Alignment idea for modders

Not being an experienced modder, I'm not sure if this idea is doable with this game engine, but thought I'd throw it out for consideration anyway.

One of the things that has always bothered me about this game is it's lack of attention to party and individual alignment. Granted, there are limitations in CRPGs vs PnP, since processors aren't that smart, but couldn't some of the quest dialogue choices resolve depending on party alignment?

A prime example is Black Jay's Ring quest. It has always bothered me that acting in alignment (just giving the ring if Good alignment, or hanging on to the ring to inflict pain on Jay if Evil alignment) is not rewarded. Currently I have a tough time turing down the choice of magic item, simply because there is no reward for doing so. Would it be possible to trigger a Black Jay Friend Reputation for a good party alignment that provides some benefit for acting in character, similar in effect perhaps to Moathouse Cleaner Reputation? Likewise some sort of Heartless B*st*rd reputation for hanging onto it that maybe gives a reward from the traders or evil NPCs at the Inn?

Or for that matter, maybe give experience point awards for choosing the evil dialogue choice for Evil aligned parties. As it stands, my evil characters are (at least at low levels) doing good deeds all day long, matchmaking, repairing family rifts, killing spiders, so as to get the experience points.

 

Would it suffice to simply make the ring worth gold? Then the evil party could sell it which would justify why they won't give it to him.

- Livonya

 

Hmmm, truly an elegant suggestion. I can see you are a person who thinks out of the box. Any ideas on how to reward a good party for altruism? I know, I know, I should just do it cause its right, doggone CRPGs truly are a test of roleplaying. I even feel guilty about taking the stash of scrolls and potions from Terjon's bookshelf, even though the leatherworker's quest is impossible without them, at least at the party level where you are likely to want to do it. I always thought that if Terjon liked you, he should invite you to poke around in his bookshelf for anything you might need since he was too busy at the Church to handle Hommlet's problems.

As a side note, I hope suggestions do not irritate you. I truly am amazed at some of the things you've done with this mod, and I know that you are a busy person. I genuinely love this game, warts and all, and wish for it to get closer to what it has the potential to be. If I had any technical skills, I'd just do it and present it to the community, but alas my attempts at any modding were all failures.

 

The role playing part is hard to balance against the power gaming side of it...

It always bothered me as well that there is nothing that comes from being altruistic with Black Jay, though at least the argument can be made that good should be done for good's sake.

With evil this is much more complicated... you simply can't make the argument that the motivation should be evil for evil's sake. That goes against the very nature of evil/greed.

Troika (as most games these days) sometimes fails to give proper motivation for being evil.

Often in games the only reason for being evil is simply to be evil.

And really why would a greedy/evil person deny Black Jay his ring? There is no pay out, no incentive, no motivation. People are rarely mean at the expense of a reward.

It is one thing to be an asshole when it costs you nothing, but it is another thing to be an asshole when it costs you a rare magic item. That makes no sense. What evil person would really take that option.

Anyway, I will put all of this in my ideas box.

- Livonya

 

playing as evil is a lot harder than playing neutral or good. I like to think that showing Black Jay the ring stirs up old feelings of pain and regret, and I'm not giving it to him with taking his boots so hes got to walk around bare foot.

 

There is an evil path that offers suitable rewards (experience and items).

"You have all those magic items and you're only offering me one? Well how about I kill you and take them all! Muahahaha!"