Recommend a Computer RPG or Strategy Game

[Flibbertigibbet]

Alright, I've had it with Warcraft, but I need some methadone for my RPG addiction (off the wagon since age 10!). Recommend to me an RPG which can be played on a computer. Techwise, Warcraft is about the most advanced game my computer can handle, so anything on that level or less.

For RPGs, I'm pretty flexible, but something with engaging combat is a must. For strategy games, something reasonably fast paced. (ie, not Civilization). An online component is a major plus.

So with that somewhat broad framework in mind - go!

[Tanka]

Neverwinter Nights.

If you feel the need to play any of the OCs, go with Hordes of the Underdark (HotU), and after that go with community modules or online worlds, called Persistant Worlds.

This game kept me entertained for months at a time, for the better part of a few years.

[Gumbercules]

Gothic 2 with Night of the Raven expansion. It's pretty much a single player MMOG. Lots of land to explore, tons of quests, items, weapons, etc. Combat is real time and you have to use timing and dodging/blocking in addition to your character's skill levels and weapon choices. It's a couple years old now, so it should be cheap. Gothic 3 is out, but it is buggy and unpolished and released way too early imo.

[Olof Jönsson]

...*which* Warcraft? The very first one? Or Warcraft 3? Or do you mean World of Warcraft? There's a huge gulf in expectations between all of those. :)

[beachnik]

X-Com: Ufo Defence! (Or X-Com: Ufo Enemy Unknown depending on where you are in the world). That'll run on a PC that could only run Warcraft 1 baby! Yeah, go the old skool.

[Darklance]

X-Com: Ufo Defence! (Or X-Com: Ufo Enemy Unknown depending on where you are in the world). That'll run on a PC that could only run Warcraft 1 baby! Yeah, go the old skool.

I never liked the way commands were given in the X-Com series.

I'll second Neverwinter Nights, though. Or Dark Sun: Shattered Lands, if you get the CD version. The graphics/sound/music are VERY dated, but it has an excellent story.

[The Incredible Bohemian]

It depends what you're after.

NWN is good if you like your roleplaying online, but I hesitate to recommend it. I found it dull, and it has no single player worth bothering with. NWN2 is better, but the engine is a dog, and IMO it shows all the worst of D&D.

Knights of the Old Republic really is the pinnacle for CRPGs these days. It's got a very strong story, fun combat (with characters that actually look like they're fighting!), and oodles of character. You can't go far wrong here.

Sounds like Oblivion is out of your league, but what about Morrowind? That's a cracker, especially if you like your roleplaying rich, freeform and weird.

If you want to combine RTS with your RPG, then you could do much worse than Freedom Force or its sequel. Cruelly overlooked, both of 'em, and masses of fun.

Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines is a masterpiece for two thirds of the game, but it is very buggy, and quite demanding.

Finally, if you haven't played Deus Ex / Fallout 2 / Baldur's Gate I & II / Planescape: Torment, then you've got some catching up to do. They're all brilliant, and most of them are quite cheap now.

[Darting Flea]

World of Warcraft is what I believe is the warcraft hes refering to.

RTS:
Dawn of War
Company of Heroes
Starcraft + Brood War

RPG:
Torment
Baldurs Gate 1+2
Fallout 1+2
System Shock2
Deus Ex

[Flibbertigibbet]

What the flea said. I run WoW, barely. Anything more powerful than that is going to cause my computer to die, cursing my name.

I'll look into Knights of the Old Replubic. Will it be cool for someone whose never seen Starwars?

If NWN sucks single player, what's a good online community?

[cracky]

Since most of the good RPGs have been named, I'll name a strategy game. Medieval Total War 2 is pretty good all around, especially if you never played rome.

Also Syndicate is a great game if you're interested in stuff like X-com.

[Darting Flea]

What the flea said. I run WoW, barely. Anything more powerful than that is going to cause my computer to die, cursing my name.

I'll look into Knights of the Old Replubic. Will it be cool for someone whose never seen Starwars?



Yeah it should be good, although you miss out on some of the appeal. I reckon it would be worth getting the game and renting the original trilogy.

[mhensley]

I'm having a great time with Space Rangers 2 right now. It's a turn based game of space trucking and piracy. I would love an MMO that played like this.

[Whollyrandom]

I'll look into Knights of the Old Replubic. Will it be cool for someone whose never seen Starwars?

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.

[Arnino Storm]

System Shock? It's got RPG elements, especially the second one. And it's got SHODAN.

Oh, I can't wait until next week, when I'll finally get to play it.

[Ikselam]

NWN is good if you like your roleplaying online, but I hesitate to recommend it. I found it dull, and it has no single player worth bothering with.

I strongly disagree with this. NWN single player is poor if you stick to the campaign that ships in the box. But like Unreal Tournament before it, NWN was a game I bought specifically so I could play user-created levels, many of which are extremely well-made and entertaining.

[dm_punks]

I strongly disagree with this. NWN single player is poor if you stick to the campaign that ships in the box. But like Unreal Tournament before it, NWN was a game I bought specifically so I could play user-created levels, many of which are extremely well-made and entertaining.

The NWN Premium Modules are quite recommendable as well. I've played Witch's Wake, Kingmaker, and one other that I can't seem to remember right now, but yeah, they're another reason to go check NWN out.

Trying to play through the OC right now...never did finish this, so I figured it's about time to take care of the backlog.

[Jon Chung]

I found the NWN OC to be a waste of time. Undrentide was meh, playable but nothing special. Hordes was probably the best of the three.

[Tomahawk]

Ur-Quan Masters. It's a free update/rework of "Star Control II." Part RPG, part strategy, part 4x, part space-combat. It's a classic work of art.

[Blizzardwolf]

World of Warcraft is what I believe is the warcraft hes refering to.

RTS:
Dawn of War
Company of Heroes
Starcraft + Brood War

Company of Heroes is a sexy sexy game, but if he can barely run WoW he'll never get CoH off the ground.

I'd reccomend any of the Total War series though, preferably Rome or earlier if graphics performance is an issue.