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Playing RPGs

Dragon

15:34 / 11.07.06

I'd like to play one of these games now and then, but I'm not interested in spending a bunch of money for a special gadget to play them, with. If I could play them like earlier games, like Myst for example, then I would do so.

Jake, Colossus of Clout

15:40 / 11.07.06

Umm... Yes. There are a couple of RPGs available on your PC.

I recommend the Baldur's Gate games and Planescape: Torment. Make sure you have lots of free time, though. They're enormous and addictive.

If you're interested in playing console RPGs on your PC, I think all of the newer Final Fantasy games are ported, and there's always emulators.

Dragon

16:00 / 11.07.06

Yep, I heard they could take over a 100 hours to get through one.

Elijah, Freelance Rabbi

16:27 / 11.07.06

IF you want to play old school RPGs you can get all the old Nintendo Final Fantasy (and Dragon Quest etc...) in emulation. A google search for NES or SNES emulators should do the trick.

gridley

17:02 / 11.07.06

I've wondered from time to time how well an RPG would work here on Barbelith. The Mafia games seems to indicate it could be fun, if a bit slow. Combat would be tricky, but not all games require it.

Dragon

00:48 / 12.07.06

Thanks ya'll for the feedback. I'm not really into quick action stuff as much as I am into problem solving. I have a workmate who has been talking about the RPGs he's been playing and that's what he's said he likes about them, and what got my attention. BTW, I'm still running on Win98, so thats another factor against action stuff.

Cloned Christ on a HoverDonkey

02:08 / 12.07.06

It's probably a good argument against playing any RPG from the last 2 or 3 years at least, too.

Some of those mentioned above may well work and can probably be picked up on eBay for just a couple of quid.

Good luck.

Jake, Colossus of Clout

03:34 / 12.07.06

To be more specific: Baldur's Gate 2 rocks my world. Possibly my favorite game of all time, it allows for lots of ways to solve quests. You can hack and slash, use tricky magic, or stealthy thief skills, and the game reacts accordingly. I spent 200+ hours on it, though, so be warned.

Dragon

04:07 / 12.07.06

Jakegnosis, thanks for the 'warning' -- sounds better all the time.

***

10:04 / 13.07.06

I would have to second the Baldurs Gate comments, Jon recently introduced me to BGII, plus a few of the player written mods for it (listed below) and I'm horribly horribly hooked, it's extremily compelling stuff. I'm told planescape torment is fantastic too.

I'm also rather fond of Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, but that may be pushing it slightly, depending on the machine.

( Unfinished Business - replacing content bioware staff said they had to cut from the final release and tying up a few loose ends. The Pocket Plane Quest Pack - various AI improvements and some small subquests that flesh a couple of things out a bit. The Banter Pack - many many new NPC conversations. The Firt Pack - expanding the romance plots a fair bit. I also have one of the 'romance packs' installed to alter some of the starting conditions. There are many, many other mods out there by the looks of it, ymmv.)

Lurid Archive

13:53 / 13.07.06

Don't make me play BG2 again, please.

invisible_al

13:59 / 13.07.06

Planescape: Torment, best computer RPG I've ever played. It's up there with System Shock, System Shock 2 and Deus X, but the plot takes it one step further.

It's one of the few games that ever managed to make me care about the characters within it. It takes the Baldurs Gate style and changes the emphasis from combat to storytelling, combat is still there and is fun but it's the conversations and the characters you meet that I remember.

http://www.planescape-torment.org/ has the ultimate patch for the game (fixes things the devs never managed to). And if you hunt around you should either be able to find the game on e-bay, or bit-torrent if all else fails.

Jake, Colossus of Clout

17:16 / 13.07.06

Planescape rocks hard. I have a copy, and would be willing to burn copies for people or rip the discs and share them.
I got my copy from amazon.com last year for under ten bucks, so you may just want to get an official copy.

I also have all the BG games. I recommend playing BG all the way through from 1 to Throne of Bhaal. There's a mod out there which lets you play the whole thing as one gimundo adventure, all in the superior BG2 engine. You must do it. You must.

Sylvia

04:58 / 15.07.06

I'm also chiming in in regards to Planescape. It's easily one of the best games I've ever played. I certainly think it's the best written. If you only try out one of the games recommended on here, make it this one. (Download the patch for it before playing, though.)

Another older RPG I had fun with: Anachronox. A soft sci-fi future with prophecies and goofy science with a gumshoe for a hero (Again, make sure it's patched).

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

15:26 / 15.07.06

Hevn't played Planescape (though I'm sorely tempted) but to my mind the best reasonably low-spec RPG is Deus Ex, though it can be played more as an FPS if you so desire. Deus Ex is to games what Ace Of Spades is to metal. Only it's longer, and the main guy's taller.

Elijah, Freelance Rabbi

21:48 / 17.07.06

Stoatie, some day I must buy you a drink for that statement.

The Fallout games also kick mad ass, but make sure you patch the hell out of them. If you havent played it before think Baldur's Gate in a post apocalyptic zombie filled wasteland.

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