Just a random question that I wanted an answer to. Why does just about every RPG have a midievil setting or game play set up? I mean, why isn't there an RPG that is fully sci-fi? Just an off the wall question.

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Original post by Akira52803 Just a random question that I wanted an answer to. Why does just about every RPG have a midievil setting or game play set up? I mean, why isn't there an RPG that is fully sci-fi? Just an off the wall question.

By "midievil", you probably mean "medieval". Besides... Fallout? Vampire? KOTOR? Final Fantasy VII? Final Fantasy VIII? Eve Online? Matrix Online?

True enough of the correction of the word "medieval" however, Final Fantasy isn't really in that category. But what I'm thinking about is more like the... idk... not steered toward the MMO aspect. I think of StarCraft but as an RPG. Or something beyond the Sword and Sorcery style game. Even FF can't get away from it. We'll see with 13 though huh? Maybe Parasite Eve?

You have to wonder what category KOTOR or Eve Online fall in, if not Sci-Fi MMORPGs...

I guess Eve Online would qualify, but I'm not a big fan of MMOs. They usually lack story compared to the single player counterparts. I just want to see something different. It seems that games are now based on prior works rather than the designer going out to make it their own. And I'm downright sick of the Starwars games. They need to move on and create something completely new. Same goes with LotR. And I love both franchises. Played out!

The Phantasy Star games? Skies Of Archadia?

I didn't think about Phantasy Star. I'm just trying to find some really good sci-fi RPGs-MMOs

Fantasy and medieval are different concepts; you can have them separately; Vampire: Masquerade is an example of a non-medieval fantasy RPG, and it's possible to have a non-fantasy historic style medieval RPG as well (although I can't think of one off the top of my head).

While I agree it's overdone, the classic fantasy medieval genre does have some advantages that lends itself to the RPG genre:

• It's a staple everyone knows, understands and hardcore fans have come to love. Everyone expects elves to be agile nature creatures, and dwarves to be stocky robust warriors and craftsmen.
  
• It's a good method of having both ranged and melee combat be viable options. With gunpowder or laser weapons I'd expect ranged to be far more effective.
  
• Magic is a great way to explain away any gameplay mechanics you want to throw into the mix. Want to explain how a hero can survive a triple meteor strike at ground zero? Magic. Need a method to instantaneously get from one side of continent to the other? Magic. Etcetera.
  
• Continuing on that theme, fantasy is a good way to bend the suspension of belief to unrealistic circumstances. If characters are throwing magic missiles and some have pointy ears it's easier for your audience to ignore some of the less believable aspects of your game world. If it's set in the world of today then it's a lot easier to notice characters doing stupid things or breaking the rules of reality (such as being able to survive a point-blank shotgun blast with little ill effect)

Admittedly a lot of these can cross over into other domains, particularly sci-fi; ultra-high-tech can replace magic and classic sci-fi staples are well known. The melee/ranged issue is still a problem with sci-fi games; they invariably find a way to throw melee weapons in when they don't always make sense (even in KoTOR; even if you grant lightsabres for the Jedi why did so many standard enemies have to have weapons like vibroblades instead of blasters?)

Yuo forgot one other type of Fantasy: Classical Fantasy, which basically is an RPG set in Greek/Egyptian mythology (Yes, they are quite different from Medieval RPG's in storyline and general feel). Think of Titan Quest.

Yuo forgot one other type of Fantasy: Classical Fantasy, which basically is an RPG set in Greek/Egyptian mythology (Yes, they are quite different from Medieval RPG's in storyline and general feel). Think of Titan Quest.