Developers' Choice RPG of the Decade

ToEE had the best gameplay so it's the best game, who the fuck can't follow that logic.
Unless you count Knights of the Chalice, then it has a competitor, but everything else is secondary.
 
You know what? I agree with Tim Cain. Yes, Arcanum was ingeniously designed, it has a great roleplaying, but it wasn't really that enjoyable, because at places it got boring, and I had to gain a bunch of levels before I could kill that annoying "casual" Ore Elemental (or something) in that mountains Gilbert Bates sent me. I didn't actually got past that, I was too busy, but from what I've played I can say that. I also loved its character system.

Oblivion has a retarded leveling system and item leveling (if you do a quest at a high level, you receive the same ring you'd had received at lower level, but with higher stats). And if you somehow need that ring, but you've done the quest at a low level, then you have no way to get the high-stat version. This makes me think if they are intentionally being so retarded. Also, role playing is really stupid, Arcanum's is way better. And I hated the whole "you have to go to that place first before you can fast-travel to there" thing. Besides, there isn't much choice and consequences. And yet, I really enjoyed playing it (I haven't played the whole game, not even the half of it). When I ever find the time to reinstall it, I'll make so that I get maximum points per level, and if I do a quest at a low level, I'll use console to replace the item with the higher level variant when I get higher level. It's just so that this game is more grabbing, I can play it for a several hours straight without getting bored. I played it 2 years ago, but I think I remember it clearly.

Arcanum is way better in terms of role-playing elements, it has a better character system, it lacks some of the stupid flaws Oblivion has, it requires more thought to play, its idea is way better, but anyway Oblivion is more interesting to play. It's like a genious joke that you didn't laughed at, compared to an incredibly stupid joke that got you laughing.

Anyway, what applies to Oblivion applies to Fallout 3 too. Just for people who don't expect it to be the next Fallout game (like I did). Writing is terrible, combat too, well, there are some good ideas in the game, but mostly it's horrible. And yet, I had great fun playing it, when I visited every single location. I haven't tried the DLCs yet, but I can say that it's not a bad game. Just its RPG elements suck.
 
ToEE seemed awesome (it was my favourite boxed adventure from my D&D days) but even with the fan patches, I couldn't get past some of the damned bugs in that software. Troika should have been ashamed for releasing a product in that state. Hell... I had the "you can't loot shit" bug in my game. How does that stuff make it through testing?

The looting bug was fixed eventually. It had a workaround on the vanilla (you could still loot in combat mode) - annoying but not deadly. I made it through TOEE vanilla several times before I found out about Co8, actually, somewhat annoying for lag in the nodes and whatnot, but still very fun. I'd say it's still more playable than vanilla Arcanum. Co8 TOEE is definitely a lot more stable than UaP Arcanum.

For all its ugliness, indie game Knights of the Chalice did a better job at providing a D&D combat simulator in my opinion.

I haven't played that, but boy does it look ugly. I think TOEE has a lot of combat options often overlooked, I mean, I'm still learning something new about it every time I play. Aside from a few unimplementable options like Shield Bash or Grapple, it's been RAW almost by the letter, especially after Co8 involvement.

(Edit: Oops. That's the editors. Here's the Circle of Eight mods: http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/ToEE/index_circle.php
Not sure if that's the mods you thinking of. Anyways there's a bunch of mods around that website)

I wanted to play through it again with the extra content but the prospect of redoing all the quests in the starting town put me to sleep. xP

Sorcerers' can be outdated and doesn't have news updates. It's better to go to the mod forum directly (co8.org). A new patch release is predicted around April 25 (which is soon), it will separate bugfixes and extra content, and guess what, among the extra content we're finally getting a low-level combat area to substitute for FedExing that's been in the works for a while now, among other things.

And keep an eye out for the Keep on the Borderlands total conversion. There's only a demo out, but it's quite fun already. Also, even closer to RAW for all you geeks ;)
 
Too bad there's no patch-only version of Co8 mod, like with killap's patch vs. restoration project.
 
Ausdoerrt said:
The looting bug was fixed eventually. It had a workaround on the vanilla (you could still loot in combat mode) - annoying but not deadly. I made it through TOEE vanilla several times before I found out about Co8, actually, somewhat annoying for lag in the nodes and whatnot, but still very fun. I'd say it's still more playable than vanilla Arcanum. Co8 TOEE is definitely a lot more stable than UaP Arcanum.

I'll have to re-install it and get that Circle of 8 mod... I really wanted to like ToEE, and I liked the combat.
 
I sincerely hope the folks on these forums now realize how silly their Bethesda-bashing is. Even Timothy Cain, one of the main designers, the producer, and lead programmer of the ORIGINAL Fallout has finally come to his senses. It is now undeniable and irrefutable: Fallout 3 is a masterpiece in the RPG world, a game that may even outshine the previous titles.

Keep up the good work Bethesda. Can't wait for NV!
 
UncannyGarlic said:
Abyss 404 was awesome and the best world I ever played on. It used no hakpacks and did more than most worlds with them did. Granted, it was one of a kind and the maker of it used ridiculous amounts of custom programming but still, it showed what could be done with the game.
You know, I sympathize with what you're saying. That's why I said some of the user-made content was indeed very good. I've mentioned it many times in the past, but a guy named Stefan Gagne made some NWN modules that were simply superb. In terms of originality, writing, and story they might be the best I've ever played, including commercial releases. They're so good I got really engrossed in them.

The problem is, I want to go back and try to replay them...and I just can't do it. NWN was the vehicle that made Gagne's modules possible, and at the same time, it's this giant wart-covered toad squatting between me and the story. The core gameplay is not just a distraction; it's a constant, grating, visceral annoyance that destroys the fun. That's why I hate it so much. :D
 
I don't see any issue with the guy liking Oblivion. Despite all of its glitches, gameplay issues, and repetitive NPC voices, it really is a great game. So much to experience in that game. Maybe not the best RPG of the decade, but definitely one of the best and most innovative games of the decade.
 
fedaykin said:
NiRv4n4 said:
Despite all of its glitches, gameplay issues, and repetitive NPC voices, it really is a great game.
Why?
NiRv4n4 said:
So much to experience in that game.
Like what?
NiRv4n4 said:
definitely one of the best and most innovative games of the decade.
What was innovative about it?

1.) Sandbox gameplay, 1950s art direction and music, great atmosphere, fantastic writing, the list goes on...

2.) What's there not to do in FO3? Seriously man have you even played it?

3.) Vats: This mechanic alone brings so much to the plate. Also there has never been a game that addresses player moral decision-making so boldly.
 
Arcanum is my pick for best RPG. I absolutely loved how many different ways there were to create a character. I've created more characters in Arcanum than in any other game. So many many completely viable variations. With real differences, too.

Best ARPG? Torchlight. Not because it has the most features or the best balance or anything else like that. Because it strips away almost everything that could stand between you and fast-paced fight-loot-sell-fight-level-fight action.
 
Torchlight was OK, but it gets old after the short main quest is over. I still think Sacred is a bit better.

Too bad there's no patch-only version of Co8 mod, like with killap's patch vs. restoration project.

There is sort of. 3.0.4 fixes most bugs with minimal extra content, most of the extra content being fixing crafting, extra crafting options, and a new quest or two that don't stand out too much. Starting 5.7.0 they separate between bugfix and content, and only prominent new content makes it to the core version - like modifications to rules, feats etc. Plus, with the current frontend you still get the option to play vanilla game (although I'm not sure if the fixes carry over for this one).
 
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