Looking for a good team-based RPG
 

Hey,

As stated in subject/title I'm looking for a good team-based RPG, preferably with turn based combat (in any kind of third person view, so top-down, isometric and all others are OK) though active-pause combat is OK as well. I'd like it to be set in fantasy theme so no futuristic/post-nuclear games please. So, does anyone know of any good games of such kind?

Oh, and before I forget both Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale and Dragon Age games are out of the question as I've played them already. Also I don't care much whether the game's new or old but Golden Box games are bit too old, so if possible I'd be interested in bit newer titles. :) I have Temple of Elemental Evil and will probably play that as well but I'm always open to some new ideas.

Do you mean a party-based single player game or a multi player game? I'm confused.

1. Realms of Arkania immediately comes in mind. And it's modern "continuation" in the same "Dark Eye" world - Drakensang is in the same league too. Last one have prequel, but I am not aware, if it's available in English. (There is also one full-scale adventure and cycle of five mobile games in series, but I don't know anything about them).

2. Going from past, there is also Dark Sun dilogy. First part is good, but second was very buggy for me - but I played it before rise of Internet in Russia, so I never tried it with patches.

3. Then there is The Dark Heart of Uukrul. Classic, turn based, pretty. But it had one strange bug for me when I played it in early 2000s (or maybe it was feature?) - food goes away very fast. So I wasn't able to enjoy this game at those pace at all - if you starving to death before fully exploring one level, it's too tense for me.

But I suspect that it's a bug because of game speed on modern computers, as no one ever mentioned this problem as far as I know. I never tried game under DOSBox to verify it.

4. You didn't mentioned Planescape: Torment. Same engine as Baldur's Gate 1. Best computer implementation of RPG for me that I know so far. It's quite simple by battles/spells - but non-battle choices are overwhelming and explicit. Very recommended.

5. Arcanum is another common title from Troika that you omissed. It's a steampunk/fantasy hybrid. Battles are quite simple, as you have too good weapons usually, but overall game is very good.

6. Geneforge and Avernum are quite good by itself. But there is one problem with it - they are all share the same engine, so it's always the deja vu when you are playing - as you are playing one game all this time. Geneforges are better, as it features good branching plot beside battles and exploring, so they are quite enjoyable. But Avernums are too generic and similar in my taste.

Be aware that Avernum series is pretty close remake of Exile series on modern... well, more modern engine. :) So Exile is quite obsolete in my taste. But it features somewhat different battle engine, so you can try that too. :)

Also, Spiderweb software implemented new generation of the same old engine in last year, so you can check also Avadon. But it features exactly the same mechanics and game principle, so (aside of setting), it still can be treated as continuation of Avernum series. Funny enough, they selling Avernum third time now too, on that new engine, so updated first Avernum available also for you. So you can check only it, and wait when all other 6 parts will arrived too. :)

7. Neverwinter Nights features isometric turn-based gameplay too. I personally not enjoyed first part at all - generic plot and too little of non-battles possibilities is not for me. But second part was praised by many, so I have it. Never tried it yet though. :)

8. Modern "tribute to Bard's Tale" that is Devil Whiskey quite good for me. It have phased turn-based battles, but in "classic", text-based manner - you are selecting orders for each party member then looking on results on screen. Just as old Bard's Tale and Wizardry series.

9. Wait, speaking about that, I totally omiss it! :D Wizardry series! :) If you are good with one-screen battles when all dynamic is in text choices, it is for you.

Hmm, I cannot remember anything else good. Well, Might and Magic series is somewhat in it, but it's same "Wizardry" approach that works only in first 5 parts. It's become not very funny in latest games, that aimed more for real-time battles. Superhero: League of Hoboken is the same as M&M in terms of battles too (game itself is very recommended by me though, but not because of battles :).

Hmm, but check The Last Remnant if you are more in battles than in plot. Game have very generic plot and setting, but turn-based battle system is quite unique and enjoyable. I have very good feelings about it, and plan to re-play game somewhere in the future.

Now that's all. :)

P.S. Oh, wait, I forgot about "3rd person view" restriction. Well, strike out M&M, Devil's Whiskey and Wizardry then. :)

Yes, party based single player. :)

Yeah, you never fail to deliver the answer, do you mate? :)
I was actually considering Arkania (it's Riva series, right?) and might include it in my to-play but as far as I remember fights are in 3rd person view but most of the game take place in 1st person view. Am I correct?

Now this is interesting. I have those games yet never played them. I'll probably have to rectify that mistake. :)

Sounds interesting. Gonna have a look at this one.

It is not party based, is it?

Played and completed it and it's also steampunk-ish (which is good, great even but for now I'm looking for something in more of a traditional fantasy setting)

Ha, ha, ha... You know what's in my Steam library, you know that I have those already. :)

I think I may try NN2 first and see how it goes. I read some good things about it and it seems to be the close equal to Temple of Elemental Evil for me to try out...

This sounds like something new, noted.

Ha, ha, ha... :) Yeah, but don't worry about it mate, you gave me plenty of good ideas anyway. And on the side not I'll have to remove that signature soon enough... :)

Since you've played Avernum, how about Nethergate?

http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/net...res/index.html

EDIT: Heh, funnily enough they just added this to Steam not long after I posted this! http://store.steampowered.com/app/218020/

Another good third person games are the ultima series. The first few games may feel way too old, but from 4 onwards the game keeps getting better an better. The fourth game is available on GOG for free, btw.

From those that haven't been mentioned already, those are the one I can think about right now. If I remember another one, I will add them.

After recently having played through the first Dark Sun I can wholeheartedly recommend it. :)

Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption is also a RPG to recommend, mostly isometric though it can be played from a third-view, too. It's not strictly fantasy-based though, more like Middle Ages Gothic setting in an alternative world with vampires, and in the later stages in modern times.
It's party-based though, in fact you are even forced to play with a party the entire game, though there is a way to circumvent that if necessary.

There's also Divine Divinity and Dungeon Siege II, both of which are pretty good, though the former is less remembered / known today. The latter was a big hit years ago.

Sort of. :D
You are right. But what's wrong with that? You mentioned Goldboxes, and they are exactly the same. :)

The Dark Heart of Uukrul
The same "Goldbox-like" system, if it's a problem. ;)

Planescape
Umm... It's exactly the same as Baldur's Gate in terms of battles and movements, and such. But it's strongly "protagonist-oriented" in mechanics - every dialog, choice and such goes from Nameless One point of view.

Spiderweb
Well, you asked for games for play. ;) Also, I totally forgot to check it. :D Checked today when tried to found something appropriate to you...

Actually, NN1 gave me exactly the same impression as ToEE. :D So I hope, NN2 will be even better than that! :)

The Last Remnant
But this one have the same mechanics "one protagonist everywhere except battles". Like in Final Fantasies and such (and the same Square Enix made that :)

Happy Birthday! :D