I have a real mental block when it comes to computer games. As a notorious klutz, I can’t play anything that requires coordination at all. I also like games that have some sort of plot, but get bored with puzzle type games (like Myst). Baldur’s Gate, Arcanum, and Neverwinter Nights have all been up my alley.
Can anybody recommend a game that has user interfaces like those? Fantasy games are a big plus.
So you like single-player RPGs?
Did you already play through all the Baldur’s Gates games (incl. expansion packs) and all the Neverwinter expansions? If not, those alone can add many hours of gaming. Bioware recently came out with some downloadable expansions for NWN, too.
Other similar titles include:
-Icewind Dale 1 & 2
-Planescape: Torment
-(Slightly different, you may want to try a demo first) Temple of Elemental Evil
Beyond that, if you don’t mind trying other RPGs, take a look at:
-Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 & 2 (uses the D20 system, like NWN, but it’s a 3D perspective and not the NWN top-down style)
-Morrowind and its expansions (not at all related to the Bioware-style games, but still excellent)
-Fallout 1 & 2
Is that what you’re looking for?
Thief 3 can be purchased inexpensively, has a great storyline, and easy interface. You play a thief in a medieval setting, sneaking around and uncovering fiendish plots. Good storyline, fun to play. I rarely finish games, but blew through Thief 3 and was sad to end it.
Morrowind is also a couple years old, thus cheap, and really a wonderful game. Very much fantasy, rich storyline, beautiful graphics.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is excellent also, if you’re into a space game.
If you’re into the on-line game thing, World of Warcraft is easy and a lot of fun, plus there’s plenty of dopers playing it.
For an absolutely bare-bones (think stick-figures) on-line game, try Kingdom of Loathing. It’s rather addictive, it’s funny and it’s free!
Heh, I’ve tried Morrowind, and the interface is just too complex for me. Never underestimate the poorness of my hand-eye coordination! World of Warcraft seems to be the same interface. I guess you could say that I like to point to where charcters should go, without having to get them there myself.
I got Thief 3, then realized that my computer just can’t handle it. My video card doesn’t have pixel shading. My work laptop does, so to play, I can just schlep it home, but that hasn’t happened yet.
I didn’t know there is an Icewind Dale 2. I’ll give that a try. My CDs for Icewind Dale 1 don’t run in my computer for some reason. The manufacturer will replace them for $5 per disc, but I could buy the whole set for less than the cost to just replace the CDs.
If I can find demos of Star Wars and the others, I’ll give them a try.
Just FYI: Of the games I listed, I would consider the Morrowind and KOTOR games the best (even if you’re not much of a Star Wars fan).
Oh, and if you don’t mind a little bit of action (like in Thief), System Shock 2 was also an excellent game.
For older, cheaper games, you might try something from the Might & Magic or Wizardry series; I think the latest are 9 and 8 respectively. They are a couple of years old, so most computers should be able to handle them and they should be cheap.
I’ve heard good things and bad things about Arx Fatalis and Divine Divinity (and its sequel, Beyond Divinity). Look for reviews and demos to see if those might be your cup of tea. I have Arx Fatalis, but it keeps getting pre-empted for a newer, shinier game, so I can’t tell you how it is.
Oops, sorry, didn’t see your latest reply before I posted that.
KOTOR has a somewhat simpler interface compared to Morrowind, but it’s still not the point-and-click system that NWN uses. I don’t think there are any demos available, but maybe you can see if any of your friends have it? It’s available for the XBox too, so maybe a console gamer will have a copy.
You’ll understand how the gameplay works because you’re already used to NWN, and if games like that are too fast-paced for you, you can always turn on auto-pause (like in NWN). That said, however, you’d definitely want to give it a try before you buy it. And I’m also not sure if it’ll run on your system.
As for the other games… hey, if you’re interested, I’ll be glad to give you my copies of Icewind Dale, the Heart of Winter expansion, and Planescape Torment for just the price of shipping. If you want them, email me and we’ll work out the details. Or I’m sure you can just get them for cheap from any place that sells used games.
Wow, cluelessnoob, that’s really generous of you. Thanks! Email on the way.
I can play Thief because most of the game is being very sneaky. Slow, I can do. Running away from guards gets me killed, though.
MIght and Magic is a good idea. I’ve only played up to M&M 3, so I haven’t been thinking about them as good games. The newer ones are probably just what I have in mind.
Kingdom of Loathing looks like a fun time. You fight ninja snowmen!
Planescape might be right up your alley, but it is different from typical fantasy RPGs.
I’ve heard good things about KOTOR (I and II)
I don’t think the manufacturer is in business anymore.
Arx fatalis is weird game. The graphics suck, the controls are awkward, the story somewhat annoying, characterization iffy, goals often undefined, and levels unpleasantly organized and ugly.
For all that, it’s actually a pretty good game, though nowehere near great. Had they actually had a good concept, it miht have been a realy great game. I’ve got my eye on Arx Fatalis 2 whenever it comes out.
Bladur’s Gate is amazing. 1+2 and the expansion packs. No coordination required. Worth playing, as is the sister game, Planescape.
Morrowind was a beautiful game but I found the interface cumbersome and the combat system bothered me.
I am currently knee-deep in World of Warcraft and it looks like I will be so for quite some time. Those damn bastards at Blizzard. You don’t really need to be coordinated to play as there is a point and click mode of travel. Sometimes during a battle it is nice to rotate the camera and if you plan on playing a rogue it requires a bit more coordination but otherwise the interface is easy to learn and the game is easy to play (from an interface perspective).
As a casual gamer who has only had passing interest in MMORPG in the past I did not expect to become quite so wrapped up in WoW, so consider yourself forewarned!
Well, the Divine Divinity demo wouldn’t work on my computer. That doesn’t bode well, does it? I’m trying a Temple of Elemental Evil demo now. Then, I’ll try to find the Star Wars game. Cross you fingers for me!
Dropping in to vote for Planescape Torment. The controls, IIRC, are pretty easy to manage, and it’s got a lot of cool little story details and NPCs that add to the sense that there’s a whole world out there.
Plot? I’ll give ya plot! 
That game was the one that nearly got me to get a tattoo, but I settled for black rollerball ink so my parents wouldn’t kill me. 
If you haven’t played Fallout 1 and 2, you’re missing out. Fantastic games.
Also, Arcanum is by a lot of the same guys who did Fallout. Another awesome game.
linky-link?
I love Arcanum, but my computer doesn’t. The first rule of computing is: Don’t buy an Emachine. Seriously, my computer meets all the minimum requirements for slightly older games, but they get rejected!
So far the Temple of Elemental Evil demo, the Fallout Demo, and the Divine Divinity demo don’t work on my computer. The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic developers don’t make a demo.
Kingdom of Loathing is a lot of fun, but it limits how long you can play. Boo! Phooey! Maybe it’s just as well, as I could get really addicted to a game that lets you fish in sewers with gum on a stick.
Let’s try Arx Fatalis, shall we?
You probably won’t like Temple, too complicated.
I got very bored with Morrowind, but I’m completely addicted to World of Warcraft. The interface is very simple, the story such as it is, is fun, and the interaction of the different peoples is very fun. Though, you may have to upgrade your video card.
Ah, but you can get more turns in the day by making and eating food/drink, and of course there’s always tomorrow and more turns.
As for KotOR, it’s pretty close to Neverwinter Nights but with Jedi. Just prettier graphics and a cinematic-style look. It demands better hardware than NWN, though.
The best of the “new” Might and Magic games were 6 and 7, Mandate of Heaven and For Blood and Honor. I would recommend those two but not the ones after - in fact, everything since 6 has just been another build of 6, and the stories have gotten progressively worse, IMO.