Define "RPG" in your own words

Verbatim · September 18, 2015, 10:19:49 AM

what constitutes a "role-playing game" to you

hint:
it's not just a game where you take someone's role, because that's literally every game ever

is it the fantasy setting?
is it the turn-based combat?
is it the leveling up of stats?

fact is, not all RPGs have these qualities—so is it possible to even define in brevity?

some games are described as having "RPG elements", while not necessarily being an RPG
so what does it take for a game to be a "true" RPG?

Ender · September 18, 2015, 10:22:00 AM

I think games that have

-some amount of character customization
-immersive story
-player can make choices that have effects on the world

That sort of stuff is what I think has to have for it to be called an rpg

Big Boss · September 18, 2015, 10:27:07 AM

A game where I can really get to live as some other character, and make choices for myself, than the character will then do., and shape the story and world around me as I see fit.

True Turquoise · September 18, 2015, 10:30:20 AM

-a game in which you choose choices that impact your game in the future
-immersive story
-character creation
-a game which you make your character through the things you do
-different endgame outcomes based on what you do
-wait... i know you

True Turquoise · September 18, 2015, 10:32:26 AM

Or just a game for me to become the ultimate jew golder

Doctor Doom · September 18, 2015, 10:38:21 AM

Rocket prope - oh.

Zonda · September 18, 2015, 10:39:44 AM

Specifically, I feel there has to be proper interaction between the player and other characters, as the bare minimum requirement for an RPG. As in, you can converse with other characters at any time and listen to what they have to say, and in some cases be offered a side quest, or something.

Incan · September 18, 2015, 10:40:49 AM

A game focused on skills, RNG and a degree of player choice.

velox · September 18, 2015, 11:01:11 AM

Character customization is common, but I don't think a game has to have it to be an RPG.

I wouldn't say an "immersive story" is a requirement either, as that is incredibly subjective.

In my definition a RPG is a game that allows the player to make meaningful decisions beyond those of movement and normal gameplay. Deciding whether to throw a grenade or not can be a meaningful decision in the moment, but it's strictly related to combat and to that particular encounter (in most cases).

I'd say the decisions have to have some form of longer-lasting consequence, either to the player themselves or to the game world and characters in it. Developing the stats of your avatar can be such a consequence, changing which in-game faction has the control over a certain location can be another. These consequences can range in scale from the life of a single non-player character to shifting the state of the entire world.

I know that I'm overthinking this, but as someone who study game design nowadays I sort of have to. This reply doesn't affect my grades, of course, but I sort of have to have this mindset when it comes to everything game related.

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 11:02:48 AM

Why are people listing character creation? That's actually a fairly newer thing in RPGs.

Luciana · September 18, 2015, 11:17:31 AM

A game that has a story to tell that's actually good

A skill tree that actually effects your character

Loot for armor, weapons, etc

Multiple characters to pick for your party

I would say character creation and your own choices, but that isn't an RPG by classic standards like Final Fantasy and what not. That's more of a western RPG element, where as what I listed is more JRPG.

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 11:20:25 AM

There isn't a definitive standard for what makes an RPG anymore.
The meaning has become so convoluted as more and more elements are added over the years.

Luciana · September 18, 2015, 11:22:06 AM

Yep

Even sports games have RPG elements. Still, it's one of my favorite genre's so I know when a game really is one, and when one isn't.

True Turquoise · September 18, 2015, 11:25:27 AM

Quote from: Citrus Snake on September 18, 2015, 11:02:48 AM

Why are people listing character creation? That's actually a fairly newer thing in RPGs.

And I'm 12 years old you fucking moron

Why are people listing it?
Its still a thing but its new

are you going to do te Yee ol' back in my day crap, Lemon? you old fuck

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 11:27:47 AM

Plus there's so many types of RPGs.

There's classic D&D-style RPGs.
There's Action RPGs.
There's Action Adventure RPGs.
There's JRPGs.
There's Dungeon Crawler RPGs.
There's Western-inspired JRPGs.
There's RPGs that take elements from all the above.

RPG is just a blanket term because there's so many sub-genres.

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 11:28:17 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on September 18, 2015, 11:25:27 AM

Quote from: Citrus Snake on September 18, 2015, 11:02:48 AM
Why are people listing character creation? That's actually a fairly newer thing in RPGs.
And I'm 12 years old you fucking moron

yeah we know

True Turquoise · September 18, 2015, 11:28:51 AM

I want a game with all of them

velox · September 18, 2015, 11:45:07 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on September 18, 2015, 11:25:27 AM

Yee

YouTube

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 11:48:48 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on September 18, 2015, 11:25:27 AM

Quote from: Citrus Snake on September 18, 2015, 11:02:48 AM
Why are people listing character creation? That's actually a fairly newer thing in RPGs.
And I'm 12 years old you fucking moron

Why are people listing it?
Its still a thing but its new

are you going to do te Yee ol' back in my day crap, Lemon? you old fuck

wait how old do you even think i am?

True Turquoise · September 18, 2015, 11:49:09 AM

57.

Don't lie to me.

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 11:52:21 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on September 18, 2015, 11:49:09 AM

57.

Don't lie to me.

i'm not chakas

Korra · September 18, 2015, 11:54:32 AM

Ryan Peed on the Ground

BaconShelf · September 18, 2015, 12:01:31 PM

A game that allows you to create your character- both aesthetically (appearance, armour/ clothing) and based on experience (Stats/ skills). Should also allow some element of open-world/ quest gameplay, in which missions are at least accessed from a 'hub' of sorts (ala mass effect) or a complete open world (Like Fallout). A heavy emphasis on dialogue and decision making is ideal, where your decisions can affect the outcome of quests.

True Turquoise · September 18, 2015, 12:03:17 PM

Quote from: Citrus Snake on September 18, 2015, 11:52:21 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on September 18, 2015, 11:49:09 AM
57.

Don't lie to me.
i'm not chakas

Oh

🍁 Aria 🔮 · September 18, 2015, 12:32:35 PM

-Experience Points
-Level Progressions
-Quest-based story
-Characterization
-Degrees of customization
-Going though subplots to eventually conclude a central story
-Controlling one or more characters with different attributes with different combat effectivenesses
-Usually involves a strong story

Verbatim · September 18, 2015, 12:39:06 PM

Quote from: Prime Uta on September 18, 2015, 12:32:35 PM

-Experience Points
-Level Progressions
-Quest-based story
-Characterization
-Degrees of customization
-Going though subplots to eventually conclude a central story
-Controlling one or more characters with different attributes with different combat effectivenesses
-Usually involves a strong story

What a lot of people have been bringing up is the self-insertion aspect. Though it could be argued (tenuously) that Halo is an "RPG" because you take the role of Master Chief, the Master Chief is a pre-established character with all his own backstory and personality traits ready-made.

Whereas with modern true RPGs, there's a heavy emphasis on putting you, the player, into the story. Rarely in a true RPG is the main character anything but a completely blank slate for the player to impose his or her own identity upon, for the sake of immersion, and, well, role-playing.

I think that's probably the core defining feature of the modern RPG. It's not just role-playing—it's the emphasis on role-playing. I think everything else is just stuff we've merely associated with the genre, but aren't necessarily key.

DAS B00T x2 · September 18, 2015, 12:42:57 PM

Dice roll and statistic based combat.

If it doesn't have that, the game is just an action/adventure or hack-n-slash with RPG elements.

Girl of Mystery · September 18, 2015, 12:48:15 PM

Quote from: Fuddy-duddy on September 18, 2015, 12:39:06 PM

What a lot of people have been bringing up is the self-insertion aspect. Though it could be argued (tenuously) that Halo is an "RPG" because you take the role of Master Chief, the Master Chief is a pre-established character with all his own backstory and personality traits ready-made.

Whereas with modern true RPGs, there's a heavy emphasis on putting you, the player, into the story. Rarely in a true RPG is the main character anything but a completely blank slate for the player to impose his or her own identity upon, for the sake of immersion, and, well, role-playing.

Bungie purposefully made the Chief a blank slate with the personality of a brick for self insertion purposes though

Verbatim · September 18, 2015, 12:54:21 PM

Quote from: Citrus Snake on September 18, 2015, 12:48:15 PM

Bungie purposefully made the Chief a blank slate with the personality of a brick for self insertion purposes though

He still has a detailed backstory, though. And most of his personality comes out when he's interacting with Cortana, I noticed. To me, he came off like a brazen, conscientious, no-bullshit kind of guy, but he still has moments of sarcasm (again, mostly around Cortana, because banter). He's not the most colorful person, sure, but that was only half my point anyway.

🍁 Aria 🔮 · September 18, 2015, 12:55:17 PM

Quote from: Fuddy-duddy on September 18, 2015, 12:39:06 PM

Quote from: Prime Uta on September 18, 2015, 12:32:35 PM
-Experience Points
-Level Progressions
-Quest-based story
-Characterization
-Degrees of customization
-Going though subplots to eventually conclude a central story
-Controlling one or more characters with different attributes with different combat effectivenesses
-Usually involves a strong story
What a lot of people have been bringing up is the self-insertion aspect. Though it could be argued (tenuously) that Halo is an "RPG" because you take the role of Master Chief, the Master Chief is a pre-established character with all his own backstory and personality traits ready-made.

Whereas with modern true RPGs, there's a heavy emphasis on putting you, the player, into the story. Rarely in a true RPG is the main character anything but a completely blank slate for the player to impose his or her own identity upon, for the sake of immersion, and, well, role-playing.

I think that's probably the core defining feature of the modern RPG. It's not just role-playing—it's the emphasis on role-playing. I think everything else is just stuff we've merely associated with the genre, but aren't necessarily key.

That's because it's the trend to self-insert. Final Fantasy, Drakengard, Bravely Default, Deus Ex, The Witcher, and Chrono Trigger are all RPGs that have protagonists that have a pre-defined personality to varying degrees.

It isn't essential to an RPG, but variability and a set goal in the story are the only absolute essential parts. It's an adaptation of pen and paper games, and that's the only consistent part. There's a reason why there are so many subgenres, and it's because RPG is a very broad term.