RPG Video GAMESAn introduction to

We played them with dice and spreadsheets before video games. These games are still like big spreadsheets...

What Makes it an RPG Game?

A game with most of the following features I'd call an RPG:

● You can create your character looks and choose abilities.

● Your can pick a class or role which determines your abilities.

● You select some abilities during creation, and various abilities as you progress.

● Your maximum health is increased as your levels and skills increase

● Your defenses are increased by selected abilities, equipment, or items.

The stats and attributes we describe that make up an RPG game could be laid out on a spreadsheet. They are numbers which affect other numbers.

RPG Games are Realistic often in unrealistic ways.

(Bomb shaped cereal -a healing item in "Fallout 3")

They take place in worlds that can be very different from ours.

Mimicking our mythology, laws of physics, and social settings to make the game worlds feel just as real.

There's a huge inventory of fictional items. Ranging from common to rare; and magical.Items often come with effects or skill boosts.

Attribute points are usually controlled by you, assigning points to the attribute of choice as you level up.

You get some points to spend when you create, and 1 point every couple of levels. In some games, every level.

Although theres a trend in newer games where you don't get assign attributes, they only go up based on level and equipment.

Strength

IntelligenceWisdom

Endurance

Dexterity

Attribute Points

Common Attributes

You don't find this too often anymore. It's sometimes called Agility or Perception. And it increases hand-to-eye coordination, balance, and accuracy. For long range damage it can increase both accuracy and damage. In d&d it also increases your defence. When called agility it usually increases your dodge chance and speed.

Strength

Endurance

Dexterity

You'll find this in most RPG games, often called Stamina or constitution, if not just health. It increases your healthpoints (HP), and defense, the amount of punishment you can take before losing health. Although not as much as your armor.

The most common attribute you'll find in an RPG. Good for anyone who deals damage with melee weapons (swords, etc.) as it increases damage. Also helps increase carrying capacity and many skills (climb, swim, jump.)

Intelligence

Wisdom

Charisma

Useful for spellcasters as it usually increases the damage output of spells. Can also increase the rate of of skill points. And the ability to solve or learn new things.

You usually find this in games where there are several types of casters; wisdom is for the spellcasters who don't use wands or scrolls. It measures how many spells you can learn. In other words how many things you know.. Magic might require either Wis or Int depending on the game.

Your people skills, communication, and it can also be said to measure how good your character looks. It can be used for both intimidation and persuasion. And helps increase Barter (getting stuff cheaper); and talking your way through stuff.

Some Other Attributes You Might Come Across:

Luck - Increases your chance of critical hits (does double damage or more) and dodging things.Stamina (see Constitution). Agility - Often does the same as Dexterity, but could be a standalone attribute controlling your attack speed and dodge.

When I start a new RPG one of the first things I do is read through the attributes. It will usually have a description for each one. If I get to check out some skills, feats, magic, etc. I'll do that, and then decide on what type of character to make.

Each character class usually has strengths and weaknesses, and at least one attribute that is critical to the build. And several skills.

I don't want to put all my points in strength if I'm making a spellcaster for example.

There's armor and items for each class as well. Light armor might come with more bonuses for spellcaster or rogue classes while heavy armor for the tanks, warrior, or defenders.

Building a Character

In many games the attributes control how powerful the skills are. One point in an attribute can increase a skill by several points. Thus skills usually go higher than the attributes, often to 100 and more. You might get several points to spend each level, or they could increase based on how much you use them (a trend in newer games).

Controls how much damage you deal with one handed melee weapons (swords, knives, clubs, etc.), while you can also hold a shield (or another sword, or item) in the other hand. Can also increase attack speed in some games.

One-Handed Attack - Str, Dex, or Agi

Two-Handed Attack - Str, Dex, or AgiDamage output with big melee weapons.

Speech, Diplomacy, Barter - Charisma

When possible you can talk your way out of a fight, or find out something special in the storyline through dialogue. Also helps your money when buying and selling items

This slide was brought to you by Nicko Gibson who writes Tubeblogger.net .