Before I buy POE I want to make sure I get the right games so I don't have any trouble installing everything when I decide to play the game. Which base game do I buy? Hero Edition? Royal Edition? Then just add the expansions?

Choose which version you want (the base game is the same, It's just the extras that are different), install and then install the expansions in order - WM1 and then WM2. The game will then be complete and ready to play. Hope this helps.

What's the difference between the two base games?

The hero edition is just the base game with manual. The royal edition, at nearly twice the price, is the base game with some 'goodies', such as artwork, almanac, 'making of' documentary, map, wallpapers, etc. The game itself is the same in both cases.

I see. I'll stick with the hero edition then. I don't need all those extras they aren't essential to be able to play the game. Thanks!

as an aside the base game will play just fine without the extra dlc's and is very well priced during this sale so if you want to try it ... now is the time!

grab the dlc's later if you are not sure you will like it

Right now I'm just adding it to my library to be played later so I was thinking of buying it now because of the current price or I might wait and see if it goes a little lower at another time. Haven't made up my mind yet.

Nothing, as already stated the base games are the same. The full details of the extras are listed on the game page for each game although Hickory did a good job of filling in the details.