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Wrap Party
By Corvus | May 3, 2005
So here they are, in one block and slightly edited for brevity.
Rule 1: DRPGs allow some measure of character customization at the outset of the game.
Rule 2: DRPGs allow for player guided increases in innate abilities and skills throughout gameplay.
Rule 3: DRPGs guide the player as subtly as possible, allowing as much freedom to explore the world as possible.
Rule 4: DRPGs feature NPCs that are responsive to the player’s actions.
Rule 5: DRPGs feature inventories with equipable, transferable, and unessential items.
Rule 6: DRPGs allow the player some measure of choice as to their actions and/or behaviors.
Rule 7: DRPGs feature optional quests that effect the world state.
Rule 8: DRPGs present the player with a tabula rasa as their avatar in the world.
Rule 9: DRPGs must present a full world that is both logical and internally consistent.
I’ve opted to leave out “as technology allows” language and consider it to be understood. Now my goal is to assign point values to these rules in an effort to create a system by which games RPGness can be assessed. I have a few ideas about how to go about that, but nothing is set in cement yet. It’s possible that during the process I may add, remove, or drastically alter rules. I think I’ll begin by determining which of these rules are the most important. Of course, you’ll have the questionable honor of being privy to the thought process as it unfolds.
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