What Are RPGs? Everything You Need to Know About Role-Playing Games
Role-playing games, or RPGs, are a common video game genre that's actually difficult to define clearly. There are many types of RPGs, including sub-genres, and some games use RPG elements without being RPGs themselves. Let's take a look at the RPG genre to better understand it.
Introduction
A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which you assume the role of a character or a group of characters in a fictional setting. You take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development.
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Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines. There are several forms of role-playing games. The original form, sometimes called the tabletop role-playing game (TRPG or TTRPG), is conducted through discussion, whereas in live action role-playing (LARP), players physically perform their characters' actions. In both of these forms, an arranger called a game master (GM) usually decides on the rules and setting to be used, while acting as the referee; each of the other players takes on the role of a single character.
Several varieties of RPG also exist in electronic media, such as multiplayer text-based Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs) and their graphics-based successors, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). Role-playing games also include single-player role-playing video games in which players control a character, or team of characters, who undertake quests and may include player capabilities that advance using statistical mechanics. These electronic games sometimes share settings and rules with tabletop RPGs, but emphasize character advancement more than collaborative storytelling.
RPGs are very popular because they offer players an immersive and rewarding experience. You can create your own character, explore a vast and rich world, engage in combat and dialogue, make choices that affect the story and the world, and collaborate with other players or NPCs (non-player characters). RPGs can also challenge your creativity, problem-solving, strategy, and social skills.
History
RPGs have a long and fascinating history that dates back to the ancient times. People have always enjoyed playing roles and telling stories, whether through theater, literature, or games. However, the modern RPG genre can be traced back to the 1970s, when tabletop wargames evolved into fantasy role-playing games.
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Tabletop RPGs
Tabletop RPGs have origins in wargaming, which has roots in ancient strategy games, particularly chess and its predecessor Chaturanga. From the late 18th century to the 19th century, chess variants evolved into modern wargames, most notably Kriegsspiel.
In the 20th century, wargames became more popular and diverse, especially after World War II. Some wargamers started to add fantasy elements to their games, inspired by works like J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. One of these wargames was Chainmail (1971), created by Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren. Chainmail included rules for medieval combat as well as fantasy creatures and magic.
Gygax later collaborated with Dave Arneson to create Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), which was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules Video Game RPGs
Video game RPGs are digital adaptations of tabletop RPGs, or games that are inspired by the RPG genre. They usually feature graphical interfaces, sound effects, music, and voice acting to create a more immersive experience. Video game RPGs can be played on various platforms, such as consoles, computers, handheld devices, or mobile phones. Some video game RPGs are also multiplayer, allowing players to cooperate or compete with each other online.
The earliest video game RPGs were created in the mid-to-late 1970s, as offshoots of early university mainframe text-based RPGs that were played on PDP-10, PLATO and Unix-based systems. These included m199h, created in 1974, [Note 1] Dungeon, written in 1975 or 1976, pedit5, created in 1975, [Note 2] and dnd, also from 1975.
The first video game RPGs for home systems were games like Temple of Apshai (1979) for the TRS-80 and Beneath Apple Manor (1978) for the Apple II. However, the genre really took off in the early 1980s with the release of Wizardry (1981) and Ultima (1981), two series that would influence many future RPGs. Wizardry was a dungeon crawler that featured a first-person perspective, turn-based combat, and a party system. Ultima was an open-world game that featured a top-down perspective, real-time combat, and a morality system.
Since then, video game RPGs have evolved and diversified into many subgenres and styles, such as action RPGs, tactical RPGs, roguelikes, JRPGs (Japanese role-playing games), WRPGs (Western role-playing games), MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games), and more. Some of the most influential and popular video game RPGs include Final Fantasy (1987-present), The Legend of Zelda (1986-present), Fallout (1997-present), The Elder Scrolls (1994-present), Mass Effect (2007-2017), The Witcher (2007-2015), Dark Souls (2011-2016), Persona (1996-present), Dragon Age (2009-present), and many more.
Features
While there is no definitive set of features that define an RPG, there are some common elements and mechanics that are often found in RPGs. These include:
Character creation and customization: Most RPGs allow players to create their own characters or choose from a set of predefined ones. Players can usually customize their characters' appearance, name, gender, race, class, skills, abilities, equipment, and sometimes personality or alignment.
Story and setting: Most RPGs have a rich and detailed story and setting that provide the context and motivation for the characters' actions. The story is usually driven by quests or missions that the player can accept or decline. The setting is usually a fictional world that can be based on historical periods, mythology, fantasy, science fiction, horror, or other genres.
Exploration and interaction: Most RPGs allow players to explore the game world freely or within certain boundaries. The game world can be divided into different regions or levels that have different environments, enemies, items, secrets, and events. Players can interact with the game world by examining objects, talking to NPCs, using items, solving puzzles, opening doors or chests, etc.
Combat: Most RPGs involve some form of combat between the player's character or party and hostile forces. Combat can be turn-based or real-time, and can involve different actions, such as attacking, defending, using items, casting spells, etc. Combat can be affected by various factors, such as character attributes, skills, equipment, status effects, terrain, etc.
Progression: Most RPGs feature a system of progression that allows the player's character or party to improve their abilities and performance over time. This can be done by gaining experience points (XP) from completing quests or defeating enemies, leveling up, learning new skills or spells, acquiring better equipment or items, etc.
Choices and consequences: Many RPGs feature a system of choices and consequences that allow the player to influence the outcome of the story and the game world. This can be done by making dialogue choices, moral decisions, faction alliances, romance options, etc. The choices can have short-term or long-term effects, and can lead to different endings or branches of the story.
Examples
There are many examples of RPGs across different platforms, genres, and styles. Here are some of the best and most popular RPGs of all time:
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is the most famous and influential tabletop RPG ever created. It is a fantasy game that uses dice, paper, and pen to create a collaborative storytelling experience. Players create their own characters and embark on adventures in a world of magic, monsters, and mystery. The game master (GM) acts as the narrator and referee, creating the story, setting, and challenges for the players. D&D has spawned many video game adaptations and spin-offs, such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Planescape: Torment, etc.
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is a series of video game RPGs that originated in Japan in 1987. It is one of the most successful and influential RPG series ever made. Each Final Fantasy game features a different story, setting, and characters, but they share some common elements, such as turn-based combat, magic systems, summons, chocobos, etc. Some of the most acclaimed Final Fantasy games include Final Fantasy VI (1994), Final Fantasy VII (1997), Final Fantasy X (2001), Final Fantasy XII (2006), etc.
The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls is a series of video game RPGs that started in 1994 with The Elder Scrolls: Arena. It is known for its open-world design, nonlinear gameplay, and rich lore. Players can create their own characters and explore a vast and detailed fantasy world at their own pace. They can also engage in combat, magic, stealth, crafting, trading, and more. Some of the most popular Elder Scrolls games include The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002), The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011), etc.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a series of video game RPGs based on the novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. It follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter known as a witcher. The games feature a dark and gritty fantasy world, where moral choices are not always clear-cut and have lasting consequences. The games also feature a complex combat system, a rich lore, and a dynamic weather system. The most acclaimed game in the series is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), which won multiple Game of the Year awards.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is a series of video game RPGs that started in 2007 with Mass Effect. It is a science fiction game that takes place in the 22nd century, where humanity has discovered a technology that allows them to travel faster than light and explore the galaxy. The player controls Commander Shepard, a human soldier who becomes involved in a galactic conflict against a race of synthetic-organic machines called the Reapers. The games feature a third-person shooter combat system, a dialogue system with branching choices, and a character customization system. The games also allow the player to romance various characters and form friendships with them.
Benefits
Playing RPGs can have many benefits for your skills and well-being. Here are some of them:
Creativity: RPGs can stimulate your imagination and creativity, as you create your own characters, stories, and worlds. You can also express yourself through your choices, actions, and interactions in the game.
Problem-solving: RPGs can challenge your problem-solving skills, as you face various obstacles, puzzles, enemies, and dilemmas in the game. You have to think strategically, tactically, and creatively to overcome them.
Social skills: RPGs can improve your social skills, as you communicate and cooperate with other players or NPCs in the game. You can also learn from their perspectives, opinions, and experiences.
Empathy: RPGs can enhance your empathy, as you empathize with your character and other characters in the game. You can also understand their emotions, motivations, and values.
Mental health: RPGs can boost your mental health, as you enjoy the fun and rewarding experience of playing them. You can also relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom by escaping into a fantasy world.
Conclusion
RPGs are a diverse and exciting genre of games that offer players an immersive and rewarding experience. They allow players to create and control their own characters in a fictional world, where they can explore, fight, interact, make choices, and progress. RPGs can also improve your skills and well-being, such as your creativity, problem-solving, social skills, empathy, and mental health. Whether you prefer tabletop RPGs or video game RPGs, there is an RPG for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Grab your dice, controller, or keyboard, and start your RPG adventure today!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about RPGs:
What is the difference between JRPGs and WRPGs?
JRPGs and WRPGs are two subgenres of video game RPGs that originated in Japan and the West, respectively. They have different styles and conventions, but they are not mutually exclusive. Some of the common differences are:
JRPGs tend to have more linear and predefined stories and characters, while WRPGs tend to have more open-ended and customizable stories and characters.
JRPGs tend to have more turn-based or action-based combat systems, while WRPGs tend to have more real-time or tactical combat systems.
JRPGs tend to have more anime-inspired graphics and aesthetics, while WRPGs tend to have more realistic or stylized graphics and aesthetics.
JRPGs tend to have more fantasy or sci-fi settings, while WRPGs tend to have more historical or modern settings.
What is the difference between RPGs and MMORPGs?
MMORPGs are a type of video game RPGs that are played online with a large number of players. They usually feature persistent worlds that continue to exist and change even when the player is offline. They also feature social aspects, such as chat, guilds, trade, etc. Some examples of MMORPGs are World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, etc.
What are some tips for playing RPGs?
Here are some tips for playing RPGs:
Choose a character that suits your playstyle and personality. You can also experiment with different classes, skills, and builds to find what works best for you.
Explore the game world as much as possible. You can find hidden secrets, items, quests, lore, etc. that can enhance your experience.
Pay attention to the story and the characters. You can learn more about the game world and its history, as well as make meaningful choices and relationships.
Save your game often. You never know when you might encounter a bug, a crash, or a difficult enemy.
Have fun. Don't worry too much about min-maxing, achievements, or completionism. Just enjoy the game at your own pace and style.
What are some resources for learning more about RPGs?
Here are some resources for learning more about RPGs:
[Wikipedia]: A free online encyclopedia that has articles on various topics related to RPGs.
[RPG.net]: A website that features news, reviews, forums, and articles on RPGs of all kinds.
[IGN]: A website that covers video games, including RPGs. It has news, reviews, guides, videos, etc.
[YouTube]: A video-sharing platform that has many channels and videos dedicated to RPGs.
What are some of the best RPG podcasts?
Here are some of the best RPG podcasts:
[The Adventure Zone]: A comedy podcast that features three brothers and their father playing various tabletop RPGs.
[Critical Role]: A podcast that features a group of voice actors playing Dungeons & Dragons.
[The Glass Cannon Podcast]: A podcast that features a group of friends playing Pathfinder.
[Not Another D&D Podcast]: A podcast that features a group of comedians playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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