An important question

[iggyus]

So I was reading the thread about Alpha Protocol and noticed how many people were talking about leveling up. So a question regarding RPGs and leveling up came into my mind: Is it necessary for an RPGs to have a leveling system at all? Shouldnt the focus in an RPG be on roleplaying instad of just the leveling up? In my opinion one can still call a game that focuses on roleplaying an RPG if it has no leveling. What are your opinions?

 

[NeutralDrow]

That'd be a pretty boring sort of game.

 

[darthzew]

Um... that would be what we call a third person action/adventure game if it's a western RPG. If it's a JRPG, then it's a turn-based strategy game.

 

[New Troll]

To help carry the game, there would need to be something other than just story to help progress the game and your character(s). Otherwise it's just an adventure game.

Doesn't neccesarily have to be levels though. They're just the easiest to incorporate and 'show'.

 

[RyQ_TMC]

Depends how specific you are when talking about "no leveling system at all". Do you mean no D&D style system with strictly defined class levels at XP tresholds, but some sort of a stat improvement system nevertheless? That would probably still qualify as an RPG in videogame terms (didn't "Dungeon Siege", an action RPG, do something like this?).

There are a few tabletop RPG systems with practically no numerical character advancement (Mongoose Traveler springs to mind), but if you included no advancement system in a videogame, then...

Um... that would be what we call a third person action/adventure game if it's a western RPG. If it's a JRPG, then it's a turn-based strategy game.

... this man speaks the truth.

 

[klakkat]

Yes, you can have an RPG that doesn't involve leveling up; such a thing would have to focus more on story, character interaction, and character development (in the literary sense). The problem is, most writers in the game industry are amateurs at best, and even if they were pros dealing with character development for a multitude of potential character types (since the PC could be anything) is a huge cluster fuck.

 

[dmase]

There are two things that are staples of RPGs collecting and leveling, forget story telling and character development. Thats why you play them because even after reaching the "cap level" in Oblivion I went to jail for years it seemed to reduce stats and make it so i could exceed that cap. why would I do this.... I still don't know.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

How about earning certain skills or attacks instead of just levels. Shen Mue was the best example of this. You learn specific techniques and then you can't level them up, to get stronger you HAVE to learn new ones. Cuts level grinding to shreds and ultimately requires more skill. Imagine how complicated tactics in an FF game would become if instead of level-grinding, sometimes you needed to know just how to use your skills in the most efficient manner to prevail?

 

[Pillypill]

I don't think LEVELING is nessicery. however , as in real life, people get better at things as time goes by and become more adept in their skills as they practise. ( like in rugby :]) or any sport for that matter). removing leveling could work but there would still need to be unlockable things e.g. a spell in an rpg thats really powerfull but requires you to already have several other certain spells.

 

[Pillypill]

P.s. I only read MAD MANIAC WITH AXE FIRING CHAINSAW's comment after writing mine (DOH!) And i agree with their opion.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Leveling doesn't matter at all. This is more of an issue of character progression, and "leveling" is a very simple, easy way to not only show how the character has progressed, but also give checkpoints on controlling character power vs environment.

Personally, I love the idea behind Fable, and how you play effects how you progress, and when you progress you get a little bit older. I always thought it was a fantastic variant to traditional leveling.

 

[suhlEap]

levelling up is a part of a roleplaying game. it's things like this that make it an RPG. without it it would just be an adventure game. technically any game is a roleplaying game, because no matter what you're playing, you are playing the role of something. but yes levelling is important in an RPG. it helps to make it what it is.

 

[Fat Hippo]

Well without the level up system you wouldn't be able to have stronger weapons or armor. And without that you'd wouldn't be able to finish the game.

Not really. Stalker was sort of a half-RPG where you just collected new equipment and artifacts instead of leveling, and it worked just fine.

 

[WorldCritic]

RPGsneed leveling up because without it it's not an RPG it's just a game with RPG elements.

 

[Spinozaad]

CRPG's are as much 'role' playing as every game with or without immersion. So for the genre levelling, or at least a similar system of developing skills, is a necessity.