Request: Ability to Change Enemy Names In-Game

[AthenaWhisper]

This is a random idea that I just thought up, but I thought it would be a really good idea for people who would want a more interactive and personal gameplay experience. And I believe it would be able to be used in a wide variety of games and hasn't actually been done before.

Essentially the idea is to be able to allow players to change the names of monsters they encounter.

For example if in the lore of the game the monsters they are encountering have never been seen before, then the player's would be the first to encounter them and should therefore have the chance to name them themselves and maybe record a description.

These monsters would other wise be called something similar to "?????"

 

[Zalerinian]

Nope, not impossible. It's been done already!

http://www.atelier-rgss.com/RGSS/System/ACE_SYS06.html

 

[Andar]

There are actually several solutions to monster encyclopedias available. They differ in their displays, their options and the terms-of-use (some need payment for commercial use).

I suggest heading to the master script list, search for "encyclopedia", "bestiary", and "journal" scripts there and compare the linked screenshots to decide what to use.

http://rmvxace.wikia.com/wiki/RPG_Maker_VX_Ace_Master_Script_List

 

[Maple]

Zalerinian beat me to it! Yes, it has already been done and I considered it originally in my game <snip>. It's a nice way to track stats for all those stat-lovers out there!


Justin

 

[AthenaWhisper]

Ah I know things like this exist I have used them before in some of my games (Old Account).

But I want a way to change the names of the monsters.

 

[Andar]

Ah I know things like this exist I have used them before in some of my games (Old Account).

But I want a way to change the names of the monsters.

The monster names are set in your database and can be changed in the editor.

If you want the encyclopedia display ???s if you haven't encountered the monster yet, then some of those scripts already have that function, and for others it could be added by adding a script with that function.

If you want something else then please explain a bit more what (and especially when) you want to change. Changing the names dynamically needs a trigger for that change to happen, so please give more details.

 

[AthenaWhisper]

The monster names are set in your database and can be changed in the editor.

If you want the encyclopedia display ???s if you haven't encountered the monster yet, then some of those scripts already have that function, and for others it could be added by adding a script with that function.

If you want something else then please explain a bit more what (and especially when) you want to change. Changing the names dynamically needs a trigger for that change to happen, so please give more details.

Well I thought I explained it plenty.

I want a way to be able to change the names of monsters in-game, where monsters will have a default name of "?????" until given one by the player.

I already know how everything in the editor works, I've been using this program for over a year now.

 

[Zalerinian]

oooooh, you want the player to name the monsters. Well then that'll take some modifications to every script there is, but I like that idea.

 

[AthenaWhisper]

oooooh, you want the player to name the monsters. Well then that'll take some modifications to every script there is, but I like that idea.

So not impossible, just tedious?

 

[Zalerinian]

Yes. RPG maker doesn't come with full keyboard support by default. The best you can get without some external scripts is the thing you get with the Input Name command, if you've used that.

 

[Andar]

If the player should be able to name the monsters, then you got two problems to solve: 

1) The input method

As said before, RM doesn't have keyboard support by default.

there are a few scripts that add keyboard support, or you could use the name change function together with several tricks to get the name transfered from a (temporary) actor reserved for that function.

2) The data storage

The existing encyclopedia scripts all use the game's database to get their texts and at maximum they store a flag for identified or not.

To store names you'll need an additional data structure that has to be saved with the savegames.

This requires a script and modified savegames.

That is possible, but I don't know of any such script available - you have to either request or commission such a change.

Since that is a new idea that could be used by other games, I think you have a good chance of requesting it - but it'll still take time for someone to write it, that could be a larger request depending on wether an existing encyclopedia script can be modified or if the entire structure has to be done from zero.

 

[AthenaWhisper]

If the player should be able to name the monsters, then you got two problems to solve: 

1) The input method

As said before, RM doesn't have keyboard support by default.

there are a few scripts that add keyboard support, or you could use the name change function together with several tricks to get the name transfered from a (temporary) actor reserved for that function.

2) The data storage

The existing encyclopedia scripts all use the game's database to get their texts and at maximum they store a flag for identified or not.

To store names you'll need an additional data structure that has to be saved with the savegames.

This requires a script and modified savegames.

That is possible, but I don't know of any such script available - you have to either request or commission such a change.

Since that is a new idea that could be used by other games, I think you have a good chance of requesting it - but it'll still take time for someone to write it, that could be a larger request depending on wether an existing encyclopedia script can be modified or if the entire structure has to be done from zero.

Yes I can imagine this would take sometime to figure out and then code, but I do think that this is something that a lot of people may be interested in and I've never seen anything like it in any game I've played/seen.

 

[Kenen]

Rename Anything by Mr. Bubble: http://mrbubblewand.wordpress.com/rgss3/rename-anything/

 

[AthenaWhisper]

Rename Anything by Mr. Bubble: http://mrbubblewand.wordpress.com/rgss3/rename-anything/

Er.... Mah.... Gerd, this is awesome, thanks. I tried looking for something like this but couldn't find it.