Tell me about parameters

[Hahasea]

Beginner question friends.

I've started work on a battle system, and I'm quite confused about params, especially in the context of states.

When you set a param to a state, does that state affect the actor/enemy that uses the skill containing the state, or the one they use it against? For example, if my main actor casts a skill against an enemy that causes a state with a Max HP 60% param, does that raise the actor's HP, or the enemy's?

Sorry for the the super dumb question, but I can't find the answer anywhere, not even the Neocities database.

Thanks pals

 

[Andar]

the effects are always applied to the target.
this also goes for the damage calculated in the damage formula, but you can add code to the damage formula that affects something else if you know how to code.

 

[Hahasea]

the effects are always applied to the target.
this also goes for the damage calculated in the damage formula, but you can add code to the damage formula that affects something else if you know how to code.

Ah ok, I think I understand. So if I wanted a skill to have an enemy attack but also a MP cost, would the easiest way to do that without code is to just apply 2 different states, one which targets the enemy HP and the other that targets the actor MP?

Also, is there a way of restricting a skill so that it can only be targeted at an enemy or ally, not both?

 

[Andar]

@Hahasea are we talking about the same game engine???
Or haven't you even checked a trial of RMMV?
Your questions make absolutely no sense for any RPG-Maker engine

For example

Also, is there a way of restricting a skill so that it can only be targeted at an enemy or ally, not both?

All skills are automatically enemy OR ally as set by the target selection. In fact it requires a lot of coding to override that to enable a targeting at both.
Or

So if I wanted a skill to have an enemy attack but also a MP cost,

Cost has nothing to do with effect - you ALWAYS have the option of a MP Cost to the skill user no matter what the skill does or who it is targeted at.

I strongly suggest that you follow some tutorials first to get an overview of what is what in the program before asking further questions.

 

[Hahasea]

@Andar

Yeah, you're a rude one aren't you.

I tried to find tutorials, but have been unable to find anything that answers my questions, as I explain in my original post. I always research first before asking questions. It's not as easy to find this stuff as it seems, when there's an a certain assumption of existing knowledge. If I've missed some, by all means send them my way.

I do have a full paid up copy of RPG, have followed all the included tutorials, and have been using it extensively for several weeks. These things are not obvious, it doesn't explicitly state how these things work anywhere.

[flaming deleted by @Wavelength]

 

[Wavelength]

@Hahasea, do not flame other forum members. If you feel offended by the way someone responds, you can say so, but do not call names and do not bypass the censor just to take a shot at someone.

It was reasonable of Andar to wonder whether you have tried the software yet, and he is trying to help you. Though, I think you're just confused about what needs to be done using States and Parameter changes. Allow me to clear it up: States and Parameter changes (in the effects box) are not used to handle a skill's "normal" direct effects like dealing damage or subtracting MP from the user upon casting. They are used to apply changes to the target(s) of the skill which last a few turns. For example, if you apply a State with "ATK * 80%" to the target, the target's Attack stat will be reduced by 20% while that State remains on them (if you want to increase it rather than reduce it, use a number above 100%).

Ah ok, I think I understand. So if I wanted a skill to have an enemy attack but also a MP cost, would the easiest way to do that without code is to just apply 2 different states, one which targets the enemy HP and the other that targets the actor MP?

No - you don't use the Skill Effects box at all for this. Don't apply any states. Simply choose "HP Damage" in the Damage box (top-right of the skills tab), and choose an appropriate cost in the "MP Cost" field in the General Settings box (top-center of the skills tab). That's all you need to do!

Also, is there a way of restricting a skill so that it can only be targeted at an enemy or ally, not both?

Skills can never target "either an enemy or an ally" (I think this is why Andar thought you might have the wrong program). In the General Settings box, you will see a field called "Scope". This is where you can determine who the player (or enemy) can target when they choose to use this skill. For example, if the Scope is "1 Enemy", the player will be asked to select one enemy to target when they choose to use this skill in battle.

 

[Hahasea]

@Wavelength sorry about that, I didn't realise I was breaking rules.

Honestly I've seen Andar's using a rude approach in a few posts, and given than I spent almost all day yesterday watching youtube videos and reading tutorials trying to figure this stuff out, and still not getting a clear idea, it was pretty offensive to have that kind of tone used. The information, at a true beginner level, is just not out there, at least, not easily accessible.

Clearly a there's quite a lot of stuff in RPG Maker that's not intuitive, and I try my best to do my due diligence to learn what I can and answer my own questions, but when I can't, it would be nice to ask a question here with being afraid of being ridiculed. Most people on this forum have been amazing, and it's disappointing to have someone like that forgetting what it's like to be a beginner.

Thanks for answering those questions, that makes a lot more sense now
You're welcome to close out this thread, solved.

 

[Wavelength]

I understand that you felt that you were being talked down to, but I don't think that was @Andar's intention (and direct flaming is not OK in any scenario). There is an Ignore feature you can use if you don't like a user or the way they express themselves.

I agree that sometimes the terms used in RPG Maker, or the place you find them, are not intuitive. Sometimes that's just the nature of the beast (I've worked in software testing; different users will have different intuition about where something should be or what it means), and sometimes there's certainly room for improvement. That's why they keep trying to improve the interface in each version.

Glad I could answer your questions about damage and MP cost, though!

Closing the thread at your request.