View source for Role-playing game

{{Stub|RPG}}

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A '''role-playing game''' is a game in which one or more players take on an imagined persona in pursuit of a common goal.

==Tabletop role-playing games==
These are [[w:c:rpgtalk|traditional RPGs]] like ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and includes storytelling games like ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]'' where you take on the role of a character. They are played face-to-face using a pen, paper, dice, and sometimes miniature figures.

Role-playing games have their roots in [[wargaming]], which in turn has its roots in [[strategy]] board games, such as ''[[Chess]]'' and ''[[Go]]''.

In some ways, ''Chess'' is the first role-playing game. It had basic RPG mechanics, such as a [[Turn-based tactics video games|tactical turn-based]] combat system, a [[level up]] mechanic, and character roles with their own unique abilities. It originated as [[wikipedia:Chaturanga|Chaturanga]], created in the 6th-century [[India|Indian subcontinent]] as a simulation of ancient [[Indian]] warfare, particularly the [[wikipedia:Kurukshetra War|Kurukshetra War]] (from the [[wikipedia:Indian epic poetry|Indian epic]] ''[[wikipedia:Mahabharata|Mahabharata]]''), with pieces representing roles such as [[wikipedia:Raja|rajas]], [[wikipedia:Mantri|mantri]] (counselers), [[wikipedia:Infantry|infantry]], [[wikipedia:Cavalry|cavalry]], [[wikipedia:Chariot|chariots]] and [[wikipedia:War elephant|war elephants]].<ref name="virginia">[http://faculty.virginia.edu/setear/students/wargames/page1a.htm Brief History of Wargaming], [[University of Virginia]]</ref><ref name="Ewalt">{{cite book|last=Ewalt|first=David M.|title=Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It|date=2014|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=9781451640519|page=36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AJJqBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA36|language=en}}</ref> Chaturanga is considered the most ancient ancestor of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.<ref name="Ewalt"/>

According to RPG designer [[John Wick]], Chess can be turned into a role-playing game if [[chess piece]]s such as the [[King (Chess)|king]], [[queen]], [[rooks]], [[knight]]s or [[pawns]] are given names, and decisions are made based on their motivations. According to Wick, ''Dungeons & Dragons'' was a "sophisticated, intricate and complicated combat simulation board game that people were turning into a roleplaying game" just "like giving your rook a motive" in Chess.<ref>[[John Wick]], [http://johnwickpresents.com/games/game-designs/chess-is-not-an-rpg-the-illusion-of-game-balance/ Chess is not an RPG: The Illusion of Game Balance], John Wick Presents (October 1, 2014)</ref> Tabletop RPG designer John Wick considers ''Chess'' to be no less of a role-playing game than ''Dungeons & Dragons'', arguing that both are combat simulation board games that players could turn into role-playing games.<ref>John Wick, [http://johnwickpresents.com/games/game-designs/chess-is-not-an-rpg-the-illusion-of-game-balance/ Chess: The Illusion of Game Balance]</ref>

The first tabletop RPG was ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''D&D''), developed by [[Gary Gygax]] and released in 1974. The second tabletop RPG released that same year, ''[[Empire of the Petal Throne]]'',<ref name="empire">''[[wikipedia:Empire of the Petal Throne|Empire of the Petal Throne]]'', Wikipedia</ref> developed by [[Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman Barker]] (MAR Barker),<ref name="barker">[[wikipedia:Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman Barker|Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman Barker]], Wikipedia</ref> and was notable for introducing the [[critical hit]] mechanic. In turn, ''Empire of the Petal Throne'' influenced Gygax and later editions of ''D&D''.

==Role-playing video games==
{{Main|Role-playing video games}}

===Sub-genres===
* [[Action role-playing video games|Action RPG]]
* [[Dungeon crawler video games|Dungeon crawler]]
* [[Massively multi-player online video games|MMOG]]
* [[Massively multi-player online role-playing video games|MMORPG]]
* [[Roguelike video games|Roguelike]]
* [[Strategy role-playing video games|Strategy RPG]]
* [[Tactical role-playing video games|Tactical RPG]]

===Platforms===
* [[Console role-playing game|Console RPG]]
* [[Computer role-playing game|PC RPG]]

===List===
* [[List of Japanese role-playing video games: 1982 to 1987]]

==Roots of RPGs==
The following diagram shows the roots and influences of various role-playing games:

[[File:RPG roots.png|800px]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Genres}}
[[Category:Genres]]