Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Gameplay Modes
Because CRPGs try to duplicate (within limits) the flexibility of tabletop role-play-
ing games, they offer more kinds of activities than any other genre. Among these
activities are exploration, tactical combat, stealth operations, conversation, buying
and selling, and inventory management.
CRPGs typically use four major gameplay modes and a variable number of minor
ones. The major modes are exploration and combat, conversation, trade, and
inventory management. The minor modes are character creation (only used at the
beginning of the game), character upgrade screens, and skill tree management.
The next four sections describe the major modes briefly.
EXPLORATION AND COMBAT
In older computer games, exploration was often a gameplay mode separate from
combat, and the two modes had different camera models. Modern games combine
them into a single mode. Traditional party-based RPGs often use an isometric per-
spective so the player can see the whole party.
Figure 15.3
is from
Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal
, which illustrates this isometric perspective.
Notice the complexity of the user interface, with buttons along three sides of the
screen as well as a scrolling text window at the bottom.
FIGURE 15.3
Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal
with
an isometric perspec-
tive showing several
party members as well
as a number of NPCs
