So it seems that there's been a resurgence in the CRPG genre lately with the release of games such as Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny, Pathfinder Kingmaker, Underrail etc. We seem to be in a CRPG renaissance, so I want to get into the genre.
I personally have never played a CRPG, but I want to get into the genre because I enjoy story rich rpgs with a plethora of choice and consequences.
With that in mind, what CRPG would you recommend starting with? A new one like PoE? Or an older one like Baldur's Gate?
Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, but I thought PoE was incredibly boring, for reasons I don't remember and probably couldn't articulate anyway. In fact, I disliked it so much, that I thought CRPGs just weren't for me. Then I played PF:KM, and absolutely loved it. So maybe the problem is with PoE.
Aaron Jenkins
I'd say start with older ones, they tended to have better writing than modern stuff, where as in my opinion most modern crpgs feel a lot better to play but also have worse stories and characters. Also if you're on windows 10 getting some of the older ones to run is a bit of a pain in the ass.
Kevin Rogers
Play Fallout 1, it's great, easy to get into and its only major flaw is the crappy inventory. Also stay away from nu-Obsidian crap.
Nicholas Taylor
For beginners, FO1 and FO2. I think anything simpler does the genre a disservice.
I remember someone in an Underrail thread saying that he likes Underrail because there aren't many single character RPGs right now. Most are either party based or with companions.
I don't think that you can balance between having companions and solo play as having companions is more content (also more people to carry your stuff). FO1/2 had missions that were easier without companions but that is an exception rather the rule. Both are disguise type missions. Funny enough stealth itself was easier with companions because only the PC turns characters hostile and the companions block the NPC's vision. I had an idea of solo players being given "shortcut" options like stowaway in a train.
I think that Styg didn't make companions because he doesn't know how to program companions. Molotov Cocktails are useless in team fights (minus the Expedition defense fights) because the retards would walk on the fire and turn hostile towards you.
That reminds me when Zig Forums tried to make an official RPG genre classification system that fell apart when they are more focus trying say JRPG is a genre tied to mechanics. There was one retard that claimed that FO1/2 didn't have random encounters.
I think styg could have companions as you get temporary allies on missions sometimes, it's just that balancing around having 1 or more permanent companions is a nightmare. I also think not having companions adds to the oppressing atmosphere. I'd like for infusion and/or sequel to have more encounters with allies and maybe for longer periods of time but idk about actual ones a la FO1/2. As others have said, FO1/2 is your best bet.
Jason Brown
It's also pretty inconsistent on how to interact with the environment.
Oliver Williams
>it's just that balancing around having 1 or more permanent companions is a nightmare. True. I'm not quite sure how to balance all of the skills if certain companions can do things for you. It is also hard to formula tactics with an AI companion and giving full control would make it just a party-based system.
Evan Roberts
Fallout 1 is the best entry point
If you want something party-based, personally I think Icewind Dale is much easier to get into than Baldur's Gate
Andrew Rogers
Pathfinder is also very boring unless you don't care about things like enemy variety and encounter design
David Howard
CRPGs are a genre that should have stayed dead. Almost none of the newer ones are any good, and the older ones are unplayable.
Ayden Kelly
Stygian and Numenara are shit.
Nicholas Myers
>I enjoy story rich rpgs with a plethora of choice and consequences
Dragon Age: Origins
Even though its RPG systems are casualized, it is more story rich and has better choices and consequences than most CRPGs
William Peterson
PoE was very boring. loot was garbage. you were SUPPOSED to craft your own and the players just didn't get it, to be fair. You had the same 3 formations of enemy copypasta'd repeatedly. the campaign itself was pretty dull. you dun goofed when the background lore sounds so much more interesting than the campaign you're playing. Like, holy SHIT, Jesus was in the Dyrwood raising a righteous army and the other gods literally had to NUKE him to stop him from utterly shitstomping the rest of the gods? Sounds like Jesus was a pretty hardcore divinity, a real divine one. Meanwhile what was the campign? "uhh the beardy man is evil...also the gods aren't real, they're literally inventions of the beardy man to manipulate mankind into obeying beardy man..." fascinating.
Blake Barnes
>beardy man to manipulate mankind into obeying beardy man
So close, user...
Jack Collins
I'm playing Deadfire right now and the lore just phase me out. The story isn't really interesting. I'm just staying because I like the turn based gameplay. I think it's one of the best designed in a CRPG and I played all the classics and most of the revival ones.
Angel Gonzalez
PoE is a complete boring trash fire. Please do not play it. This is coming from a mid 30s dude that grew up with shit like Baldur's Gate and Fallout 1 - 2. Tyranny also sucks. Kingmaker would be a great game if it wasn't for its retarded kingdom management system so avoid that garbage, too.
Caleb Sanders
play underrail and when you are done play underrail again if you get tired of that you can try underrail or maybe divinity
Jacob Rogers
>Stygian Nigga u serious? Play it only if you want to go insane.
Asher Perez
underrail, great game pathfinder was okay, nothing special don't think too highly about much else that's come out that's new
Jack Clark
God I loved Age of Decadence
Juan Lewis
Why do all CRPGs have shit combat?
Nolan Brooks
Because they all emulate Baldur's Gate combat that was functional back in the day but not very fun, yet the story and exploration made up for it. When modern CRPGs emulate the same combat but have shit story and exploration you're left with a bad game.
Leo Bennett
Because you hate chess and math.
Brayden Baker
I remember pirating tides and uninstalling it during the first fight for how unfun it was and how everything was a boring loredump. Is it actually a good game or something? I saw that it had a woman writer later so I just assume its shit all the way through
Jace Roberts
Don't think that they do, sometimes it's a mixed bag though like with divinity. Kind of shit as an rpg but the abilities are still pretty fun.
Ethan Nelson
I can only agree. PoE was so boring it made my abandon CRPGs for years. Story was so lame and not existing, and dialogues were really bad written and felt unnaturally. On the other hand, i recently placed DOS2 and put 200 hours in, having my second playthrough. Story is a bit cliche but entertaining, but the battle system is lots of fun. Thinking about buying Pathfinder Kingmaker, how hard is it for somebody without PnP experience to get into?
Dylan Anderson
Has anyone ever used any of the premade Fallout chars?
James Phillips
>comparing crpgs to chess thanks for making me laugh
David Brooks
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a good start. It's probably the most "classic" of the newer ones. Otherwise I'd always recommend Shadowrun: Dragonfall, since it's easy to get into, reasonably short and features a unique setting.
Xavier James
How's Desperadoes 3? Am I missing out if I play it without playing the first 2 ?
