....load times so long, yet so easy to die.

Stick with it, soon you will complain about not dying at all :P
Have you applied the fan patch? It not only fixes a whole lot of issues with balance and things not working as intended, but it also improves loading times and lessens stutter.

Assuming he downloaded it in the past 3 or 4 months, he should have it since GOG updated their installer with the latest version.

My GOG copy came with the community patch installed but I decided to leave the alternative balancing turned off. Just hit level 12 and have been putting most of my points into strength and swordsmanship, it's been veeeeery slow going. I've been perusing the landscape killing whatever I can and selling anything I don't need... finally made enough to buy a bastard sword. It took me like two hours but I managed to wipe out the orc encampment near the gates of Vengard and make a bunch of money.

I don't know if I should try increasing my health, hunting ability, strength, my skills... or what.

It depends on what type of character you want to play (melee, ranged, mage). Once you determine that it shouldn't be too hard to start building the character you want.

One thing I will tell you is that 'making excuses' is a tremendously useful skill to have if you plan to steal, though it isn't effective 100% of the time (maybe 80% - 90%). Pickpocketing is useless, don't bother with it.

As far as hunting, I probably wouldn't put too many points into the skinning type skills since they're only for making money, and later on in the game you'll be swimming in money, especially if you're a thorough thief.

Gothic 3 or Ultima 9, which is worse?

Gothic 3 is good but its downfall is it is the sequel to Gothic 2

Ultima 9. I've played both games. Gothic has a decent game world/gameplay, it's just a chore to get through some places and it can be difficult.

But Ultima 9 is more stilted and even harder in my opinion. Fighting the first guy on Ultima 9 was ridiculous.

Without the community patch, Gothic 3 is still better.
With the community patch, Gothic 3 is so much better.

What about the expansion Forsaken Gods compared to Ultima 9?

With or without the community patch? Without, Ultima 9 is the better game. For all its flaws, it still works.
With fanpatch: Gothic 3 is the better game. In fact, it is actually a rather good game. Flawed, yes, but there is enough good going on to make it a worthwhile experience. Be careful about wiping out orcs. It is possible to break the main quest if you randomly wipe out orcs in orc controlled towns. You should still be in a good state, but before liberating any towns, make sure that you have the quest item that you get from a specific orc (the main quest will point you in the direct direction when it is time for it).

As for where you should put your skillpoints? Depends on what you want to play, but don't skimp too much on health (I know, it is a boring thing to invest points in, but it is important). Anything else depends on what you want to play. Also, don't get the third level in any weapon skill unless you have to. The knockdown effect that it adds is more annoying than good (can't/harder to hit a knocked down foe).


Being able to make the points that permanently increases your stats is nice, but don't invest here early on. The thieving skills are, in my opinion, not worth it. Archery is good, but I hate having to keep track of arrows. Magic is great later on, but you still need some fighting skills early in the game.
Also, armour is incredibly important.


By the way, the length of the weapon is very important. For this reason I find the long sword to be better than the bastard sword.
We don't speak about that expansion here. It is bad for everyone involved (some people have traumatic memories of it, you know).

Hmm, that one is indeed very difficult to determine :)
- They both were the result of mismanagement causing terrible bugs.
- Both stories aren't up to snuff.
- The player character in Forsaken Gods was terrible.
- The ending to Forsaken gods is more lame than that of Ultima IX.

So in the end, Forsaken gods is worse :P

But, don't forget that Forsaken gods was the gateway to the terrible Arcania, which is one of the lamest rpg's I have ever played.

http://www.gog.com/en/forum/gothic_series/

I'd like to know of what quest item / specific orc you speak, lest I can avoid breaking the main quest while I explore and level. I've only taken out one named orc, and it was the one who I dueled near Ardea for the blacksmith's freedom. The rest have been unnamed scouts, warriors, and commanders while out exploring. Oh, and the only city I liberated was Ardea.

Did I break my game? Dammit... now I'm totally paranoid and am questioning whether or not I should even continue.

Don't worry about it, you can get away with liberating one city and still have the orcs trust you enough to be able to do that quest. But avoid killing any more orcs who are not already hostile towards you until later (note that the orcs around the rebel camp right at the start are alright to kill)