I would have said Baldur's Gate series a few years back, but replaying these for the N time using lots of mods, I can clearly see that the original games just ain't that good. So Gothic, I guess.

Probably the Might and Magic series (III, IV-V & VI mainly but finishd them all) along with Ultima 7 and Baldur's gate II.
More recently I would go for The Witcher (first one).

I've already heartily castigated Demon and Dark Souls in other threads, and though I may be in the vast minority I stand by my previous statements, I don't think much of them. Morrowind kept crashing back when I bought it (been ages that), never did try and get it working on a modern comp, it could be good for all I know. Skyrim got tons of praise initially but past the first week's gushing I only ever hear complaints about it, which doesn't reinforce my confidence that it's actually all that good, though evidently at least a few mechanics must be somewhat compelling.

Divinity 2 (so far as I know, the strongest contender you mentioned) was good but doesn't stand in the same class as Arcanum, which is okay because very little does.

PS:T natch.

Gah, you don't like Demon's Souls but you praise Arcanum... I'm so conflicted!

Kidding, of course. :) Anyway, I do think Skyrim is a pretty good game, but the problem is that it feels... shallow. And i'm not talking about the removal of the stat system. It feels like you've got this world in front of you to fool around in, but nothing you do actually matters and very few of the quests attempt to make you actually care (Frostflow Lighthouse was really good, however). But that's fairly par for the course for Bethesda, to be honest.

I haven't played Arcanum very much yet, The steampunk element just seemed a tad out of place in the beginning and I never proceeded much past that. However, I can understand why some people would like it, It seemed to have a great deal of role play-ability and customization on offer. I honestly think the question that is been asked in this thread is fairly subjective, which is why the thread is titled:

Your Favorite Sword and Sorcery RPG

What I mean is that you shouldn't really just go out on a limb and call every other Sword & Sorcery RPG Pretentious trash because it isn't within your style.

(BTW, I mean this in a friendly, non-hostile way)

You realize I'd had about 6 glasses of whiskey when I made the original comment, right?:)

Still, I don't think much of most RPGs so many tend to like, they do come off as pretentious and ultimately shallow to me. I'd rather play an RPG-lite experience like Mass Effect of Titan Quest than most of those. I do think there are other good RPGs, just none that nailed almost every element (Gothic is an example of a very good, yet deeply flawed game).

Wizardry 1-8

Love this series. Plenty of characters, later games have multiple paths to finish the game, classic old school dungeon exploring, Wizardry IV is considered by many one of, if not the, hardest RPG ever made.

Plenty of secrets and party customization, man I love this series.

favorites:

witcher
wizardry 7
gothic(yes, even gothic 4 which i thought was amazing) including risen
does fallout count? lol i guess not.

icewind dale and baldurs gate!


theres more, but those i like a lot!
I really loved morrowind, but for some reason just couldn't connect with the later two releases oblivion and skyrim. skyrim is a great game too, but i just didnt love it the same for some reason!

does final fantasy count as sword and socerery? seems like theres always at least one guy with a gun who blasting magical spells, and another guy with his fists, and the last guy, usually the hero, with a big sword. that has a gun on it.

The door opens and you find the words atop: TE9WRQ==

The scent of musk assault your senses as the velvet curtains flow with the soft winds. Before you was a large bed and on top of it was a crescent dagger. Around the halls of the chamber were paintings of the same woman making love but each portrait showed her with a different lover.

Instantly you feel burdened, as if you yearn for rest on the bed’s silk. Without hesitation, Salvador rests on the floor, but you quickly kick him back up. You strengthen your resolve, clearing your eyes and your mind. On the bed rest itself were words, and you wonder what meaning it may have.

Qdq xploxl ni ywg oqcfb vq hhvcuq,
Abnq pgvn kiti cwsz iqjmu qrrh obpo xnfw.
Fvm manngsfz mpr kolrpn hbq xea rervake hcrfokq,
Vvzvfgk ctt dpbot, wjzkfxi oys dvuucvlo bovof.

“WHO AM I?”

in this order:
Morrowind
Gothic 1
Jade Empire

Depends on the final fantasy game:

My list:

Final Fantasy I through VI

Final Fantasy IX

any final fantasy that takes place in Ivalice (such as XII and Tactics)

and to a lesser extenet XI and XIV