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Basic talking Tutorial

Basic Talking Tutorial


Contents

  1. Forward
  2. Control Switches
  3. Control Self Switches
  4. Setting Up The Event
    • Intro
    • Event Window
    • Event Commands Window
    • The Guts of The Event
    • Important; Don't Forget
  5. Demo/Download

Forward

Long ago on another forum I remember seeing a topic where a member asked, "How can I make my characters say more then one thing?" Many people had ideas, some ven said it could only be done by scripts. After reading some of the peoples ideas one caught my eye; "Why don't you just use switches?" Then I thought why did these experienced RMXP users not think of this before, and lets not forget that none of them took the time to explain to the person how to set it up. So I did some messing around with and came up with my Ultimate Talking Tutorial; no scripts needed, just some good old switches and elbow grease.

Control Switches

Before we jump into the event lets take a look at some of the important thing I will be using in this Tutorial and the demo provided (below).

What is a Control Switch?

Data stored as either ON or OFF throughout the game. For example, controls information such as whether a player has received an order to defeat a monster or whether a boss has been defeated.

If you are going to make a lot of characters who can say more then one thing this is the best choice for you as you can name the Switch and remember what it was for.

Screen Shot of Control Switch Window

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253 ... _nored.png[/IMG]

AND

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253 ... _nored.png[/IMG]

Control Self Switches

What is a Control Self Switch?

A special switch for individual events. It has no visible effect, but rather is used simply to display the status of a given event. For example, controls information such as whether the player has opened a treasure chest.

If you have more then one person on a map who can say many things then this is not a good choice to use, but if your in a cave and come accross a travler then this is a good choice.

Screen Shot of Control Self Switch Window

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253 ... _nored.png[/IMG]

Setting Up The Event

Intro

Before we jump into this event I will explain some stuff to the new people of RPG maker XP. Below are screen shots of the many WINDOWS you will be in and using. All "RED" numbers are the areas you only need to worry about for this event(s).

Event Window

1) Always give your events a good NAME so you know what they are for and it makes it simple if you need to call it.
2) This is the GRAPHIC for this event. leave it BLANK or click the little white box to choose a graphic.
3) This is where all of your Commands will appear for this event, you add commands on the Event Commands Window (seen below).
4) Control Switch, is used on a NEW PAGE of this event to make the person say something else. In short use this to call a Command by placing a switch ON or OFF.
5) This is for Local switches only or better yet local events. But it has the same effect as a Control Switch, turn it on or off to start another command chain.
6) This will create a NEW PAGE with a Clean Command area (number 3) that you can add stuff to as well. Also take note that the GRAPHIC box will be empty on every NEW PAGE.
7) You don't need to touch this, but by it being checked, it means that when the PLAYER hits the ENTER key a action will be taken (i e start the event).

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253 ... window.png[/IMG]

Event Command Window

This has a lot of buttons, but for this Talking Event your only worried about three of the buttons and they are:

1) This is used to make your characters talk.
2) This is used to create a Control Switch.
3) use this to create a Control Self Switch.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s253 ... window.png[/IMG]

The Guts of The Event

Now lets put this event together:

1) Right click where you want the event/person. The pick their graphic, by clicking the small white box labled: GRAPHIC.

2) Now click the SHOW TEXT button and type what you want to say.

3) Then click the CONTROL SWITCH button and click the ARROW ( > ) button and give the switch a name something like: “Knight Talking One”. Then make sure the check box is set to ON and click OK.

4) Now click the NEW PAGE button, then pick the same GRAPHIC as on page one. Then check one of the CONTROL SWITCH check boxes and pick the “Knight Talking One” (or what ever you called it) Make sure the switch is set to ON.

5) Then add a new SHOW TEXT and repeat steps 2-4.

6) Now when you get to the very last thing the character (non-playable) will say set the event up like so. After your SHOW TEXT turn off all switches you turned on. This will make the event repeat itself..


Important; Don't Forget

After you have made the last SHOW TEXT/MESSAGE for you person talking make sure you turn off all SWITCHES other wise the event will repeat the last thing it said. To better understand this I have made a demo, plus you can edit it so you can look at the events themselves to see how they are set up.

Demo/Download

http://www.invisionplus.net/forums/html ... es/zip.gif[/IMG] Ultimate_Talk_Demo.zip
 

Mac

Member

Btw it would be alot more efficient using variables for bigger events...cause using lots of switches is pointless, say you have 7 pages on an event, that would mean 6 switched would be used, when really all you need to do is use a variable and add 1 at the end of every page...and make sure the next page was activated when the chosen variable hit 1 and so on.

Nice tutorial for newbies though
 
while it would be easier to store all that in variables in the long run its harder to remember those variables and the game lets you use hundreds of switches so why not ^^;; not a bad idea not orginal but its presented nicely :)
 
Original, good for newbies?

Are you guys smoking something? Don't get me wrong, this is simple, I would have imagined any old person would know this. This Tut. was made for NEWBIES I even said that in the TUT. (shows that some of you don't read everything).

And I tried using variables and it did not work, every combination of them and they either did one of 2 things:

1) Did not jump to the next page.
2) or skipped pages in the event.

If it makes you feel better you can do this with conditional branches, but I found that way to be a little more complex for newbies to understand. SO I went with the basics SWITCHES. And I see nothing wrong with calling this the Ultimate Talking Tutorial, yes its simple, but how many games have you played (made in RMXP) where the characters say more then one thing?

In any case thanks for the advice and tips. I will continue to make this better.
 
King Kobra;142446 said:
Original, good for newbies?

Are you guys smoking something? Don't get me wrong, this is simple, I would have imagined any old person would know this. This Tut. was made for NEWBIES I even said that in the TUT. (shows that some of you don't read everything).

And I tried using variables and it did not work, every combination of them and they either did one of 2 things:

1) Did not jump to the next page.
2) or skipped pages in the event.

If it makes you feel better you can do this with conditional branches, but I found that way to be a little more complex for newbies to understand. SO I went with the basics SWITCHES. And I see nothing wrong with calling this the Ultimate Talking Tutorial, yes its simple, but how many games have you played (made in RMXP) where the characters say more then one thing?

In any case thanks for the advice and tips. I will continue to make this better.
maybe I can teach you how to do it with variables right?
i was serious lol theres an example just in case you ever want to use that.
 

Mac

Member

King Kobra;142446 said:
Original, good for newbies?

Are you guys smoking something? Don't get me wrong, this is simple, I would have imagined any old person would know this. This Tut. was made for NEWBIES I even said that in the TUT. (shows that some of you don't read everything).

We did read it, we were just stating that it was good for Newbies so you should take it as a compliment as you are helping newbies on their path to making a good game.

And don't lash out because you presumed something.
 
Actually, ccoa made a tutorial somewhat like this...
Try searching:

MORE INTERESTING NPCs

i dont think thats the exact title but it has something to do with many pages of talk when you talk to NPCs.And it uses lots of conditional branches too..

Im not gonna say its good for newbies, but continue doing more tutorials for the good of the community!

Good Luck! :)
 
I give you 6... maybe 7 of 10 ten if you remove everything useless (like everything above Guts of the Event except Forward). Then I would remove that dumbass from the demo and change tutorials name to something little less "ultimate".
 
(i think everyone has to stop flaming)

I suggest BASIC TALKING TUTORIAL... COz if the Ultimate word is used, you would have utilitzed the maximum power of RMXP to create ultimate dialogues...

COntinue doing this and sometime you will have to entitle it ULTIMATE!

Oh, i give it 7/10
 
PastShadow;142472 said:
I give you 6... maybe 7 of 10 ten if you remove everything useless (like everything above Guts of the Event except Forward). Then I would remove that dumbass from the demo and change tutorials name to something little less "ultimate".


Okay, maybe the dumbass thing was a little harsh; my bad. But when i first made this Tut. SephirothSpawn said it was to short (i e it only had the Guts posted). He said I should add to it and I did.

talk about a tough crowd...

EDIT:

Alright I changed the Title and put a request for a Mod or Admin to change the topic title. Its now called the: Basic Talking Tutorial.
 

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