RYAREISENDER'S PROFILE

Romancing Saga? Only released in Japan and has completely random growth.

Yeah, that game is quite western, despite being released in Japan only. If you ever read an interview with Kawazu? He even says himself that his games are inspired by western RPGs, mainly Dungeons and Dragons.

Why put a limit on something because of where it comes from?

You don't put a limit, you just find a term to describe a certain phenomenon. You are always free to create your own genre. It's really like with music. If you want to make music you aren't limited to the big genres like rock and metal. Maybe you want to combine two and mix in some of your own ideas, you can do that. Often it creates a new name for a genre (like nu metal).

We've established that we don't want to limit ourselves to what you are suggesting.

None of the suggestions so far include anything that isn't covered by what I said. I consider all of this as "getting stronger" no matter how you combine the effects.


In that regard what I like it if for example weapon types or elements are put into stats and they all have the weapon or element typical effects.

But what's even cooler is if different weapon types or elements are converted into stats and each weapon or element is reflected by 2-3 stats. However all the stats are used by different weapons and elements (balanced so that each stat is equally useful). For example if you use a bow you need strength, dexterity and agility whereas if you use a knuckle you need strength, willpower and vitality. If you cast a light spell you might need intelligence and willpower, but a water spell might depend on intelligence and vitality.

As for free stat distribution I can't imagine any system betters than the one used in Ragnarok Online (pre-renewal):
STR - more melee damage, can carry more
AGI - attack speed, evasions
VIT - MaxHP, defense, status change resistance (though some status changes can be reduced by STR, AGI or INT instead)
INT - MaxSP and more magic damage
DEX - More ranged damage, higher accuracy, slightly increases attack speed
LUK - Criticals hits, lucky dodge (dodging that can't be reduce by high accuracy)

That system is really clever because no matter what class you imagine it needs a bit of each stat and it allows you so many different builds like do you want to have a bit less damage but attack double as fast and rely on dodging for defense or you do you want to attack slow with high damage but get some vitality to reduce damage and be immune to status changes?
I tried to design different stat system with either more or less stats, but none of them worked out quite as well.

Well my point was that if the game is linear and has fixed character growth (like in most JRPGs) it would suck if you needed certain stats to do some things, because you really just want to do everything on the first playthrough. I put it in constrast to open world RPGs with free character customization where such a thing makes actual sense.

author=Link_2112

author=RyaReisender
For your normal JRPG stats should only make you stronger.

Nope. If that were true this topic wouldn't exist.

Just because people talk about it doesn't mean it's a good idea.

For your normal JRPG stats should only make you stronger. To make them matter more I'd simple change the algorithm of their effect, so that for example just 1 point higher already means 50% stronger.

For open world RPGs that allow free characters builds, it makes sense to make it more DnD style. Like if you have enough Strength you can break stuff like weak doors. If you have Intelligence, you will notice important hints in books. If your awareness is high, you will find secret doors. If your dexterity is good you can unlock stuff and disarm traps. Agile character can jump over cliffs. And only people who learned swimming can swim. And so on.

I liked in Ys games that they only play in a small part of the world but you still end up saving the whole world in some games.