Which is more of a true RPG?

[Pidesco]

This thread seems to be about how you define RPGs.

 

Are RPGs about rules and stats, or about options and openendedness?

 

I choose the second option and as such, to me, GTA is more of an RPG than Diablo.

[CosmicForceAegis]

I hated in grand theft auto when they had some inescapable wall when you escaped the ocean, and 4 big banging huge massive overwhelming stars come and make any passage over the trance atlantic gateway, held by a bunch of mumbling telephones.

 

It's very difficult to create a cluck in bell regeneration high pizza order delivery radio, but arm chairs and old people or just a bunch of arching teleportation and thinking of indiana jones when a giant helicopter comes straight at your boxing gloves!

 

Just the idea that you have complete freedom and liberty, arbiters aligned for a big room celebration, and painting fractions draws out the firmament, fire arms sure, but stars at the top of your screen!

[Hurlshort]

This is a classic thread.  Ender, Hades, Hell Kitty, Llyr.  The golden years of the Obsidian forums.  Even Sawyer gets in on the arguments.  

Edited July 22, 2016 by Hurlshot

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

Looks like we got a wannabe Frankenstein here.

[kirottu]

This is a classic thread.  Ender, Hades, Hell Kitty, Llyr.  The golden years of the Obsidian forums.  Even Sawyer gets in on the arguments.  

Oh come on. It's always golden times when I'm here. Let me shower you with my awesomness.

[Mr. Magniloquent]

No contest. Clearly GTA: San Andreas.

 

RPGs are defined by player agency to develop a unique character and make meaningful choices.

 

Both have only limited character development, but GTA allows relatively greater freedom. Diablo has next to no choices provided and no real ability to influence outcomes. The player either completes the game, or they do not. GTA: San Andreas gives much more latitude for player choice and the ability to meaningfully achieve varied results.

[Darkpriest]

ARISE!!! - "It's alive"

 

But this just shows that some arguments are eternal on this forum

[Harry Easter]

Hmm, I know this thread was brought back just for fun, but I like the idea, so let's post !

 

RPG's are at their core about mechanics and you use them to get more powerful or play out your dreams of freedom. Diablo (at least in the first two games), gives you the feeling of power through repetition. Master this one thing and you become the most feared person in all of Sanctuary. GTA: San Andreas had this also in spades, with the upgrade system and all that. But it also gives you the freedom to do whatever you want. You play a real role in GTA IV and V and you decide how do get some things done. So yeah, you could consider GTA an RPG and when you master the driving and the shooting, you also got a hold of its mechanics. But there is no real feeling of progression in GTA, while you actually become more powerful in Diablo (better loot, once strong enemies get killed with one hand) and at least you have to work to kill the bosses, while in GTA cutsecenes often do that for you. I may be not as free in exploring the world in Diablo as in GTA, but Diablo rewards you more for playing the game, so it would say that the Diablo-series is more of an RPG, while GTA became more and more about the experience of living in a simulated world.

[Mamoulian War]

What interested me most in this thread, was J.E.Sawyer's Fallout PnP rules, but the link is long lost in the void. Has he ever finished it?