Most important element that makes an RPG, an RPG?

Choices and Consequences - Being able to affect the outcome of the story and change the game world for better or worst. RPGs like Baldur's Gate, Fallout 1 and 2, Planescape: Torment.

Freedom and Exploration - Being able to explore as you will and screw up the game world by killing NPCs GTA style, and sometimes even killing off important characters related to the story. Its not smart but its fun. RPGs like The Elder Scrolls Series and Fallout 3.

Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character Progression - Standard features. All RPGs have them to an extend, Diablo games have nothing but them. :P

An Epic Story - Pretty much all games today have a story to tell but they are usually just excuses, or just very bland and unmoving. Unlike other genres, RPGs usually have high standards for story and background lore for good reason. Not exactly like the first option as this choice puts its own story over you making your own. RPGs like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, JRPGs in general focus on this.

Multiplayer - ( I needed a 5th option but stay with me, this is actually a good point. ) RPGs in video games have lost their way. The storres, the gameplay, the freedom, none of that matters. True RPGs, ones you play with pen, paper and imagination were good because you played with other people. It doesn't matter if your group were true role palyers getting lost in the campaign's story or hack and slash muchkins coming up with unconvincing backstories and abusing the rules to come up with the most powerful characters possible, working with and/or against other players is where the magic really was. RPGs like Neverwinter Nights, MMORPGs, MUDs and MUCKs.

If it is subjective I would personally say an Epic Story, any game I am locked into for 40-80+ hours needs to have something really pulling me in. That is the most important part to me.

I would say the leveling/stats/gear is what gives an RPG it's name though.

Hard to vote, since a great RPG needs all of the poll elements

If it is subjective I would personally say an Epic Story, any game I am locked into for 40-80+ hours needs to have something really pulling me in. That is the most important part to me.

I would say the leveling/stats/gear is what gives an RPG it's name though.

Mau-Justice

Levelling stats, gear collecting and character progression.

The lack of which causes outrages such as Oblivion, Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.

For an RPG to be an RPG it needs the following...

Boring quests
Stiff, terrible combat
Lackluster animations
Crazy original story (because you know, if it ain't original *cough* Uncharted *cough* than the story must suck)
Has to be incredibly open ended (because if a game is linear *cough* Uncharted *cough* than the game doesn't deserve GOTY or a lot of praise)
Needs to be set in space or a wasteland or during the age of sorcery and swords and magic
Needs to have funny looking guys with long white hair and a pony tail or a dude with cool glasses
Terrible navigation through menus
Needs to be on PC because PC automatically makes everything godly because consoles ruin everything

It has to have all of that and then some.

Roleplaying means to shape the character the way you want. To play a role that is not predefined, it's you that will shape the character. The way he fights (choosing his class, leveling, stats distribution, character progression) and his personality (choices and consequences, the way he reacts to the events)

So both of those are important for me.

The "being able to make your character, 'your' character" factor. The choice and consequences doesn't necessarily fall in this category. mrmusicman247

It does, it defines his personality.

For an RPG to be an RPG it needs the following...

Boring quests
Stiff, terrible combat
Lackluster animations
Crazy original story (because you know, if it ain't original *cough* Uncharted *cough* than the story must suck)
Has to be incredibly open ended (because if a game is linear *cough* Uncharted *cough* than the game doesn't deserve GOTY or a lot of praise)
Needs to be set in space or a wasteland or during the age of sorcery and swords and magic
Needs to have funny looking guys with long white hair and a pony tail or a dude with cool glasses
Terrible navigation through menus
Needs to be on PC because PC automatically makes everything godly because consoles ruin everything

It has to have all of that and then some.

contracts420

You do know this is solid proof that you have never played an RPG, right?

I voted for Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character ProgressionHeil68

I voted for Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character ProgressionHeil68

I really don't get this....No one buys rpgs for stats,gear and leveling. If you look at the most popular and influential rpgs, you'll see that greatest part of the game is the story, world, and characters. If you put Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character Progression in it's own game, no one would like it. It's a small part of rpg that we have to put up with ...not the most important part of rpgs.dreman999

World of Warcraft says

I voted for Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character ProgressionHeil68

[QUOTE="Heil68"]I voted for Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character Progressiondreman999

Freedom and exploration. Thats why RPG's like Mass Effect don't appeal to me. I would much rather play a RPG with a huge open world to explore (Elder Scrolls)

C&C. There's no point roleplaying a character differently if each time ends up being pretty much the exact same thing. And it has to be meaningful; none of this "pick two different choices in a conversation and the other guy's reply is identical" crap that pervades Mass Effect 1 & 2.

[QUOTE="dreman999"] I really don't get this....No one buys rpgs for stats,gear and leveling. If you look at the most popular and influential rpgs, you'll see that greatest part of the game is the story, world, and characters. If you put Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character Progression in it's own game, no one would like it. It's a small part of rpg that we have to put up with ...not the most important part of rpgs.Mograine

World of Warcraft says

Epic poll results, giving the middle finger to whoever disagrees lol.

[QUOTE="Mograine"]

[QUOTE="dreman999"] I really don't get this....No one buys rpgs for stats,gear and leveling. If you look at the most popular and influential rpgs, you'll see that greatest part of the game is the story, world, and characters. If you put Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character Progression in it's own game, no one would like it. It's a small part of rpg that we have to put up with ...not the most important part of rpgs.dreman999

World of Warcraft says

C&C. There's no point roleplaying a character differently if each time ends up being pretty much the exact same thing. And it has to be meaningful; none of this "pick two different choices in a conversation and the other guy's reply is identical" crap that pervades Mass Effect 1 & 2.

Barbariser

[QUOTE="Barbariser"]

C&C. There's no point roleplaying a character differently if each time ends up being pretty much the exact same thing. And it has to be meaningful; none of this "pick two different choices in a conversation and the other guy's reply is identical" crap that pervades Mass Effect 1 & 2.

dreman999

That's not quite the same. Making a morale decision is a weak form of roleplaying. You basically just called InFamous and GTA4 and Heavy Rain RPGs. The truth is that we play a role in most every game. In some of those games we get slightly deeper interaction than we do in others. The important aspect of an RPG that sets it apart from other genre isn't having control over the way your character behaves in a few choice scenarios; it's controlling who your character is and what they're made of. Its more about the role and less about the play.

Seriously what is up with the low amounts of votes for 'an epic story'?
That is from my perspective by far the most important aspect of a RPG, when there is no epic story then there is no fulfilling role to play.

[QUOTE="dreman999"]

[QUOTE="Mograine"]

World of Warcraft says

MrSelf-Destruct

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

That's not quite the same. Making a morale decision is a weak form of roleplaying. You basically just called InFamous and GTA4 and Heavy Rain RPGs. The truth is that we play a role in most every game. In some of those games we get slightly deeper interaction than we do in others. The important aspect of an RPG that sets it apart from other genre isn't having control over the way your character behaves in a few choice scenarios; it's controlling who your character is and what they're made of. Its more about the role and less about the play.

MrSelf-Destruct

Its starting to be really frustrating to try and define the main elements of a RPG, for a average gamer, because fact is developers have diluted the genre over the years to a point were there are over 13 damn defined sub-genres of RPGs.

[QUOTE="dreman999"][QUOTE="Heil68"]I voted for Leveling, stats, gear collecting and Character ProgressionMrSelf-Destruct

[QUOTE="MrSelf-Destruct"]

That's not quite the same. Making a morale decision is a weak form of roleplaying. You basically just called InFamous and GTA4 and Heavy Rain RPGs. The truth is that we play a role in most every game. In some of those games we get slightly deeper interaction than we do in others. The important aspect of an RPG that sets it apart from other genre isn't having control over the way your character behaves in a few choice scenarios; it's controlling who your character is and what they're made of. Its more about the role and less about the play.

Lucianu

Its starting to be really frustrating to try and define the main elements of a RPG, for a average gamer, because fact is developers have diluted the genre over the years to a point were there are over 13 damn defined sub-genres of RPGs.

The entire concept of genre is stupid IMO.

Games are different and when we try to define them we use stupid generalistic boxes called genre.
Sometimes a game is so good that it becomes a definition on itself, when this happens a new 'genre is born', I can guarantee you that there will be alot of copycats within a few years.

A good example of this is COD and WoW, these games have become a genre of it's own with tons of other games trying to imitate it.

[QUOTE="dreman999"][QUOTE="Barbariser"]

C&C. There's no point roleplaying a character differently if each time ends up being pretty much the exact same thing. And it has to be meaningful; none of this "pick two different choices in a conversation and the other guy's reply is identical" crap that pervades Mass Effect 1 & 2.

MrSelf-Destruct

That's not quite the same. Making a morale decision is a weak form of roleplaying. You basically just called InFamous and GTA4 and Heavy Rain RPGs. The truth is that we play a role in most every game. In some of those games we get slightly deeper interaction than we do in others. The important aspect of an RPG that sets it apart from other genre isn't having control over the way your character behaves in a few choice scenarios; it's controlling who your character is and what they're made of. Its more about the role and less about the play.

No it does not. This is it main complain for it. You are always force socially to get the best skills and gear for ****for what ever you are doing. If your doing rades, you get the best raid gear and powers. Quest, the best quest gear and powers. PVP..the same thing. So if your playing WOW, your going to find that everyone at your level in your ****is wearing the same thing. That not a good stat, gear, and leveling system. Here's a full explanation.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

dreman999

Jewelcrafting and reforging disagree with you.

Levelling stats, gear collecting and character progression.

The lack of which causes outrages such as Oblivion, Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.

Mograine

What... ?

[QUOTE="dreman999"]No it does not. This is it main complain for it. You are always force socially to get the best skills and gear for ****for what ever you are doing. If your doing rades, you get the best raid gear and powers. Quest, the best quest gear and powers. PVP..the same thing. So if your playing WOW, your going to find that everyone at your level in your ****is wearing the same thing. That not a good stat, gear, and leveling system. Here's a full explanation.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

Mograine

Jewelcrafting and reforging disagree with you.

[QUOTE="dreman999"]No it does not. This is it main complain for it. You are always force socially to get the best skills and gear for ****for what ever you are doing. If your doing rades, you get the best raid gear and powers. Quest, the best quest gear and powers. PVP..the same thing. So if your playing WOW, your going to find that everyone at your level in your ****is wearing the same thing. That not a good stat, gear, and leveling system. Here's a full explanation.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

Mograine

Jewelcrafting and reforging disagree with you.

You are missing his point. The gear may be different but the priorities are the same.

The difference between players in WoW is minimal. Everyone is basicly using same stat priorities, talent specs, gems, enchants and rotations.

This is true for every RPG but in WoW it's extreme compared to most others.

Stats, character progression, levelling, etc. The difference being that, if a game lacks this, it does not automatically make the game worse, it just makes it less of an RPG, which has no effect on the game's quality, just what sub category it fits into. If a game doesnt have an epic story, choice and consequence, freedom and exploration, it doesn't make it automatically not an RPG, but it does make the game worse than one that does, as long as the story/choice+consequence/freedom is done well.TheOtherTheoG

[QUOTE="MrSelf-Destruct"]

[QUOTE="dreman999"] WOW has a exploration and epic story.....And it's main draw is Multilayer not stats. The leveling part is just a ledge you have to climb to be able to play more. So WOW stand with me on my point.

dreman999

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

[QUOTE="dreman999"]

[QUOTE="MrSelf-Destruct"] Lol. No it doesn't. What makes WoW so addicting is the endless character customization and progressing from one level to the next; building your stats as you go any way you please. Its the exact reason why most WoW players have several different characters that they play and build completely differently and the same reason people will drop a top level character and start from scratch. The story and exploration are just there to give you something to do and keep you entertained while you get your grind on.

MrSelf-Destruct

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

[QUOTE="TheOtherTheoG"]Stats, character progression, levelling, etc. The difference being that, if a game lacks this, it does not automatically make the game worse, it just makes it less of an RPG, which has no effect on the game's quality, just what sub category it fits into. If a game doesnt have an epic story, choice and consequence, freedom and exploration, it doesn't make it automatically not an RPG, but it does make the game worse than one that does, as long as the story/choice+consequence/freedom is done well.dreman999

[QUOTE="MrSelf-Destruct"][QUOTE="dreman999"] No it does not. This is it main complain for it. You are always force socially to get the best skills and gear for ****for what ever you are doing. If your doing rades, you get the best raid gear and powers. Quest, the best quest gear and powers. PVP..the same thing. So if your playing WOW, your going to find that everyone at your level in your ****is wearing the same thing. That not a good stat, gear, and leveling system. Here's a full explanation.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2590-Choice-and-Conflict

Your better answer is Rift. Rift has endless customization of powers and gear and even that is based on multilayer.

dreman999