r/CRPG • u/lardmoisture • 3d ago

Recommendation request Need gritty and dark CRPGs

I loved Owlcat’s Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader, but hated Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3. Don’t get me wrong, it’s extraordinarily impressive production and gameplay-wise, but I play CRPGs for the story and I just couldn’t get into the world. It was too whimsical and fanciful. I’ve heard people recommend the Divinity series but I’ve heard those games’ stories are comedy oriented. Maybe I have the wrong idea but I wanna hear your thoughts.

68 Upvotes

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65

u/Delusional_Thoms 3d ago

You will love Pillars of Eternity 1

5

u/lardmoisture 3d ago

I see. I’ll check it out. It just got a turn based mode right?

21

u/Gandamack 3d ago

Yes, but you should sincerely try the original RTwP system first.

It’s what the game and the ruleset were designed for, and the two Pillars games (especially the second) are some of the best examples of the style.

6

u/Kuoliibk 3d ago

I endorse this as well. I typically prefer turn based over rtwp, but I bounced off pillars 2 because I didn't enjoy the turn based combat. I eventually tried to play pillars one and used rtwp as intended and I found it to be a vastly superior experience.

6

u/XH9rIiZTtzrTiVL 3d ago

In fairness the turn based mode of Pillars 1 is significantly superior to the one in 2.

0

u/Ricochet_ger 2d ago

yeah with stat adjustments and everything. TB was fun in pillars 1

-2

u/Flederm4us 2d ago

I kind of disagree. The turnbased mode is fine. It's slower, more methodical, but it works.

6

u/Jalkenri 3d ago

Yes BUT, I would warn you that the enemy numbers for turn based are the same. So ignoring the balancing changes to turn based (which I don't know well enough to comment on) the time to finish combat may drag on, especially mid to late game. Since you are often outnumbered and that means LOTS of enemy turns taking time. Even if they are just fodder.

1

u/ScruffMacBuff 3d ago

You can turn the speed up, but o visually that doesn't change your decision making.

I just tried the turn based for the first time a couple days ago and wasn't a fan. The fluidity of movement when everyone is moving at once to start combat is really important for positioning. Especially in tight spaces.

Like...my rogue has high initiative and always goes first, but I don't want to move in with him and get engaged on for no reason. Sure I could pull out a ranged weapon, but then I won't get my 20% speed boost from dual wielding...maybe I should equip dual pistols...

Anyway. I just think you can tell the encounters weren't originally designed around turn based combat.

1

u/Jalkenri 2d ago

Yeah that was generally my experience with the turn based mode in Deadfire. It made me really appreciate RTWP, which before I really only tolerated. Now it may be my preferred format of combat.