FF ID

[unklmnky69]

Greetings all, I thought I would start a thread to my upcoming, second RPG Maker project, FF ID. But first some administrative notes to hopefully answer some questions and quiet some grumbling:

1. Yes this is going to be a Final Fantasy fan project.
2. No, it's not going to be some generic RTP-using Final Fantasy in name only nonsense. I have a deep, abiding love for the first 6 FF games, and this is to be my tribute to them. It will look, feel, sound, and play like an old-school FF game.
3. This is only my second project, and my first using RMXP, so I will be looking for noob-type advice.
4. This game will be epic in scope, and I would love help, but if I have to do it all myself, I will, regardless of how long it takes.
5. This game will contain many of the FF staples/archetypes/cliches such as traveling to a second world/ruined world, 4 elemental fiends/crystals/orbs, deranged villains, amnesia, etc.... So please don't hit me with any negative comments about these elements unless you feel that I am failing to properly pay tribute to the old-school FF games.

So here's the overview: The first 6 chapters will each stand alone and feature very different characters and stories:

Chapter 1: Will Follow characters from a clan of ninjas during the events of a 4-way ninja war.
Chapter 2: Will Follow a group of "Treasure Hunters" searching for valuable relics.
Chapter 3: Will Follow some black mages as they search for a book of power
Chapter 4: Will Follow a white mage and her paladin protector as they search for the hero of the prophecy
Chapter 5: Will follow ???
Chapter 6: Will follow ???

At the end of each of these chapters we will find out more about some great evil/calamity that is causing the events in the game.

Chapter 7 will be the meeting of one character from each of the first chapters meeting and beginning a journey to investigate the big evil issue. Then in true FF fashion we will have the big, apocalyptic event followed by the final chapters during which the evil will be vanquished and order restored (probably)

I would love to hear any input, and once my PC and notes have arrived (I just moved) I will post updates as they come.

Maps:

Spoiler

Here is the world map for Chapter 1

Characters:

Spoiler

Here are character synopsises and graphics as they are completed

Protagonist #1 (Tentative name "Blade")
Weapon: Dual-wield swords.
Living a life of relative luxury as the prince of the fire clan, he comes across as somewhat shallow and self-centered. However, the near annihilation of his people awakens a desire for vengance that transitions into a desire to protect and rebuild his clan. Ultimately he is compelled to venture out on his own to search out the villian that is behind the issues that have plagued the four ninja clans. This is the character that will move on to Chapter 7...
Overworld sprites, recolor/tweak of Edge from FFIVTown/dungeon sprites, recolor/tweak of Edge from FFIV (sideview), up and down views recolors/tweaks of NPCs from FFVI.

Protagonist #2 (Tentative name "Shadow")
Weapon: Claws
Best friend of pro#1 and the fire clan's best assassin, he is a quiet and dangerous man. However, as the story progesses, we see another side of him as he becomes involved in a surprising romance.
Overworld sprites, made from scratchTown/dungeon sprites, recolor/tweak of Shadow from FFVIOverworld sprites were made from scratchTown/dungeon sprites, sideview are recolors/tweaks of Galuf from FFV, up and down were made from scratch

Protagonist #4
Weapon: Nunchucks/flails.
Pro#1's sister, she is outspoken and obstinate. Eventually, she gets over herself and takes leadership of the clan during the rebuilding process
Overworld sprites are frakensprites/recolors from FFIV/FFVTown/dungeon sprites, recolors/tweaks of Terra from FFVI

Protagonist #5
Weapon: Spears/staffs.
Princess of the water clan, she is betrothed to pro#1 at the beginning of the story. However, their mutual dislike for each other causes them to call this off.
Overworld sprites are frakensprites/recolors from FFIV/FFVTown/dungeon sprites, recolors/tweaks of Celes from FFVI

Steps:

Spoiler

1. Character design on Chapter One protagonists
2. Create walking animations for towns/dungeons
3. Create walking animations for worldmap
4. Create events/switches for switching graphics when moving from/to worldmap
5. Create tileset for first town (Red clan)
6. Create red clan town
7. Character design on red clan NPCs
8. Create animations for red clan NPCs
9. Create opening scene

 

[Jason]

"3. This is only my second project, and my first using RMXP, so I will be looking for noob-type advice."

"4. This game will be epic in scope, and I would love help, but if I have to do it all myself, I will, regardless of how long it takes."

I'm sorry, but if it's your first RMXP game, you don't want to aim too high, so many people have done that and ended up just scrapping it halfway through, I should know, I did the same thing, you'd be better off releasing a few games with it beforehand, just short 1-2 hour ones will do, and try adding different mechanics into each game, so you can get a feel for the program and how it works before you start work on your "epic game"... trust me, it'll help in the longrun, otherwise your game may have a great story, but horrible presentation with lackluster features and gameplay. I'm not saying this to stop you from making the game, I'm saying it so that you'll hopefully release a better quality project when the time comes. I haven't read the whole post yet, but I'll edit this when I have.

 

[Jason]

Okay, so the chapter synopsis' are sort of cliché and generic, but since you're using ideas from the older Final Fantasy games I guess I can overlook that...

And the end chapter where everyone meets up, well, there's nothing wrong with it, but hopefully you'll explain how they met up and don't just dump them together, although I assume it'll be explained during the specific characters chapters, right?

There isn't too much for me to comment on, so I'm just going to leave you with two words;

Pink elephantGood luck.

 

[unklmnky69]

"3. This is only my second project, and my first using RMXP, so I will be looking for noob-type advice."

"4. This game will be epic in scope, and I would love help, but if I have to do it all myself, I will, regardless of how long it takes."

I'm sorry, but if it's your first RMXP game, you don't want to aim too high, so many people have done that and ended up just scrapping it halfway through, I should know, I did the same thing, you'd be better off releasing a few games with it beforehand, just short 1-2 hour ones will do, and try adding different mechanics into each game, so you can get a feel for the program and how it works before you start work on your "epic game"... trust me, it'll help in the longrun, otherwise your game may have a great story, but horrible presentation with lackluster features and gameplay. I'm not saying this to stop you from making the game, I'm saying it so that you'll hopefully release a better quality project when the time comes. I haven't read the whole post yet, but I'll edit this when I have.

You're quite right, and I will play around with the program using RTP graphics and such, as well as testing scripts or whatever, but I wanted to start the thread because it's my passion project, and I have done a lot of prep work, writing and spriting mainly, that I want to submit for advice/recruiting..... :biggrin: And I have every intention of doing it right, no worries there.....

Okay, so the chapter synopsis' are sort of cliché and generic, but since you're using ideas from the older Final Fantasy games I guess I can overlook that...

And the end chapter where everyone meets up, well, there's nothing wrong with it, but hopefully you'll explain how they met up and don't just dump them together, although I assume it'll be explained during the specific characters chapters, right?

There isn't too much for me to comment on, so I'm just going to leave you with two words;

Pink elephantGood luck.

Oh yes, there will be a nice cut scene at the end of each chapter (1-6) detailing the lone heroes' journeys leading up to the start of the seventh chapter. I actually have a lot of this mapped out, but I won't have my notes until my things arrive from Arizona. Updates WILL be forthcoming.

And thanks for the well wishes

 

[unklmnky69]

Update: My stuff has arrived, I managed to successfully install RM2K3 on my PC and recover my project as well as some of my initial work. I have resumed work and will post updates as they happen.

 

[unklmnky69]

Update: I have completed character design for all five protagonists and walking animations for protagonist #1. Both are posted along with a worldmap pic.

 

[unklmnky69]

Update: Character synopsises and walking animations posted for the first four of the five primary protagonists. Up next, playable character #5 walking animations, followed by battle animations and NPCs.