Glossary

RPGs can be complicated or just very different experiences. This guide will help maybe create a universal system to categorize RPGs, but
more importantly, help you navigate my system of topic coverage.

• Standard - A JRPG where you fight enemies in turn-based battles and use HP for health and MP for magic. You only get to act once per turn
  unless you are given spells and skills that can allow multiple actions per turn. Your speed is used to calculate whether an enemy or ally takes a
  turn before or after you. You have a random chance of doing critical hits. Magic is stronger than regular attacks, but more costly and ineffective
  or super effective with specific spells on specific enemies. Some characters can use magic and other skills while others can't. Better skills and
  magic can be learned by leveling up. Characters have individual stat growth rates which may be randomized or fixed.


• Final Fantasy Standard (FFS) - A JRPG where Standard rules apply, save for a few... You may learn magic through buying it or leveling up a class.
  Characters are defined more by class and weapons than their level up stats (level ups mostly just increase HP and MP). Prioritizing healing to be as
  safe as possible along with defensive buffs can save you through the entirety of these games.
• Buffs - Skills or magic that can readily increase your stats during battles. They can be temporary or last until the end. They can be only applied
  once or casted multiple times on a character to stack up their stat increases to ridiculous levels. They can double stats or increase them by a
  percentage or set amount of points. Many games won't directly tell you how they work, however.
• RNG - Random Number Generator, meaning luck plays a part in the game. This won't be applied when labeling a roguelike given that luck is a
  guaranteed factor in thos games. While critical hits are RNG, this label means that a game randomizes more important aspects of survival.
  Treasure chests may have random drops and be randomly generated or the items or partners you are gifted are randomized.
• Tiered Spells - Magic has stronger versions that are learned with higher level ups. These generally come at the expense of higher casting cost.
  In Final Fantasy games, the suffixes describe spell levels. (regular word - lvl 1, -ra - lvl 2, -ga/aga - lvl 3, -ja - lvl 4). Ja level spells are
  pre-dominantly targeted toward all enemies.
• Class System - You can play roles of knights, mages, ninjas, tanks, fist fighters and more. These classes may level up or they may just receive
  upgrades. These classes can be fixed on characters for a whole game after the start, but that is more of an outdated mechanic.
• Hybrid Class System - You have the Class System, but you get to level it up and when you do, you may be able to learn new classes after having
  progressed with more than one discipline. Or, you may be able to take skills from one class and add them to another. In a rare and somewhat secret
  form of hybrid classing, Final Fantasy V had the hybrid class take on its ultimate form with the Freelancer class which would gain stat upgrades,
  passive skills and the greatest access of skills from all classes that the character learned.
• Summons - A set of legendary or memorable monsters can be summoned for a single attack or skill. It will either be an exceptionally high cost
  spell or a limited use spell.
• Action - An RPG which structures itself like an action game or also is an action game. You will be using reflexes along with your wits and levels.
• Action Turn - A turn-based RPG where you use your reflexes or button choices after attacking and/or when an enemy attacks.
• Multiplayer - Not all RPGs are played by one person, but the vast majority are. This isn't counting MMORPGs, which I don't cover.
• Skill Training - Using a skill enough will strengthen that skill or allow a new skill to be learned. This includes magic.
• Mentoring - This game allows you to train under a master, scroll, et cetera or use a training ground to focus on different abilities. (Please
  put mentors into games like it was done in Breath of Fire 3!!!)
• Ascension - There is a character that can take on a stronger than normal form, but it has a time limit or drains energy as a countdown. You
  can think of it like becoming Super Saiyan, but Breath of Fire 3 is a great example again.
• Urban - A game set in a modern, realistic, or semi-realistic setting. Equipment is unlikely to mirror typical RPGs and it may even be more
  humorous and personal. On the other hand, it could be a downright gun-focused RPG.
• Philosophical - An RPG that focuses on how people live their lives. It can include political struggles.
• Queer - Involving LGBTQIA+ issues in a prominent way.
• Espers - Usually, a summoning that doesn't just affect battle by being used as a spell. This summon-able being can usually help the summoner who
  holds them by increasing their growth in certain stats or cultivating specialized skills. Sometimes, the role of Espers can be taken on by an object
  or weapon that would facilitate growth in the character so long as it is a rare, unique resource that can't freely be given to every character.
• Guardian Force - A summoning that can tank damage supernatural amounts of damage to increase survival. They might simply be summoned for
  a skill after covering for their summoner, or they may be summoned to stand and fight with their Summoner, but become a more delicate resource.
• Living Weapons - Your equipment, mainly weapons, can level up with enough dedication to it. This mechanic is rare, but I really wish everything
  had it.
• Booster Items - Items that allow stat, experience, skill or level gain without engaging in battle. (You will see my opinion on this when my games
  get released.)
• Multi-stat Equips - There are items and weapons that can boost traits other than attack and defense. If this is a prominent feature in a game,
  it will get this label.
• Hardcore - This game was made to take a lot of effort to play through, whether in time, difficulty or complexity. Games most likely to get this
  label are games that aim for nostalgia or fleshing out and focusing on old game mechanics. Most nostalgia-based games are going to be like this.
• Roguelike - Games that make the player feel that they are playing for survival by randomizing what threats they face and making death costly
  using permanent consequences. Maps are usually randomized and item randomization may even go so far as randomizing a fixed shopkeeper's stock.
  If the Roguelike label is on a game, there is no need to also label it as Hardcore.
• Foodie - Food plays a prominent role as an item or resource. A simple mechanic is to have food that runs out while you walk around, symbolizing
  a struggle with hunger. In Tales of Phantasia, food is used very similarly, but there is no game over for running out of food and you heal by walking
  with food instead. Other games could have food as essentially a level up system (River City Ransom).
• Simplified - Some RPGs like to strip out unnecessary components in order to give the game more personality. Poke'mon does this by getting rid of
  normal attacks and focusing on the the fun thing; skills. The Ys series used to have a very archaic form of attack by walking into opponents, allowing
  the game to be more fast-paced and actually somehow more immersive. Magical Camp replaces level ups with social links and increasing item quality.
• Traditional Western - This is an RPG that focuses on how Dungeons & Dragons was played by using dice rolls for more randomized attacks and lower
  numbers that would be indicative of playing with dice. Stats may, or likely will be, presented in a dice roll ratio such as 3d6+5.(3d = 3 dice, 6
  is the amount of sides on a dice, max value being 6, +5 is a pure stat applied to every roll). The game is very likely to feature a dark, drab
  setting and art style rather than the colorful, cute or beautiful aesthetics of Japanese RPGs. It will most likely be pure medieval fantasy.
  Magic and valuable treasures would be scarce in the world, avoiding total convenience for the player. Seemingly more prevalent with voice acting
  and aiming for 3D.
• Retro Western - Some of the earliest video games were first-person RPGs. These first-person RPGs give the appearance of 3D environments, but
  detail is typically very simplistic. You probably would have a limited inventory and would need the right tool for the job when a new challenge
  arises.
• Unique - The main style of the game does not fit comfortably within the above categories. It may be a successful game, but none have
  have really tried to replicate what it did.