RpgStarter - RPG Planner

[nerd101]

Okay guys, I have started work on a program called RpgStarter.

Usually when you make an RPG, you have to plan out everything in your head or on a lot of sheets of paper before you ever get near a computer. I for one find this very annoying and time consuming, so I have started making a program that will allow you to basically plan out every single aspect of your RPG quickly and easily; here is a proposed feature list.

Feature List:
-Support for advanced planning of characters, items, weapons, armours, enemies, backstory (events that took place before the main story), a time line of your story and also what happens after the game actually finishes.
-Random name generation (for characters)
-Lists that allow you to easily "stick together" a character's personality and appearance from predefined stuff
-Ability to generate a complete synopsis of everything in your RPG into a text file which you can also print

Overall progress: about 15%

An Early Screenshot:

Spoiler

I am kind of torn as to whether to make this a commercial project or not. If it ends up as a commercial prject then it would only be for something like $5. What do you guys think of this program?

 

[Alexander Morou]

The concept isn't bad, I say this because planning is good, but: your interface is very ugly.

I'm not saying that to be mean, it's just my opinion.

Just a side note, it's generally a bad planning move to break a story into 'part I, II, ... IX' if you haven't even planned it out. If you're on the first title, you omit the story index. I'm only pointing this out because, if your program is about planning ahead, then please provide examples with at least some margin of insight visible.

 

[RadethDart]

I think that if you are wanting it to go commercial, you will need to find a graphic designer...no offense. But, you need to think of the people and what they are looking for. When you do an interface, you need to make it more modern....here is something I have been working on, personally:

I know that it may not be appealing to some, but I think it is smooth, and flows in design. That is something you need to do, or find someone to help you with it. I am not trying to sound mean, but I know what you are going through: You want to create something that is commercial, but no one likes it because it doesn't 'look' good to them, so no one will buy it....Boy do I know that feeling.

Good luck with the project though. :P If you need a graphic designer, then I can also help, but you will have to give me rough layouts of what you want made.

 

[Sgt. Cookie]

I think that this would be a highly useful program that would be used mostly by beginners as they would want to get using the program as soon as
possible. This program would allow a beginner to quickly get started and have a half decent story too. As for the whole commercial/non-commercial question. Non-commercial. Why? Well because beginners are the most likely to use this and I don't think they would want to shell out $5 for something they would only use like once or twice.

 

[Ellie]

I like the idea for this; I think I'd have to see it in action though before knowing if it's any good or not. :cute: It's an interesting premise though, if it works.

 

[Zekallinos]

I would honestly suggest to make something simple, as in, VERY SIMPLE. The usability must be the highest priority, because if it's even a little complicated, people may go back to sheet & paper. I don't think any of the interface stuff is necessary.

This comes from a (interrupted) project of mine. The purpose is similar to yours, although not limited to RPGs. I was trying to make it as simple to use as MS word : intuitive. How can a program be intuitive? By working exactly like every other program people know. Do you need that nice triangle button with "Create a new project?". It's much faster to pick up if you just have "New Project" in a button in the menu that can be shortcuted by pressing Ctrl-N or with the button on the toolbar. You don't have to make it EXACTLY like a regular MS program (I know it can be a lot of trouble if you aren't using something like the .net framework), but trying to make it as similar as possible.

Suggestion : Make it flexible. Assume I have a game concept that is based around something called "Endesouls". There are artifact that can be linked to a person's soul to give him power. Now obviously, if your program is limited to Armor/Weapon, it's going to turn me off.

I suggest making it free, but adding some features that only more serious people would use and make them unlockable by "donating" 5$.

(Only my opinion!)

 

[Sgt. Cookie]

So how is this coming along? Any new updates?