Usually just helps to pay attention to all of the conversations then you usually shouldn't have that much trouble knowing where to go.

You can't force yourself to enjoy something you obviously don't. Games like Fallout and Baldur's Gate are also based on the notion that the players are eager to explore the maps and discover things on their own. If you don't find that fun, those games probably just aren't for you.

You can try using a free game guide from GameFAQs when you get stuck. They usually help me beat the harder RPGs when i get lost. Youtube walkthrough videos can be helpful too.

In most of "modern" RPGs (since mid 90s), there is usually a journal where there are quests summary, or at least some hints.
In the first Baldur's Gate (without mods), there isn't a quests summary.
Games which haven't those, need to keep some attention and patience. In Planescape: Torment, there are lots of text, so to really play these games, (and enjoy them of course) you should keep in mind that you will have to focus gaming these games with 2 hours minimum sessions. If you don't, you will obviously be lost.
And if you really need it, use a real notepad to write hints on it, just like a pen and paper roleplaying game. But don't lose it! ;-)

Maybe you should start with a game that has more guidance in the beginning and is less open than BG or FO. Especially FO can be bit hardcore if you're not used to this kind of games.
Since you have all the D&D games I would suggest Neverwinter Nights. It has a tutorial and in the beginning you are confined to one city with each district having its own quests (So pretty linear, except you can choose the order).
Also this way you won't be disappointed coming from the greatness of the BG-Trilogy to the (IMO) mediocre NWN.

EDIT: Fixed spelling

The primary focus of the old school RPG gameplay is on the story, and exploration. You follow the main quest-line that guides you through the world where the story takes place. The strategy of the gameplay is in character builds, and your party makeup. How well you level up your character decides how they perform in battle, and even how they interact with the world.

Character builds are how you level up your character, the class, and sometimes sub-class, race, and skills and attributes. It is best to read up on this in the manuals. Game guides are very helpful to read through, (many are written by gamers and can be read and downloaded to keep as a reference). It will seem complicated at first, until you are familiar with the details.

Party makeup is important too, as you will want to have at least one thief in your party, to spot and remove traps, and at least one evil character, in case you find a powerful weapon or armor that only evil characters can use. And at least one wizard, who has healing abilities...

As the main quest-line takes you through the world, there are also side quests that can also be done, both to explore the world more, and to get experience points for your characters to level up, and opportunities to find more loot.

What I usually do, (with all games, not just RPGs) is run a quick play test, just to get acquainted with the game world and character attributes system, experimenting with a couple hours of gameplay at most, to test how leveling up characters effects their ability to survive. After that, I start over with a fresh new character, and/or party and make a serious attempt to play through the game.

You might want to give Oblivion a shot you know. It's basically an RPG made for people who don't particulary enjoy RPGs.

See, there, you can't get lost or stuck. You can't hit a levelled wall. And when you run around, getting distracted... You might actually understand how exploration works and what is it all about.

I would also say start with something easier like Obliion/Skyrim, Kingdoms of Amalur, Fallout 3 or Dungeon Siege. Dungeons & Dragons are about math IE. understanding the underlying system behind the game before you can create a balanced party and characters that can survive. They are also about storytelling and exploration.

But if you don't enjoy them then play something that is enjoyable to you.

Yes, the use of quest arrows in newer games suggest that you are not alone.

Games should entertain you so I would suggest simply sticking with those that you can get into. But seeing the list from your previous thread I get an impression that perhaps you cannot get into any game recently. If that's the case I would strongly recommend taking a break from gaming. Believe me, I did it twice, once for five years (2003-2008) and then for two years (2010-2012) and I'm extremely happy that I did so. What's the point in forcing yourself to play games? If you cannot have fun with them just don't play them. And then, after some time when you feel like coming back, you'll enjoy them immensely. Playing games should give you some fun not be a chore.

Great point.

I may have that same problem with RPGs which have a poor or no quest log. Baldur's Gate has a journal, but it is pretty poor for trying to keep track where you should possibly go next, and what quests you've already completed.

Baldur's Gate 2 had a pretty good quest log, listing the quests you got in each chapter, and moving them to completed quests when you completed them. Other "RPG" where the quest log seemed to work fine for me was e.g. Lands of Lore 3.

The biggest challenge in (classic) RPGs for me normally is the character or party generation in the very beginning. The reason I haven't yet properly started Icewind Dale 2, although I found a good FAQ on the net for creating a kickass IWD2 party.


Anyway, now that I am playing Sanitarium, I'm having more of a problem with adventure games. I just get too easily frustrated if I don't figure out fast how to proceed in the game. Like now I am walking around in the circus level of Sanitarium, wondering what the heck to do next, or if I've missed some item lying on the ground (pixel hunting).

And Sanitarium seems overall one of the easier puzzle adventure games. It is hard to resist reading a walkthrough for hints in adventure games, but for puzzle-based adventure games that is the same as using cheats as the puzzles are the only thing impeding your progress. What's even sadder: I have even finished Sanitarium before, like over a decade ago, but apparently I have simply forgotten most of the game and the solutions to puzzles. :)

In RPGs and strategy games I at least seem to make constant progress, even if only little. Makes me wish that e.g. Grim Fandango was a RPG and not an adventure game. :)

In all consideration, that list is fairly outdated. Going off of what I do like and what I don't, I guess I can't get into games that have horribly slow beginnings(which RPGs tend to, quite a bit), games that stop being as fun as they once were, games that get too overly difficult and out of my control, and things along the lines of that. I just bought Ring Runner and Dragonshard a few days ago, and I've been loving those games so far. I don't quite like Enclave or MDK because they tend to have overly long levels.

the only problem i have is if i stop playing the game for some time and than remember what's the next mission....yes, most modern games have a quest log, but i am to lazy reading it :p and than...if i real like the game its no problem for me starting it over.
Oh, i do like open world games. Its just that i run around and do the quests in an erratic order....far more fun than those railroad RPG's were your only problem is getting the boss at the end of the stage (aka finding his weak spot or grinding).