Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra
 
Where does lazyness factor into your decision to forego battles? by Jerry Whorebach 05/09/2014, 3:27pm PDT
Lurker 410942 wrote:

I really can't think of any RPG that has successfully made a turn based fight fun, so I'm not even gonna try.

I don't think RPG combat necessarily needs to be "fun" in and of itself as long as it's 1) thematic 2) not terribly annoying and 3) not the primary focus of your game. Perhaps the most extreme example would be Monkey Island's insult swordfighting, but most figurineless PnP systems seem to operate on the same principle. It's just another method of interacting with NPCs besides "Talk to" or "Use item on" (modern CRPGs still have the latter, right? ICJ's Shadowrun comments got me worried about the state of things), and probably the only one that's been effectively systemized. Systematized. You know what I mean.

Anyway, combat in RPGs like a stick of dynamite in your inventory. It constantly makes problem solving more interesting, not because it's always the best solution but because it means you always have to consider the possibility that it might be. Just like dynamite, though, combat is best when it's a highly effective but limited resource to spend - a game where everything has to be blown up can get almost as boring as one where nothing can be blown up except the one thing that's scripted to explode.

It also allows interactions (diplomatic, stealthy, or otherwise) to have a graduated fail state that, while mechanically punishing, is possibly even more emotionally satisfying than the ostensible win state. Combat is, like, the ultimate RPG element to supplement your adventure game.

Lurker 410942 wrote:

(completing every puzzle and the town will give you a super secret sex room at the very end. Just as much porn as we can manage, all related to the game somehow).

Awesome. This is how I always imagined the Pleasure Dome at the end of Total Carnage. Looking back on it as a cynical grown up, I doubt they actually made a Pleasure Dome, it was probably just a trick to scam quarters. This is your chance to right that wrong for tomorrow's children.
PREVIOUS NEXT REPLY QUOTE
 
Anyone wanna playtest? by Lurker 340924 01/08/2014, 10:35pm PST NEW
    I'm sorry I didn't see this before! by Ice Cream Jonsey 01/13/2014, 8:41pm PST NEW
        Tweeted, placed on main page side bar. Do you want your own sub forum? NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 01/13/2014, 8:51pm PST NEW
            Re: Tweeted, placed on main page side bar. Do you want your own sub forum? by Lurker 340924 01/13/2014, 10:45pm PST NEW
                What is the game called? NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 01/13/2014, 10:47pm PST NEW
                    Re: What is the game called? by Lurker 340924 01/13/2014, 11:35pm PST NEW
            Sidebar link is broken by Lurker 13243 01/14/2014, 2:29am PST NEW
                Fixed! NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 01/14/2014, 8:17am PST NEW
        Re: I'm sorry I didn't see this before! by Lurker 340924 01/13/2014, 10:45pm PST NEW
    Decided to forego battles entirely by Lurker 410942 05/07/2014, 5:26am PDT NEW
        Where does lazyness factor into your decision to forego battles? by Jerry Whorebach 05/09/2014, 3:27pm PDT NEW
            Me being lazy is probably the strongest reason by Lurker 340924 05/09/2014, 11:19pm PDT NEW
 
powered by pointy