I also tried playing KOTOR a few years ago and couldn't get into it. The mechanics didn't hold up and I had just played Mass Effect, so I put it aside.
A couple of recent games which would be a better intro into (3rd person) WRPGs would be The Witcher 2 (I have never played the first one and I never felt like I needed too since the game gives you all you need to know.) Also Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, I'm 90+ hours into this game. It has a great combat system, looks gorgeous, and makes it easy on you when you level up. (Plus if you don't like what you chose while leveling up you can respec almost anytime you want)
Dragon Age Origins is fun, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone who is new to WRPGs, you need to spend a lot of time setting up systems. Also Mass Effect 3 is pretty streamlined if you want an WRPG that is polished to the point of a JRPG.
