Hi all, Currently I am in the process of developing the design document for my game(more importantly my rpg system). I came to realize that many people re-invent the wheel to many times or come up with something somebody else all ready thought of. I have decided to start a database that has common items all rpg designers can draw from. I am planning to comb an electronic dictionary word by word and catogorizing every word I find into an rpg element category. For example the word agility can fall into the following categories, Ability, Trait, Skill. Another example the word douse can fall into the following category spell. And yet another example the word slime can fall into the following categories race, creature. Before I begin this long and exhaustive journey, I would like to have all the top category tree elements fleshed out. My Question to all of you is, what rpg categories can you think of or remember from past pc/tabletop rpg games? Examples of what I have so far are Category--------Item List Description-----Name, Gender, etc. Attributes------Strength, Charisma, etc. Race------------Elf, Goblin, etc. Government------Enclave, Kingdom, etc. Profession------Theif, Wizard, etc. Alignment-------Good, Evil, etc. Persona---------Behavior, Beliefs, etc. Traits----------Inherited Modifiers, Small Frame, Gifted etc. Perks-----------Gained Modifiers, Drinker, Kamikazee etc. Skills----------Active Actions, Evade, Jump etc. Talents---------Passive Actions, Artist, Cobbler etc. Spells----------Typhoon, Bolt etc. Equipment-------Sword, Dagger, Potions, etc. Creatures-------Slime, Dragon etc. Your time and help is greatly appreciated. [edited by - Nefar on April 28, 2003 2:54:54 PM] [edited by - Nefar on April 28, 2003 2:57:48 PM]

Well, I disagree with Inmate2993. I think that the more conventional classes and characters can be a vital island of familiarity in an otherwise new and innovative system.

I remember having a terrible time with the Ogre Battle games. Learning all those new stats and battle dynamics, being concerned with morale and compatibility between my units, and waging a stylized war while mastering these unfamiliar systems was almost too much for me to handle. If I had been forced to learn the inherent traits of Masai warriors and detectives while doing all that, I''d have put that game away and left it there.

So don''t shy away from things just because they''re new. I think it''s inconsistent to keep gameplay mechanics while vilifying old writing elements, and I think it''s reckless to try to change absolutely everything about a genre with one game. I advise you to take what you like and create what you need. But all of this is off-topic.

With regard to the thread''s purpose, the list Nefar put up in the first post seems pretty exhaustive. However, it only seems to address things-in-the-world, or characteristics of things-in-the-world. Should game design aspects like combat engine, trading system, time scheme, and viewpoint be factored into the tree, or have I misunderstood the nature of the list?

To be a little clear, I''m not asking for specific items such as elf, goblin, etc. I''m asking for general categories. What mechanics define an rpg character and its enviroment.

Its Description
Its Attributes
Its Race
Its Government
Its Profession
Its Alignment
Its Persona
Its Traits
Its Perks
Its Skills
Its Talents
Its Spells
Its Equipment it uses
Its Creatures it deals with
+ Any new ideas?

Iron chef is getting the idea, only include things-in-the-world and characteristics of things-in-the-world. Adaptable to any system.

My goal is to cover old themes and even brush up on new themes people miss on. I figure by covering the whole english language, I covered everything. A sort of rpg reference dictionary/database.

I would hate to think I already covered everything in that list.

What about world geography, both natural and unnatural (which I''d personnally split into two).

So:

Natural Geography -- Mountains, Forests, Magical mushroom fields etc.
Unatural Geography -- Castles, Towns, Wizards Towers etc.

Also religion (although that could fall under Government, Persona or creatures in a way).

Religion -- God, Goddess, Diety, Spirit, scriptures, laws etc.

Hope thats kind of on the right track . If I think of any more I''ll post them.

according to inmate, u have to create a new language/ writing, to be original, so people in game speaks a whole new language, u have to read dictionary that come with the software box inorder to play it

lol @ inmate

I just thought of karma/luck from religon, and yes terrain and buildings help, both added to list. I also added nature/weather.

Im going to break down the main categories in to sub-categories.

Example) Creature->Animal->Bird->Parrot.

So general opinion, is the list complete?

Keep ''em coming if you can think of more main top categories, thanks.

Peon''s suggestion about affinity reminded me of a half-formed idea I omitted in my first response. I had a very vague sense that ideas of relationships between individuals and groups should somehow have been included in the list. Party alliances, aversions, the elemental and equipment tendencies Peon mentioned, and other such inherent or acquired affinities are a specific sub-set of the inherited and gained modifiers mentioned in the original list. I''m not sure how to fit them in, but it''s something to think about.

When this reaches an advanced stage of development, I think it needs to be put somewhere more permanent than this board. This is an important tool, the end result of a process that every game writer/designer has to perform to some degree. If this list is filled out and categorized as it could be, then it''ll be invaluable. Good thinking, Nefar.

I''ve noticed that although your list includes many positive aspects of your characters-to-be, you do not seem to mention any of their faults. You may want to consider including a few weaknesses.