What is Never Winter Nights?

1. What is Never Winter Nights?

2. Never winter Nights (NWN) is a computer game set in a huge medieval fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. It is a role-playing game (RPG) which puts you at the centre of an epic tale of faith, war, and betrayal. • As a player, you are able to choose what skills and abilities you will develop as you journey through the fantasy world of Forgotten Realms. • You can be :- • a deadly and dangerous Rogue moving through the shadows using stealth and secrecy • a scholarly Wizard and wield powerful magic against your enemies • a hulking Barbarian whose lust for battle is matched only by his terrible rage • an armour-clad Paladin who protects the innocent and vanquishes his foes • a crusading Cleric who heals the sick and defends the helpless

3. The game • This game is designed to be a stimulus for learning and you will be looking Application of Number either level 1 or level 2 dependent on your GCSE results • During the game you will have tasks to complete that will give you the underpinning knowledge required for AON • You will have a learners guide to complete as you work your way through the game

4. Game sections • The game is divided into sections • Each section requires clear evidence to be presented to the tutor before you will be allowed to proceed to the next task • You will then be given a password that will let you proceed to the next task • The most important thing to remember is Have FUN !!!!!

5. Ready to start • Double click the shortcut on the desk top • You will get the Never Winter Nights Learning Environment • Enter your Name – Write this down • Enter a name for your character - Write this down • Click Start Game

6. Next screen • Click on the play button • You have sound on the machines but you will need headphones to be able to hear it • You can click the mouse to get through the next few screens to the next interface • On this interface choose > New • Then choose > other modules • Then choose either Key skills AON 1 or Key skills AON2 – you will be told which by your tutor, write this down • Double click to enter

7. Create a New Character • You can create your own character for this game • Gender - male or female • Race – Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, Half-Elf, Half-Orc or Sub Race (your own race) • Portrait – What your character looks like • Class – This is the vocation or profession of your character • Alignment – This is what is important to your character Abilities – you can increase the abilities that you think that your character requires, you can click on the recommended button and still change if required • Package – You can choose a package of skills for your character • Customise – This lets you change your characters appearance

8. Your characters name • Naming your character – You can generate a name and if you have sound you can choose the voice for your character • Write down the first name and last name of your character and their age. You will need this! • Click OK, you are now ready to play

9. The story so far ….. • The once mighty city Never Winter is a hive of panic and terror. Thousands have died from plague and thousands are infected • The Lords have declared a quarantine and shut the gates to all travel, trapping everyone within the city walls • Lady Aribeth has asked for all adventurers within the city to keep order and help her find a cure

10. Interface • Your character is always in the centre of the screen • You interact with the world using the mouse to move the cursor around the screen • The left and right buttons execute actions • When you move the mouse over an object or creature, the mouse icon changes to an action icon indicating the default action for that object • To perform the action right click on the target to bring up the radial menu • Attack a hostile creature by moving your cursor over the creature and then left click to begin your attack

11. The Radial Menu • It contains a ring of possible actions you can perform on an object (these may differ between characters) • Issue a command – Heal me, Guard me, Stand your ground, Follow, Attack nearest • Special Abilities (also shown on quickbar) – Stealth mode, animal companion, Detect mode, Crafting Skills, Taunt • Emote – Goodbye, Cheer, Salute, Laugh, greet, Threaten, Bow • Character Sheet (also shown in top right hand corner) • Cast a spell – Special abilities, Druid • Attack – Attack • Special Attack – Parry mode, Power attack mode

12. The Quickbar • The Quickbar – allows easy access to common game actions • Each cell corresponds to a function key on the key board • You can drag items from your inventory (top right hand corner) to the quick bar

13. Character Portrait • This is the image that other players will see • There is a narrow red bar to the left hand side of the image, this shows your character current health • If the bar turns green then you are poisoned • If the bar turns brown then you are deceased

14. The Options Box • Top right hand corner • Map – to see where you are • Inventory – to see what you are carrying and drag new equipment • Journal – 3 tabs – world journal (major events), characters journal (quests you have completed), empty journal (personal notes and impressions • Character Sheet – displays info about you • Rest – if you need a minute • Spell book – your spells • Options – to exit the game amongst others • Player List

15. The Chat Window • Bottom left hand corner • Where you can interact with the game • There may also be a chat box appear in the top left hand corner when interacting with characters within the game

16. Common Interactions • Creatures – horrible creatures turn red when you mouse over them • Non-hostile creatures appear blue (green if they are with your party) when you mouse over • Items – right click to use the radial bar and then examine • If an item is unidentified it may be magic, use the Lore skill or the identity spell to identify magic items

17. Common Interactions • Containers, levers – open containers by left clicking and select the “use” option • Locked containers can be picked, bashed open or opened with a spell – “lockpick” or “bash” from radial menu • Spells can open containers, some spells can damage or destroy containers • Destroyed containers open automatically • The knock spell unlocks most containers without damaging them • Levers and other devices are activated by left clicking them or by selecting the “use” option

18. Death is not always final • A character death in games of this genre is not the end of the game • The game is designed so that when your character meets a grisly end, only a minor inconvenience is suffered • “Dead” characters are revived when the learner clicks “Respawn” and you will appear in a safe house at a secret location and then you must then make your way back to the situation you were in.