The latest entry to 1UP’s RPG Blog examines the growing trend of role-playing games being made “more accessible” in order to appeal to a wider audience, and how gamers can help reverse the trend by having more patience when learning a game’s mechanics. Several JRPGs are referenced, though Mass Effect 2 comes up for a bit as well.

Why the fuck would you want to make RPGs more accessible? Don’t like the number crunching? Go play your auto-level-up PlayStation ‘RPGs’. I remember coming face to face with the D&D system for the first time while playing the first Baldur’s Gate - a daunting experience. But actually taking my time to learn the system played a huge part in making me the person I am today: teh ultymate pwnerer.

Pro tip: never be afraid of learning new stuff (okay, actually, ALWAYS be afraid of learning new stuff that has nothing to do with gaming, cause that stuff is useless, but, yeah, learn new gaming stuff. Explore, educate yourself, always aim to be the best gamer you can possibly be). Also, RPGs with lotsa lotsa numbers are generally better than the ones without.