lordhoff: I do understand what he's saying, though. One meets the orcs way before one is ready for them so often one has to rely on standing on the seige equipment (in II) where they can't get you, etc.
Truehare: Yeah, I also understand, but that's what makes those games so good in my opinion: you can (and most often, will) meet challenges you are not in the least ready to take on, and will have to run away a lot before you are prepared. That's what makes it so satisfying when you come back later, ten levels stronger and armed to the teeth, and proceed to wipe the floor with your enemies' faces.
In my first playthrough, I did the same thing you did: stayed on the battering ram killing orcs who couldn't get to me; but the second time, I just ran from them, fulfilled my mission in the Valley (which didn't require killing any orcs) and went back to Khorinis. I came back to fight them only in Chapter Four or Five (don't rightly remember which one), and by then... it was glorious. WAY more fulfilling than exploiting the battering ram trick.
My point is, the Gothic games (and Risen to an extent) are not necessarily bad, they just take a different approach... one that I, personally, find extremely bold and engrossing, and fear seeing extinct because PB are trying to appease the majority.
Running through them; never really tried that. I basically just cleared a small path using as much stealth as possible but, yes, relying on the ram for the kills (well, I ran to the ram :) ). When do they give up the chase? Seems that as long as they can see you, they keep coming. i guess as long as you can reach the river, it's fine.
--- fear seeing extinct -----
Yeah, I hear you - the majority seem to like quick and easy. It is the excitement of early game (most RPGs start you as very weak but one gets very strong very quickly) that I like the best. The Gothic series tends to be a lot slower until very strong.
