RPG Maker Forums

I'm working on an episodic series of rpg maker games that are a prequel to a 3D game I'm also working on. So far, I've completed one full episode and I'm pretty deep into the second.

I wanted to ask a few questions about workflow and just overall optimization and was hoping for some insight.

So some questions:

1. So far both episodes are set inside an inn. I'm using the Time Fantasy pack with some tweaks. I only have one tileset set up for the entire episode. Everything is stuffed onto big atlases and every map just uses it.

Is this the way to go? Like, for example, my props map has sprites for all sorts of things like books, cabinets, chairs, etc, but the toilets map in the game doesn't need any of that. It basically only has some mirrors, one bench, a window and a latrine.

Would it be better to have separate maps? Like, props_main_inn, and props_toilets? And with the toilets props maps I'd just have only what is needed on there.

2. This is sort of related to spritesheets again, but for this second ep, I've taken each character and broken them down into single character tilesheets by putting $ before the filename. I then have separate maps that I switch to when needed. So, I have the main character, but then he is in his underwear at one point, so I have a separate, single character sheet that is just those sprites. Same for animations. Each character who has animations has a separate sheet that it switches to when needed.

In the first ep, I had the character and all his animations on the one sheet. This worked fine, but it also meant there was a lot of wasted space.

What approach is better and why?

Thanks!