What defines a RPG?

[HoloDust]

famousringo said:

HoloDust said:

famousringo said:
Everywhere else? A game where players take on an active persona in a fictional world, shaping the narrative of a story from that perspective. Without the players, it's called storytelling, without the fictional world, it's called madness, and without a role in shaping the story, it's called acting.

In video games? Apparently, if it has a levelling system, it's an RPG.

Nice definition, really like it. Though I do think some sort of (at least basic) stat sytem that can be manipulated by player, and that plays role in how his character is progressing through the story is required, otherwise most action-adventures can come under that definition as well.

A system of rules is necessary for a game to be a game, but a numerical stat system is optional. Plenty of role-playing games don't use one. Live action role-playing most (in)famously.

I'd say most action-adventures don't qualify, as few of them allow the player much control of the narration. An RPG needs to give the player decisions which have a real effect on how the story unfolds.

It doesn't have to be numerical, FUDGE (and it's derivates) for example has no numerical stats, but it does have a way to define how good (or bad) are you in certain skills. As for LARPs, lot of them have stats, abstract or otherwise, though I do agree lot of them have very few rules.