Summary
What goes into makinga great RPG?One thing, of certainty, is the narrative, but this is only a single piece of the puzzle. Another equally important part of what makes a good RPG is the gameplay. An RPG needs to have gameplay that reinforces the type of story the game is trying to tell, and is inherently satisfying for the player to engage with.
How developers factor gameplayinto their worldbuildingis what separates the decent from the masterwork. Many times, the best games that fuse gameplay and setting discover some incredibly novel builds in the process. For players who want more than guns that shoot bullets or swords that lop heads off, these fantastic RPGs allow for some incredible and unconventional builds.
With every iteration ofThe Elder Scrolls,at least sinceDaggerfall,there has been a steady streamlining of games. It might be unfair to compare the 3D trilogy withDaggerfall, which is functionally closer to a Dungeons & Dragons setting than Tamriel as it’s known today. However, one feature in particular thatearnsMorrowindpraiseis the diversity of its builds.
Players can be unarmed masters, spell-slinging monks, smooth-talking illusionists, or many other options. They can use spears for range or hammers for power, or quarterstaves for enchantability. Built correctly, almost any combination of skills is viable in this game.
Players can explore the world of New Vegas andside with any factionthey wish while utilizing skills and perks that make game-changing combinations. Want to maximize damage output? Try being bisexual! Want to clear an entire room of enemies with explosives? More than doable; it’s viable!
Tanks can resort to cannibalism, melee-focused characters can use bloody mess. Any and every niche build has some set of perks that will enhance their experience that much further.
In a similar vein toNew Vegas,The Outer Worldslets players utilize disparate skills to make unique builds. Medical-focused characters are excellent candidates for corrosive builds, for example. High intelligence gets players some of the most unique and interesting science weapons in the game, allowing for a completely atypical approach to how the game operates and how combat goes.
Speaking of atypical,Tyrannyembodies th word in every sense, fromthe amoral storyto the nuanced combat. But what really makes this game shine is that players can use spellcasting in many interesting ways.
In this game, spells can be custom-made. Applying a certain pattern and application, such as a ‘contact’ or ‘rune’ spell to a certain element (think ‘fire’ or ‘illusion’) makes an entirely new spell. Each spell synthesizes the unique elements of the property with the scaffold of the spell in question.
The application of builds inThe Elder Scrolls Onlineis completely different to anything seen in other titles in this series. Beyond the fact that this would naturally be the case in the transition from a single-player title to an MMO, there are some things that stand out in ESO builds.
Players can choose to make their spellcasters stamina based, or make their melee characters magic focused. This leads to staff-wielding dragon knights orpowerful stamina-based necromancersthat are unlike anything else in this series.
The intersection of stat-based scaling and cybernetic enhancements inCyberpunk 2077can lead to some truly unique builds that can focus on a host of interesting gameplay mechanics based on V’s playstyle. For players who are used to keeping it cool and charming their way out of situations, the monowire will grow stronger for level-headed characters. Those who prefer to fight up close with melee weapons can take a step back and use the arm mounted rocket launcher.
One ofthe best post-apocalyptic gamesof all time,Underraillets players use a multitude of tools to their advantage in the grim and destroyed world of the future, which in turn allows for some builds that can’t be replicated in any other title. Players can focus an entire build around trapping enemies with poison mines and finishing them off with heavy machine guns. Alternatively, they can build a character with the tech savy to light the very air on fire and vaporize foes with ease.
1Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
Each Clan Offers A Wildly Different Build
Every clan inVampire The Masquerade: Bloodlinesrepresents the opportunity for a unique build. This is as true in the game as it is in the TTRPG, especially for the more unusual clans that players can pick.
Malkavians are assaulted by the neural network that links them all together, meaning they have to build around their hallucinations and delusions. Nosferatu members can’t be seen in public due to how hideous they are, and must build around navigation in the sewers and gaining mastery over vermin.
