small question

[P.H.]

Since last here i have been fiddling around and getting better with the game. My main concern has proved tough for me to execute though. I want an addition to the battle system that will show a window before every round starts that displays what order the characters and monsters will act in.
If you could help i'd be very grateful, thanks.

[Jeremy]

Re: small question

Sounds complicated - but you may want to look at your system scripts pertaining to battle - such as script 15 Battle Enter and script 23 Enemy Defeated. May be possible to load a text box or something from there and use a script to check the turn order of both sides before the fight begins and have their names loaded into the text box as the script runs it's course. To check for battle order you'll need to use a process like this:

Battle: Check who goes first
Script Branch: Repeat: Flag [Member Check] Off
Script Branch: Condition: Flag [Instigator Side] Off
"you may need this also, but not sure, i still don't fully understand the use of the stat check flag"
Data: Flag [Stat check Type] On
Script: Condition End
Battle: Check who goes next
Script: Condition End

Note: When the Instigator Side Flag is Off you are checking your member's side i'm pretty sure - so you'll need to do another script and turn the Instigator Side Flag On when you want to check who goes first on the Enemy Side.

I should also warn i quit doing battle scripts awhile ago out of frustration so i'm a little rusty but i'll be getting back into them soon so if i learn anything new or find out i fed you some unintentional bs i'll let you know. This doesn't tell you how to do what you want - but hopefull it'll give you a good place to start at least. Just make sure you copy all of your system scripts exactly how they were before you mess with them - that way you can go back and change them to default if you mess them up because one wrong word in these scripts and your game becomes a fat mess.

[P.H.]

Re: small question

thanks, i'm going to go attempt what i can with that.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: small question

Don't forget that doing this changes the actual battle order, so you will also need someway to restore it. If you do it before battle, check who goes first should suffice. But really I would just print out the variable intig member and instig enemy, to test these sorts of things. It does get a bit complicated, but testing and printing out important variables is the key to editing the battle system. Also make sure to read dungeon wardens FAQ on the main page.

[P.H.]

Re: small question

Also, i have found many faqs and tutorials for ACBS's out there, but are there any for a turn-based cbs:? Still first person view battling and all, just to edit the battle system while staying classic turn-based. An FAQ on that would help me understand and get me moving more quickly.

[P.H.]

Re: small question

I can't seem to figure out how battle runs, no matter what i do. If i could read up on how the battle system works, what it uses to make this and that happen, i could figure out how to rewire it. The advanced options in game settings detail getting into and out of a fight, such as Battle Enter and Battle Exit but there's nothing in between. What tells the game to bring up the menu where you select between fighting, or fleeing:? What tells it to bring up the menu where you can pick between attacking, casting spells, and defending:? Everything i've read up on involving this gives some vague help, with no actual hard definitive description of how the system runs battle and what it uses. I've read that there are some scripts but all I could find are the ones that display the character's name or display the target's name, and I can't find the scripts that actually make battle run, if there are any. I've been pouring over this for my whole day off, and i've made little to no progress.
I'd be obliged if anyone would help.

[Jeremy]

Re: small question

It is hard to find good help on RPG Maker 2, and sorry i haven't been able to give you any, i tried This site is one of the few places i could find any in-depth help on anything. That strategy guide sucked IMHO. It offered only very very basic help and didn't even touch the hard stuff, like traits and such - which is what i really bought the guide to help me with.

I'll look into it tonight and see if i can figure out anything that lets you manipulate the menu system in battles. Really most of my work has been aimed at manipulating the current system as it is to my liking - such as adding character effects during battle - and creating traits for my members and enemies. Haven't fooled around with trying to change the menu system to my yet.

If you're wanting to change the names of menu selections i'm pretty sure you can do this is game settings.

[P.H.]

Re: small question

I'm aiming to add my own menu instead, perhaps one done in the vfx editor. I'm just going to keep on trying until i throw my sony at the wall and light the game on fire while screaming obscenities. Hopefully something will come of it.
And yes, the strategy guide sucked, badly.
If anyone has plans on writing a battle sytem faq, just explaining that as best as possible, please let me know. If anyone has anymore help, thanks also.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: small question

The guide is best for those who want to use the index in the back, and little use for everyone else.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: small question

I'm aiming to add my own menu instead, perhaps one done in the vfx editor. I'm just going to keep on trying until i throw my sony at the wall and light the game on fire while screaming obscenities. Hopefully something will come of it.
And yes, the strategy guide sucked, badly.
If anyone has plans on writing a battle sytem faq, just explaining that as best as possible, please let me know. If anyone has anymore help, thanks also.

Ok let me assure you that the battle system is one of the most complicated things in RPGM2 to understand. Many of us have had various problems figuring it out. The best way is to look through the events and scripts linked to them in the Game Settings under battle, and then look through the events/scripts on Enemies, Characters, Items, Direct Effects, Indirect Effects, and Traits that deal with battle. The one thing you will definitly want to look into is Traits if you plan on making major changes to it, as these will allow you to write in. Though a lot of us do know about this we also have our games to work on and can't just give people the answer all the time. Then every game would look the same. So what we look for is that people take the effort to try out a few things, not just one and then claim they can't do it. So try out some things, read over the default scripts, really try to understand what they are doing. Start out small, look at how one enemy attacks, how one weapon works. Study the Formula scripts. Then if you're still having problems with a specific thing ask about that.

Worst thing you can do is get really frusterated or just quit. Being angry clouds you mind, and will prevent you from making progress, so if you find you are stuck, and can't get unstuck, go do something else for a while, allow you mind to wander, and I bet you you'll think of a new way to approach the problem. So try a few different things, record your results with those, then ask a question. This is what most of the "experts" at RPGM2 did, so we also expect you to try things in exchange. Also if we just tell you the answer without you understanding it first, then really you have gained nothing. So usually we want you to experiment with different things and figure out why they didn't work, so you'll have a better understanding of it. Also do not expect to learn the battle system in a day, or even a week. It's very involved and will take a lot of patience, and good debugging skills to figure out.

As for a custom menu for battle, you can do this with a Trait script, and the Action variables and command. However it is important you understand how trait scripts, and Direct effects work first before attempting this.

[P.H.]

Re: small question

My apologies.
You're right.

I skipped over Traits because in the explanations it said if you equipped a Trait you couldn't control your character in battle, i should've known that would just pertain to the DBS, and i could factor in a workaround with the CBS.

I also played A LOT of rpg maker 1, and i think i'm just finding it difficult to adjust and understand scripts. I think i'll figure it out though.
And, i guess it could be worse, i could be so bored with rpg maker 3 i light that disc on fire.

You know what this thread needs though:?
A giant cow made with the VFX editor. If only i could find a picture of one of those...

[thetruecoolness]

Re: small question

My apologies.
You're right.

I skipped over Traits because in the explanations it said if you equipped a Trait you couldn't control your character in battle, i should've known that would just pertain to the DBS, and i could factor in a workaround with the CBS.

I also played A LOT of rpg maker 1, and i think i'm just finding it difficult to adjust and understand scripts. I think i'll figure it out though.
And, i guess it could be worse, i could be so bored with rpg maker 3 i light that disc on fire.

You know what this thread needs though:?
A giant cow made with the VFX editor. If only i could find a picture of one of those...

They lied about the trait thing for the DBS. I know since I use it to make a custom battle menu for my characters, and actually it will make it so you choose their action on their turn, not at the beginning of a battle turn. Still not sure if you can make a FF7 esque menu out of it, since you still need the party turn menu to do flee. Now of course this takes some pretty in depth knowledge of the battle system to do, but the Action: variables are the key. As for CBSs yeah it's all up to your implementation. There you will want to learn a lot about action scripts, and using characters to store extra info for you (like enemy data).

I wasn't try to put you down or anything, just people want to see some effort made first, then if you're stuck after failing a few times, it's ok to ask questions. You can't learn anything if you don't ask questions, but you also don't really learn anything if you just seek answers either. So just try some different things first, search through the workshop board for similar problems, then if you're still stuck ask a question.

As for the Cow I know Rodaks cow is somewhere around here.

[Jeremy]

Re: small question

Best way to learn traits is by checking out the ingame scripts and learn from them, eventually writing your own while using them as something to fall back on. I have months and months of time into using and writing traits so if you get stuck when writing one let me know, good chance i may can help long as they don't pertain to menus. I understand how all the in-game traits work now except for the Use Ability one for monsters. That one still blows my mind. Just don't spend forever trying to get your trait to do something in reality it can't do like me. If you run into trouble ask if it can be done before you pile on the useless effort.

[P.H.]

Re: small question

Yeah, i understand about the effort thing, i just have had this game in my head and i want it our already. Patience is my worst enemy.
So, thanks for the help, and sorry to bother you when i'm sure you have games to create. I, however, am going to go try my hand at some fine script editing.



Although...
Man, i sure do love cows...

[P.H.]

Re: small question

but one more thing, if i use Traits to help do the CBS, then do my characters HAVE to select their action on their turn. Or is it possible to still have them select before the turn with Traits:?