Barry_Woodward: Other than Dungeon Master and Lands Of Lore, I've never played a CRPG. Which 10 would you personally recommend?
It is good that you have played some of the slightly more "unfriendly" CRPGs out there, because that makes giving recommendations a lot easier. No need to worry about the game being beginners friendly.
In some kind of semi-order of greatness:
1:
Planescape torment. A slightly slow paced game that still has the best story ever created for a computer game. Lots and lots of text to read, but you know what, that is not an issue. The text is so well written that you
want to read it. It offers meaningful choices, has interesting characters and is just great allround.
2:
Fallout (series). I'm putting them together, because they are rather similar. These games have a great setting that differs a lot from the norm, a good story, and gives you many many different ways of actually playing the games. Replay value is high and the games are fun to play.
3:
Ultima 7: While the gameplay in Ultima 7 might be a bit lacking, this game has one of the most living worlds ever seen in a video game. Every NPC has its own schedual (and it is not just a daily one, oh no the game is more ambitious than that! From what I can tell, it is a weekly one). The story is interesting, the game is lengthy and it has a lot of great characters. Ultima 7 part 2 is an entirely separate full length game, which is about as good.
4:
Gothic: A rather different entry on the list, Gothic is more action-oriented, but it has an interesting setting, and a good level of challenge. Its plot might not seem all that good at first, but it will grow on you, and it does get quite interesting towards the end. Also, once you get the hang of the controls, the game really starts to reward skill.
5:
Realms of Arkania 3: Shadows over Riva: This is a game with an incredibly deep and complex rule system. You have a lot of options in regards to how to design your characters. And I really do mean a lot. It has a slightly different story structure than most CRPGs. Be prepared for a challenge.
6:
The Witcher While the gameplay might seem a bit bland at first, once you start getting spells and/or improve your swordsmanship, this game really starts to grow. It also has a rather mature story, with plenty of tough choices. This is a game where your choices really matter
7:
Arcanum: Of steamwork and Magick obscura. Created by some of the former Black Isle staff (Fallout, Planescape), this is yet another imaginative game. This is a steampunk game, with a high fantasy element, which is a mix that works pretty well. The game is far from flawless, but the amazing setting really helps lifting this game to great heights. It also offers a lot of things to do, with plenty of different side quests and several different ways of actually playing the game.
8:
Nox: An ARPG with a novel system of handling experience, and three different campaigns (depending on what class you play), this gem of a game really does give you a good amount of replay value. The story might not be outstanding, but the gameplay is. Levels are well designed and there are plenty of things to explore, enemies are varied and will require different tactics.
9:
Might & Magic 4-5: World of Xeen. This "super game" is what you get when you combine Might & Magic 4 and 5 into one. In my opinion, this is by far the best game in the Might & Magic series, offering good gameplay, a decent enough plot, and a quirky (though not intrusive) sense of humor. The dungeons in this game are well designed and interesting to explore and there are many different enemies to deal with.
10:
Arx Fatalis: And this is where I realize that a top 10 just won't do it... Arx fatalis is an game that was heavily inspired by Ultima Underworld (in fact the devs wanted to create Ultima Underworld 3, but EA said no). It has a novel spellcasting system, and caters to both those who like spellcasting, swordplay and a mix of both (just don't pick archery). It also treats the different fantasy races in a different way to most games, with goblins & trolls not being inherently evil.
Others worst playing: Baldur's Gate 1-2, Temple of Elemental Evil, Divine Divinity, Gothic 2, Ultima 4-6, Ultima Underworld, Anachronox, Gothic 3 (with fan patch!).