Current Events > Do you like your RPG characters to have set roles or be fully customizable?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Set roles like Final Fantasy 4 where Kain is dragoon, Cecil is a dark knight, Rosa is a white mage, etc

Or any character can be set up to whatever way you want

Set roles. I find this gets me to use characters I sometimes wouldn't and for me it ends up being a better overall experience.

Final fantasy V. Changeable classes for the win.

Though FFIV is my all time favorite Final Fantasy so set in stone classes doesn't bother me.

I like characters to have a unique class or ability in addition to some degree of customization.

Set roles. Kimarhi was my least used FFX party member. Frog in chrono trigger - while my fav character - was my least used member.

Mind you its fun to craft a party but I like each person having a role.

depends on the game as either can be really great. currently playing tactics ogre reborn on switch and for srpgs changeable classes are best but for turn based rpgs the set roles are generally better imo

Depends on game, so no preference.

i like have options within set roles

so the thief can become a backstabbing rogue or a pickpocket or a swordfighter kind of thing.

like fire emblem, but better.

Robot2600 posted...

i like have options within set roles

so the thief can become a backstabbing rogue or a pickpocket or a swordfighter kind of thing.

Yeah, when it comes to traditional RPGs I think this is my favorite system. The best combo of set archetypes and party customization adding to replayability.

Robot2600 posted...

i like have options within set roles

so the thief can become a backstabbing rogue or a pickpocket or a swordfighter kind of thing.

like fire emblem, but better.

This.

I like all of them though depending on my mood. The big problem comes in something like FFT where OCD compels me to master every job with every character.

Set roles

PraetorXyn posted...

The big problem comes in something like FFT where OCD compels me to master every job with every character.

Oh man, systems where mastering a job/class grants an ability or something that can be used with other jobs/classes definitely triggers the obsessive need to min/max in me hard.

Set roles with the option of customization

Like FFV, classes.

I hate RPGs that let you be a jack of all trades unless it's a class specifically designed for that feel like DnD Bard.

I like a little guidance in my RPGs ngl. Give each character their own pool of classes tailored to them that's cool with me. But I don't want every character to be able to be a white mage or something.

I prefer in between! Like, the character who's a fighter when you recruit them will never be a mage. But depending on gear and skill choices, they could fall anywhere in the range between aggressive DPS and dedicated tank. Likewise, the mage will never be able to tank, but you can choose whether they focus on damage or crowd control. I suppose if I have to choose between "set roles" and "full customization", I lean more toward the former~

Sometimes I want the healer to kick all the ass

Vyrulisse posted...

Like FFV, classes.

I hate RPGs that let you be a jack of all trades unless it's a class specifically designed for that feel like DnD Bard.

? FFV by definition lets everyone be a master of everything, so this seems contradictory.

PraetorXyn posted...

? FFV by definition lets everyone be a master of everything, so this seems contradictory.

Yes but you have to choose a set job (Unless you Freelancer cheese but that's another issue)
Jobs have an identity.
games like Skyrim where you can do everything at once is the systems I don't like.

Vyrulisse posted...

Yes but you have to choose a set job (Unless you Freelancer cheese but that's another issue)
Jobs have an identity.
games like Skyrim where you can do everything at once is the systems I don't like.

No you dont. In the endgame, you should choose the non-job you started as and equip whatever job abilities you want.

Depends on the context of the game. I like the customization/options such as in the Elder Scroll series, however I also don't really mind JRPGs which typically have pre-determined roles such as healer, fighter, etc. The only time that is really an annoyance is if there's a very small pool of say healers and they're largely disappointing.

PraetorXyn posted...

No you dont. In the endgame, you should choose the non-job you started as and equip whatever job abilities you want.

I literally addressed cheesing with Freelancer... and it's an option that you don't have to take. The jobs still have an overall identity. What a weird argument to pick.

Wizardry style is the sweet spot IMO. Create your characters however you want but they can't change (much) after you're done.

All games should have the maximum amount of customization possible to allow people to play them however they want. With that said, they should also have default options for people who just do not want to deal with that.

Vyrulisse posted...

I literally addressed cheesing with Freelancer... and it's an option that you don't have to take. The jobs still have an overall identity. What a weird argument to pick.

Didnt see that part. My bad.

Still, your stance is weird, because people who like rigid roles typically criticize the latter Final Fantasy games for their everyone can do everything design, and nothing epitomizes that more than FFV. The jobs have an identity, but theyre completely ephemeral and assignable to anyone and everyone. Its not very different than magic feeling less cool in FFVI because everyone can do it, or material / GF abilities being interchangeable between characters in VII and VIII.

Set roles. For example it was a big improvement in the FFXII remaster. I remember in the original you were a bit overpowered if you decided to make almost a full party of melee characters.

If it's a group I want set roles. If it's just my character that shit needs to be fully customizable and leave me some wiggle room for making corrections in skills and stats later on, once I have gained a deeper understanding of rhe game and it's systems.

Bugmeat posted...

If it's a group I want set roles. If it's just my character that shit needs to be fully customizable and leave me some wiggle room for making corrections in skills and stats later on, once I have gained a deeper understanding of rhe game and it's systems.

Honestly this may be the best answer, as I feel the same.

Set roles with some customization.

andel posted...

depends on the game as either can be really great.

This speaks to me. I like FF4 but I also like 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 and Tactics, A1 and A2 and those all run the gambit of how role oriented they are. Liked FE Sacred Stones and Awakening and Blazing(?) Sword and Mirage Sessions and those similarly run and gambit.