How great RPGs would be without the decline?

[WaterMage]

In the past, when technology advanced, devs were eager to implement new stuff. For example, from Might & Magic V to VI: Mandate of Heaven, one of the very first things that they did was to add flight spells into the game. Same for Ultima Underworld, the game implemented levitation magic spells not presented in the mainline of Ultima games. Sadly, nowadays RPGs are all about taking cool stuff from older games and iterations and removing it.

But just imagine how cool they could be if, for example, instead of dialog wheels, each NPC could be talked to like a chatterbot. IF instead of removing ways to open doors, in older RPGs like Arcanum, you could bash, disintegrate doors with spells, magically open with unlock cantrip, lockpick, use dynamite, etc., to open any door or window. In modern RPGs, you can only use a lockpick. With all advancements in physics engines, real-time RPGs could have realistic physics, allowing, for example, a very powerful psion to telekinetically hurl a car at a building, and the game could simulate the impact, damage, and other factors in a realistic way. The AI of monsters in real-time RPGs could be as advanced as FEAR. Axe strikes could decapitate enemies and mutilate enemy bodies in a realistic way. With the advancement of AI, we could have P&P modules ported into CRPGs, and the DM could react to PCs out-of-the-box thinking. Think of using animated objects in very creative ways to bypass puzzles or, IDK, sneaking into the boss with an army of invisible animated bag of holdings and dropping a lot of nasty stuff on him. An AI DM would be able to react to such ideas. The AI would also be able to counter the PC party in TB games and force the PC to adjust its strategy. Could be even more advanced than KoTC2. Other game genres to take the advancements in physics and AI.

But instead we got... dialog wheels, bullet sponge enemies, the same QTE/cooldown managing boredom for endless gear farming, stat-sticky itemization, nonsensical stupid armor design, pronouns in character creation, etc.

[Lich]

The things you consider cool here are decline too.

[1998]

The real issue is that for years there are barely any RPGs made besides a couple of one-man projects.

[PixiGreen]

In the past, when technology advanced, devs were eager to implement new stuff. For example, from Might & Magic V to VI: Mandate of Heaven, one of the very first things that they did was to add flight spells into the game. Same for Ultima Underworld, the game implemented levitation magic spells not presented in the mainline of Ultima games. Sadly, nowadays RPGs are all about taking cool stuff from older games and iterations and removing it.

But just imagine how cool they could be if, for example, instead of dialog wheels, each NPC could be talked to like a chatterbot. IF instead of removing ways to open doors, in older RPGs like Arcanum, you could bash, disintegrate doors with spells, magically open with unlock cantrip, lockpick, use dynamite, etc., to open any door or window. In modern RPGs, you can only use a lockpick. With all advancements in physics engines, real-time RPGs could have realistic physics, allowing, for example, a very powerful psion to telekinetically hurl a car at a building, and the game could simulate the impact, damage, and other factors in a realistic way. The AI of monsters in real-time RPGs could be as advanced as FEAR. Axe strikes could decapitate enemies and mutilate enemy bodies in a realistic way. With the advancement of AI, we could have P&P modules ported into CRPGs, and the DM could react to PCs out-of-the-box thinking. Think of using animated objects in very creative ways to bypass puzzles or, IDK, sneaking into the boss with an army of invisible animated bag of holdings and dropping a lot of nasty stuff on him. An AI DM would be able to react to such ideas. The AI would also be able to counter the PC party in TB games and force the PC to adjust its strategy. Could be even more advanced than KoTC2. Other game genres to take the advancements in physics and AI.

But instead we got... dialog wheels, bullet sponge enemies, the same QTE/cooldown managing boredom for endless gear farming, stat-sticky itemization, nonsensical stupid armor design, pronouns in character creation, etc.

We are kind of moving in this direction? There is at least one Skyrim mod with NPC connected to the chatbot with a personality that can freely chat with the player. WotC works really hard on replacing real DMs with AI (lots of terrible things bound to that but technology sure could be implemented for cRPGs down the line). Procedural generated environment is the long-standing dream of every game company and is slowly being implemented (for now as separate planets/zones but give it some time). Larians in DOS used all kinds of creative utilization of the environment, combining spells and items. Still programmed mostly but it's there. Fatalities were part of gaming for years with decapitations and whatnot.

All we need is for some studio to combine all big and small innovations. Here, NVIDIA works on some aspects: NVIDIA Redefines Game AI With ACE Autonomous Game Characters

"... At CES 2025, NVIDIA is redefining game AI with the introduction of NVIDIA ACE autonomous game characters.

First introduced in 2023, NVIDIA ACE is a suite of RTX-accelerated digital human technologies that bring game characters to life with generative AI.

NVIDIA is now expanding ACE from conversational NPCs to autonomous game characters that use AI to perceive, plan, and act like human players. Powered by generative AI, ACE will enable living, dynamic game worlds with companions that comprehend and support player goals, and enemies that adapt dynamically to player tactics.

Enabling these autonomous characters are new ACE small language models (SLMs), capable of planning at human-like frequencies required for realistic decision making, and multi-modal SLMs for vision and audio that allow AI characters to hear audio cues and perceive their environment.

NVIDIA is partnering with leading game developers to incorporate ACE autonomous game characters into their titles. Interact with human-like AI players and companions in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, inZOI, and NARAKA: BLADEPOINT MOBILE PC VERSION. Fight against ever-learning AI-powered bosses that adapt to your playstyle in MIR5. And experience new gameplay mechanics made possible with AI-powered NPCs in AI People, Dead Meat, and ZooPunk...."

[logincrash]

@Decline, rebuttal?

[WaterMage]

mod

Yes, modders are making great things. But compare modded skyrim with eso...