Recommended RPGs for a first-timer

[garren]

Betrayal at Krondor

Oh hell yes. Played through that like 3 times. There's even a Let's Play or similar thread to it made recently, if I remember correctly.

 

[DraQ]

laser fights which didn't actually 'feel' like fights

Neither they felt like lasers.

 

[poocolator]

He wasn't asking for what games the codex recommends. He was asking which games the codex recommends for guys new to the wRPG scene. There's a big difference.

Seriously? You think that would be some different games?
Totaly not PS:T, Fallout, Arcanum, BG, Kotor2, ICD, VtM:B, ToEE and Gothic (+sequels)?

The difference includes (amongst other things) the fact that we now have a chance at brainwashing.

 

[hiver]

Hmm...hmm..

The holy scriptures you have been given are correct so i wont repeat them.

Ill just add that Baldurs Gate games can be found very cheap today with all expansions thrown in and the best thing about them is that they have hundreds of mods from small stuff to total conversions available.

Also if you ever replay Planescape torment use Qwinn fixes and ghost dog ui and stuff.

When you finish fallout 1&2 get the restoration pack for 2 and play it again. It is true that if you play 2 first youll end up loving it more then 1 - most probably.

If you play Bloodlines be aware there is another earlier game, Vampire Masquerade: Redemption set in the same universe which is very good too and done in older style.
Story is linear but much better then Bloodlines. (for me personally)

Kotors 1&2 are good for one run through but not much else. Very light all in all compared to real RPGs but miles ahead the movies in seriousness of the setting.

Carry on.

 

[Witchblade]

Don't play Witcher first, boy - it will totally spoil ya for the older stuff.

...and stop licking so much butt. Though, surprisingly, it has seemed to work, as you seem to have goaded some decency out of the bunch here that I had always regarded as being a cynical, twisted, warped bunch of Fallout 1/2 lova's.
I was very surprised to see that they actually liked The Witcher, mind you. Something that a gaming whore like me actually also liked. A lot.
I mean, I liked Morrowind, and even the occasional JRPG like Jade Empire. <<< Watch me being flamed for that. But I don't care, because I'm not into lickin butt.

And why the FUCK do ppl always want to start with Gothic 2? Gothic 2 follows on directly from Gothic 1. The story just makes so much more sense if you've played G1. I started with G2, then decided to do G1 first, and the whole story just made so much more sense.
Besides, I'll personally respect you if you actually bite the bullet and work towards mastering the shitty G1 controls. It becomes easy once you've died a few times. So many gamers give up before they've even properly tried the game.

Don't listen to the bunch who say start with G2. Start with no.1
I might have said the same of BG, if only that there are really a lot of the Sword coast D&D games to plough thru, and I suppose BG 2, is slightly better than BG1.
Anyway there are economically priced Bg/NWN box sets out there.
NWN 1 is better than NWN2. NWN2 is one long *yawn* game that I still have not quite seen to the end myself.

But yeah, do start with the older games rather, or you're liable to be spoilt for pretty graphics.

Sort of what DraQ said in his first post, but start with the older stuff first.
Maybe like this:
Arcanum
(Divine Divinity is also a nice easy one to start with)
KOTOR 1 & 2
Morrowind
Demon Stone (not quite the traditional D & D rules, IIRC)
BG 1/2; Icew. Dale etc.; NWN etc.
Vampire Bloodlines
The Witcher

Above all, if you really want to to fit in with the Codexers, you have to play Fallout 1 & 2. (eventually)
Oh, yeah, and you might want to peep at Anachorox too.
World of Xeen and the Might and Magics too. Pretty old stuff there also.

 

[Zomg]

Easing into the mid-early '90s, if you're so inclined:

Simple, attractive starter games:
Lands of Lore (be sure wherever you pirate it from has the CD audio)
Might and Magic IV/V

Getting acclimated to D&D:
Eye of the Beholder 2 (Never play three; one is okay)
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (Don't play the sequel)
-> Leads to Gold Box games and/or the BG series, eventually

Other:
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail (prior and subsequent games are not as good)
Dungeon Master II if you liked Lands of Lore and EoB2.

Advanced early '90s RPG nerds only:
Darklands
Daggerfall
Ultima VII
Wizardry VI/VII

A lot of these start bogging down badly in their second half or earlier where the developers tried to pad out the games, so drop'em off if they start wheezing.

 

[MaskedMan]

Demon Stone (not quite the traditional D & D rules, IIRC)

LOL, NOT RPG

 

[Wyrmlord]

Wait, wait, wait.

Zomg, Eye Of The Beholder is a Dungeon Master style game?

Then I know one game I am never going to touch. I hate DM style games.

Real-time twitchfest party-based combat makes no sense whatsoever. And that's real-time without pause.

Somebody actually made a twitch game based on D&D rules?

 

[The Rambling Sage]

Somebody actually made a twitch game based on D&D rules?

Not rules, but setting.

Demon Stone.

 

[DraQ]

The guy should start a separate topic for Codex approved non-RPGs (Frontier, TN, Nexus, etc.).

 

[Razz]

If you play Bloodlines be aware there is another earlier game, Vampire Masquerade: Redemption set in the same universe which is very good too and done in older style.
Story is linear but much better then Bloodlines. (for me personally)

Someone mentioned this elsewhere as well, didn't realise it was a series! I'd only heard of Bloodlines. I'll probably try them both eventually if they're set in the same universe. How closely related are they? Direct continuation of the story or just a continuity in terms of names and the like?

And why the FUCK do ppl always want to start with Gothic 2? Gothic 2 follows on directly from Gothic 1. The story just makes so much more sense if you've played G1. I started with G2, then decided to do G1 first, and the whole story just made so much more sense.

I'll see if I can get into 1 before trying 2, thanks for the tip.

...and stop licking so much butt.

I was licking butt?! That having sticks up your ass thing wasn't exactly meant as a *compliment* per se, but okay. Also, I needed something to compensate for being a console gamer.

 

[JarlFrank]

If you play Bloodlines be aware there is another earlier game, Vampire Masquerade: Redemption set in the same universe which is very good too and done in older style.
Story is linear but much better then Bloodlines. (for me personally)

Someone mentioned this elsewhere as well, didn't realise it was a series! I'd only heard of Bloodlines. I'll probably try them both eventually if they're set in the same universe. How closely related are they? Direct continuation of the story or just a continuity in terms of names and the like?

Same setting. Both are based on the Vampire: The Masquerade setting by White Wolf, but both are differently styled RPGs and made by different companies. Also, the details of the setting are different [Redemption plays in the Medieval age and in the later game also in the modern age, while Bloodlines in modern age only].

You can't call it a "series" actually, those two games are connected to each other in the same way as, say, Baldur's Gate 2, the Gold Box games and Planescape Torment. Same setting, same rule-system. That's it.

 

[The Rambling Sage]

Someone mentioned this elsewhere as well, didn't realise it was a series! I'd only heard of Bloodlines. I'll probably try them both eventually if they're set in the same universe. How closely related are they? Direct continuation of the story or just a continuity in terms of names and the like?

They are not a series. They have nothing in common other than both being part of the World of Darkness universe and Vampire: The Masquerade setting, and then Golden Ruling half the stuff anyway.

[Edit] JarlFrank beat me to it.

 

[made]

On the hardest difficulty, utilising potions, blade coating and bombs is a necessity and add immensily to the strategic aspect of the game, making you consider which remedies to use for which task. It must be said, though, that this is only on the hardest difficulty level, so if you get the game, play on hard. It's a much more fun experience.

If only it were true. One of the few legitimate complaints about TW was that, even on hardest difficulty, it was still too easy from about midway through. Geralt becomes too powerful too fast and the pots and oils only triviallize the combat further.

 

[hiver]

Someone mentioned this elsewhere as well, didn't realise it was a series! I'd only heard of Bloodlines. I'll probably try them both eventually if they're set in the same universe. How closely related are they? Direct continuation of the story or just a continuity in terms of names and the like?

Not related at all apart from the setting and the general story of masquerade.
Redemption is very linear in how its story evolves and scarce dialogues have no impact on events as i can remember. Has point and click interface unlike Bloodlines which is basicaly FP (shooter) though you can go third person too.
And much nicer interface and way of dealing with vampire abilities and powers.
Art and characters look great and its much more atmospheric.

Was hoping for some kind of sequel of it for years. Something that would add more non-linearity to it and more C&C generally but allas it was not meant to be.

 

[Witchblade]

Demon Stone (not quite the traditional D & D rules, IIRC)

LOL, NOT RPG

True, it's actually an action game; I did enjoy it though (sacrilege as it is to mention on the Codex that you enjoyed a non-RPG) and seeing as it was written by Salvatore and set in the Forgotten Realms universe, I thought it might be a nice introduction to the D &D proper games. This might be a mistake though, as the game could possibly create a false impression of the proper D&D games.

I was just trying to think of a good place to start, because I remember how the D&D rules used to phase me as an uninitiate. I downloaded tomes and tomes of the rules, of which of course there are different versions to make things even worse.

The best way might simply be to play the games themselves, and then I'd reckon BG would be a good place to start?

 

[Zomg]

Zomg, Eye Of The Beholder is a Dungeon Master style game?

Then I know one game I am never going to touch. I hate DM style games.

Real-time twitchfest party-based combat makes no sense whatsoever. And that's real-time without pause.

Somebody actually made a twitch game based on D&D rules?

Yup, although it's a much less twitch-intensive game than DM while the blobber puzzles are a bit better.

 

[AlaCarcuss]

Haha, congratulations Razz on an entertaing introductory post.

I'm in a similar boat as a relative n00b with CRPG's - well compared to most of the codex anyway (although I've been gaming for decades). I've been a lurker here for years and was going to make a similar intro, but I've seen many too many such posts end in tears - so I chickened out.

You though, despite a couple of exceptions, seem to have won them over - so well done. Don't get too cocky though, it can still (and probably eventually will) happen :D

I too was going to suggest The Witcher, one of the best 'recent' RPG's (of the ones I've played) that also seems to fit your criterea well. Combat does seem to start off difficult and then a little too quickly becomes easy though - even on hard mode.

I'm currently working my way through some of the back catalog of early-mid 90's RPG's as suggested in other threads here at the codex - working my way towards Fallout's 1 & 2 (both of which I've already dabbled in). If you can get past the dated graphics and interfaces, some are really fun and can teach you a lot about what makes a good CRPG. Not to mention, unlike recent years, there's plenty to choose from. Particularly the 'Gold Box D&D' games and the Wizardry series. Also the Might and Magic series is a lot of fun.

 

[Shota Shernokavich]

jeez guys

chill out on the guy with your early 90's recommendations. he's just getting started.

@OP: dude, start with Gothic 2 or VtMB. Also try NWN2: MotB, it is similar to PS:T in many ways AKA story-driven RPG.

Also go for The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, which is pretty good and has some old-school stuff in there.

Go down from there and see where the graphics get so bad that you can't stand them. I'll tell you right now that you (like many) will not be able to stomach the early dungeon crawlers from 1991-96.

If you wanna play Fallout play FO2 first then if you like it play FO1.

Arcanum has an amazing atmosphere and now with Drogs patch probably is the best CRPG ever made. Try it out, if you can get past some of the drawbacks you are in for one hell of a fucking RPG.

 

[RK47]

Oblivion is always a good way to start.
Things can only get better from there and it's not hard for beginners.

You'll be able to identify what you like & dislikes from RPG from that game and adjust your expectations accordingly.

 

[Ravn7]

There's also HK-47, one of the best characters that ever appeared on rpgs and he appears on both games. He's an assassin droid and will most likely change your stance against SW droids completely.

HK-47's definition of love.

Several HK-47 quotes.

Oh, good, you don't have to play the game anymore. HK-47 is the most interesting and the most funny character. But since you heard the most amusing dialogues...

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

HK-47 is the most interesting and the most funny character.

T3 > HK-47. In KotOR 2, that is.

 

[mondblut]

Wait, wait, wait.

Zomg, Eye Of The Beholder is a Dungeon Master style game?

Yeah. So is Ishar. Ishar 2-3 are probably the least twitchy of them all, all attack icons are grouped separately, so you just slowly move your cursor over them holding down LMB until either enemy falls or you're out of stamina.

Real-time twitchfest party-based combat makes no sense whatsoever. And that's real-time without pause.

Well, even early 90s had their share of oblivion fanbois who viewed it as "immersive"

Somebody actually made a twitch game based on D&D rules?

There were arcade platformers based on D&D rules, for chrissakes. Dragons of Flame and Heroes of the Lance. And Hillsfar. And some intellivision platformers whatever their name.

Ravenloft and Menzoberranzan were twitchfests too, but you could optionally just click enemies to death, without moving cursor from icon to icon.

 

[janjetina]

Eye of the Beholder 2 was the first RPG I played and it made me hate RPGs for years. I hated the real-time combat, and its user interface was horrible. I haven't touched a RPG until the late 90s because of it.

Anyway, Fallout should be the first on your list as it is THE RPG.

 

[AlaCarcuss]

Oblivion is always a good way to start.
Things can only get better from there and it's not hard for beginners.

You'll be able to identify what you like & dislikes from RPG from that game and adjust your expectations accordingly.

I was going to suggest Oblivion too because that's how I started. However, I know the codex's general feelings regarding it and other Bethesda titles, so I skipped it.

For all Oblivion and Bethesda's faults, I'm sure there are many budding RPG gamers like myself being introduced to the RPG genre via their games. It was after playing Oblivion that lead me to begin my personal quest to find out more about RPG's which in turn lead me to the codex.

I'm now in the process of being re-educated (assimilated?) and after playing some of the truely great RPG's of the past as suggested here - Oblivion's obvious flaws become even more glaring. However - it did serve a purpose and therefor not totally worthless.