What makes RPGs good or bad?

Hi, I am a student currently working on my masters in Game Design at Full Sail University. For my thesis, I hope to create a list of guidelines for Role-playing games (RPG). Its purpose is to help game developers create better games by having a strong foundation. Im seeking feedback from players on what makes RPGs good or bad. If you're interested in helping me please click the link below and take my survey.

Guidelines for RPGs

In case the link does not work for you, you can copy and paste the following into you're address bar:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/rpg_guidelines

Maybe you should've specified that your area of focus is very specifically the type we tend to call the "WRPG." The survey has practically nothing to do with JRPGs.

I suppose the first and foremost things is to make sure that the player feels like they are part of the game world (immersion). If they don't feel connected to it then it does become rather difficult for the player to connect to both the other characters in the story but also the events. After that I suppose making sure controls aren't overtly difficult to execute in battle, IE if a battle takes place in real time then I don't want to have to do a full 360 circle + X, Tri, R2 just to initiate a combo or chain attacks together, unless of course the battle system is set up in which the participants respond by such things (IE X= char 1, O = Char 3 ect. ect.)

That's all I really got at the moment.

Im seeking feedback from players on what makes RPGs good or bad.elanor

I was filling out your survey and I don't wish to complete it. Your questions aren't detailed enough. I feel like in a lot of cases I'm forced to agree with your opinion. Also there are many questions that are unnecessary. Who is going to say it's not important for the controls to respond properly? Or say it's not important for the camera to hinder/obstruct gameplay?

I'm not saying it isn't good that you're doing this but the survey should be cleaned up. If it's changed I'll be sure to do it. I would also consider using a survey with a Likert Scale.

A brief example of my restriction to answering the questions. There are many good questions but also many many that should be consolidated or elaborated/broken into multiple questions.

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23. AI companions should be easy to command quickly during battle

Good AI shouldn't need to be commanded.

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25. Waypoints and mission description should update properly as the player completes certain requirements for the quests

While I believe mission descriptions should update properly, I don't believe good RPGs should have waypoints.

The bottom line is that "elanor" comes across as not being particularly knowledgable of RPGs in the first place, which makes me question how s/he is currently going for a masters. The survey itself is indicative of only a cursory comprehension of the genre.

A great story needs a great presentation in order to work. Gameplay, rarely has anything to do with that. Assassin Creed had a great gameplay, but a crappy story, therefor it was unbearable.

Good RPG has 5 things in common 1. Great Story 2. Great Story 3. Great Story 4. Great Story 5. Great Storynorthloging

That and the battle system

Well it's as well that this post probably comes 8 years after you asked the question, even what I am going to say really wouldn't help you get a good grade on that thesis of yours, not if the teacher is like most gamers...Even then I walk the paths least travelled in terms of preferences, I have very basic but essential guidelines. You see, I was raised on the dairy of RPGs and have played many games, so I am not so easily impressed by hype, platform specs, eye-candy, dubious publisher/developer names and in some cases reviews by industry critics. More often than not I buy a game AFTER reading and recognizing that it had been railed on by 'pro' critics often because they mentioned elements they didn't like which I knew would be winners. So even if I was to spout my views in specifics I would be better off to say that it is different for different people, and how!

The main components are a well told story, interesting characters, actual character developement, fun gameplay and challenging yet rewarding moments. Everything thats not that is usually lackluster. Even a mediocre story can be made great if the presentation and the way its just told is good.

Oh, you missunderstand, I never said they were bad, I love the Mass Effect series but I also believe that they are Hybrids of 2 genres, RPG and 3rd Person shooter.

A good game, especially an RPG, captivates the player, immerses them in the world's atmosphere... makes one lose the notion of real world time when you play it.

For that tho happen, these are a must:

1. CONCEPT

- multi-choice, non-linear story/stories = Replayability

- complex characters with deep personalities (options for persuade, romance, influence system, allies etc.) = again Replayability

- detailed character creation/customization (avoid gender locks!) = Replayability

- logical, practical classes/skill trees

- open world, yes, as long as its 'openness' makes sense and doesn't get tiresome

- full voice acting, main char included

2. GAMEPLAY

- easy, intuititve controls

- customizable, non-shifting camera (some prefer 3D, others isometric etc.)

- logical difficulty levels

- good map, detailing quest objectives

- pleasant interface

- grinding should not be a chore; instead, a real challenge in order to obtain a level for a quest, or a title...

- avoid inventory junk...

3. OTHER

- up-to-date graphics which don't torment the eye with "spectacular effects"; keep things simple, yet beautiful...

- nice soundtrack, music

- optional crafting

- minigames

- help/manual/tips/tutorials

Good luck in making great RPG games!