A July- December marathon, What's planned for IA V6 Options

[Sikret]

I will start working on IA v6 in July 2008 (I'm too busy till then to add any new major content to the mod, though if we happen to find any glitches or bugs in the current version of the mod, I will be here to fix and release new versions; but working on the nex big new version will be postponed to July) and will probably release it before the end of next year.

thetruth has given very good suggestions to me and we have good plans for IA v6. Other players' feedbacks about the content of the mod will also help me to enhance the mod further. For now the general outline of the new plans for IA v5 is as follows:

1- Adding a very big (huge) quest to the game which will probably contain a number of big quests inside itself.

2- Extended Twisted Rune (new big quest)

3- Expanded Fighter Stronghold

4- Improved TOB Final battle at throne of Bhaal

5- Expanded Druid Stronghold.

I will write more (and will add many more new features) as soon as we start working on it and I will pin this topic at that time. For now, I just wanted to say that we have our plans and new ideas for future and that you (everyone) should not hesitate to send me your suggestions for new quests/features to be added to the next version of the mod. This mod belongs to all who love it. (Of course, to be able to give good suggestions, you will probably need to play the current version of the mod completely for a couple of times with different classes and protagonists to see all of the existent features of the mod.)

Cheers

This post has been edited by Sikret: Oct 14 2007, 11:38 AM

[luan]

Finally was able to register on these forums (didn't figure to look for my validation email hidden in my spam folder for gmail)

Regardless. I find it fascinating how such a game has aged so gracefully and remain so strongly supported almost solely by a hardcore, die-hard fan base. I've been following Improved Anvil the past few months but have yet to try it out due to current time constraints. However, I did immensely enjoy playing through an entire Tactics/Ascension game on Insane. I loved it so much that afterwards I started inflating NPC stats and adding abilities/spells/protections to make key battles more daunting! But to hear that Improved Anvil can provide an even more challenging tactical experience (with legal NPCs) via intelligent scripting and game/item rebalancing, I'm stoked!

It's easy to make something impossible, but it takes an artist to make it *seem* impossible. It just makes victory that much sweeter.
(I know Tactics Irenicus was complete cheese, but man did I dance around my living room at 5am when that @&#*$ stopped moving!)

So what's the point of this rambling? Well, I realize that a mod like Improved Anvil is very niche and not for everyone. But for those hardcore players out there who love merciless challenges. I'd like to voice my appreciation for Sikret, thetruth, and all others who contribute to making these awesome mods.

I can't wait to play! And I wish Sikret and the testers the best of luck on making the final battle with Melissan something for us to whine about, cry about, celebrate, then brag to our friends as they look at us funny.

Edit: Also like Roy stated, what is V5 planning to do with the extra Bhaal powers? I felt those really contributed to the entire "rise to power" theme as well as fleshing out the main character. In some cases (like timing focus with Mel's time-stop) it added extra dimensions to the tactical possibilities of the final battle. Extra abilities would have to be balanced and could be counter to keeping everything "legal". But, I guess godlike beings don't necessarily have to follow the rules. It's ambitious, but a mod like IA is ambitious by definition.

This post has been edited by luan: May 3 2007, 06:51 AM

[Sikret]

Welcome to BWL, luan! And thanks for your very kind post.

It's easy to make something impossible, but it takes an artist to make it *seem* impossible.

This is exactly how leonidas described the difficult battles of Improved Anvil. I'm glad that we (thetruth, all other testers and I) have been successful to satisfy this expectation and criterion.

I'd like to voice my appreciation for Sikret, thetruth, and all others who contribute to making these awesome mods.

Thanks again! As a mod-maker, I have been very lucky to have a first class BG2 tactician and player such as thetruth at my side.

I can't wait to play! And I wish Sikret and the testers the best of luck on making the final battle with Melissan something for us to whine about, cry about, celebrate, then brag to our friends as they look at us funny.

Improved final battle with Melissan will be implemented in v5. Do you mean that you won't play the mod till that time?

But, I guess godlike beings don't necessarily have to follow the rules.

Or perhaps they have different type of rules. Ask those who have played EDE (Epic Divine Encounter).

It's ambitious, but a mod like IA is ambitious by definition.

Indeed! It's a long term project to revolutionize BG2 and we are about midway now.

Cheers

Sikret