Okay, I was pondering this at 3am this morning as I was trying to get to sleep... Okay, so I think about weird stuff when I'm trying to sleep...

Which is your preferred battle system during the many battles that occur in RPGs? I'll list the ones I can think of off the top of my head...

(1) Turn based. Your party selects their movements before any of them act per turn. Think Suikoden or Breath of Fire III or IV.

(2) Active Turn Based. Final Fantasy-style. Your party moves in an order, but actions occur whilst you are choosing your move, putting more emphasis on speed.

(3) Map based. Final Fantasy Tactics / Shining Force. Your party can move around on a map, and so can the enemy. You move your characters into range of the enemy in order to attack. Tactics can thus be built, and your weaker characters protected to a lesser extent.

(4) First person slashy-slashy. For lack of a more accurate phrase to think of. Think Zelda, Alundra and Morrowind. YOU control the character, and their attacks and their moves.

I'm sure there are more, and feel free to suggest them. My personal favourite is the first one, as it gives you a chance to think about your moves before you perform them, and it's nice to watch the battle unfold without having to worry about making a move.

I choose Number 2!
But I am always open for original new battle system ideas. Battle systems are important... for the gameplay. I remember games like Saga Frontier 2, where the battle system was the only good thing about it!

I rather wonder if it is possible to create a totally new never-to-be-seen-before battle system for a game.

Ah, and let me say one last word: Random encounters suck.

Like Misao number 2 is for me, but also number 1, i dont really like Number 3 to much and 4 is ok with what type of game your playing at the time

Well I am only farmiliar with FF systems, which I think has it problems sometimes, when it seems the boss's get 3 shots before you get 1 and you have already chosen your attacks and they take forever to attack... if that makes sense.

Active turn based and turn based do well for me and are truly RPG fitting.
Real time is works for me.

Active Turn based is my favorite kind of battle system. Don't really care for real time.

I like the battle system for Star Ocean 2. I think that qualifies under the 3rd category.

I like being able to gang up and totally destroy one enemy. It's so fun to just beat the crap out of one very helpless enemy.


Quote from Misao
Ah, and let me say one last word: Random encounters suck.

No kidding. I wish Square would quit with them. They should go back to Chrono Trigger/Cross with Final Fantasy. Actually, I liked the CT system better. No different background, you battle right where you are.

#4 for me, of course i've never had the privilage of playing a ff game, so i dont know much about the other ones beside my owning golden sun.

I've always been a fan of Zelda and i'm borrowing morrowind from a friend right now, so yah.....#4.