This thread made me break out Temple of Elemental Evil this weekend. I probably put 6-10 hours into it, and barely hit level 3. I'm only 1/2 way through the moathouse.
It breaks my heart this wasn't a mega smash, and the engine wasn't used for 100 more modules. Someone Kickstart this sucker!
I'm still picking up new strategies like, "Hmmm. If I focus on "Use Device" for my thief, she can cast "Cure Light Wounds", "Long Stider", and "True Shot" from scrolls and be a complete mofo!"
I'd really love some more quality D&D/D20 games. I wonder if we'll ever get another D&D licensed game, since D&D 4th edition has been "Warcraftized". That's not necessarily bad for tabletop D&D, but I don't know about PC games.
Another trend of games, especially RPG games, of late: (Usually) Better stories, INSANELY lower difficulty and complexity. I understand the need for this. The average player isn't going to want the brutal "Combat Simulator". It's just sad, we don't have nightmare encounters that we have almost no hope of surviving. and require a reload, or to avoid the area until later. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's nice to feel a sense of accomplishment on a hard won fight and growing your party.
I loved Gothic 1-2 and Fallout 2's random encounters early on. Punishing and awful. Made you feel the world was very hostile and dangerous, and set the mood perfectly.
Now, everything scales for the causual player. Again, I understand, but it certainly squashes the forboding mood...