Changing classes/character appearance during game?

[ThatGuyOverThere]

I'd like my character to change appearance and back midway through the game, but I haven't quite figured out how. Is there a way to change appearance by changing classes during the game? How could this be done?

Thanks a lot to all the RPG authors out there for your help!

[Jun]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

I'd like my character to change appearance and back midway through the game, but I haven't quite figured out how. Is there a way to change appearance by changing classes during the game? How could this be done?

Thanks a lot to all the RPG authors out there for your help!

Hi, this is my first post. I just found this community when finding information on RPG Maker 3 before it came out.

I too wish to change appearance and class (which is mandatory for the appearance in fights, it seems) and have come up with a few things to do.

For one, I just made different classes for each of the models I wanted to use. (let's say I want the main character to regress in age to a boy part way through) I ended up making the main character class, assigning a model that was the same as the weapon-specific model (ugh) and then made a second class and character with the same name. In the event that changes it (say a flashback, or age-regression item) I made it add the new character (younger version of main character) into the party, change it to the active member (?) and then made the main character (older version) leave the party.

Since it was all in the same event there's no gap (that I can see) that would be subject to bugs. (I tested it a little and it worked alright)

If there's growth in the regressed-character's stats I'm pretty sure I can copy them back into the main character when he changes back for consistency's sake. (I thought I remember seeing that option in "control" under event code?)

Sorry if this wasn't much help, but that's the way I was trying to do it. I haven't had a chance to really get into it but I did test this and it worked as far as I could tell.

I'd love to hear more ways if anyone comes up with more.

(I'm so terribly let down by the lack of models, the confinement of which models can be used for what, and the limitations in general... but I guess I shouldn't complain)

[NikisKnight]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

there's growth in the regressed-character's stats I'm pretty sure I can copy them back into the main character when he changes back for consistency's sake. (I thought I remember seeing that option in "control" under event code?)

I think this may be a problem. Are you thinking of internal variables? Because those are different from stats, they're basically just more variables, I think. And since there isn't a way to check a characters level, it'll be hard to make it the same...


oh, and welcome!

[Omnislash024]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

Ok. There simply is not a way to change a character's class during the game. (Why the hell the game makers didn't put this option in is beyond me.)

I looked into where I thought it should be. Namely using the event code editor/Party Control. Here you can control the level of characters, who is in your party and such. You can even rename a character. But for all that you can do, there is simply NO option that lets you change the class. That's really a bummer. The only thing you could probably do is use a person with the same name, switch those people in your party and that would be that. You could probably use an option too.. (what would you like to be? Fighter? Mage? Thief? Then give the player the person that matches that class.) Yep, that really sucks because the if you did want to switch classes in the middle of the game, you could do it that way, but the level of thet character would change. The only real way would be to specify a level that you could change the class. Even THEN, you would have to deal with the loss of items, as they wouldn't be transferred to the completely new character.

Face it. When it comes to changing character classes, we are SCREWED!

[Jun]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

I saw the "modify abilities" event code and thought there was an option somewhere to "copy" from one character to another. I know I saw something like that somewhere but, as you say, it must have been for variables rather than other things.

I guess one way around it is to kind of "reset" the attributes to a predetermined amount after the character switches back.

Say, the first character gains up to level 10 or so, set it up so that when the character changes over to the next class/character that they start around the same level (9 or 10) and modify the things they have to fight to match in a balanced way. Then when they get changed back do the same for level 20 or 30 or so.

It's kind of a cheap way to do it but if to get over each of those hurdles they need to do a specific thing (maybe they can only be allowed into a certain area at level 10 and there isn't enough exp in there to get them to 11) then it's kind of guaranteed they'd be level 10 when they switched over to the new level 10 character.

It would take some work but it'd feel more fluid that way. Or, an easier way would be just to balance what they fight at each of the level plateaus they hit (10, 20, 30) when they change to the new character, effectively having them start from scratch at level 20 with a "new" character and only the storyline stays fluid.

It could even work to the designer's advantage in some instances, weakening the new character due to a new form (regressed age, less str but more luck?) or somesuch.

Items could be predetermined in the new character creation as well. I don't know if there's a way to "see" the items before switching the characters over but you'd think there'd be a "give" command or some way to switch the items from one character to another before the initial character leaves the party.

That's a little further on in my game making but if I get to it before anyone else I'll post what I come up with.

[NikisKnight]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

Two thoughts if you're gonna do this:
1. Have the event say "please give your items to a friend before proceeding..."
2. Play the game, see what leve you are when you get there, then bump the new character up by one or two levels. People won't complain if they get a bonus--but if you take stuff away, people will feel cheated.

[Omnislash024]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

Oh wait. I got it. Make something you can store things in. It's probably possible to do that, with the things I've seen that you can do. One of the things you could do is make a bank or something. (I'll try that out later).

[ThatGuyOverThere]

Re: Changing classes/character appearance during game?

Welcome, Jun. Thanks for your ideas, everyone. I really appreciate it. That seems to be the best way so far, is having the character set down items, change, then pick up items again.

I too am frustrated with some of the limitations that I am finding in RPG Maker 3. The've smoothed out some problems and some parts of it are very good, but I miss the models and settings of RPGM 1. Where are the sci-fi, modern, and pirate ship sets?