G'day all :) I've just gotten my girlfriend's old computer up and running at her place (P4 3.4ghz, 1.5gb ram, no graphics card but I can put an ancient 256mb one in, Windows XP, crappy little LCD screen) so she can sit on my laptop playing the Sims 3, and I need help deciding what to play. This is one of the downfalls of being a game hoarder - too much selection! Fortunately the computer can't connect to the internet at this stage, so that rules out my 500+ Steam games collection :P So I'm looking at my GoG list of 173 games and struggling to choose one to play. That's where you guys can help...

Here are my criteria:

* Preferably RPG or turn-based strategy - I need to be able to leave the game in an instant, have it still be running and come back to the game exactly as I left it.
* An engaging but not overwhelming story - I want to be drawn in by the story and/or game world but not read a novel. As this will be a part-time game, I don't want to miss out on the nuances of the story as we spend far more time at my house than hers.
* Must play well given the limitations of the computer and screen size.
* Must have a decent interface. Ease of starting the game is a must.
* Must be able to be finished within a reasonable time frame, playing part-time. I have a very flexible timetable so this is difficult to quantify, but something that is 100+ hours is not what I am looking for with this game. I'm hoping for something I can finish by next payday(13 days away) in order for the "owe you one" criteria stated below :)
* To GoG or not to GoG? It doesn't have to be a GoG game but cannot require internet connection to play. I can download something and transfer it over to her computer. Given my collection of GoG RPGs and strategy games, I probably have most of the suggestions that will come up in this thread.
* Sell it to me and I'll "owe you one" :) I'm after a review(linked or personally written) to aid my decision. The person who chooses the game I play will be rewarded upon completion(be that the end of the game or when I get stuck/have had enough of playing it). I'll let you know in this thread which game(s) I try and will write updates on how it is going.

Thanks in advance for your help GoG community :)

Edited Edit: I prefer to play games in chronological order, especially where an ongoing story is concerned. This has lead me to put off playing many games that I know I would love but it's something I'm pretty OCD about :D If it really doesn't matter that the game is not played in sequential order of the series, then suggest away!

Edit: Here is my games list on GoG Wiki to help aid my decision [url=http://www.gogwiki.com/wiki/User:Tarnicus]http://www.gogwiki.com/wiki/User:Tarnicus[/url]
Ignore the wishlist as it is well and truly out of date.

Jagged Alliance 2. It is an RPG doing its best to look like a strategy game, but on closer inspection you should be able to see that it is an RPG at heart.
Alternatively, Master of Magic.

P.S. If you want us to suggest from your collection, it would help if you posted it ;)

Both great suggestions and I need to add an edit - I prefer to play games in chronological order :) The first Jagged Alliance is a game I have actually finished, and I spent countless moons playing Master of Magic many years ago :)

Is there a way I can link my collection without typing it by hand?

Heroes of Might and Magic 2 or 3

* Preferably RPG or turn-based strategy - I need to be able to leave the game in an instant, have it still be running and come back to the game exactly as I left it. CHECK (turn-based strategy)
* An engaging but not overwhelming story - I want to be drawn in by the story and/or game world but not read a novel. SO-SO (some scenarios haave great stories).
* Must play well given the limitations of the computer and screen size. CHECK
* Must have a decent interface. Ease of starting the game is a must. CHECK
* Must be able to be finished within a reasonable time frame, playing part-time. CHECK (Only some scenarios, not all the campaigns.)
* To GoG or not to GoG? It doesn't have to be a GoG game but cannot require internet connection to play.CHECK

I recomend at least 1 game as strategy and one as rpg:

* strategy i'll go with Disciples 2 and Heroes 3 - random map on both games also hot-seat /can't get bored - and both can play pvp or vs computers - should be really fun :)

* as rpg.. i'd say: one or more of these
Icewind Dale - good story and turn-based pretty big...
Gothic 2 no ad-don - exploring is great, overlooked game
Temple of Elemental Evil small rpg - nice graphics not big on resources

Disciples II: Gallean's Return or Rise of the Elves, Sacred Gold.

Easiest way would be by using the GOGWiki, but you'll have to contact an administrator there to create a user for you (had a spam problem unfortunately, so registrations are closed).

Wizardry 8! :p

Age of Wonders 1.

SOTS: The Pit ticks most of your boxes, except the story is pretty much non-existent. It's a great choice if you want something to 'pick up and play, and it's easy to drop out of a run and return to it later.

Colonization

First of all, it will run smoothly on your computer. What I loved about this game is that you can choose your own style how to play it. You want to create a trading empire? Suit yourself. You'd rather lead the endless war with other countries? Not a problem at all. You dream about overpopulating the new world? Perfect, you can do so! You want to play as a bloodthirsty conquistador? Poor natives... start with Inca's and Aztec's empires, they have a lot of gold. And what's quite rare in 4x games you can actually win the game with a single colony! Yes, you can create your dreamtown, take care of it and bring it to its glory without caring about politics, suppling other colonies and so on. Pretty unique I would say because in other 4x games if you want to have just one city you'll be destroyed pretty fast.

As I recall though, SOTS: The Pit is quite heavy, so not sure if he can run it. Mostly due to lack of dedicated GPU.
A solid recommendation though, have to pick MindGames at some point.

You might be right. I play it on a notebook with dual core 1.5 ghz processor and integrated graphics and it runs perfectly for me, but it could be a bit much for Tarnicus GF's machine.

Great suggestions so far(and I own ALL of them :P). Can I emphasise this point in my initial post I'm after a review(linked or personally written) to aid my decision. Thanks all :)
Unfortunately I only have this one on Steam, not GoG. It looks brilliant though :)