i have had the most fun playing this game in about four years (except for fallout three and mass effect 1), though never played risen myself either, have to dnld the demo too.
The only complaint i had was that the manual did not tell me what the leveling of each skill would do, so i had to guess, but i finished the game as a fighter and archer type, now playing as a full magic user and find he is kicking donkey.
thanks guys, done a good job and looking forward to kicking that Damian's ahh.. donkey.