Adding sample maps. (creating your own map templates)

[SelfAware]

A save/load map function.

• The ability to save created maps, or at least a folder to place them in.
• The ability to load the saved maps into the project, much like the load sample maps feature.

I think this feature would be a great developer tool for several reasons.

• Creating your own set of template maps for common structures.
  
• Streamline the process of transferring maps from one project to another.
• A way to save and share your map creations with other people.
  
• Very useful for people making episodic games.

Possible issues would be handling the MapIDs and Textures. At this time I'm not sure how this could be handled, other than to convert the textures to the default textures if the texture pack it was designed with wasn't available.

 

[RiverbackGames]

Yes, this would be a great tool which would enhance the ability of RPG Maker to be an actual game engine. However this can be achieved by creating a new map and using that map as container for your templates. You could even add doors to this map, consider it as a hub to to different sample maps. I think this possibility is why these premade maps are called "Samples". They are not set to be used as templates as they have the most basic structure but I still use them all the time.

Having them in the UI itself is the problem and these should be called "templates" instead of "samples" and they should not contain objects such as tables and chairs or trees.

As @SelfAware stated, what I suggested would also mess up your mapID:s unless you can create all the premade templates before any other scenes. For me I don't see this affecting my game as my game is not linear and the using the mapIDs wouldn't help me nonetheless. I guess it would be nice to be able to change the ID later on but I'm in very beginning of my development cycle and haven't really looked into the engine itself (Not to mention the plugins that have been created to solve this problem).

If I ever bump in to one (plugin), I will post it here with the results so it can be utilized by others. Fow now, I'm not missing this functionality too much, but I would like to see it in the future releases if they ever want the engine to be treated as such.

PS: What's with the backspace functionality on this page. When I backspace one letter it takes the space off too. I don't even care. This all makes it more interesting and fun to do. But I really can't be serious here.