Thanks so much for the welcome, the comments and the tips. MacBeth and Ancient Dragon. It took me a long time to get up the courage to post my thoughts, though of course I've consulted the Board extensively eg the first time I finished a dungeon in the Level 2 Battlefields without finding a Quest Monster on the third dungeon level! I ran around that little level for ages searching for secret doors &c, before I thought to consult the Board. Silly me!
I did install what I think is the latest patch before I started the game - I'm playing v1.47. But as I experienced Quest Log problems, maybe there's something later? I can't find it, if so, and would be grateful for help.
I AM enjoying BD very much now. It did take me a long time to adjust to it as I was expecting something more like my beloved DD. But I'm now in Act III and am fully immersed, and even thinking of replaying the game without hacked stats to see if I can do it now that I'm more familiar with the gameplay.
Re the Act I deathknight patrols - I take your point, AD, and no doubt 99% of BD players would agree. My trouble with scenarios like that is that even on Very Easy I can't move my hamfisted 60 year old fingers/hands fast enough to cope. However, I know Larian didn't design the game to be played by Crumblies like me. The point I wanted to make was that it was a bit too early in the game for such a difficult problem area - one is still getting used to how things work, and it's really discouraging to get knocked out so early on. One isn't immersed in the world or the story yet, so I feel it's likely some folk my age or folk who don't have the manual reflexes of a concert pianist just might give up the game totally at that point. Which would be a pity.
MacBeth asks what I like about BD. I like having a 'party' even if it is only 2 (or 3). I like the concept of the crystals. I LOVE the story and all the different locations. I love flooge frogs and lava crawlers, and all the creativity that has enriched the game - take the way the Stone Eaters' little legs twitch as they die! I like having to cart around different weapons to switch to depending on my foes. I'm thrilled that the humour displayed in DD has been carried over to BD. I like learning the Ranaar alphabet, and seeing how many of the documents I can figure out even without Book III. I like being able to be strategic in combat as opposed to mere hack and slash. I like the extra touch of reality in having to have food with me before I can rest.
There's a lot more I could say but I want to go play the game. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
