Lost Odyssey is a sure purchase for me. The two main premises that interest me the most about that game is that supporting characters can die and not be revived and that the main character is immortal.

See thats the thing, i really am falling in love with the LO story already, but having never played a turn-based game im scared to make the purchase, at least at full price. Dammit, why cant they just give great Japanese game stories action-rpg status lol

Very sure purchase for me, and its just for the story, i believe 4 characters are immortal and 5 are not, that way if all 5 die you can at least always have a party of 4 (out of 5), but it will be very very interesting, you have to make moral choices, becausei believe when those mortal characters die the immortals obsorb their powers, which mean you could have a very strong potentional team, but you lose them for the story. So its a moral chose, wow so many choices.

Well starcraft, turn based are one of my favorite genre's, all i need is a very deep story, character development (i want to feel for characters also) kick ass looking moves, and you got me the ultimate game.

Turn based is really thinking, its not just shoot this guy etc, it takes thinking, you have to decide ok if i attack now theres a good chance he could kill me with next turn so i best have this guy heal me etc. And it goes deeper then that, im sure you will get awsome special moves like in FF and BD, and most of the time, these are based on luck.

They are also adding a little bit of real time elements like having to press the button at the right time when attacking so you dont get bored if you prefer  real time, though i could have it either way.

BTW have you seen the demo of 06 (they have made improvements since then) because the attacking and graphics are so amazing i could play with just basic stuff like that. I mean look at the random encounter battles and watch magic i was amazed how awsome it looked.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/15021.html
If you go to here, you will see the combat in its most basic form (this is more then a year old, so they have added a few things)
THis is i guess the first lvl, and first lvls are always the most boring and basic of the gamplay. But im almost bought on just how awsome it looks, graphically, i havent seen a better rpg yet, and graphics are always a sure thing in rpgs.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/13688.html
Heres part of the trailer, with some easy good looking gameplay
Remember it will get alot better then this with 9 characters, and each of them having different skills.

Also to add to above rpgs are also always easier for me to buy the games, because usually you get 40+ hours of gameplay, and 60 bucks for 40 hours of entertainment is easily a good deal to me. I believe they have said LO is 60+ hours? im not sure ranges from 50-70

the music is amazing

The graphics are pretty sick. I guess it would all just depend on the first 2 or 3 hours. If i could get myself used to the turn-based system quickly and without fuss, it could become 2nd nature and id love it

Well just know combat gets funner the deeper you go, so if you like even the most basic form, or at least for the first few hours, then you will love these games.

The only way i like turn based gameplay is if they look amazing when you attack, and multiple attacks and things like limit breaks

Sort of on a tangent to this discussion, but what does everyone honestly think of turn-based combat? Was it a product of its times that needs updating -- ie: games were technologically unable to produce real-time combat with rpg mechanics and this style of play was developed to compensate -- or is it an actual preferred play style of some gamers?

I think 'twitch' gaming turns a lot of people off because some gamers just don't have the time to invest to develop profiency. Plus, it's likely intimidating for new gamers who haven't developed the hand-eye coordination often required to succeed in real-time games. So I can understand why turn-based combat might still have a lot of appeal to people who just want to 'play' a story, which is often what RPGs do. However, being someone who likes a more hands-on approach to my games, I also understand (and even agree with to some extent) the recent call to turn away from these types of games. What's everyone's opinions? Is it a genre on its way out, or do you think it's a lasting type of gameplay?

Well, you are right about turn based was made because it was the only thing that could be handled at the time, and yes i do believe that a majority of rpgs should try something new etc. But i will always want a traditional rpg in a generation. These games got me hooked, and while its not new innovative gameplay its not like they cant introduce some new things (like wall system etc) and thats what they are trying to do. Also you can expect turn based games to last a little longer, because a simpler system will mean most likely a longer story, and for me thats great. Either way works.

Games like White Knight story look fantastic with real time, i mean just fantastic, but that doesnt mean you cant have room for good old turn based rpgs. They are still some of Japans and some rpg fans favorite genre, i know they are one of mine.

As long as the game has a great story, something new, and just looks fantastic, i will always enjoy turn based, and i hope it will be in the future as well.