The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
[NEED ADVICE] My Girlfriend Wants to Try RPGS
res0nation
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I've been dating this girl for about two years, and she hasn't expressed interest in gaming until recently. She let me install Sims 2 on her laptop about a year ago, but that's it.
Yesterday she said that role playing games interest her. My response was "are you trying to give me an erection?" I asked her what she thought role playing games were and she said something along the lines of "I guess a game where you have to make decisions about what you want to do, and you have an impact on the story, and not just shooting people." Yeah, I know. But that's what I have to work with.
Here's the challenge:
Platform: Laptop with 512mb RAM
Target: Girl non-gamer, English Major, Total Babe, only played the Sims 2
Game: More focused on player than story, low system requirements, non-intimidating.
I've already ruled out the Fallout series (maybe later if I can get her hooked), The Longest Journey (too linear... she'll get bored), Planetscape (too bizzare at this point) and Neverwinter Nights (decisions are mostly about math). I'm on the fence about the Baulder's Gate series...
Oblivion seems noob friendly enough, but it won't run on her computer. Morrowind probably wouldn't do so hot either. I absolutely love RPGs but haven't played any obscure ones, so I'm hoping perhaps a couple members of this fine community can point me to some gems that I'm missing. Do it for the children. My children. If she becomes a gamer we might be making babies very soon.
Yesterday she said that role playing games interest her. My response was "are you trying to give me an erection?" I asked her what she thought role playing games were and she said something along the lines of "I guess a game where you have to make decisions about what you want to do, and you have an impact on the story, and not just shooting people." Yeah, I know. But that's what I have to work with.
Here's the challenge:
Platform: Laptop with 512mb RAM
Target: Girl non-gamer, English Major, Total Babe, only played the Sims 2
Game: More focused on player than story, low system requirements, non-intimidating.
I've already ruled out the Fallout series (maybe later if I can get her hooked), The Longest Journey (too linear... she'll get bored), Planetscape (too bizzare at this point) and Neverwinter Nights (decisions are mostly about math). I'm on the fence about the Baulder's Gate series...
Oblivion seems noob friendly enough, but it won't run on her computer. Morrowind probably wouldn't do so hot either. I absolutely love RPGs but haven't played any obscure ones, so I'm hoping perhaps a couple members of this fine community can point me to some gems that I'm missing. Do it for the children. My children. If she becomes a gamer we might be making babies very soon.
res0nation on
0
Posts
KOTOR is great as far as story goes, and having an impact on what happens. I seem to recall it being rather newbie friendly, complete with a mode that takes care of the technical character building stuff.
If you have a DS, or are willing to buy her one, I would get that and Phoenix Wright/Hotel Dusk.
You also have the non-video-game option to get her used to mechanics and open to the concept that "dust off and nuke them from orbit" is almost always an acceptable strategy to solving problems.
Alternately, Anachronox or Bloodlines are both much more story than combat-centric.
Planescape would be the game most fitted to her description, though.
I think KOTOR would be good. You might have to help her with the stats (the autolevelling is crap, seriously), but it's very friendly and you can have lots of impact on the different parts of the game.
Baldur's Gate or even Fallout sound good from her requirements.
But at least we're not fatasses.
I'd vote Vampire; The Masquerade - Bloodlines, KOTOR or Baldur's Gate 2 (1 is not that interesting.) I'd say it depends on whether you think she'd prefer a more fantasy, horror or sci-fi based setting?
Indeed. Or an SNES with Chrono Trigger and FFVI (though both are starting to get a tad dated in terms of story
Just patch it first.
But at least we're not fatasses.
Also, posting in a MY GIRLFRIEND thread
Vampire is probably the worst choice ever for somebody interested more in story than shooting, since the action gets a bit mental, and isn't likely to run well on that laptop.
I'd pick KOTOR. Combat you can pause and think about goes a long way towards helping new people into games.
KOTOR is probably the best suggestion, if she's okay with star wars. Pretty light and easy overall. If that works out, then move to your meatier fare: Torment, Baldur's Gate 2, KOTOR 2, etc.
People seem to be suggesting adventure games too, so I'll throw out the Monkey Island games. They've always been my favorites.
Is she looking for turned based or action RPG... :X
Diablo isn't the RPG she is looking for because you don't make any choices. Your only decisions are how to kill things and what equipment will best help you kill things.
Option B: KOTOR 1/2: Never actually played 1 myself though I enjoyed 2 and the going theroy seems to be 1 is better. Good for making choices that atleast have abit of affect on the story.
Option C: Planescape Torment: This aint a beginers game by any means. However if she is an Englsh Major the Bookfulls of writing might not be such an issue. Even so avoid it for awhile. That said it needs to be played.
Option D : Stalker: A possibility. Might be a bit to shooty for her tastes. But what you do and do not do does have an affect on the story.
Basically repeating whats been said plus stalker.
The cube is a puzzle, you put in different items/gems and if you figure out the right puzzle, you might make something cool.... Like purple potions.
I played KOTOR... I don't remember "puzzles".... Maybe a choice between being good or bad, but that isn't a puzzle. Being good or bad, can be applied to D2 if she played online... she could have the choice to PK people, or not PK....
Act 3 Sanctuary was always random, and random spawn of the Wizard... that could count as a puzzle :P
Diablo 2 should also work on a laptop like that...
Its also "more focused on the player" than the story. Although I do like the story.
eh, well thats what I suggest, g/l.
Failing that and sticking with the PC as a platform, then Puzzle Quest sounds like a good start.
If she's a typical girl then I'd immediately toss any ideas of a Star Wars RPG or an Elder Scrolls RPG. In fact, I'd toss all thoughts of high fantasy out the window right away. To be brought in if she decides she wants to go deeper into gaming.
What are you talking about? That's exactly what RPGs are about.
Anyway, my prescription: Ultima7 (use Exult), Planescape, Fallout, Arcanum, Bloodlines. In that order, probably.
Pretty simple, low system specs and story-driven.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
STEAM
I see people are suggesting adventure games (despite the girl asking for rpgs) but you're all missing the obvious option here. The Quest for Glory games, rpg/adventure hybrids. But that's only if adventure games are also an option, which I'm not sure as they're not really rpgs.
EDIT: to clarify, an adventure game is one where you don't have an impact on the story, you just push it further by solving puzzles.
I have a Black one I can sell :P
And don't discount The Longest Journey right away. One summer during university, I lived in a house with 7 other women. Only two of us were gamers, but by the end of the summer every woman in the house had sat down with (and enjoyed) The Longest Journey just because they'd seen one of us playing it and thought it seemed neat. Yeah, it's linear and it's not an RPG, but the story is compelling.