ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I just had an arguement with my friend, and looking for a judgement.
So please vote: is ToME4 a tactical-rpg?

and DarkGod your answer will be important.

WTF is a "T"RPG?

According to
http://www.acronymfinder.com/TRPG.html
it could be:

Table-Top Role-Playing Game
Tactical Role-Playing Game (video games)
Text Role Playing Game
Thames Regional Perinatal Group (UK)
Total RPG (Role Playing Game) Magazine

It's certainly not some of those.

I guess he means tactical RPG.

Doctornull wrote:WTF is a "T"RPG?

According to
http://www.acronymfinder.com/TRPG.html
it could be:

Table-Top Role-Playing Game
Tactical Role-Playing Game (video games)
Text Role Playing Game
Thames Regional Perinatal Group (UK)
Total RPG (Role Playing Game) Magazine

It's certainly not some of those.

Ok, being more specific, Tactical Role-Playing Game.

According to Wikipedia, Temple of Elemental Evil was a tactical RPG, and Roguelikes are about as combat-heavy, so I'd say yes.

Well, this could end up as a silly definition debate... Tactical RPG as a genre normally implies control of a party of characters, with position and facing and other details having important implications.

However ToME is certainly an RPG that is tactical :)

From the Wikipedia article, "TRPG" games also are defined by LACK of exploration. Which is strange, usually games are defined inclusively rather than by exclusion, but whatever.

ToME does feature exploration, since most zone maps are random and probably unique, so maybe it's not a "TRPG".

I don't think Wikipedia articles can always be trusted :)

It is definitely more tactical than action based rpgs, So I say it is.

Grey wrote:I don't think Wikipedia articles can always be trusted

You may be right.

Got another source for the definition of a TRPG?

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-def ... ying-games

Dunno how trustworthy we're considering that, but it is a second definition.
Brings up the "party" idea again.

In that regard, I would say that ToME is not a tactical RPG. It's certainly tactical, but I'm not sure that is its defining characteristic.

One can be defined as both human and man so why can't ToME be defined as trpg and whatever someone says.

It is definitely tactical in nature and role playing game in video game terms. If we examine rpg in it's simplest form I'd say ToME is more tactical than rpg.

Definitely yes. Tactical RPG should not be a confusing term, the title is very descriptive, unlike say roguelike. It's an RPG and it's based around using tactics. ToME has a very clear emphasis on tactical gameplay, in fact I would disagree with DeBunny and say that tactical gameplay is a defining characteristic of ToME. Choosing your tactics, how you approach each fight is one of ToME's strengths, it has great variety and many variables to add complexity. It has tons of different tools that allow players to change their approach, and a variety of threats that force them to adapt.

Does this mean that every single roguelike is also a "tactical" rpg???

Sorry, but no. ToME is a roguelike. Every single roguelike out there has tactics.

Do I shoot my wand of deathray to murder those scary enemies and risk it bouncing off the wall into me?
Do I risk eating these pills / herbs / runes / whatever to see if it gives me a great bonus, or a negative effect?
Do I balance my food intake for survivability, or do I gobble it up quickly for a well fed bonus?
Do I kick that altar?!
Do I try to draw that enemy into traps to prevent my gear from being damaged, or finish this fight quickly in melee?
Do I burn all of my mana / spellpoints / power / talent cooldowns early in the fight, or pace myself?

Cover dosent exist, environment makes little (if any) difference, elevation dosent exist, concealment dosent exist, facing dosent exist, all of which actually MATTER in a tactical game. Deciding "Do I use X talent now or later" or "Do I fight in the hallway, or in the middle of this room" (duh) dosent make a game "tactical".

Sradac wrote:Does this mean that every single roguelike is also a "tactical" rpg???

Sorry, but no. ToME is a roguelike. Every single roguelike out there has tactics.

Do I shoot my wand of deathray to murder those scary enemies and risk it bouncing off the wall into me?
Do I risk eating these pills / herbs / runes / whatever to see if it gives me a great bonus, or a negative effect?
Do I balance my food intake for survivability, or do I gobble it up quickly for a well fed bonus?
Do I kick that altar?!
Do I try to draw that enemy into traps to prevent my gear from being damaged, or finish this fight quickly in melee?
Do I burn all of my mana / spellpoints / power / talent cooldowns early in the fight, or pace myself?

Cover dosent exist, environment makes little (if any) difference, elevation dosent exist, concealment dosent exist, facing dosent exist, all of which actually MATTER in a tactical game. Deciding "Do I use X talent now or later" or "Do I fight in the hallway, or in the middle of this room" (duh) dosent make a game "tactical".

What in your opinion then is a tactical game? Whatever it is I bet it lacks something that someone defines as the essential tactical ingredient.

Tactical != simulation