto, that goes on the list of possibilities! :) And Kirvoklat the online worlds seem very interesting, kinda like mini mmo's? Very intriguing. Will have to keep an eye on those

[Reifam]

Originally posted by Virtual Sharm:

Very good idea DrLoboto, that goes on the list of possibilities! :) And Kirvoklat the online worlds seem very interesting, kinda like mini mmo's? Very intriguing. Will have to keep an eye on those

Yeah kinda like mmo-style shared worlds in NWN. The two biggest ones are Arelith (which apparently has multiple servers), and the Ravenloft server. From looking at their official websites, they're very strict RP servers that include food/water/sleep management, bonuses for good roleplaying, and just generally try to be more like tabletop. There's also ones that are more action focused like Nordock. Those are less about RP and more about making mechanically-strong character builds and partying through MMO style instance dungeons with raid bosses. Nordock Dawn of Heroes seems to be the most active of these and I play on that one the most.

[red255]

Originally posted by Virtual Sharm:

How do the modules work? Can you make one character, play the normal main game, then play all the other modules with your character, keeping progression and equipment? I don't know how this series works but I'm very interested in learning.

you *CAN* but you shouldn't. modules are designed for a specific level of play. give or take 4 levels, if you play a level 4 module with a level 20 character and equipment its not going to scale.

Generally speaking the second campaign is level 1-12 and then the third campaign is the same character but its level 15-30ish.

so there is a suggestion there should be a minor module in between SoU and HotU where something happens. and you get 3 levels. I mean you kill something in HoTU below level 15 you get like 3000 experience so you are going to be level 15 rather promptly.

But you could string something in the middle there without breaking lore or gameplay.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Virtual Sharm:

How do the modules work? Can you make one character, play the normal main game, then play all the other modules with your character, keeping progression and equipment? I don't know how this series works but I'm very interested in learning.

Dont get this there are more bugs in this version then in the original and far less stable, I crash about once a hour.