non-DDO RPGs? Baldur's Gate et al.

[Dariun]

I'm looking for a new game and could use some thoughts for a fun single player (or at least mostly single player) RPG. It needs to be something where I can sit down and play for 15-30 minutes if that's all the time I have and that I can save and quit (or at least pause) at almost any time.

DDO is great, and I'm still playing a bit, but I've gone from 1-3 times a week to 1-3 times a month, and real life stuff is making it harder and harder to set aside 2-4 hours to play. After a particularly frustrating Saturday night (trying to 3-man VON1-4 with fighter/cleric/cleric group and we forgot about INT runes in the beholder room of VON3, doh!), I ended up re-installing Baldur's Gate and goofing around for a few hours on Sunday.

I'd forgotten how much darn fun Baldur's Gate was. Great game, but having played it through at least 4 or 5 times in the past, it is a little less fun to replay.

I've heard the sequels/add on's for Baldur's Gate are very good, and I assume I can still buy them somewhere.

What about Icewind Dale? That's a similar game as well, right?

And I suppose Neverwinter Nights (the original version) is also a good choice? I actually downloaded the demo for that this morning and will check it out tonight.

My computer does not meet the minimum specs for Neverwinter Nights 2, and I'm not going to upgrade at this time (prob. get a new computer next year).

Only other RPG I've played in recent times is Knights of the Old Republic, which was also a great game. I could get the sequel to that (assuming my graphics card could handle it -- the first game really stressed my system in some scenes).

Suggestions appreciated (even if it is just "yeah, go buy the sequels to Baldur's Gate if that's what you like").

Cheers,
Dariun

[Bekki]

"Neverwinter Nights Diamond edition" is good.

"The Baldurs gate series".

"The Icewind Dale Series".

If you are in to it,

The Morrowwind/ Oblivion Series is
very good.

Those are three just off the top of my head.

[yoyorobbo]

Another vote for BG series and IWD series....all of them.

Additionally you could try "Planescape Torment"...same/similar engine as BG/IWD...just a little bit "primitive", IMO. I got that one in a double-jewel-case thing at Walmart a few years back, for $5 or $10. It had another game on the flip side..can't recall which one.

Also, the Fallout games (very similar to BG, just not D&D based). Also got these (1 & 2, I think) in some cheap combo pack awhile back.

The NWN stuff is supposedly great, as mentioned in the previous post. I have the whole series, 1 & 2, but have only dabbled with the very first one...not enough time...ugh! But also as mentioned, buy them in one of the all-in-one packs, available now...very affordable. Sadly, I bought alot of these as they came out....wasted dough...ah well. There are also a ton of downloads available too for NWN.

Another one I have, but have also never found the time to actually play yet...ha!..."Lionheart" (again, same sorta engine as BG stuff...set in historical (Ren?) Europe...with some magic thrown in for good measure. Might be tough to find that one...dunno....I bought it when it came out, and haven't really heard/seen of it since. Might be worth a shot if you can get it cheap, for a little different flavor.

A couple other D&D ones, some of them had some serious bugs....you will want to google them, but something to look into:

- Temple of Elemental Evil
- Pool(s?) of Radiance
- (uhm....ok, mind blanked...I'll hit ya with more, I can think of them)

A couple new ones that seem to get good reviews:
- Hellgate London (can be MMO'd or played solo, I believe)
- Witcher (this one looks sweet...kinda pricey, but it may come down soon too..I have a demo from PC Gamer, that I need to try)

Ah well...there's a few there. If I had to answer just one, I'd say grab the rest of the Baldur's Gate series. If you've only played the 1st one (as I think you mentioned you've replayed it a few times), I think you will love the rest of the series.

Good luck and have fun.

[Dariun]

Thanks for the tips!

The good thing about not getting around to playing these games until a few years after they come out is (1) my non-awesome system can handle them and (2) they are cheap!

[Dariuss]

yah BG2 is actualyl superior to BG1 in my opinion, and really won't tax your PC at all... you can get it with the throne of bhaal (sp) expansion for fairly cheap

you could also look into elder scrolls: morrowind. it was alot of fun, you can go at your own pace, tons of side quests and such to work on. If i recall correctly the main story could be played throguh in about 50 hours, however i played it for well over 100 hours before i got close to the end... and with the expansions (i think there was three)you get a heck of alot of game.

[Brutous]

oh oh oh!!!! *jumps up and down- oh oh oh!!!

Look on Amazon......

Look look look!!!!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Baldurs-Gate-B...3970908&sr=8-1

[Brutous]

yah BG2 is actualyl superior to BG1 in my opinion, and really won't tax your PC at all... you can get it with the throne of bhaal (sp) expansion for fairly cheap

you could also look into elder scrolls: morrowind. it was alot of fun, you can go at your own pace, tons of side quests and such to work on. If i recall correctly the main story could be played throguh in about 50 hours, however i played it for well over 100 hours before i got close to the end... and with the expansions (i think there was three)you get a heck of alot of game.

I think I still have my Killa Sheepa of Death Mod- for Morrowind.
Black Sheep like creature with twin cross bows on his back, they casted fireball and lightling balls as AoE projectiles and it would go Baa Baa you have been BAAAD!
Basicly I programed him (took 4 months) and he would accompany my character to town and devestate the town on command. Sigh..... how I wish I could destroy buildings in that game.

May I add once we went to the main city of the game would horrible crash and I would have to re-install it. I think I took a file and placed it in the wrong upload folder since it would tell me missing file error even though when I programmed with the mod software and a third party program that was apporved for the time. I should of made him in to a scroll. oh well.

[Dariun]

Look look look!!!!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Baldurs-Gate-B...3970908&sr=8-1

Nice!

Especially since I don't trust all 5 of my original Baldur's Gate CDs to keep working (had an installation error on Disk 1 and had to pull out the CD and polish it a bit and try again -- it worked the 2nd time, but I don't know if all the other CDs will work or for how long).

And if you look at Neverwinter Nights Diamond, there is an offer partway down the page to get it with Baldur's Gate 2 Ultimate Collection (the two BG2 games) for $30.

link to amazon.com

[Brutous]

Nice!

Especially since I don't trust all 5 of my original Baldur's Gate CDs to keep working (had an installation error on Disk 1 and had to pull out the CD and polish it a bit and try again -- it worked the 2nd time, but I don't know if all the other CDs will work or for how long).

And if you look at Neverwinter Nights Diamond, there is an offer partway down the page to get it with Baldur's Gate 2 Ultimate Collection (the two BG2 games) for $30.

link to amazon.com

cool but i think i'll spend the extra 6 bucks for the pack since i have diamond already-
I miss playing on-line with BG made a few friends one I actually visited when I went to Europe.

[Brutous]

Seriously thinking about buying that 4 pack of Baldur's gate- but would be interested in playing online- not sure if there are any communities left that play that game.

[Dariun]

I just ordered BG2 combo pack. I have BG1 but not the sword coast add on. I decided I could do without replaying all of BG1 again, but looking forward to BG2. It was $10 (plus $5 shipping, lol) on amazon.

Not sure about the multiplayer stuff either. Not even sure how that gets managed in BG. I guess I'll check it out when I have some time (but house guests are about to arrive for a week, so I doubt I will have time soon).

[Impaqt]

BTW, the INT Runes in Von 3 are only a 14. SInce you 3 manned it, I assume you were/are high level. +6 Int items are rediculously common.
Since no Race can start with an Int under 8......

[kingfisher]

squeeky wheel gets da kick!

[skraus1]

Temple of Elemental evil with the Co8 mod, which basically fixed most all the bugs and brought it up to 3.5 is a blast. Played it like 4 times from start to finish. It feels the most like PnP d&d to me.

[boldarblood]

Baldurs Gate Series
Icewind Dale Series
Planescape Torment
Vampire the Masquerade with co8 patch
Temple of Elemental Evil with co8 patch
Sacred
Dungeon Siege 1/2
NWN - download some of the free modules, there are some very good ones
Wizardry 8
Daggerfall
Fallout 1 and 2 <----these are my personal favorites

[Brutous]

Baldurs Gate Series
Icewind Dale Series
Planescape Torment
Vampire the Masquerade with co8 patch
Temple of Elemental Evil with co8 patch
Sacred
Dungeon Siege 1/2
NWN - download some of the free modules, there are some very good ones
Wizardry 8
Daggerfall
Fallout 1 and 2 <----these are my personal favorites

Can't wait for Fallout 3

[Dariun]

BTW, the INT Runes in Von 3 are only a 14. SInce you 3 manned it, I assume you were/are high level. +6 Int items are rediculously common.
Since no Race can start with an Int under 8......

Good to know. Thanks. One of us had an 11 INT, so a simple fox's cunning potion would have saved the day. If we give it another shot, we'll be sure to bring a few along (and keep the smart guy alive).

[Dariun]

squeeky wheel gets da kick!

butt kicking for justice!

[Brutous]

butt kicking for justice!

Make way villain! Hero coming through!
This one is my favorite one: Magic is impressive but now Minsc leads. Swords for everyone!

But do you remeber this conversation- I'm glad I found it cause I thought I was crazy for even mentioning it to a fellow BG fan and having them give me this blank stare-

Viconia: I miss the customs of my homeland, like the breaking in of new pleasure slaves. The largest and strongest were the hardest to break, but they were the most rewarding. Sarevok, I find your great size... intriguing.
Sarevok: Were you to break me Viconia, you might find nothing but the chill emptiness of the grave within.
Viconia: That does not repulse me as you might imagine. We drow are ever eager to broaden our... experience.
Sarevok: I orchestrated a war to slaughter thousands. I have felt the cold embrace of death. I have witnessed the horrors of the abyss. But you, Viconia... you scare me.
Viconia: Cowards everywhere I turn! If you find your courage, Sarevok, seek me out.

[Dariun]

lol, that's great.

The voice acting and jokes in Baldur's Gate (and Knights of the Old Republic -- that evil droid is hilarious) are one of the things that really make them so much fun. For me, all of the best RPGs have some humor and good oddball characters.