Role-playing games (RPGs) are one of the most immersive and rewarding genres in video gaming. The best RPGs offer vast, expansive worlds to explore, intricate stories filled with details and lore, and the chance to create a unique character to represent you in the game. However, RPGs' sheer size, scale, and depth can be overwhelming for those new to the genre. It doesn't need to be like that, so we are here with five essential tips to ease you into the incredible world of RPGs.
Choose the Right RPG for Your Playstyle
This may sound obvious, but if you are new to RPGs, choose a game that suits you and your preferences. While most RPGs have striking similarities, not all RPGs are created equal. Some are turn-based, others emphasize fast-paced action, and some focus on lore and exploration. Everyone has different opinions about these sub-genres, similar to how people agree and disagree about the best mobile sportsbook for Android or their favorite type of music. The RPG world is massive and caters to all preferences.
Those who enjoy fast, reactive combat could consider an action RPG like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or the Dark Souls series. Conversely, consider a turn-based RPT like Final Fantasy or Persona 5 if you prefer slower, more methodical gameplay. Titles like Breath of the Wild and Skyrim are ideal for gamers craving a vast open world where exploration takes precedence.
Playing an RPG that does not align with your playstyle can lead to frustration, so start with a game that piques your interest, and you stand a better chance of becoming engrossed in its world.
Embrace the Story and Exploration
Developers like CD Projekt Red, Bethesda Game Studios, Larian Studios, and BioWare spend years creating rich narratives and expansive RPG worlds that demand exploration. If you are new to RPGs, it can be tempting to rush through the main story and beat the game, but approaching RPGs in this manner means you will miss some of the best parts of the journey. Often, the journey is better than the destination!
Take your time to explore everything the world offers. Wander off the beaten track, speak to every non-playable character (NPC) you meet, and dive into side quests. More often than not, these NPCs and side quests will lead to new items and skills for your character or reveal some fascinating lore that could help you and influence your decisions further into the game.
The more you invest in the story and exploration part of an RPG, the more rewarding your overall experience will be.
Experiment with Classes and Builds
Character customization is one area that sets RPGs apart from other video game genres. Most RPGs start with you creating a character from several classes and backgrounds and assigning skill points to various categories. This process can be daunting for newbies, often leading them to search online for the meta builds. While this is tempting, you shouldn't stress too much about picking the perfect class from the word go.
Build a character that suits your playstyle, each with inherent strengths and weaknesses. Experimentation with character-building is all part of the fun. Personally, I prefer to create a character that looks and has skills similar to me in real life, which makes me feel closer to the action and part of the story. Many games allow you to respec or reroll your skill points later in the game in case you are unhappy with your initial choices.
Don't be afraid to experiment with hybrid builds. Instead of creating a tank character that can soak up and deal ridiculous amounts of damage, consider investing skill points in this tanky fellow's ranged attacks and create a beast of a player. RPGs offer flexibility, so be flexible/
Become an Expert in Resource Management
Depending on the RPG you play, resource management ranges from being a walk in the park to a majorly frustrating experience. Most RPGs impose a weight limit to what characters can carry before it negatively affects their movement and statistics. This forces you to manage your inventory. Ask yourself, "Do I really need to pick up that Level 3 sword when I am a Level 10 character."
It's not only inventory management that you must keep an eye on in RPGs but also stamina and, where applicable, magic. Gamers are used to watching their health bar, but most RPGs also have stamina and magic bars that need careful managing. Sprinting, dodging, and even swinging your weapon can deplete stamina, leaving you unable to attack or avoid blows. Similarly, casting spells can quickly deplete your resources, leaving you vulnerable.
Save Often
Although some RPG purists frown upon the act, newcomers are encouraged to save often and have several saved game files at any one time. Part of what makes RPGs amazing is the experience of learning through failure. However, choosing the wrong dialogue with an NPC or killing a specific enemy can lock you out of a story arc.
Additionally, you may stumble across an area with a tough boss that you cannot beat or avoid. In these cases, you can load up one of your saves and choose a different option of skirting around an area that you know is home to an OP boss.
Most RPGs have an autosave feature that works well, but having a few manual saves to fall back on is always good. Either change the save file's name or jot it down on a piece of paper so you know what choices you have made up to that point.
Conclusion
Stepping into a vast RPG world can be daunting to the uninitiated, but you now have five helpful tips to help you start an epic journey. RPGs are incredibly rewarding if you choose the right one for your playstyle, create a character and build that you enjoy controlling, and fully explore the map and its NPCs.
These games are designed to let you direct the journey; they are not linear games that you may be accustomed to. You'll make mistakes along the way, but that is all part and parcel of the experience. Have fun out there, explorer.
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