RPG that is reset each few months

[Chris]

I wonder if there can be RPG that consist of rounds (like many strategy games). The ability to reset everything once in a while is quite handy in terms of development. It's easy to make it in competitive games, where players fight for score and when the round ends they just start a new game to get "better rank this time". But RPG is mostly about advancement and people do not like losing things without having something in return...

How to make such a system? LoTGD has this partially, after you kill the dragon, you lost items and start semi-new.

[Zeggy]

I think this should depend on how the characters develop and based on what the characters are ranked. If there is a maximum level, then there's not so much a need for a reset, since there is only so far that the top players can go to become the best, after that, it is just a battle for who gets the best items, spells, or whatever you have in your game.
If there is no level limit, you may want to put a time limit instead, which is basically a reset every so often, like you said in your topic.

Personally, I wouldn't like to lose everything each round, but, there are some ways to make players look forward to new rounds:
Provide an incentive for the players. Maybe players who have been in previous rounds get bonus stats or EXP, etc.
Let users pick a different race/technology route each round, and once they pick it they need to stick to it. Make sure each race/technology route has unique features, so every round they can try something new.

[Sinzygy]

You got the perfect example for round-based rpg. Really, if you include certain quests that need to be fulfilled to save Kingdom/Princess X from certain death then why not end the round right after this quests has been completed?
If you manage to think of a decent background-story for your game, then I don't think the players will mind much.

One thing that is vital tho is, that the players need to know that the game they're playing will end in 2-3 (x) months. And you should provide some sort of "compensation" for the players that played in the previous rounds. If you have a city somewhere where all the players live, then you could assigns veterans to higher level of citizens-class and let them get new skills. For example, a rookie (1st round) can pretty much play the rpg, but a veteran could also learn how to smith weapons, or he could build his own shop or open his own guild. Just some ideas on how to compensate veterans without giving them an in-game advantage, just some privileges.

[codestryke]

I run both types of games ones that go round to round and reset and one that just keeps going and going. Both really have there strength and weaknesses.

Ones that reset and everyone starts over are great because it allows you to try more things in the game. Even if something screws up or didn't work as you had planned it the game will reset and you can try again. In games that don't reset you have to fix the problem which can be difficult at times.

Good example of this debate is to look to the past

Legend of the Red Dragon the original BBS version of the game came out and it was basically a never ending RPG. The game had a nice balance that allowed it to keep going and going.. Kill the dragon start over but start over a bit stronger.

Then someone came out with tournament LORD to allow you to basically automatically reset the game allowing player's to compete within the game for and X duration of time. Tournament LORD was hugely popular because ppl love competition.. Many of BBS owner's, including myself, ran two versions of the game one that was never ending and then a tourny version which to you could give out "things" to the winners that played the standard version.

[truegamepimp]

round based games r good

[Kimmybwoy]

i think it is possible for rounds on a rpg