The Most Annoying RPG Tropes
The Most Annoying RPG Tropes
🎯 Summary: Role-playing games (RPGs) offer immersive experiences, but some tropes just never seem to die. This article explores the most annoying RPG tropes that plague the genre, examining why they frustrate players and suggesting how developers might retire or reinvent them. From the silent protagonist to the damsel in distress, prepare for a critical look at these well-worn clichés in RPGs. We'll be discussing common frustrations within the world of role-playing games.
Amnesia: The 'I Forgot My Own Name' Trope
Why Amnesia is Overdone
The amnesia trope is a classic setup in RPGs, but it's been used so often that it's lost its impact. 🤔 The idea is to create mystery and allow the player to discover the world alongside their character. However, it often feels like a lazy way to avoid character development.
The Problem with Amnesia
Players often feel disconnected from a character with no past. It can be difficult to invest in their journey when you know nothing about who they were before. The amnesia trope also tends to remove player agency, as you're simply following a path laid out for you.
A Better Approach
Instead of amnesia, developers could explore alternative ways to introduce players to the world. Perhaps the character has a specific goal or motivation from the start, or maybe they are simply new to the region. ✅ These approaches allow for character development without erasing their entire history.
The Silent Protagonist: A Mute Hero
The Appeal of Silence
The silent protagonist is intended to allow players to project themselves onto the character fully. The logic is that by not giving the character a voice, players can better imagine themselves in the role.
The Downside of Silence
However, the silent protagonist often feels out of place in a narrative-driven game. It can be jarring when every other character is fully voiced, and your hero simply nods along. This can make the silent protagonist seem less like a blank slate and more like an unresponsive weirdo.
Giving the Protagonist a Voice
Modern RPGs are increasingly moving away from silent protagonists, opting instead for fully voiced characters with distinct personalities. This allows for more engaging dialogue and deeper character development. 💡 Consider games like "The Witcher 3" or "Cyberpunk 2077," where Geralt and V have defined personalities that enrich the gaming experience. Even offering dialogue choices provides the player agency without sacrificing character presence.
Damsel in Distress: The Rescuing Game
The Tired Trope
The damsel in distress is a female character who is constantly being kidnapped or threatened, requiring the male protagonist to rescue her. This trope is not only overused but also reinforces harmful stereotypes about women being helpless and dependent on men.
The Impact of the Trope
This trope can undermine the agency of female characters and reduce them to mere plot devices. It's time for RPGs to move beyond this outdated trope and create female characters who are capable, independent, and integral to the story.
Empowering Female Characters
Instead of making women victims, developers should create female characters who are active participants in the story. Give them their own motivations, goals, and strengths. Games like "Horizon Zero Dawn" and "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice" showcase strong, complex female protagonists who drive the narrative forward.
Fetch Quests: The Tedious Task
The Purpose of Fetch Quests
Fetch quests involve collecting a certain number of items or defeating a specific enemy to complete a task. They are often used to pad out the gameplay and provide a sense of progression.
The Problem with Fetch Quests
However, fetch quests can quickly become repetitive and boring. Spending hours collecting 20 wolf pelts or killing 100 rats is hardly an engaging experience. These quests often feel like a chore rather than a meaningful part of the story.
Making Fetch Quests More Interesting
To improve fetch quests, developers should focus on making them more meaningful and integrated into the narrative. Perhaps the items you're collecting are rare or have a unique history. Or maybe the enemies you're fighting have a connection to the main storyline. ✅ Adding context and purpose can transform a tedious task into an engaging quest.
The Chosen One: Destined for Greatness
The Allure of Destiny
The chosen one trope involves a character who is destined to save the world or fulfill some grand prophecy. This trope can be appealing because it gives the player a sense of importance and purpose.
The Predictability Factor
However, the chosen one trope can also be predictable and lack originality. Players often know from the beginning that they are destined to succeed, which can diminish the stakes and sense of challenge.
Subverting Expectations
To make the chosen one trope more interesting, developers should consider subverting expectations. Perhaps the chosen one is reluctant to embrace their destiny, or maybe they are not as special as they initially seem. 🤔 Adding twists and turns can keep players engaged and surprised.
Level Scaling: Always a Challenge?
The Intention Behind Scaling
Level scaling adjusts the difficulty of enemies based on the player's level. This is intended to ensure that the game remains challenging throughout the entire experience.
The Drawbacks of Scaling
However, level scaling can also make the player's progress feel meaningless. If enemies always scale to your level, then there's no sense of becoming more powerful. It can also lead to situations where low-level areas remain just as difficult as high-level ones.
A Balanced Approach
A better approach is to use level scaling sparingly and in specific areas. Allow players to outlevel certain content and feel the satisfaction of becoming stronger. Games like "Skyrim" offer a good balance, allowing players to explore and grow without constantly facing enemies that match their exact level.
Invisible Walls: Limiting Exploration
The Purpose of Boundaries
Invisible walls are barriers that prevent players from accessing certain areas of the game world. They are often used to guide players along a specific path or to prevent them from breaking the game.
The Frustration of Walls
However, invisible walls can be frustrating and immersion-breaking. They remind players that they are in a game and can limit their sense of exploration. There's nothing quite like running headfirst into an unseen barrier to shatter the illusion of a vast, open world. 🌍
Creative Solutions
Instead of using invisible walls, developers could explore more creative solutions. Perhaps they could use natural barriers like mountains or rivers to guide players. Or maybe they could create areas that are simply too dangerous for low-level players to explore. 💡
The Exposition Dump: Information Overload
The Need for Lore
Exposition dumps involve lengthy conversations or cutscenes where characters explain the game's lore and backstory. This is intended to provide players with context and information about the world.
The Problem with Dumps
However, exposition dumps can be overwhelming and boring. Players often tune out when faced with a wall of text or a long-winded monologue. It's a lazy way to deliver information and often fails to engage the player.
Engaging Storytelling
A better approach is to reveal the game's lore gradually through gameplay and environmental storytelling. Allow players to discover the world's history through exploration and interaction. Games like "Dark Souls" are masters of this approach, rewarding players who pay attention to the details.
Unnecessary Grinding: The Time Sink
The Intention of Grinding
Grinding involves performing repetitive tasks to gain experience or resources. This is often used to gate progress and encourage players to spend more time in the game.
The Frustration of Grinding
However, unnecessary grinding can be tedious and frustrating. Spending hours killing the same enemies or completing the same quests just to level up is not an enjoyable experience. 📈 This can feel like a waste of time and push players away from the game.
Meaningful Progression
Instead of relying on grinding, developers should focus on providing meaningful progression through engaging gameplay. Reward players for exploring, completing challenging quests, and mastering the game's mechanics. Games like "Monster Hunter" provide a sense of progression through challenging boss battles and crafting powerful gear.
Escort Missions: The Annoying Babysitting
The Objective of Escorting
Escort missions involve protecting a non-player character (NPC) as they travel from one location to another. This is intended to add tension and challenge to the gameplay.
The Downside of Escorting
However, escort missions are often frustrating due to the NPC's poor AI and vulnerability. NPCs tend to wander into danger, get stuck on obstacles, and die easily, forcing players to restart the mission. 😭 It often feels like babysitting a clueless toddler in a war zone.
Improving Escort Missions
To improve escort missions, developers should focus on making the NPC more capable and intelligent. Give them the ability to defend themselves, follow the player's lead, and avoid danger. Or, better yet, find alternative ways to achieve the same narrative goals without relying on escorting. 💡
Item Durability: The Gear Grind
The Purpose of Durability
Item durability systems cause weapons and armor to degrade over time, requiring players to repair or replace them. This is intended to add a sense of realism and encourage players to manage their resources. 🔧
The Frustration of Degradation
However, item durability can be frustrating when it's overly punishing or requires constant maintenance. Spending more time repairing your gear than actually using it is not an enjoyable experience. It can also feel like an artificial way to drain resources and force players to grind for materials. 💰
A Balanced System
A better approach is to implement item durability systems that are less intrusive and more meaningful. Allow players to repair their gear easily and affordably, and make the degradation process gradual and noticeable. Or, consider removing item durability altogether and focusing on other ways to manage resources and encourage progression. ✅
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While RPG tropes can sometimes be annoying, they are also a part of what makes the genre so beloved. By recognizing these tropes and finding ways to reinvent them, developers can create more engaging and original experiences for players. Let's hope the future of RPGs involves fewer silent protagonists and more innovative storytelling. The world of role-playing games is vast, and there's always room for improvement and innovation. By addressing these common pitfalls, developers can elevate the genre to new heights.
Keywords
RPG tropes, role-playing games, gaming clichés, annoying tropes, amnesia trope, silent protagonist, damsel in distress, fetch quests, chosen one trope, level scaling, invisible walls, exposition dump, grinding, escort missions, item durability, video games, game development, game design, RPG mechanics, game analysis, RPG discussion
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are RPG tropes so common?
RPG tropes are common because they are often effective storytelling devices that have been used for decades. They provide a familiar framework for players to understand and engage with the game's world and characters.
Can RPG tropes ever be a good thing?
Yes, RPG tropes can be a good thing when they are used creatively and subverted in unexpected ways. They can also serve as a nostalgic nod to classic RPGs and provide a sense of familiarity for players.
How can developers avoid using annoying RPG tropes?
Developers can avoid using annoying RPG tropes by focusing on creating original stories, developing unique characters, and designing innovative gameplay mechanics. They should also be willing to take risks and experiment with new ideas.
What are some examples of RPGs that successfully avoid common tropes?
Some examples of RPGs that successfully avoid common tropes include "Disco Elysium," which offers a unique and unconventional detective story, and "Undertale," which subverts many RPG conventions with its pacifist gameplay and meta-narrative elements.
