Hiya Rallek! WW is a great game and this is the best forum you will ever find anywhere! Welcome and keep us updated on your progress - stay close!
About the patch, I had to install it (without saying too much) I had a vampire in my group of adventures who needed to wear a ring that could only be worn when the patch was installed or the game would crash. I haven't had any crashes since I installed the patch. BUT, as Wyvern said, there are some cool perks you can get from some bugs in the games when you don't install the patch. There are more about these in some other threads. But we will wait until you ask before we explain any more right now. Perhaps when you get further in the game, you will want to know, or you will just discover them, or you will read about them in other threads.
In any case, you will love the game I betcha! And again, welcome to a board where all opinions count!
See ya!
Mammawlin
------------------
mammaw's know all, see all, tell nothing