RPGs with the best customizations

[RZetlin]

Somewhat a follow up to my Action RPG (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1472646&page=1&view=c ollapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) thread.

RPG customizations would mean changing the characters' jobs/class -- even clothes, selecting the team members to bring into battle and a wide variety to making weapons and spells.

I open this up to any gaming platform from console to PC.

The only one that comes to my mind is Elder Scrolls IV.

[jecca-neko]

A lot of RPGs have some of those elements but I'm not sure there's one with all of those elements.

PC RPGs probably are most likely to have what you're looking for in so far as customizable character. The Elder Scrolls series, Neverwinter Nights series, and to some degree the Star Wars KotOR series allow this.

[ADC]

The game that immediately came to mind was Final Fantasy Tactics for its expansive job system and (for FF) extensive cast. But I've already hijacked another thread for FFT, so maybe I should close it off there. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[jecca-neko]

[ QUOTE ]
ADC said:
The game that immediately came to mind was Final Fantasy Tactics for its expansive job system and (for FF) extensive cast. But I've already hijacked another thread for FFT, so maybe I should close it off there. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, that's true, but you can't customize how the characters look.

[ADC]

[ QUOTE ]
jecca-neko said:
[ QUOTE ]
ADC said:
The game that immediately came to mind was Final Fantasy Tactics for its expansive job system and (for FF) extensive cast. But I've already hijacked another thread for FFT, so maybe I should close it off there. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, that's true, but you can't customize how the characters look.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's true of the story characters, but the cadets and hirelings do change based on job class. Not exactly customization, perhaps, but I don't know many RPGs which give you free reign over clothing. It's usually a different graphic for whatever sword and maybe shield, but the same character model. It's kind of a bummer, but who knows how much extra development time would go into a massive wardrobe?

[NeoCortex]

I think Knights of the Old Republic had a decent amount of customization. Any armor/clothing you equipped showed up on you, and you had some control over your characters face. Not to mention how it changed as you chose light side or dark side. Even the team members would change in appearance if you made them go good/evil, although you didn't have any control over their initial appearance.

[Fudce]

I'm gonna get some stuff thrown at me when I say this, but MMORPGs surely take the crown for most customisable appearance for an RPG. Other than that: FFX-2, FFT(A)

[Suwako Moriya]

[ QUOTE ]
jecca-neko said:
Well, that's true, but you can't customize how the characters look.

[/ QUOTE ]

On that note, to be honest while I have played plenty of RPGs with customization along the lines of "Okay, I'll train her in spears". I've never really done much along the lines of "Okay, he'll be 15 years old, have pink hair, wear a business suit, carry a yellow knife, etc".

Thus if we're speaking best customization in terms of every option under the sun, I can't say much about it. However in terms of the ability angle, I actually prefer customization with restriction. It's not that I want complete restriction.

Rather it's I want the feeling my choice actually matters to some degree. That I can't just easily swap drugs to make everyone an instant god with every ability in the game. Of course it's not so bad if reaching that point requires a lot of effort. After all one should not gripe if they spent 40 extra hours doing that on purpose.

[EmperorBrandon]

Hmm... this is reminding me of an SNES RPG game I have called Robotrek. I'm thinking it's pretty obscure (don't know how many have heard of it), but it was a pretty fun game.

In it, you use robots in battle, and you can give them all sorts of attack combinations, items (which you combine from spare parts and the like), and adjust their stats. I think it had a system that offered quite a lot of choices.

[AbeChinchilla]

.hack//G.U., Vol. 1 features a lot of weapon, armor and accessory customizations, weapon synthesis and class customizations (these are pre-set though).

[dunno001]

Hmm... this is reminding me of an SNES RPG game I have called Robotrek. I'm thinking it's pretty obscure (don't know how many have heard of it), but it was a pretty fun game.



In it, you use robots in battle, and you can give them all sorts of attack combinations, items (which you combine from spare parts and the like), and adjust their stats. I think it had a system that offered quite a lot of choices.

Good answer, and yes, I remember I always made my robots 3 different colors. And the moves, well... I hated watching those bomb combos eat up my entire energy bar...

[RommieSG]

That's the one thing I love about MMORPG's, is that character customization is top notch. From the look, to the style of clothing you wear, to your weapon and class. Pretty much you create the entire persona, and customize it however you want. :)

[Fudce]

In terms of MMO's, I'd say that FFXI has possibly the largest customisation options

[GyBaNO]

RPG Maker! FTW

[Suwako Moriya]

RPG Maker! FTW

Well that certainly is an interesting choice. Forget just designing your character, design the whole game or close to that. Still the ultimate easy answer is "Close your eyes and use your imagination". *Runs*

[GyBaNO]

Well hell, I've used to do that in my youth, but the price on basement mazes and pillow/cover dungeons has gone up over the years.

Still, traversing the fabled land of Dildonia in the one RPG I made back in 2001 was pretty damn hilarious.

[Fudce]

RPG Maker! FTW
But is RPG Maker an RPG?

[GyBaNO]

Yes it is.

You can actually play your creation after you're done designing it. I made a 7 hour long game for my buddy to play through and he made me a 9 hour one.

[Fudce]

Yes it is.

You can actually play your creation after you're done designing it. I made a 7 hour long game for my buddy to play through and he made me a 9 hour one.


The games you create are undeniably RPGs, but the game itself isn't one.

[GyBaNO]

Sure it is, it comes with a premade game already on it.

Nyah!

[Suwako Moriya]

Just pretend you're playing the role of Alex who's sex is unknown. Alex wants to make an RPG because Alex feels that Alex is the best RPG maker ever. Join Alex's quest to make an RPG. What?

[RZetlin]

Does Disgaea use class or jobs for individual characters?

[Soulblazer]

Classes, but you can reincarnate a character into a new class (starting over at level 1). You get to keep all skills (as long as you have leveled them up a bit) and the number of stats you gain per level goes up. You can also create new character as a "pupil" to another character. The master character can learn skills that the pupil has already learned by using the skill right next to the pupil and leveling it from skill level 0 to 1.

In any case, if you want as much customization as possible, for the most part you would want to stick to PC games. The only problem is that usually the more customization and freedom you have to move around, the less story and character development there is in the game.

[Suwako Moriya]

Also in terms of Disgaea it should be noted that story characters such as Larhl and Etna have their own set of unique skills. Personally speaking I never made much use out of reincarnation. I mainly just gave each lead about three pupils. Then again I was only really concerned with the main game and never planned to do the side stuff or uber level.

[Soulblazer]

Aye the main reason for reincarnation is to get uber stats since you get a bonus green bar added to each stat depending on each stat number before reincarnation, plus you get bonus stat points to assign depending on the number of stored levels that your character has (total number of levels gained for every reincarnation). The starting point of each stat plays a huge roll in determing how much each stat goes up when you level.