Good Western RPGs?

[Krythe]

I'll likely have some free time on my hands soon. What's a good WRPG? I'm sort of a novice to these but they seem fun from what I have played (mostly limited to the KOTORs).

Is Two Worlds II any good? Should I play the first beforehand? Dragon Age?

What's a good formal introduction to the genre?

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Either Dragon Age or Morrowind is pretty good intro to RPGs. Oblivion is pretty good too.

From what I hear of Two Worlds II is that it's ok, not great, but ok.

 

[voetballeeuw]

Dragon Age is a great example, as is Oblivion. I'm not sure about Two Worlds II, the review scores were bad. Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are also great choices.

My favorite game out of the ones I listed is Oblivion. The main story is not great, but the guild ones are phenomenal. The gameplay could use some help, but the world is massive, and a blast to explore.

Are you playing on PC or console?

EDIT: Here are the scores for TWII

http://www.metacritic.com/search/all/Two+Worlds+Two/results

So, the PC version is much better than the console.

 

[AlternatePFG]

Two Worlds II was quite fun. Nothing amazing, but I think it's a well made and fun game. Story is forgettable though. Don't play the first Two Worlds though, there's no relation and it's an extremely flawed game. As far as introductions to RPG's go, I'd say Dragon Age: Origins would be a good starting point. If you are new to RPG's like it, there's no shame in turning the difficulty down to easy. I wouldn't say Morrowind though, mostly it gives you absolutely no guidance at all. Oblivion would be a better option for someone new, and if you like it, go back and play Morrowind because it's very different and better in some aspects.

 

[DustyDrB]

Two Worlds II has a good looking world. The story is bad, the voice acting is bad, the character animations are bad (I'm not nitpicking here. They are in-your-face awkward). But it has some good aspects. If you just like to explore, I'd say get it.

 

[Dr_Horrible]

Well, there's quite a lot to choose from. I would suggest:
Morrowind
Neverwinter Nights
Planescape: Torment
Fallouts 1-3 and New Vegas
Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Oblivion

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

 

[Tax_Document]

Well, there's quite a lot to choose from. I would suggest:
Morrowind
Neverwinter Nights
Planescape: Torment
Fallouts 1-3 and New Vegas
Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Oblivion

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

I've never encountered a problem with mods with Steam, there is nothing technically different except it runs through Steam.

Please, don't lie and research before posting.

 

[TheDarklite]

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

I've never encountered a problem with mods with Steam, there is nothing technically different except it runs through Steam.

Please, don't lie and research before posting.

The Morrowind Overhaul requires extra steps if you have Steam installed as it most certainly will interfere:
http://morrowindoverhaul.net/blog/?page_id=51
Just scroll down on that FAQ page and it mentions it.

Also Nehrim for Oblivion must install differently if you have the Steam Copy. This is mostly due to the fact that Nehrim needs to copy the install directory... which the Steam client doesn't particularly like. Essentially you need to overwrite a lot of the original files with the Nehrim ones in this case. It is all in the readme.

So yes. Steam does in fact cause mod issues with some of the games Dr Horrible suggested. They have work-arounds but they are there.

So please don't go calling someone a liar because you didn't feel like doing the research.

Also, for further reading:
OBSE and other .exe file issues with Oblivion: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898372
Trouble modding Morrowind due to file date issues (vanilla files loading before mod files): http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/528344-solution-morrowind-steam-not-modding.html
There are plenty more.

 

[Valagetti]

I always highy recommend Witcher 2. Meet my unreasonable standards for an RPG. Good everything, expect for the stupid alchemy mechanic. Lots of gameplay, little padding out. And the loading sessions are bibical, no matter how powerful your PC is. And you will experience the loading sessions alot, because you will die alot, especially at the start, but don't let that bog you down.

 

[Ooga600]

Dragon Age 1, Morrowind, Oblivion, and all the Fallouts are pretty good. Definitely all better choices than two worlds 2.

 

[Dr_Horrible]

Well, there's quite a lot to choose from. I would suggest:
Morrowind
Neverwinter Nights
Planescape: Torment
Fallouts 1-3 and New Vegas
Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Oblivion

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

I've never encountered a problem with mods with Steam, there is nothing technically different except it runs through Steam.

Please, don't lie and research before posting.

Well, I'm only going off of what has been posted in mod readmes and such. I do believe the only big problem is that the script extenders have issues, but I have no personal experience with it. Do you use MWSE or OBSE on your steam copies? I'm generally curious, because all information I have recieved previously point to the script extenders having issues.

Also, it's rather rude to call me a liar and suggest that I didn't research. Just gonna point that out.

EDIT:

Well, there's quite a lot to choose from. I would suggest:
Morrowind
Neverwinter Nights
Planescape: Torment
Fallouts 1-3 and New Vegas
Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Oblivion

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

I've never encountered a problem with mods with Steam, there is nothing technically different except it runs through Steam.

Please, don't lie and research before posting.

Actually he's right. It did affect some people.

There was an issue with the Morrowind files being loaded by their date of creation. The steam copy files are all set in 2009, while all the Morrowind mods are usually set in 2008.

So the mods would load, then be overwritten by the vanilla files.

I don't remember when/if the fix/patch came out, but depending on how it is distributed now, whether by steam or if you have to download it yourself, could certainly still be a problem.

I myself had to use a file date changer at the time.

So please, don't be ignorant and do your own research before calling someone a liar and then suggesting they do research.

Makes you look like a bit of a twat you know?

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

I've never encountered a problem with mods with Steam, there is nothing technically different except it runs through Steam.

Please, don't lie and research before posting.

The Morrowind Overhaul requires extra steps if you have Steam installed as it most certainly will interfere:
http://morrowindoverhaul.net/blog/?page_id=51
Just scroll down on that FAQ page and it mentions it.

Also Nehrim for Oblivion must install differently if you have the Steam Copy. This is mostly due to the fact that Nehrim needs to copy the install directory... which the Steam client doesn't particularly like. Essentially you need to overwrite a lot of the original files with the Nehrim ones in this case. It is all in the readme.

So yes. Steam does in fact cause mod issues with some of the games Dr Horrible suggested. They have work-arounds but they are there.

So please don't go calling someone a liar because you didn't feel like doing the research.

Also, for further reading:
OBSE and other .exe file issues with Oblivion: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898372
Trouble modding Morrowind due to file date issues (vanilla files loading before mod files): http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/528344-solution-morrowind-steam-not-modding.html
There are plenty more.

Okay, good to know I'm not hallucinating.

 

[Adam Waddell]

For the love of god play Dragon Age: Origins ultimate edition if you want the best introduction. Its modern Western RPG with classic roots. And if you enjoy that, play everything else that has title Bioware on it. But if i had to play specifics I'd say go back to the 90's. GOG.com is a great place to find classics like Baldur's Gate or Planescape: Torment. And they are pretty cheap too. And if you like KOTOR then play Mass Effect (WHICH IS AN RPG). I never liked the Elder Scroll games, because they all felt too big and boring and hard to control. First person sword combat sucks imo.

but if you want something multiplayer you can always try world of warcraft

 

[King of the Sandbox]

Well, there's quite a lot to choose from. I would suggest:
Morrowind
Neverwinter Nights
Planescape: Torment
Fallouts 1-3 and New Vegas
Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Oblivion

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

That's pretty much the list right there. lol

I wish there were more variants on setting, like how Fallout, Deus Ex and Planescape. Straight fantasy can get played out pretty fast.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Either Dragon Age or Morrowind is pretty good intro to RPGs. Oblivion is pretty good too.

From what I hear of Two Worlds II is that it's ok, not great, but ok.

I wouldn't consider Morrowind a good into to RPGs for a beginner. The game really doesn't hold your hand at all. Quests aren't marked on a map, and your expected to find them by landmark (landmarks which you may or may not have found and remembered on your own). The game is REALLY good, but definitely not for beginners, faint of heart, or those who get lost and frustrated easily.

I'd say that Fallout 3 is a good western RPG to get your footing on. It's not particularly difficult, but it's a lot of fun to play, and has a great exploration aspect that doesn't really force you into too many commitments as to how you play it. The main story is kind of short, but there's a lot of stuff to do in terms of side-quests.

 

[frehls]

hue

 

[Thaluikhain]

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines is really great...except for serious glitches. Which might stop you from being able to complete the game. Grrr. Stupid not fading to cutscene and next scene after I find the Sarcophagus and kill the guards.

Spiderweb makes good RPGs, but they are hardly cutting edge technology, and so won't ever be popular with the mainstream. I prefered Exile 3 and Blade of Exile, but the Avernum remakes weren't bad. Blade of Exile is now open source, due to compatability issues.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Well, there's quite a lot to choose from. I would suggest:
Morrowind
Neverwinter Nights
Planescape: Torment
Fallouts 1-3 and New Vegas
Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Oblivion

Of course, there's lots more to choose from. I suggest checking out gog.com if you don't mind playing older games, plus Steam has a pretty good rpg library. (protip: do not get morrowind or oblivion on steam, it screws with the mods)

I've never encountered a problem with mods with Steam, there is nothing technically different except it runs through Steam.

Please, don't lie and research before posting.

Because with PC gaming your experience is always exactly the same as everyone else's and has absolutely nothing to do with what kind of hardware and software people are running.

Don't be a dick to people and instantly call them liars just because your experience differs from theirs.