8 Rpgs That Let You Talk Your Way Through Danger

Don’t see your favorite? Tell us what it is in the comments! Thanks to ninja666 for starting the thread! Baldur’s Gate 2 First mentioned by ExDeath730 The sequel to Bioware’s first massively successful RPG included a number of examples of dialog trumping combat. At times you could talk enemies into letting you pass, and if you did have to resort to combat, it was much improved over the first game. Furthermore, the voice acting was some of the best in games at the time, bringing more life to conversations throughout the game. Finally, the game included quests that actually penalized you with less XP if you decided to abandon diplomacy for violence. It was a stellar example of this niche area of the RPG genre. Troika’s take on the Vampire the Masquerade tabletop game was a mixed bag of sorts. Although its writing an voice acting were stellar, it displayed a number of technical; glitcehs and a lack of polish. Still, its dialog options were top-notch, especially early in the game. Some characters were skilled at seduction and persuasion, and by upgrading their skills, you could open up even more dialog options. Late in the game, the well-rounded dialog gives way to a more combat-heavy experience, but it’s still a great example of how well conversation scan be used in a game. Another Troika title that’s worthy of this list is their first one: Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. Not only does it offer you the chance to use dialog in place of combat, you can also resort to thievery or bribery if you so desire. It is possible to complete the entire game without killing anyone, making it a excellent example of the power of persuasion. Easily the newest game on this list, Pillars of Eternity is based on the old Infinity Engine classics, like Planescape: Torment. While there are not a huge number of avoidable combats in the game, a non-combat character who successfully uses stealth and dialog can complete the game. As an added bonus, the conversation options can greatly affect how your character is perceived by the game’s NPCs. It’s a newer game built in an old-school style. On the surface, Deus Ex: Human Revolution may look like a shooter with a few RPG elements, but that’s a bit deceiving. There is a fair bit of important dialog, and your choices there can definitely affect the game’s outcome. You can play the entire game non-lethal now, thanks to the Director’s Cut patch. If you’re careful enough, hacking, stealth, and diplomacy can help you win the day. Obsidian’s spy-thriller RPG had its problems, to be sure. The combat left much to be desired, but the dialog and story was pretty spot on throughout. All of your dialog decisions affected how the game unfolded, and there were plenty of opportunities to use your diplomacy skills in place of your abilities with a pistol. Unfortunately, as you got closer to the end of the game, combat became more mandatory. Still, Alpha Protocol gets a whole lot right in terms of flapping your jaw in place of firing your gun. Also, there are dialog options like “Headslam.” That’s a win too.