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I think it depends. Once it sinks in that NPCs are not always reliable (And you can hint early at that with for example someone contradicting themselves or seem

I think it depends. Once it sinks in that NPCs are not always reliable (And you can hint early at that with for example someone contradicting themselves or seeming unreasonably knowledgeable), this can add another fun dimension to the game and its world and motivate players to really talk to more NPCs or ask more pointed questions.

dragontamer 6y ago
Is talking to NPCs more fun than playing the rest of the game? Or more importantly: is talking to NPCs in your video game more fun than top-tier visual novels (Ex: Phoenix Write: Ace Attorney, "When they Cry", or Danganronpa )? As a player, I know what I'm getting into. I choose to play mindless hack-and-slash games because the mindless hack-and-slash is quite fun sometimes. I don't play Dynasty Warriors for in-depth stories or deep NPC character development. In contrast, when I pickup a visual novel game like Danganronpa, I'm not really going to be wowed by difficult reflexes or hand-eye coordination. Games exist as a drop of culture in a greater ecosystem. The ultimate truth is, your video game plotlines are never going to be as deeply engaging as a book's plot. After all, a book has literally nothing else to go on aside from character development and interesting plot development. People play video games (or tabletop games) for different reasons.
- Grumbledour 6y ago
  I think there does not need to be just one or the other. Talking to NPCs is just as much fun as killing the monster and if the talk actually aids in killing the monster or brings complications, it's even more fun, because overcoming obstacles of any kind is what's fun in roleplaying games. I am mostly focusing on tabletop here, because computer games often pale in comparison, but regardless, a good mix makes a good game. It's personal preference if you lean more into action or social, but I find either end of the spectrum to be to limited to just one thing.
- xapata 6y ago
  > The ultimate truth is, your video game plotlines are never going to be as deeply engaging as a book's plot. I've read plenty of dull books, and played many engagingly plotted games. But then those games are often criticized as having too much text.
  - TeMPOraL 6y ago
    Case in point: Mass Effect, criticized elsewhere in the thread for having too much/bad text, where for me all that text (including the encyclopedic content in-game) was what built one of the most immersive and engaging virtual world I've ever experienced.
    - xapata 6y ago
      If you like wall-of-text, try Planescape: Torment, arguably the greatest (C)RPG ever.

dragontamer 6y ago

Is talking to NPCs more fun than playing the rest of the game? Or more importantly: is talking to NPCs in your video game more fun than top-tier visual novels (Ex: Phoenix Write: Ace Attorney, "When they Cry", or Danganronpa )? As a player, I know what I'm getting into. I choose to play mindless hack-and-slash games because the mindless hack-and-slash is quite fun sometimes. I don't play Dynasty Warriors for in-depth stories or deep NPC character development. In contrast, when I pickup a visual novel game like Danganronpa, I'm not really going to be wowed by difficult reflexes or hand-eye coordination. Games exist as a drop of culture in a greater ecosystem. The ultimate truth is, your video game plotlines are never going to be as deeply engaging as a book's plot. After all, a book has literally nothing else to go on aside from character development and interesting plot development. People play video games (or tabletop games) for different reasons.

Grumbledour 6y ago
I think there does not need to be just one or the other. Talking to NPCs is just as much fun as killing the monster and if the talk actually aids in killing the monster or brings complications, it's even more fun, because overcoming obstacles of any kind is what's fun in roleplaying games. I am mostly focusing on tabletop here, because computer games often pale in comparison, but regardless, a good mix makes a good game. It's personal preference if you lean more into action or social, but I find either end of the spectrum to be to limited to just one thing.
xapata 6y ago
> The ultimate truth is, your video game plotlines are never going to be as deeply engaging as a book's plot. I've read plenty of dull books, and played many engagingly plotted games. But then those games are often criticized as having too much text.
- TeMPOraL 6y ago
  Case in point: Mass Effect, criticized elsewhere in the thread for having too much/bad text, where for me all that text (including the encyclopedic content in-game) was what built one of the most immersive and engaging virtual world I've ever experienced.
  - xapata 6y ago
    If you like wall-of-text, try Planescape: Torment, arguably the greatest (C)RPG ever.