[MUD-Dev] What is an RPG? [Was: Playing catch-up with levels]

[Sean Middleditch]

On Sun, 2004-05-02 at 03:38, Threshold RPG wrote:
> On 28 Apr 2004, at 14:18, Sean Howard wrote:

>> Why not dump the whole level thing altogether? Every character is
>> equal from the time they start to the time they quit.

> It isn't really an RPG at this point, is it? Now you've got an
> First Person Shooter- possibly modifier to third person or to
> swords/spells isntead of guns.

Doom was an RPG.  You played the role of a space marine trapped in a
deserted base over-run by demons.  It was very, very easy to play
that role too, I might note.  ;-)

I will admit that "RPG" to most people usually means "ability
improvement," among several other things, and quite often has very
little emphasis on actual role playing.  Most console "RPGs" have
about as much role playing as Doom did.  Any character development
or interaction that occurs does so only in pre-scripted fashions,
with no opportunity for the player to actually play the role.

RPG in itself is a fairly useless term to attach to most games these
days, as it doesn't tell you anything about the actual game.  Some
have character improvement, some just have better equipment, some
allow you to define the role you play, some give you pre-built
roles, some allow you to play the roles, others just have you solve
puzzles and fight while the role is played out for you, etc.

To be honest, a true role playing game have absolutely no ability
development at all, or even any measurable abilities _to_ improve.
A lot of interactive fiction (See the newly released book "Twisty
Little Passages" for more information on IF) falls into this
category.

--
Sean Middleditch <elanthis at awesomeplay.com>
AwesomePlay Productions, Inc.
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