Western RPG without violence?

[TheDuckbunny]

Take a Mass Effect or an Elder Scrolls game. Could a game like that work without violence?
And how would you like to see it done?

This thread was inspired by that soccer RPG franchise from Japan. It sounded really intriguing until I saw its trailer and realised it was not for me. But I still love the idea of a RPG replacing combat with soccer matches.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Almost all of ME's RPG elements stem from combat, so no.

Depends on how you mean violence.
You can finish Deus Ex killing only a couple people and avoiding or incapacitating the rest, but an RPG with no actual combat?

 

[Chibz]

It's possible, but it's questionable how many western players would want it.

It's sort of like running a D&D game without combat.

 

[Le_Lisra]

There are a handful of games with LESS combat than your average romp, but I'd say its kinda unavoidable sooner or later. Thus: no.

The thing is, RPGs deal with different variations on the theme of "conflict" and no matter how hard you try sooner or later there will be one party involved that wants to hit you (or whoever is their opponent) on the head instead of wanting to talk. Thats people for you.

Also, many games let you play someone who is naturally associated with combat; prof. Soldiers, Mercenaries, secret operatives, adventurers. What would these people do if not fight?

Now, if there was an RPG where you play a mediator or a diplomat, that would be different. So far there isn't one.

Even Beyond Good and Evil (where you play a Journalist and which is more an Action-Adventure) had (bad) combat.

 

[Jack_the_Knife]

Well, I mean, violence, yes. Conflict, no. Otherwise there'd be nothing interesting to do.

The theoretical scenario would basically be a CYOA that totally avoids violence but introduces non-violent conflict like conflicts of interest or the game has you taking the role of a CEO or a lawyer(which has been done already) doing something that may force you to make decisions based on evidence and your own personal philosophy. Like if you'd merge a company for the chance at greater profits at the risk of alienating, possibly dehumanizing or firing your staff.

 

[ultrachicken]

I haven't heard of whatever game you're talking about, but it doesn't sound interesting.

I think an RPG where you can get past every enemy using only stealth and are never required to attack/kill anyone could be fun. It would have to have great execution.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Wouldn't that just be an adventure game? Contrary to the common argument, there is more to a role playing game than playing a role, especially in the realm of videogames. If you take the combat out of a videogame RPG, what's left is another videogame genre, the adventure game.

 

[ShakesZX]

No, a game like Mass Effect or Morrowind would definitely not work without violence, seeing as how the entire story structure, internal game mechanics, narrative (etc, etc, etc...) are all concerned with the ever present factor of violence. If you were to remove violence from one of those games, if it still even worked, which would require a major overhauling of the conflict and narrative at the very minimum, you would inevitably end up with a product wholly distinct from the original.

 

[badgersprite]

Mass Effect is a shooter. A shooter with a lot of dialogue, but a shooter nonetheless. And fantasy games like Oblivion are aping things like Lord Of The Rings, which is built around a central, violent conflict. It has more than that, sure, but swords and sorcery are pretty integral to the fantasy genre.

The only mainstream Western games like this I could picture working without any kind of violence or enemies is something like a Heavy Rain, which is already more like a visual novel than an RPG anyway. I know there was a Swedish UN game that didn't contain any violence (there are so many jokes there I can't choose where to start), but, yeah, most games in the West contain some kind of "violence". Even kids' games. The only ones that don't which I can think of are platformers and puzzle games. Even adventure games can contain some kind of very minor violence, or have you kill someone through your actions.

 

[MrShowerHead]

I have never heard of a RPG without combat or any kind of conflict. Well, you can play Mount&Blade without fighting anyone, but that would be hard. And quite boring,too. You can play EVE Online without shooting anyone, too. Just start mining.

 

[Nunny]

Almost all of ME's RPG elements stem from combat, so no.

Depends on how you mean violence.
You can finish Deus Ex killing only a couple people and avoiding or incapacitating the rest, but an RPG with no actual combat?

You can get through it without killing a single person, seen a walkthrough on how to do so a while back.

 

[viranimus]

Actually this could work out pretty damned well. But... it in essence wouldnt be a WRPG any more as it would be basically narrative driven. Sort of like what JRPGs have evolved into.

In games like Oblivion, KoTOR, DA, etc, that are dialog heavy, typically have specific quests that are dialog and narrative in nature. Quests Like deducing a crime such as the one in KoTOR on the jedi world.. Think Dantoine?

You could do a lot with this type of premise. Where you work your way thru negotiations, Solving mysteries, Saving a village from a plague by learning medicine, and risking the wilds to collect needed exotic ingredients.

Honestly if done right, and that is absolutely the most crucial part, it could yield something phenominal. However honestly theres sooooo many ways this could be done wrong, and with it deviating from standard RPG fare its unlikely it will see the light of day any time soon.

 

[StBishop]

It's possible, but it's questionable how many western players would want it.

It's sort of like running a D&D game without combat.

It's been done. It was fun. We pretty much all played like bards or rouges though, with one wizard and one cleric.

I think it could be awesome... I think L.A. Nior could pull it off. I'm pretty sure there will be combat but I think it could work.

Think Heavy Rain or Alan Wake or a similar thriller/mystery title. It could work without combat. I would buy it.

 

[Chibz]

I have never heard of a RPG without combat or any kind of conflict. Well, you can play Mount&Blade without fighting anyone, but that would be hard. And quite boring,too. You can play EVE Online without shooting anyone, too. Just start mining.

Just because there's no combat it doesn't mean there can't be conflict. It would probably be exclusively roleplaying based. You know, the first part in RPG.

 

[MrShowerHead]

I have never heard of a RPG without combat or any kind of conflict. Well, you can play Mount&Blade without fighting anyone, but that would be hard. And quite boring,too. You can play EVE Online without shooting anyone, too. Just start mining.

Just because there's no combat it doesn't mean there can't be conflict. It would probably be exclusively roleplaying based. You know, the first part in RPG.

Okay,okay, bad word choosing there. I usually connect conflict to combat.
Oh and congrats on 1000th post

 

[PurplePlatypus]

The closest I?ve seen is Planescape Torment where fighting is almost entirely optional, there are maybe 4 people you actually need to kill. You can even get the good ending without having to kill the final villain if you play your cards right. Although it does involve running past a fair amount of enemies in some areas.

 

[Skoldpadda]

No violence? How are we going to shoot people without violence? I don't get it. Or do you perhaps mean no violins. Because I might consider playing that, an RPG without violins. I like violins but I'd give it a try.

 

[Chibz]

Okay,okay, bad word choosing there. I usually connect conflict to combat.
Oh and congrats on 1000th post

Sorry for jumping all over you like that. I tend to react quickly and without thinking. And thanks.

I think it has potential, but most people wouldn't like it.

 

[duedmen]

you could complete the first two fallouts with out any killing and play as smooth talker but the option for violence had to exist for these options to exist so I'd say no in an rpg somethings going to get hurt somewhere at sometime