I used a party of 6 (2 Human Clerics, a Dwarf Fighter, an Elf Rogue, a Human Wizard, and a Human Sorcerer).

With the Co8 mod (v6.0.0) and the level cap raised to 20, my party was level 14 at the end. Made the end extremely easy, so that's something for anyone just starting out to consider. I took out the final boss without her even getting a chance to make a move. My Wizard hit her with a Finger of Death spell and she failed both the Spell Resistance check and her saving throw. No one in my party took even a single point of damage. Although anticlimactic, it was pretty funny.

I had a few crashes during the game, and one area especially drove me crazy, which was the Fire Node. The game froze/locked up constantly in that area. I had to pull up the task manager and kill the process, then reload in order to keep playing. I think I ended up doing that over a dozen times. Thankfully, I saved after every battle, so it wasn't anything more than an annoyance (although a pretty big one).

Other than that, the game was a helluva lot of fun. Although I won't play it again any time soon (I have far too many games in my back catalog), I'm already thinking about a new party.

Wow! My end battle took... forever. She took like 10 summoned elementals, a dozen area effect spells, a huge pile of magic missiles and a few melee fighters bashing with high level weapons. Wasn't easy, was very difficult. :)

I'd say you got really lucky with that finger.

Congrats! I had a similar experience with both the Fire Node and the End Boss.

My 'finger of death' moment was using Power Word (Good) against the Balor. Walked in, cast spell, Balor failed both ways and died. I saved and then went back to try and beat the Balor head on. After miserably failing 10+ times, I decided to live with the lucky win.

On the Co8 site, they note the issues in the Fire Node and suggest lowering the graphics for that area. I too had to reload a good dozen times there.

So what's next on the game queue?

For me, another undervalued gem, Fallout Tactics.

Actually pretty same deal as with ToEE. Not so much roleplaying, a whole lot of tactics and game mechanics.
Should appeal to same audience. ToEE has the better graphics, Tactics the better storyline.

I have tried to get into Tactics so many times but i usually give up at about mission three.

The only tactic i have ever employed with that game is move the characters along the map, let them riddle the enemy with bullets, heal as necessary and move them on. That and the lifeless enviroment and silent party members really bugs me (i'm a definite JA fanboy).

A game on GOG that wasn't particularly well recieved but i keep meaning to purchase is Gorky 17. Unfortunately the Gorky forum doesn't inspire me with confidence that the game will actually run. I think, although i'm not 100% that it takes a Final Fantasy Tactics approach toward gameplay.

Oh and thanks for your 'I'd say you got really lucky with that finger' comment. I giggled like a schoolboy.

Likely had a lot to do with the level of my Wizard as well (level 14). My party was well rested and all my casters had full spell complements in preparation for the final showdown. I was going to replay and try to battle it out without using the instant death spell, but since it was so late I decided to just call it a night and take the win. My melee fighters were kitted out with some really nice gear I found and made, so combined with a lot of buff spells and a bit of offensive magic I managed to take the Balor out on the first attempt. But the ones that gave me fits were that large group of noble fire elementals. Even knowing what to expect (after the first time encountering them) and protecting the party as much as possible with fire absorption, those buggers still waxed my group 5 or 6 times with their bloody repeated fireballs. I believe it took me 6 tries to get through without losing at least 3 party members. In the end, I settled for the battle that had one member die and need to be raised and one at 0 HPs when it was done. I found that encounter to be one of the toughest in the game. I never even thought to look there for a solution. I figured it had to do with the area, but stupidly didn't think to lower the graphics. I guess that's arrogance on my part, as the rig I'm running it on is quite decent, so I never even considered it would have fits with an older game in that respect. D'oh! Not sure. I have so many to choose from and I'm not sure what genre I want to play. I think I'm still in an RPG mood though, so will choose between something like Lionheart:Legacy of the Crusader, Divine Divinity, Drakensang, Arcanum, Alpha Protocol, The Saboteur, Risen, Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines, and I still haven't played through the DLC for Mass Effect 2.

I also have Divinity 2:The Dragon Knight Saga, but I'm definitely going to wait until I go through Divine Divinity before tackling that one, just for continuity's sake.

Hell, that's not even close to the full list (and I have tons more that aren't RPGs), but those are what I'm looking at right now. I'm leaning towards Arcanum though. I think a little Steampunk is in order...

Feeling a similar mood. I've got 'A Farewell to Dragons' installed and ready to run soon. Hmm, Jagged Alliance, Fallout Tactics and Gorky 17. Even more to put in my never ending queue of games to play. Guess it beats playing BG2 for the fourth time.

Only discovered the joys of digital downloads in the past year. So many games to catch up on... And I still haven't played The Witcher yet either. Just sitting there on my hard drive. Too bad I have to work for a living.

Edit: Whoa! Forum lumped my two replies together. Awesomely smart forum move.

Go for it, but be prepared for a dramatic shift in combat style. :) I love Arcanum, but the combat's something I suffer through when necessary to advance the plot, not an enjoyable BG-style strategic party-managing experience.

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, I'm aware of that. But I like the idea of the setting. :)

I tried Tactics before in real time mode before, but gave up.. probably around mission 3.
This time I'm doing it turn based and have a lot more fun.

Using other tactics than just rolling forward is definitely required, especially later on. Usually something like sneaking a few guys forward to ambush positions, opening up from afar with sniper rifles, then butchering the enemy as they move to engage. Lots of varied missions too, like escort duty, or hostage situations where you need to simultaneously take out all enemies in the building lest they kill the hostages or sound alarm. Helps to think your posse as SWAT or Special Forces team instead of more standard RPG band. Great fun. (although I too would appreciate a bit of interteam background banter)

Maybe Arcanum or more likely Alpha Protocol after that. Both are waiting on the pile. As are Freespace2, Broken Sword2, Syberia, Outcast, Imperial Glory and Buried in Time. Not to mention the stuff I've got waiting in Steam account. Got a little carried away during the christmas sales... :D

Yup, i know just what you mean, work and family really get in the way of my love for rpg's of all colour and stripes (and of course games in general). One of the reasons i treasure my DS so much, my lunch breaks fly by!

Recently got myself a ps3 and already i have a tidy little stockpile of games that just sit there looking me. Dragon Age, ME2 some jrpg's...i have just about managed a couple of chapters of Heavy Rain. I keep meaning to reign in my compulsive spending, but 'cos the ps3 has been out awhile the games are just so damn cheap.

One day i will finish an entire game before i move on to a new one and stop buying games that won't get played within six months. One day...Oooh look, GOG are having a Tex Murphy sale!
Have you tried the Freedom Force games? Excellent super-powered tactical combat!

Yeah, a while back. Couldn't get into it for some reason though, gave up after a level or two. Have to try again at some point... maybe. But I've got like 20 games waiting to be fondled, so it's an indefinite maybe.