[BadMrBox]

If you haven't read this before, it's quite funny.
http://project-apollo.net/text/rpg.html
_________________

[cowgod]

I've read that before, and it's great.

I kind of want to make an RPG that includes every one of those cliches just so that I can say that I did.

The problem with such an RPG is that it would, in some ways, suck. It would be funny; it just wouldn't be fun. Maybe it would be better just to make references to them in the dialogue.

[RampantCoyote]

I am actually doing that to some degree in Frayed Knights. Though I'm trying to provide some twists on them to kinda turn them on their ear. So if you quit early into the game, you'll say, "Argh! Cliché!" But if you stick with it (hopefully) you'll be amused.
_________________
Tales of the Rampant Coyote - Old-School Game Developer talks Indie Games, RPGs, and the Games Biz

[Terry]

Hah, I love this list. Laugh everytime I read it :)

I had a friend who was planning on making a game based on this list too, but he was doing something a bit different. He went through the list and reversed everything on it, and set about making a game from that premise. It started with an old guy who got up early and couldn't get back to sleep.

This list also reminds me of this: How to survive any RPG.
_________________
http://www.distractionware.com

[BadMrBox]

My games have always been more or less cliché in some way and I'm sure I'll find some *cough* inspiration in that list. On the other hand, take any final fantasy of your choice and your nail most of the points in the list.

Nice avatar Terry :)
_________________

[Terry]

I guess it's inevitable for all stories to rely on cliché in some manner. It's only really a problem when it results from a lack of imagination or bad storytelling. Eliminating cliché from your plot doesn't automatically make a badly written game any good, but it's probably a good starting point.

And as you point out, some of the best RPGs are rife with clichés. I guess that's why they became clichés, heh.

[Thanks! I figured it was about time I changed my avatar, heh. This is the new Phoenix Wright from the Apollo Justice game, seemed appropriate. :) ]
_________________
http://www.distractionware.com

[RampantCoyote]

My wife and I say it's "formula." And the formula works. That's how it became a formula.

But only if its handled really well. If it's a paint-by-numbers formula movie or show or game, it's awful.

And yeah, nice avatar Terry!
_________________
Tales of the Rampant Coyote - Old-School Game Developer talks Indie Games, RPGs, and the Games Biz

[Scrim]

[DeveloperX]

[Nodtveidt]

Hrm...interesting list. I compared my own flagship RPG, "The Wrath of Sona", against that list and it seems it has almost nothing on it.

#5 almost applies, but Jareth is 21, not 18. Still young, but not a whiny brat kid like in most RPGs.
#6 almost applies, but both of his parents are long since dead, he was raised by someone not of his blood, and it was a man as well.
#9 almost applies too, except it's not a misty forest, it's a burning forest. Also, there's no icy dungeons, but there is a watery one, plus of course, Hell. I guess that's a fire dungeon.
#12 mostly applies. Jareth's family was originally rich, but most of his family was wiped out by disease, and what was left of their money was spent.
#15...got a character who's the exact opposite. There is a greedy mercenary who travels with Jareth for awhile but then ends up becoming even greedier and meaner, rather than becoming a nice guy.
#19 almost applies. Jareth can use a sword, but since he is a magician, he prefers a staff or a dagger.
#24, #25, and #31 apply.
#50 applied to early prototypes.
#58 sort of applies. It's not necessarily a bad thing either, it keeps the game simple. Haggling over currency might be fun in the real world but in a game, it's a drag.
#79 applies. It's just not a fantasy RPG without dragons. :)
#187 applies.

I find it odd that more of them didn't apply. Even little details, such as "the game won't progress until you answer correctly" doesn't apply, since the storyline splits off into many different branches depending on the answers that he gives to questions asked.
_________________
If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows. - wallace

[Terry]