I personally feel that an RPG is best when it' s turn-based.

If a person wanted a real-time RPG, then developers could make it more like Fable or an FPS like Halo but with RPG elements.

Otherwise, it' s a platformer...

What' s your preference? Turn-based or Real-time? ...and, of course, why?

I usually prefer turn-based, simply because there' s always a great deal more strategy that is being utilized in a turn-based format. The REASON it' s turn-based in the first place is because of the sheer number of commands that can be given to a character at any given time, which can number over 50 in some RPG' s. Furthermore, the element of speed is another strategic issue that can almost always be brought into play. There are just more logical possibilities.

Most of the time, real-time RPG' s come down to hack, slash, rest, repeat...' yawn' Like in the case of the Forgotten Realms RPG' s (Baldurs Gate, Icewindale, Neverwinter Nights, etc.), all you really do is attack, memorize a spell or two, and then rest. Besides some possible protective spells and the AC number of your character, there isn' t much else to think about. This just bores me to tears single-player.

However, I' ve recently played some top-notch real-time RPG' s, like Champions of Norrath, Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance I, II, and Star Ocean: ' Til the End of Time. All are fantastic, and SO goes so far as to mix the two styles, as it did with SO 2. It remains a hybrid of sorts, and makes for the single most unique and engaging battle experience of RPG' s for this generation, IMO.

So both have their benefits, but I think, being a strategy/RPG fan at heart, that turn-based is the way to go for traditional RPG' s. I like to trade off a bit, personally.

I dont have any preferences, and i believe it all depends on how its implemented into a game. Final fantasy does really well with turn based gameplay, and i cant remember the last time i fell asleep at the controls.

turn based games require more thought. u need to plan ur attacks carefully, and final fantasy 10s main flaw ( at least to me ) was the addition of the bar on the right that showed each players turn and when they' re coming up next. it made it too easy.

real time games requirequick reflexes, and usually arent as complex as turnbasd games. Neverwinter nights and kotor were enjoybale, in part because they adopted both gameplays.

jabroni: Sounds just about right to me.

Turn based...

yeah! put me down for echoing Jabroni' s thoughts.

I am all for turnbased.

Turn-Based most of the time but Kingdom Hearts and X-Men Legends were really good.

It' s Real-Time RPGs ALL THE WAY for me.. 2,000,000%