I'm running the GOG version of Wizardry 8 for the first time, and I'm having an issue with the game hanging when I'm in combat.

When I initiate combat, I can select actions as normal, but as soon as I click "done," the game hangs and won't complete any of the combat actions. All other controls seem to work just fine (I can access the map, return to main menu, etc.), but none of the attacks trigger. If I try to change a combat action, I get a message telling me to wait until the combat round is over, so the game is at least trying to calculate the attacks.

I'm running the stock GOG version (with patch) on a core i5 laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium x64. Any suggestions or tips for getting around this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry, I just meant that it was patched up to 2.0.0.6. I suppose that was redundant, since the patch is included with the GOG version.

Running without admin rights could cause that issue. Also what graphics card/ chip has your laptop got... perhaps lowing the settings will help... is it any combat or a big one near the end of the game?

Am I right in thinking you're initiating combat using the horizontal sword screen centre towards the bottom? If so, there are a number of reasons why combat may not start, or appear to hang.

Often, when you initiate combat, you're some distance from the enemy and they won't notice you.

This means, when you select to initiate combat, some of choices you make e.g Siren's Wail (Bard), magic or missile screens (Priest, Mage, Gadgeteer), won't commence until after the first blow has landed. The same applies to summoning an elemental to fight alongside you.

By first blow, I'm referring to a spell such as Ice Bomb, one that can be cast or thrown a distance. i.e. the ones with Blue poles that have a rounded top. However, some things that can be thrown won't initiate combat, for instance I think I'm right in saying a Flash Bomb won't as it doesn't actually damage the enemies hit points, rather it inhibits them. An arrow from an archer should also instigate the first round of attack.

It's a matter of defensive and offensive. The defensive selections you make won't instigate a fight, the first directly offensive selection that damages hit points will (fire, ice, noxious fumes, arrows, bolts, stones).

The defensive/offensive delay isn't a bad thing as it means you can pre-select the first distance attack of many of your party members.

I hope I've explained this adequately and it helps you.