***************************************************** Neverwinter Nights - README.TXT ***************************************************** NEVERWINTER NIGHTS Developed by BioWare Corp. This file contains helpful information, late-breaking news and a description of certain functions which were not implemented when the On-Line Help feature and manual were created. System Requirements ------------------- *Minimum System Requirements Operating System: Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP for server/client; Linux for server; (Mac OSX pending in future) (note that 95 and NT are not officially supported, though the game may run for some users in NT) Processor: Pentium® II 450 MHz or AMD K6- 450 MHz Memory: Windows 98/ME 96 MB, Windows 2000SP2/XP 128 MB Hard Disk Space: 1.2 GB of install space is required CD-ROM Drive: 8x or better Video: 16 MB TNT2-class OpenGL 1.2 compliant video card Sound: Any Windows 98/2000/ME/XP compliant soundcard DirectX: DirectX® version 8.1 Peripherals: Keyboard, Mouse Multiplayer (not required): Connecting as a Client - 56k Modem Server Hosting 3 or less players (including server) - 56k Modem *Recommended System Requirements Operating System: Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP for server/client; Linux for server; (Mac OSX pending in future) Processor: Pentium® III 800 MHz or AthlonTM 800 MHz Memory: Windows 98/ME 128 MB, Windows 2000SP2/XP 256 MB Hard Disk Space: 2.0 GB of install space required CD-ROM Drive: 8x speed Video: NVIDIA GeForce 2/ATI Radeon Sound: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP DirectX® certified sound card DirectX: DirectX® version 8.1 Peripherals: Keyboard, Mouse Multiplayer (not required): Connecting as a Client - Broadband Connection recommended Server Hosting more than 2 players - Broadband Connection recommended Note: in order to enable Shiny water you must have a GeForce 3 or better video card. Installing Neverwinter Nights ----------------------------- To install NEVERWINTER NIGHTS just insert the NEVERWINTER NIGHTS INSTALL DISK 1 into your CD-ROM drive and follow the on-screen prompts to install the game. If the AutoPlay screen does not automatically appear after inserting the NEVERWINTER NIGHTS CD Install Disk 1 into your CD-ROM drive, follow these steps: 1. Close all running programs. 2. Ensure that the NEVERWINTER NIGHTS CD Install Disk 1 is in your CD-ROM drive. 3. Double-click My Computer on your desktop. 4. Double-click the CD-ROM icon. 5. Double-click on the Setup.exe icon to launch the installer. 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to launch the game. Note: you do NOT need to install GameSpy Arcade to play Neverwinter Nights on the Internet. After installing the game, you will be offered the choice to view the readme or play the game. The readme is a text file, which lists additions to the manual since printing. Optimizing Gameplay ------------------- The installer automatically detects the type of system you have and configures your option settings for optimal gameplay when you first install. You can adjust the option settings later but if you turn up your options this may cause slowdowns in gameplay if you are running on less than a recommended system (see above under System Requirements). Defragging harddrive makes saving the game much faster - we recommend you defrag your harddrive prior to installing and occasionally between play sessions. If you are experiencing slowdowns or poor performance, we recommend that you try turning down Options settings such as: (Video Options) Graphics quality (Video Options) Creature shadow detail (Video Options) Enable environment shadows (Video Advanced Options) Grass (Video Advanced Options) Creature wind (Video Advanced Options) Number of dynamic lights (Video Advanced Options) Shadow casting lights (Video Advanced Options) Anti aliasing (Video Advanced Options) Texture animations (Video Advanced Options) Environment mapping (Video Advanced Options) Visual effects high Certain options such as shiny water, dynamic lighting, and anti aliasing may only be available on the recommended video cards and higher. A recommended system will be able to play the game with most of the advanced options turned on while a minimum spec system may require some of these options to be turned off. The Official Campaign --------------------- The Prelude is designed as a purely single-player experience. The rest of the official campaign (chapters 1, 1e, 2, 2e, 3 and 4) has been designed as primarily either a single-player or one-party multiplayer experience. Modules you create using the toolset or download can of course be single-player, multi-player co-op/one-party, or multiplayer with multiple parties/PVP. Before moving between any of the Chapters or End Chapters in our campaign, be aware that you can never go back to the previous chapter (to collect discarded equipment, or complete subplots). Take what you need before you leave a chapter! The official campaign has been designed with the following level progression in mind: Prelude: Levels 1 to 3 Chapter 1: Levels 3 to 8 Chapter 2: Levels 7 to 15 Chapter 3: Levels 13 to 17 Chapter 4: Levels 15+