What elements exactly make an RPG?

[Sn1p3r187]

Is it character customization? Skills and stats? Interaction between player and the environment? Or choice to dramatically affect the outcome and ending of the game through progression? To me I don't really know. But I think the idea of making your character the way you want in a specific skill or trade and interacting between yourself and npcs and the environment usually is what makes an RPG for me. That freedom of choice that comes in how you want to play the game and what you want to be in game is usually what makes it to me. To some extent that might Saints Row a bit RPGish but there's no specific trade you can master and interaction between npcs and player are limited. That might also to some extent make RDR a bit RPGish too, but I think it only contains a very few small elements of an RPG, mainly that reputation system and pretty open and lively npc interaction. But what do you think makes an RPG?

 

[Knight In Leather Armor]

A good and in depth character creation. One of the most essential parts of RPGs is the character and liking the character. Nowadays you can customize your characters body, limb size, breast size, feet size, everything. If I'm going to play an RPG I want my character to look nice and be made to what I want. Games like Neverwinter are what I like, being able to make your own background, character, and even being able to write your history and how you're character acts is great

 

[aenemic]

http://www.nma-fallout.com/threads/what-defines-an-rpg-for-you.205077/