Gamers who love RPGs might adore the genre for its deep combat mechanics, interesting worlds, or the potential to authentically role-play many great characters. However, RPGs are almost unique in gaming as being one of the few genres that doesn’t just enable diplomacy, but often encourages it.
Whether they take place in Medieval Bohemia, the plains of Faerun, or outer space, RPGs are a fantastic place to experience diplomacy-rich gameplay.
As one of the greatest Medieval RPGs to release in recent memory,Kingdom Come: Deliverancehas cultivated a rabid fanbase that adores the weird and wonderful ways each player can take in the game. Luckily, if players prefer chatting to violence, persuasion and diplomacy are certainly valid strategies.
Diplomacy in the game is governed by the persuasion ability that is stratified depending on many different circumstances. For example, if Henry (the protagonist) is wearing better clothesor a fearsome sword, people of higher reputation are more likely to be receptive to him. Similarly, if he’s kitted out with big swords, he could strike an intimidating presence. It’s surprisingly contextual and a great way to navigate the game’s diverse challenges.
While opinion is mixed on Bioware in modernity, most RPG fans have fond memories of the company during the 2000s when they were producing stone-cold RPG classics likeStar Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic(also known as KOTOR). Suitably, the game has a strong suite of diplomacy mechanics to complement the Jedi-based action.
Based on a system clearly inspired by tabletop role-playing games, players can invest in the Charisma stat as well as empathy feats to try and talk their way out of a surprising number of situations — like Ben Kenobi insisting that these are not the droids you are looking for.
Before fifth edition D&D came out and catapulted the TTRPG to new heights, Pathfinder became the game system of choice due to its well-thought-out mechanics and incredible player engagement, setting the scene for the Pathfinder series of games based on the very same system.
InPathfinder: Kingmaker, players are free to craft their own character and, like the D&D system it’s inspired from, Charisma and Persuasion are major attributes to be invested in if players prefer to take a diplomatic tact when it comes to solving issues. There’s nothing quite like talking around a potentially brutal fight with a great dice roll and wits.
Baldur’s Gate 3is an undoubted classic in the RPG genre for good reason. Never before have the joys and pleasure of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons made their way to video games (with some minor adjustments along the way).
Naturally, that means that Persuasion, Deception, and Charisma are major parts of character builds. Larian Studios' epic adventure has an incredibly impressive slew of encounters that can be completely side-stepped with some wise words and a great Persuasion roll. Bards, Sorcerers, and Warlocks are ready and waiting to lie their way to the final boss with a wink in their eye, and who knows —maybe that silver tongue will be helpful when it comes to romance?
Though it would come to define the hardcore PC gaming crowd, it took untilDeus Ex(and, being fair,System Shock 2) for the immersive sim series to take off and becomethe most beloved entries in the series. The game’s great diplomacy is one major reason why.
In short, everything is based off the player’s previous choices, actions, the information they’ve gathered, and their preexisting relationship with different factions and characters. That means diplomacy feels very real and earned. It’s not a dice-roll, but a result of decisions made, meaning that every choice takes on extra weight when the thought of how it might affect future conversations arises.
As a modern classic in the world of open-world RPGs,Fallout: New Vegashas cultivated a sterling reputation for its adult and mature approach to RPG mechanics and storytelling, with a surprising but admirable commitment to making speech a viable path through the Mojave Wasteland.
One of a player’s main skills in the game is Speech, which can be invested in heavily to completely circumnavigate some of thegame’s greatest challenges and powerful enemies. One of the game’s final bosses can actually be persuaded to stand down with high enough Speech. Few games would make so bold a leap.
Though confined to the PC for a long time,Planescape: Tormentis slowly coming to be regarded as one of the best games in the entire RPG genre, and one major reason is because of its incredible writing that doesn’t shy away from tough topics and philosophy.
Players take control of the Nameless One, a mysterious figure that can be spec’d toward Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma — as well as the Lore and Stories skills — which can result in entirely new conversation pathways some players may never see. The game’s long conversations are regarded as some of the best for good reason, so diplomacy is actually one of the best ways to play the game.
Upon its release in 2019, everyone knew thatDisco Elysiumwas something special. Where most RPGs have a strong focus on combat, the vast majority ofDisco Elysium’s gameplay is simply having conversations, written like no other RPG that has ever been made before and becoming even betterafter the release of its updated Final Cut version.
The player takes control of a detective who is competing with a massive cast of characters in his head, representing his different skills, attitudes, personalities, and behaviors, with constant inner commentary battling over actions. Conversations are navigated through these strange but wonderfully unique voices, resulting in wildly different playthroughs and diplomacy that never holds the player’s hand.
