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MassiveMultiplayer.org has posted an interview with Teresa Stevenson and Trent Oster of Bioware about their upcoming 3D RPG Neverwinter Nights. While the game won't be massively--multiplayer such as other titles, with thousands of people on a server at once, there will be the ability to link 20-30 player servers (each with a supposed max number of 64 players) together via portals. The Q&A covers many of the Dungeon Master aspects of the game, including this interesting part about the 'fudge factor':

Is there going to be any way to introduce the DM's favorite tool, the Fudge Factor, without making it blatantly obvious to the players? Kind of like allowing them to get through that door they really need to get through, but the Thief blew their picklock roll.

Ah, the Fudge Factor... While players rarely notice it, the so-called Fudge Factor is a vital tool for any DM. Within Neverwinter, we plan on giving the DM quick in-game access to an all-encompassing difficulty slider that manipulates all sorts of stats and rolls behind the scenes. Aside from this, the DM will also have a number of more specific powers at his or her disposal such as locking and unlocking doors, giving temporary skill or combat bonuses to a creature, temporarily protecting a creature from damage or death, and so forth. Additionally, the DM can always spawn and/or possess NPCs and manipulate the situation in that manner (the city guard arrives on the scene, providing the player with some extra backup). We’ll have more details on the DMs specific Fudge Factor powers closer to release.

Neverwinter Nights Interview at MassivelyMultiplayer.org

Neverwinter Nights Web Site

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