Classic Games

Neverwinter Nights

Dungeon master's toolkit

Neverwinter Nights shipped with a complete toolset that let players create and share their own D&D adventures, spawning a modding community that outlived the game's commercial lifespan.

pcMaclinux rpgmultiplayermodding 2002

Overview

Your campaign, your rules. Neverwinter Nights shipped not just as a game but as a platform—the Aurora toolset let anyone create D&D modules without programming knowledge. BioWare provided the engine; the community provided thousands of adventures. Persistent world servers recreated the MMO experience years before World of Warcraft. The modding scene thrived for over a decade.

Fast facts

  • Developer: BioWare.
  • Year: 2002.
  • Engine: Aurora Engine.
  • D&D Edition: 3rd Edition rules.

Aurora toolset

FeatureCapability
Area editorTile-based level design
Conversation editorBranching dialogue trees
Script editorNWScript programming
Item/creature wizardsCustom content creation

Multiplayer innovation

ModeFunction
Co-op campaignParty adventuring
DM clientReal-time game mastering
Persistent worldsPlayer-run servers
Module hostingShared adventures

Expansions

TitleYearContent
Shadows of Undrentide2003Prestige classes
Hordes of the Underdark2003Epic levels

Community legacy

AchievementScale
Custom modulesThousands created
Persistent worldsDecade-plus lifespan
Premium modulesOfficial community content
Enhanced Edition2018 revival

See also