I totally agree that the player provides the "brains" that determine how "smart" their character is (or isn't).
But!
The player should not provide the natural aptitude or skill necessary to successfully accomplish whatever task the character is performing.
Take combat.
In both an RPG and and FPS the player decides what to attack, with what, and in some cases how. But the actual resolution, or success, of the attack attempt is determined by player skills in an FPS and character skills in an RPG. This is the critical difference between the two game styles. No game can be BOTH. While many games incorporate (to a better or worse degree) elements of each at their core they are one or the other. Because either the player OR the character determines the outcome of tasks.
But!
The player should not provide the natural aptitude or skill necessary to successfully accomplish whatever task the character is performing.
Take combat.
In both an RPG and and FPS the player decides what to attack, with what, and in some cases how. But the actual resolution, or success, of the attack attempt is determined by player skills in an FPS and character skills in an RPG. This is the critical difference between the two game styles. No game can be BOTH. While many games incorporate (to a better or worse degree) elements of each at their core they are one or the other. Because either the player OR the character determines the outcome of tasks.