Quoting TheBirthdayParty,
I tried the demo. I found the dialogue boring, the interface irritating and the art/graphics boring(not due to not being as good as games with more funding).
Then it's not the game for you.
Age of Decadence's developers wanted to create a game somewhat along the lines of BG2, but with more attention to interactions between characters and between characters and groups. So relatively simple, early choices you make really do have permutations on a lower level. And the higher you go in your selected profession, with a given group, the greater the awareness of your character from higher-ups--some of whom may decide to take you out, or to seduce you away, or to seek your assistance since you seem allied to their agenda--their surface agenda. All at the same time. The idea was to create a genuine RPG, a fantasy environment in which everything interacts intelligently, as though you were living it.
I don't know what kind of game you want, and I wouldn't diss anybody else's choices along these lines, anyway. But if you're seeking a JRPG, or a go-anywhere-do-anything WRPG, or an action RPG with cutaway scenes--AoD isn't a good fit. As for the interface, I like it, and the retro-look of the BIS games is something some of us look upon with fond memories. Doesn't mean you should, but there it is.
Demo's out for all to try. Just remember it isn't easy, and it is pretty damn realistic. No freebies, even at game start. It's not an ironman game, but a newly arrived wimp who has no connections and almost no skills isn't going to do well against armed mercenaries. Keep that in mind. And note: the game really does play very differently depending upon the background you choose. A merchant is not going to be a decent fighter, and attempts to raise fighting skills will make for a dismally trained merchant with only slightly better than abysmal fighting skills--the kind of person you'd expect to get killed when facing someone who's seen plenty of fighting action. For a thief, it's a fascinating title.
