What's the bare-bones basics of an RPG?

[bayotter]

I'm working on an essay for a technical writing class, and trying to analyze the RPG game. Anybody have ideas on what are the bare-bones basic rules of every RPG game? I figure then I could maybe show examples of systems that break every one of those rules and whether or not the game still works.

I'm using as my study group all the free RPG systems I can download from the internet. There's a list at the bottom of the page at...

http://www.eng.uci.edu/~mpontius/rpghunt.html

Thanks,
--bayotter

 

[Drawmack]

Every RPG consits of two aspects. In no particular order they are:

Task Resolution: Most RPGs use dice for this, but some are diceless.

Character Advancement: Some systems, such as d20, use leveling while others, such as Harnmaster use skill point increases on a merit basis.

Every aspect of an RPG can be placed into one of these catagories.

 

[Xeriar]

Every RPG consits of two aspects. In no particular order they are:

Task Resolution: Most RPGs use dice for this, but some are diceless.

Character Advancement: Some systems, such as d20, use leveling while others, such as Harnmaster use skill point increases on a merit basis.

Every aspect of an RPG can be placed into one of these catagories.

Some RPGs throw out character advancement (HOL, Kobolds Ate my Baby, Toon - well, without the expansions) or make the concept practically useless (Cyberpunk 2020).

All RPGs have some form of challenge resolution that I've seen, but sometimes it has nothing to do with numbers, and is just roleplaying.

 

[Kamard]

Heh.

I've heard it said all RPG's need the rules to hit an enemy, and the rules to pick a door lock.

If the RPG can do that, everything else is filler.

 

[Drawmack]

I've heard it said all RPG's need the rules to hit an enemy, and the rules to pick a door lock.

These both fall into the category of task resolution.

 

[starwolf]

1. Imagination
2. A means to resolve any arguments. (A coin toss will do.)

 

[Tonguez]

The Basic RPG

Bang your dead
No I'm not
Yes you are
NOT
AM
NOT NOT NOT
AM AM AM
I'm not playing with you
I'm not playing with you so there
MUM!