Need a new CRPG to play

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Looking to start something I haven’t played yet and I’m looking for recommendations....

I am a huge fan of the Infinity Engine and Pillars of Eternity.

I haven’t tried any of the following. Looking for feedback on how well the game plays/scales in difficulty. I always play on Normal mode the 1st time to get the full up RP experience. Then I switch to the harder modes....

Tyranny - is this the same/similar engine to PoE?

Divinity Original Sin 1 & 2? Do they play similarly to the Infinity Engine games? Differences/Improvements?

Any other game recommendations?

 

If you've never done Dark Sun: Shattered Lands, it's worth trying. It's sort of like a proto-BG set in Athas. Also, Arcanum is always cool to go back to once in a while.

Nothing good has been made in this format lately.

 

I found Dark Sun a bit clunky, it seems to miss about 10% of my clicks, either under Windows 98SE or DOSBox.
Does anybody else have that issue, if not maybe you could post your DOSBox settings file?

 

I use the GOG version nowadays, and don't have any issues with it anymore. When I used to use the standard DOSBox version, I would have a few issues and several gamebreaking bugs.

 

I found it in a library book sale (I've found tons of games there over the last 30 years) a very long time ago. Windows 98 was still being updated.

 

I have played every AD&D up to the infinity Engine including all SSI gold/silver boxes. Actually I recently revisited Shattered Lands and Wake of the Ravager via GoG. Game runs smoothly, though I have trouble with Fantasy General, the Ultimate series and the wizardry series on GoG.

I have read mixed reviews on Tyranny. Was looking for some SP opinions about the gameplay/mechanics.

 

Based on other GOG-based games, GOG does use DOSBox, but finding the .conf file is difficult. It could be hidden in appdata, it could be in \program files (x86) under either the game or \GoG Galaxy\, it could be in c:\gog games, and I have no idea where the Wasteland .conf file is located, but I know I found it when I was trying to get it working on my old computer. I just can't find it easily on the Win10 computer.
Still, would it be possible to post the GOG DOSBox .conf file for Dark Sun in a code box for others to enjoy?

 

ooohh.... I didn’t realize it’s not class based. That’s disappointing in a way, but not the end all for me. Kenneth’s review is straight to the point. I’ll wait for a sale and give it a try. Is the DLC (Bastard’s Wound) a must?

 

I’ll take a peek when I get home.

 

Do you mean this?

DOSBOX_Darksun file (CONF FILE) - It is located in the main directory of my D:/Dark Sun folder

# This is the configuration file for DOSBox 0.74-2. (Please use the latest version of DOSBox)
# Lines starting with a # are comment lines and are ignored by DOSBox.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

[sdl]
# fullscreen: Start dosbox directly in fullscreen. (Press ALT-Enter to go back)
# fulldouble: Use double buffering in fullscreen. It can reduce screen flickering, but it can also result in a slow DOSBox.
# fullresolution: What resolution to use for fullscreen: original, desktop or fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
# Using your monitor's native resolution (desktop) with aspect=true might give the best results.
# If you end up with small window on a large screen, try an output different from surface.
# On Windows 10 with display scaling (Scale and layout) set to a value above 100%, it is recommended
# to use a lower full/windowresolution, in order to avoid window size problems.
# windowresolution: Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
# (output=surface does not!)
# output: What video system to use for output.
# Possible values: surface, overlay, opengl, openglnb, ddraw.
# autolock: Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen. (Press CTRL-F10 to unlock)
# sensitivity: Mouse sensitivity.
# waitonerror: Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
# priority: Priority levels for dosbox. Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
# pause is only valid for the second entry.
# Possible values: lowest, lower, normal, higher, highest, pause.
# mapperfile: File used to load/save the key/event mappings from. Resetmapper only works with the defaul value.
# usescancodes: Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.

fullscreen=true
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=desktop
windowresolution=original
output=DDraw


autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper-0.74-2.map
usescancodes=true

[dosbox]
# language: Select another language file.
# machine: The type of machine DOSBox tries to emulate.
# Possible values: hercules, cga, tandy, pcjr, ega, vgaonly, svga_s3, svga_et3000, svga_et4000, svga_paradise, vesa_nolfb, vesa_oldvbe.
# captures: Directory where things like wave, midi, screenshot get captured.
# memsize: Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
# This value is best left at its default to avoid problems with some games,
# though few games might require a higher value.
# There is generally no speed advantage when raising this value.

language=
machine=svga_s3
captures=capture
memsize=32

[render]
# frameskip: How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
# aspect: Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn't support scaling this can slow things down!
# scaler: Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes. If 'forced' is appended,
# then the scaler will be used even if the result might not be desired.
# To fit a scaler in the resolution used at full screen may require a border or side bars,
# to fill the screen entirely, depending on your hardware, a different scaler/fullresolution might work.
# Possible values: none, normal2x, normal3x, advmame2x, advmame3x, advinterp2x, advinterp3x, hq2x, hq3x, 2xsai, super2xsai, supereagle, tv2x, tv3x, rgb2x, rgb3x, scan2x, scan3x.

frameskip=0
aspect=true
scaler=normal2x

[cpu]
# core: CPU Core used in emulation. auto will switch to dynamic if available and
# appropriate.
# Possible values: auto, dynamic, normal, simple.
# cputype: CPU Type used in emulation. auto is the fastest choice.
# Possible values: auto, 386, 386_slow, 486_slow, pentium_slow, 386_prefetch.
# cycles: Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond.
# Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags.
# Cycles can be set in 3 ways:
# 'auto' tries to guess what a game needs.
# It usually works, but can fail for certain games.
# 'fixed #number' will set a fixed amount of cycles. This is what you usually
# need if 'auto' fails. (Example: fixed 4000).
# 'max' will allocate as much cycles as your computer is able to
# handle.
# Possible values: auto, fixed, max.
# cycleup: Amount of cycles to decrease/increase with keycombos.(CTRL-F11/CTRL-F12)
# cycledown: Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

core=auto
cputype=auto
cycles=fixed 7000
cycleup=1000
cycledown=1000

[mixer]
# nosound: Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
# rate: Mixer sample rate, setting any device's rate higher than this will probably lower their sound quality.
# Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# blocksize: Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering but sound will also be more lagged.
# Possible values: 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 512, 256.
# prebuffer: How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

nosound=false
rate=44100
blocksize=1024
prebuffer=25

[midi]
# mpu401: Type of MPU-401 to emulate.
# Possible values: intelligent, uart, none.
# mididevice: Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
# Possible values: default, win32, alsa, oss, coreaudio, coremidi, none.
# midiconfig: Special configuration options for the device driver. This is usually the id of the device you want to use
# (find the id with mixer/listmidi).
# Or in the case of coreaudio, you can specify a soundfont here.
# See the README/Manual for more details.

mpu401=intelligent
mididevice=default
midiconfig=

[sblaster]
# sbtype: Type of Soundblaster to emulate. gb is Gameblaster.
# Possible values: sb1, sb2, sbpro1, sbpro2, sb16, gb, none.
# sbbase: The IO address of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 220, 240, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
# irq: The IRQ number of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 7, 5, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12.
# dma: The DMA number of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
# hdma: The High DMA number of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
# sbmixer: Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
# oplmode: Type of OPL emulation. On 'auto' the mode is determined by sblaster type. All OPL modes are Adlib-compatible, except for 'cms'.
# Possible values: auto, cms, opl2, dualopl2, opl3, none.
# oplemu: Provider for the OPL emulation. compat might provide better quality (see oplrate as well).
# Possible values: default, compat, fast.
# oplrate: Sample rate of OPL music emulation. Use 49716 for highest quality (set the mixer rate accordingly).
# Possible values: 44100, 49716, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000.

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=5
dma=1
hdma=5
sbmixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplemu=default
oplrate=44100

[gus]
# gus: Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
# gusrate: Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
# Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# gusbase: The IO base address of the Gravis Ultrasound.
# Possible values: 240, 220, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
# gusirq: The IRQ number of the Gravis Ultrasound.
# Possible values: 5, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12.
# gusdma: The DMA channel of the Gravis Ultrasound.
# Possible values: 3, 0, 1, 5, 6, 7.
# ultradir: Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
# there should be a MIDI directory that contains
# the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
# with Timidity should work fine.

gus=false
gusrate=44100
gusbase=240
gusirq=5
gusdma=3
ultradir=CULTRASND

[speaker]
# pcspeaker: Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
# pcrate: Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
# Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# tandy: Enable Tandy Sound System emulation. For 'auto', emulation is present only if machine is set to 'tandy'.
# Possible values: auto, on, off.
# tandyrate: Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
# Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# disney: Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. (Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible).

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=44100
tandy=auto
tandyrate=44100
disney=true

[joystick]
# joysticktype: Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
# 2axis (supports two joysticks),
# 4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
# 4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
# fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
# none disables joystick emulation.
# auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
# (Remember to reset dosbox's mapperfile if you saved it earlier)
# Possible values: auto, 2axis, 4axis, 4axis_2, fcs, ch, none.
# timed: enable timed intervals for axis. Experiment with this option, if your joystick drifts (away).
# autofire: continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
# swap34: swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. Can be useful for certain joysticks.
# buttonwrap: enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.

joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=false

[serial]
# serial1: set type of device connected to com port.
# Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
# parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq (optional).
# for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
# (realport:COM1 realport:ttyS0).
# for modem: listenport (optional).
# for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
# transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
# Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial2: see serial1
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial3: see serial1
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial4: see serial1
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.

serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

[dos]
# xms: Enable XMS support.
# ems: Enable EMS support.
# umb: Enable UMB support.
# keyboardlayout: Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).

xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=auto

 

Now if any of you guys knows how to get chartran to stop crashing on windows 10, i'd appreciate it. I just completed a run on SL, but don't wanna start WOTR without the chars. I used to have it down, but the last time I went through it was years ago.

 

Did you try Dragon Age or the Witcher?

 

Tried the Witcher. Wasn’t my cup of tea. Like the Netflix series though!

I have completely forgotten about Dragon Age.... that could be my
Next purchase. Is there any recommended mods for it?

 

Could you take that to this thread:
https://sorcerers.net/community/threads/dark-sun-character-transfer-on-gog.84644/

I haven't really played around with mods, but if you liked the Neverwinter Nights series and/or Knights of the Old Republic series you'll probably like Dragon Age. The game play is very similar to those games. I'd say it is as similar to either series as they are to each other.

That looks like it, but I'm about to replace the carpet in the computer room and paint the walls. I have to disconnect the internet and I've already put all but one computer in another room and only have minimal functionality on that computer. Just the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and Ethernet, which gets disconnected tomorrow morning.
I won't be able to test it until later. I'm not even sure what box the Dark Sun installation media is stored in. I've got 3 boxes labeled "Original disks" (I've picked up a lot of stuff at library "Book Sales" for only $2 over the last 30 years). Big boxes, as in the boxes eggs or 6 gallons of water (2 water boxes, 1 egg box) come in.

 

Divinity 1 and 2 are a lot of fun and so is Baldur's Gate 3. A little bit different from Pillars / Infinity Engine but totally worth playing if you like true RPG's!

 

If you haven't tried Tyranny yet, I would personally recommend it. It's my favorite of the newer IE-like games by a wide margin. The setting is great imo.

 

Personally, Tyranny was a bit of a miss for me, as it just couldn't grab my attention the same way pillars of eternity does. It's still a nice game though, but my advice would be to maybe wait till you can pick it up in a sale.

I'm with you on the witcher - made it all the way through the first game, but never could finish 2. haven't picked up 3 even though i have heard good things of it, and i like the TV show as well.

Dragon age is one of my favorite PCRPG's, though the first one more so then the second and third game. As far as mods go, there's plenty for dragon age origins on the nexus.
Some ease-of-use / visual improvement mods that have no further impact on gameplay that i'd recommend are : Better Teeth or Realistic Teeth, Bash Locks, Advanced Tactics, Expanded inventory size, Auto Loot & Personal Annoyance Remover.

While possible to play without, it might also be a good idea to pick up some mods that add in additional hairstyles and new tints/tones/textures for use during character generation, as well as generally prettifying the game a bit since it is 12 years old by now after all.
There's several mod managers available, though the Nexus one works just fine.

 

We are complete opposites there

Ive had Pillars since it first came out and, despite a yearly attempt, I can never complete it. I only bought Tyranny about six months ago and I have about 100 hrs in it, completed every major story path, and a few variations as well.

 

Solasta crown of the magister. Turn based D&D combat. Baldurs gate 3 early access.