Ingredients of a Role Playing Game

Now that we’ve covered the design aspects of a role playing game, we should probably cover what an RPG needs to be called an RPG.  In no particular order you will need: a setting, a story, at least one character, an adversary, a goal, a leveling system, and provocation for one character to reach that goal by defeating that adversary.

The setting, made up of time and place, should probably include some form of history as well so that it doesn’t seem like it just popped up out of nowhere, unless that’s part of the story.  The story encompasses everything that will take place during the game and should include everything that the character, the setting, and the adversary will do.  The character will be controlled by the player for the majority of the game. Players should be able to like the character or at least identify with the character.  The adversary should provide a challenge that the character has to overcome and will most likely drive the story forward by forcing the character to act or by presenting an obstacle that the character has to overcome.  The goal should be what the character strives to reach during the course of the game, whether it be the defeat of the adversary, the love of the princess (not mentioned above), or the destruction of the setting.  The goal is usually attained after a final confrontation with the adversary. A leveling system can be anything from increasing stats after a set of requirements are met, to donning new equipment that is found, dropped, or rewarded to the character. This will make a player feel that they are being rewarded for their efforts in defeating enemies, solving puzzles, or exploring.