The "What are you playing?" topic.

[Martok]

Not really playing much at the moment. Been too busy with the new job this past week. Am currently waiting for the next beta of the Pocket Mod, although at this point I probably won't get to actually try it out til after Christmas anyway.

Still on NWN2: SoZ

I thought you found Neverwinter 2 barf-arific. Or was that someone else?

[Kekvit Irae]

I thought you found Neverwinter 2 barf-arific. Or was that someone else?

Ages ago, before patches and player-made AI mods. Now with both, along with some help with some other mods, I am thoroughly enjoying NWN2.

[Magraev]

I'm playing MTW2 Kingdoms, modded with Stainless Steel 6.1 atm. Still maybe the greatest game ever.

Playing a bit of Fallout3 also and contemplating buying NWN2:SoZ. Heroes 3 only when the wife wants to play a bit (on the computer that is...).

[Marius Dynamite]

I've been playing Gears of War 2 and CoD:WaW recently..

Gears: Decent game but the lag is really bad online. Why did they set it to 5v5 when it barely worked 4v4 in the original?! Of course when you ask Cliff Bleszinski he says the extra 2 guys are irrelevent as "people will be dying and stuff" how does that reduce lag man?!?

Its not too bad if the host is from Britain, so why not give me the matchmaking option to only search for British or European hosts and do likewise for Americans?

CoD: Not a big fan of CoD5 and never really liked CoD4. The whole "I saw you first so I kill you!!" style of play is not for me. Not to mention the insta-explode grenades because of cooking and people just sitting in a corner and killing everything that runs past.

Well its almost Christmas anyway. I'm expecting Fifa09, Fallout 3 and Fable 2 which should keep me occupied for a while at least.

On a side not I recently went into the local LAN centre to try some games on their PCs. WOW games are so awesome on those PCs. Graphics full, no lag.. excellent. I had a massive game of Medieval 2 and a few online games of Company of Heroes.. awesome. I'll have to go in and try Crysis at some point and organise a big 4v4 of Company of Heroes. I already played a 2v2 tourny of Gears2 on its release date. Got to the Semi-finals then lost hard

[Shieldmaiden]

I am playing:

Far Cry Woohoo! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy FPS. Its challenging me and its cool, only gotten to the Aircraft Carrier though It reminds me why I upgraded my PC!

I might buy Prey too and continue shooting stuff into the New Year.

Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots A favourite, I like the AoE and Civ series and its similiar IMHO.

Spore Well... shallow. Its fun creating stuff to meet. I wish I'd waited for it to drop in price...

Thinking of buying Prey, Sid Meier's Pirates! and Heroes of Might and Magic III & IV Double Pack for £10 (lots of 3-for-£10 offers in the UK). Plus Medieval 2 and Kingdoms next year.

[Martok]

Ages ago, before patches and player-made AI mods. Now with both, along with some help with some other mods, I am thoroughly enjoying NWN2.

Would you recommend it then? I've been kind itching for a decent single-player RPG for a while now, but the original NWN is now obviously long in the tooth, and most other recent offerings (Oblivion, The Witcher, etc.) just haven't appealed to me very much.

[Kekvit Irae]

Would you recommend it then? I've been kind itching for a decent single-player RPG for a while now, but the original NWN is now obviously long in the tooth, and most other recent offerings (Oblivion, The Witcher, etc.) just haven't appealed to me very much.

So long as you install Tony_K's Companion & Creature AI mod, then the answer is a resounding YES.

The Original Campaign is more engaging than the OC of NWN1, moreso with the fact that EmoPaladinWithCleavage isn't even mentioned. Mask of the Betrayer adds a very interesting concept to your OC character by requiring him/her to eat souls to survive, and simplifies the party influence system. Storm of Zehir brings the game back to its roots with Icewind Dale-style parties; create 4 characters of your own and have two additional NPCs join in, or just create one super character and fill out the rest of the slots with all the NPCs. SoZ also has an overworld map to travel on, rather than a painted TGA file, and you spend much of your time moving and exploring the world as you would normally (only on a much larger scale).

NWN2 is a definite buy. The NPCs alone make it worthwhile. My personal favorite is Khelgar Ironfist, a dwarven fighter who lives for only one thing: beating the crap out of people with his bare fists. You spend much of the game- should you wish, since it's merely a subplot- helping him be a monk. Grobnar Gnomehands, the gnome bard, is the closest NWN2 has to good ol' Minsc and Boo.

Oh, and if you do pick up NWN2, be sure to download LuteHero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n0vmCqv5yo