Choices and consequences in early RPGs

[norolim]

Here is the question, bros. Were choices and consequences a thing in pre-1990s RPGs?

At the turn of the 80s and 90s I got an 8-bit Atari, but I didn't have a floppy drive and most RPG for the system required one. I did however play some Ultima (I think it was Ultima IV) on my friends computer and Rogue on mine. Much later, I played Ultima I, a few M&Ms and a couple of other RPGs but I don't recall any C&C in them. Obviously, my memory may be letting me down and there are quite a number of 80s games I didn't play at all. Hence the question.

I hear Ultima V had some C&C, but what about other RPGs from the era. Do you remmeber any, that had plenty. If yes, could you please name examples of C&C in them?

 

[Morality Games]

Forget C&C, I don't think stories with characters were a thing in 80s RPGs. Most floppy discs didn't have enough space for anything besides graphics and gameplay.

 

[laclongquan]

Doubt it.

C&C become a thing after Fallout 1/2, Baldur's Gate 1, and Planescape Torment. Came to maximum attention during BG2 days.

Not heard much of it before F1. Wasteland1 and LotR is a pale thing there and then~

 

[V_K]

Off the top of my head:
Wizardry 4, 6 and 7 had multiple endings each. Not sure about Wiz 5.
Dragon Wars had a ton of variability in how you go through it, both build-based and choice-based.
Daggerfall's main quest makes all the late 90s RPGs pale in comparison in terms of C&Cs, although that's 1996 already.
Then there are all the early Adventures, text or PnC, where making a wrong choice could turn you into a walking dead several hours later.

UPD. Some of SSI games - Pool of Radiance, Dark Sun - were also quite C&C rich.

 

[DraQ]

Didn't Wizardry 6 7 8 trilogy provide some C&C starting with 6?
Also, yeah, Daggerfall.

 

[felipepepe]

Maybe if you consider something like Alter Ego, which is basically a huge CYOA game.

By 1988 we had Wasteland, Pool of Radiance and Quarterstaff, which all have some events with multiple solutions & rewards, but it's something very, VERY tiny, like getting money from kobolds instead of killing them, or that damn dog that Brian Fargo won't stop talking about. But they didn't have any long-lasting consequence.

 

[mondblut]

Here is the question, bros. Were choices and consequences a thing in pre-1990s RPGs?

If you had good build, you won. If you had bad build, you lost. You know, the best C&C ever.

 

[luj1]

Shattered Lands is a good example, and a great game. As far as C&C is concerned, it was really Fallout before Fallout.

 

[luj1]

Here is the question, bros. Were choices and consequences a thing in pre-1990s RPGs?

If you had good build, you won. If you had bad build, you lost. You know, the best C&C ever.

Which is really what's most important in an RPG anyway. Combat and builds, not story nor C&C.

 

[Tweed]

I think Wasteland is a pretty good example of early C&C. You can do all kinds of bad or stupid stuff without locking you out of finishing the game. If you try to talk to Laurie before you get the password from Ellen she runs out of the room and some helpful information and some loot. Listening to Fat Freddy can get you in trouble. Or you can just shoot your way through most of the game, gunning down "essential" npcs and looting plot coupons off their corpses. It simply makes your life harder, but not impossible.

EDIT: Oh and the hostage situation, plus Felicia parts everywhere

 

[Dorateen]

In 1988's Pool of Radiance, if you attacked the city guards, the party was prevented from using any of the services in Phlan until completing a council mission. Classic computer role-playing games had consequence for actions all over the place, but it was in the player's hands. We didn't need a developer narrative designer telling us what to do.