Larian Studios Forums Divinity: Original Sin 2 Divinity - Original Sin 2 - Game Master Does GM mode even need to be saved?

I agree mostly with Red, and have to partially disagree with your points my ol' friend Fandarin, but you do have some valid and good points. (And that's what is most important to stress out here in the forums rather than just saying everything is fine as it is).

1. I think we should not mix GM Mode with Editor/Toolset, although they are intervened of course. When praising the simplicity of NWN1 toolset with DOS Editor i think you rather should take NWN2 toolset as fair comparison. Here you suffered the same issues with the complexity and increased workload to setup something nice within the engine's possibilities. But heck, I was so happy to finally see some more advanced graphics and possibilities including real terrain and landscapes. I think the library of custom maps will increase heavily over time and the dynamic inclusion via GM Mode isn't that bad if not saying it's really good implementation (sure they are not mapped by the storyteller herself but well i thought it is about storytelling)
   An editor interchange export import file could be handy though. Rather than repacking a mod, changing it in the editor and so on, it would be nice to have a prefab file format for import/export (but that's about the work in the editor)
   
   
   Originally Posted by Fandarin

   Yes, Devinity GM Mode is aimed to bring back the PnP expierence but so was the DM Mode in NwN 1 and it could do more.
   [...]
   The Devinity GM Mode is very good in simluating PnP Session but it lacks the advantages of actually beeing a computer game.
2. I think NWN DM Mode could do more, that's true, but on the other side it's capacity to bring back PnP tabletop experience was much inferior to DOS. PnP is kind of turn based and so i like to have a turn based computer adaption. Not just the fights but also RP encounters and actions. And to be honest the etiquette of most NWN RP servers was the same. You had to have patience, wait for your turn and not just run around like a wind-up toy. I remember you Fandarin also made use of the pause button on one of our few private LAN sessions.
   I am so happy to have a more calmed down turn based experience, even if it is not feeling any more like a "computer game"
   
   
   
   Originally Posted by Fandarin

   Most games are, I imagine, private. Which makes sense, however I do think Larian really dropped the ball when it comes to provide a social hub for GMs to find players.
3. Here I agree, bit I think it is also the communities responsibility to provide a social hub. I personally would also prefer just to have to private group of our RL friends and former private NWN LAN sessions but - as you know my ol' Fandarin - they all became lawyers and composers and it is really hard to get a shared time together. Therefore it would be nice to have Modes / Games running with people from the net you just could join when you have time. And to not have random stuff we need a way to have lists and better decriptions of Server (Like RP-GERMAN-short description)
   
   plus +++ a dedicated server (and database a la NWNX) running a campaign constantly where players and GMs could hop in and out. This could also have unintended but exciting playmodes. I don't think about classical PWs a la NWN (that started even pre WOW) but something new, where a bigger player base and GMs - of course only 4+1 at a time (hey Larian some more than 4 please) - could participate dynamically in a world and build and change it over time. [Just an brain storm idea)
   
   Ar least we need easier ways of changing importing and exporting player characters and players for same running campaign
   
   
   
   Originally Posted by Fandarin

   [...] but they forgot the activity that happends arround the table while playing live.
4. This could, as you suggest, simply increased by text bubbles, custom scripting mods and other things players could do while paused game; for example by something i suggested earlier in the forums like a camera object the GM could place and change the view of the players, while having the GM kind if semi paused, lets say characters are immobile but still can text chat and perform emotes. I am not asking a supplement to vignettes, which are fine imho, but a complement. Genereally, there is still a lot of potential.

my 2 humble cents; sorry for the text wall


Edit: to answer orignal topoc question: here is nothing to save. I think the tools a great. But if you ask if there could be still done a lot - by Larian and community - then i think certainly yes.