The GWJ CRPG Club - Part 1 - Old Thread

I hope Vampire wins because I already have it installed on my PC.

Tempted to sit this one out and work on Assassins Creed or something, but...

Jade Empire
Dragons Dogma
Grim Dawn

Don’t have another Baldurs Gate type in me right now after POE.

Looks like Alpha Protocol is making a last minute sprint.

tundra wrote:

I just wanted to throw out a "THANKS" to Godzilla Blitz for coordinating all this madness. Appreciate your time and efforts.

Thanks tundra! And no worries on the coordination, my pleasure to do it. I'd also like to say a huge thanks to everyone for participating and bringing so much energy to the group. I've really enjoyed the two games we've been playing, and a big part of that is because so many people have jumped in with both feet to give this group a shot.

Voting Update

As we close in on the halfway mark, Jade Empire has pulled out to a 2-vote lead over Alpha Protocol, Baldur's Gate, Dragon's Dogma, and Vampire. Still anybody's game, but Jade Empire's sprint to the front has been impressive!

I'm still thinking about which games to vote for. So many good ones in here!

Jade Empire - 10
Alpha Protocol - 8
Baldur’s Gate EE - 8
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen - 8
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - 8
Darkest Dungeon - 7
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura - 6
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - 5
Grim Dawn - 4
Icewind Dale - 4
Might & Magic VI - 4
Torchlight - 4
Expeditions: Conquistador - 3
King’s Bounty: The Legend - 3
Legend of Grimrock 2 - 3
Planescape Torment - 3
Mass Effect I - 2

Candidates
Alpha Protocol ($14.99) (13-26 hours)
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura ($5.99) (29-71 hours)
Baldur's Gate EE ($19.99) (31-87 hours)
Darkest Dungeon ($7.49 - Sale) (51-101 hours)
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen ($29.99) (38-111 hours)
Expeditions: Conquistador ($19.99) (27-32 hours)
Grim Dawn ($29.99) (21-116 hours)
Icewind Dale ($19.99) (33-51 hours)
Jade Empire ($14.99) (15-34 hours)
King's Bounty: The Legend ($6.99) (34-72 hours)
Legend of Grimrock 2 ($23.99) (22-40 hours)
Mass Effect 1 ($19.99) (17-43 hours)
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven ($9.99) (53-98 hours)
Planescape: Torment ($19.99) (31-62 hours)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic ($9.99) (29-46 hours)
Torchlight ($14.99) (14-42 hours)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines ($19.99) (23-40 hours)

Vampire
Legend of Grimrock 2
Mass Effect 1

I’m still considering my vote too.

I have Dragons Dogma for PS3 but it’s vanilla (not Dark Arisen). Would it be Ok to play the vanill version for full credit if it wins?

I think Dark Arisen just adds an optional side dungeon and some quality of life things (it gives you a way of getting more of those teleport stone things) so it probably shouldn't make too much of a difference from vanilla.

SpaceDog wrote:

Looks like Alpha Protocol is making a last minute sprint.

I'll put in a vote for Alpha Protocol.

Been on vacation, missed nominations but that's a strong list.

Votes:
Alpha Protocol
KOTOR
Dragon's Dogma

Here are my votes:

Dragon's Dogma
Star Wars: KOTOR
Might & Magic VI

My thoughts...
I really want to play Baldur's Gate EE, and was tempted to give it a vote. Partly I'd like to compare the combat mechanics to those of Pillars of Eternity. But, it looks like I'm going to be about 100 hours in PoE before I'm done, and I'm a little isometric'd out at the moment. I'll probably vote for something isometric for Game 4, and likely BG EE.

So with isometrics out for me, I checked out some of the other options. I liked a lot of the candidates, but I'm curious about Dragon's Dogma after reading up on it a few months ago. It sounds like a game I'd really enjoy. I was thinking about going with Jade Empire or Vampire for some of my other votes, but both Might & Magic VI and KOTOR have been on my bucket list for a while, so I tossed them some love.

The good thing, though, is that I'd be pretty excited to play any of the games sitting in the top five now, so however it turns out is good for me. Lots of good candidates.

MoonDoggy wrote:
SpaceDog wrote:

Looks like Alpha Protocol is making a last minute sprint.

I'll put in a vote for Alpha Protocol. :)

Welcome to Gamers with Jobs, MoonDoggy! Thanks for voting, and I'll add you to the member list too.

Voting Update

With 36 hours to go in the voting, we've got a triple deadheat at the #1 spot, with Alpha Protocol, Jade Empire, and Dragon's Dogma all even with 10 votes. Vampire and Baldur's Gate are not far behind, and even Darkest Dungeon and Star War: KOTOR aren't out of the running.

Could we be heading to our second run off vote in three games, or will someone pull away for the win!

Voting will close Monday at 5pm GMT.

Alpha Protocol - 10
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen - 10
Jade Empire - 10
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - 9
Baldur’s Gate EE - 8
Darkest Dungeon - 7
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - 7
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura - 6
Might & Magic VI - 5
Grim Dawn - 4
Icewind Dale - 4
Legend of Grimrock 2 - 4
Torchlight - 4
Expeditions: Conquistador - 3
King’s Bounty: The Legend - 3
Planescape Torment - 3
Mass Effect I - 3

Candidates
Alpha Protocol ($14.99) (13-26 hours)
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura ($5.99) (29-71 hours)
Baldur's Gate EE ($19.99) (31-87 hours)
Darkest Dungeon ($7.49 - Sale) (51-101 hours)
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen ($29.99) (38-111 hours)
Expeditions: Conquistador ($19.99) (27-32 hours)
Grim Dawn ($29.99) (21-116 hours)
Icewind Dale ($19.99) (33-51 hours)
Jade Empire ($14.99) (15-34 hours)
King's Bounty: The Legend ($6.99) (34-72 hours)
Legend of Grimrock 2 ($23.99) (22-40 hours)
Mass Effect 1 ($19.99) (17-43 hours)
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven ($9.99) (53-98 hours)
Planescape: Torment ($19.99) (31-62 hours)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic ($9.99) (29-46 hours)
Torchlight ($14.99) (14-42 hours)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines ($19.99) (23-40 hours)

If Dogma wins this might be the first round I skip. I find that game to be an incomprehensible grind most of the time. Maybe if I reinstall it and my saves are intact and I can just jump in to where I was I'll give it a go, but the thought of replaying the opening...20 hours or so...really doesn't appeal.

My votes

Jade Empire
Vampire the masquerade
Might and Magic VI

I'll vote...
Expeditions Conquistador
Kings Bounty (I think this is one I haven't played)

I may even try to play!

I may actually still finish Shadowrun: Dragonfall by the deadline (just finished Glory's and Eiger's missions), so I'll vote for:

Jade Empire
Vampire the masquerade
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Darkest dungeon
Vampire tM: Bloodlines
Planescape: Torment

You know, I started Jade Empire many times but never got far. Of the front runners I'd really like to give that one a serious run.

Voting Update

Vampire refuses to die, as it picks up three votes to surge past a stumbling Alpha Protocol and Dragon's Dogma. With a little over 13 hours left to vote, it's deadlocked with Jade Empire for first place. A handful of other games are within striking distance, but voting has faded to a trickle, and there just might not be much left out there make up the ground.

Runoff vote? Clear victory? Tune in tomorrow at 5pm GMT to find out!

Voting will close Monday at 5pm GMT.

Jade Empire - 12
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - 12
Alpha Protocol - 10
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen - 10
Baldur’s Gate EE - 8
Darkest Dungeon - 8
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - 8
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura - 6
Might & Magic VI - 6
Grim Dawn - 4
Icewind Dale - 4
Legend of Grimrock 2 - 4
Torchlight - 4
Expeditions: Conquistador - 4
King’s Bounty: The Legend - 4
Planescape Torment - 4
Mass Effect I - 3

Candidates
Alpha Protocol ($14.99) (13-26 hours)
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura ($5.99) (29-71 hours)
Baldur's Gate EE ($19.99) (31-87 hours)
Darkest Dungeon ($7.49 - Sale) (51-101 hours)
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen ($29.99) (38-111 hours)
Expeditions: Conquistador ($19.99) (27-32 hours)
Grim Dawn ($29.99) (21-116 hours)
Icewind Dale ($19.99) (33-51 hours)
Jade Empire ($14.99) (15-34 hours)
King's Bounty: The Legend ($6.99) (34-72 hours)
Legend of Grimrock 2 ($23.99) (22-40 hours)
Mass Effect 1 ($19.99) (17-43 hours)
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven ($9.99) (53-98 hours)
Planescape: Torment ($19.99) (31-62 hours)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic ($9.99) (29-46 hours)
Torchlight ($14.99) (14-42 hours)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines ($19.99) (23-40 hours)

My votes:

Jade Empire
Darkest Dungeon
Dragon’s Dogma

I’ll throw my hat in for Jade Empire, KOTOR and Baldurs Gate.

Hey I'd like to participate this time around. My votes are for Mass Effect 1, Baldur's Gate EE, and Alpha Protocol.

Game 3 Voting Final Results

Jade Empire edges ahead in the crawl to the finish to become our summer RPG! Below is the final tally. Thanks to all who voted!

I'm excited for this game, as it isn't one I'd probably have selected on my own. But part of the fun in groups like this is discovering stuff you wouldn't normally play, and I'm looking forward to getting started.

I'll get the Game 3 thread up shortly, and off we can go!

EDIT: All set! Have fun!
Jade Empire Thread

Jade Empire - 14
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - 12
Alpha Protocol - 11
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen - 11
Baldur’s Gate EE - 10
Darkest Dungeon - 9
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - 9
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura - 6
Might & Magic VI - 6
Grim Dawn - 4
Icewind Dale - 4
Legend of Grimrock 2 - 4
Torchlight - 4
Expeditions: Conquistador - 4
King’s Bounty: The Legend - 4
Planescape Torment - 4
Mass Effect I - 4

Yessss.....

NO! Vampire was so close!

That said, I'm glad it wasn't an IE game like Baldur's Gate, even though I am looking forward to when we do play BG, just because back-to-back with Pillars would be a bit much.

Also nice that Jade Empire isn't a particularly long RPG, as I've got a lot of Pillars to get through still, and will probably be finishing it closer to the 6 month mark.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

I'm excited for this game, as it isn't one I'd probably have selected on my own. But part of the fun in groups like this is discovering stuff you wouldn't normally play, and I'm looking forward to getting started.

Exactly this for me.

*Legion* wrote:

Also nice that Jade Empire isn't a particularly long RPG, as I've got a lot of Pillars to get through still, and will probably be finishing it closer to the 6 month mark.

My thoughts exactly.

If you’ve played Jade Empire but not finished it, you really need to be sure to just finish... my first play through I got NEAR the end but got distracted by something and didn’t get back to it for years... I was very happy when I came back to it and finished... I definitely recommend that if you get more that 1/2 way in, you should just stick it out to the end and not fade out part way.

I’ve already played through 1.8 times, so I won’t be playing through this time (I’m still working on PoE anyway), but I’ll definitely be watching the conversation to remind myself of old memories!

For anyone who doesn't have it, Jade Empire is $3.74 right now during the Steam Sale

Already had Jade Empire but I’m tempted to pick up some of the other candidates while they are on sale as well. I picked up Alpha Protocol - didn’t exactly break the bank at $2. Dragon’s Dogma also looking interesting...

JMnITup wrote:

If you’ve played Jade Empire but not finished it, you really need to be sure to just finish... my first play through I got NEAR the end but got distracted by something and didn’t get back to it for years... I was very happy when I came back to it and finished... I definitely recommend that if you get more that 1/2 way in, you should just stick it out to the end and not fade out part way.

I’ve already played through 1.8 times, so I won’t be playing through this time (I’m still working on PoE anyway), but I’ll definitely be watching the conversation to remind myself of old memories! :)

As someone who did exactly this (left it unfinished--years and years ago), this gives me some anticipation to give it a full replay and see what I missed out on.