tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post7120097368369710765..comments2024-03-28T15:25:30.216-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Turn-Based vs. Real-Time CombatCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-52921825854043901232023-08-05T21:10:21.660-04:002023-08-05T21:10:21.660-04:00Both Pathfinder games: Kingmaker and Wrath of the ...Both Pathfinder games: Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous allow players to switch between RTWP and Turn-Based combat. In fact you can switch in combat if you wish. JJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-50978261414480821962022-11-08T12:38:43.738-05:002022-11-08T12:38:43.738-05:00for this, it depends a lot for me on:
if the game...for this, it depends a lot for me on:<br /><br />if the game is single character or multi-character.<br /><br />if the game is single character, then i most often want it to be an action rpg of some persuasion with an over the shoulder camera. from that perspective, i'd obviously prefer real time combat - so long as the combat doesn't devolve into nonsense free-for-alls with too many enemies. [eg: while i felt it was over-grim and it had very little to actually do with lord of the rings, i basically liked middle earth: shadow of mordor...UNTIL that game flung eleventy zillion orcs at you for no other reason than "here's some fake difficulty, enjoy."]<br /><br />on the other hand: games that are multi-character simply do not work for me as real time affairs. i couldn't manage it back in the bad old days when it was de rigueur in first person dungeon crawls like eye of the beholder and such, so when that idea got ported upward - to games like baldur's gate and beyond, i simply bailed on those games.<br /><br />i understand they're landmarks of the genre, but they were SO ridiculously difficult to control for me because of the multi-character nature of the setup that i just couldn't handle playing them much past their opening hour or two.<br /><br />so: open world, single character rpg? i'd LOVE it if it were turn based, of course, but if it's not, then action combat's fine so long as you don't get overwhelmed.<br /><br />open world [or even closed world] multi-character rpg? HECK NO to real time anything with those, thanks.lostwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697299839262994456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-41418769435657349112022-05-30T05:18:44.157-04:002022-05-30T05:18:44.157-04:00It's interesting to read the older comments ab...It's interesting to read the older comments about the death of turn based RPGs when we've gotten a bunch of them in recent years (Divinity, Wasteland) and are even getting turn based Baldur's Gate 3 in the near future!<br />It feels like PoR is the first game to really do complex party based tactical combat well, to the point that it hasn't changed all that much in modern Strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem! Sure, stuff like Ultima IV had turn based combat and Wizardry and other dungeon crawlers let you change your party order, but I find actually being able to position your characters on a large battlefield really increases the complexity of the combat and prevents things from getting boring quickly. Will definitely try this out next time it's on sale on Gog. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-78578893041165680452021-11-21T14:00:54.742-05:002021-11-21T14:00:54.742-05:00A bit late to the party, but I remember exactly th...A bit late to the party, but I remember exactly the moment where any kind of suspension of disbelief failed me with Oblivion: In one of the mage guild quests, you had to cast a spell of each spell school or so on a pillar - and just in case you didn't have any, in the side room you could find a chest with all scrolls needed for this - no extra magic necessary.<br /><br />I was looking forward to Oblivion after Morrowind, but in the end, I stopped after the main quets because it was so much worse.<br /><br />Years later I played and enjoyed Skyrim, becvause I already knew it would be even worse, and I took advantage of a lot of mods to change the great sandbox that Skyrim is into some better.<br /><br />Then I realised that I never played Shimmerin Isles, which supposedly was quie good,a nd installed Oblivion again.<br /><br />After Skyrim, the same game that felt so horribly dumbed down, hardly an RPG really, after playing Morrowind suddenly felt like a total old-school RPG - because compared to Skyrim, it was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79735441688565181342021-05-04T16:40:37.702-04:002021-05-04T16:40:37.702-04:00I have to agree. I like turn based combat better ...I have to agree. I like turn based combat better overall, even though there are some real time games I've enjoyed a lot. <br /><br />My favorite D&D games are the gold box ones. This combat is awesome. Later D&D games are better in almost every other way (graphics, NPC interaction, etc...), but the combat in the gold box games is so fun that I still think I like these games better overall.The_Liquid_Lasernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88615088027877634732019-11-01T10:56:42.582-04:002019-11-01T10:56:42.582-04:00I'm definitely in the turn-based tactical game...I'm definitely in the turn-based tactical gameplay camp having played quite a few of the Gold Box series on the C64 as a kid. Civilization 1 & 2 was also my jam in college. I'm glad to see that there has been a bit of a turn-based "revival" in the past few years. I think a lot of the revival started with the success of the new and updated XCOM (2012) series because I see it has influenced a lot of newer turn-based strategy games, since I noticed they incorporated a lot of the same enhancements that XCOM had (from watching playthroughs). XCOM2 added even more character development and character "classes" (soldier types) compared to the first making the game even more RPG'ish and a more interesting story. Even the famous Julian Gollop, the original creator of the XCOM series in the '90's, has been inspired by the new XCOM with his upcoming release of Phoenix Point which takes the tactical combat to yet another level with it's body part/equipment piece targeting system (like disable a sniper's arm or gun). I just don't know if I have the hardware to play these games yet, since I'm kind of behind the technology curve (desktop 12 years old), hence playing more retro games these days.BoardGameNuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573162816708652568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35594797039889401982019-10-31T18:06:29.245-04:002019-10-31T18:06:29.245-04:00Ugh, I despise real time with pause. It's the ...Ugh, I despise real time with pause. It's the worst of all worlds.<br /><br />I loved the new XCOM games, and I hope that XCOM 2 won't be the last. It'd be a shame for a franchise like that to be left twisting in the wind.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025511634630902101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-37519481848987940792019-10-31T13:38:00.807-04:002019-10-31T13:38:00.807-04:00Old post, but there has been a revival of sorts of...Old post, but there has been a revival of sorts of turn based games, most exemplified by the XCOM series and the new isometric RPGs that are getting some mainstream success. I am playing Pathfinder:Kingmaker which alas is real time with pause, but a modder has created a functional Turn Based Mod that works great. Let's use 1st edition Pathfinder RPG rules in a CRPG. Great stuff. ronaldsfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15221297712822999741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-1923294020599529082017-09-19T13:14:21.327-04:002017-09-19T13:14:21.327-04:00It was the hyphen that threw him over the edge.It was the hyphen that threw him over the edge.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64216562205220080252017-09-19T12:28:22.990-04:002017-09-19T12:28:22.990-04:00It's an extra "r" in a 7-year-old en...It's an extra "r" in a 7-year-old entry. There is literally no possible way that you could have been MORE nit-picking. If you "didn't mean" to, you sure didn't put up much of a fight.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-15748108157078479072017-09-19T11:48:21.396-04:002017-09-19T11:48:21.396-04:00I don't mean to be nit-picking, but just so yo...I don't mean to be nit-picking, but just so you know, it's "save scumming" according to everything else I've seen, not "save-scrumming." By the way, I thought Final Fantasy VII was a great turn-based RPG, and it's being remade for the PS4.Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-47286362729807423562014-10-27T21:05:45.983-04:002014-10-27T21:05:45.983-04:00try final fantasy new xiii on windows pc, more hig...try final fantasy new xiii on windows pc, more high graphics and more funFullgamefiredrivehttp://fullgamefiredrive.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-63561664756578295032014-10-26T22:12:59.693-04:002014-10-26T22:12:59.693-04:00I think good pathfinding and target trajectory is ...I think good pathfinding and target trajectory is also extremely important for RTwP games. <br /><br />Because you must ensure that your team-mates are able to take the safest and fastest path to where you target them. And for f*ck's sake, please don't cast a fireball at a barrel just because it's in front of the enemy.<br /><br />It's pretty sickening to have to baby them on a micro-managing level at neck-breaking pace.<br /><br />So far, no RTwP games (or is there ANY game at all?!) that have no such problem.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-32062829577354016602014-10-25T16:30:09.859-04:002014-10-25T16:30:09.859-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lilura1https://www.blogger.com/profile/00672152692345839654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-31161774104380857112014-08-26T02:55:42.668-04:002014-08-26T02:55:42.668-04:00Alas, if you're a fan, I think you'll be d...Alas, if you're a fan, I think you'll be disappointed with my reviews of <i>The Bard's Tale</i>, especially II and III.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-33971719301871762902014-08-25T15:01:05.488-04:002014-08-25T15:01:05.488-04:00Excellent site - i stumbled across it from looking...Excellent site - i stumbled across it from looking at pages on Legacy of the Ancients, which to me was the first RPG that had such a lasting and still nostalgic effect on me. Games like that were rare, hours spent with pencil & graph paper of which LOA was the first. This lead to Bards Tale 1,2,3 (i think ives till got the hand drawn maps 25x25sq real dedication to finish) Ultima (not sure which ones i played now as wasnt massive fan) and Pools of Radiance (which i never finished) -- this is your 2nd walkthru ive read, love your work. Bringing back lots of fond memories. Oh and tactical wins hands down for me as was the closest to D&D in a video game and adds that strategic element, movement speed, positioning (front/sides/rear) and subsequent bonuses for doing so. Baldurs Gate was the essential D&D party experience RPG, and although i never liked when they rebuilt to be real time in Never Winter Nights, i do understand why it was done. Baldurs Gate 1&2, Icewind Dale after a few play throughs of each you do get tired/bored of the style, Thats how good they were though, they made you play them till you were literally sick of doing so. Dragon Age was top shelf though and was to me a modern take on Baldurs Gate. Witcher 2 had better combat than Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim (the AI blows so combats dull) and now Dark Souls with its unforgiving combat/death system is taking real time into more appealing dimensions. The new Dragon Age Inquisition looks impressive, targeting specific parts (head, body, limbs) as well as the scale on which the combat takes place (ie Dragon will retreat, fly off if hurt or straddle a cliff top) -- Anyways now to go read your thoughts on Bards Tale (the RPG series i spent most time playing) keep up the good work!RICK LAKEhttp://www.gmail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-50470091321842666212014-05-25T04:08:57.356-04:002014-05-25T04:08:57.356-04:00Well, according to publishers, it was dead in 2011...Well, according to publishers, it was dead in 2011. The reason we're getting Turn-based combat now is largely thanks to crowd-funded games.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65670033225541965862014-05-25T02:22:42.304-04:002014-05-25T02:22:42.304-04:00I only use laptops these days, and even when I hav...I only use laptops these days, and even when I have a fairly new and powerful one, it always seems just below the recommended requirements of whatever new game I want to play.<br /><br />But a few other considerations go into whether I buy a game for the PC or the console, including whether I'm going to want to play it with my wife and whether I'm going to want to sit on the couch and play on my big TV. I played DA:O on the console for the former reason and <i>Skyrim</i> for the latter. As much as I agree that the PC is the superior platform, it's tough to play a PC game in the state of complete relaxation that you can get with a console, especially when playing with another person.<br /><br />Anyway, I admit I was a bit premature in saying "turn-based combat is dead." There were genres I didn't know much about in 2011, including a lot of independent games and JRPGs.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-87934333189941578672014-05-25T01:05:22.564-04:002014-05-25T01:05:22.564-04:00Looking through my titles for recent TBS combat:
...Looking through my titles for recent TBS combat:<br /><br />Spiderweb Software games<br />Banner Saga<br />Expeditions: Conquistador<br />Frozen Synapse<br />King's Bounty<br />X-com<br />Numerous roguelikes<br /><br />They're also all over Tablets.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-420490494981060122014-05-24T15:21:08.602-04:002014-05-24T15:21:08.602-04:00Have been lurking around your blog for a few weeks...Have been lurking around your blog for a few weeks - have gotten into a retro PC game mood myself lately, and have enjoyed reading your write-ups on various games.<br /><br />Just wanted to say that turn-based combat is not dead - it's just not really present in the stuff EA is churning out these days. Bioware is too good at what they do for their games to end up being lousy, but being in bed with EA has been a change for the worse, from a game-quality standpoint, in my opinion.<br /><br />That said, DA:O was quite good, as was the expansion. DA2 was a big let-down, though. I find myself with similar feelings about the chaos of real-time combat. Unless it's a game where you only control one player (like Divinity 2 - have you played that? Because you should), I have difficulty knowing what's going on. DA:O ultimately did ok for me in that respect because I played it on the PC, and as a prior commenter noted, you can pause, issue new orders, get a top-down perspective, etc. I only use the "programmed routines" stuff as a fail-safe to try and cover me in case I missed something.<br /><br />Back to the point - games like the Fire Emblem series (on Nintendo systems) and the Banner Saga and Shadowrun: Returns on the PC all have turn-based, tactical combat. I believe Divinity: Original Sin also has the option for this, as well. I'm guessing if you play PoR on your PC and DA:O on your Xbox that your PC isn't really a gaming rig? I really don't touch consoles except for Nintendo, because you can't really get those games anywhere else. Everything else is on the PC. It's still the best game system there is, in my opinion.<br /><br />Anyway - great blog, keep it up. Looking forward to when you get to EotB, Star Control 2, and some other favorites of mine.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17833179199794917143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-21128639205010768532014-05-15T00:38:42.754-04:002014-05-15T00:38:42.754-04:00Final Fantasy Tactics is a masterwork, not only in...Final Fantasy Tactics is a masterwork, not only in tactical gameplay and character development (mix different abilities from different classes!) but in story music and art. PS1 version recommended, other ports have lag issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-15793257592238195122014-03-02T23:37:59.407-05:002014-03-02T23:37:59.407-05:00Fallout I and II, Baldur's Gate....... Yeah, I...Fallout I and II, Baldur's Gate....... Yeah, I heard there was a lot of good stuff, though I only caught the tail end of it. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64496630283628952042014-03-02T21:47:08.327-05:002014-03-02T21:47:08.327-05:00Ultima (I-V), D&D, Wizardry, Bard's Tale, ...Ultima (I-V), D&D, Wizardry, Bard's Tale, ...<br />RPG were not empty shells in 90's<br />(I know, I'm old)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-11683446982343097092013-11-08T14:02:19.120-05:002013-11-08T14:02:19.120-05:00What a great article. A link to this should be for...What a great article. A link to this should be forward to every game developer out there who puts out CRPGs.<br /><br />I've been struggling myself to find the same gameplay depth and pleasure you get from a good turn-based CRPG in the newer real-time titles, but it's pointless because the bottom line is that real-time simply isn't as suited and as enjoyable for CRPGs.<br /><br />Bioware and associates got it more or less right in the Baldur's Gate series where the game engine was real-time but options (hence, optional !) were added to bring it closer to a turn-based experience, which was a big part of what make those games such a memorable gaming experience.<br /><br />They botched it in the post-Dragon Age era by omitting those same *options*, which would have been equally easy to implement, instead forcing the player to either manually pause all the time (far from the same as precise auto-pausing or turns) or just hack'n'slash through it as if playing a FPS.<br /><br />Turn-based games are obviously not a relic from the past as only a very ignorant casual gamer-type person (such as certain executives responsible for the operations of certain game developer studios) would put it, but an altogether different breed from real-time ones, each kind of gameplay more suited to specific game genres, and in some cases interchangeable.<br /><br />Veteran gamers miss the classics because they were privileged enough to experience them and the newer games feel like going from gold to copper, and newer players are simply denied a chance to even know what the taste of gold is, because game companies are too busy following the bandwagon and releasing more flashy, noisy FPS-like games - in the end, all gamers lose.<br /><br />This is what the current (inexperienced) generation of developers, coders and executives working at game studios must be taught by demonstration and by the voice of we, their customers, in order to put some direly needed "." in their respective "i", and articles such as the above one are a great starting point. Show it to them, people !Umma Gumma the 3rdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-15824088606261460582013-10-21T15:04:28.840-04:002013-10-21T15:04:28.840-04:00Wow, did not realize Fallout was so new. I'll ...Wow, did not realize Fallout was so new. I'll probably give it a try along side Chet when he gets there in 7 years or so. I own most of them on GoG, but the one time I tried to play 2 I got stuck in a house, blocked in by a little girl, who was blocked in by my follower so I shouldn't shove her out of the way. Killing her of course agros the whole town. This kind of made me quite and uninstall.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.com