Mistaken Experience

Okay, here we go. Since I’ve started this I’ve always wanted to play the “5 word game” with my readers. Its VERY simple. Here are the rules. You have 5 words to place into a few paragraphs as seamlessly as possibly. For the sake of ease, there is a 500 word limit.
This is copious amounts of space for 5 measly words. Now! Time for a few examples (only 2 words to make this faster for me)
BAD:
Piece
Title
“The title of my new book is “My Big Piece Of Pie”".

Piece
Title
Nonchalant
Alliance
Doctrine

BETTER:
Jonathan looked at his feet quizzically as if they had answers for the questions in his head. The Queen had knighted him so nonchalantly that he couldn’t help but question his new title. A fortnight ago, Jonathan would have been giddy with delight with the Queen’s decision. The all the recent thieving, piracy and unusual alliances, Jonathan could help but feel like he was being used. He Started to piece together the puzzle in his head. Why was the queen so intent oh making him a night over Purcucio, as he was the more noble of the troupe. After all, he had led the mission to return the stolen doctrine.

What does this example say? Set it up. You shouldn’t try to rush the words into a sentance. It doesn’t take much. The other thing I LOVE about the 5 word game is how well it sets up for a short story. I like to give myself a character or two, and a problem. As is the case with the queen’s odd decision. You will see my approach better in my other example (see comments.)

So what do you all think? I would be THRILLED if anyone is interested. The way this would work if people are interested is that someone would write a paragraph or two with the 5 words, and leave 5 new ones for the next person. If two people submit at the same time and we have 10 words, all the better! So to start just leave a comment to say if your interested, when we get 2-4 people we can get this started!

Okay, here’s the post to get me back going on this thing. Just a random blurb about something that bothers me so… A rant if you will.
What is an RPG?

RPG (NOUN) är-pE-’jE
A Role Playing Game.

That is an RPG. To me, an RPG must be so much more. Every RPG should contain 3 things.
1. An easily followed story, the base of any rpg. This is most the allure of any rpg for me. If there were a point system for determining an RPG’s score, this would have more points than any other area. There are so many RPG’s that have a wonderful layout, graphics, or the best soundtrack of any game in existence, that is ruined my a substandard story. One should also note that many of my favorites don’t have great graphics, wonderful soundtracks, or many things that, today, are idealized as making a game worth playing. The story makes the RPG different from shooters or action games. While this is absolutely necessary for every RPG, having one does not make you an RPG.

2. A HP/MP system (Health Points and Magic/Mana Points. When you hit 0 HP, you die, this is not is the case with mp. (MP only if applicable, but honestly, name 3 good RPG’s without it)). Yes, I want numbers, the slash between them is nice, but not a necessity. If I’m say a lvl 5 character in some random RPG, I want to see 45/28 (or some other number, these just popped into my head. These can be separate, even represented by “health bars”, but in the end, I want to be able to read numbers. I DO NOT believe that having 12 hearts is a good representation of HP. MP is not important if we are dealing with spells per day, as is the case with dungeons and dragons, the original RPG.

3. A level system (with numbers PLEASE) and I require that I have at least the ability to reach 9 levels. This is a very basic part of what makes an RPG different from other games. I can gain levels which will making battles easier. This is not so with many games such as shooters, platforms, and standard action games. Clean and simple people, if I don’t gain levels, I’m not playing an RPG, or I really suck at it. Please note that if my level is not on the main screen, it should be easily viewed.

4. Chance, luck, the roll of the die, whatever you please. I know I said 3 but this cant be missed. If I have a sword (lets say its attack score is 5 for the sake of ease) and I’m level 10, and my strength score (If I even have one O_O) is 15, I really don’t want to see that I’m doing 30 damage every time I swing at the monster. I want to see numbers in range, the bigger the better (to a point that it still makes since. If I’m level 50, and I have a godly Katana (The divinity +5 with a weapon attack well over 80) and a streangth of like 60, I don’t want to be doing between 50 and 500 damage, but 200-400 is not going to make me cry). I also want a chance to miss with an attack, as I want the monster to have a chance to miss me. Enough said on the matter, variance is absolute.

This being said I would like to give some examples of games that people have called RPG’s that, in my opinion, are not. Okay, so I really only have one set. In my opinion, the Zelda series is not an RPG. it’s a very complex action/platform game. People will tell me I’m crazy, some will go as far as to say I should rot in my grave. Whoa whoa whoa, I’m not saying that TLOZ is a bad series, I certainly don’t mind them at all. But in my mind this breaks 2 or 3 very important rules of how I see RPG’s. An HP/MP system, because I don’t think hearts count. Why? This means that almost every monster has the same HP, and that most monster attacks do the same damage. I can’t see this as a replacement for good, solid numbers.

The next issue I have in calling it an RPG is the lack of a Level system. Now, I have had many people tell me that you level in Zelda, and its represented through age, and you may or may not gain certain benefits at these turn points. This is not good enough for me. I want numbers, and there had better me more than 8. I want at least 9 because some people are blesses, as I have been, to have ever played the first edition of Dungeons and Dragons (My thanks to a rich man who goes by Bill, who spent over a thousand dollars on his collection of first addition dungeons and dragons maps, guidebooks, manuals, characters, modules and more! You can only reach level 9 character but this is no mean feat. In first addition D&D if you die, your often done, with the exception oh having a holy man (cleric/priest, of high level) with you. If you die with no way to revive yourself, most Dungeon masters will accept the character as now non-playable.

Last but not least, there is no variance of damage done/received in Zelda, I can say no more on the matter.

Think I’ve gone too far? I really needed something to get me back on track for writing on my web page. My vast apologies to my good friend Jamie who gave me access to this domain without charge. I, for a long time, have neglected it to unimaginable extents. Lets hope this gets me back on track.

So, do you agree? Disagree? Let me just say flame on, I’m ready to take it. You could even well convince me to change my mind about RPG’s. If I have misrepresented anything in anyway, please let me know. Truly, I am willing to hear anything anyone says about this.

With this in mind, I would like to list my favorite 3 RPG’s

3. Chrono Trigger by Square for the Super Nintendo

2. Final Fantast 7 by Square for Sony Playstation

1. Seiken Densetsu 3 by square for the Super Nintendo

For the record, my 1st and second place is a tie. so its really like 2, 1 and also 1.