THE RPG CHECKLIST

The token old fogy (has to be at least 25).

The earnest/clueless female lead MUST BE one or more of the following:

-A staff wielder
-A white mage
-A Princess
-The last surviving member of an ancient race

and do not forget

12. The spunky child

- A weathered war veteran who for some reason doesn't foresee a climactic event (at which point his oversight is caught/corrected by an inexperienced youth).
- One sword-wielding hero that manages to fight off hundreds of heavily armed (possibly gun-toting) enemies, all without sustaining any real injuries.
- All save points before boss battles will be accompanied by a magical spring that can heal all wounds.
- Technology is evil unless your name is Cid (not always applicable).

author=LockeZ
Uh, 25 is not an old fogy, at least not unless everyone else is less than 7 years old. To be an old fogy you have to be old, and a fogy. Not... just gotten married and working on your master's degree while you struggle in your first real job.

In fact, I think the fact that heroes below the age of 25 are even acceptable, much less the standard, should be... oh, it's already on this list. Okay then!

Anyway, this is a pretty good list! You will receive your first sword from your grandpa, hahahaha. Yes. Always.

holy crap did you miss the point.

25 is an old fogey





by cliche RPG standards

edit: thank you for linking the list I was thinking of so I didn't have to look for it

edit edit: amusing side conversation spawned from this:
'if you're 25 you'll die of old age before the end of the game'
'nobody wants to see wrinkly old 30 year olds getting it on'

- The guy who you think will be the final villain is always controlled/killed by a more evil villain who won't reveal their true nature until at least 50% of the way through the game (usually known as the "Final Fantasy rule.")

- The main character always has a shadowy past that is never touched upon until late in the game when they learn that their parent(s) was/were important, that they are the chosen one, or that they aren't human.

Villainous men must be long-haired and prettier than the clueless/earnest female lead look fairly effeminate.

-The villain will have a right-hand man or woman who is either a) stunningly incompetent and will always fail to kill you b) ruthlessly competent and somehow still fail to kill you.

-There will be a castle/city/something on a flying island. This island will invariably be destroyed over the course of the game.

-Someone in your party is working for the enemy and will eventually stab you in the back. Always. They will usually still be in your party at the end of the game in spite of this betrayal.

-There will be ninja even if this game takes place in a universe where ninja are implausible or do not fit into the setting.

-All disputes are settled with violence. Diplomats are useless. Treaties are meaningless and anyone offering to sign one is setting a trap. All conflicts are resolved by one side being wiped out entirely. Your party will usually be the one to resolve these disputes with violence, even though at least one party member will constantly be talking about how they want everyone to be at peace.

-Must have a Monty Python quote and/or reference.

-Melee weapons must be better than ranged weapons.

author=kentona
If you are making an RPG, the following items are a checklist of requirements you must meet:

1. Spikey-haired protagonist
2. Earnest/clueless female lead
3. Amnesia a key plot point
4. Events foretold by prophecy
5. Random battles
6. Orphaned party members
7. Airship travel
8. Underage hearoes
9. Technology is evil

and...?

this checklist helped me notice i have very little of these cliches.

My female lead is actually intelligent and level headed.
All the main characters are over 21, no Amnesia, no prophecy, no spikey all medium or long, or in the case of one of the black protagonists he is bald(in his youth)
Nobody is an orphan( i think one may be i havent really decided yet)
Technology is not evil by design.
There shall be random battles and an airship but i think that is it.

~ MUST have a scantily clad party member, either female, male, or both. No complaints.
~ Village MUST be burned, no exceptions. Family either slain or imprisoned. Either one works.
~ Revenge can either be a subtle or in-your-face call to adventure.
~ The old, wizened mentor MUST die for the sake of hero/heroine emotional progress.
~ If WRPG, allow your character to be an indecisive, inconsistent paragon of virtue or heartless bastard. Take your pick.