Warning: The content of this post only refers to my opinion. What has happened to the original RPG? What I mean by original is a RPG that is different from others. This may mean it takes some ideas from other RPGs, but all in all it gives off an original idea. I am not talking about re-inventing the wheel. I am talking about just making it a different type of wheel. This differs from just making the wheel faster or slower. I have looked at countless RPG ideas on this forum and 1.3 percent of them are original. The most common non-original RPG is the semi-clone. Semi-clone: This RPG has some elements of being original, but one of the major foundations of the RPG is a clone from another. For an example: making a RPG that takes place in medieval era. This may seem like to broad of an example to call a clone, but take a look at the facts. How many RPGs are out there take place in the medieval era? Also when they do this they use the same layout, but just change the story. For an example: making a game about a Wizard that finds out that only he has some innate powers that are needed to save the world. What I am asking is not to hurt your pride in making these types of games. It is to challenge you to make something different. This post is open for complete discussion.[Edited by - Natrone19 on September 14, 2006 7:28:20 PM]

Why do people complain about these things in the first place? No offence to you of course, but words happen to be words. I could call it a MRPG (Medieval-Role-Playing-Game) and that might suite you better? I think what your on about is originality in games, which isn't strictly limited to RPG games. You can't dislike a game for beeing "another medieval game". Gameplay varies greatly from game to game. I too dislike not beeing original, but I don't base it on the era that its in, I base originality on the gameplay and execution.

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Original post by Natrone19 For an example: making a RPG that takes place in medieval era. This may seem like to broad of an example to call a clone, but take a look at the facts. How many RPGs are out there take place in the medieval era?

Almost none. Darklands is the only one I can think of. Many take place in a faux-medieval fantasy world, but there are very very few true medieval RPGs. It's really a fascinating and diverse era, spanning about 1000 years and at least one continent, containing very different societies and governments. Game-wise, this is all almost entirely unexplored! Is there a single RPG based on the Crusades? It's overflowing with unused gameplay possibilities, even if you ignore the mythology that has arisen around the military orders like the Knights Templar.

I know a lot of people think "swords + armor = medieval", but that's silly. What you really mean is that Tolkienesque fantasy RPGs have been done to death. Maybe. But even within that setting, there's plenty of room for new innovation and originality, not to mention commercial success (see Oblivion). I tend to agree with your overall point, I think. Another clone of Diablo 2 with a few added features is not a very interesting project.

Don't complain about it, make it. I'm working on a medieval RPG with a character who has hidden power that only he and his -now deceased- parents believe in. Original basis? No. Original gameplay? Expect it. Recycling a good idea is not a bad thing, just as long as the revision brings something new to the table.

I agree that most games are clones or semi-clones on here, but I think that is a really good idea for most of the people out here. A lot of them are still working on their first game and cloning a game will help them skip a lot of the game design stuff and actually finish the game whereas coming up with an original a good amount more time.

I also tend to agree that people need to make more unique games, but then why go off the beaten path when it is proven to work? Also, remember that unique game doesn't make a good game. Take Tron 2.0 for example, that game has a pretty unique storyline and pretty unique gameplay and it was pretty horrible.

Might I ask why you're out here complaining about this and not out making one yourself?[wink]

Also, have you checked out Morning's Wrath? It's pretty unique in my opinion.

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Original post by Programmer16 I agree that most games are clones or semi-clones on here, but I think that is a really good idea for most of the people out here. A lot of them are still working on their first game and cloning a game will help them skip a lot of the game design stuff and actually finish the game whereas coming up with an original a good amount more time. I also tend to agree that people need to make more unique games, but then why go off the beaten path when it is proven to work? Also, remember that unique game doesn't make a good game. Take Tron 2.0 for example, that game has a pretty unique storyline and pretty unique game play and it was pretty horrible. Also, have you checked out Morning's Wrath? It's pretty unique in my opinion Programmer16, .

I am not saying it is not a good idea to make a semi-clone to gain experience to make your own ideas. I believe that is a great place to start, but people have taken a mind set as a side effect of this method. Some people tend to use that method like a dirty habit; making more games (after they have gained adequate experience) and just improving on parts they changed before.

I am not saying that if a game is original that means it will be a hit. There are also some games out there (as some of you pointed out) that have done quite well being a semi-clone.

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Original post by Programmer16 Might I ask why you're out here complaining about this and not out making one yourself?[wink]

Actually I am making a game myself. I was just wondering if I was the only person who thought like this. Consider this shooting in the breeze, if I may say. [wink]

Somewhere in my pile of game ideas waiting to be developed is a RPG that takes place during the birth of Rock-N-Roll...players form a band and go on tour, trying to make it in the then burgeoning music industry of the 1950s...its largely unexplorered game territory in terms of setting and scope that is full of potential.

But at its core, it is actualy inspired by rather conventional RPGs...instead of a party, players have a band...instead of a fighter, wizard, ranger and cleric...players have a singer, drummer, lead guitar and bassist...instead of buying a battle ax, players buy a ax guitar...instead of trying to defeat monsters for experience, renown and riches...players are trying to win over crowds for fans, fame and fortune...instead of exploreing the world in an airship, players use a tour bus...instead of conspireing wizards and govenrments, players face conspireing parental groups and paranoid police forces...instead of mini-games involveing cards and fishing...players can face groupies and hot-rod drag races.

it should be lots of fun :)

Because originality is overrated, and is often a bad idea from a sales-related viewpoint. Seriously, here are some "original" ideas for RPG's that I'm coming up with as I type them:

1) The main character is a giant green elephant, and the whole world is made out of cheese, and you cast spells by absorbing cheese into your magic elephant trunk and then shooting it out through a trans-dimensional hypercube!

2) The game is in Lithuania, in the year 1953, except the Navajo indians have invaded, because it's alternate history, and they invented laser guns and orbital defense platforms before Colombus came to the US (which is actually called Navajonia in this world). Also, there is a big secret, half of the Lithuanians are actually shapeshifters from an alternate dimension!

3) The game takes place in a stone age world that has just collided with France from 1742 due to a space time anomoly. Also, there are things that look like unicorns but they have axes on their head instead of horns, and they're evil! Plus, the world is full of demons based on obscure Babylonian references, and everyone in the main civilizations wear shoes for hats, and hats for shoes!

Now, there's no arguing that these ideas are all far more "original" than WoW, Oblivion, etc. But I know I'd much rather play WoW or Oblivion. Most people like RPG's because they like medieval fantasy. Sure, some people like them just because of stat placement and slow-paced combat, and want to see that mechanic transfered into other settings, but they're the minority. In addition to being a minority, they're often a very bitter and hard-to-please minority with almost no agreement on what would make a "better" setting than the standards of medieval/future/postapocalyptic.

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Original post by makeshiftwings Because originality is overrated, and is often a bad idea from a sales-related viewpoint. Seriously, here are some "original" ideas for RPG's that I'm coming up with as I type them: 1) The main character is a giant green elephant, and the whole world is made out of cheese, and you cast spells by absorbing cheese into your magic elephant trunk and then shooting it out through a trans-dimensional hypercube! 2) The game is in Lithuania, in the year 1953, except the Navajo indians have invaded, because it's alternate history, and they invented laser guns and orbital defense platforms before Colombus came to the US (which is actually called Navajonia in this world). Also, there is a big secret, half of the Lithuanians are actually shapeshifters from an alternate dimension! 3) The game takes place in a stone age world that has just collided with France from 1742 due to a space time anomoly. Also, there are things that look like unicorns but they have axes on their head instead of horns, and they're evil! Plus, the world is full of demons based on obscure Babylonian references, and everyone in the main civilizations wear shoes for hats, and hats for shoes! Now, there's no arguing that these ideas are all far more "original" than WoW, Oblivion, etc. But I know I'd much rather play WoW or Oblivion. Most people like RPG's because they like medieval fantasy. Sure, some people like them just because of stat placement and slow-paced combat, and want to see that mechanic transfered into other settings, but they're the minority. In addition to being a minority, they're often a very bitter and hard-to-please minority with almost no agreement on what would make a "better" setting than the standards of medieval/future/postapocalyptic.

Wow, just because I said, "what has happened to original RPGs" does not mean I am talking about trying to make the most ridicules original RPGs. Thanks though for that great response.

[Edited by - Natrone19 on September 13, 2006 7:09:00 PM]

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Original post by makeshiftwings Most people like RPG's because they like medieval fantasy. Sure, some people like them just because of stat placement and slow-paced combat, and want to see that mechanic transfered into other settings, but they're the minority. In addition to being a minority, they're often a very bitter and hard-to-please minority with almost no agreement on what would make a "better" setting than the standards of medieval/future/postapocalyptic.

Or conversely most hardcore fans of midevil fantasy RPGs agrue against more original settings out of the insecure fear that thier beloved genre may not need standard settings by which to define it.