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Post by Red Velvet on Mar 4, 2014 23:52:02 GMT -5
This is just a little Question and Answer thread on the topic of my personal RPG project. For those who have not heard as of yet, I am working with RPG Maker VX Ace. And have begun developing a small test game involving the characters that reside in our little slice of the net. I have had offers of others wishing to help, which I would gladly accept. This thread is for those who wish to become involved in our tiny Dev team, whether it be in a writing capacity, or if you have talents in creating custom sprite sheets, or even for those who wish to get involved in the software side of things should you have the program I am using. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to voice them here. I will try to check this thread at least once per day and answer your posts to the best of my ability.
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Post by Derpy on Mar 4, 2014 23:58:22 GMT -5
Q: Why are you designing an RPG about EquestriaMUCK? n.n
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Post by Red Velvet on Mar 5, 2014 0:10:02 GMT -5
A: Simply for the fun of the project. A little something the players can enjoy when RP slows or the Muck seems empty. There will be a lot of MUCK canon involved as well for the observant, to add a bit of a 'Where's waldo' factor to the game play. Allowing one player to say to another, "Did you see the reference to _____ in that boss battle?"
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Eris
Yearling
What /is/ my cutie mark telling me?
Posts: 33
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Post by Eris on Mar 5, 2014 7:26:25 GMT -5
I'll happily help, myself! I have plenty of experience with Photoshop, web design, and systems administration! I'm sure I could dig up a copy of that program to help contribute, as well ^,^
Q: Do you have any specific goals for the project? i.e. # of hours of gametime, # of characters, date to be completed, etc etc
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Post by Red Velvet on Mar 5, 2014 15:24:19 GMT -5
That is wonderful news Eris, you are most welcome to help! As far as the program itself is concerned it is a little pricey at $70 US through Steam. So please do not feel obligated to get it if dropping that kind of bundle is something that gives you pause. What is needed most at present for the project are a few things, writers and ideas for different plotlines, plot devices, jokes, comical scenes, enemies, classes, etc. Now on that note I would request that ideas not be posted here, but rather page mailed to me on the MUCK. This is to avoid spoilers for those who wish to get the full impact of the game during a playthrough. Another thing we need ar audio clips, voice clips from the show, background music for battles as well as just world exploration. Now while the program IS powerful, customizable, and easy to use there may be some suggestion that are simply not possible or would be extremely difficult to accomplish. Custom sprites for instance, I am no great talent at pixel art, however With the help of Blue Yonder's player things may be able to be worked out. If anyone cares to give sprite pages a try they will need to be in a 32x32 format, four rows high, and three columns wide. This is the default setting for RPG Maker VX Ace. One thing I did forget to mention as well, I am regrettably colorblind, this means that I often get shades wrong and sometimes miss the mark entirely when attempting to pick from the color palate supplied to me. So Beta testers are going to be a MUST, and do be on the look out particularly for artistic mistakes.
Progress Report: We currently have the bare bones of six maps constructed, They require heavy tweaking currently but I am working on them. I have the BGM in place for most of them we also have nine different enemy groups that are currently available for random encounters, however their skills, traits, and attacks are still in the process of being balanced again the main character.
A: There is no limit to the amount of Characters I can include in the series, but for this prelude game I was planning on limiting the number to roughly 20...ish. The hours of gameplay would be fluid as well, this is a bit of a test game to gauge the interest in my continuing the series, the enjoyment factor. If the members of the MUCK find the game dull, the writing flat, the story progression monotonous, then I will of course not continue the series. That isn't to say that I shant try to improve the game, but if after the prelude and the first chapter games it isn't particularly enjoyable then I will just declare it a bad job and move on to something else.
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Post by Derpy on Mar 6, 2014 3:50:04 GMT -5
Q: Do you have a central plot in mind, other than "stranger comes to town and has to help out?" If so, you probably won't want to post anything that isn't readily apparent early into the game, in order to avoid spoilers! But I'm curious whether you have a story already.
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Eris
Yearling
What /is/ my cutie mark telling me?
Posts: 33
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Post by Eris on Mar 6, 2014 6:48:56 GMT -5
[...]What is needed most at present for the project are a few things, writers and ideas for different plotlines, plot devices, jokes, comical scenes, enemies, classes, etc. [...] So Beta testers are going to be a MUST, and do be on the look out particularly for artistic mistakes. Red, I consider myself a decent writer (on my good days ^,~), and have written things for other projects like this (nothing commercial, of course, but friends making mods or small RPGs and such) - are you looking for anything in particular, such as whole quest-arcs, small escort/fetch/go-here quests, random NPC dialogue, etc? Or just ideas at this point? I can certainly write up some ideas/examples of...anything, if you would like. By the by, if this conversation would be better on the MU or via IM, will certainly oblige - I can be reached via AIM (erisgriffon) and Skype (eris_the_griffon) as well as on-MU.I've also participated in many numerous alphas, betas, bugtests, and playtests - both commercially and otherwise, and would be happy to fulfill that role, as well ^,^
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Post by Red Velvet on Mar 6, 2014 10:18:52 GMT -5
Q: Do you have a central plot in mind, other than "stranger comes to town and has to help out?" If so, you probably won't want to post anything that isn't readily apparent early into the game, in order to avoid spoilers! But I'm curious whether you have a story already. A: There will be a central plot, with branching sidequests and other optional elements the player can explore if they so choose. However that will not come into play until the second game where the play style will change slightly. I.E. The prelude game will -not- include a character generator and you will instead be forced to play a static hero, where as the first actual chapter game you will be able to choose Name, gender, class and what have you. The first game is more of a introduction to the first chapter, taking you through the events leading up to the meat of the story. [...]What is needed most at present for the project are a few things, writers and ideas for different plotlines, plot devices, jokes, comical scenes, enemies, classes, etc. [...] So Beta testers are going to be a MUST, and do be on the look out particularly for artistic mistakes. Red, I consider myself a decent writer (on my good days ^,~), and have written things for other projects like this (nothing commercial, of course, but friends making mods or small RPGs and such) - are you looking for anything in particular, such as whole quest-arcs, small escort/fetch/go-here quests, random NPC dialogue, etc? Or just ideas at this point? I can certainly write up some ideas/examples of...anything, if you would like. By the by, if this conversation would be better on the MU or via IM, will certainly oblige - I can be reached via AIM (erisgriffon) and Skype (eris_the_griffon) as well as on-MU.I've also participated in many numerous alphas, betas, bugtests, and playtests - both commercially and otherwise, and would be happy to fulfill that role, as well ^,^ A: I am thrilled with the interest both you and Derpy have shown in this project! And I most certainly will be needing testers. As well as Contributors, even if it is just as an idea person. Anything you are willing to offer would be a great help, however in the interest of avoiding spoilers, let us not go into any great detail here. If you see me on the Muck at any given time simply page me that you are available and interested in discussing ideas and I will pop us both over to my off-grid office where we shant have any Lookie Lous peeking in. And there we can hash out the details of our arrangement. ^-^
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Eris
Yearling
What /is/ my cutie mark telling me?
Posts: 33
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Post by Eris on Mar 10, 2014 6:16:07 GMT -5
I've created a Google Drive folder for notes and collaboration - anypony who's in for helping, you can PM me your email address/google account address (or, I can provide you a link if you're not comfortable with that!) and I'll add you to read/write access on it ^,^
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Rarity
Pony
Me? A Drama Queen?!
Posts: 124
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Post by Rarity on Mar 13, 2014 11:02:33 GMT -5
Perhaps I can be of some assistance. I do hate to toot my own horn, but I AM a spectacular writer, if I do say so myself....
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Post by Red Velvet on Mar 23, 2014 6:02:28 GMT -5
Perhaps I can be of some assistance. I do hate to toot my own horn, but I AM a spectacular writer, if I do say so myself.... Rarity! I am so sorry about taking a full ten days to get back to you!. Your help would be most appreciated. ^-^ Another mind to bounce ideas off of as well as an accomplished writer is an absolute boon. I will be holding another Dev meeting very soon. The current roster now includes, in alphabetical order, Derpy EconomistBrony Eris Rarity Red Velvet As Eris mentioned there is a Google Docs page with all the notes and ideas batted about from the last meeting. Do please contact her or myself if you want to view it before the next meeting to familiarize yourself with the material or to add to it prior to the brain storming session. I won't post the link here, as it does contain potential spoilers for our friends and fellow RPers.
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Post by Solar Solstice on Apr 3, 2014 23:51:04 GMT -5
Given how much political-type stuff I've developed for the MUCK behind the scenes, I think it's prudent if I offer a helping hoof for the writing too :u
Sadly I won't be around much due to finals/summer job/etc, but hopefully I can fit something in!
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