If you purchased/downloaded game thru Steam you could try to verify integrity of game cache. To do so..
Right Click Divinity: Original Sin in your game library
Click on Properties
Go to the Local Files tab
Click Verify Integrity of Game Cache
Prepare to wait 5-10 minutes while it checks.
I've had to do this a few times especially after either a game patch or Steam updated it's software. Not sure if it'll help but worth a try until someone more technical can help out.
Tried that.
Still crashing on me AND still no Global Chat ... this is clearly an isolated issue or these forums would have blown up with complaints.
Any one else have suggestions?