10 Overused RPG Mechanics That Must Die Next Generation

This one pains me to have to list because characters, dialogue, writing in general are usually the most enjoyable parts of a game’s creation. Figuring out who the characters are, what’s their driving force, their intention, who will they brush shoulders with and who will they oppose? Fun questions to answer that define the entire story’s direction.

Yet, somehow, in a genre as rich as role-playing games, some developers completely miss the mark. Worse yet, they don’t even bother to look for it. Let’s use Fallout 3 as an example, not the best RPG game ever made, especially now it sits in the shadow of New Vegas, but the characters are on another level.

If you ask anyone to name a few characters from Fallout 3, they could do. This is because even though the story itself was a fairly simple chase, the world was crammed full of memorable NPCs. Moira Brown, Lucas Simms, and Mister Burke are three found in the very first settlement you’ll reach. To think, there are characters like Dave, Harold, Eulogy Jones and the AntAgonizer that some players never met. It goes to show, your world can be as grey as gravel but if you can place vibrancy in character, then players will be engaged and remember your game for years to come.