Dialogue wheels in RPGs have long been a source of frustration, stripping immersion and originality from role-playing games for an extended period. I'm relieved to observe their gradual decline.
In the world of gaming, the author of this article is known for their diverse tastes, spanning from traditional Roleplaying Games (RPGs) to soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and even quirky indie titles. Their passion for games started at a young age, with a World of Warcraft subscription at 12 and a Final Fantasy 14-brain to boot.
This passion extends beyond just playing games. The author is a prolific writer, contributing to various reputable websites such as Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, Into the Spine, and PC Gamer. Recently, they've been vocal about their dislike of dialogue wheels in games, discussing the issue while playing World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, and even shedding light on an unusual town named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
One of the key arguments against pre-determined dialogue options in RPGs is the reduction of player freedom and agency. These options restrict players to a fixed set of responses, which can make players feel "railroaded" or forced down a particular narrative path without meaningful choice. This limitation contrasts with the ideal of RPGs as interactive, player-driven stories where decisions shape outcomes.
Another concern is the break in immersion and engagement. When dialogue options feel scripted or artificial, players may sense that their choices don't genuinely influence the story world or character interactions, harming immersion. This contrasts with storytelling where character actions and words feel natural and consequential.
The predictability and lack of surprise that come with fixed dialogue trees is another issue. Players may anticipate the limited options, which diminishes the narrative tension and surprise that comes from unexpected player-driven responses. Furthermore, forcing particular dialogue outcomes can feel authoritarian or disrespectful, causing frustration and alienation.
The impact on player experience can be significant. Players may feel disempowered because their choices are restricted to what the designers scripted rather than what they imagine or want their character to say. Narrative engagement drops if players perceive their dialogue has no real consequence or if outcomes feel predetermined regardless of choice. It can also reduce role-playing depth, as players cannot fully express their character’s unique personality or strategies through customized dialogue.
However, it's important to note that not all games suffer from this issue. Disco Elysium and The Witcher 3, for instance, demonstrate that pre-determined characters can be made better without a dialogue wheel. Games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Dragon Age: Origins offer more options for roleplay and signpost them less, leading to a greater diversity in dialogue choice.
Even games without a dialogue wheel, such as Cyberpunk 2077, carry dialogue-wheel elements, where the player can choose between a corpo, a nomad, or a streetkid, but the character remains inescapably the same. The author argues that the dialogue wheel is a problem in RPGs, even when the stakes aren't high, and expresses a desire to see it gone from the industry.
The author acknowledges that developers face numerous challenges, including working under corporate development hell and getting laid off for their trouble. They express sympathy for these developers, hoping for a future where creative freedom and player satisfaction can coexist in the world of RPGs.
[1] Reference for key arguments and impacts on player experience can be found in the original source material.
- The author's diverse gaming tastes include not just playing games, but also writing about them, contributing to sites like Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, Into the Spine, and PC Gamer.
- In the realm of gaming, the author has recently voiced disapproval of dialogue wheels, discussing this issue in the context of games like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14.
- Other than games, the author's passions extend to lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, social media, entertainment, and pop-culture, with discussions likely shown on their social platforms.
- In the world of RPGs, the author prefers games that offer more roleplay opportunities, citing Disco Elysium and The Witcher 3 as examples of thisapproach.
- Beyond the realm of gaming, the author expresses a desire for a future where creators can enjoy greater creative freedom, leading to games that cater to both developer and player satisfaction.
