For more information on the GWJ CRPG Club, go here.
Divinity: Original Sin 1 is the GWJ CRPG's Club's fourth winner! This brings us back to fantasy RPG isometric goodness, and is similar to our second winner, Pillars of Eternity. Length-wise, it makes for the biggest game we've taken on so far! Of additional note, the game features cooperative play, for those of us well connected socially, and modding tools, for those of us creatively inclined.
There are two versions of the game, Classic or Enhanced. The game is playable on PC, XBOX One, and Playstation 4. Any version or platform is good to go for the sake of this club.
We'll be playing this game until March 31, 2019. This thread is for friendly discussion as we play through the game. Share your reflections, successes, defeats, tactics, wishes, impressions, and whatever here! The more conversation the better, so post away.
For BIG spoilers, please use the spoiler tag. (No! I am your father!) Tactics, strategies, general story progression likely won't need them.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate, and can start at any time, so join the fun! One quick favor: If you decide to play, make a post here along the lines of "I'm in!" to let us know. If you start and finish the game before the end, you'll level up your GWJ CRPG Membership.
Helpful Links
Steam: Classic Version ($39.99)
Steam: Enhanced Edition ($39.99) ($9.99 Sale)
GOG: Enhanced Edition ($11.99 - SALE)
XBox One Enhanced/XBOX 360 ($39.99)
Playstation 4 ($39.99)
How Long to Beat (61-102 hours)
Wikipedia Page
Wiki
Achievement Guide
Metacritic (94 metascore, 8.3 user score)
Walkthru
Crafting Guide
Character Guide
Skills Guide
Sorbicol's Mini-Guide
Mod - FastMoveSpeed
Members Playing
Alien Love Gardener (completed)
pyxistyx (completed)
Clumber (completed)
brokenclavicle (completed)
ubrakto (completed)
Redherring (completed)
imbiginjapan (completed)
RnRClown (completed)
merphle (completed)
Godzilla Blitz (completed)
*Legion* (completed)
ClockworkHouse
Higgledy
ComfortZone
Hardek
SillyRabbit
bcparfitt
benign1
fuzzyslug
Toddland
JohnKillo
beanman101283
Agathos
tboon
Jolly Bill
Skraut
MicrowaveSafe
I really need to find a good walkthrough for the first couple hours of this game. Over three attempts, I've run around at the same part every single time. I've heard it picks up after that, but... woof.
I'm in even though it's the WRONG game for Halloween time grr damn you all
Taking a deep breath, and I'm in! With my slow pace this might take me a while. 
I really need to find a good walkthrough for the first couple hours of this game. Over three attempts, I've run around at the same part every single time. I've heard it picks up after that, but... woof.
I was fine for the first couple of hours, but then got lost as the story accelerated. I think I got to about 4 hours and wondered, "Wait, wha' happened?" This time I will be more DETERMINED.
I'm in even though it's the WRONG game for Halloween time grr damn you all
Maybe if that whole category thing happens, we can have a category "Vampire Games Released in November of 2004". And then if the category wins, well, the rest is cake!
*Legion* wrote:I'm in even though it's the WRONG game for Halloween time grr damn you all
Maybe if that whole category thing happens, we can have a category "Vampire Games Released in November of 2004". And then if the category wins, well, the rest is cake!
"I'm sorry, it looks like the category Games That Piss *Legion* Off has been selected for the 4th straight time! Maybe next time!"
"Only" played this once, and had a mixed experience. Gampelay was fine, but it was so insanely bugged that the game skipped over parts of the main campaign - the ending got really confusing 
Which I guess is an argument for a replay.
Have to admit though, it is hard to go back to this, when you could play DOS2 instead. Which is one of my favorite games in recent time.
Guess I have <6 months to decide.
For those that played this before the extended edition was released, and found the whole experience to be a little disjointed and overwhelming, I will say that the Extended Edition makes many welcome changes to the storyline and pathway through the game to make it all a little clearer. It made it a much better game.
With all of your indulgences, I will add the following:
1. The inventory system is either a smorgasbord of discovery, or an overwhelming nightmare. However, you don't really need to worry too about it to be honest, unless you are playing at tactical or above or need arrows.
This link is a MASSIVE spoiler but it's basically a recipe book for everything in the game. Entirely up to you if you want to use it. I won't tell you what's worth crafting and what isn't.
2. Learn to use environmental effects. They made a really big deal about this when the game was originally reviewed, but seriously, learn to use the environmental effects!
3. Makes sure at least one of your party is a good crafter and / or blacksmith. And one with high lore so they can identify magical items. You can thank me later.
4. The Rock Paper Scissors mechanic is there for when you are playing co-op. So long as both your characters agree on a course of action (Which, if you are playing single player is entirely up to you) then you don't need to worry about it much at all.
5. When you reach the first town, follow the journal and plot until you are about level 3-4. Then you'll be ready to leave. I know that might sound spoilerish but it'll save you a lot of pain and frustration early doors.
6. There aren't many cRPGs I'd rate above this game - Baldur's Gate 2 really - it's genuinely superb. Stick with all it's rough edges, don't be afraid to think outside the box (believe me, Larian live outside of it) and think in tangents. It can save you a boatload of pain.
7. Tactical mode is really hard. Don't say I didn't tell you. That said, once you get your head around it - it is doable (and gets easier as the game progresses)
8. I highly recommend you make sure one of your characters is a mage who heals.
9. Remember, No one has as many friends as the man with many cheeses.
If I can persuade my friend to join me in a co-op I'll get involved, but otherwise I'll sit this one out.
Thanks for the mini-guide, Sorbicol. I've linked to your post from the first post and added a link to the Crafting Guide as well.
Lots of helpful stuff!
I've uninstalled the Classic game and am downloading the Enhanced Edition now. I hope to start tonight!
On the sidelines for now due to budgetary constraints. Hopefully there’ll be another sale in time - I have a level to maintain.
I can second having a mage who heals.
I attempted the game once, played a pretty sizable chunk of it, and then dropped it from, well, a bit of boredom, which is something I need to find a solution to this time.
First, I think I need adjusted expectations. I came into this game looking for more role-playing, but honestly, there's not a lot here in terms of decision making and meaningful choice. Particularly in dialog, which are text dumps, not trees full of choices and consequences. Coming into this after playing a string of older RPGs with a lot of choice (and looking for a modern RPG with similar offerings), I found it deeply unsatisfying, mostly because so few people seem to recognize or point this out about the game when recommending it.
Looking back, what the game did have to offer wasn't narrative-altering choice, but discovery. Lots of content to stumble upon when roaming, lots of things to uncover within the crafting system, etc. That plus battle tactics seems to be the meat of the game. I expect I'll enjoy the game a lot more when coming into it looking to enjoy these aspects, rather than searching for something that isn't there.
Secondly, I think I need more interesting builds for my created characters. One of my characters ended up overlapping heavily with a party member I later picked up, which restricted tactical options and made battles excessively samey. I think with some knowledge of what's ahead, I can create characters that will prove more interesting to play.
In!
I'm in. I Just installed D:OS EE, but I'm going to refrain from starting until I complete Jade Empire.
Installing now. Not sure when/how I got it, but apparently it's been in my library since April.
I'm in, I need some motivation to get beyond the first town! Will start again on PS4.
I’m in.
Still working on Jade Empire, but I will begin this alongside that play through.
I don't think I've ever seen three avatar-less posts
from different posters in a row here.
Welcome all!
I think I got everyone who's said they are playing so far in the list in the first post, but if you intend to play and I've missed your name, post something to the effect of "I'm in" and I'll add you to the list.
On another quick note, if anyone sees the game go back on sale, it'd be great if you could post the news here. I have a feeling several people will be like Redherring and wait for a sale before jumping in.
I'm in, I need some motivation to get beyond the first town! Will start again on PS4.
Glad to have you with us, welcome to the club!
I'll be late to this party too, but I plan on playing this sometime before March. I'm confident I'll finish Pillars by the deadline, and then I'll knock out Jade Empire. Open-hand knock-out to be sure.
I'm also going to play Vampire Bloodlines ... because I feel like if this club was ever going to pick it, it would have been this time around. I can't see it getting more support in later rounds, and it's perfect for this time of year.
My (only semi genuine) Vampire Female Doggoing aside, I am SO glad to finally have a club game again.
The lull between wrapping up Jade Empire and the new game starting was too too long!
I'm also going to play Vampire Bloodlines ... because I feel like if this club was ever going to pick it, it would have been this time around.
I finished this game 10 months ago, so will be sitting it out. Played on the default difficulty with a tank/melee character and an archer with some secondary summoning skills. A few challenging combats, but nothing insurmountable. I did save/reload liberally during a few battles though.
Archer was interesting because there is such a huge variety of arrows doing various elemental damages, area of effect, charm, etc... it played almost like she was a spellcaster. Couldn't heal though. I relied on the wizard NPC for that. Luckily, I found his back story the most interesting even if he wasn't the most pleasant of guys.
Me when Vampire wins
I finished this game 10 months ago, so will be sitting it out.
If I can persuade my friend to join me in a co-op I'll get involved, but otherwise I'll sit this one out.
Totally understand! I'd welcome your tips and advice as the rest of us play through it, though.
I'm also going to play Vampire Bloodlines ... because I feel like if this club was ever going to pick it, it would have been this time around. I can't see it getting more support in later rounds, and it's perfect for this time of year.
I'd likely rank Vampires higher in future votes. I was looking for something longer, more traditional, and not 3rd person this time.
Orcs and undead and sorcerors oh my!
Zorba and Alabaster are on their way.
I went traditional. Zorba is a wizard. Alabaster is a fighter. I only played about a half hour, just enough to explore a bit and get a first battle in. Zorba and Alabaster showed good promise there, as they dispatched the enemies in the first turn. Booya!
Just a quick reaction, but turn-based, action-point combat is my friend. Even though I grew to enjoy the real-time combat of Pillars of Eternity, this combat just feels more comfortable to me.
May the Source be with them!
I definitely feel the other way. Real-time with pause > turnbased. But D:OS is some of the best turnbased combat around imo. And the elemental interactions are sweet, and explosive.
I need to finish AC:Origins but I’m in.
welp. guess I'm reinstalling this then. I've not finished it before (i got maybe three-quarters in) so I guess I have reason to but I'm ALSO starting Pathfinder : Kingmaker so it's going to be an isometric-heavy month :O
I think I might try the "epic encounters" mod from the workshop to mix it up a bit this time around (and hopefully make some of the fights a bit more interesting). Also makes it more difficult though which, is not usual for me, so i'll see how i get on. Seems to add a HUGE amount of new content though which is always nice, especially since I've played the opening few hours of this game so many times it's a bit of a chore to start it up again from scratch otherwise.
Washed up on shore, this regular odd-couple need to begin their investigation...
Lysilla Styx, Decadant Vampire Rogue and practitioner of witchcraft...self centred and hungry for power...
...and Saga Sunstrider, Warrior Cleric and noble hero of the realm.
(I'm going to be playing every conversation 'battle' as they turn out naturally, so no save-scumming on them)
After a small detour into an old beach-side crypt, the pair stumble across something strange on the beach...
...unfortunately for Ishmashell, Lysilla wins the argument, and he is destined for a short trip to the nearest merchant! Not long after, a pair of drunken bridge guards narrowly escape an indignant death at the hands of a haughty undead noblewoman. thanks to the soothing voice of reason from Saga.
After a brief dalliance with some orc raiders on the beach and a mysterious traitor, the unlikely pair head into town...
I haven't gone through it in any detail, but here's what looks like a useful character building guide: link
I haven't gone through it in any detail, but here's what looks like a useful character building guide: link
Cool! I added it to the first post, thanks! That article also had a link to what looks like a good Skills Guide. I've added that too.
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