Trying something new

[Boss Floss]

Hello, I'm interested in making an RPG, and using this popular game making program to do so. But first, I have a small handful of questions I need answered before I begin its production.


1. The goal of my RPG is to find and rescue as many people (Out of forty) as possible within a time limit of thirty in-game "days." Finding them all or waiting until time runs out begins the final level of the game. Is this sort of thing possible to accomplish using RPG Maker?


2. Is there a way to have an animated title screen in RPG Maker?


3. I'm planning on having large character sprites travel the town and dungeon area maps, but having squat, stocky "NES Dragon Warrior" character sprites for the world map. Is this possible to do in RPG Maker? Most of the sprites I've seen aren't very large, so I figured this was a question worth asking.


4. If none of the above are applicable, what RPG making, or game making, program could I use to make this game? (Please note, I am not a programmer, so if you make suggestions for this question, please keep that in mind.)


Thank you all for taking the time to look at this question. I hope to hear from you all very soon.


~Boss Floss

 

[BlackBoxx]

I'm relatively new to the program myself, though I've dabbled in many other RPG Maker programs.  I believe most of what you're asking is possible.


1.  There is a timer function available in events.  You can set your days to be whatever length of time you like, and whenever it hits 0, do whatever happens upon the end of a day (probably something like adding to a day count variable).  Then, begin a new timer.  You can set any kind of other conditions to reset the timer.  Say, the player spends a night in camp or at an inn.  You can prematurely end the timer and go through the end day process that way as well.  Then, when the day count reaches its end, you can have a completely different process start off the end level.


2.  I have not attempted to do this, but others have, and you definitely can make animated title screens.  Here's a video of how one person did it, along with the plugins he used:










3. This is easy to do, but it requires some custom made sprites.  If you can make them, or know someone else who is willing to do it for you, then all you have to do is add in some character sprite swapping commands (in the preset event scripting list, so no need for plugins) whenever you transition from map types.  For instance; your party is about to enter a dungeon from the world map.  When they step on the entrance square, fade the screen to black, then switch the sprites for each character in the party, move them to the dungeon map, then set up an auto event (something that happens automatically upon entering the map) to return the screen to its normal brightness.  The fade is done so that the player doesn't see the sudden sprite change.

 

[Shaz]

1. Yes


2. Yes


3. Yes


4. N/A because all the other answers are Yes.

 

[Boss Floss]

I'm relatively new to the program myself, though I've dabbled in many other RPG Maker programs.  I believe most of what you're asking is possible.


1.  There is a timer function available in events.  You can set your days to be whatever length of time you like, and whenever it hits 0, do whatever happens upon the end of a day (probably something like adding to a day count variable).  Then, begin a new timer.  You can set any kind of other conditions to reset the timer.  Say, the player spends a night in camp or at an inn.  You can prematurely end the timer and go through the end day process that way as well.  Then, when the day count reaches its end, you can have a completely different process start off the end level.


2.  I have not attempted to do this, but others have, and you definitely can make animated title screens.  Here's a video of how one person did it, along with the plugins he used:










3. This is easy to do, but it requires some custom made sprites.  If you can make them, or know someone else who is willing to do it for you, then all you have to do is add in some character sprite swapping commands (in the preset event scripting list, so no need for plugins) whenever you transition from map types.  For instance; your party is about to enter a dungeon from the world map.  When they step on the entrance square, fade the screen to black, then switch the sprites for each character in the party, move them to the dungeon map, then set up an auto event (something that happens automatically upon entering the map) to return the screen to its normal brightness.  The fade is done so that the player doesn't see the sudden sprite change.

Thank you for this useful feedback!! I'll take notes of this. Maybe I can finish a rough prototype in a few months and post it here. :3