Do You Want MMORPGs to Get Rid of Consumables? | OGR

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In the sprawling and immersive landscapes of MMORPGs, consumables have long been an integral part of the gameplay experience. Whether it's a sharpening stone in Guild Wars 2, a potent potion in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV), or a temporary enhancement in New World, consumables often add a layer of strategy and depth to these games. However, as someone who rarely uses them unless specifically instructed to do so, I often ask the question – do MMORPGs really need consumables, and if not, should they rid themselves of consumables altogether?

Before we dive too deep into the debate, let's look at consumables commonly found in MMORPGs. The most popular form is short-term buffs, typically food, drinks, or combat enhancements. These buffs generally last around 30 minutes, seldom stretching to an hour without repeated use. They provide an immediate boost to your avatar's abilities, allowing you to gain a temporary edge in combat or exploration, and in my opinion, are rarely worth the time it takes to remember to utilize them.

In some games, primarily mobile MMORPGs like Blade & Soul Revolution and Black Desert Mobile, they make a valid case for utilizing consumables, at least in the form of health potions. As the game primarily plays itself, weaving in your healing potion from time to time, where appropriate, has become a strictly automatic affair. All you really need to do is ensure your consumable is slotted, and your character will use it automatically when their health hits below a threshold. The healing consumable is actually not optional. Any players attempting content without it will quickly find themselves defeated, and making these consumables a necessity is just time and money sink, and little else, as it adds nothing to the