What makes a good RPG?

Maps defiantly enhance the experience, but I find most people prioritize that over more important things like storyline, gameplay, etc.

A great game is the story, but also to make sure it isn't flushed out all at once. Like a toilet overflowing. The story would be better if it had twists, because following the exact same story gets boring and doesn't give the player any reason to continue. In one of my old games, I took the download down after a while, but, the main character died in the middle of the story. That had people playing it all the way through to figure out what really happened. Twists n' turns make a great story, but you also need to face the basic steps of making any kind of fictonal story. Introduction, Rising Climax, The Climax, The thing that leads to the resolution and then the resolution. Because most games just have the hero run through and stab with a katana because they are overly hyper anime fans and wont spend the time thinking about a story idea they had 4 minutes ago. D: The story should evolve through the gameplay, making it more able to push through instead of playing something like House of the Dead where you ran on a rail through the game. The person playing your game should be suprised by the plots, you must have them laugh, cry, laugh again, and be angry at the final boss. Also the final boss needs to be beliveable. Sephiroth was beliveable, yes, but you shouldn't have him do like, one evil thing and call it a day. Evil people terrorize everything they can, trust me, i'm an evil monster that fights off Godzilla, I destroy things every day! Anyway, thats really how to make your story go down better. Not saying it has to follow it, it is more like a springboard. Or you could just ignore this and do it your way, your loss.

Humor... Very important... No lame jokes, good humor

I agree... Humor is very important.
But i believe that a good story and music is even more important.
Especially a story written with feelings, might make a good game. If you have experienced some of the things happening, like a friend that died, then it would be more realistic if feeling were put in every word. The way that a character talk can make you go sad, angry and even make you happy. But it will work a bit odd without the real kind of music. Music makes feelings and feelings can make a good scene. Try to look at a good movie. Try to look how the background music affects your feelings. Right from the soft and dreamy little melody to the tense and kinda scary melody is important.
The Background Story will probally be what puts you into the middle of the happenings, and makes you play from the start. Well it is possible to play without, but the background story is kinda like some flavour. If you like to eat steaks and suddenly, your steak is unflavoured, will you eat it then? Of Course this is without all the extra things.

In addition to this, a Character who have been made to fit in, will be extremely interesting. Well that's my point of wiew.
(Notice that I'm not normally debating.)

-Green Dragon

Know what else is important?  Names.  It's hard to relate to and appreciate characters if they have absolutely ridiculous (or boring) names.

Elroik the Greenwater:  "You killed my family!"
Domo Arigoto Roboto: "Who cares?!"

Same applies to names of locations and items.  Take some creative leverage.

RPG is a Role play game... Right...?

So I would say the Role that you play is the most important... The main story line needs to capture the players interest and hold it from start to finish.

I played an RPG once called Robotrek on the SNES, rubbish graphics... WICKED game... Graphics are a bonus I think.

More on Robotrek:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotrek
(Any one who reads this should download the Rom and Emulator, this game kicks butt !!)

Well the heart of the game is the story. So a good game should have a good story line.
Also gameplay is important. Like having battle almost all the time and intense boss battles.
One thing I rly like in a game is special features.  Things like making your own weapons, or creating a character.

Storyline, gameplay and character development.  Graphics are nice, but some of the most awesome games ever have crappy graphics.