Jen, reason I wrote what I did (Risen = Gothics) is the games seem to be clones with different content. [Image Can Not Be Found]

What I mean is gathering plants, spending LPs (learning pts), three factions one of which you must join, trainers, lots of time spent questing in Single City, single sets of armor (low, med & high)… stuff like that.

Mind you, I watched Gothic I on YouTube, played Gothic II through endless quests in Chap. 2 (covering RL  weeks, by then I'd had enough), and merely started Gothic III. Gothic I & II had no mouse (arrowing gets old, FAST) and Gothic III had limited mouse, like click instead of ENTER on main menu (still had to arrow up/down).

In my opinion, Risen is a mouse driven Gothic with graphics not that much better. If you haven't played any Gothics, here's a way to experience the series without having to play Mr.  Mittenman (early 3D).  (Risen's guy is Mr. Stubblehead).  Try the demo, it's still slightly clunky but accurate – it's how the game plays.

Go to town*. Then you can be stuck there like me & overwhelmed with quest requests. A major problem is deciding whose to start with so you don't piss off another group that you might want to join (later). Unless blatantly obvious, I don't know who is aligned with what group. [Image Can Not Be Found]

* But first, visit the crypt....and thereabouts.....

Be careful, it's not only seeing the Don that'll commit you. In Harbour City you're automatically aligned once you've completed 4 quests from either the Bandits or Inquisition. (I think that's correct, could be only 3) In order to learn pickpocket I sucked up to the Bandits for whom I'm 2/4.  Tonight, I must be really really careful to curry favor with the other guys.

Wish I'd had a chance to quest (level!) in the Swamp. Tonight I'm going to backup & sort saves with the intention of clearly marking a fork in my current path. Then later, I might reload & take the "road less traveled." Join the Mages or Bandits. Without replaying all the first part again.

Although *I* know one way to open a secret passage, no one in game has told me. And I haven't found a trainer for sneak – tonight I was going to do what I have to do so I can talk with him.

I tried jumping – easy enough to do but I landed too hard to live. Guards had a nice laugh about that. Just a sec, let me load & see if I can brazenly waltz out. Or not.

Harbour quest alignments are clearly designated as such when receiving your reward – after you turn them in. [Image Can Not Be Found]

Later: I made it! Wouldn't have without pickpocketing. My only skill so far besides +5 (or 10, I forget) strength & +5 alchemy for which I haven't yet found a recipe. I'm saving up for lockpick & sneak.

So. Much. Fun.

Every night I burn incense to the God of F8 (quicksave).

The Swamp is a hoot after the city. Lvl 4, better than starter sword & shield + pickpocket....life is good & lucrative. Except I just got killed by a Bog Man. Bandits can't sem to kill him either so I finally quit the game while they were still whackin' away in futility.

Still wearing castaway rags. Not sure I want to spend the gold for hunter clothes + afraid they might mark me as a Don's Boy if I wear 'em. There's a not very good jacket for sale in the city...cheaper, perhaps good enough for now. Haven't decided.

I only know the Order in the city & while they aren't friendly types, they don't harm me. Yet. In fact, Carlos the defacto leader is waiting for me but I'm avoiding him. Again, afraid what he has to say may mark me although I think he's gonna give me permission to join the Mages if I want. Cause I'm such a helpful guy.

From what I've gleaned scouring forums, quests in the Swamp don't count toward alignment. The Don sends you to the city and it's there that Order/Inquisition vs. Bandits quests start ticking.

This afternoon I transit houses taking my saves to another computer, another install. Luckily ATI video. Hope it works.

[Image Can Not Be Found] Which side of the wall did you jump from !?!?!?!?  I jumped next to the rock/mountain & died.

I am too chicken (and combat suckage) to try the arena, probably going to pass on that part. Went in to see the Don, talkity-talkity-talk with the Don & another npcs, tried to grab a recipe near someone named Kormac (or similar) and he got very pissed. Beat me up and took 500g as compensation. That one ain't gonna happen so I'll reload. [Image Can Not Be Found]

Now I'm wondering if *I* talk to the Don, will I become "his man?" Just as you wondered earlier. I'll check forums for clues.

I jumped on the rock, slide (slid?) off & died. Lots of times I ran around the city with half empty health bar so that mighta been why I died.

Pickpocketing **** oops, edit! edit, this is wrong, somehow this "1" was left in here, it's meant to be "2"******* 1 is effective, so far the game warns & prevents me when I'm too under-leveled to pick. Got caught only once but it was the blacksmith (edit: not w/ the sword, but the first time looking at his stuff) & he might be a higher class npc. Is this the way it worked in Gothics (I was only lvl 1 there):

1. Pickpocketing is timed with a timer bar.

2. Only one item.

3. Once you “pick” an npc, you can never do it again.

Having a hell of a time reading icons & deciding within time limit. Picked the blacksmith, later reloaded repeatedly cuz I kept hitting Luis while he was fighting the moths that I kitted back to him from the cave. [Image Can Not Be Found] Post-moths, he'd bash on me. Anyway, somehow I reloaded enough so the blacksmith hadn't been picked. Thankfully, I simply pickpocketed the golden sword back (me? fight him when there is an alternative?).  Taught me to be certain I will never need something else before pickpocketing any npc.