RPG and Action RPG

[Skyblade]

Action RPGs almost never have transitions from exploration to combat. Enemies just come at you and you have to deal with them in real time as you walk around. Kingdom Hearts is a great non-WRPG example of this. Dirge of Cerberus also shades more toward action RPG than shooter (especially since it's not first-person).

That doesn't make any sense. Combat genre isn't dictated by the method the game uses to present the combat.

First Person Shooters beg to differ.

[Leigh]

I'm not an expert or anything. I usually defined RPG games as being a combat system based on dice rolls or timed/turn-based combat. Whilst Action RPGs were derivative of any other RPG, but with combat roots inspired by Action-Adventure games? As in real time, but with hit points?

^ But what constitutes an RPG element?

The use of databases, basically, to store numerical information relating to your character(s) properties.

I don't believe any video game calling itself an RPG is reflective of actual old-school RPGs. You don't have enough control over the storytelling to dictate the development of your character, since video games are pre-built so you're always travelling a linear path through the barriers of game developers. I used to joke that if your levels were called 'missions', then it's an action game. If they're called 'quests', its an RPG! =P

[Mirage]

RPG elements to me is when your character's ability to succeed at a given task increases without requiring the player to get better at controlling the action that performs this task.

Your character gets better at intimidating others. It's not you as the player who is performing actions in a way that is more intimidating to the target.
Your character gets better at aiming a gun, it's not you who's gotten steadier on your mouse arm.
Your character is swinging the sword harder, it is not you who is pressing the button harder.

RPG elements.

When I say "your character", this doesn't have to be a literal character. Any permanent extention (one that you can't lose) of the object you are controlling counts. If you're in an action RPG where you have guns, can upgrade the stats of these guns, and can't lose the guns, then the upgrading of these guns is also an RPG element.

[Loony BoB]

I agree with collision detection, although I will extend that slightly.

Target detection: FFVII-style.
Range detection: FFXII-style. In other words, so long as you are within range (ie, collision range), it doesn't matter what way you are facing or direction you are moving, it WILL hit the target. This also works to some extent for the likes of FFXIV. Essentially the way that you can add field movement to a non-action RPG, much like FFXII does.
Collision detection: Collision detection and targeting. Think Skyrim. Far less focused on targeting, far more focused on "did the sword hit the enemy". Most WRPGs fit into this. I don't think any FF fits into this, although I could be wrong.

[Mirage]

No FF except probably FF15 fits into the last of those.

[Del Murder]

Some of the spinoffs would, like Crisis Core.

[Mirage]

None of those actually exist.

[Randy]

I doubt there are any agreed upon definitions. I'd tend to say that it's an action RPG if it relies more on skill than strategy or statistics. So for example, in something like Mount and Blade you can technically kill an army of 100 men with your character at Level 1, even though it is a game where leveling up is important.
Whereas something like a Tales game, which does have realtime combat, is much more reliant on statistics. If you fought the final boss at level1, no amount of skill could save you from being instantly decimated.

[Mirage]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPgrRn8p__4

[I Will Set You Free]

Enchanted Arms (turn based), Magna Carta 2(action rpg),
Star Ocean till the end of time (action rpg), lost odyssey (turn based)

[Rocket Edge]

I find the majority of action RPG's boring, which is why I'm pessimistic about FFXV. Give me classic RPG any day.

[Shiny]

Action RPG's can more exciting than turn-based classic RPG's, but classic RPG's allow for the necessity of strategy more so than the run-and-gun. They are also generally less stress-inducing, so both are on pretty equal levels for me. Ultimately, it really depends on the game. While I like games like Borderlands it always feels a bit impersonal. Action RPGs tend to lack that more personal element that you feel when you're playing a character in third person.

[Lazerface]

What about Deus Ex? It's a pretty exciting action rpg. And I believe on one of my topics I was debating if me and my team should make our game an action rpg with some turn based rules or pure turn based with action point usage.