Hi everyone... newbie here.
I'm trying to decide whether or not to get Wizardry 8, and I figured the best way to find out is to ask some people who have been playing it.

A bit about what I like in an RPG:
I was a big fan of The Bard's Tale games, and I'm one of those hopeful few who still think there's a chance for a Bard's Tale 4. The only Wizardry games I've played so far are "Proving Grounds of The Mad Overlord" and "Bane of The Cosmic Forge," both of which I really enjoyed. Other RPGs that I've enjoyed include the "Ishar" series, "Alternate Reality: The Dungeon" and "Legacy Of The Ancients" (you can probably tell I'm an old-school gamer!) I did NOT like "Diablo" (does that even count as an RPG?), and I found "Baldur's Gate" to be a bit tedious (never grasped the combat system.)

So, I'm looking for a new RPG to play that's similar enough to those games I mentioned. And I don't want hectic, click-fest combat, but I also don't want the combat to take too long. Please let me know if you think Wiz8 is something I'd enjoy, or if you know of any other RPGs that match what I'm looking for. Thanks a lot!

Run, do not walk, to your favorite retailer (or online store) and pick up a copy of Wizardry 8. I've played all of the Might snd Magic series (except 9, but who can blame me?), Crusaders of the Dark Savant, Wizards and Warriors, Darkstone, Arcanum, Planescape: Torment, Diablo, and a few others, and Wiz 8 is THE BEST RPG of them all, hands down. The story is great, the replayability is infinite, and it's balanced to perfection. The graphics are a bit dated, granted, but if game play is what you're after, plop down yout thirty bucks and plan not to see the family for a good, long while.

To add to what my Mighty friend has said...
I must agree...Wiz 8 is amazing. the one downfall is that combat can get long, but there is a little application called Wizfast that you need to get to shorten it up, and it does, quite nicely. Someone has posted it here in the forum, do a search for it, if you do get the game.
I LOVE this game. I am considerably "new" to the game compared to many that read and post here, but It is an addictive game! Can't play just one!
Get it, play it, love it. [img]smile.gif[/img] Once you get it, do read the the tips (the very first topic at the top of the forum) it is invaluable. there are a few "spoiler" posts that drop plot hints and answers, but there aren't tooooo many,nor are they huge plot spoilers either, so if you are a "I want to do this all by myself without hints" kind of person, be warned. [img]smile.gif[/img]
I really can't say enough good things about this game. It is, by FAR, THE best game I've ever played. The replay value is great...I've run multiple parties and tried so many different things....and when and if you get stuck, the people here are so nice and know so much, they'll get you through your troubles faster then you can say Phoonzang. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Good luck and enjoy!

PPG

Yep, given the list of games you like, you will certainly enjoy Wiz 8. However, just to keep things in perspective, the game is not as full as it ought to have been. You will come across a few things that were meant to be there but the design team didn't have time left to do them. Ergo, the game is a bit short compared to some others.

On the other hand, what they had to leave out doesn't affect play; if the "hooks" weren't still present, you'd never know something had been left out.

And yes, the game is definitely replayable, just for mis and match parties alone. So go get it already ;)

<center>Nightowl2</center>

Tarjan, I've been playing the game for going on two years now (when I can) and love it.

I am also "old school" in terms of strongly preferring a turn or phase based system. I played Proving Grounds, Legend of Lly..., etc., as well as most of the RPGs made (up until about the Diablo time frame - when I got selective). In Wizardry 8, the combats do tend to be a little longer but there are fewer of them, for lots of experience, and they are very strategic and are fun to play. Some players, used to a more "whack, whack you're done" style, find it outageous to spend that long in a single combat, and never fully check it out. I would shorten some of the animations involved in combat, and make monster movement more efficient, but this, IMO, is the perfect combat system for a RPG. Because the combats are fewer and more varied, both in opponents and battle strategies, there is much less repetition in this game then many of the others (worst for repetition was the gold box games - but I played them anyway).

You really get a chance to see your good (and bad) choices, at character creation and level up, working for (or against) you. I'm into the magic side of the game and find combat rich with strategy. I rarely do the same thing in two successive rounds. I never got the Wizfast utility and do not intend to.

You get to design your own party (at least six of them), and not depend on the dozen or so characters the designers placed in your path (like in the BG games which I played and liked). This allows you to create more extreme parties using a wide range of strategies, and still be balanced enough to do everything you need to in the game. Replay value is superb.

I still play a little Might and Magic from time to time and have dabbled a little with MOO3 (since I liked MOO2), but this game is the best, IMHO.

[ 07-21-2003, 01:27 PM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]