vx ace Magic days (Plot and game mechanics)

[FAGC 9]

Introduction
Hi community! I been working on this idea for a very long time now, but i want some feedback to know if it´s worth the try. RPG Maker Vx Ace is what i´m going to use. I´m a spanish speaker, therefore i´ll put all my effort on writing this so you can understand me.

Plot
Magic days tells the story of a boy/girl whose life changes a morning when after waking up, finds him/her self transformed in an antrophomorphic animal, in a medieval world filled by people of the same kind. In this fantastic world, magic fills the every day basics, wars are a thing from the past and the population grows haealthy and happy. The protagonist wil have to find out why he was transformed into an animal and transported to this world where humans don't exist. A weird character, in the form of an alien, will guide the protagonist through the world, teaching him/her how to survive in this extrange place, only to find out that the real purpose of the travel is to stop an evil faction, trying to introduce war machines that threatens to change the way the world works.

 

Well, this is the plot so far. I want to recall that this project is not a furry fetish game as it may sound, it´s inspired by the worlds of "Kung Fu Panda" and "Zootopia". The image that inspired me to work on this project is a Pokemon fanmade ilustration named "Delphox's Cauldron" by Bluekomadori. (i.imgur.com/zPfl0jq.jpg). The world will have a magic enviroment as no other, as it was stated before, the antrophomorphic animals live in this world where humans don't exist. Beacause of this, fairies, magic creatures, forest entities and natural spirits live among the people, making the world more fantastic than it already is.

Graphics
In this aspect, i like it to resemble that of "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance", but with better quality on the sprites and tiles. The player will be able to see the changes in the armor or weapons equipped, altought it may not be much of a change, but it´s something i like seeing in games of this quality.
I put some links for you to see the style i´m talking about.

 

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/d/de/Cyril_1.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20110426060626

 

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/3/36/FFT-Warjilis_Trade_City.png/revision/latest?cb=20111215233444

https://img.delvenetworks.com/gdX9KjCLT1wmBYosX6fyt0/zVOzFuvrS8MgrC3TK0mtOQ/OwP.540x302.jpeg

 

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/f/f6/Bervenia_Palace_2.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20110424032626

 

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/9/94/Giza_Plains_1.PNG/revision/latest/fixed-aspect-ratio-down/width/480/height/480?cb=20110426062303&fill=transparent

 

Game mechanics
The gameplay will resemble that of "Legend of Zelda" with an isometric view, ABS combat system, lots of puzzles and a house where the player will have to craft lots of tools to get through the dungeons.
The classes will be locked in to the three basic classes of RPG (warrior, mage and thief). Every class will have it´s own type of house where the player will have the chance to craft the tools to pass through the game. Every class will have a diferent way to solve the puzzles.

Warrior - The way of the warrior is through it's strength and toughness, it will resemble a lot to the "Barbarian" in "Diablo 2", with screams that will let him buff powers as he may need. Some of them are for jumping over a cliff, other are for getting through a wall, opening a door, take down a tree to cross a river, etc. In the house, it will be able to craft weapons, armors, train new moves, power buffs and battle tactics.
Mage - By the arts of magic, the wizard will solve the puzzles thanks to being able to craft potions, scrolls, cook power crystals in the cauldron, learn new spells from the grimoire (spells will be found in dungeons or sold in the library) or call some spirits for help. (minions/pets)
Thief - Crafting traps, strange artifacts, or utility tools like a rope stair or a hook shot will only be some of the things the thief has in hand to solve the puzzles. He can also learn new acrobatic or juggling skills. By wall running or climbing the rocks, the thief can get to the other side of a pit.

Weapons and Skills -
This is a feature that i like from the .hack // IMOQ games. Classes will not have ability trees, in this game the weapons grant the skills, such as a sword allows the warrior to make a spinning attack, a dagger grants the thief the ability to throw it and retrieve it, a staff can have a fire ball skill or an electric field. Crafting weapons will be much more exciting, because you will have the opportunity to choose the skill you get, although sometimes it may be random.

Features -
Making money by killing monsters is a thing from the past, it may sound strange, but isn't it stranger that a monster living in a forest, miles away from civilization has 3 gold coins in his guts? for me it is. Loots that give money are only a thing that you will find if you kill a guard, a bandit, an enemy with reasoning that knows what use that coin has. Therefore money can be made by selling some potions, weapons, armors, tools.
Also, there will be mini games, were you can stand on a park and sing, dance, play an instrument, show some skills, sell stuff that you crafted, and if the people likes it, they will throw some money in to your hat. These mini games resemble that of "Guitar Hero" and "Dance Dance Revolution". And a special feature for the thief will be that of walking among the people, watching a NPC doing the same stuff, if the crowd is to distracted with the show, the thief can get some money by pickpocketing them.

The End
Well, that was hard to write! I'll be waiting for some good feedback, critiques, questions, did you read anything that you believe can´t be made in RPG Maker VX Ace? Anything extra you want to know?
Plus, as you can see, this will be a very hard game for one person to make alone. Therefore, if the feedback is good i´ll be opening a "Team recruitment" thread. First i´ll make the game non-commercial, but if it gets to much attention money doesn´t hurt...

Thank you for reading, i hope you like the idea.
Good bye community!

[Tsarmina 2,612]

Hey, good news! I don't see anything at all that would be impossible to make VX Ace. However, some stuff will be pretty hard--e.g. guitar hero/ddr games are still kinda tough to put in, sprite changes can take a lot of effort, etc.

 

It also sounds extremely ambitious (is this your first project?)--which isn't a bad thing at all, but for a first project it's very easy to get in over your head making a large-scale project like this. Most pet projects end up sputtering out a bit because you learn so much as you create it that the content you coded last week might look inefficient, finnicky, or just plain wrong compared to the skills you've learned since that time. I would definitely suggest trying a very small pet project first to learn the engine well and get used to all the things you can do with it before expanding into a huge project. 

 

However, everything you posted is definitely a good thing to work towards, so I don't think it'll be too much trouble to learn in the future. I'd just try something smaller to start with

[lonequeso 1,921]

Sounds well thought out so far. I really liked FF Tactics style. The rhythm timing games would be hard to do if you want an onscreen display with the directions, and the player reacting in real time. Oracle of Ages/Seasons from Zelda made it more of a memory game. An NPC would perform a set of moves, and then the player would have to remember and repeat them in perfect rhythm. That would be fairly easy to do via eventing. Tedious, but not overly difficult.

 

Crafting sounds like it will be a huge part of the game. Crafting weapons and armor is always fun. Will the player be able to craft other items like potions?

[Kayzee 4,032]

The combination of isometric perspective and action rpg gameplay reminds me of Solstice or Landstalker and their sequels, though they were I think more puzzle based. Personally I never quite enjoyed the feel of moving around in games like that, but I they are rather old. Also isometric maps are tricky in RPG Maker VX Ace I think. There are some scripts for them but how well they would work I have no idea. Not to mention that RPG Maker's scripts for real time LoZ like gameplay are pretty awful to begin with. I think this is an idea you are really gonna have to prototype before you do anything else just to make sure it's viable. Chances are though that trying to combine a isometric script and a real time battle script is gonna result in a huge buggy broken mess and trying to program it yourself is gonna be a heck of a lot of work.

 

The story and setting seem pretty cute though! I often question the whole talking/anthropomorphic animal trope and it's implications really, but often it;s just kinda par for the course. I mean, are all these talking animals really difference species with different habits or is it more like a magical effect that makes people into an animal to match there personality? Are they expected to all coexist and be friends casually? If two of them fell in love could they have a baby, and if so what species would they be? Could they mix traits? If so why isn't the majority of the beings hybrids? There are lots of questions stories like this kinda ignore. Not that you should be pressured to answer any.

 

Oh! And you say there will be fairies like me? Or maybe not like me... Because if they were like me, well I think I would know who was behind bringing the player here and transforming them and the real identity of the 'alien' (as if there is a difference) guide. Not to mention that there would be a high chance that the 'evil' faction wouldn't end up being the real threat. Hehehe... All those cute little animals to play with... ...What? Did you think real fairies are always the good guys? You need to read up on the original fairy tales about us if you do.

 

Anyway, good luck whatever you do! *sprinkles fairy dust on you*

 

Also: It isn't a furry fetish game? But... But... Why not?

Edited April 26, 2017 by KilloZapit

[FAGC 9]

Thanks for the answers!
 

@Tsarmina

To be honest, no it´s not my firt project, i worked on many projects (personal) and experimented a lot in rpg maker xp and vx ace, the only thing is that, they where personal and for the sake of expemeriment. I know the basics of programing, and a lot of mapping, plus a friend that knows a lot about rggss3 will be working with me. About the guitar hero/ddr events, i researched a lot, and found some good scripts, but i don´t know how they will work with the music i want in the game.

@Lonequeso
GubiD's isometric map engine is a good one to work with, but has compatibility problems with most of the ABS scripts because they dont work with 8 direction movement, we have to work on that part, but i thing we might get it working. As i said, the rithym mini games are there to be implemented, the hard aspect of this is the music (celtic music) and as you said, the sprites animation reacting to the keyboard inputs. Crafting is a very important part of the game, the player will have to craft almost anything to get through the game, and potions are objects that the mage can craft but not for the warrior or the thief. They can always buy them from a merchant, as the mage will have to buy his clothes and the stafs too. Maybe things change along the procces, but that is the starting point for this project.

@KilloZapit
In fact, this game will be puzzle based, with the implementation of ABS, i love isometric games and played lots of them, so my first finished project will be the one that shows all i like from those kind of games.
Talking about the antrophomorphic animals, in this world there will be animal based cities, and cities with various races, the player will not have the posibility to choose what race he is in the game, the first puzzle will be a test called "What is your spirit animal?", based on the answers of that test, the game will choose the most suitable race for you. Every race will have it´s own base skills, like the frog beign able to use it´s tounge, the rabbit will have a jump skill, fly (or glide) for flying races, a sound radar for the bat, etc. About breeding, ehm.. they will not copulate in this games, so i don´t think that will be a problem xD But talking seriously, mating with another race will not be a problem, but breeding is not posible between diferent races, although they can adopt. This theme is something very common you will see in the world of Magic Days. And no, fairies are not always good in this game, there will be bad fairies too!. Thanks for the sprinkles!

I made this trhead to know if this is a game that people will like to play, i know it's prety ambitious, and has a lot of things that need too much work, but i been thinking of doing this game for 2 years now, and believe me, at first it was about a bear that wanted to safe the forest.

 

Keep the questions coming community!

Edited April 27, 2017 by FAGC

[Kayzee 4,032]

I am surprised you got the ABS scripts to work with the isometric map engine at all really! Hehe, so will the first puzzle be a task with multiple solutions and the one you use is the thing that tells the game what animal to make the player? I hope it's not another silly personality test, I always thought they were annoying. Also, really if you ask me, to most fairies the very idea of 'good' and 'bad' are silly human concepts that don't apply to us. And you are welcome! I like sprinkling fairy dust on people.

[FAGC 9]

I am surprised you got the ABS scripts to work with the isometric map engine at all really! Hehe, so will the first puzzle be a task with multiple solutions and the one you use is the thing that tells the game what animal to make the player? I hope it's not another silly personality test, I always thought they were annoying. Also, really if you ask me, to most fairies the very idea of 'good' and 'bad' are silly human concepts that don't apply to us. And you are welcome! I like sprinkling fairy dust on people.

 

You got me wrong i said "GubiD's isometric map engine is a good one to work with, but has compatibility problems with most of the ABS scripts because they dont work with 8 direction movement, we have to work on that part, but i thing we might get it working" we are actually working on that in this very exact moment, so in 2, 3 or more days we will have the solution working.

Edited April 27, 2017 by FAGC

[Kayzee 4,032]

I mean, I am surprised it didn't explode your computer and put a curse of misfortune on everyone you have ever or will ever meet. ABS scripts for VX Ace are insanely finicky and basically are all awful bug ridden messes of bad design decisions. Did you try a 8-directional movement script?

Edited April 27, 2017 by KilloZapit

[FAGC 9]

Falcao´s Pearl ABS script is a good one, you should give it a try. 8 directional movement scripts didn´t work for us combined with ABS scripts,, mostly beacause of the colitions on the diagonal movements, is ay this because the first thing we tryed was creating the game with an ABS and a 8 directional movement script, and the maps were all paralax. Didn't worked for us, too much buggy.

[lonequeso 1,921]

 

 

based on the answers of that test, the game will choose the most suitable race for you

The player can choose what race they are through trial and error. Once you know which answers result in which animal you can "hack" it. 

The first time through, I'd probably play as whatever animal is chosen, but if play it a second time, I'm definitely changing my answers to see what happens. 

 

The scripting sounds like it's going to be a headache and a half. It's an interesting concept. I hope you can get everything to run smoothly. 

[Kayzee 4,032]

Falcao´s Pearl ABS script is a good one, you should give it a try. 8 directional movement scripts didn´t work for us combined with ABS scripts,, mostly beacause of the colitions on the diagonal movements, is ay this because the first thing we tryed was creating the game with an ABS and a 8 directional movement script, and the maps were all paralax. Didn't worked for us, too much buggy.

 

I have tried it. Didn't like it at all. Mostly because: 1. Reliance on keyboard shortcuts, 2. Clunky tile-based movement (though in your case that might be an advantage).

[FAGC 9]

@Lonequeso

Yes, but it's the same problem Pokemon Mystery Dungeon had with it´s tests. Altough, is not going to be a 5 questions test, this will have 15 multiple choice questions (5 or 6 choices each). So.. is going to be pretty hard to understand what choices give you what race.

 

@KilloZapit

1- I think you were able to choose what keys to use on the shortcuts.
2- That was the problem i first had, because 8 directional movement is not supported. That´s why i´m trying to come up with a solution for the isometrci view.

 

If it´s to hard for us to edit the script and have an isometric ABS, would it be a good idea to use the complete scrip of Gubid's TBS?
It´s an isometric engine to make the maps, and it has a TBS (Tactics Battle System). I know this will be a "change all the mechanics in the game" but, will it be too different from what i came up at first?
I was thinking on this,
Enter the dungeon, encounter the puzzle, use your crafted tools to solve it, battle. Will it be too monotonous and simple? Maybe some dungeons will have harder difficulties, and harder puzzles, but is what i think as the solution.

Edited April 27, 2017 by FAGC

[Kayzee 4,032]

@KilloZapit

1- I think you were able to choose what keys to use on the shortcuts.

2- That was the problem i first had, because 8 directional movement is not supported. That´s why i´m trying to come up with a solution for the isometrci view.

 

If it´s to hard for us to edit the script and have an isometric ABS, would it be a good idea to use the complete scrip of Gubid's TBS?

It´s an isometric engine to make the maps, and it has a TBS (Turn Based System). I know this will be a "change all the mechanics in the game" but, will it be too different from what i came up at first?

I was thinking on this,

Enter the dungeon, encounter the puzzle, use your crafted tools to solve it, battle. Will it be too monotonous and simple? Maybe some dungeons will have harder difficulties, and harder puzzles, but is what i think as the solution.

 

Missing my point. Choosing what keys do isn't the problem. The problem is having keyboard shortcuts be a major focus of the script at all. If you are going to make an action RPG or Zelda-like action adventure it's ludicrous to expect people to play it with a keyboard. Gamepads exist for a reason.

 

I for one prefer turn based anyway, though my preference is really single-step turn based like roguelikes or Lufia 2.

 

Speaking of Lufia 2, if you are looking to emulate any game's structure when it comes to puzzle dungeons it's not a bad place to start I think. Been a while since I played it, but it seems like a good mix of exploration, puzzles, and combat.

[FAGC 9]

 

I for one prefer turn based anyway, though my preference is really single-step turn based like roguelikes or Lufia 2.

 

My mistaque, GubiD´s TBS it´s a Tactics Battle System, i wrote that wrong. Is NOT a Turn Based System,

[Kayzee 4,032]

Yeah I figured. Most tactics battle systems are also turn based though. :3

[tofuman 1]

This is a really cool concept, with a permutation of species and class. Is it single character or will there be a party? Seems like its the kind of game that requires a "collect them all" method to be able to solve puzzles, otherwise it might be a heck of planning and eventing/scripting to make each puzzle solvable by every combination of species and class.

[FAGC 9]

@tofuman

"Is it single character or will there be a party?"

Well this is a question i been asking my self, the thing is that if the game is an ABS, it will be single player (its a shame that vx ace doesnt have a multiplayer support, or the possibility to connect via hamachi)

If the game is an TBS (Tactic battle system) there will be a possibility that other npcs join the quests, it could be a good feature.
About the crafting, there will be a set of tools you can use for the same puzzle to be solved, and based on wich tool you implemented, you will be granted with different amounts of experience. So yeah, it will be a "heck of planning and scripting to make each puzzle"

Edited May 1, 2017 by FAGC

[Perang Cemen 188]

Good luck on your Project

[Rezanta 373]

 

 

 

based on the answers of that test, the game will choose the most suitable race for you

The player can choose what race they are through trial and error. Once you know which answers result in which animal you can "hack" it. 

The first time through, I'd probably play as whatever animal is chosen, but if play it a second time, I'm definitely changing my answers to see what happens. 

 

The scripting sounds like it's going to be a headache and a half. It's an interesting concept. I hope you can get everything to run smoothly. 

 

I've played a bit too many games that you can do that with, a prime example being Pokemon Mystery Dungeon.

 

@OP: I do like this style of gaming, as a chance to show what you "may be on the inside" style of gaming can really make a person think twice. Something I highly recommend is to balance stats not just by classes, but by race.

[Kayzee 4,032]

I hate the whole 'choose your character through trial and error' thing myself. What's the point? Moment I see one of those I am just gonna bust out the FAQ or restart over and over till I get what I want anyway. I can understand the whole desire to do the whole 'become something based on your personality' trope, but it's bad game design to force the player to blindly make choices without being able to figure out the logic behind the choices, which is what most games do when pulling this stuff. Even worse if what choices you are offered are randomized.

 

What if, say, you start as a vague shadow or something in a vague shadowy place. As you explore, you come across choices that change your shadowy form, becoming less vague or given a little description. You can go back and change your answers at any time before the segment is over and the choices all tabulate out in a more or less logical way or have different effects, and you can sort of see what you will be before you leave. I could accept that I think. But asking 20 questions and then having to restart if I don't get what I want because I have no clue how it works? No screw that.

 

Still I rather just choose what character to play from a menu. Maybe you can unlock a quickstart option later and just have the puzzle/choices be for the first time through?

[FAGC 9]

@KilloZapit

As i said to @Lonequeso
 

 

Yes, but it's the same problem Pokemon Mystery Dungeon had with it´s tests. Altough, is not going to be a 5 questions test, this will have 15 multiple choice questions (5 or 6 choices each). So.. is going to be pretty hard to understand what choices give you what race.

 

I know is not your "select race" type of choice, but is going to be like that because the team already decided that this is the way we want to continue, for the plot sake. Maybe when the game is completed, i could possibly write out the solution for every race in a wikia (yes, this game will need to have it´s own wikia, believe me). But, don't loose the spirit, maybe you like what we have planned for the test. And remember, every race is different.

Edited May 3, 2017 by FAGC

[Kayzee 4,032]

I am sure you and your team have talked a good deal about this already and you probably have more experience in game design in your pinky then I do in my whole body, but if you ask me 'for the plot sake' is never a good excuse for anything. It's a really bad road to start down. I can't judge your methods, I have no idea of your exact plan, but I will say if you front load the game with a silly long test they can't figure out, people are going to lose interest fast.

[lonequeso 1,921]

Story and gameplay aren't always going to mesh perfectly. There will be times when you have to change one or the other to make things flow together. 

They chose to keep the story the same in this case. I usually do the opposite because writing is easy for me. Oh, the amazing ways I've found to connect all the dots.  What you change isn't really relevant as long as it works in the end. 

[FAGC 9]

@KilloZapit

 

you probably have more experience in game design in your pinky then I do in my whole body

 Neh, i don't have that much of experience, as i told before, "we are just getting started with our first full game". The thing is, the test is not going to be "silly and long", it´s going to be just a test to select the race. Not so complicated,

 

@Lonequeso

 

 What you change isn't really relevant as long as it works in the end.

That´s what i´m trying to achieve, the test is going to be very relevant for the plot, so there is no need to worry about changes, it's all connected at the end.

[Kayzee 4,032]

Story and gameplay aren't always going to mesh perfectly. There will be times when you have to change one or the other to make things flow together. 

They chose to keep the story the same in this case. I usually do the opposite because writing is easy for me. Oh, the amazing ways I've found to connect all the dots.  What you change isn't really relevant as long as it works in the end. 

 

Do you want to make a game or tell a story? If you want to make a game, gameplay comes first, always and without exception. If you want to tell a story, why are you trying to do so through a game in the first place?

 

You know I was thinking last night and came up with a kinda clever analogy I think. Most people enjoy both food and drink. Now maybe a proper meal needs a nice drink to wash the food down every once and a while, but a meal is not about the drink anymore then going to a bar for a drink is about one of the packs of peanuts you might happen to pick up there. Game and story are the same way. Maybe a game needs a bit of a story to help metaphorically 'wash the game down' but games aren't about the story. And maybe a visual novel will provide you with choices every once and a while as a little gameplay snack, but a story is not about gameplay.

 

Now I am sure some people might be okay with eating tacos while drinking, say, milk maybe? But I wouldn't want milk with my tacos. I would ask for something else to drink before I asked for something else to eat. Same thing with games and stories. If they don't fit together, I would say change the story. Because the drink isn't what I am interested in when I am sitting down to eat tacos, no matter how much a good drink helps the tacos taste better.