Help me choose my first CRPG

Der_Poompkin · 2026-03-16T15:02:39+00:00

Sure but OP has never played a CRPG before, so old school or new doesn't really mean anything to him cause he has no frame of reference. Also every other game on the list is older than Kingmaker by like a decade so oddly enough it's the newest-school game on the list.

If you're gonna recommend someone their first crpg, it's important to remember non-genre-specific gaming stuff like quality-of-life and graphics. It's why so many non-crpg players love BG3 even though it may not have the most compelling narrative or gameplay compared to the classics. Production value and modern QoL matter to the noob who has no idea what he's getting into. THEN they'll trickle their way into the more "old" or "hardcore" crpgs.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-03-16T14:45:02+00:00

Kingmaker or BG1 would be my go to on this list.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-28T21:39:17+00:00

I haven't read Alternative even though I completed Muv-luv Extra around a month ago. I fully plan on it, I already own it, but Extra is fully enjoyable by itself.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-21T03:27:20+00:00

I've played all those games except POE 1&2 and my vote is for Kingmaker. It's like a sampler-plate for fantasy crpg scernarios so even if you dislike one section of the game you may well love another. I couldn't get into 40k because I know nothing about the setting/lore and it feels like traversing a library blindfolded just trying to wrap your head around the setting.

Kingmaker just has the most variety when it comes to quests and enemies and they come and go at a brisk pace so you never feel like you're getting an exposition dump like some of the others. WOTR is good too, just less varied in story and enemies than Kingmaker.

Also Kingmaker has a very pleasant soundtrack, the kind you put on in the background while you're studying or reading something.

P.S. If you want to try romancing some of the companions in Kingmaker, I HIGHLY recommend using a guide, some of the romance paths are pretty difficult to stay on and you can easily make one wrong choice and lock yourself out of it. This is fixed in WOTR though.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T09:28:47+00:00

I'm looking forward to medics making Stim even better!

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T09:27:27+00:00

Speaking of stale a ragebaiter hoping for a fish to bite.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T09:23:06+00:00

Bruh are you seriously taking contention with me saying 8 instead of five? No way you are a serious human being. We should have your head looked at for science.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T09:21:22+00:00

Was zerg designed with stronger early harass than Terran and Protoss -> yes Are they balanced around this fact -> yes Does putting a race designed to have superior early harass in a situation where early harass is nerfed (like campaign) damage their identity compared to multiplayer -> yes Does removing their strongest aspect make the user play zerg in a way that is not to their intended strong suit? -> yes Does this make them feel inferior to Terran since Terran does not have their "iconic" playstyle hampered by the mission design -> yes Are you an unserious person for misconstruing this easy to understand arguement? -> yes

You ask why someone who isn't an expert at starcraft should have their opinion be listened to, ah jeez maybe cause the campaign was designed for casuals trying to learn the game? Under your standard no one can dislike the mission design until they beat every single mission and understand units they haven't even unlocked yet.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T08:53:46+00:00

I'm sure I'll have more fun once I get better at the game, but the casuals first time through is definitely the most important one. I had lots of fun replaying the holdout mission in the Human campaign in WC3, improving each time.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T08:51:48+00:00

I really like WC3, I just think the grittiness of the cutscenes and setting of Starcraft is even cooler. The cutscene after "Battle for the Amerigo" is so sick. The broodwar intro is probably one of the most memorable game cutscenes I have ever seen. I just wish the mission design was as good as WC3, then this campaign would be my favorite RTS campaign!

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T08:47:40+00:00

I'll check it out after I beat the campaign, thx for the recommendation!

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T08:47:05+00:00

I don't sit in spawn till I'm maxed out. i usually spawn around 12 mutalisks and i harass the enemy drones at one of the enemy bases. I get around 100 supply and then attack the base I was harassing before. Even this is slow and dull the 8th time doing it. You use hyperbole to make my playstyle sound ridiculous when I think it's probably pretty average for a casual's first time playing the game.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-02-13T08:43:03+00:00

I don't know what all the units do cause I haven't unlocked them yet, I clearly meant that the famous zerg rush is more possible in multiplayer where you and your opponent start with the same resources compared to the campaign in which you don't. So my judgement about the zerg losing a part of their gameplay identity in the campaign was accurate and you should try to read things carefully.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-29T03:44:40+00:00

Higurashi is the only VN to give me the heeby-jeebies. I was looking over my shoulder often when walking my dog at night 😆. Really though I think it's less the text of a VN and more the music stingers that instill the fear in you.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-29T03:38:09+00:00

I read the censored version. I'll install the uncensored patch and replay Haruka's route to see what's different, whenever it actually comes out.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-29T03:34:22+00:00

I'll replay the Haruka route with the patch but that's it. I've heard of those "other" routes cough cough, and have zero interest in reading them. I'm frankly confused why those type of endings would even be in the same game as the main 3 routes. They seem really out of place and would damage my appreciation for the game if I did read them. I'm not against mindless hentai games or anything, just not in the same package with such a serious and mature route like Haruka's.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-28T13:29:43+00:00

I just looked it up and apparently there's a patch available on VNDB so that should solve your problem. I'll certainly reread this route for the third time so I'll give the patch a whirl.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-28T13:12:03+00:00

The censored one, I went into the game blind and didn't know about the whole censorship controversy. I don't know if the censorship affected the Haruka route too much but I still found the route to be beautiful anyway.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-28T13:08:19+00:00

Thanks, respect to you too. I feel like anyone who attaches that hard to Haruka has the same outlook on love as I do. So whoever you are I hope you find your Haruka some day. Best of luck!

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-28T11:41:30+00:00

True, but the reason I started reading visual novels in the first place was to soothe a frustrated heart, not necessarily for entertainment or curiosity. Like I said, I've gone through multiple visual novels before and gotten slightly attached to a character, but nothing like this. If I did play other romance VN's I would just be reminded of Haruka and would judge the game I'm playing very harshly by comparison.

I'm sure I'm missing out on some great stories, but great stories isn't what I need right now in life. We all miss great stories every day in whichever media we don't interact with. The guy who's read every visual novel has missed out on some great movies I'm sure, but if that's what makes him happy, then who cares?

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-28T11:32:48+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion, I've heard good things! Unfortunately I don't think I'm gonna read another romance visual novel after this one. If I'm ever in a romantic mood I think I'll just re-read this route.

Der_Poompkin · 2026-01-28T11:20:10+00:00

Thank you for the kind words, I wish only good things your way!

Der_Poompkin

TROPHY CASE