What Makes an RPG?

[Viblo]

Haha... These discussions are funny. Everyone seem to pull a personal feature from a CRPG and claim it as the ultimate definition of CRPGs.

 

Let me put this to you guys - EVERY game ever made is an RPG. Why, you ask? Very simple - all games put you into the role or one or more characters. Some of you may not see it this way, but the fact is every character you play has a role, and you are playing that role. It all depends upon what kind of game the game developers want you to play - some roles are rather rigid, while others allow you to choose how you want to role play. That's just my 2.5¢ thumbsup.gif

 

By this argument I could argue that a seahorse is a horse or 'the theory of evolution' is just a theory(but it's actually a large collection of facts and theories, mostly facts).

RPG*clicky* is the definition of the pen and paper roleplaying and from where the name is taken.

In a very broad category, the RPG games have some type of status (or character) leveling, that other games (action/adventure or FPS) just don’t have. Better items or deep storyline don’t define the RPG, but personal character status does (I.E. does the character get more health, improved strength, another “level”, etc).

 

By this standard, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory counts as an RPG, rather than just an FPS with XP and levels.

 

Yeah? So? Hellgate:London is an rpg, yet it plays like an fps, too.

 

If it plays exactly like a FPS in all aspects, why isn't it? Because it surely in my opinion it doesn't play like an Role-playing game*clicky*

 

Even though statistic like 'levels' or "hp" are a feature in role-playing games it doesn't make them "roleplaying" just because they have it, just like an apple is a fruit doesn't make all fruit an apple.

[Guest]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

[nosisab]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

 

This is a total inversion of concepts... this were to be the last thing a RPG player need to concern. RPG as said before is performing, acting... being different from a cine or theater script just by such script not being fixed, instead it flows second the players actions.

 

Anyone that do something they would not to as normal is role playing, even when this is in the 'real life' ... look at people behavior, specially when they deal with the ones they dislikes or even hate, but are bound to social behavior and you will be seeing role playing.

[Guest]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

 

This is a total inversion of concepts... this were to be the last thing a RPG player need to concern. RPG as said before is performing, acting... being different from a cine or theater script just by such script not being fixed, instead it flows second the players actions.

 

Anyone that do something they would not to as normal is role playing, even when this is in the 'real life' ... look at people behavior, specially when they deal with the ones they dislikes or even hate, but are bound to social behavior and you will be seeing role playing.

So because I can kill aliens in Halo that makes it an RPG because I wouldn't do it in real-life? I don't believe that.

 

Plus most of the great RPGs like Eye of the Beholder, Ultima 4, and hell even Baldur's Gate, they were huge number crunchers if you get my drift.(Heavy on combat)

[nosisab]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

 

This is a total inversion of concepts... this were to be the last thing a RPG player need to concern. RPG as said before is performing, acting... being different from a cine or theater script just by such script not being fixed, instead it flows second the players actions.

 

Anyone that do something they would not to as normal is role playing, even when this is in the 'real life' ... look at people behavior, specially when they deal with the ones they dislikes or even hate, but are bound to social behavior and you will be seeing role playing.

So because I can kill aliens in Halo that makes it an RPG because I wouldn't do it in real-life? I don't believe that.

 

Plus most of the great RPGs like Eye of the Beholder, Ultima 4, and hell even Baldur's Gate, they were huge number crunchers if you get my drift.(Heavy on combat)

I hope you are kidding

 

But I can say this ... playing Hallo you are not playing RPG, but if you think you are killing aliens and you are the big guy there... so the answer is a big YES, you are, indeed.

 

as for numbers, and even dices in P&P RPGs, they are only to avoid things like: Hey, I shot you right in the head... no, your shot just give me a scratch.

 

CRPGs are limited in the choices the PC can do, and strive to hide at maximal the necessity of those numbers.

[Guest]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

 

This is a total inversion of concepts... this were to be the last thing a RPG player need to concern. RPG as said before is performing, acting... being different from a cine or theater script just by such script not being fixed, instead it flows second the players actions.

 

Anyone that do something they would not to as normal is role playing, even when this is in the 'real life' ... look at people behavior, specially when they deal with the ones they dislikes or even hate, but are bound to social behavior and you will be seeing role playing.

So because I can kill aliens in Halo that makes it an RPG because I wouldn't do it in real-life? I don't believe that.

 

Plus most of the great RPGs like Eye of the Beholder, Ultima 4, and hell even Baldur's Gate, they were huge number crunchers if you get my drift.(Heavy on combat)

I hope you are kidding

 

But I can say this ... playing Hallo you are not playing RPG, but if you think you are killing aliens and you are the big guy there... so the answer is a big YES, you are, indeed.

 

as for numbers, and even dices in P&P RPGs, they are only to avoid things like: Hey, I shot you right in the head... no, your shot just give me a scratch.

 

CRPGs are limited in the choices the PC can do, and strive to hide at maximal the necessity of those numbers.

No offense but I think you should learn more English before you start criticizing my posts. You got everything I said backwards.

 

And, dice rolls don't avoid anything. They're there to mimic dodging and parrying and have proven to be quite realistic in combat as combat in real-life is based purely on chance anyways. (so is pretty much everything else but combat specifically)

 

Also, I never said that the numbers had to be apparent, I just said that they're what makes an RPG as well as choices and consequences. So I don't see why you're disputing my argument when you essentially agree that choices and consequences make an RPG.

[nosisab]

As was already stated several times in this very topic... there are so much things that falls at the RPG cathegory

 

And in all of then, the only thing that can close it to the definition of RPG would be interpretation, performing a role... but the world is not ideal, systems and rules are need ever. So we have so many things we will interpret as being RPG, not all absolutely correct, nor absolutely wrong.

[Guest]

As was already stated several times in this very topic... there are so much things that falls at the RPG cathegory

If you don't care to repeat what was said "several times" in this topic then don't reply at all. It's not as if someone is pointing a gun to your head and you certainly don't need to patronize.

 

And in all of then, the only thing that can close it to the definition of RPG would be interpretation, performing a role... but the world is not ideal, systems and rules are need ever. So we have too many things we will interpret as being RPG, not all absolutely correct, nor absolutely wrong.

And, if we are just going to accept that everyone has different views and leave it at that, then why have a discussion at all?

 

Also, like I said before RPGs are made up of heavy statistics as well as choices and consequences, I don't see why you're even arguing with me. You said it yourself that RPGs need choices and consequences. If you're disputing that they don't need heavy statistics then you're mistaken since that is what separates CRPGs and JRPGs from the twitch-play environment of FPS and other genres.

 

No genre besides the RPG genre has dice-roll combat with saving throws and d8s and stuff.

[nosisab]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

 

This is a total inversion of concepts... this were to be the last thing a RPG player need to concern. RPG as said before is performing, acting... being different from a cine or theater script just by such script not being fixed, instead it flows second the players actions.

 

Anyone that do something they would not to as normal is role playing, even when this is in the 'real life' ... look at people behavior, specially when they deal with the ones they dislikes or even hate, but are bound to social behavior and you will be seeing role playing.

So because I can kill aliens in Halo that makes it an RPG because I wouldn't do it in real-life? I don't believe that.

 

Plus most of the great RPGs like Eye of the Beholder, Ultima 4, and hell even Baldur's Gate, they were huge number crunchers if you get my drift.(Heavy on combat)

I hope you are kidding

 

But I can say this ... playing Hallo you are not playing RPG, but if you think you are killing aliens and you are the big guy there... so the answer is a big YES, you are, indeed.

 

as for numbers, and even dices in P&P RPGs, they are only to avoid things like: Hey, I shot you right in the head... no, your shot just give me a scratch.

 

CRPGs are limited in the choices the PC can do, and strive to hide at maximal the necessity of those numbers.

No offense but I think you should learn more English before you start criticizing my posts. You got everything I said backwards.

 

And, dice rolls don't avoid anything. They're there to mimic dodging and parrying and have proven to be quite realistic in combat as combat in real-life is based purely on chance anyways. (so is pretty much everything else but combat specifically)

 

Also, I never said that the numbers had to be apparent, I just said that they're what makes an RPG as well as choices and consequences. So I don't see why you're disputing my argument when you essentially agree that choices and consequences make an RPG.

 

Don't take it as personal, please, I really didn't meant anyone in particular when gave my opinion. I meant the numbers were a necessary 'evil'

[Guest]

I would say that an RPG is about "hard numbers" or in other words, harsh stats, heavy dialog and character creation, and some choices and consequences.

 

This is a total inversion of concepts... this were to be the last thing a RPG player need to concern. RPG as said before is performing, acting... being different from a cine or theater script just by such script not being fixed, instead it flows second the players actions.

 

Anyone that do something they would not to as normal is role playing, even when this is in the 'real life' ... look at people behavior, specially when they deal with the ones they dislikes or even hate, but are bound to social behavior and you will be seeing role playing.

So because I can kill aliens in Halo that makes it an RPG because I wouldn't do it in real-life? I don't believe that.

 

Plus most of the great RPGs like Eye of the Beholder, Ultima 4, and hell even Baldur's Gate, they were huge number crunchers if you get my drift.(Heavy on combat)

I hope you are kidding

 

But I can say this ... playing Hallo you are not playing RPG, but if you think you are killing aliens and you are the big guy there... so the answer is a big YES, you are, indeed.

 

as for numbers, and even dices in P&P RPGs, they are only to avoid things like: Hey, I shot you right in the head... no, your shot just give me a scratch.

 

CRPGs are limited in the choices the PC can do, and strive to hide at maximal the necessity of those numbers.

No offense but I think you should learn more English before you start criticizing my posts. You got everything I said backwards.

 

And, dice rolls don't avoid anything. They're there to mimic dodging and parrying and have proven to be quite realistic in combat as combat in real-life is based purely on chance anyways. (so is pretty much everything else but combat specifically)

 

Also, I never said that the numbers had to be apparent, I just said that they're what makes an RPG as well as choices and consequences. So I don't see why you're disputing my argument when you essentially agree that choices and consequences make an RPG.

 

Don't take it as personal, please, I really didn't meant anyone in particular when gave my opinion

I'm not offended or anything, I'm just having a hard time understanding you.