November Goals & Progress Thread

[AceOfAces_Mod]

Progress Report #2:

-Opened a Project Recruitment thread after some planning.

-Tweaking the battle UI.

-Performance issues again! Even when I re-install Windows 10, I still encounter this (although the game does run better). I'm trying to reduce it, but I can't do much. I wish I could buy Effectus, but... you know.

 

[astra_not]

So it's November, which is National Novel Writing Month. For the past two years, I tried participating in NaNoWriMo, but I never got very far (I only had like 200 words lol). I've always enjoyed coming up with stories in my head, but I've never been able make them a reality. I eventually realized that I don't even read novels, like ever, so how could I write one? I do, however, play a lot of video games, and my favorite genre is RPGs, and I just so happen to have RPG Maker VX Ace on my computer from when I bought it on a whim years ago. So now NaNoWriMo has come again, but this time, it's going to NaRPGMaMo! (National RPG Making Month!) 

I've attempted making RPG Maker games before, but I never got very far with any project. All my ideas were way too ambitious, so making a game felt too overwhelming, which caused me to abandon my projects. I was getting very frustrated with myself, because I really wanted to share all these great stories that have been building up in my head for so long, but I couldn't write a novel and I couldn't make a game. 

Finally, I came up with a less ambitious story that would actually be doable. But even then, I struggled to find motivation to work on it. Until recently, a very cool and creative RPG called Undertale came out and blew me away. and it filled me with so much inspiration, (or DETERMINATION, if you will ) that I suddenly became super motivated. After seeing how popular Undertale became, I began to get really excited about my own game, which I feel will be really amazing if I can pull it off. My game's premise is really unique, and I can't wait to see how people will react to it! 

Therefore, I declare this month to be NaRPGMaMo! My main goal is to have a demo ready by the end of the month. I will provide updates of my progress here along the way.  

Current Goals:

-Make more maps

-Make character portraits

-Write up an outline of the story

-Write some dialogue

-Eventing!

 

[mlogan]

@Ruby - I hope you can get your demo out! Can't wait to try it out!

@AceOfAces_Mod - Good luck with the Recuitment thread. I hope you can find the help you need.

@astra_not - NaRPGMaMo - I like it! Good luck with it all!

Going to go ahead and make a progress update. I might get more done later, but I  figure I'm here so I'll go ahead with what I've got.

I'd really like to get this donut game finished up in the next couple of days, so I've made fair progress today. I've managed to set up the high score system; create a false title screen so that it can look pretty and function without having to dip into and mess with the code for that; I've sorted out what I need for all the features and have a list of those that still need to be finished, as well as the small bits that need to be coded; and I sorted out a big eventing issue that I was having that will go a long way in getting the levels finished, once the coded bits are done.

So what's mainly left is implementing a few features, mostly through code, tidying up the story bits, finishing up a couple of graphics and tidying things up - there are some places where things like text alignment and such are off.

Overall, it feels as if it's been a productive day.

 

[NearlyNoon]

Okay I've never posted in one of these threads before, but since I've recently decided to actually make a game and not just mess around making resources, now seems like a good time to start!

My big goal for this month is to finish up the 'core' placeholder graphics and start making real content. I'm probably spending more time than I need to on these placeholders, but I feel like I'm making headway figuring out the look and feel of the game, so I work hard on them. If I stay on task the first real level might be finished by the end of the month, we'll see.

Buuuuuut fallout comes out in nine days so staying on task might be hard. 

 

[bgillisp]

11.1 Update: Tweaked cutscenes up to the big reveal in Chapter 2. Now I need to decide something on later in Chapter 2, as I'm running into the problem that my Chapter 2 maps are really old and shoehorned into the plot, and it shows. But, I really don't want to take 1 - 2 weeks to redraw them. So, I decided to draw a side map in my side project while I ponder this.

Plan is to take tomorrow and draw a town in the side project, and use this to try an idea before making any changes (For those curious, yes, I have a side project, but it is just maps loosely connected, and I use it to try mapping ideas out, or crazy event ideas. I figure it might turn into a 4- 6 hour game someday...way in the future).

 

[DragonVine]

@mlogan - Doughnut (sorry, I'm Canadian, and I can't bring myself to spell it the American way, even though there is nothing wrong with that. ) game? I love doughnuts, so if you can combine it with a game, I'll likely enjoy said game haha.

@astra_not - Sounds like a great idea. Like mlogan said, NaRPGMaMo!

@NearlyNoon - I'd say Fallout 4 will drain a bunch of people's time. Fortunately, I'm still without a PS4, so it'll be a little while before it drains mine (my school work/RPG Making hobbies will be happy though).

@bgillisp - redrawing maps can be a nightmare. I've been there, just for little side projects that no one will ever see, so I get it.

@AcesOfAces_Mod - Does it have to do with the age of your computer?

My progress:

Yesterday, I created the basic structure of my first scene. I used a few placeholder graphics and haven't added in a few necessary animations yet, but I'm on my way. I wasn't really expecting to do it, but I just started working on it on a whim, and it turned out I had an hour or two of productive work.

 

[AceOfAces_Mod]

Nothing to report for now. Just replying.

@Dragonvine, the laptop that I have is almost three years old and has an 2nd gen Intel Core i3 processor. I'm getting upgrades for it (since I'm stuck with it until I can afford a midrange PC), but I still have heating issues, and the GPU (Intel HD Graphics 3000) doesn't have enough memory for games (although Intel Quick Sync Video is really useful in streams and recording with OBS). I can clean it up from dust, but the laptop's design makes it hard to do so without disassembling the laptop entirely just to clean up the cooling system. For now, I wait for the RAM upgrade.

 

[Another Ned]

@mlogan: Love this month's header image. It's so elegant. <3
You mentioned code – so doing those JavaScript tutorials some time ago already paid off? And yay for the progress you already made!
@nio kasgami: Congrats on finishing the first page! One page per week sounds like a good pace (depending on your working speed and deadlines and other obligations, of course). I mean, I've been through one page a day for only a week once, which is quite brutal, so I'm mentally cheering for you. : D
@Mettool: That's a a cute screenshot. Love the tiny little windmill.
@Ms Littlefish: I can only recommend going for heavier edits, it's fun!
@hiddenone: You could accomplish the third quite easily by quickly opening the editor, moving around an event, and calling it work. *grins super innocently, because that's totally not something I've done before* <3 But it tends to work by giving out a bad conscience, so I'd stay for another ten minutes or even longer to do some actual work, maybe it also works for you? (goal: give bad advice – done : D)
@bgillisp: It's quite the interesting way of doing things, the mapping for your side project while you're thinking about main project problems thing.
@DragonVine: Whims that turn into actual progress are the best! : D
@Everyone: Lots of motivation and energy and everything else* to reach your goals! : D
*no time in bottles can be provided at this time

Wasn't feeling too well yesterday and thus skipped posting.
But it's already November, even a Monday, so it's goals time.
Last week's goals were:

• think about gameplay […] //done
• more design work //didn't do the Temple interiors I wanted but got other design work done instead
• [...]decide on which RM to use for this project and start preparing Temple tilesets […] //made my decision and began with preparing the tilesets. MV won btw, despite my graphics card being a bit old

This week's goals:

• write the first draft of what's happening in each scene plus dialogue for Part A
• based on the first draft, make a list of graphical assets and other things needed and prepare placeholders for those
• finally create the project folder, decide on file naming conventions for the project, and get started (it's been a bit over two months that I started working on this project, so it's about time I jump into the editor)

I also have a bit of leftover progress from the last days:

• painted two plant tiles
• more fun with my testing-things-out project
• watched a history documentary which in turn caused my brain to do some more world building
• wrote down a lot of gameplay things

 

[Schlangan]

@AceOfAces_Mod : Good luck with your recruitment.


@Jeneeus Guruman : Why don't you try making your own CTB plugin, since it seems you know how to code ?


@mlogan : I can't wait to see the completed donut game


@bgillisp : Do you have to completely redraw those maps from Chapter 2 ? Can't a little tweak do the trick ?


@DragonVine : Well donut is till shorter to write, and correct so, we'll keep it that way Good to see you got some productive work.


@Chiara : Nice progress. Watching something can often brings in new ideas. Even listening to music is sometimes enough for me ^^


@Anyone else : I only specifically replied to people with progress, so I'll say good luck everybody else for your goals


My update :


- I completely redid the Item Window in RPG Maker MV, in order to get back the behavior I had created in XP; Each character possesses its own inventory. The items can be traded between members. But, I also kept MV's distinction between normal items and key items, as it is pretty useful.


- Since for now it takes me awhile to adapt myself to the new JS environment, I didn't do more in terms of scripting. instead, I simply completed the introduction cutscene and drew the icons of the first items of the game.


Here are some pictures of the new item menu.


- Item selection screen, with what happens when pushing the OK button :

Spoiler

- Use on actor screen, I still need some tweaking because somehow the design of the window does not please me :

Spoiler

- Trade items screen, an efficient way to see what you do. Only working with the keyboard or gamepad for now. I'll consider the mouse input later on

Spoiler

My short term goals for the upcoming days :


- Create the military base tileset


- Draw the Soldiers' and Schlangan's charsets and facesets in MV style


Doing so, the introduction should be fully done.

 

[Jeneeus Guruman]

@Jeneeus Guruman : Why don't you try making your own CTB plugin, since it seems you know how to code ?

If both Mellye's and Yanfly's ATBs can't do pseudo-CTB, I guess I'll make one myself.

Progress so far:

• Done all other 3 remaining scripts to make (see signature).
• Only released Drain/Recoil Rate on public for now. And I'm an hour late before someone posts his version of Mana/MP shield so I decided not to release mine (for now). Therefore, Healing Power Rate left to be released.
• Actually done converting my Ace project to MV except scripts which is only around halfway done.
• Made a GitHub account and placed my plugins and edited my posts in case of another issue from Pastebin.

 

[slimmmeiske2]

Good luck everyone! :3

The usual suspects:

• Restaff stuff
• Map the remaining maps for the next demo of BBW. (Copying this from last month, as I did zero things for this)

Other goals:

• Plan and start translating for an advent calendar
• Enter Palladinthug's MV GMD with the project I worked out last month

 

[shiningHatsya]

> A NaNoWriMo story to be accomplished, yet at the same time an entry for an anime group on Facebook. At some point, game adaptation is considered after this.

> Getting Suikoden-styled sprites work on RPG Maker MV.

 

[bgillisp]

@Dragonvine: Yep. I call drawing maps the never ending nightmare.

@Chiara: I do it because it is still progress, of a sorts. Plus, the side project is one that I don't care if it never finishes, so it is my way to just do something silly and see what happens, while I'm pondering the more serious project.

@Schlangan: I had thought so, but the problem is they have been tweaked about 70 times it feels like, and now I have the player going the most convoluted route to trigger events. I think some streamlining is in order.

@Jeneeus Guruman: A CTB system? I've toyed with going to a CTB in my game, but haven't wanted to make all the changes. Maybe next game. Good luck if you decide to write one.

@slimmmeiske2: Good luck with that. I may have to check out the updated demo.

@shiningHatsya: Don't forget to sleep sometime!

11.2 Update: Dabbled in drawing a town map for the side town, as I wanted to see if I could with the RTP draw a town with narrow, dangerous alleys, got something that I think works. Also figured out what the issue is with Chapter 2, and I think it is due to the fact that the town doesn't fit the mood of the area, as it looks nothing like a town ruled by Necromancers. So...time to get all creepy and spook the place out. I'm going to do a full redraw, and just might finally get use out of my Halloween tiles.

As for the current Chapter 2 town, it does stay...but it's now a Chapter 3 optional town. So it will still stick around, just in a new capacity.

Plan for tomorrow is to paper draw the new Necromancer town. I work all day though so it will be what little I can do on breaks. Probably won't post next update until 11.4, unless work is dead (one advantage of an internet job I suppose).

 

[Another Ned]

@Schlangan: I remember you once mentioning somewhere being a science person. This is what I had to think of when reading the adrenaline syringe description. : D Are all item descriptions this detailed? And now, my pre-breakfast brain has taken over – I just imagined pummeling the enemy with a large first aid kit. Don't mind me, I'm being silly right now. |D
@Jeneeus Guruman: Sounds like pretty good progress. Yay!
@slimmmeiske2: Good luck to you too! : D
@shiningHatsya: The first bullet point is two things in one? Lots of energy for accomplishing your goals!
@bgillisp: And with only this, you gained an instant new town! : D

Progress, 2nd:

• tried to write dialogue and such prettily into a spreadsheet-thing (inspired by what Hollow showed in last month's thread) but either my approach is way too chaotic (I have a tendency of cutting and pasting parts of dialogue or action and it's a good thing I was too lazy to take some scissors and improvise index cards or else I'd be searching forever for whatever piece of dialogue on paper just fell under the bed) for this, or it's something best done for the second draft onward, so I returned to type things down in celtx and probably try the pretty method again for the second draft
• wrote the first draft for the first 6 scenes (of 16). Noticed that I need to do some fleshing characters out exercises before attempting to write actual dialogue. And do some more expanding of my vocabulary (I write down words to be looked up later – but haven't looked them up yet)
• tweaked my plant tiles some more; and while I was at it, prepared a file in which I could adjust everything in a less-destructive way. Smart Objects + Adjustment Layers + Layer Masks = I only have to tweak one file per plant and update the smart objects instead of having to arrange everything anew in case I notice a major error or something later on
• updated my resource thread with the new plants

 

[AceOfAces_Mod]

Progress Report #3:

-The backup and restore UI is almost ready and the Auto-Backup mechanics are ready.

-Trying to resolve a plot hole that caused a writer's block.

-Figuring out how to trigger the Auto-Backup on the bootstrap program.

 

[shiningHatsya]

@Chiara: Well, the game adaptation will be a stretch goal after finishing the novel. I was supposed to do it like an old RPG Maker 2000 game called Whispered Cries, which has some game sections paused in favor of its bundled novel.

@bgillisp: I still get some sleep.

«PROGRESS UPDATE #2»

• The title of the NaNoWriMo entry is: NOAH Online Genesis (stylized as NOAH.onGenesis).
• Gotta upscale my sprites for MV, or remain in 16x resolution with the help of many RMMV Resolution & Tile Size Reduction scripts.

 

[Schlangan]

@Jeneeus Guruman : I see. But it should be better doing it by yourself, as you could get exactly what you need.


@slimmmeiske2 : Nice goals, good luck for that


@bgillisp : Necromancer town ? Sounds interesting. Do you see undeads roaming instead of normal people ?


@Chiara : Only this one is that much detailed, because I didn't what to write else. The other items are less complex


@AceOfAces_Mod : Good luck with your plot hole.


@shiningHatsya : Do you really need this "stylization" for your name ? As for the resolution, if you have a lot of time, you can upscale your sprites. If not, it would be indeed better to change the resolution.


My progress :


No scripting this time, but resources. I did a few tiles for my military base interior in MV version, using some of the SF tiles. The room of the first soldier has been redone.

Spoiler

 

[mlogan]

Well, I started writing out responses last night and didn't finish. As a result, there's more to add this morning, lol. I don't have any progress to report from yesterday, the afternoon was a bit rough and by the time I got home and onto the computer I had no emotional energy for RMing of any sorts. Hoping today is better.


@NearlyNoon - Welcome! We're glad to have you aboard!

@bgsillisp - I think you had a good idea. I often do that, test mechanics or ideas out in another project before trying to implement them into my game. Hope it helps you out!

@DragonVine - If I weren't lazy, I'd consider making a British/Canadian version. But you're stuck with American donuts.   Also, I totally know how those creative whims go - you just gotta follow them where they lead!

@Chiara - No, I'm sorry for the misleading statements. My learning JavaScript got me what I'd intended out of - I can understand some basic and make minor adjustments here and there, but I'm not quite to a point of making awesome things out of it. Dekita has been helping a lot and is going to finish up a few things for me, I hope.

I'm going to have to go back and look at that dialog method, though putting dialog in a speadsheet sounds a bit tedious for my chaotic brain. Sounds like you got a lot done this second day, great job!

@Schlangan - Haha! Hopefully donuts will be ready soon!

Your menus are really looking great. I love the trading system!

Tiles are looking good. There's something about the bed though - it seems a bit shorter than standard RM beds. It also has some effect of not being on the floor but more of a feeling of floating above it. I'm not sure if it's because of the floor or what.

@Jeneeus - Sounds like the code world is keeping you busy! As for your Mana/Mp script thing, I say go ahead and release it. Sometimes a subtle difference in a script can make a person choose one over another very similar. I know I often try out different scripts for the same thing to see which one I prefer.

@slim - Get busy on those BBW maps, I want more to play!

@shiningHatsya - Sounds like a busy month, good luck!
 

 

[shiningHatsya]

@Schlangan: (@NaNoWriMo entry): Well, supposedly yes, to avoid YA Novel titling cliches running around Wattpad and Royal Road, and not to be tagged as an alleged Sword Art Online fanfic.

(@RPG Making entry): This sprite, based on Suikoden 2's Hix, is a 16x resolution. Upscaling it later, ala-Exit Fate (32x) if I have to.

Sprite by the way (upscaled for preview):

@mlogan: Yep, it'll be a busy month for me as a young adult (YA) science-fantasy web novelist.

 

[VideoWizard]

Fri 10.30.15- I got the MV version of the Dragon Kingdoms Remake uploaded on github.

Sat 10.31.15- Happy Halloween! I made the Dawn of a New Era Halloween comic, which still relates to the series' progress.

Sun 11.1.15- November already?! I made Akahr and Thomas's set with the MV generator, and made a part of the town map.

Mon 11.2.15- I added a few trees and flowers and two houses, and added a temporary encounter area so there would be something for players of the github alpha to play.

Goals for November

It's a very light month for goals, because it is the busiest month of the year for me. But here goes...

-Finish the Dawn of a New Era (Post-) Halloween comic miniseries

-Make it possible to access the new Lakeland Field in the MV version

And, if there somehow ends up being time:

-Tie up loose ends in the Ace version. This probably will be pushed to December.

Best bet: Nov. 6-12. So-so: Nov. 1-5, 13-19, 27-30. Worst: Nov. 20-26 (THANKSGIVING). Maybe no activity whatsoever on the 25th.

So many pre-holiday, holiday and post-holiday periods.