I'm looking for a CRPG that is:
- party based
- with DnD rulesets rather than proprietary systems like PoE in order to build a base knowledge that will carry me over more games
- either turn-based or RTwP, leaning towards the first
So far I'm gravitating towards BG1, ToEE, JA2 and IWD, I think I'm just gonna pop my cherry with BG1 and be done with it, then I'll see how to go forward from that. Feel free to debate over my choice if you have other ideas.
Last thing last, as I've mentioned I have really no idea how DnD combat works and most terminology associated with it. Is pulling out a manual or guide for the DnD version the game is based enough of a required reading or whould you suggest something else?
BG1 and IWD are RTwP games.
Looks like you're really into Infinity Engine look alike games.
If you like games to offer you almost impossible to beat optional enemies every now and then, don't instal the Co8 mod with ToEE (Circle of Eight) but you should use the temple + mod (wiith or without Co8)
If you like ToEE, you should play knight of the chalice (KotC)
And if you like KotC you should play Hearkenworld (free, made by a fellow codexer Dorateen )
Important info about ToEE : the main village quests sucks, the only interesting part happens in dungeons aside from a few easy quest (church, tavern and in the tower )
No need to read D&D rulebooks, they're for D&D tabletop and mostly for Game Masters, most player only read the characters creation part and even only the parts they need for their character creation.
Besides, there is an in-game help for feats (in ToEE, H + click a feat, in KotC, they're clickable for more information )
At some point, you should play Wizardry 8, in a perfect parallel dimension, video game wise, Wizardry 8 is a series on it's own, with 30 expansion and enhancements of the main game, Wizardry 8-1, Wiozardry8-2, and so on.
In our hard cruel world, it's only one game.
Forget what i just said, you play Wizardry 8 and you're screwed, no other game will ever be good enough afterward.