What is a Role Playing game?

Mr~Pan · 02-07-2005

I don't really understand what a role playing game is. I thought splinter cell was one because you are Sam Fisher in all the games but people said no its not a role playing game. So what is a role playing game, what makes it a role playing game?

|APo| VAR1ABLE · 02-07-2005

This isn't a stupid question - it's actually a pretty good one.

In all respects, technically all video games are role-playing games, because you're playing the role of a person, be it Solid Snake, Sam Fisher, Tommy Vercetti, etc.

But what role-playing game, or RPG commonly refer to, are large adventures that involve massive plots, turn-based fights, and lots of stats management.

Examples of what are commonly associated with RPGs are Final Fantasy, Xenosaga, Dragon Quest/Warrior, D&D, etc.

Not to be confused with Rocket-Propelled Grenades, which are infinite times cooler.

Mr~Pan · 02-08-2005

I thought that too that all games would be role playing too. I just don't understand. I know FF is a role playing game but I just don't understand what makes that a role playing game and Splinter Cell not even tho you play Sam Fisher in every game.

OTTER · 02-09-2005

Unlocked, whoever locked it, Ptr titled it wrong and I changed...or....something changed, I don't know.

DVD7227 · 02-17-2005

its a game your going to spend about 80 hours or more. Not to be rented.

apurityknot · 02-17-2005

Ok, here it goes..

It's not just "take control of a character" because if it was that, every game would be a role playing game. What it basically is, you take the role of just about EVERYTHING on the character. Roleplaying require you to focus on stats, as in health points, magic points, strengths, weaknesses, speed, etc etc etc.

Most RPG's also have turnbased system. What it basically does is SLOW down a fight. People think "It's taking turns hitting, that's a stupid way to fight!" THIS is when RPG elements come in. See when the battle starts, you choose whether to attack, defend, use magic, run away and so on. This happens in real situations, but it usually happens instantly. Say your enemy chooses to attack you and hits you before you attack it. What that means is that that person probably has a faster stat in speed, and made the first move. Now if you have a high stat in evade, you might dodge it, chances are you won't though, and will take damage. BUT it PROBABLY won't kill you, so you can continue the battle. This is similar to real life. You might be quick to react to a blow, but the blow might hit you maybe in the body or whatever, and it might hurt, but you can continue the battle. Now say the enemy on the game hits you with a crutual hit and takes a lot of damage off of you. Just take that as a comparison as someone hit you real hard, possibly in the face in real life, and it really messes you up. And then you gain experience points after a battle, and possibly level up. Compare that with real life. The more fights you are in (NOT recommended haha) you are more experienced, and leveling up is just a way of you stepping up as a better figher.The list goes on.

So in a way, RPG's are adventure, action, and strategy games all in one. Which is probably a reason why it is called RPG. Because it takes most of the roles in a person and adds it to a game.

Of course, most RPG's have a lot of dialect and the stories or normally at least 20 hours long. But really, when they mean RPGs, they just dont mean "play as this character." It is really "BE this character" and with that, ALL that character's aspects.

SolidiFIED · 03-29-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by apurityknot

Ok, here it goes..

It's not just "take control of a character" because if it was that, every game would be a role playing game. What it basically is, you take the role of just about EVERYTHING on the character. Roleplaying require you to focus on stats, as in health points, magic points, strengths, weaknesses, speed, etc etc etc.

Most RPG's also have turnbased system. What it basically does is SLOW down a fight. People think "It's taking turns hitting, that's a stupid way to fight!" THIS is when RPG elements come in. See when the battle starts, you choose whether to attack, defend, use magic, run away and so on. This happens in real situations, but it usually happens instantly. Say your enemy chooses to attack you and hits you before you attack it. What that means is that that person probably has a faster stat in speed, and made the first move. Now if you have a high stat in evade, you might dodge it, chances are you won't though, and will take damage. BUT it PROBABLY won't kill you, so you can continue the battle. This is similar to real life. You might be quick to react to a blow, but the blow might hit you maybe in the body or whatever, and it might hurt, but you can continue the battle. Now say the enemy on the game hits you with a crutual hit and takes a lot of damage off of you. Just take that as a comparison as someone hit you real hard, possibly in the face in real life, and it really messes you up. And then you gain experience points after a battle, and possibly level up. Compare that with real life. The more fights you are in (NOT recommended haha) you are more experienced, and leveling up is just a way of you stepping up as a better figher.The list goes on.

So in a way, RPG's are adventure, action, and strategy games all in one. Which is probably a reason why it is called RPG. Because it takes most of the roles in a person and adds it to a game.

Of course, most RPG's have a lot of dialect and the stories or normally at least 20 hours long. But really, when they mean RPGs, they just don't mean "play as this character." It is really "BE this character" and with that, ALL that character's aspects.

Exactly.

You control every aspect of everything. Some RPGs make it so you're one person, or even a group of people. Final Fantasy is probably the most popular. You need to control EVERYTHING that you have in the game. Power, agility, magic, blade level, etc. Basic games like Splinter Cell you don't control all of that.

When in battle, everything that you have on that ONE character (or group of people) goes into play. Your level, your agility, magic stats, blade power, etc.

Most RPGs are very hard, and take a lot of time and effort.. and can sometimes be confusing. I like SOME RPGs, but not all. I was into the FF series for a little, then it kinda faded away.

apurityknot · 04-02-2005

FFXII is coming out this year. I haven't played a GREAT RPG since FFIX. FFX was great, but I didn't get into it that much. I hope they renew the franchise because I haven't played a good RPG in a while.