My sister Emily took her own life last year and she loved this game; I’d always sit behind her computer chair and watch her play because I didn’t have the attention span to play it myself. The description you gave of Lady Aribeth in Hordes of the Underdark, about her “hidden anguish over the knowledge that she didn’t want to be herself”, that’s just how my sister felt. But before then I remember us doing impressions of Deekin in the most annoying pitch possible and cracking each other up and that will always be a fond memory for me. Watching and listening to this is so comforting and helps me feel a sense of closeness with her, thank you.

The best thing about Deekin is that at the very end of Hordes when Mephistopheles is turning your companions against you, while you can mitigate this with good Persuade/Intimidate rolls or simply command them to stay on your side with their true name, Deekin will stay loyal if you just tell him that betraying you would hurt your feelings.

i started to learn english because of this game years ago.i had dictionary with me all the time and i translated every sentence in that game.

Literally one of the best games ever made. Me and my father spent more than 10 years building an entire world in the Neverwinter Nights world editor. People have played for years on it. And we even upgraded the first time players into the new "pantheon", so when they came back almost 7 years later, they made new characters and worked on worshiping their previous characters godhood for blessings and curses. Top 5 games of all time. Bar none.

I'm Stefan Gagne and I made the HeX coda, Penultima, and Elegia Eternum community modules for NWN1. I very, very nearly created a premium module for Bioware -- the HeX coda was supposed to be released as official DLC. But after a very long delay (several months) before I could get started while the corporate side of things got their house in order, it was cancelled due to conflicting IP interests with WOTC and I ended up releasing it for free. A complete mess, honestly, and one of the reasons I stopped making mods. Also, I feel the main focus of these games wasn't really the official campaigns themselves, but the toolkit and the assets added to it with each expansion. That's where the excitement lie, and may help explain why the reviews of the base games themselves are so tepid -- people who invested in the NWN "ecosystem" did so to play community mods, with the campaigns as afterthoughts in the player's eyes.

People these days talk about long videos they watch again and again like a favourite film, but for me this is the one I keep coming back to. Three hours of detailed, earnest, personal and compelling writing on a lost corner of RPG history. It's like a documentary being narrated next to me on the couch. Thanks, Noah.

When I speak with people about gaming, there are some people who tell me how many time they've beaten... say, Zelda or Final Fantasy, how they beaten the game for eighteen time and they can play those games for years. That's when I show them NWN and say, I've been returning to this game for nearly two decades now, and I STILL have new things to play, new campaigns to beat, new modules to explore, new stories... At some point, the community recreated so many official 3.5 modules, you could pretty much solo play (or explore with multiplayer!) the entire 1 - 20 lvl campagin, starting with Sunless Citadel! This has been the best purchase, the game that keeps on giving, and Role Playing communities on perpetual servers beat any MMO I've ever played.

It's great to see it in action and getting attention even after all these years. I've been working on NWN DLCs back in the days, and was part of the modding group Dragonlance Adventures. Infinite Dungeons, Kingmaker, Wyvern Crown Of Cormyr, Pirates of the Sword Coast. Many of those expansive tilesets from these DLCs where largely my work. Went under the handle 'Velmar' back then. Awesome times, with awesome people. Some of us scored jobs at Bioware, and one even being responsible for animating for KOTOR cinematics. I still remember how much work it was to get that Drawbridge working, or the amount of heart's blood that went into getting the horses to work and look as brilliant as they now are. Love the work this community has done, like the City Of Doors Initiative (CODI) and Dragonlance Adventures (DLA) , who then got into creating these DLCs. The community has always been what has made NWN the best RPG to date in my opinion.

"I AM A HAWFLEEN THEEF, AH AM AH AM" is probably the greatest thing I've heard in your videos. Thank you so much.

As a DM, the description about campaigns that never come together feels very real :(

To this day I consider Mask of the Betrayer perhaps THE most underrated gem in RPG history. So far above the base campaign.

This is probably my most rewatched video on youtube. Words cannot describe how much i love your channel aswell as NWN1. Thank you for the great content Noah.

This was an amazing trip down memory lane. In highschool, I spent hundreds of hours in NWN, particularly in its user-made module community; I even made one myself! It was _horrible,_ but that's fine - I'm someone with no interest in programming or game design, and haven't gone anywhere near the field since, so I consider it a victory that Aurora was such a simple and approachable game engine that it got me, a rando with no computer background, to build levels, set quest triggers and write dialogue trees. You've wisely chosen to restrict yourself to the official content, or we'd never hear the end of it. However, I still remember my awe at discovering the custom module community; my bandwidth was so bad at the time that I could never download the more famous and expansive campaigns, so I stuck to the shorter ones, the most highly rated of which were the Chris Huntoon horror modules. Some of my most vivid memories from NWN come not from the BioWare campaigns or even the expansion, but from those bite-sized ghost stories, made all the more effective by the limitations of the engine shifting the burden to the player's imagination.

i found this game for cheap in a store when i was like 11 and i spent hours playing through it. it was my first rpg experience, my first dnd experience, and honestly i was blown away. it's still one of my favourite titles, i love it so much and i always come back to it and replay it every couple of years (particularly hordes of the underdark). but as you mention at the beginning, i hardly ever see it mentioned anywhere. needless to say i am so glad to have 3 hours of content dedicated to it, even if it probably won't be 100% positive. i'm just glad seeing this title talked about at all!

Your script writing is so incredibly good. Half the joy of watching your videos is hearing your word choices. It feels very clever and musical.

I've watched or listened to thousands of hours of gaming youtube over the years. I always come back to this video. It is the finest game analysis on the platform

Tomi cheerfully saying "Ayyyyee it's done" as he attempts to path to a trap to disarm it, and then accidentally triggering it and taking it in the face, is a family meme amongst me and my brother. That is my take away from this franchise. Love the video Noah.

The repeated references to KotOR are really making me hope there's a thorough look at it on the horizon.

"Your old pal Tommy isn't real as a person or a character, he's a can-opener with a back story" 😆

"The increasingly mechanically minded BioWare that will be releasing Anthem soon" 😬

I loved Neverwinter Nights. It may not be as famous in the general gaming community but I think it's still got a special place of honour in the modding community.

As much as I love the explorations of major franchises on this channel, Noah is absolutely right that there's something truly exquisite about looking deep into the only-just-remembered, not-quite-classic games as well. It's that pathfinder feeling, but in an academic sense.

the best thing about NWN - the custom modules. it boggles the mind that you can get tens of hours of content from one module alone, and there are entire series of them, catered to all different classes, alignments, and play styles. there are full fledged campaigns made by one or two people that are miles better than any of the premium stuff. right now I’m playing through Almraiven and it’s been nothing short of amazing.

I loved NWN as a kid but I was the only one out of my friends to play it or even really know what it is. So all the memories I took away from the game were kept to myself. So having this games memories be something I had never shared with anyone and hearing Noah belt out “IM A HALFLING THIEF I AM I AM” broke me harder than any other line he’s delivered. Glad to see someone else with a deep-seated resentment of Tomi after all these years 😂

Noah graces us like a dream, a wisp of happiness until he fades away for a while. But man, does give us something substantial to chew through when he delivers. Thank you Noah, you are incredible!

The intro song is Broadsword by Jethro Tull, folks. Just in case you were wondering. I'd comment about something else in the video, but 3 hours is so daunting that I've only made it past the intro.

Only have one Rogue? Excuse me Sir, but creating a wizard/sorcerer with Pixie familiar and bringing Li'nu as companion gives you the 4 basic component for a well rounded party: Tank/Meatshield: summons Locks/Traps: Pixie Healer/Support: Linu Blaster/Crowd control: your arcane character. That's how I comfortable beat the game Needless to say that Linu is (for NWN standards at least) a much more interesting character than Tomi. EDIT: also, great video, I sat through the whole thing and really enjoyed it.

Amazing, amazing work.. I love these channels that discuss and analyze games as in depth as this, keep it up!

Noah "This Is My Biggest Project Yet" Gervais 😍😬

3 hours? noah, you brilliant man you. this makes my day and its only 9am. time to watch.

I played this game recently (2019) and enjoyed it wholeheartedly. I still thought the innovative mechanics created some excitement and playability - even today. I will return to it in a few years, I’m sure. Thanks for appreciating this game to the point of showcasing its pros and even its cons.

I can think of no higher compliment for you than to say that you have greatly enriched my life. I return to your videos time and again to reconsider some of the broadest strokes of my life. Your voice is an old friend in this house, and I consider your thoughts with the same depth as Blake or that scoundrel S. Johnson. You are the Jack Kerouac of video game commentary and will be remembered as such

Mask of the Betrayer is a masterpiece. I'm glad I hit all of the Safia story naturally, given how much is so easily missable, but I missed out of The Dove almost entirely. The NWN2 OC pretty much just tackles "What does it mean to be a hero?" Everyone is a hero of their story except for Garius funnily enough. Even the King of Shadows, in his long backstory, is the hero that protected ancient Illfarn. Khelgar becomes a legend of his clan, Elanee can save the druids, Neeshka literally learns that sticking to your morals and loyalties despite it being hard, is heroism in its own right, and she always admired that you were a hero, now look, she is too. MotB tackles Love. But from every angle. Love of God is faith, when does that get challenged? Love of a person is romantic love, what challenges that? Love of family is an oath, an honorific love, what challenges that? and so on. Beautifully crafted, and so well thought out, both serving their respective purposes so well

"...traps." Sorry, is this a non-monk word that I have too much dexterity to understand? :D

I just need to tell you how much I absolutely love your character names. I find myself pausing briefly to catch each name, going "oh, that's my favourite," and then you hit me with "Paulie Wannacracker" and "Gary Indiana" and I find myself wondering what other names you've come up with for your tabletop lives. Also, as always, fantastic video from start to end. Thank you so much for making these.

Neverwinter Nights 1 is my favorite game of all time, since I played it in the early 2000s and still now, almost 20 years later.

This is my favorite video of yours to date, surpassing the Baldur's Gate retrospect. This was such a massive under taking and I appreciate the time and effort you put into making this.

3 hours.. I'm so happy

It absolutely is a classic. A younger me enjoyed the hell out of NWN and its expansions.

this is just one of those videos i never get tired of rewatching

Would love to see a review of Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

"Hooray for me and the sound of distant traffic" What a brilliant line sir.

There's a hilariously silly way to kill the dragon in Shadows. If you lure it out the bull pen area and then trigger the stampede, the bulls actually have enough numbers to kill the dragon usually by themselves and easily with your help. It's hilarious and it's an experience that's stuck with me for over a decade now.

Three hours ago I would have scoffed at the thought of a three hour video on nwn, yet here I am and time well spent. Such a great quality video, masterfully written and no waffling whatsoever. Thank you!

One thing I wished you had talked about with Kaelyn the Dove is that she's a mirror image of Trias from PS:T - a betrayer of the heavens who actually truly is altruistic and noble. Clearly the same archetype as Trias and Atris from KOTOR2, all written by Chris Avellone. I'm not sure how to take it that his last take on the Righteous Betrayer is someone who is for once utterly sincerely good. MotB isn't quite my favorite game ever, but it is one of about 3 games that when I'm playing it I feel like it was made just for me.

5:50 Eh, that point about dialogue boxes isn't fair. It's because you're playing at a higher resolution. They weren't designed to scale with modern resolutions. On launch it would've covered a third of your screen. And when you had shops open, shop + inventory would take up above 90% of the non-UI screen estate.

I remember watching my dad play this game when I was little. I'd sit beside him on my little stool and watch him play a ton of games you talk about on this channel (F.E.A.R., American McGee's Alice, etc.). I clicked this video because I vaguely remember going through story beats, which I don't remember the context, but just remember how they made us feel. And joking with him about Deekin, who looked like one of our dogs. He's been passed away for a few years now, but he was sick my whole life. He was almost always bedridden, and he played video games to pass the time. The man 100% Witcher 3 at the peak of his illness. I'm rambling, point is, this video and many others you make bring back many buried, wonderful memories. Thank you.

it is a classic NWN 1, shit man it's multiplayer modules are the bedrock and the best RP servers almost anywhere. I been on this game for about 10 years.

To be fair it is absolutely not neccessary to take Tomi along even if you're not a rogue, I've played through the whole thing more times than I care to count and as far as I remember I've only taken Tomi once (having no more love for him than you do). The vast majority of traps in the game will not instantly kill you or even do severe damage, and mostly anything locked can also be bashed down or blown up with a different class.

When I came across this video, I thought... "Whose going to listen to 3 hours worth of discuss?" Well, I guess... ME!!! Well done sir! This is the first time I've come across one of your videos. I just got into playing Storm of Zehir. I had played NWN2 when it first came out. Played well into Act 2, but never finished it. Had messed with Storm of Zehir several years back. But only a few hours in. Just discovered Kaedrin's Class Content, so decided to give it another try. I'm now well into Act 2 of SoZ, and I do believe I will finish this one. Because I've been looking at a few NWN2 videos as a guide for a handful of things (namely how to craft in SoZ)... I reckon this particular video popped up in my feed. I'm so glad it did. I found this video thoroughly entertaining. And I loved hearing your take on each edition. I love the structure of SoZ. I love the World Map. I've never really played paper D&D. But I've played some tabletop RPG games like Descent. I really enjoy the "campaign" editions of Descent where your party can freely travel around an open world map. Your party has to make decisions together on where you'll go next. And of course your destination... and the experiences while journeying there... help determine how your adventure unfolds. It is the adventure. SoZ feels very much like that experience. And I absolutely love that you get to create each character in your party. In my imagination I've given each a backstory. So for me, I'm getting to have my very own World Map RPG adventure... without needing to carve out the time to get a handful of adults together to play PnP D&D or Descent. I did skip over the latter part of your SoZ segment, as to not spoil the second half of the game. I'm looking forward to checking out the Baldur's Gate video that you done the same for. For me, Baldur's Gate II is the greatest RPG of all time. Might be the greatest game of all time. It's a special one. I have found memories in college with myself and my two best friends adventuring together in BGII. That's one of the major things that extremely frustrates me with these new RPGs that all keep claiming to be BG predecessors... yet none of them have multiplayer. BG done it back in 1998. So we are now 20 years on... in a world that's built on online interaction... and these developers can't make their "Baldur's Gate clone" as a multiplayer game. Mind boggling!!! Anyways, sorry for the rant. I had to say it. It's all I can think of as these new RPGs come out. And while I'm currently playing SoZ solo... it puts a big smile on my face knowing that several of my friends can join in and enjoy the adventure with me. But back on topic... this is a great video! I thoroughly enjoyed it! You should take great pride in this year long effort that came out fantastic! Thanks for sharing it all with us!

I spent about a decade playing in persistent worlds. It was the most amazing gaming experience of my life. With the tools they gave you, to build your own world and real people could come and interact through RP or PvP or whatever, anything was possible.

Just have to say, I have gone through all of his content several times now. Was a great way to pass the time while I had to sit on my ass for 7 months after a major knee surgery. Actually found a few good channels during that. Civvie, while on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, is another great channel.

NWN2's ending is literally "rocks fall, everyone dies."

Who even needs sleep when you can listen to Mr. Caldwell-Gervais talk about video games for three hours

This is such a comfort video. I love coming back to it so ofter.

This is a masterwork exploring both titles and all the canon DLCs. You sir are awesome. So much depth. Wow I am blown away. I reloaded NWN 1 just to play the two new scenarios based on your review. Thank you!

Wow, this is probably not the first video where you've used it, but the audio for this anaysis is so much better than your old stuff. Really crisp.

"I can't find my magical suppositories..." If I live a thousand years I swear I WILL find a way to use this statement.

What a damn masterpiece of a video this is - rarely, if ever, has a video essay reignited my passion for a game, book or movie quite like this one. Very much appreciated.

I remember when i was 11, got the game, talked my father and brother who was 10 atthe time to play it with me and they fell in love just as fast as i did. played through main campin, hordes of the underdark several times and shadows of underdeep (probs messed up the modules names, its been a while). something about how simple it was to play yet complicated rules that made me think for hours when i tried to make a character as strong as possible or when we tried to make the perfect party....I spent hundreds of hours playing this game and I dont regret a single one. sure it doesnt stand up to baldurs gate or planescape but as you said this game is a platform. Made to show you what you can do with the this tool. it was so ahead of time. I hate when people give this game shit but all your points were well justified in the greater perspective.

Neverwinter Nights 1 is definitely a classic

I have friends who I played D&D with all through college, but who have still never touched any BioWare games before KotOR. All through college, when Mass Effect was in full force and we all gushed about the series, I kept begging them to play my babies Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment. They never did. Downcast, nearly a decade later, I listened to your videos on those games... and it's brought me great joy. I never played Neverwinter Nights, and yet, having watched this video, I now feel almost like I have. I don't have 200+ hours to sink into anything anymore... but I feel like I have a satisfying understanding of this important piece of RPG history. Thus, I am going to have my friends watch/listen to your videos on BG and PS:T. They may never play them, but at least they will appreciate them, and I can rest in peace. Thank you, Noah.

I recently started playing some fan modules for a Neverwinter Nights 2. I got to say, my love for this game is amplified tenfold seeing the amount of love and care that some of these fans have created in these modules. My favorite one by far is a module called Crimmor.

Was just recently looking at screenshots of this game and expansions, I’m amazed how good the lighting shadows and textures still look today. Even for real time graphics. All the little details in the texture work is so well done. Beautiful timeless games 😊

This is the second game I own most: 3 copies bought, against 5 for BG2... I actually enjoyed the original campaign: the plague, spread by the clerics, the unjust execution of Fenthik, the fall of Lady Aribeth... I particularly enjoyed the part where you had to judge the guy that wanted to be a good lich and the demon that tricked him into slaying all the village children.

NWN is a classic to me. I love these games. I just want Obsidian to make another one, weh.

Honestly if you closely inspects screenshots of these older games and really look at all the little rocky textures and everything they still look amazing to me. I have a newfound appreciation for these games.

YES! This was one of the first RPG games i've ever played and it still holds a serious place in my heart. I love it so much despite how hard it is.

The arrival of this video feels like a personal birthday gift. Thanks Noah. :)

Thank you so much for your amazing gift of the written word, please write a damn book

Of the entire Neverwinter Nights series, those that are set in "epic levels" I've found most compelling and enjoyable. I prefer Hordes of the Underdark over Neverwinter Nights main campaign. And Mask of the Betrayer over Neverwinter Nights 2. Their clever use of mythology, multiverse and setting's history and character drama. I know of Aribeth because of the NWN1 prologue. I would never forget Lady Aribeth de'Tylmarande after meeting her among the frozen wastes of Cania... The Premium modules for NWN hadn't got localized here officialy, so, sadly I got to them a bit too late to try them out, but few of the fan modules I've enjoyed immensely. Though, NWN1 forever will be infinitely closer to my heart, than its sequel, as much as Skyrim could never replace me the dusty shores of Vvardenfell...

I just want to say thank you for putting in the time and effort to make this absolute gem of a video. The quality of the content is amazing and you structure the time stamps perfectly. Well done dude. Hats off to you

Me: "I cant find anything interesting to listen to for a couple hours..." Noah: "I gotchu fam."

Best game ever made probably, played for years, modded the shit out of it, still finding new ways to play and im not bored

The 3 hours were quite daunting for a game I understood so little of at the time. But well it accompanied me through cooking, eating and a bit of casual gaming, had a great time. It truly felt like an adventure audio book at times.

Noah you could've totally just killed all the mephits in that puzzle and sorted them by moving their bodies. I can't believe anyone actually did it the other way

When this game came out I was 13 and I will forever Remember the Charwood segment. You might say it left me Charred

The original campaign of NWN2 had a really dark ending. I mean, I was hoping to see a more soft side of Qara after all the adventures together, to see Grobnar become a famous bard, to enjoy some time with Elanee but...they just died. The heroes you came to know and love sacrificed themselves, and all their hopes/projects are ended by a collapsed ceiling. A game that I absolutely loved hit me quite hard.

I am only 45 minutes in, but I had to leave a comment, because I would not even be this far into the video if your insight was not so clear, and so well formatted. Your musings on this game, Dungeons and Dragons, and the crpg genre as a whole, are a pure joy to listen to, and I've never even played NN.

I come back and watch this video every few months. It never gets old. God bless you for the amazing work on this channel. It is appreciated by many.

I'm playing NWN right now and I really like the story. It's simple, yes, but alot of the quests inside the story are really fun. I love the one about the two brothers that are stuck in a time pocket because of the horrible sacrifice one of the brothers did to a demon, and it's your job to figure out what happened. And when you meet the demon he's like "Yeah, I'm a bad guy, but please cast your judgment on the brothers fast so I can get out of this time prison." Also the inventory sounds are pure nostilgia.

Your Story telling and narration is pure perfection, You should do audio books, you have the voice for it

This is my top 5 favourite game of all time

I came for the NWN, growing up with it; I came back because Noah's voice is incredibly soothing and this review is a perfect aid for relaxation and sleep. It's just... fucking great.

Watching game reviews like this reminds me of how little I pay attention to noodly details while playing them. I've played through Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights a couple times each and loved them. I never bothered to form an opinion on graphics, story, characters, or other aspects of game design. I just played, passed the time, and had fun. I both feel embarrassed for being too ignorant to notice such things but also fortunate to be able to enjoy a game without being distracted by those things.

'This is like finding out the guy who overcharged you for weed in high school has been sentenced to death by giant snake.' Amazing.

5 years ago you created this masterpiece of a video. Thank you mate. I do love NWN and NWN2.

Congratulations Noah on your first video with 1 million views and such is the nostalgic value of this legendary game

>Be me at 1AM when a new NCG shows up in notifications >"I'll just check it out to see what the subject is and then crash." >Its Neverwinter Nights >ohshit.jpeg Looks like Im here for the next 3 hours. Sorry co workers.

I need to sleep! Why would you give me over 3 hours at this time of night!? Hands down my favorite video game content creator. I've had trouble finding longform videos on Neverwinter so this is really appreciated.

I'm revisiting this video after deciding to download this game again and bear with the bugs it had. This is definitely the best video about Neverwinter Nights on the internet. Hope you're doing well my man❤

Bro. I cant believe this video only has 5 years. It aged like a fine wine. Or an old book. Perfection!!!!!!!

I'm fond of NWN. I especially like that it was multiplatform, supporting Macintosh and Linux natively as well as Windows. It was also translated into many languages, and I have used it to help me learn foreign languages. In addition to all of that, it really did offer a good multiplayer experience, and I enjoyed playing it with a friend in college.

Neverwinter night is an engine first alias Aurora that completly shaped the face of crpg games. A enhanced version was used by CDProject to create the first Witcher. It tell us how powerfull was that engine

I don't know if I'll ever play these games, but boy did I enjoy this.

Man, you have gotten so much better at narrating, incorporating your dry wit and humor, and just overall developing such a good analysis about things that I otherwise would never have thought of. Fantastic video, and damn what a fantastic channel.

It's a special game from my childhood, from a small town of a third world country, one of my first contacts with d&d, even with my poor understanding of english and getting stuck SOOO MUCH it was a blast and i should replay this game sometime (didnt even knew back then that there was mods or expansions and new adventures created by the comunity, and that some of the best parts are there, so even more reason to go back and replay this haha).

Neverwinter Nights is my favorite game of all time. So many good memories!

This is my favorite game of all time

After watching a few of your videos on games ranging from pilars of my childhood to one's I'd almost forgotten I played, I'm deeply impressed with the writing in your scripts. Your ability to find a consistent, thoughtful density for writing leaves me feeling neither like I'm missing out on anything, nor falling too deep down rabbit holes of semantics. Hours in I still feel like there's intent, trajectory, and still deep nuance to the subtopics and details you're covering.