Which aspect should RPG developers devote the most time to?

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by Kolominas

I believe this is a strange question: all but few RPG's build upon a strong story-line. Everything else is recommended though not necessary.

I ask you: name one good/popular* RPG that has a weak or boring story.

I know of a few which fall in this particular category:

- Neverwinter Nights
- KOTOR 2
- Gothic 3
- Gods: Lands of Infinity

[mr_sir]

Originally Posted by DesR85

I know of a few which fall in this particular category:

- Neverwinter Nights
- KOTOR 2
- Gothic 3
- Gods: Lands of Infinity

That's a matter of opinion though. I quite liked the story for Neverwinter Nights, especially its expansions, and the only reason KOTOR2 had problems with it is because of all the cut content. If the game was released how it was supposed to be then the story would have been a lot better.

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by mr_sir

That's a matter of opinion though. I quite liked the story for Neverwinter Nights, especially its expansions, and the only reason KOTOR2 had problems with it is because of all the cut content. If the game was released how it was supposed to be then the story would have been a lot better.

Yes, that was my opinion regarding the above games. The reason why I listed Neverwinter Nights was because the first time I saw the introduction of this game, I was instantly put off by how boring the narrator is and how the narration was written (the story didn't strike me as interesting either, to be honest). The same can be said of Gods: Lands of Infinity.

As for KOTOR 2, yes, I agree that it is due to the cut content but I also wasn't satisfied with the story in that game either. The story drags on until you reached the end of Telos. From there, things get much better but when you re-unite all the Jedi Masters, they want to strip you of your power! And I was thinking, "I risked my life and the lives of my men to rescue you guys and this is the thanks I get?!" What a bunch of ungrateful ingrates! I would have just killed them rather than saved them if that is the outcome.

[De_Priester]

I went with npc's/companions, I don't think this is the most important thing for an rpg but I do believe it's the most forgotten aspect. Now developing a story seems easy enough for most developers (it might be a bit cheesy or predictable at times but sometimes they manage a nice twist). Character development, well keeping the rulebook in check seems to be easy enough. I think that npc's and companion interaction should be something to think about. The first game since the BDG series to get it right was Neverwinter Nights2.

I don't think it's the most important part but I do believe most people forgot this little bit of detail. Let's face it, rpg addicts like nearly everyone on this bord will look into every tiny aspect of the game. If you have a robot companion it will become fairly boring. What makes a good game excellent is when developers put effort in every small detail, as such I think companions needs mentioning because people tend to forget.

[De_Priester]

Originally Posted by dragon wench

Uhm.... Where to begin?

*Neverwinter Nights
*Fable
*Oblivion (by many accounts, at least)


And that is just for starters.....

Agreed, they only got marks for being eye candy... not to mention the forced dialogue in nwn YUK. Oblivion.... yes shut down the gate please, o no baddies, slash slash uhuh great game. And Fable? Run, kill slash, not much of a story but fun 2 play.

[Soontir Fel]

There can be an option like "to reunite Blackisle".

[Darth Chef]

Originally Posted by Kolominas

I believe this is a strange question: all but few RPG's build upon a strong story-line. Everything else is recommended though not necessary.

I ask you: name one good/popular* RPG that has a weak or boring story.


*I do not suggest that popular means good and vise versa.

KOTOR 2, enough said. on my pick, I went with Character development although I already think I should have story line.

[Siberys]

Hehe, we have some smart people who voted. Not one vote for Sound/Music or Graphics/Environment, like it should have been since we were able to create 3D games.

[De_Priester]

Originally Posted by Siberys

Hehe, we have some smart people who voted. Not one vote for Sound/Music or Graphics/Environment, like it should have been since we were able to create 3D games.

BDG2, not the most beautiful of games but it's still my favourite :-) graphics and sound aren't everything. But to be honest nice voices are a plus ;-)

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by De_Priester

BDG2, not the most beautiful of games but it's still my favourite :-) graphics and sound aren't everything. But to be honest nice voices are a plus ;-)

Even good music is a plus, it adds atmosphere. The same can be said for graphics and the like.
The problem, IMO, is that these days most game developers let things like graphics and sound substitute for a well written, imaginative and well developed story. That's fine for an FPS game where the entire purpose is to run around killing things, but I feel a RPG *must have* a good story and dialogue to even be classified as a RPG. Without that, it's not a RPG, it's an action game that allows players the ability to create their own character, and that's all it is.

[Siberys]

Even good music is a plus, it adds atmosphere. The same can be said for graphics and the like.
The problem, IMO, is that these days most game developers let things like graphics and sound substitute for a well written, imaginative and well developed story. That's fine for an FPS game where the entire purpose is to run around killing things, but I feel a RPG *must have* a good story and dialogue to even be classified as a RPG. Without that, it's not a RPG, it's an action game that allows players the ability to create their own character, and that's all it is.

Indeed. Currently, my only real expectations for graphics depending on the type of RPG it is, is enough detail and lighting to be able to tell where I'm going. So basically if Elder Scrolls Five would be made with say morrowind graphics, I'd be happy. It's easy to do for them considering when ES:5 would even be announced, plus it gives them plenty of time to concentrate on story elements.

As for say a birds eye view, I'm good with Sacred Gold graphics. It's basically just a little less pixellated diablo 2 in terms of scenary, and it works just fine. But meh, I guess the average folk will want to see a computer generated tree more than they would a plot that wasn't horribly cliche.

[Gilliatt]

I also went with the story. It is the most important apsect to me, nothing comes even close to it. But I prefer when the focus is put on the game itself and not on the background. I don't really enjoy reading hundred of tomes of background when they are not directly related to the game. Yes, it adds to the depth of the story, but when I want to play a PC game, it is to play a game, not to read a novel.

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by Gilliatt

I also went with the story. It is the most important apsect to me, nothing comes even close to it. But I prefer when the focus is put on the game itself and not on the background. I don't really enjoy reading hundred of tomes of background when they are not directly related to the game. Yes, it adds to the depth of the story, but when I want to play a PC game, it is to play a game, not to read a novel.

I wholly agree with you. I don't particularly to sift through every piece of pointless text just to get to the important part of the story. Not to mention that the conversation (be it text or voiced) in most RPGs tend to be filled with lots of pointless sentences and those that are straight to the point are found somewhere further into the conversation. A game is a game. Not a book or novel.

[Mace Panda Poo]

Originally Posted by mr_sir

the only reason KOTOR2 had problems with it is because of all the cut content. If the game was released how it was supposed to be then the story would have been a lot better.

What does that have to do with anything? The game had a weak story line, but it was still a great game that i love.

I voted for story/dialogue.

[frost01]

Its very amusing that so many people say that the story line is the most important part of an rpg, and i agree 100%, but most rpgs have very little emphasis on story line! and most developers do not put in a conserted effort in to making a storyline, eg oblivion, fable, morrowind, dungeon siege. I think a good game would put most of its emphasis into two elements, that of the game mechanics (combat system and character development) and storyline (story/dialogue and henchmen/npcs). having said that, so far i have seen games who at least master one aspect, eg neverwinter nights had an awesome storyline, diablo 2 had awesome character developement, and revenant had a great combat system.