WHAT'S IMPORTANT?

Well, this is a discussion you wouldn't see everyday. Although obviously incorrect, it's hard to say that anyone has been as up-front and dead to the point about it.

Sometimes I play an RPG, and I enjoy minimal cutscenes that explain the connection between one area of gameplay to the next. FFXII is the example here; pacing highly favored gameplay and the story scenes weren't very long.

Other times, I'll actually use a cheat device to breeze through the gameplay because I wanna watch the story. I haven't done it yet with the Xeno series, but I've been meaning to.

author=sabbath link=topic=1407.msg21780#msg21780 date=1214449309
1]What is the most important part of an rpg to you and why?
2] Are you a fan of pacing?
3] and finally FF7 or FF8?

1. The storyline is most important to me. If a games storyline is boring and doesn't interest me i will most likely not play anymore of that game regardless of whether the gameplay etc is awesome.

2. No i'm not.

3. I really don't know what this has to do with game design but FFVII.

I was actually thinking about why I play RPGs just a minute ago, and even though this topic is pretty lame...

1) To me, RPGs are about exploring a new world, the places and characters, and to some extent story, although I'll take character development over plot any day. I also have a "Hey watch the numbers go up" complex, like everyone here, and like a game where I can get pretty familiar with the numbers.

2) No, I really just hate the concept of how fast a game plays out.

3) Neither, I hate Final Fantasy.


Mind if I tack on a question?

How important is difficulty to you in an RPG?

Personally I don't really like RPG difficulty and prefer never to actually have to purposely fight just to level up. If I want a challenge I'll play Civ or a game that actually requires skill. RPG difficulty to me just means "Oh great, I need to level up more..." I'm not opposed to strategy and good gameplay, I just hate the concept of purposely leveling up and am almost never in the mood for it.

Actually in RPGs, there's no difference. If you can't beat an obstacle you can always just level up more. And if you're good enough to get past an obstacle without leveling up as much, you just get punished later when you aren't strong enough to, say, beat a boss.

Okay fine, I'm wrong. Maybe I only make the equation because, quite frankly, finding the best battle strategy in an RPG is usually easy as hell for me.

The question stands though. If I want to have to seriously think when I play a game, I'll play a strategy game, not an RPG. Very few RPGs make me happy to have to really plan out things when I play them.

Jabbo:

Most well-designed games allow you to experience a moderate, fun level of challenge if you DONT stop and grind up levels. So it's up to the player to help themselves have fun. It's your choice. I know people who purposely grind levels in easy games like that because fun for them = trouncing the shit out of the game.

FF6 and Chrono Trigger are fine examples. If you only fight who you absolutely have to fight, you'll be about exactly strong enough to beat the game without TOO much hassle. Yes, if you level up to 99 in New Game +++++ on chrono trigger it will be incredibly easy, but the thing is, again, that is your choice.

I dunno, it doesn't really seem like RPGs are for you in that case.

I don't think it's a bad topic, it's a very simple question with very different answers, perfect for a discussion. Can't please everyone, to be sure, but by learning what many of us, as gamers, look for in the games that we play, we open our minds to new aspects of our own game development.

I answered 1) above.

2) Pacing isn't a feature, it's a characteristic. That means, you don't choose whether or not to put pacing in your game, it's a part of all games. Now, people can have different opinions on pacing, which is probably the answer you're looking for. Some people like lots of, or long, cutscenes between gameplay sessions. Some like the scenes to be shorter, or more sporadic story sequences. I'd go as far as saying that there is an overall "bad" way to pace games, but it depends on what you're throwing at the player. Some people could just read good story for a long time and not worry about gameplay. I guess that's my answer; the more I enjoy a story, the less I mind (and more I enjoy) long cutscenes.

3) FF7

Jabbo's question) This could be a topic in and of itself. I'm still in the air about difficulty. I almost want to balance it such that bosses can be beaten first attempt without strategy if you're leveled enough, with strategy at a considerably lower level, while a victory would be unlikely on the first attempt if you have neither. Some good points were brought up...winning via strategy instead of grinding levels could make you increasingly under-leveled for bosses throughout the game. Where's the balance? Should strategy be forced to some degree? I like the idea of needing strategy, but I remember enjoying powering through a boss the first time through (like in FF7). I may play with rewarding the player with extra experience or other gifts for using strategy.

1) What is the most important part of an rpg to you and why?
The most important part of an RPG is the storyline and gameplay. I may be a graphics type of person but even the best games had the crappiest graphics (a blurred line for example).

2) Are you a fan of pacing?
of course, pacing is what keeps everything balanced.

3) and finally FF7 or FF8?
final fantasy VII.