Ace Academy: Lessons through Roleplay

[Bunni89 85]

Overtime, did you respond in the wrong topic? Your post doesn't make much sense, I didn't see anything about not being able to use replicated maps in this project.. o.o

[Overtime 10]

Overtime, did you respond in the wrong topic? Your post doesn't make much sense, I didn't see anything about not being able to use replicated maps in this project.. o.o

 

The maps and other various things can easily be provided to the people in the Academy to create a game with. Then they just have to add their own touches and events, and use other people's characters.

 

Either I'm reading that the community will help provide maps, or TC will provide them.

 

I was supposed to say, IIf I am accepted to this project community. Say that I export several maps to the community to use. Say a few of them are replicated maps. Will it be a problem to the Community's rules?

 

If it is, then, maybe i'll try to be useful in another field.

 

THIRD EDIT: Hm...

 

Element: Pure?

 

Skills...

Spellblade/Elementalist - Relies on Elemental values. If people are not sure how this works, I can post more.

Shadows - Darkness? and abilities that relies on causing the user pain. More info can be posted, if needed.

 

 

Houses/dorms?

 

Bronze, Iron, Steel, Silver, Mythril, Crystal, Adamant are examples.

Edited January 3, 2013 by Overtime

[Bunni89 85]

Ah, I misunderstood XD I'm not sure if there will be a rule against that, but I read that line as meaning the community maps will be maps of this academy... so I'm not sure, i suppose titan will make rules about that later. There's probably gonna be some sort of consistant design guidelines at least.. *shrug*

[RetroExcellent 369]

I'm not 100% sure what this is all about exactly, but I'm all for the spirit of cooperation. You can count on me to be a teacher if you'd like, as long as I'm not doing music or scripting.

 

Also a question: mini-games, do you mean that the only thing they make is the combat to kill an ice troll? Or are they making  a small game where they recieve the assignment, some story happens and the main goal is to kill the ice troll? Obviously it would be at iny game, maybe 1-3 maps and such?

[+ Novem 344]

That's actually a neater idea then you thought Shaddow. The mods/admins being the teachers would be a great thing to do with the game, and I think that it would make it even better as a "community" game per-say. Because all of the good ones I've played seem to have plenty of cameos from familiar faces. It certainly makes it more memorable. I would also kill as some kind of awesome school historian! Would be a lot of fun actually,

 

Though I do agree with Shaddow, how is all of this going to be structured? Is there going to be some sort of plot for the player to follow, or are they just going to go around the school collecting menial tasks? I think some sort of central plot, with all of these games and such submitted acting as side-quests to embark on, would be cool. There was this pretty neat one back on VX.net having to do with Touchfuzzy, and it had a pretty neat mystery plot with some funny dialogue (if I'm remembering correctly and not viewing through a nostalgia glass! lol). Also, I just think the game would feel more cohesive as a whole if some sort of "main quest" was employed. It doesn't have the be long, after all length doesn't reflect quality, but it should be charming and memorable.

 

I think that's the big problem with community games, a lot of them are there just for the sake of throwing together a game that a bunch of people worked on... and the general effect sometimes is that all of the content doesn't really mesh. I can see that being sort of a problem here. I don't mind shifting art styles, as Bunni said, only RTP styles? I think we should all have RTP style characters, but maybe art styles could shift throughout the games many quests and such and reflect certain other things about RPG's other than just the kinds of classes we have.

 

It should also of course try and reflect our community a bit. Such as in which teachers these mods are placed as (if you decide to run with that idea), and really try and identify what is so cool about us. After all, the best parody is closest to the truth.

[Bunni89 85]

Obrus, I think you're misunderstanding. or I'm misunderstanding XD What i got from this was NOT that we're all teaming up to make one big game, but rather it'd be like game contests except they're not contests. There'd be a plot and a setting and you could use other people's characters, but you'd make your own little standalone games based on the theme of the class. Like a community pile-in but not actually making one single game with a clear beginning, middle and end. It'd just be mini stories telling of various things that happen in the academy. So I don't think its important to have one big storyline, but rather a bunch of background info and then little vaguely-inspiring class plot ideas floating all over the place that you can develop however you want. (Like they say 'fetch me a [item]' but you could decide to buy it or go dungeoncrawling or make it yourself or wait and ambush someone else to steal theirs) But perhaps there could indeed be times where some unified storyline pops oin, like a big halloween event or whatever.

[+ Novem 344]

That's actually exactly what I was meaning to say, while just tossing a few new ideas into the mix. What I meant was that this central setting in the school would be some sort of central hub-world for all of these quests and such we embark on. While it is a pile-in, it doesn't mean it couldn't have some of the things to make it feel like a more cohesive project. If it's just a bunch of random stuff thrown together, I'm not exactly sure how that would work.

 

By the way Titan, I think it would go a long way if you could move the important information your presenting as replies into the main thread. I think more people will think better of the project if they knew more about it, and even after this discussion, there are still plenty of unanswered questions about how this would work.

[Infinity Thief 10]

The main point I hope we all remember though, is that we use it to teach. I think that was Titan's main idea behind it. I'm very familiar with the groups on Deviantart that he based this idea from. The idea is to give people reasons to work in RPG Maker VX Ace. Instead of doing large stories and games tha require months/years to make, the ideas we give only take a week. And by connecting yourself with a group, or this case House, you get reward by completing the job. I think that is Titan's main idea behind this. Creating a connected idea to base lessons on, and rewarding those who complete them. That's just my take anyway.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Infinity Thief

[+ Novem 344]

It certainly sounds like an accurate take to me Infinity.

[Bunni89 85]

Oh, yeah then we're in agreement XD I assumed titan DOES have a clear description of the academy and background info for the setting and will just post it whenever he's finished it. If the group doesn't have that then I'd feel totally lost and probably not participate.

But gosh I'm kinda wishing I could be a teacher just because I'm quite good at making up speculative fiction concepts and explaining them as if they were real science. XD I'm kinda itching to do my lesson idea for how someone could create a light source spell using SHADOW magic. Plus I have a teacher NPC idea that I was gonna put to work one day when i eventually make my own magic academy game, and it'd be cool to give him a workout in a sort of group setting. (Though I dunno yet how realistic/silly this setting is so a talking rabbit necromancer named Buibulibuum might not fit in XD) Though I'm not exactly a pro at RPGmaker itself so i probably wouldn't be allowed..

But in any case I think something like this would be good as a teaching aid for me, if only cos I'd be checking out a lot more games by other folks and seeing how they do stuff. (I tend to be uber skeptical and never play anything unless it looks super 100% my kind of thing.. I'm just really wary of downloading games cos I have an internet allowance lol. So small games would be neat and brighten up my time!)

[+ EraYachi 180]

Okay, at first I was lost...then I got it...then I got lost again. But now I think I finally understand. My brain, it's...it's....

 

For the spirit of love and peace, I'll be happy to join in. Not sure how students and teachers are determined or recruited; as fun as being a student may be, I'm one of those people who don't need the instruction. I'm good at helping, explaining, eating dog food...explaining. And there's got to be something to distract me from the snowplowing tedious work that is my current project and make me feel useful. 'Cause I can be a real schlump.

 

Now the part about using provided maps/plots/characters  to create a mini-game as an 'assignment', I get that, that's cool. But it's not an academy insomuch as students are being taught the tricks of RPG Maker VX Ace. If all teachers do is give out assignment 'mini games' and ask students to create their own game in response, it's not really instructing people on how to use the program, but rather getting people to exercise and practice what they already know with short-term rewards.

 

Am I right?

[Infinity Thief 10]

Well the way the DeviantArt groups work is giving out a project and having people work on it. It's practice really. But then, when the "students" are having problems they have their "teachers" to go. That's kinda the point. Reward people who are willing to go out and practice, becoming more knowledgeable but also creating a good source of resource for them to talk to. A forum is always helpful, but its nice to have a direct source to go to. Teachers have subjects that they are masters of. So if I need help with my sprites, I know that there is a teacher I can talk to for that. Need help with events theres an app teacher for that. The whole idea is to create a fun way, for everyone to practice and learn.

 

Edit: though honestly at this point I feel like I'm putting words in Titan's mouth.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Infinity Thief

[Bunni89 85]

Yeah the 'lessons' are in-universe lessons about magic and stuff as inspiration and it'd just be provoking people to try gamemaking and be part of a community. It's not a big teaching project for noobs, because to be honest if you just ask the community to make a pile of tutorial games that isn't very fun and it isn't open to everybody. This is just more of a big fun thing that would happen to also improve people's skills because they're practising a lot in a unified setting.

[Infinity Thief 10]

Exactly Bunni, its not just for those who are new to the system. It is for those who want to simply practice and expand their knowledge of the program. You learn through practice.

[+ EraYachi 180]

Hmmmm, I kind of like it better, knowing that it's for the fun of practicing. I think a lot of new people to RPG Maker give up because they don't feel rewarded enough for all of the effort they go through to make a game. Plus I can imagine all the laughs to be had if a community works together to create a whole slew of mini-games based around one theme.

[Bunni89 85]

I kinda feel I might have derailed the topic by mentioning I'm new and this would be good for me, so sorry if I confused anyone lol XD Yeah EraYachi that's why I'm excited! It'd be really fun, like a party game about making games XD

[Infinity Thief 10]

Nah, Bunni your fine. I think this whole topic has been a little confusing. It's just about hammering out the details. Community projects are always confusing. I remember when groups like this started on DeviantArt. It was a chaos trying to get everyone to understand what was going on. But once it become a common thing, everyone enjoed it and just understood. Its fun.

[+ Novem 344]

Yea your okay Bunni, if you had derailed the topic I would've swooped in as the new mod of this here section,

 

Anyways, it does look fun. I'm just confused as to how the game will flow once you start it up, especially if we are apparently using multiple engines. This could get complicated, and it actually sounds a bit like role-playing.

[Infinity Thief 10]

Honestly Obrusnine I don't think we need to worry about that. We're not going to be placing all of the created content into one game.

I think we're still having some confusion.

A "game" is created to revial the topic that everyone will base their project on. This is the lesson.

Everyone than makes a responce "game" completing the lesson.

The orginal lessons can all be placed in the same game. So you just slowly expand on that one project. The content of the students doesn't need to be placed in the game. You could run a contest to add certain responses. But so long as the lesson is just added to the original project, "student" made content shouldn't matter.

 

[Bunni89 85]

Ya so it really doesn't matter what engine anyone is using unless we wanna chat about engines or whatever XD

[Infinity Thief 10]

Exactly. But again, I feel as if I'm putting words in Titan's mouth. These are just my thoughts and ideas.

[+ Novem 344]

A "game" is created to revial the topic that everyone will base their project on. This is the lesson.

Everyone than makes a responce "game" completing the lesson.

The orginal lessons can all be placed in the same game. So you just slowly expand on that one project. The content of the students doesn't need to be placed in the game. You could run a contest to add certain responses. But so long as the lesson is just added to the original project, "student" made content shouldn't matter.

 

Well that would certainly clear it up for me if that is what Titan is actually doing. It could turn into a certain mess of game files though.

[Infinity Thief 10]

A "game" is created to revial the topic that everyone will base their project on. This is the lesson.

Everyone than makes a responce "game" completing the lesson.

The orginal lessons can all be placed in the same game. So you just slowly expand on that one project. The content of the students doesn't need to be placed in the game. You could run a contest to add certain responses. But so long as the lesson is just added to the original project, "student" made content shouldn't matter.

 

Well that would certainly clear it up for me if that is what Titan is actually doing. It could turn into a certain mess of game files though.

Indeed so like I said, I don't want to be putting words into Titan's mouth. That quote also makes me realize I need to work on my spelling

[Bunni89 85]

Just popping back in to add that I started advertising this in my sig~ I wonder if when we get some more info then titan wouldn't mind if I made a sort of sig banner for the group? Hard to do one for now when we don't have much of an idea about it though XD

Gosh I am so excited I am probably spamming up the thread XD I hope titan brings out a tad more info soon so I can start brainstorming characters and preparing for le grand opening! I'm pumped up to do well in this and grow up to be a big proper gamemaker XD

Gyaaa, depending on whether the setting would allow it I have so many characters that it'd be fun to use. This is basically like a roleplay, gosh XD Should I just go with my persona chara... should I make up a whole new one, should I migrate someone from one of my unmade game ideas.. gaaaah..should I speak softly and carry a giant spoon... omg if my character is me then I could make a whole equipment line of cutleries...

SO. EXCITED.

 

Random, but I hope there's a uniform.. not just cos its the norm in my country but because I'd find it fun to draw my charrie in a new outfit and it'd add to the community feeling. But to not make it frustrating it'd perhaps be best to go the way of Mana Khemia and make the uniforms highly customiseable to add your own flair. Like for example if it was me I'd chop the arms off a school blazer and wear it like a waistcoat. And possibly also make a lil mini uniform to stick on a spoon XD

Also I think school houses were mentioned earlier~ Minor britishness would be appreciated, that's another one of the things I like about our country XD Maybe elemental houses.. gosh I am a sucker for gathering points and stuff... now I'm remembering singing choir and winning the chairing of the bard. God i hated poetry AND hymns and yet being in Caerfilly house and wearing a yellow t shirt made me find it all fun XD OMG, THE UNIFORM SHOULD HAVE COLOURED T SHIRTS, YES! Or colour theming of some sort!

Also I hope there isn't a huge emphasis on sports, or at least I won't participate in that stuff if it does pop up. That's the only thing that really bugs me in american school movies. (Especially cos their weirdo alternate football game is all nonsense to me XD Its rugby with different rules and weird costumes o.o)

So.. anyone looking forward to part of this, or have a silly suggestion too?

[Infinity Thief 10]

Glad your excited Bunni. I 'm excited because I've been wanting to have some stuff to work on in ACE. I made an event monster capture system so I would like some more stuff I could work on. I love eventing so I'm more excited for the lessons.