Is it possible to be "good" at RPGs?

[Ultima Shadow]

It all depends on the RPG itself. RPG's can be very different.

In Super Mario RPG, there's a lot about skill since your "timing" effects just about every singel battle. The power of almost all the moves in the game can be boosted in some way, for example: A few moves can be powered up by rotating the directional buttons and others by pressing a button at the right moment. Mario's Super Jump and Ultra Jump can do insane amounts of dammage if you're good at using it. Every singel phsycical attack in the game can also be defended against by pressing a button right before you're hit for either half dammage or no dammage at all. Many instant-death moves can also be guarded against this way, leaving the character with 1 HP left instead of being KOed etc. The fact that different phsycical attacks and instant-death moves are done in different ways, makes some of them harder to guard against than others. For example, it's very easy to guar against a phsycical attack from a Goomba for many reasons, but incredibly hard to guard against thos of Culex since Culex phsycical attack is instant and he won't even make any sign that he's going to use a phsycical attack etc.

In games like Golden Sun, it's all about tactics and absolutely nothing else. "Skill" doesn't really matter in those games.

In games like FF, there's usually not that many moves like those in SMRPG. But in a few FFs, there's moves that can be powered up very much by "timing" correctly and being fast. Zell's Duel is a good example.

And also, the ATB system makes "time" become another skill to master. In battles like the "no status effecting junctioning Omega FFVIII challange", you may get a game over if you're a half second late with choosing a command. This, too, makes your "timing" play a big part in the battle.

And it's, of course, a lot about tactics. Knowledge about your enemy and its weakness and what strategy to use in order to beat it. And also your judgement in different situations. If something in your stragedy goes a bit wrong, then you'll have to find a way to get back on track quickly etc.

And finally... having patience and never give up could be considered a "skill".


Knowledge, tactics and timing. Those are RPG skills.

[Lindy]

Killing Omega Weapon in a single duel with Zell = skill

1 million damage in one hit, pow.

Needs max stats Zell on highest limit break level though (16 second Duel, maximum damage possible), and you need god-like reflexes.

[Alucard188]

I'd say learning to exploit the system (junction, materia, etc.) and making right decisions (when to heal, what attacks not to use, etc.) can make a player "good" at RPGs.

[crashNUMBERS]

This is the thing about RPG's. They are usually the same which makes them good. What I mean is that the items and way to get weapons and crap are obvious once you play at least two RPG's. My friends Johnnathan and Martin (Two Brothers) once borrowed a game from his friend which was "Tales Of Symphonia". Thing is my friends dont have much exp. in with Role Playing Games. So What I do is help them. I help them through some of it to which they reply "Oh CRASH you sure know your RPG's.". It kinda gives you a good feeling to help. Thing is thats the good thing about RPG's. So yeah there is a way to be a good RPG gamer...


P.S. To why I put 'crash' there is because Im not revealing my name... (Though some people on this web already know my real name)

[Aphelion]

Pretty much making good decisions and being able to beat normal bosses on the first try (which means no retry experience)... To be skilled is totally different of having knowledge... That comes from playing a lot of RPGs and/or focusing on one or more RPGs, knowing a lot about its system.

[Lionx]

FFXI is all about a good party. There are bad parties at every level, however at higher levels everyone at least gains a decent ammount of skill that lets them become either good or godly. I have seen some decent Dragoons and amazing Dragoons and you can definetly tell which ones are the better ones and which ones are not as well especially when they keep up their TP with others for weapon skill combo attacks. That and Ballista is really getting better in FFXI (the PvP) its more refined and many people are addicted to playing that mini-game and it definetly requires skill and teamwork(maybe even teamspeak) as well as vs HNMs(godly super monsters) and certain CoP(expansion) boss battles..

[omnitarian]

The ability to decipher the metagame and use it to your advantage is what makes you good at RPGs.

Take a look at the Pokemon games. Anybody who's anybody has figured out how to exploit in-game mechanics that most noobs don't even know about.

[Mirage]

Yeah, skills in RPG games are more about knowledge and tactics. To be able to build your character in the best possible way, to be able to figure out what an enemy is weak against depending on how it looks and moves, knowing when to be offensive and when to be defencive, setting up a well-balanced party, and "exploiting" game mechanics to a certain degree.
I would believe almost anyone can become good at RPGs if they want to, it's different from for example first person shooters or driving games, where you must have good reflexes and stuff. You sometimes get "hybrid RPGs" though, like Star Ocean and Tales of Symphonia, where skills at fighting games count too.

[Meat Puppet]

I consider myself quite the "master", if you will, of RPGs - one time I made it past the start menu by myself.

[crashNUMBERS]

XD LMFAO!! :laugh:

Oh really??

[Lon611]

i think a "good" rpg gamer can be ne1 really. all it takes is an intricate understanding of the game's system,and a creative approach to battle especially wiht bosses.

[crashNUMBERS]

Yeah create your own strategy. Like should I be creative and do this or should I do the experiment here or there till I kick his ass??

[edczxcvbnm]

Being able to do low level runs with out strategy guide help makes you a good RPG player. Being able to do that means that you understand the game you are playing and can develop stratgies around what few options you have to choose from when making an attack. Not everyone can do that.

Getting to level 99, collecting every item in the game, doing everything does not make you good at RPGs. ANYONE can spend time out the ass an accomplish that.

[crashNUMBERS]

Never bothered to ever beat ruby weapon in FF7...

[edczxcvbnm]

He isn't that hard. You could be at level 40 and still beat his ass through the smurfing ground. W-Summon + Hades + Knight of the round + MP Absorb + HP Absorb + Mime=Invincible!