Kerouac, get in here. Let's talk about RPGs.

[Chihlidog]

Lots of video game talk here lately. It isnt good to encourage me to unleash my nerd side here. But since it has, educate me about some RPGs. It isnt a genre I've played much of.

[Chad]

What is an RPG?

[Denverdave]

They are kinda cool.....

[Phil513]

[paulskirocks]

I think Kerouac is currently projectile barfing uncontrollably on a real estate agent...

[Chihlidog]

Yeah yeah yeah I knew this was coming.

[Chihlidog]

I think Kerouac is currently projectile barfing uncontrollably on a real estate agent...

Oh shit, I forgot.

[Tralfaz]

I'm not Kerouac, but I loved loved loved Bioware's Knights of the Old Republic and it's sequel, KOTOR II.

I played a later Bioware RPG called Jade Empire, which was all right, but it's "open hand" "closed fist" development paths weren't as, I don't know , deep as the game and it's promo materials suggested.

[Chihlidog]

KOTOR was right up there in the top 10 games ever made, IMO. Being a GIANT Star Wars fan made it even better for me. KOTOR II I also enjoyed very much, but it felt (because it WAS) unfinished.

Never played Jade Empire. If you like Bioware's stuff, you should definitely check out Mass Effect. It's like KOTOR on steroids with real-time combat.

[Coda]

...I hate RPG's...I find them incredibly boring...

[gibby mcfender]

Just started playing Mass Effect. I'm a big FPS guy (BLACK OPS FTW!!!) so... my FPS instincts have me stuck at the very beginning of Mass Effect trying to disarm 3 charges Anyone got some hints for me? My squad mates keep dying, and I don't last much longer than they do.

(sorry for the tangent, but it's on-topic, right?)

[Chihlidog]

I didnt have much trouble with that part. Do you know where they are? Thats the only thing I could see maybe slowing you down, is if you have to search for them.

As an FPS-er, youll need to re-learn how to shoot. No matter how accurate you aim, you still miss quite a bit. I find that using the assault rifle and just spraying them is the most effective method.

[Cheese Grits]

Baldur's Gate and BGII. They ruined me for other RPGs. Thanks, Bioware!

[gibby mcfender]

I didnt have much trouble with that part. Do you know where they are? Thats the only thing I could see maybe slowing you down, is if you have to search for them.

As an FPS-er, youll need to re-learn how to shoot. No matter how accurate you aim, you still miss quite a bit. I find that using the assault rifle and just spraying them is the most effective method.

Oh yeah - they're right next to me Is there some kind of shield thing I'm just not aware of at all? Was I supposed to upgrade my "non-suck" with some omigel or whatever? I haz a lost.

[Peeker]

the Dragon Age games are great.
give 'em a shot.

[Chihlidog]

Oh yeah - they're right next to me Is there some kind of shield thing I'm just not aware of at all? Was I supposed to upgrade my "non-suck" with some omigel or whatever? I haz a lost.

Use cover

[Tralfaz]

Never played Jade Empire. If you like Bioware's stuff, you should definitely check out Mass Effect. It's like KOTOR on steroids with real-time combat.

Jade Empire was fun, but like I said, the morality choices weren't as nuanced as the game's dialog would lead you to believe. Everything still boiled down to being nice (The Way of the Open Hand) or being an utter asshat (The Way of the Closed Fist), with no benefit to choosing a middle path. The game does get bonus points for having John Cleese voice a character with whom you must verbally spar.

Mass Effect looks cool, though I'd be tempted to skip ahead to ME2, just for the improvements.

the Dragon Age games are great.
give 'em a shot.

Dragon Age looks like the kind of thing I'd enjoy. More fantasy, less cigar-chompin' soldier action.

[Peeker]

very much fantasy, yeah.
I'm right at the end of my 1st game of it.

don't wanna finish it, cuz I don't want it to end

lots and lots of character options too.
incl. gender, which changes the storyline pretty dramatically, I'm told.
next time, I'm gonna be a pretty lady

[gibby mcfender]

I misunderstood what you were asking, Chihli. lol! My SQUADMATES are right next to me. I keep getting shot from long distance across as small chasm. Guess I'll just have to be more cautious. No running and gunning.

[Chihlidog]

I misunderstood what you were asking, Chihli. lol! My SQUADMATES are right next to me. I keep getting shot from long distance across as small chasm. Guess I'll just have to be more cautious. No running and gunning.

I know exactly the part youre talking about, it is a bit of a pain. If you have points, absolutely spend them, but assuming you've used them all up, getting through that part I seem to recall the Geth's shields being pretty tough, and using squadmate's powers to break through them. Then you can shoot 'em. Aside from that, cover really is critical. The combat gets pretty intense in all of the game that I've played so far.

[Kerouac]

Dragon Age was AMAZING and Dragon Age II comes out next month!!!!

Talk about a time killer though... I probably have 70 hours into each Dragon Age playthrough (I've done three) and just reading the Codex can be a major chore. Fantastic game and another gbreat example of how killer Bioware is. Mass Effect, KOTOR, Jade Empire and Dragon Age make a pretty powerhouse RPG team.

Hardcore RPG guys don't like it much, but Fable is my absolute favourite current series. It's the reason I went Xbox in the first place and I look forward to each new installment. It does come on PC too, but I'm not sure how it controls. There's a lot of humor in the game (In Fable 3 John Cleese is your butler) and while the stories may not be groundbreaking, I find them enjoyable.

Sometime this spring Diablo III is coming out... when it arrives I don't think I'll be doing ANYTHING else. I still play Diablo II and if the new one is as good as it looks...

Lastly, I loved Neverwinter Nights on PC, even if I hated 3rd Ed. D&D rule sets. Go monk, pump your Dex and ditch weapons. By level 10 or so you will be raping everything that gets in your way.

[Kerouac]

I misunderstood what you were asking, Chihli. lol! My SQUADMATES are right next to me. I keep getting shot from long distance across as small chasm. Guess I'll just have to be more cautious. No running and gunning.

What class are you? I was an Infiltrator on my 1st playthrough and I destroyed them with my sniper rifle. Second time I was a Vanguard and I got close and used the shotgun.

[gibby mcfender]

Thanks, Chihli I'll give that a shot tonight. For breaking through the shields. Is it called "overload" or something? That's what I need to equip on squadmates?

Can't remember what class I went for actually, Kerouac. I got frustrated where I got stuck and put the game down a week ago. But I wish I'd gone w sniper class.

[84thDream]

Skyrim will be the game of this console generation. you heard it here first.

[Chihlidog]

Thanks, Chihli I'll give that a shot tonight. For breaking through the shields. Is it called "overload" or something? That's what I need to equip on squadmates?

Yeah, I think Ashley does it. I'm pretty sure the game even stops and tells you to do exactly that, doesnt it? Grenades work well too if you're accurate enough. I can imagine that you woul dhave trouble as an FPS guy. For an FPS it's all about accuracy and if you're good enough you can mow through stuff. I, personally, suck at them. I never made it through an FPS. Ive tried the great ones - Crysis, Bioshock, Deus Ex, etc. I get my ass handed to me.

With ME, you need to take your time a bit, find cover, use the squad's abilities including your own, and take them out more methodically in a lot of places. As you level, you will be able to increase your accuracy with your weapons.

[Chihlidog]

Skyrim will be the game of this console generation. you heard it here first.

Youre most likely correct. Bethesda does some seriously amazing shit.

[loganonymous]

You can never go wrong with Morrowind, Oblivion, and Fable.

[Kerouac]

Skyrim will be the game of this console generation. you heard it here first.

I am so cautiously optimistic for that. Did you see the Game Informer article?

[84thDream]

yeah. its like they went about finding every single thing that was wrong with oblivion (fantastic game in its own right) and are going to revamp/fix it

this screenshot

[Peeker]

forgot about Neverwinter Nights...great game


Dungeon Siege was pretty fun too.

[Kerouac]

yeah. its like they went about finding every single thing that was wrong with oblivion (fantastic game in its own right) and are going to revamp/fix it

this screenshot

Like we've discussed before, I hated Oblivion. And Elder Scrolls. I'm really, really hoping for something better and so far it seems to be delivering.

[84thDream]

oh i forgot you hated oblivion

i think it is brilliant.

[Chihlidog]

I need a new game. I dont want to buy ME2 till I get my new computer. Shoot me something else here, peeps.

[Kerouac]

I need a new game. I dont want to buy ME2 till I get my new computer. Shoot me something else here, peeps.

Neverwinter Nights.

[Tralfaz]

Sometime this spring Diablo III is coming out... when it arrives I don't think I'll be doing ANYTHING else. I still play Diablo II and if the new one is as good as it looks...

I'm looking forward to D3 -- years of expectation have really built up my hopes for it -- but I doubt I'll have the time to devote to it as I did with the first two.

[Kerouac]

I'm looking forward to D3 -- years of expectation have really built up my hopes for it -- but I doubt I'll have the time to devote to it as I did with the first two.

Truth. My current PC probably can't handle it anyway. Guess I'll need to buy a new Mac.

[Chihlidog]

Truth. My current PC probably can't handle it anyway. Guess I'll need to buy a new Mac.

What's your current PC?

[Kerouac]

2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo w/ 3GB of RAM and an onboard video card. My monitor is a 17" CRT.

[Chihlidog]

2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo w/ 3GB of RAM and an onboard video card. My monitor is a 17" CRT.

That honestly isnt a bad PC. If you add a video card you'll be in decent shape. You arent going to run dual monitors at 1600x900, but you'll still run most games at decent settings with that setup and a 90 dollar card.

[Kerouac]

That honestly isnt a bad PC. If you add a video card you'll be in decent shape. You arent going to run dual monitors at 1600x900, but you'll still run most games at decent settings with that setup and a 90 dollar card.

Yeah, but I don't want to shell out $90 just for a video card. I'd rather get a new Mac (which would get a lot more use) even if it's pricier.

[Chihlidog]

Ooh I forgot I downloaded Assassin's Creed...I couldnt get the hang of the controls. I am going to have to give that one another go.

[speakerjones]

+1 for Dungeon Siege, especially the first one.

Perhaps a little dated now, but one of my favorite FPS with an RPG feel was Shogo.

[Kerouac]

Ooh I forgot I downloaded Assassin's Creed...I couldnt get the hang of the controls. I am going to have to give that one another go.

IMO, skip ahead for ACII. Way better and actually more pertinent to the storyline now.