That One NPC

Clarence Branch drafted.

That's been in the back of my head. One easy solution is switching to some form of ABS system where sprites become the battlers, and you can have more fun with a 6 shooter or repeater. Khas Arcthunder has the Sapphire system which is clean and easy and has a nice projectile feature for ballistic weapons and tnt, as well as an AI follower system that may add a layer of strategy or even replay value if you make so that camp spots and safe houses act as a player hub of sorts where Jack can take one ally of his choosing to embark on the next portion of game/maps, making that choice strategic based on their strengths and skills, as well as maybe changing how a scenario plays out or giving the player access to secret or optional content and rewards. Just an idea. For a far more complex system with a full, Zelda-like tool system you can customize to your imagination's content, Falcao has the Pearl System. Otherwise it's going to be a grind to get some battlers edited or made.

This is a test sheet of the 3 heroes drafted so far. I'm doing 2 versions (minimum upon draft. Extra, custom versions for scenes in your script are welcome bring 'em on. It's what I'm here for) of each. One full appearance "regular" version, then a cutscene version where a main clothing item like a hat or duster has been removed. This will prove useful for your plot structure. Characters could remove their hats when they go inside certain buildings and interior areas, or during scenes when your characters are resting at inns, in someone's custody, or gathered at an ally's home, you can have them in a more casual indoor sprite to work with. Again if at any point you need some custom scene sprites like Roy with his badge removed, Jack with a badge added, or all of them in a certain disguise, let me know.

Gustave Weiss drafted.

Roy Feathers drafted.

There is a chance I will begin developing The Last Hero: An NPC Story, using the concept I posted above. If anyone wants to get in on that in any capacity, they are welcome to. I'm adding in a ship dynamic that expands the classic sailing experience, with the Hero's ship being handed down to the PC. It is crewed by NPCs the player can recruit, each having "talents" that are like stats which tell your ship how they perform in a job. The player will assign crew members to jobs and stations, changing how the ship performs and functions. It will be a simple game, though, for the most part, and generally speaking.

You've inspired me and it produced another cool idea. We enter a fantasy world based on the premise of existing within an RPG video game, yet is living and breathing. In this world, instead of social or economic classes, there are role classes. Monsters, Bosses, Nameless NPCs, Major NPCs like plot characters and kings, and Player Characters, or Heroes. The world revolves around these heroes, but they are rare, having been "made" using a special artifact called the Protagonist Ring. Over the centuries, many Heroes were created and took part in many adventures and stories that helped define and give life to the world. But they became drunken with power and narcissism. One by one the Heroes perish and fall, their purpose of protecting the world having been lost in the throws of stardom. Present day Four Heroes remain, and travel the world trying to restore some order and peace. Cut: Small Town. We see a sleepy little town in black and white. It's cute, yet seems lifeless, almost as if stuck in slow motion. NPCs (including the future PC) very slowly roam about as NPCs do. Scrawl: Down to town gate. Four Heroes enter town, their sprites in full color. As they enter the view of the NPCs, color seeps into the entire frame. Our Heroes pass through town to a glorious welcome from the townsfolk as they cheer their passage toward the castle, perhaps some fireworks being set off as a grand horn section scores their triumphant return. As they pass, the color fades away once again to black and white. Navigate: To PC's sprite. Your NPC friend approaches, beginning a dialogue, neither having names. FRIEND: "Come on, buddy. We better find some loot for our household chests before the Heroes are unleashed upon the town." PLAYER: ". . ." FRIEND: "Don't tell me you actually sold your chest. You'll be the laughing stock of -insert town name-." PLAYER: "The Heroes never come to our little town. Besides, I needed the gold." FRIEND "At least help me find something good. I'd like for one of them to talk to me this time." PC and NPC friend navigate the outskirts of town to forage items, and FRIEND reminds him that monsters and bosses can't see NPCs, so they have nothing to fear. After they gather some materials and craft a potion, they return to their homes for the night. Not expecting the Heroes to search his home for loot, PC prepares to bed down for the night when Hero #1 busts into his door, wounded. PC is both flabbergasted and star struck, as well as embarrassed about his loot chest. PAYER: "I sold my loot chest yesterday-" HERO: "Please. . . There isn't much time. . ." PLAYER: "I would normally keep a tribute on hand, but the economy has been so rough-" HERO: "Keep your potions, good citizen, for my end draws near." PAYER: "Yeah, I'm not really the healer around here." HERO:" Please. . . You must take this." HERO lurches toward PC. Hero #1 gives PC the Protagonist Ring, explaining that the king has betrayed the Heroes, killing the others and becoming a Boss in the process. He tells him that he must use the ring to become the last Hero, and fix the damage and chaos the Heroes of old had allowed to take root, and defeat the evil Boss king. Using the power of the Protagonist Ring, the PC can recruit other NPCs, discovering what skills talents and perks they an grow to offer your party. Also, the PC can click a button to change from NPC to Hero in order to accomplish different ways of approaching situations and navigating different types of scenarios and actors/enemies within them.

Revisions made to Jack. Zander drafted.

Jack is his name, and revenge is his game. I drafted a Loose Leaf for Jack based on the beautiful art by nass1c. I hope this is acceptable for what you're seeking. The one notable aspect he is missing is the spurs on his boots. I had held out to try that later, provided you feel you can use the style, or would like more samples of the title characters and some NPCS. I will work on the other characters, but Jack turned out so good imo, I wanted to share him to touch base with some progress.

Well my price is free. And you can work me to death because it makes me a better pixel editor, and gives you a better product. I can give you some quick samples of what I can do with sprites. I need some time for the horse mounts. White Hat Rustler: Black Hat Sheriff: The white and black hat sprite were done literally just now, rather hastily to get you some samples out. First Nations Warrior: (This was not made as a First Nations warrior, just fits the aesthetic as an example) This was an older design for a D&D style fantasy world. It was a Sun Elf who I was modeling heavily after First Nations cultures. These were some sloppy, generic samples. Working with some direction on sprites for a game, I would take more time for attention to detail and customize each sprite fully. These are some generic samples of my work with Loose Leafs in the past.

The great thing is, you can compile your own sprites in any image editing program. I use Paint.net to compile my own. It is possible to sprite an entire game with the asset folders, fully customizing each aspect of each sprites hair, clothing, skin, etc. LLs are free for commercial or non-commercial use. The head portion of and LL sprite is about the same size as a chibi, so a lot of hairs and head accessories can be ported to an LL sprite, provided their usage laws line up with your project. I'd be happy to throw together some specific examples this week of what can be done with the assets in the western American style. The one constant worry with the use of Loose Leaf's is that some non-humanoid sprites like animals end up falling out of scale. Cats? Dogs? Snakes, chickens, birds? All fine. Cows? Horses? lol. . . But it's not impossible, just needs some extra sprite assets. I can help you look for clean-to-use horses and cattle should you decide to use Loose Leafs.

Loose Leaf sprites were a taller, more detailed sprite style similar to Macks but with a less bubbly, rounded aesthetic. But most importantly, they fit the scale of most RPT style Ace graphics better than chibis. There used to be a website one could visit and through a modular compiling interface on your browser, create you own custom sprites. This was so awesome that nearing the end of the website's lifespan, some brave soul ripped with library into a 3x4 modular design set. Here you can see one of my characters in both chibi and modular LL form, standing around various objects in the RTP style. The difference in height, quality, and particularly scale is downright sobering. Chibis have the height and scale of children against 90% of mapping assets. Loose Leafs seem to have been designed to correct scale logic for devs who want a more stern, organic character and sprite aesthetic.

I recommend having busts of your designs commissioned first, then have someone sprite up the character sets to match the bust and face materials flawlessly. You may not be having busts done, but I'd still have the faces finished first. Dig around old ReStaffs and project-friendly resources for hats and other sprite apparel you can add to your generator library, or edit to suit your needs. I am decent with RPT edits, but not much beyond that, unless you are wiling to use Loose Leaf sprites. If LLs are on the table, contact me to see some example work at no cost or obligation (I love making LL sprites, and care little about credit, only people's projects).

The A4 Tile by Kauzz should provide what you need. Visit Kauzz's bog here: https://kauzzresources.wordpress.com/galeria/ Scroll down and you'll see it. Free for commercial and non-commercial use.

Anyone also share the dream of making a good, quality 2D MMO that captures the essence of the classic JRPG, in a massively multiplayer setting, with modern features and logic? I am good with creating worlds, lore, plots, characters, Sprites, and icons edits. I am a workhorse looking for a project where multiple people can combine their talents and efforts to produce something truly noteworthy. This is an evolving thread and I will be adding ideas and concepts over time in addition to what others bring to it.

The script package does a good job of making it easy. Luckily I have two tech-heads, one who went to school for stuff along the lines of what we'll need and is positive he can figure it out given enough time and independent research. Then I have my life-long buddy who has been working with code and computer systems with the Canadian Air Force for about 10 years, and can aid him if need be. Worst case, they both have other things that can contribute and we can find someone who can figure out the server side.

So. Most of you know I have been workshopping ideas and concepts for an MMO using VXA-OS by Valentine90. One idea I have been playing with is a modern fantasy MMO set in the present day era of technology. Now, in order to do this and retain the right to profit from it, I would need to use the default overworld tiles from MV, as well as some other tiles and vehicle sprites from MV's RTP collection. I imagine in certain other cases, it might not be a major point of stress. I'm wondering if this could be problematic for an MMO with in-app purchases. So, can you actually, by law, use MV's RTP resources with another RM title such as Ace?

I live and die by Panda Maru's tile sets. Go here, read the ToS so you know that they are free for both commercial and non-commercial use, but you have to credit Maru, period. https://pandamaru.de/index.php/downloads/rpg-maker-vx-ace/rpg-maker-vx-ace-tilesets/ It may be lacking the A4 sheet you are looking for, but this collection is very, very good, and will make the rest of your home much better than what the RPT would. I will look for good free-to-use A tile set for you. Sometimes you think something is free to use but it's really an edit or rip of something that actually isn't.

I had heard of the ownership license loophole, but wasn't sure if it was true. All you ever get is the word of a software owner/user on forums or what have you. I had done some albeit light research but found nothing from the Enterbrain's mouth on it. Thanks for helping to clear this up for me.

So in the plot of the 8th and final story, to boil it down, Hades invokes his last right, having the armies of Gallik Baal'a declare war on the rest of the world whilst he awaits his prize, the FInal Reckoning. The people of Gallik Baal'a are the descendants of mortals of various races (Black Mages not included) who were directly manipulated by Hades. Long ago, when Hades forged his legendary 6 relics and bestowed them upon mortals, they swore a binding oath to him and his last right, the right to fight for his cause and existence. The prize he awaits, is his shot at the one who has kept him imprisoned for thousands of years; Bahamut. I had planned a scene where Kierkess Aventola and Seto meet for the Final Reckoning. Kierkess summons Hades, arrogantly and maliciously spiking Wedge's spear in the ground before him, but when Seto reluctantly summons Bahamut, something special happens. Seto actually shares a brief communion with Bahamut himself. The god takes the form of a Dragoon ancestor (I had always liked the idea of his appearance being based on Hironobu Sakaguchi) to make it easier for him to process and participate in the conversation. They talk about a few things, mainly about how Seto is unsure if Ana would want him to fight at all. Bahamut tells him Ana would want him to defend what they had built; her ideals. Seto tells him he is afraid of what will happen if Hades kills him, and Bahamut tells him that even if Hades put an end to his physical form, he would exist in spirit forever. He continues, telling him (more or less) that he mustn't be a slave to his fear of what ifs anymore. Seto had already received closure surrounding Ana when he met her in her Knights of Round form, but the Bahamut scene to me was essential to the history of his people going back to the first story. I felt like the conversation with Bahamut (the parts not mentioned here, when Seto asks him questions about what he is, what the 'summons' are, who his people are, etc), were very important and what he really needed at this point in his journey, as the Chief of Dragoon people, a husband and father. But now, as I sit here refining the plot outline, I'm wondering if I should keep that in, or take it out. Thoughts on this???

I mean...