OTHER Is it possible to make a textbased game?

[AOF 1]

Hello. I've seen this question asked but I've never seen it answered. Is it possible to use RPG maker to create a textbased game? I would want to build something very similar to the not safe for work games like TiTs or Lilith's Throne.  If unfamiliar, you walk around on a map by clicking on buttons that say North South East West. You can get into random battles on the map screen. There are NPCs you can talk to. It has all the familiar elements of a graphical RPG, only it's textbased.

 

If it were possible to use RPG maker as a backend, I think would be pretty easy to achieve this. I'm just not sure if it's possible. Either way, any suggestions on how to make my own textbased RPG?

[Rikifive 3,411]

Hi,

Yes, it is absolutely possible, but the difficulty to achieve this will vary depending on the complexity you want.

 

A simpler design would be possible to achieve with eventing (the built-in editors and stuff - the easy way) I believe, but if you'd like to make a more detailed look and system in general, a bit of coding would probably be required, or at least preferred.

It also depends on which RPG Maker you'd use. I'm not sure about the old ones, but the newer makers allow you write your game from pretty much nothing if you'd like, so there you can do whatever you want. I made a 2d platformer shooter in RPG maker so yeah, a text based game wouldn't be anything too fancy.

 

So, is it possible? absolutely yes.
Will it be hard to achieve? It depends, but since it still will be an RPG, I believe using RPG Maker could be helpful in the end.

[Kayzee 4,032]

Oh my my my... you want to make THAT type of game? I approve! Though there are engines designed pretty much for text games like Ren'Py, there is no reason why RPG Maker can't be used too... That said, although there are scripts for it available in VX Ace and it seems pretty well supported in MV, the RPG Maker interface is not exactly designed to be all that mouse friendly or easy to set up to work the way games like TiTs or Lilith's Throne do. Possible, you just would have to recode a lot of stuff.

 

Still, some people have done it! I know the perfect example of pretty much that exact style of game being done well in RPG Maker! Don't think I can link to them here, but there is a pretty awesome game called Lust Doll that was made with RPG Maker VX Ace and a remake called Lust Doll Plus made for RPG Maker MV. They do have a different style of interface/navigation then TiTs or Lilith's Throne, but they feel much more like those games then anything else I have seen done with RPG Maker. Also, I actually like the way navigation is handled in Lust Doll/Lust Doll Plus a lot. It basically ends up combining the minimalism of a room-based text adventure with some of the detail of RPG Maker maps. No reason you have to do that of course, I just thought it was a pretty brilliant way of making maps that are easy to design and navigate.

 

Edited February 16, 2020 by Kayzee

[PhoenixSoul 1,404]

Unnn...yeah, it could be done fairly easily.

Of course, the text portions where everything is written on screen would likely be the easiest portion, but then there's presentation, among other things, to consider.

It can be done and has been done, but should it, is the question. Is it the right way to go. Up to you to answer, after careful consideration.