Originally Posted by mrfuji3
I'd put DAO in a similar category as you put BG3/DOSII.
Originally Posted by Wormerine
...the fact that they lack in aspects for which I enjoy cRPGs doesn't mean they are something different...
You can't kill NPCs (companions or shopkeepers) unless it's part of a script, sure, but there's a ton of choice in the game and opportunity for roleplaying your character that make up for that imo. I suppose I place less weight on the "constant access to all the verbs."

I'll concede that it is more restrictive and maybe less of what old cRPGs are. But that's a matter of scale, not intrinsic differences, at least imo.
Sure. There is also this awkward thing called BG2 - which as I was younger I saw it as a seed from which sprawling, full of choices RPGs could emerge, while with time and wider knowledge I realised that a more focused cinematic feel was this game's strongest point. As such later Bioware games, gradually increasing production value and reducing player choice as the result feel like a natural progression for Bioware, rather then departure from their younger ambitions.

I also have to clarify that me calling something not a cRPG is not a criticism. As it happens I don't like DA:O but for different reasons, than its "visual novel" feel (thanks @Sozz),