Borderlands is most like Oblivion and the Fallout series in game mechanics. The game is progressed by completing missions that are assigned by NPC's in hub areas. However unlike those games there is also a driving aspect.
Borderlands is a lot of fun and it is also pretty cheap to pick up. Then again if you like the Elder Scrolls series then just wait for Skyrim. It looks amazing, and you get to fight dragons.
Haven't played most of these, but you're right about DA:O and Mass Effect - they're more linear compared to Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Borderlands is like Fallout on crack and with multiplayer, so that's a good one. The only other one I've heard is similar to Oblivion is Two Worlds 2, but I haven't seen any footage of it to say it is, so take a look at that one as well.
T2S.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.