It's possible to play the RPG Might and Magic VII without killing anything. Check out this victory post at Google Groups for details.

Here's an excerpt:

Never played baulders gate, havent really played an rpg in a long time. I simply dont like em. Dont know why, must be the pointing and clicking or the fantasy.

Jenny: The only way you could even try to do something like that post is after you already know the game inside out. Some MM nuts will do anytihng to make the game a challenge. This is one way, another way is to have a party with one person or to finish the game in one months game time. There is no way a person playing the game for the first time would be able to accomplish this. The MM series is known to be a very combat oriented series.

salim: Not all RPGs are fantasy both but it is true that most are.

Zanthia,

I know that. I just thought it was a funny post.
And if it's the killing that bothers you more than the combat, it is probably something fun to try.

Zanthia, excuse my ignorance, but what is a turn based RPG?

Hi Jenny.

I thought it was an hilarious post

And as Zanthia says - "specialist gamers only" need apply

Cheers.

Mad

Yea. Rpg's can be fun but I like more suspense and exploring instead a person playing a role. but You never know I might like some of them that i've never tried.

I think to distinguish between different genres is important when it comes to adventure gaming. Adventure games are unique in that the challenge is overwhelmingly one of mental exercise. When reflex sequences are added, it alienates and frustrates a lot of gamers (as we can see from the reaction to Simon 3D). Hybrid labels (action/adventure rpg/adventure) let me know what type of challenge I'm going to get from the game.

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If you don't like the RPGs you've played, but have never tried a Baldur's Gate/Planescape Torment type RPG, then I strongly recommend you try one out. The gameplay is quite different from Diablo-style RPGs, and I'm sure they must be pretty cheap to buy by now. And if you really believe a long game is a good game, get Baldur's Gate 2!

Two points... it just occured to me that the Tomb Raider games fit into this hybrid category... plenty of adventure and puzzles, but also quite a bit of shooting. Actually, it would be quite a challenge to try and play Tomb Raider (any version) without shooting anything apart from puzzle completing ones (like the dragons at the end of Rome in TRChronicles).

Secondly, I have a copy of Baldor's Gate on DVD (inc. patches and manual) I'd be quite willing to trade.

Ta-ra,
THe Gremlin.

hrmn... some games are able to integrate 2 genres flawlessly.... and especially adventure/RPG, some have this "difficulty" setting or some other options which essentially is asking "do you want to play this game in adventure mode or RPG mode?"... which typically means easier/harder fights, or more/less combats, or how often puzzles are encountered... I recall this game (but can't remember the title) that if you had it to RPG mode then it'll keep track of experience points and levels and skills etc, but in adventure mode you don't have to worry about all of that...

the problem with these games however is they tend to be rather short or linear and superficial, but the concept is there...

Yes. I've played very few adventure/blah hybrids, but in those few the adventure aspect of the games was dampened down considerably. The puzzles were in a much more simplistic form than the real brain-grinders found in good adventure games. I've always assumed this was a natural consequence of trying to appeal to a cross genre audience. However, my experience of adv/blah hybrids is very limited, so I'm wondering if there are hybrid games out there that do include equally good puzzles as in pure adventure games. What do you think?

Fildil, I don't know of any either, but the aforementioned Dragonriders of Pern would be one of the closest to that - you actually kill very little, and if you utilize sneak and running probably next to nothing. I, however, was not a good sneak, so had to be better at the sword.

fildil, what is your definition of "kill"? If it is the fighting element you dislike, fair enough; that aspect can be hard to get into (or was for me).
If it is the moral aspect of "killing" that upsets you, I have great news. All the RPGs I have played do not "kill" anyone who has been defeated in battle, they are knocked out. That means you can fight the same character later on in the game when they have developed different abilities, or they gradually come over to your way of thinking and join your side.

Where RPGs are concerned, for "kill" think "defeat" in future.

Jude, I guess I should have made myself clearer. When I say "kill" I really mean fighting someone or something off. My reflexes seem to be non-existent and I always wind up dead or knocked out. I played Harry Potter with my grandson and found out that I couldn't fly a broomstick, leap or evade things that were trying to get me. I really wanted to play an RPG but I guess their not for me.

Practise makes perfect.. give it time you will get your reflexes