This time around, we're taking a look at one of the more popular RPG hybrid genres. Depending on where you're coming from, this particular genre may carry a slightly different name. To Japanese players and many console gamers, this category is known as the SRPG. Now, I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone what the 'RPG' part means, but ask what the 'S' stands for and you'll again get different answers. The first group will tell you it's for 'simulation', while the latter will probably offer up 'strategy'. For those coming from a computer gaming background, this genre is most likely known as the TRPG, where the 'T' stands for 'tactical' or 'tactics'. Though I personally tend to use 'SRPG' in my daily writing, for the purposes of this article I'm going to use 'TRPG', just to give some fair representation to the other team.
Whatever you call this genre, it's not hard to conjure up some examples. For mobile gamers in particular, this has been a rich source of large, deep gameplay experiences that conventional wisdom would try to tell us are wholly incompatible with the platform. X-COM, Final Fantasy Tactics, Kingturn RPG, and even more casual takes like Fire Emblem Heroes are all examples of the genre that have enjoyed popularity among mobile fans. The genre tends to go in cycles of popularity, and at this particular moment in gaming, it feels like we're at the top of a pretty big wave. I thought this might be a good time to look at the origins of the TRPG genre in video gaming and some of its bigger highlights up to today. It's a rather large topic, so this article is only going to cover the early period up to 1990. I'll conclude the history next week.
I don't think I'll be surprising anyone by saying that the TRPG genre originated in classic tabletop wargaming. I mean, it's a hybrid, right? So it had to come from one or the other of those things in its name. What is interesting (although perhaps also not surprising to dedicated RPG fans) is that the TRPG technically predates the RPG, which sprang forth from precisely the same origins. Before we go any deeper, though, it's probably a good idea to define what a TRPG is. As always, genre definitions can get fuzzy on the borderlines, so please don't take this as the only possible word. It's simply my interpretation, and flawed though it may be, it's the one I'll be using here.
TRPGs:
- are largely composed of turn-based battles between two or more groups of units
- feature units who can earn experience points and level up, becoming stronger over the course of the game
- typically feature equipment or gear that can be equipped to units to increase their capabilities
- can offer a variety of conditions for victory, though the most common are eliminating the enemy forces or securing a particular location
- generally focus on battles rather than any sort of real exploration, though there are exceptions
- often feature many different types of units with their own strengths and weaknesses
- are generally played out on grid-based maps where terrain has at least a minor effect on outcomes
- tend to focus on ground-level battles between individuals rather than abstracts groups of troops
- place a great degree of importance on unit positioning
- feature random elements that add an element of uncertainty as to the outcome of individual actions
- contain a number of different maps to battle on
- tend to tell an over-arching story that provides context for the battles
- often feature defined characters as units, but not always
- generally get more difficult as the player progresses through the maps
- may require the player to manage resources like items or money over the course of the entire game
Prominent Examples of TRPGs:
- Fire Emblem
- X-COM: Enemy Within
- Final Fantasy Tactics
- Demon's Rise
- Kingturn RPG
- The Banner Saga
Not TRPGs:
- Advance Wars
- Warcraft 2
- Chess
- My Horse Prince
- Enviro-Bear 2010
- Battle Academy
Dragon and Princess
Ultima 3
Bokusuka Wars
Silver Ghost
Tir-Na-Nog
Fire Emblem
I suppose this is as good of a cut-off point as any for now. Check back for next week's Reload as I run through what happened in the Western gaming scene to kick off the TRPG genre and some of the bigger games that followed in both styles. Don't forget to swing by the forums and join in on if you're looking for some fun adventures. We've still got half the month left, which is plenty of time to get it done. As for me, I'll be back next week to bury you with more words. Thanks for reading!
Next Week's Reload: The History of TRPGs Part 2