tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352155589322140093.post7107706107080053533..comments2015-08-13T13:23:23.270-04:00Comments on That's a Terrible Idea: TF2 and the Meaning of 'RPG'motstandethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296441082624422375noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352155589322140093.post-68041704853128154052009-08-14T12:32:58.323-04:002009-08-14T12:32:58.323-04:00Melf, now you've got me thinking of bad FFX-2 ...Melf, now you've got me thinking of bad FFX-2 jokes. "Make up", get it?<br /><br />*headdesk*<br /><br />That aside, you're right, that does tend to be a significant part of these games as they are typically played. There really isn't much question of whether or not you'll steamroll through the vast majority of combat if you're prepared correctly. There's not much risk in most modern RPG combat, for better or worse, and not much chance to make tactical decisions mid-combat to compensate for poor preparation. You just put in your time, grow that Materia, earn your XP and gold, and move on to the next story cutscene.<br /><br />That is a bit disappointing in that I like tactical decisions, but at the same time, if I want a challenging tactically interesting "RPG", I'll punish myself with Fire Emblem for a while.Teshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760350503235227686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352155589322140093.post-82959637467361000082009-08-14T01:54:01.999-04:002009-08-14T01:54:01.999-04:00An RPG is where you win the fight before it starte...An RPG is where you win the fight before it started because of your character/party make-up.Melf_Himselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09989146159619414666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352155589322140093.post-52093953604633532302009-08-13T16:21:54.847-04:002009-08-13T16:21:54.847-04:00I think some of them are. The "sardines and ...I think some of them are. The "sardines and ice cream" ones don't do much for me, though.Teshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760350503235227686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352155589322140093.post-40343007905733414612009-08-13T14:54:37.522-04:002009-08-13T14:54:37.522-04:00Perhaps an RPG is greater than the sum of its part...Perhaps an RPG is greater than the sum of its parts.motstandethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296441082624422375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352155589322140093.post-79193659445006029612009-08-13T14:50:20.145-04:002009-08-13T14:50:20.145-04:00Looking at FFVII as an example, I think of it in &...Looking at FFVII as an example, I think of it in "peanut butter and chocolate" terms, where I can and do precisely define its components, but the final product might be different based on how those components are stirred into the recipe. <br /><br />In FFVII, neither the combat nor the story are very impressive alone, and the progression treadmill and customization (Materia swapping and growth) aren't anything all that deep, but taken together, they are pretty tasty. (Peanut butter alone and cheap American chocolate aren't anything special, but together, they can be pretty good.)<br /><br />As such, the way the "RPG" term has grown to incorporate diverse elements (a progression metric, customization, story, classes or freeform character control, combat, tactics, etc.) that don't necessarily equate to "role playing" is a bit of a Reese's Snowball in my mind. It's picked up some cruft here and there, but for the most part, "RPG" covers a whole mishmash of elements. Like any good sundae bar at a buffet, you can make a great dessert by mixing and matching elements, and there is enough variety for people to make their own specialty recipes.<br /><br />Of course, that does mean that "RPG" doesn't mean all that much when you get down to using it as a specific term, but I can live with that when there are as many tasty flavors as there are.Teshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760350503235227686noreply@blogger.com