If you have to choose between battle system and story…

[Dundee Slaytern]

Generally, one aspect of RPGs that define it from other game genres is the ability to have character advancement. In addition, there is supposed to be a immersive plot( or quest if you prefer) that is supposed to be the focus of your character's attention.

Also, the character must be customisable by the player, because this is about roleplay, so we want our character to be the way we want our character to be, be it be a sneaky one, a gung-ho one, or an intelligent one.

I would say a RPG succeeds if it can convince the player, however temporarily, that he/she is truly part of its' world.

[Gangrell]

And usually in RPG's you end up saving the world

[Imrahil]

Originally posted by Klutz: Imrahil: The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall [...] Unfortunately, it's also probably the buggiest game I've ever played (especially related to the 3-D graphics, movement, and combat), and the bugs simply were too much for me, so not only did I never finish it, I can't even say I got that far into it.

I don't think I ever got into it far enough to run into any major bugs (other than, IIRC, I was able to design some utterly devasting spells which took out most anything I encountered - I liked the "design-your-own-spell" idea but they needed some sadistic players like myself to test it before they released it [img]smile.gif[/img] )but still, I would guess the more recent Elder Scrolls games (Morrowind, I believe - never played it, just seen it) might suit your tastes.

Originally posted by Klutz: I'd prefer state-of the art immersive (or 3rd person / overhead) 3D graphics with richly detailed environments, good sound and voice-acting, etc... but I'll still play with pixelated low-res 2D (Wizardry, Bards Tale) or even text-based if the game is good enough. As long as the bugs are ironed out and the game and environment is presented clearly, either way is fine.

Ah... memories of Bard's Tale... I agree totally. I'd pick up Bard's Tale IV (heh - yes, I played I-III) today if they came out with one even if it were still the old "hit the Up arrow to advance one square" just 'cause that was a totally immersive story with great characters. Thinking back on that convinces me more than ever that Storyline (& I include character creation in this - although maybe, given the topic, we need to differentiate between Storyline / Battle System / Character Creation, rather than just the first 2), is the most important aspect of a game that will "hook" me.

A good example to bring up would be Pool of Radiance I vs. II. 'I' was one of the best games I've ever played, because it had a great storyline, a cool combat system (for the time), & D&D character generation (which is always a plus, unless it's 3rd [grade] Edition). 'II' had a dull story line, much improved graphics/inventory/NPC-interaction/scenery, plus an "advanced" (though I hated it) combat system, yet it loses by far in any area you care to name to BGI, BGII, PoRI, IWDI, ToB, poker, spades, Uno, Solitaire, watching paint dry, etc... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Which would seem to me to show that a storyline can hook you, but a horrible combat system can just as quickly un-hook you.

- Imrahil

[aj142]

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern: Generally, one aspect of RPGs that define it from other game genres is the ability to have character advancement. In addition, there is supposed to be a immersive plot( or quest if you prefer) that is supposed to be the focus of your character's attention. Also, the character must be customisable by the player, because this is about roleplay, so we want our character to be the way we want our character to be, be it be a sneaky one, a gung-ho one, or an intelligent one. I would say a RPG succeeds if it can convince the player, however temporarily, that he/she is truly part of its' world.

Very well put. I think that sums it up nicely and defines it the way I was looking for. Thanks.