Role-Playing Games
(C) 1999, E. Nesterenko (Jam / XPJ)
__________________________________________
Greetings to all fans of role-playing
Games! How do you not an alternative? Then
you will definitely want to check the content of this article
... ;)
So, a little history. What is the role-playing games? In
English this genre of gaming programs abbreviated RPG, that
stands for "Role Playing Games".
I wonder what role-playing games are not
pure invention of the computer, such as 3-D actions or
strategies, and have even before the invention of computers in
the form of board games. That board RPG are classic examples of
role games, since they have the most extensive
abilities and involve "live" players. What is needed for a
desktop RPG? First, Dungeon Master - the person who comes up
with a game module and manages the game. Simply put, this is
Game Designer. He preparing a map of the playing area, has her
monsters, treasures, puzzles and traps, and then manages the
process of the game. Secondly, we need a system of rules. And
thirdly, we need, of course, players. :) With Dungeon Master'om
is clear - they can be developed by anyone with imagination
and gaming experience. Players are also not a problem.
But on a system of rules should stay in more detail.
Generally widespread role
the game got after the sensational trilogy of Tolkien's Lord of
the Rings. " No matter how strange, but this book became the
ancestor not only a new genre in literature, but also a new
game genre, I do not speak about "tolkinistah" and their
"get-togethers." ;)) After read the trilogy many wanted by
go to a fairy-tale worlds, to go
on a treasure hunt, to fight dangerous
the enemy and capturing the magic of sitting at home,
in a comfortable chair. And such a possibility given RPG.
Has developed a system of rules for
Desktop RPG, named D'D
(Dungeons and Dragons). It includes options for all types of
weapons, equipment and characteristics of various races of
heroes monsters, spells tables, algorithms
battles and much more. Using
such a system could easily determine what would happen if the
forest gnome dressed in coats of mail, with 11 kilograms of
cargo in the backpack, a soldier in the professional class,
attempts to strike copper halberd mountain troll who is
knee-deep in a swamp and armed wooden shield and oak club. At
the same time can still be taken into account wind speed and
direction, the viscosity of the swamp, the current the spell
and the degree of stomach fullness characters. :) In other
words, with the help of D'D could be the most
accurately simulate the reality of the game. This
became a distinctive feature of the role
games.
And to board games still need to add anything to them, each
player plays his own hero himself, and manages the game is not
a piece of silicon, but a living man. Play board RPG's never
boring, because the Dungeon Master carefully watches the game
and in case of difficult situations can adjust
plot.
Eg. Detachment of the heroes got into the cave. Slaughtered
heroes monsters posobirali treasures, and there is no escape.
The rope by which they descended into the dungeon, and ended
nowhere passage. In computer game you would have to either hack
program, or try to learn from friends played this game, or find
a way "to blue in the face. "Or they throw the game. A
out there, it very close - one of the walls
illusory and can pass through it, but
will not be a player to knock all the walls
forehead, even if he knows that somewhere
is an illusory wall! In the board game
Dungeon Master, seeing that the players are already looking out
for twenty minutes, may give a clue. For example, when the
squad will be held near the illusory wall, he says: "Did you
feel the wind blow ...", or pick up on the road squad scroll of
"see hidden". That is, it can Improvise. It can sometimes break
the rules - to make, for example, for the good "implantation in
the role of" indulgence player who must be killed after the
attack. Once again I remind you that the role-playing games
more akin to the theater - they probably do not PLAY to play
them. But the board RPG very widely distributed only in the
West, we have the same reason they do not meet. : (
So, leave alone games and
let's see what we have on the computer
front? Of course, with the advent of computers all rushed to
create "electronic RPG ". However, these games due to lack of
Dungeon the Master demanded a slightly different
approach and therefore a firm produced a system of rules D'D
(TSR, Inc.) thought for a moment and ... refine the (rules) for
use in computer role-playing games. The new, modified system
was name AD'D (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons). And the
beginning of a new epoch, the epoch Computer RPG. How do they
differ from Desktop? There should be to begin to talk about the
evolution of computer role-playing Games ...
The era of the first (realist)
The first RPG from the desktop differed
Only the lack of "improvisation". All
"Graphic" displays in text mode,
symbols. For example, the letter "O" denoting
Orc, the letter "T" - a treasure, and the letter "S" -
your squad. :)) There were detailed
text accompanying actions. Figuratively
speaking, the first computer RPG was akin to the first computer
adventyuram - hard, reliable, detailed and ... poor. On
Spectrum, in my opinion, no game of of the "era".
The Second (graphic)
What was the fundamental difficulty of creating computer
RPG? Not in the rules - they have already been detailed in the
system AD'D. Not in the script - though it was fantasy
more than enough, especially as the fantasy game
could realize the most fantastic, most "crazy" ideas. And the
problem was in memory. Not in a human, and operational, the RAM
that is. :) The fact that role-playing games require a huge
gaming space and a large number of databases - all kinds of
tables. Therefore, As soon as the machine with more or less
a lot of memory began to emerge, "graphic" RPG. A typical
example of such a game could provide Spectrum version of
"Bard's Tale". Why "Spectrum version? Yes, because this
game is at ibm; (three "series") are not
possible that it is on other platforms.
Graphics noticeable revived the role play,
however, it adversely affected the text
maintain, and narrowed the possibilities of the genre.
Still, I would say that it is the RPG
this era are the best, such "golden mean" as it was in its time
and adventyurami.
Epoch Three (DOOMovidnaya)
Graphics capabilities of computers grew, and with them grow
up and requests for gamers chart. Although, oddly enough, on
the role games, it's almost not reflected - they lasted longer
than any other genre. Even when adventyury become "quests"
RPG continued to adhere to the "classical" rules of design: as
a rule, it was "Step-doom" with step by step the same treatment
battlefield. If anyone does not believe, let there at the HRC
episode, "Might'Magic # 1-6" and observe at
example of the evolution of these games ... :) Well, of course,
began to emerge and new solutions, as, for example, "Eye Of The
Becholder". There has already been applied realtime, as in the
mode of travel, as well as in combat, the truth "doom" was
incomplete - 90-degree rotation.
At Spectrum example of this - "Bloodwych".
If you peer into this game, then there is all
signs of degeneration: a simplification and professional
classes (eg, crackers and the priests in the game have
absolutely no meaning), and the absence of a parameter setting,
and the monotony of the game space, and a small amount of NPC,
and much more. Practically the whole point of the game
is reduced to drawing maps for finding
out of the maze. : ((
A realtime just added extra problems: Well, agreed, as it is
convenient to operate in "Bloodwych" two magicians at the
battle, if for each casting
need to do such manipulation:
1. Select a player.
2. To open the book of spells.
3. Select the desired page (1 of 4)
4. Point to spell.
5. Put spell power.
6. Press the icon "utter."
And the enemy at this time methodically ticks for you to
blow ...
The era of the fourth (strategic)
Actually, the hexagonal version of the graphic realization
of role-playing games was first used for a long time, even
during the the time of the second period. But the true
recognition he received after "Diablo" - the typical "hodilki
with elements of RPG". On Spectrum is a much better quality
version of such a decision - "Hero Quest # 1'2", with the only
difference being that there not-realtime.
But the thing is done, and soon some clever smart enough to
cross your RPG with strategy ... From the "Warcraft" games such
differ only by a constant set of players between the level and
availability of items for sale / purchase of inventory and
magic. One of the Recent examples on the PC - "Rage" (Russia,
by the way, the game).
What's next? Perhaps the role of tetris.
Yes, forgot to tell you about AD'D. The point
that there are many games that use the system AD'D while RPG is
not are. What is this game? At Spectrum,
For example, it is "Swords'Sorcery", "Heroes Of
The Lance ". Although clearly draw the line between these
genres is difficult, but you can make a rough list of the
distinguishing features of role-playing games, to be was
somehow guided in this matter.
Distinctive features of "classical"
RPG
1. Players must be a few. Mill
Dart - four, but can be up to 8-10.
2. The large size of the playing area.
That is, the number of locations measured
tens and hundreds of thousands.
3. Required Settings "parameter
moat "(the choice of prof. class, race, etc.)
4. Itemized options heroes. Simply
speaking, your heroes should not be
two parameters (as in Hero Quest) - B
la and mind, and not less than ten. Reason
is, all these parameters should be on that
or to influence and develop with increasing
hero's level.
5. A variety of NPC, equipment and situation
onnyh locations. Here, of course not
specific restrictions, but the more
so, accordingly, the better. :)) Who
like, if you're on the road
meet only two types of "monsters"
to beat:) which sponsored the game
There are three types of weapons: Birch
curve Axe, Iron Axe, and the myth
sterile Axe ...
RPG on the Spectrum
As is also the case with role-playing games
on the Spectrum? Compared with other platforms - very bad,
compared to the amount Spectrum games from other genres -
Disgusting. : (I personally know of two games on the Spectrum,
which can be attributed to the role. That the above-mentioned
"Bard's Tale" and "Bloodwych". Well, even with a large stretch,
"Hero Quest". This is because of brand. With regard to
SNG'shnogo software, it was a lot of ambitious proposals for
upcoming RPG, were and a demo version, but in 1999 I saw
only one complete game - "12 Secret
Books "by Demiurge Ash, and even then, role
this game could be called a stretch to argue.
The reasons for such low-interest game-RPG maker'ov to
explain a very trivial - Under 128 KB of hard to make a decent
game. The reader may ask: "What "Bard's Tale" fits in a 48 kb?
.. "Fair enough. But there is only one problem: a who now will
play a game with SO interface, graphics and design? Yeah,
right - play it will be only a couple of maniacs like me, and
then by virtue of (very much zadalbyvaet drawing maps and
wretchedness of the interface).
But I do not want to so sad
note, check out this article. Last
time on the Spectrum there is a distinct
tendency to build up the amount of RAM, and it
gives us hope that our platform
will, finally, interesting, modern
design and interface role-playing games.
And I also still say goodbye to the readers and invite them
to "disperse" to play until the "Hero Quest 1'2", "12 Secret
books "," Bloodwych "and" Bard's Tale ", and in that order. The
last two games You can search in spectrophone # 22 and # 18,
and with all the necessary details for the game, and "Hero
Quest 1'2" - in Spf # 8.
If someone wants to discuss the contents
this article, or suddenly have a presence not
mentioned herein Spectrum RPG, are invited to contact me - must
answer, and in the magazine as well.
__________________________________________
