Summary
It’s no secret that most role-playing games keep fans engaged by using a tried-and-tested combat loop. Players must acquire the relevant skills to take down the foes standing in their way, butRPGs that embody the true spirit of this termrealize that battling foes shouldn’t be the only way to make progress.
This is why a lot of role-playing games include non-combat skills that are extremely useful in their own way. From convincing other characters with a silver tongue to lockpicking doors and gaining access to restricted areas, some RPGs do a great job of making these non-combat skills just as important as the ones used directly in battle if not more.
Fans hailFallout: New Vegasas one of the greatest RPGs ever made since it gives players a ton of options to approach every goal. Sure, using guns and melee weapons to kill anyone standing in the Courier’s way is possible, but it’s far from the only way people can play this game.
A high Speech skill is so useful that players can talk themselves out of the final boss fight, while stealthy players can avoid any kind of confrontation altogether. The Courier can be molded in whatever manner players see fit, and players don’t need to specialize in a combat skillto reach the ending, even if it may be quite challenging in its own right.
Combat players a huge role inBaldur’s Gate 3, there’s no denying that. However, ignoring the other skills that help players outside of these lengthy turn-based battles will lead to a sub-optimal experience.
Convincing party members to accept Ilithid powers, avoiding needless confrontations with guards, and figuring out unorthodox solutions to certain questlines all play a huge role in ensuring that players make the most ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s varied roleplaying opportunities.
Kingdom Come: Deliveranceis a gamesteeped in medieval history where players control a blacksmith’s son with little to no combat prowess. This can make early battles in this game ridiculously challenging to deal with. This makes non-combat skills crucial for players to slowly make progress before they can learn the ropes and take on lowly bandits in battle.
Becoming adept at hunting and lockpicking, among other non-combat skills, ensures that players will be able to earn some valuable gold and deck Henry out in equipment that enhances his chances of survival. After relying on these non-combat skills for a while, players shouldn’t have too many problems exploring the map and taking on the enemies that stand in their way.
Not many RPGs allow players to explore different layers of evil, which is precisely whyTyrannydeserves its plaudits as one of the most unique games in this genre. The writing for two-thirds of the experience is stellar and gives players numerous options to deal with any given situation.
A high Lore stat ensures that players don’t have to carry out a bloody act of infanticide, while Subterfuge lets players circumvent encounters and fool other characters. All of these options enhance the game’s role-playing and give them a better chance of making progress without experiencing any roadblocks.
There’s no denying thatcombat inDragon Age: Originsis a huge part of the gameplay, but the same applies to other skills that players can level up. Sometimes, the optimal solution to certain questlines can only be achieved with logical solutions and underhanded tactics instead of resorting to combat all the time.
Players who want to squeeze out as much fun from the game as possible should make it a point to invest in their non-combat skills from time to time. Potent alchemical concoctions and sweet-talking merchants into good deals are excellent ways to kit out the party and ensure that they can avoid death’s embrace in the toughest battles.
Deus Exisone of the few immersive simsthat leans heavily into RPG mechanics without it feeling tacked on. Without points invested in the handling of certain weapons, landing a single shot is challenging and players will be left a bloody mess if a combat encounter gets out of hand.
This makes it important to level up non-combat skills that let players break into locations without having to kill someone for a key and use the security systems to make turrets and robots turn on their enemies. This ensures that players have a realistic chance of taking out the many threats standing in their way without even firing a single bullet, which is an impressive showcase ofDeus Ex’s strengths as an immersive RPG that lives up to this moniker and then some.
It’s a shame that Troika Games had to cut out a ton of content inthe latter half ofBloodlines. It prevented this title from becoming one of the most lauded RPGs of all time, with a heavy emphasis placed on combat in the latter stages that punishes players for not pursuing an action-heavy playstyle.
However, this isn’t true for the bulk of the experience. The best gameplay moments inBloodlinescome early on, rewarding players for enhancing their Persuasion skills and gaining ability points quickly to improve their character’s build and become a powerhouse both in and out of combat.
Pillars of Eternitymay have its flaws, but there’s no denying that this title is one of the better modern CRPGs that fans can check out if they want to enjoy a tight, engrossing narrative. Combat is just one of the many elements of this title’s gameplay that players can interact with to make progress.
Mechanics helps players break into chests and acquire powerful loot, while Athletics lets players enjoy a shortcut in certain stages to avoid encounters and head toward their goal without any distractions. This makes non-combat skills crucial for players who want to maximize their enjoyment of this game.
