Anyone still playing Dungeon Siege?

[WarLocke]

I recently spotted the Dungeon Siege/Legends of Aranna two-pack at my local Wal-Mart for $10 (50% off of $19.95) and figured that I may as well try it out since I had been having a good old dungeon-crawling time with Darkstone anyway.

So how badly did I miss the bandwagon on this one? Does anyone at all still play this game? I don't want to waste anybody's time with questions if all I'll get are cricket noises. :P

[[wcip]Angel]

Hehe. I played it for a few hours at the time I got it. I then re-formateted my c:\-drive. After reinstalling windows, I thought I'd pick up where I left off and started up Dungeon Siege. For some reason the savegames were not there. I started a new game, saved, and exited. I went to the dungeon siege folder to see where the savegames were, and they were nowhere to be found. It was a total and complete mystery. Later that day I had some business to do in "My documents", and there they were. I spotted a folder called "Dungeon Siege savegames" (or something to that effect), and I quickly realised what had happened.

Furiated, I uninstalled the game and deleted the ISO from my harddrive :P

I mean, what game places its savegames any other place than the folder of the game itself?!

[Drasca]

I mean, what game places its savegames any other place than the folder of the game itself?!
[right][snapback]56530[/snapback][/right]

That's the stupidity of big companies seperating files by windows user name. Microsquish and EA games both do it. I have gripes against EA which shall not be named here, but Microsoft's PC Halo also saves in my documents directory, and not the game directory. Grrrrr.

[[wcip]Angel]

That's the stupidity of big companies seperating files by windows user name. Microsquish and EA games both do it. I have gripes against EA which shall not be named here, but Microsoft's PC Halo also saves in my documents directory, and not the game directory. Grrrrr.
[right][snapback]56532[/snapback][/right]

I just checked "My Documents."

Other games include Deus Ex2, The Sims2, Fifa2004 and Vice City.

Granted, most of these game blow quite considerably (with the exception of the latter, in my opinion), but that's not an excuse for making things more complicated than need be.

[Chaerophon]

Other games include Deus Ex2...these game blow quite considerably...

*Sigh* So sad...

[CelticHound]

Angel,Sep 27 2004, 07:56 AM]Furiated, I uninstalled the game and deleted the ISO from my harddrive :P

Maybe the retail version is different... B)

Anyway, WarLocke, I recently got around to playing through the Dungeon Siege demo. I thought it was okay, but it didn't suck me in. At $10, though, I just might get it. My next-door neighbor, on the other hand has been enjoying it, which is a touch of a surprise since I think it's the first game he's ever played that not FPS (Max Payne, Deer Hunter(?)) or sports (NHL Hockey 2004). (He doesn't "get" fantasy or science fiction as genres.)

The other demo I've tried recently is Divine Divinity. I think I could really like this game if only it wasn't so buggy-crashy.

-- CH
(also missing band wagons)

[edit: self edit rephrase]

[LochnarITB]

So how badly did I miss the bandwagon on this one?  Does anyone at all still play this game?  I don't want to waste anybody's time with questions if all I'll get are cricket noises.  :P
[right][snapback]56527[/snapback][/right]

I have to say that I enjoyed both. I played each through 3 times - once each with builds as archer, mage and warrior. Of course, when I did so, I was spending 23/7 laying in bed in a nursing home so anything that wasted time was welcome. :( I do plan on picking up DS II when it hits shelves. If you have questions, I will try to help. I don't really think you will, though. The game is pretty linear so there isn't a lot of question on what to do as you go. Just clear it all and kill/grab everything. No real thinking required. (Hmm, what does that say about my taste in games?? Oh well, I've never been accused of being anything other than simple minded. :P )

I mean, what game places its savegames any other place than the folder of the game itself?!
[right][snapback]56530[/snapback][/right]

In defense of their idiotic choice to complicate something as simple as storing files (as Winblowz is wont to do as evidenced by the bane of my Winblowz use - the registry), they do have a save file directory with a text file telling you where they hid your save files. :blink:

[CelticHound]

The game is pretty linear so there isn't a lot of question on what to do as you go.  Just clear it all and kill/grab everything.  No real thinking required.  (Hmm, what does that say about my taste in games??  Oh well, I've never been accused of being anything other than simple minded.  :P )

Nah, nothing wrong with that. For me, at least, that was one of the joys of the first Diablo game in single player. I could come home from work and spend maybe fifteen minutes pin-cushioning monsters, making a bit of progress. It was close to theraputic.

-- CH
(so why in the world did I decide to focus on skellie necros in D2 1.09?)

[Sword_of_Doom]

I recently spotted the Dungeon Siege/Legends of Aranna two-pack at my local Wal-Mart for $10 (50% off of $19.95) and figured that I may as well try it out since I had been having a good old dungeon-crawling time with Darkstone anyway.

So how badly did I miss the bandwagon on this one?  Does anyone at all still play this game?  I don't want to waste anybody's time with questions if all I'll get are cricket noises.  :P
[right][snapback]56527[/snapback][/right]

I played both versions, in single play and then multiplay on the internet. Its a good game if you like tactics and don't have a lot of time. The first game took me about 35 hours to complete and the second Legends of Aranna about 20 hours. Not much gameplay for what i paid, $100 for both, but enjoyable nonetheless. The game is stunningly beautiful as far as graphics go but combat lacks.

[WarLocke]

Maybe the retail version is different... B)

Anyway, WarLocke, I recently got around to playing through the Dungeon Siege demo.  I thought it was okay, but it didn't suck me in.  At $10, though, I just might get it.
[right][snapback]56566[/snapback][/right]

I find it satisfies my mindless dungeon-crawling cravings pretty well. It's also got a few refinements of the Diablo-esque model I really like - no item breakage, slow regeneration of health and mana over time, and other such little improvements.

The expansion is worth getting for the 'redistribute potions' function alone (not that it matters, since I don't think you can buy anything but the DS/LoA bundle anymore), not to mention 3 or 4 new classes of spells, improved AI, and so forth. Just don't do like I did and start a game using the 'DungeonSiege' executable, you have to use the 'DSLOA' executable to get access to the new stuff.

If you have questions, I will try to help. I don't really think you will, though. The game is pretty linear so there isn't a lot of question on what to do as you go. Just clear it all and kill/grab everything. No real thinking required.
[right][snapback]56566[/snapback][/right]

Well, not questions about where to go or anything, more along the lines of the pros and cons of different character builds. Like, is it worth trying to make a 'multi-class' character (like a Melee/Nature or Melee/Ranged) or would spreading around on attributes like that be crippling? As an example, I've had my main character using melee weapons exclusively since I began (he has 0.00 in all other skills) and his Strength is up to 17 so far, which is just barely enough to equip the stuff I'm finding in the Glitterdelve mines where I am at the moment. Would having some Nature magic ability be worth having 2 or 3 less Strength and having to use inferior equipment and thus get beaten on more? That kind of stuff.

[LochnarITB]

Well, not questions about where to go or anything, more along the lines of the pros and cons of different character builds.  Like, is it worth trying to make a 'multi-class' character (like a Melee/Nature or Melee/Ranged) or would spreading around on attributes like that be crippling?
[right][snapback]56610[/snapback][/right]

Oh, the fog is lifting a bit more. I actually played them through four times each. I played a separate magic user for each of the schools of magic (nature and elemental? - green and gold). I have always been a specialist type player - get them as buff as possible with their chosen skill until nothing can stand against them. My biggest gripe with the current state of D2 is that you have to use high level spells from at least two of the trees to get through hell diff with a magic user. I do think that you might have troubles if you spread attributes too thin. There is a lot of loot to be found and (although filtered through the fog of poor memory) it seems to me that the requirements of the best goodies would pretty much put them out of reach of jack-of-all-trades characters. You are probably best off by just continuing to build your character on the melee track he/she is on. This will get you through the game at least far enough to see some of the things that drop and how they would be for the various types of attacks. You may decide to relegate the first one to the bit bucket part way into the game but the sacrifice will make subsequent characters more enjoyable to play through to the end. YMMV

[LiquidDamage]

I played Dungeon Siege for 5 minutes before I began to dislike it. It seemed to me like Diablo, with better graphics, minus all that pesky fun and atmosphere. Sure, it wasn't a "clickfest", but it didn't seem to need me at all.

I continued to play for a couple days to try to give it a chance, and because my friends were playing it. The only thing I enjoyed about the game was what we referred to as the "Barbie Fashion Designer" aspect-- getting new stuff and seeing how cool it looked.

Like, is it worth trying to make a 'multi-class' character (like a Melee/Nature or Melee/Ranged) or would spreading around on attributes like that be crippling?  [right][snapback]56610[/snapback][/right]

I don't remember much about the game system (mainly because there isn't much to remember), but I do remember that hybrids were indeed horribly crippled in the mid game. I seem to remember melee damage resistance or avoidance being based off of melee skill or something, which resulted in melee/x hybrids being torn apart since the game was balanced assuming you were a specialist. Perhaps it was just the whole "you need x strength to wear y armor" bit that caused this, though.

I don't remember exactly, just that when we tried hybrids, they were pretty bad in the mid game.

[WarLocke]

I don't remember exactly, just that when we tried hybrids, they were pretty bad in the mid game.
[right][snapback]56633[/snapback][/right]

Yeah, just about immediately after I started the topic, I reached the next town/supply point, and was offered stuff my specialists couldn't use. :o Then all the monsters I've run into since have had health in the hundreds, so I'm sucking down Mana potions for my two mages (when I was selling them to make room earlier in the game). It indeed looks as if not specializing can cripple a character. :unsure:

I'm still enjoying the game (despite the sometimes hands-off approach it takes) and if the engine is moddable (is that even a word?) enough I'm even entertaining off-the-wall notions of recreating my NWN project/module that never got off the ground with it...

[MonTy]

Hail WarLocke,

I just started to play Dungeon Siege again. I finished the original + expansion with a LAN buddy awhile ago. Playing on the LAN was a blast, and we completed the game in a matter of days. I havn't touched it since, and I've got the urge to try it out again. So far it's great mindless fun, something to pick up when I have an hour or two.

If you would like, I'll be up for some Multiplayer sometime in the near future. Would be fun to play every few levels together and see how our characters are doing. Oh, and I'm pretty strict on the trading department. Won't even play with anyone I don't know or trust. Just let me know.

[Jim]

Hi

DS is a Fun Game...the Chicken Run is a Blast...Don't play Legends of Aranna, till you complete DS :D

2 skill characters work well in this game.

I will look for you WarLocke what is your ID ? I'm...> King Jim

edit: I added WarLocke to my friends list & started a lv 1 melee/nature magic character...I have higher level characters just need to add them :P

[Thecla]

WarLocke, put that CD down right now and walk away.

DS was the worst game I've ever played, and I've played some pretty bad ones. Find a good sturdy brick wall and bash your head against it repeatedly. You'll end up having more fun than playing DS. Trust me. (Or don't.)

[D-Dave]

Well, I wouldn't exactly say it's less fun then bashing one's head against a wall but there is a certain feeling of being ripped-off after buying the game.

There was this vague vision of a dev-team meeting:
Greedy scum Manager (GsC): "Hey, lets make our own interpretation of Diablo...it worked for Mr. Gates so why not for us?"

Dev 1: "Sure we could do that but that's not realy original, is it?"

GsC: "Alright, you've got a point there but there's mucho Bucks in it"

Dev 2: "Hm, don't you think we may get into some copyright trouble?"

Dev 1: "Well, we are not ripping a CD and burning it right?"

-all lough-

Dev 3: "Lets make it with a 3D-engine, looking realy stylish and cut the human interference with the battles to a minimum...this way we will have no balance issues as it is US who decides how attacks are used not the player, they only get to select it...he he"

Dev 2: "So a bit like a Football game where the player gets to select the line-up and the tactics but not control the players directly"

Dev 3: "Exactly, this way it will be sort of a Screensaver with limited user interaction"

GsC: "Cool, the need for support will be minimal."

Dev 2: "But what about the replay value"

GsC: "Oh don't be smart. You know that reviews are based on playing a game once, if they complete it at all and sales are based on reviews...so who cares if the game is exactly the same when playing it again apart from the skills one selects."

Dev 1: "...and let me add that if we stick to our concept players will be half-asleep throughout the game anyway so the replay value will be awesome."

-all lough again, this time louder and more confident-

Dev 3: "I have a great idea, lets get some 13-year old 1337-Gamers and get them to think of the most CeWl-fEaTuReS they can think of and throw them in."

GsC: "I guess thats a wrap. Foolproof concept for making a huge profit, but remember to get the PR-department informed and let them spam the boards with how awesome this game is."

Here my vision ends...

So what I wanted to point out is that to me the game is massively boring because the player is a spectator in the battles which reduces the fun considerabely. On the other hand this caters largely towards those who like sport games with a similar tendency.
If you like being a "Trainer" rather then a Quaterback, Linesman, Runningback or whatever...this is your game!

Have fun anyway
Dave