Help picking an RPG

[DrSpike]

I notice there are always lots of threads around about RPG's. I have never been a big RPG fan, though it is possible I was put off by the really geeky RPG's that were the mainstream when I was forming my gaming preferences.

So, pick one for me to get from (shortlist from browsing 'Poly for a while):

KOTOR
BG2
NWN
Morrowind

SP interest only. Give reasons for your choice. Ta.

Doc

[Spaced Cowboy]

Kotor is my pick.

It is one of the best RPGs that I've played, although I have not played NWN or Morrowind. I really did not like BG2 too much, seemed too much like Icewind Dale (that I just finished).

Kotor has better dialog and the combat is easier. I got tired of fighting Uber hulks in BG2.

I saw Morrowind GoTY edition on sale today for $20...hmmm, and I was led to believe that NWN did not have a good story line.

[Footie Mad]

BG 2 would be the best if you want my advice, a real big game with nice story, nice characters, some real good voice acting. Beware though, addictive!

[vmxa1]

Big difference between 3rd person and 1st person perspective.
If you prefer one over the other, that narrows the choices.

[General Ludd]

KOTOR or BG2, depending on your genre preference.


Personally, I'd go with forgotten realms over star wars any day. Not even a comparison.

[Jamski]

It has to be Baldur's Gate 2. Its infinitely replayable and sooooo addictive. Its moving, humourous, furious, exciting, tactical (don't play this game if you're a dumbass) and generally never bettered. Get the boxed set with the ToB expansion of course for about 15 quid.

Beautiful 2d/isometric graphics... some really splendid maps.

Great characters, with personality

Moral dilemmas

Gripping story

Loads of freedom

Really, BG2 is a head above the rest.


Trust me.

-JAm

[Drogue]

I agree with Jamski, BGII has the plot, the characters, the difficulty, the puzzles, the mental aspect, etc... It has everything that is typical of an RPG, while also being playable to someone who isn't an RPG fan. It's immersive and fun, and so while it may take a few days to get used to the way it's played, you'll want to continue. A wonderful game.

[Jamski]

it may take a few days to get used to the way it's played

Rubbish - click somewhere to walk there, click on a friendly character to talk to them, click on an enemy to attack them. Not tricky controls at all. The rest is dialogue and inventory management (and finding out what all those spells and weapons might be good for)

-Jam

[DrSpike]

Jamski is winning so far with his eloquent recommendation. Anything that makes Jamski post more than 1 line must be good.

I'm still open to other points of view though.

[Space05us]

change your name back





and uh...go with Kotor, its easy to learn even if you're an are-pee-gee knewbee. I would have said Morrowind, but if you dont like rpgs you really really wont like it.

[pg]

i've only played morrowind out of those listed but isn't morrowind the only game that's a fps(or is kotor too?) and has massive exploration? morrowind is a bit light on the combat ends of things but there are always mods i guess.

[Urban Ranger]

Any RPG that's based on D&D will be automatically relegated to second tier in my book. How lazy can you get?

[lord of the mark]

BG1

reason - its the only RPG ive played, and thus the only one i can recommend. It was fun though.

So if we make enough threads about wargames will you ask us for a wargame?

[Imran Siddiqui]

You are new to RPGs... so my pick would be KOTOR. If you like that, follow it with BG2. If you like that, the Fallout games are GREAT!

I've played all on your list except NWN.. didn't like the demo.

[Felch]

Morrowind is my new favorite game, I've been loving the GotY edition. I got it for thirty dollars and the single player experience is quite good. The combat isn't very good, but the fun of exploring the world and building my badass character has been a wild ride.

KOTOR has a more straight-forward story, and the cool light/dark side split. The combat is also a whole heck of a lot better, however the worlds aren't as immersive as in Morrowind. They aren't small, they're just not as massive.

BG II I haven't played, but I enjoyed Icewind Dale II, and that's supposed to be a lot like it. I've heard good things, I'll say that.

NWN is just not a competitor with any of the others for single player, at least not without the expansions. It's MP is fun though, and I highly recommonend it.

[Tuberski]

NWN, if only for the interesting Dungeon of Apolyton!



ACK!

[Urban Ranger]

Dungeon of Apolyton!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Morrowind is my new favorite game

Morrowind is great, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone relatively new to RPGs.

[Qilue]

Since you are relatively new to rpgs, I would suggest BG1 or Morrowind.

BG1 (original Baldur's Gate) can be considered basic training for BG2. The game is simpler and will allow you to get used to controlling a party for BG2. It's also part one of the story. Taking a character from humble beginnings in Candlekeep all the way to to the end of Throne of Baal is a true epic.

If you've played games like Medieval Total War, the battle tactics are very similiar albeit on a much smaller scale.

Morrowind may take some getting used to with the DIY (do it yourself) magic system. However, once you pass that stage, the game can be a lot of fun. The original campaign can be a little easy above level 20, but the expansions are somewhat more difficult. Morrowind also has full day/night cycles complete with the sun and moons along with real weather.

One thing to consider before buying Morrowind is your computer system. This game needs quite a good system and even then doesn't get high framerates. The minimum cpu of p3-450 will barely function even with all detail settings at minimum.

[Tuberski]

My 450 functioned fine....with the sound of and running Morrowind in a window.



ACK!

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Any RPG that's based on D&D will be automatically relegated to second tier in my book. How lazy can you get?

Lazy?

Because they don't want to create a game that's set in half-assed world featuring talking elephants and monkey-people? Baldur's Gate is a quality game - there's nothing lazy about it. And the Forgotten Realms is an excellent setting for any RPG.

That's what it is, you know. A setting. It's detailed enough that it can have hundreds of books, games, and anything else made around it and still be a consistent, immmersive, world.

[Dis]

KOTOR will be the best RPG for a beginner. It's not heavy on character management, but it is heavy on story, and role playing dialogue options.

If you try that and like it, then you may want to try BG2 and NWN, and even Morrorwind.

[Skanky Burns]

NWN is the best game that I have played from that list. However...

You can probably guess how the rest of this post will go.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Any RPG that's based on D&D will be automatically relegated to second tier in my book. How lazy can you get?

Yeah BG2 is lazy .

Never, and I mean never, will you see a game with that much content again . They just don't seem to make games that large anymore (though Morrowind was fairly large). I was dissappointed in KOTOR. I did every single quest available and I still only got about 60 hours out of it. BG2 is just freakin' massive.

[Dis]

Neverwinter Nights is better as a multiplayer game.

But the single player game isn't too shabby. (though the original campaign is so-so- the expansions are much better). And there are still many downloadable single player modules. So if you have the ability to download, then this is worth a look.

But I don't recommend NWN for beginners.

My recommended order (assuming you like them): KOTOR (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic), BG1, BG2, Fallout 1 and 2 (if you don't mind adult content (language mainly)), and then NWN and Morrowind.

The reason I recommend KOTOR first, is because the rules are very easy to understand. Character creation is very easy (you can even have the computer automatically do it for you). The game looks similar to an action game (but it really is not).

The only bad thing about recommending that one first is it has the best graphics (except for Morrowind), so that may spoil you, and you might not like the isometric perspectives and 2D graphics of older games like BG1 and Fallout 1. But those games are worth a look, even if they don't look as sharp as new rpg's.

[Space05us]

KOTOR will be the best RPG for a beginner. It's not heavy on character management, but it is heavy on story, and role playing dialogue options.

yeah, occasionaly what you say has an effect on your alignment but other than that you can just zoom through the game pressing any button during dialogue. real heavy.

The reason I recommend KOTOR first, is because the rules are very easy to understand. Character creation is very easy (you can even have the computer automatically do it for you). The game looks similar to an action game (but it really is not).

what he said.

[Nubclear]

FALLOUT

[Jamski]

A bit of an overview. All of these games will ask about 40-60 hours of you (at least) so its a desision to consider.

KOTOR :

• Adapted (simplefied) D&D rules
• Uses Bioware's Aurora 3d engine
• Well known Star Wars setting
• Play only as one character, with a companion.
• "Roleplay Light" in terms of character's development.
• Runs well on moderate systems.

BG2 :

• Pretty full options of AD&D 2nd Edtion rules.
• Huge world filled with interesting characters and places.
• Uses Bioware's 2d isometric Infinity engine
• Play with up to 6 characters, each with thier own personality.
• Real tactical combat, with 6 characters + pets/summons/etc you have a lot of options.
• Runs on any old box.
• Should play BG1 first (not on your list though)

NWN :

• Pretty close use of 3rd Edition D&D rules.
• Uses Bioware's Aurora engine like KOTOR.
• Only one character + a henchman.
• Original campagaine long, but not so thrilling as a story.
• Almost infinite replayblity with player-made modules.
• Runs ok unless you have some Radeon cards, then it might stutter occasionally.
• Some nice combat options.

Morrowind :

• Newer version of the Daggerfall rules.
• In-house 3d engine
• Huge beautiful world to explore...
• ...with noone in it.
• No character interaction - single person party.
• Runs dead slow even on a p4 and a 128meg card.
• Poor combat.

-Jam

[DrSpike]

Ok it's down to KOTOR and BG2. If you chose one of the others you can get another +1 by jumping ship now.

[Sandman]

KOTOR is better. Can't really see what all the fuss is about with BG2. It's a good game, but not that good.