The Grand List of RPG Cliches

Davies · 10-15-2007, 08:27 AM

Go here to read the Grand List of RPG Cliches. Primarily Japanese, but a lot of them are applicable to western RPGs as well.

And adventure games. And anime. And quite a lot of fantasy fiction.

It's a long list, but you'll be laughing all the way through.

Ninja Dodo · 10-16-2007, 03:49 AM

I've not played any of the Japanese RPGs but these are indeed plenty recognizable from other games.

TiAgUh · 10-16-2007, 08:12 AM

192 RPG cliches? dang

TangentBlack · 10-16-2007, 11:32 AM

They got most of em spot on. No wonder I get tired of JRPGs quickly.

GageBlackwood · 10-16-2007, 01:04 PM

That has to be at least the fourth time I've read through that list, it never gets old.

Giligan · 10-16-2007, 02:09 PM

Aww, they're dissing Skies of Arcadia. That ain't cool.

Okay, it is full of cliches, but it's still an awesome game overall.

aries323 · 10-17-2007, 08:11 AM

Yes, yes. It is very funny

However, I feel compelled to point out that in most Bioware games a high reputation will net a nice discount on weapons, armours ans such things. So rule # 184 of Adam Smith's revenge doesn't apply to the Bioware D&D games at least, I think

The list could, however, I feel, be used to make a spoof rpg game

that pokes fun at all these things...

Heriberto Valle · 10-25-2007, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aries323

Yes, yes. It is very funny

The list could, however, I feel, be used to make a spoof rpg game

that pokes fun at all these things...

Maybe cramming most known cliches in a game would make one of the most original games ever!

Cliche quest all the way.

Panthera · 10-25-2007, 08:15 AM

I thought that was what the new simpsons game is doing..?

Larahl · 10-25-2007, 11:54 AM

I have a good laugh everytime I read that list.
It's still awesome after all this years.

SnorkleCat · 10-30-2007, 06:35 AM

Haha...

...but you know, rule #6, The Single Parent Rule, also applies to most Disney films too....

undeaf · 10-30-2007, 09:53 AM

#1 Sleepyhead Rule "The teenaged male lead..."

Whoa, final fantasy 6 broke the very first rule, scratch that - made it completely inapplicable, by having a female main character.

#6 Single Parent Rule

Baldur's gate kind of follows this, except you're also adopted.

#11 Let's Start From The Very Beginning (Yuna Rule)

Hey, why did they change the name of the megaman rule? BG2 followed this too(at least for equipment), although Bioware promised that they wouldn't.

#15c Hey, I Know You! "The tough-as-nails female warrior..."

That sounds like ayla from chrono trigger, except I don't think she has any deformaties.

#15i and #15j

Sounds kind of like gogo and mog from FF6, but the caveats are missing.

#19 "Silly Squall, bringing a sword to a gunfight..."

Sounds a bit like system shock 2.

Spoiler:

# 23 O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Melfice Rule)

Baldur's gate again, and it follows this rule twice.

#30 Selective Paralysis

Infinity engine games used this rule to screw over thieves extra.

MoriartyL · 10-30-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heriberto Valle

Maybe cramming most known cliches in a game would make one of the most original games ever!

Cliche quest all the way.

You mean...

*Buh buh buh-buh-buh BUH!!*

QUEST FOR EPICNESS!!

Monroeski · 11-01-2007, 03:20 PM

Still funny, but a lot of these also apply to other genres, and oftentimes other mediums (books, movies, etc.) Example:

# Short Attention Span Principle
All bookshelves contain exactly one book, which only has enough text on it to fill up half a page.

Also applies to any computer in any FPS only having one or two programs installed.

10-16-2007, 01:04 PM	#5
GageBlackwood Agent 5 Last Online: 02-12-2009 10:22 AM Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 44	That has to be at least the fourth time I've read through that list, it never gets old. __________________ "Ooh rope bridge. Very dangerous. You go first."

10-17-2007, 08:11 AM	#7
aries323 Senior Member Last Online: 04-22-2012 07:57 AM Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Denmark, Europe Posts: 577	Yes, yes. It is very funny However, I feel compelled to point out that in most Bioware games a high reputation will net a nice discount on weapons, armours ans such things. So rule # 184 of Adam Smith's revenge doesn't apply to the Bioware D&D games at least, I think The list could, however, I feel, be used to make a spoof rpg game that pokes fun at all these things... __________________ Please support http://www.maternityworldwide.org/ and save a mother giving birth.

10-25-2007, 08:15 AM	#9
Panthera female animal lover Last Online: 05-19-2012 09:16 AM Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 1,480	I thought that was what the new simpsons game is doing..? __________________ Pennies are never the healthy end, risk all! The Panthera Effect If you can't beat Panthera, join Panthera.. My sporadically updated blogs: Animation enthusiast, Sci-fi enthusiast and Snark, pedantry and random geekery

10-25-2007, 11:54 AM	#10
Larahl DON'T EAT THIS Last Online: 02-10-2012 04:42 PM Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: [Put something witty here.] Posts: 28	I have a good laugh everytime I read that list. It's still awesome after all this years. __________________ "Of such great powers or beings there may be conceivably a survival... a survival of a hugely remote period when... consciousness was manifested, perhaps, in shapes and forms long since withdrawn before the tide of advancing humanity... forms of which poetry and legend alone have caught a flying memory and called them gods, monsters, mythical beings of all sorts and kinds...."

10-30-2007, 09:53 AM	#12
undeaf Junior Member Last Online: 12-24-2009 07:25 PM Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tee Oh Posts: 842	#1 Sleepyhead Rule "The teenaged male lead..." Whoa, final fantasy 6 broke the very first rule, scratch that - made it completely inapplicable, by having a female main character. #6 Single Parent Rule Baldur's gate kind of follows this, except you're also adopted. #11 Let's Start From The Very Beginning (Yuna Rule) Hey, why did they change the name of the megaman rule? BG2 followed this too(at least for equipment), although Bioware promised that they wouldn't. #15c Hey, I Know You! "The tough-as-nails female warrior..." That sounds like ayla from chrono trigger, except I don't think she has any deformaties. #15i and #15j Sounds kind of like gogo and mog from FF6, but the caveats are missing. #19 "Silly Squall, bringing a sword to a gunfight..." Sounds a bit like system shock 2. Spoiler: # 23 O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Melfice Rule) Baldur's gate again, and it follows this rule twice. #30 Selective Paralysis Infinity engine games used this rule to screw over thieves extra.

10-15-2007, 08:27 AM	#1
Davies Senior Member Last Online: 04-14-2012 08:50 AM Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Somewhere in England Posts: 403	The Grand List of RPG Cliches Go here to read the Grand List of RPG Cliches. Primarily Japanese, but a lot of them are applicable to western RPGs as well. And adventure games. And anime. And quite a lot of fantasy fiction. It's a long list, but you'll be laughing all the way through. __________________ "You are amusing, in a 'what the hell is wrong with you' sort of way." --Jaheira, Baldur's Gate

10-16-2007, 03:49 AM	#2
Ninja Dodo Senior Member Last Online: 10-05-2022 07:25 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,459	I've not played any of the Japanese RPGs but these are indeed plenty recognizable from other games.

10-16-2007, 08:12 AM	#3
TiAgUh handsome Last Online: 03-31-2012 09:23 AM Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portugal Posts: 1,135	192 RPG cliches? dang

10-16-2007, 11:32 AM	#4
TangentBlack Vigilant Last Online: 10-16-2008 05:51 PM Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 300	They got most of em spot on. No wonder I get tired of JRPGs quickly.

10-16-2007, 02:09 PM	#6
Giligan The Greater Last Online: 10-31-2011 02:34 PM Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 6,541	Aww, they're dissing Skies of Arcadia. That ain't cool. Okay, it is full of cliches, but it's still an awesome game overall. __________________ Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Cliff Bleszinski

10-30-2007, 06:35 AM	#11
SnorkleCat Explode the Universe! Last Online: 12-22-2010 07:57 PM Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 586	Haha... ...but you know, rule #6, The Single Parent Rule, also applies to most Disney films too....

11-01-2007, 03:20 PM	#14
Monroeski Senior Member Last Online: 03-13-2008 04:53 PM Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 135	Still funny, but a lot of these also apply to other genres, and oftentimes other mediums (books, movies, etc.) Example: # Short Attention Span Principle All bookshelves contain exactly one book, which only has enough text on it to fill up half a page. Also applies to any computer in any FPS only having one or two programs installed.