Collecting Friends And Building Bases

[Superman's Dead]

One of my favorite aspect of RPGs is collecting varied characters and making use of them through plot-supported means.

In Infinite Space you get dozens of characters to crew your fleet with, and learn a bit about each of their lives.

In Suikoden IV there are not only 108 'Stars of Destiny' (characters to gather), but you have your own naval fleet and collect shopkeepers to sell you things while you journey on the high seas!

In Chrono Cross there's a ton of characters to gather, but only a few of them really have the interaction with the main character and story that I really enjoy.

I love the feeling that I'm gathering an army. Starting small, getting bigger and bigger, etc. I also like when the PC is a Big Deal (tm), and is eventually feared/respected/known all over. Dread Pirate Roberts style.

What other games are out there with droves of characters for the PC to gather?

[evilgoodwin]

While not having the billions of characters that the others have, I always liked finding everyone in the Shining Force games. Sure, you couldn't use all of them all the time (and most of them are Knights), but you were gathering an actual army. It was nice to see them grow and get stronger towards the end of the game.

[Codicier]

Obligatory Mass Effect 2 mention for gathering a varied cast and building up your armament.

[Superman's Dead]

Obligatory Mass Effect 2 mention for gathering a varied cast and building up your armament.

True dat. But I'd prefer a few more characters. While Mass Effect 2 technically had a tech tree and upgrades...they weren't that useful outside of cutscenes.

I hear Baldur's Gate 2 has a castle you get? How's that?

[Camel]

Awesome topic, because these are my favorite types of games as well. Unfortunately, the ones that immediately spring to mind are Sukioden and Chrono Cross, which you already mentioned.

The Fire Emblem games do a pretty good job of letting you connect with a big group of characters, and it definitely has the army-building feel you are looking for since, well, you are usually building up an army. Valkyrie Profile has lots of characters, and it's fun to learn their back stories, but there's really not that much depth to the character interactions (plus, they usually make no sense). Still a fun game though.

I had no idea Infinite Space had this sort of aspect to it. I waited too long to get it and now it's super expensive everywhere I look. If anybody out there has a copy sitting around collecting dust, I'd be happy to buy it from you or trade something in return!

EDIT: Scratch that. In stock at my local Gamestop. Time to make a trip!

[Superman's Dead]

Yeah, Infinite Space is great because it lets you build your own fleet, so you really get attached to some of your concepts and ships. You end up deciding who you want to crew your ship based on their skills and stats...heads up: skills are more important than stats. They're more useful in the long run if you use them often.

My copy is only collecting dust because I messed up and saved after a point of no return in the middle of a VERY difficult battle. Ugh.

[KillerMcDead]

Both Kotor games. Not only could you collect 6 or 7 followers, there were rewards for interacting with them throughout the game and learning their stories. In the second Kotor, your light/dark side alignment influenced their dispositions as well.

I also remember taking the time to make sure Vincent, Cid and Yuffie were always in my FF7 party.

[Codicier]

True dat. But I'd prefer a few more characters. While Mass Effect 2 technically had a tech tree and upgrades...they weren't that useful outside of cutscenes.

I hear Baldur's Gate 2 has a castle you get? How's that?

If you're a specific class (Fighter or multiclass including Fighter) then your stronghold quest (every class has a stronghold they can get) is De'Arnise Keep, which is a castle you can save and become lord of.

It's not really that big of a deal though, since you still go around adventuring as normal but every so often you can come back to your stronghold to take care of various situations that crop up in the management of your stronghold. Still, it's probably the most involved stronghold in BG2.

[BigJonno]

Neverwinter Nights 2 has possibly the best castle in a RPG. If you want an idea of how in-depth it is, glance over this guide. (http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/922154-neverwinter-nights-2/faqs/46126)

[Ririkun]

It doesn't have a castle, but you mentioning Infinite Space brought the tri-Ace game Infinite Undiscovery to mind. You get quite a few characters in that (not sure of the total number). The gameplay is decent to mediocre, but it can be fun, even though the main character's personality probably wouldn't be able to fill an egg cup.

And speaking of tri-Ace and games that have a lot of characters, the Valkyrie Profile series does a really good job of this. The fun part about the characters you get is that each of them have a distinct personality, even if they have similar classes. The sad part is that you have to send a character or two every chapter to "Valhalla," which basically means you'll never see them again. It makes for good strategizing of who to give up and who to keep. And the good thing is that you don't really have to worry about your "approval rating" until near the end of the game, when you can send a crapton of people up (though if memory serves, you do have to send up at least one character per chapter; it's been a while since I played Lenneth). There's three games in the series, with the first two being pretty similar (though Lenneth is turn-based in battle, whereas Silmeria is action-based) and Covenant of the Plume (the latest one) being a SRPG with the basic battle system of Lenneth.

[Superman's Dead]

Oh man. I'm probably gonna have to invest in Neverwinter Nights 2...

I also just got Valkyria Chronicles, and that has sort of the same feel. I wish it leveled up all of my guys individually, because I don't think I'm going to let any die.

Well, at least not any I like.

I can't imagine having to send characters to the afterlife...that sounds like a really interesting system.

[BigJonno]

Oh man. I'm probably gonna have to invest in Neverwinter Nights 2...

It's a pretty good game, it's just that the opening section is linear and painfully generic. Once you get to Neverwinter itself and you're making a few more decisions it becomes much better.

[Ink Asylum]

Final Fantasy Tactics had a pretty large cast, and allowed you to have around 30 soldiers/monsters in your army. Although most would end up being generic males/females, you could get attached to your favorites as they become powerful fighters.

[Gorvi]

Final Fantasy Tactics had a pretty large cast, and allowed you to have around 30 soldiers/monsters in your army. Although most would end up being generic males/females, you could get attached to your favorites as they become powerful fighters.
I was just coming in to post that. The Disgaea games do that to a certain extent as well.

[Narradisall]

I liked the Baulders Gate 2 castle, I even got the Sphere for when I played my mage, the castle was more in depth though.

I don't like going too made on the characters in some games though. FF and Bioware games are good levels of extra characters, once it starts getting larger I don't really link to the characters much, and they are usually shallow in the development, you may use them once then they sit in a room the whole time.

On comparison, to say Mass Effect 2, each character was well developed and they all played a part in the final mission. Even BG games and the like, all the characters were so well developed. I imagine if you had a cast of 50 that besides the 5 off close companions most you'd forget about.

[Superman's Dead]

I liked the Baulders Gate 2 castle, I even got the Sphere for when I played my mage, the castle was more in depth though.

I don't like going too made on the characters in some games though. FF and Bioware games are good levels of extra characters, once it starts getting larger I don't really link to the characters much, and they are usually shallow in the development, you may use them once then they sit in a room the whole time.

On comparison, to say Mass Effect 2, each character was well developed and they all played a part in the final mission. Even BG games and the like, all the characters were so well developed. I imagine if you had a cast of 50 that besides the 5 off close companions most you'd forget about.

Sure, but what I like is the feeling of scope. That these 50 people legitimately left what they were doing in their lives to follow the main character in his crazy/legendary/horrific quest to save/end/laminate the world.

[Narradisall]

Sure, but what I like is the feeling of scope. That these 50 people legitimately left what they were doing in their lives to follow the main character in his crazy/legendary/horrific quest to save/end/laminate the world.

I get your point. Lots of games fail to achieve that in rather than feeling like all these people have given up their lives to follow you, you end up feeling like your fielding an army of stats. Some games pull it off well though.

[Karak]

The PS2 game Radiata Stories(SIC).
I only played a bit but it seemed to have a wealth of people.

[Superman's Dead]

Woah. Just looked it up: awesome. Buying a copy shortly.

Thanks, Karak!

[Gorvi]

Woah. Just looked it up: awesome. Buying a copy shortly.

Thanks, Karak!
Radiata Stories? I'd read some reviews first, unless you already saw something favorable, then disregard. It wasn't one of the more impressive PS2 RPGs that I can remember playing. Now, if you haven't played Shadow Hearts: Covenant on the other hand..... :)

[Superman's Dead]

It looks like it has a pretty big plot arc, a ton of joinable NPCs, multiple playthroughs...those are things I like.

But I also have not played Shadow Hearts, so...

[Karak]

Woah. Just looked it up: awesome. Buying a copy shortly.

Thanks, Karak!

Ya its a blast. I only played about 15 hours but I enjoyed it a great deal.

[Gorvi]

It looks like it has a pretty big plot arc, a ton of joinable NPCs, multiple playthroughs...those are things I like.

But I also have not played Shadow Hearts, so...
It does have an interesting framework, but the battles were just...... incredibly bland. Pretty much par for the course for most Tri Ace games.

[Karak]

Radiata Stories? I'd read some reviews first, unless you already saw something favorable, then disregard. It wasn't one of the more impressive PS2 RPGs that I can remember playing. Now, if you haven't played Shadow Hearts: Covenant on the other hand..... :)

I have played them both...and recently. So maybe my memory of it is a bit better than yours. But it is damn good.
Average on meta of 74 with highs in the mid 90's. Its not bad.

I just saw your comment about battles.
I have only one thing to say to you. Jaded good sir. Jaded. For 15 bucks, it offers an incredible game. You sir need a smiley face :)
Link battles, formations, spell combinations, massive battle combinations. Shakes head. I don't know man. I just don't know. I think you just hate it cause I suggested it:)

[Gorvi]

I have played them both...and recently. So maybe my memory of it is a bit better than yours. But it is damn good.
Average on meta of 74 with highs in the mid 90's. Its not bad.
Oh, I wouldn't call it bad. It might just be a personal thing, I have a really hard time getting into any games Tri Ace puts out, with the one exception being Star Ocean 2. Their battle systems rarely appeal to me.

The main reason I recommend Shadow Hearts: Covenant is that it's just such a weird game and it's legitimately funny in many places.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/docs/20041004l.jpg
Shakes head. I don't know man. I just don't know. I think you just hate it cause I suggested it:)
SHHHHH! You'll fuck up my credibility! :p Nah, it's just kinda weird that it is one of the very few JRPGs I've ever bought and then sold off, and I'm usually pretty picky with what I'll buy. It just didn't click with me.

[Karak]

Oh, I wouldn't call it bad. It might just be a personal thing, I have a really hard time getting into any games Tri Ace puts out, with the one exception being Star Ocean 2. Their battle systems rarely appeal to me.

The main reason I recommend Shadow Hearts: Covenant is that it's just such a weird game and it's legitimately funny in many places.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/docs/20041004l.jpg

SHHHHH! You'll fuck up my credibility! :p Nah, it's just kinda weird that it is one of the very few JRPGs I've ever bought and then sold off, and I'm usually pretty picky with what I'll buy. It just didn't click with me.

Gotcha. I am not sure why I liked it so much. It was different, fresh(for me), and came at a good time when I had some empty game time on my hands.

[Superman's Dead]

Gotcha. I am not sure why I liked it so much. It was different, fresh(for me), and came at a good time when I had some empty game time on my hands.

I went in to Gamestop today to pick up Super Scribblenauts and looked for Radiata. They didn't have it, but the cute girl who worked there made it her priority. Now I'm honor bound to go back (whenever she's working) and see if they can get it ordered to the store.

[Karak]

I went in to Gamestop today to pick up Super Scribblenauts and looked for Radiata. They didn't have it, but the cute girl who worked there made it her priority. Now I'm honor bound to go back (whenever she's working) and see if they can get it ordered to the store.

When she find it for you, speak entirely in Old English.
That always works with the hotties.

[jpublic]

And speaking of tri-Ace and games that have a lot of characters, the Valkyrie Profile series does a really good job of this. The fun part about the characters you get is that each of them have a distinct personality, even if they have similar classes. The sad part is that you have to send a character or two every chapter to "Valhalla," which basically means you'll never see them again. It makes for good strategizing of who to give up and who to keep. And the good thing is that you don't really have to worry about your "approval rating" until near the end of the game, when you can send a crapton of people up (though if memory serves, you do have to send up at least one character per chapter; it's been a while since I played Lenneth).

Yeah, but the original Valkyrie Profile also had the most criminal example of 'you have to have a guide to get the good ending' in the history of gaming.