Can you have an RPG without progression?

[Sigourn]

An RPG where your characters don't get stronger, whether by their own skills or by the acquisition of equipment... would it still be an RPG? Do you have any examples of the sort?

Note: self-imposed challenges don't count, as a racing game remains a racing game even if the player decides to drive the opposite way; if anything, one can say that the player is not actually racing.

 

[I'm Big Into Anal]

card games maybe?

other than that i cant think of any

 

[Trashos]

It would be gay as fuck.

But even if the RPG industry is conspiring behind our backs to get rid of numbers, I do not think they have any reason to get rid of feats.

 

[Farewell young Prince into the night]

"An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire" is always my go-to example of an RPG without progression because I've never made it past character generation without crashing.

 

[King Crispy]

I don't think so. Leveling up is such an intrinsic concept to what makes an RPG what it is that if you had a game with all other aspects of it being RPG-like but not that one, it just wouldn't feel like an RPG.

I know that sounds strange, but it's true.

 

[Ebonsword]

Does an RPG stop being an RPG once you reach max level?

 

[smaug]

Having no progression in RPGs is retarded. The literal core of RPGs is creating and improving a character over time. You could say it can be done without stats, but I’m not sure how far you could go with that before hitting a wall.

 

[King Crispy]

Does an RPG stop being an RPG once you reach max level?

No, but if it's designed well it doesn't matter because the game will soon end.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Spectacle]

Many RPGs basically have no 'progression' already. Sure, the numbers go up, but only to keep up with enemy stats. If you're not making any real build decisions after character generation then it's hardly progression.

 

[what am i doing]

Yes. And you'd still have all the mechanical complexity of an RPG where you do get stronger, you'd just be starting maxed out. And the game would presumably be balanced around that.

Most games are usually balanced in such a way that you face stronger enemies as you progress anyways, and levelling up doesn't feel much like a power increase to begin with.

 

[Sigourn]

core of rpgs is char planning. If its constant then its char creation, not planning. Hence importance of fine tuned improvements to character as story progresses.

Would you say this makes Wizardry IV not an RPG, as you don't create your character and can't really "plan" how Werdna develops?

 

[Daze]

Me like play play rpg gamesies.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

I don't think so. Leveling up is such an intrinsic concept to what makes an RPG what it is that if you had a game with all other aspects of it being RPG-like but not that one, it just wouldn't feel like an RPG.

I know that sounds strange, but it's true.

Codex GOTY 2019 doesn't have levels.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[AW8]

It's impossible, as it's part of what makes up the term "RPG game":

R: Rolls (random chance)
P: Progression (numbers going up)
G: Gay (homosexual romances)

 

[JarlFrank]

A game where you create a character with stats, skills, feats etc but never level him/her up would still be an RPG.

 

[King Crispy]

A game where you create a character with stats, skills, feats etc but never level him/her up would still be an RPG.

This is hard to argue with, but I wish you'd provide an example or two.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

A game where you create a character with stats, skills, feats etc but never level him/her up would still be an RPG.

This is hard to argue with, but I wish you'd provide an example or two.

Disco Fucking Elysium.

 

[King Crispy]

I rest my case.

 

[Efe]

what about ultima crispy?

 

[buffalo bill]

NEO scavenger

 

[FeelTheRads]

A game where you create a character with stats, skills, feats etc but never level him/her up would still be an RPG.

This is hard to argue with, but I wish you'd provide an example or two.

Disco Fucking Elysium.

What are you talking about imbecile? You level-up in DE.
Did you even play it or are you such a dedicated shill that all your posts have to be about it no matter what the discussion is about?

Oh wait...
Location: Revachol

Just a shitty fanbot.

 

[luj1]

What are you talking about imbecile? You level-up in DE.

But there's no combat so it's closer to an (admittedly good) adventure game.

 

[JarlFrank]

A game where you create a character with stats, skills, feats etc but never level him/her up would still be an RPG.

This is hard to argue with, but I wish you'd provide an example or two.

There are no examples, but it's theoretically possible.