Skyrim is my first RPG : V

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:36 pm

I'm a relatively new fan of the RPG genre. RPGs I've recently played are Fallout 3, Dragon Age: Origins, The Witcher, Mass Effect 1 & 2. Back in the day I also played Final Fantasy 7 & 8 and Wild Arms but JRPGs are a completely different story. While those games were very good they always felt more like an epic interactive movie than an actual role playing game. Not that it's bad, it's just different.

Now I can surely say that this is the first time I'm having the feeling of really role playing a game. I've never had the urge to play different characters in a game before. I usually do one playthrough with a warrior or mage type of guy (when the game allows such choice) and that's it, move on to the next game. But this time is different. I've already created 4 characters, every one of them with different playstyles, different goals and motivations. I've never had a game that gave me so much freedom to go and do whatever I want and rewarded me for doing so.

Well maybe there are other games out there that allows you to play with this kind of freedom but I've never felt inspired by them to do so. The world of Syrim is not perfect but if you're imaginative enough you can easily overlook the flaws and keep immersed.

If the other TES games were half as good as this one I already feel bad for missing them when they came out. I gave Oblivion a whirl but I was too narrow minded to fully enjoy an open world game back then. I'm glad I opened my eyes this time around.

I considered myself a fan of RPGs before I played Skyrim, now I know I've never really played an RPG before.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:36 am

Go play Fallout 1 and, better yet, Arcanum. Then come back and talk about different character types and ways to complete goals.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:07 pm

Go play Fallout 1 and, better yet, Arcanum. Then come back and talk about different character types and ways to complete goals.

I was this close to buying Fallout 1 and 2 a few months ago when they went on sale at GoG but I think I just can't overlook the dated graphics.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:51 pm

Inspiring post. Glad you finally found a "niche", I guess I could say. The same was for me in a way. I started with Morrowind, but after about 100 hours, I ended up spending more time building terrible mods, haha. The game itself just wasn't that immersive for me. I liked it, but it just didn't cut it. I played Daggerfall afterwards, and to me that was better. I really do like Skyrim for what it is, though. It feels a lot more intense, but doesn't really scrap the things I've enjoyed in the other games.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:43 am

Glad you're enjoying not only Skyrim but also getting into role playing too! :celebration:

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:56 pm

I was this close to buying Fallout 1 and 2 a few months ago when they went on sale at GoG but I think I just can't overlook the dated graphics.

If you can get past the graphics I *highly* recommend Arcanum and Planescape: Torment (both available @ GoG).

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:08 pm

If you can get past the graphics I *highly* recommend Arcanum and Planescape: Torment (both available @ GoG).

Thx for the tips. I'll add them to my wishlist so I'll be notified when they go on sale.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:24 am

I'm a relatively new fan of the RPG genre. RPGs I've recently played are Fallout 3, Dragon Age: Origins, The Witcher, Mass Effect 1 & 2. Back in the day I also played Final Fantasy 7 & 8 and Wild Arms but JRPGs are a completely different story. While those games were very good they always felt more like an epic interactive movie than an actual role playing game. Not that it's bad, it's just different.

Now I can surely say that this is the first time I'm having the feeling of really role playing a game. I've never had the urge to play different characters in a game before. I usually do one playthrough with a warrior or mage type of guy (when the game allows such choice) and that's it, move on to the next game. But this time is different. I've already created 4 characters, every one of them with different playstyles, different goals and motivations. I've never had a game that gave me so much freedom to go and do whatever I want and rewarded me for doing so.

Well maybe there are other games out there that allows you to play with this kind of freedom but I've never felt inspired by them to do so. The world of Syrim is not perfect but if you're imaginative enough you can easily overlook the flaws and keep immersed.

If the other TES games were half as good as this one I already feel bad for missing them when they came out. I gave Oblivion a whirl but I was too narrow minded to fully enjoy an open world game back then. I'm glad I opened my eyes this time around.

I considered myself a fan of RPGs before I played Skyrim, now I know I've never really played an RPG before.

Welcome to the club, friend. We need more RPG fans like yourself.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:52 pm

Try Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn. Amazing story, looting, gameplay, dialogue and characters. The isometric view makes the graphics timeless too, imo.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:06 am

I was this close to buying Fallout 1 and 2 a few months ago when they went on sale at GoG but I think I just can't overlook the dated graphics.

Yeah, it's a shame that despite coming out after Fallout, Arcanum has equal level or even worse graphics. :confused:

Still, if you are just now getting into rpgs beyong japanese ones, I really recommend you check out some of these other computer rpgs. If you can get past the graphics, the attention to detail in characters and quests is awesome. I am really loving Skyrim, but Elder Scrolls has always excelled at open worlds and sandbox play, and can't really compare to the quest options in some of these older games.

Here's a spoiler to give you an example from the first little 'quest' or goal in Arcanum. Hopefully this entices you enough to get past the graphics:

Spoiler

You need to identify the shop that created a ring you have, and the location of the town where the shop resides. This information is known by a local shopkeeper, but he won't give it up for free. You also need to get across the bridge out of town, but wannabe bandits are guarding the gate and charging a hefty toll.

SHOPEKEEPER:
You can do a side quest and bring him one of two semi-rare items which he will trade for the information.
If you have high charisma + persuasion, you can get him to divulge the information without even realizing it.
If you have good pickpocketing skills, you can lift his key which opens a cabinet with the information in his records.
If you are good at stealth + lockpicking, you can break into his house and night and crack the cabinet.
You can kill him, and take his key. Beward the guard's reaction of course.
If you are a magic user focused on necromancy, you can kill him, raise his spirit, and torture it to get the information (my favorite, haha!)

BRIDGE BANDITS:
You can save up the money and pay their toll.
If you don't mind being evil (and alignment matters, no easy fix) you can do a side quest for the bandits and destroy the building supplies the town is using to make a new bridge. The town will really hate you if you do this.
If you have high charisma + persuasion, you can convince the moron bandits that you are part of the thieves guild, and have then leave and pay YOU for collecting on your turf.
If you are a fighter (magic, melee, or technology) you can kill them. Three so they can be somewhat hard.
If you are an ok fighter, but have some decent charisma, you can convince a local mercenary in the bar to join your party and help you kill them.
If you are a good pickpocket + stealth, you can steal the key and sneak out the gate.

And that's just the start. :thumbsup:

Also ditto on the Planescape: Torment recommendation. Very creative setting and gameplay (dying can give you experience?!) and an awesome story that somehow hits everyone on a personal level.

Baldur's Gate series is up there too, it makes the best rpg list quite often.

Not to mention Morrowind for more Elder Scrolls fun! The island of Vvardenfell is quite unique and very fun to explore!

Welcome to a whole new world!

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:04 am

At the risk of getting flamed, I'll tell you the further back you go, the more you'll have the RP elements (except Oblivion. And Arena, but that's not really fair). Morrowind is a nice step back in the series because it's the earliest to have decent modability. There's no DGE for Daggerfall. :'(

you may want to venture back.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:20 pm

Welcome to roleplaying :foodndrink:

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:20 pm

Go play Fallout 1 and, better yet, Arcanum. Then come back and talk about different character types and ways to complete goals.

Fallout 1 & 2, Baldurs Gate 1 & 2, Arcanum... all fantastic games.

Plus, Baldurs Gate series has the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozv1RcQJAHA ever.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:53 am

:fallout: New Vegas?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:11 pm

Actually yeah, New Vegas had a lot better quests and choices/consequences than Fallout 3 in many ways if you absolutely need modern graphics. Check it out as well.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:32 pm

I'm a relatively new fan of the RPG genre. RPGs I've recently played are Fallout 3, Dragon Age: Origins, The Witcher, Mass Effect 1 & 2. Back in the day I also played Final Fantasy 7 & 8 and Wild Arms but JRPGs are a completely different story. While those games were very good they always felt more like an epic interactive movie than an actual role playing game. Not that it's bad, it's just different.

Now I can surely say that this is the first time I'm having the feeling of really role playing a game. I've never had the urge to play different characters in a game before. I usually do one playthrough with a warrior or mage type of guy (when the game allows such choice) and that's it, move on to the next game. But this time is different. I've already created 4 characters, every one of them with different playstyles, different goals and motivations. I've never had a game that gave me so much freedom to go and do whatever I want and rewarded me for doing so.

Well maybe there are other games out there that allows you to play with this kind of freedom but I've never felt inspired by them to do so. The world of Syrim is not perfect but if you're imaginative enough you can easily overlook the flaws and keep immersed.

If the other TES games were half as good as this one I already feel bad for missing them when they came out. I gave Oblivion a whirl but I was too narrow minded to fully enjoy an open world game back then. I'm glad I opened my eyes this time around.

I considered myself a fan of RPGs before I played Skyrim, now I know I've never really played an RPG before.

Welcome to our world..lol,,,good post...

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:48 am

If you can get past the graphics I *highly* recommend Arcanum and Planescape: Torment (both available @ GoG).

Arcanum is second only to Deus ex as my favorite game of all time, not only because of the many ways I can finish a quest, but also the ability to mold my character the way I want to.

That being said, I love Skyrim, and feel that it gives me the experience of exploring a wide-open world that only Bethesda seems to be able to deliver. They may not be so great at other

aspects, and it's not always the most polished game around, but I play their games for the joy of exploring the world they've built, a world I can really get lost in.