Customization Question

[MagusMartovich]

Is there a way to make customized classes? Change names of the classes (soldier,monk, etc.) and change the stat bonuses per level?

I have a game (in the works) where you choose a hero (out of 4 available) and each hero has a dominant stat, and second best stat... all the way to a stat that barely grows. My idea was to base the other 3 characters' stats around the one you choose (so if you choose the Agility Hero, the slow hero will actually gain agility points, but if you choose the Mage Hero, the Fighter can use spells more than once before needingmore MP) thus making the strategy differ depending on the original hero choice.

The problem I'm having is that aside from the slight difference in stats in the prefab classes, there isn't enough of a difference to really make that much of a difference. Even if I wildly skew the base stats it really only degrades the gameplay because it starts off with your heroes being too strong/fast/whatever and before you know it the team is suffering (except for one or two characters) and by the endgame only one hero (possibly the one you picked) is able to stand against enemies.

[Ceciroth]

Re: Customization Question

I'm not completely sure what you mean: You can create classes straight from scratch and edit the stat movement all you want. If, however, you're looking for incremental increases outside of that paradigm, you can just create an additional level up script. For example, you can have a variable sitting in the battle win that increases by one for each battle won, and when it reaches a certain number, additional stat boosts are applied to your characters. You'd have to be pretty specific in creating a script like that to take into account who is in the party and who isn't; what classes they are and the class 'level' and all sorts of other stuff, but it's more than possible.

Have fun!

[MagusMartovich]

Re: Customization Question

Okay, now that I know it can be done, do you know how I can get to the screen where I can make my own classes/edit the existing ones? TO be more specific, what menu option is that under?

The one thing I don't like about RM2 is the "you can't there from here" mentality...

[thetruecoolness]

Re: Customization Question

Well Classes are under the Game menu in the main menu. It's right under party members and is edited the same way as all other things (meaning there is a create new class button, and you can click on the individual classes to edit them). One reason you might not be able to see this is you are still in "Beginner" mode in the game. So you need to goto the File > Preferences menu and Select hard (so you can see every option available). Selecting normal or beginner hides some options since they are considered advanced, though most of these are normally useful to fully customize your game. Of course it's nice to start on beginner or normal when you first create the file for your game as you get preset data, but after that, there is no point in not switching to hard, as if you don't need an option just leave it alone, but not being able to see it sucks.

[MagusMartovich]

Re: Customization Question

Ah-ha!!! OKay, as I said in the other thread, I was under the impression that Hard mode was like "Start-from-Scratch" mode and I didn't wanna have to program everything back into the game. I'm goin to assume that Hard is not like formating a hard drive or taking a magnet to the PS2...

[Jeremy]

Re: Customization Question

Magus, i should warn you the Class System on this game could use some work - as the stats you gain on the class editor do not always register. There is a bug or something with agility, and although the stat does seem to increase by the amount you set in the class editor your character will get no faster. In other words - if you make a theif class, and say it gains 300% agility evertyime you level with a base agility of one. Well, you will level up and your agility will increase by 300% - however the agility will do absolutely nothing and your character will remain the same speed he was before.

So you may want to find some other way to effect your character's agility stats other than the class editor.

Also, there is a big difference in starting on hard mode and switching to hard mode. All switching to hard mode does after you start on easy or normal is basically just let you edit system scripts. Unless i'm mistaken, actually starting off on hard mode does start you off from scratch - and you would have to be a serious expert on all things RPG Maker 2 to handle that.

[MagusMartovich]

Re: Customization Question

Good thing I didn't do that, huh?

Actually, I gave everyone base stats and just had the classes add bonuses. Its really marginal (+/- 3-5 points in 1 or 2 traits) and it doesn't effect the game any more than a little for curiosity value.

As another (slightly) related question, is there any way to change the size of an NPC during the event? I would like to have a lead-up to a battle where the NPC gets stronger (harder) or weaker (smaller) depending on how the player reacts to the on screen messages.

AND (for the millionth time, most likely) is there any way to create a fight with the NPCs that don't have similar monster models? I know that RM1 lets you create custom monsters and I know the answer for RM3 is a stalwart NO! but is this possible with RM2? Thanks for your continuing help!

[Jeremy]

Re: Customization Question

Good thing I didn't do that, huh?

Actually, I gave everyone base stats and just had the classes add bonuses. Its really marginal (+/- 3-5 points in 1 or 2 traits) and it doesn't effect the game any more than a little for curiosity value.

As another (slightly) related question, is there any way to change the size of an NPC during the event? I would like to have a lead-up to a battle where the NPC gets stronger (harder) or weaker (smaller) depending on how the player reacts to the on screen messages.

AND (for the millionth time, most likely) is there any way to create a fight with the NPCs that don't have similar monster models? I know that RM1 lets you create custom monsters and I know the answer for RM3 is a stalwart NO! but is this possible with RM2? Thanks for your continuing help!

Yeah it's simple to change member or event graphic sizes, simply go to member effects or event effects during scripting and you should see it there. Their toward the top of the list, and is pretty easy to figure out. If you have trouble though let me know in another post and i'll walk you through it step by step in a more detailed fashion.

As far as making alterations to the ingame models so as to mimic the appearance of a particuliar enemy graphic (if i understand you correctly), best you can do is just make size and color changes to my knowledge - or, if you're really talented, perhaps load a visual effect you designed from the effects editor to get the desired look you're after. But if you are wanting to make a NPC to match the Dragon Knight monster for example, it won't be easily accomplished with satisfying results - and crafting something like that from the effects editor would be a pain.