Need Help

[Jeremy]

My game has randomly created item stats - but i cannot figure out how to change the database number names of my items to represent the stat change.

For example:

Let's say i have a sword that can increase strength by a number of 1 ? 5. Is there any way i can get the item name of the sword to show up in my item list as sword +(the random number of strength it gives).

I can do this successfully on all message windows simply by adding a Text Content: Variable: Display after the original item name, but i haven't had any luck editing the item list itself.

[Hipparchus]

Re: Need Help

That sounds like an interesting system. I'm not entirely sure of the nature of your problem, but if you are using default Items for this have you tried going to Items on the main menu then clicking on specific items and changing their names? I'm not exactly sure what the nature of your problem is, if maybe you could elobrate further I could be more helpful? Good luck on your item system!

[JPS]

Re: Need Help

I dont know about RM2, but Ive done this on RM3, all I did was create 5 different swords and when it gets upgraded have the script unequip sword+1, lose sword+1, gain sword+2, and equip sword+2

not sure if this is possible on rm2 or not, and sorry if this doesnt help.

[Jeremy]

Re: Need Help

That sounds like an interesting system. I'm not entirely sure of the nature of your problem, but if you are using default Items for this have you tried going to Items on the main menu then clicking on specific items and changing their names? I'm not exactly sure what the nature of your problem is, if maybe you could elobrate further I could be more helpful? Good luck on your item system!

I'll try to explain better what i mean. I think this is possible what i'm trying to do - because Truecoolness tried to explain it to me awhile back but i never could figure it out.

I know how to change the item name in the database, and i'm not using any default items. But what i would like to be able to do is manipulate the item name during actual gameplay to represent changes that occur to that same item.

For example, let's say i have an item called Sword. On my game random statistics are added to this sword througout the game on different occasions. I would like the name Sword to change during actual game play to represent the change. Just changing the database name during editing isn't going to help me any.

I was hoping i could simply tag an input variable at the end of the name - which i can do in message windows - but i haven't been able to penetrate the actual item lists you look at during system menus, where it would be most convienent for the player.

Like i said, i don't even have to change the name itself, just being able to tag a input variable at the end of the original name would be good enough for me. But try as hard as i can, i simply can't figure out how to manipulate item names during game play.

I'll walk you through step by step exactly what i'm talking about.

Load up RPG Maker 2 and start playing the game.

Now push X and go to Item - the second command on the left column.

Select it and a list of items each of your members possess will show up on the right in a text box. That is where i want to change the names of my items during gameplay. I just need to know where to go to manipulate or edit the scripts that determine what names of items show up there. So basically what i want is that Sword i mentioned to show up on my item list as say Sword +1, or Sword +5, or Sword +10 - depending on the strength of the current random stat being added to it when equipped.

Otherwise i will have to rely on message windows to display changes that occur to said items - which will be sort of tacky since they will not be displayed the same way on the player's actual item list.

I can live with this and it's not game breaking. But it is something i'd like to be able to do if possible.

[Jeremy]

Re: Need Help

I dont know about RM2, but Ive done this on RM3, all I did was create 5 different swords and when it gets upgraded have the script unequip sword+1, lose sword+1, gain sword+2, and equip sword+2

not sure if this is possible on rm2 or not, and sorry if this doesnt help.

Well that is one way i could do it - but doing so would eat my memory alive as i would have to create over a thousand different items in my data base to mirror the same capacity, a sacrifice i'm not willing to do simply for a name change in the right place.

So making a different item to represent each possible random stat increase isn't really an option for me.

[Hipparchus]

Re: Need Help

I think I understand what you mean, like a Sword that can be swung fast but is light-weight and doesn't deal much damage would be a Swift Blade and a sword that is heavy, deals lots of damage but is slow would be called a Basher (or something).

And if your weapons are a special system, make the game treat it as a different system. Perhaps the text boxes would look less out of place if you A) Add other things beside Weapons like Character Names, the current location, Armor, Current Magic, etc. B) Have it be turn-off-able like press square and the message boxes pop off, press it again they pop back up, press it a third time they come back up, etc.

OR you could make the class system into a weapons system, and have the weapons gain levels. With the default class system you gain class exp., able to switch classes, have the classes get upgraded and have different titles which would be an intersting system as well. You could have an armory at inns you can switch weapons at and such.
I might try that for myself actually...

[Jeremy]

Re: Need Help

I think I understand what you mean, like a Sword that can be swung fast but is light-weight and doesn't deal much damage would be a Swift Blade and a sword that is heavy, deals lots of damage but is slow would be called a Basher (or something).

And if your weapons are a special system, make the game treat it as a different system. Perhaps the text boxes would look less out of place if you A) Add other things beside Weapons like Character Names, the current location, Armor, Current Magic, etc. B) Have it be turn-off-able like press square and the message boxes pop off, press it again they pop back up, press it a third time they come back up, etc.

OR you could make the class system into a weapons system, and have the weapons gain levels. With the default class system you gain class exp., able to switch classes, have the classes get upgraded and have different titles which would be an intersting system as well. You could have an armory at inns you can switch weapons at and such.
I might try that for myself actually...

You have some interesting possiblities there Hipparchus, though not sure i would even know where to begin on some of those.

You suggest having the game treat my weapons as a different system - but i don't know how. I have examined every system script and cannot find anywhere that it's possible to edit the way items are displayed on the menus. Even in the game system script itself, the actual Item command is mysteriously absent - and the only thing i can find are message windows using the get item name data commands. It's as if the item select window just appears out of nothing.

Also, i don't know how to create my own item select menu. The best i could do is make a long list of messages telling the player what items he posseses by using the item number variables. But that would not stop the original menu from still existing, so the names that appear in my custom message menu would still be different than the names that appear on the system menu.

It is frustrating how you can easily change names of so many other things during gameplay, yet items seem off limits.

And I just don't understand how you would go about scrapping the ingame menu system and make your own. It seems the original item list is set in stone and there is no way to alter it.

Also using the class editor as a way to make complex weaponry is an intriguing concept, but that really isn't an option for me due to the way my game is set up.

My weapon system is really not that novel. It's basically just a MMROPG style where random figures are added to items and their name changes accordingly. Like on diablo, staff of the whale would give random hp, where as staff of the serpent would give random mp. I just need to figure out a way to add the suffix onto the item name and i'll be set.

[Hipparchus]

Re: Need Help

Here's how you eliminate the default item system:

A)
1.Go to game/general settings.

2.Name Items "" or in other words leave a blank space.

3.Proceed to not give the Players anything that would add to the item list and control item invetory via variables.

4.Proceed to use your custom menu system.

Also when I said treat it as a different system I meant not use Items. Instead of the above you could also make the game only track Equipment on a seperate custom menu system. So one menu for things like potions and such and then another custom menu system made up of variable controlled message boxes to display Equipment. I would find this divison good overall, because I always feel like RPG inteveroies are cluttered when unequiped Armor is next to potions is next to your wooden sword from first level is next to etc. With a seperate Equipment menu it would feel less cluttered and would be more enjoyable for the player. It would also help the dev. too.

[Jeremy]

Re: Need Help

Here's how you eliminate the default item system:

A)
1.Go to game/general settings.

2.Name Items "" or in other words leave a blank space.

3.Proceed to not give the Players anything that would add to the item list and control item invetory via variables.

4.Proceed to use your custom menu system.

Also when I said treat it as a different system I meant not use Items. Instead of the above you could also make the game only track Equipment on a seperate custom menu system. So one menu for things like potions and such and then another custom menu system made up of variable controlled message boxes to display Equipment. I would find this divison good overall, because I always feel like RPG inteveroies are cluttered when unequiped Armor is next to potions is next to your wooden sword from first level is next to etc. With a seperate Equipment menu it would feel less cluttered and would be more enjoyable for the player. It would also help the dev. too.

I couldn't find any Name Items command in the Game/General Settings window. All i could find was the ability to select what items are in the party's bag at the start of the game. My game doesn't use the bag at all, so that wasn't something i had to worry about.

Your ideas about creating a new custom menu to display equipment is one i've considered. Would take a lot of scripting though....a whole lot, and not sure it is worth the memory. I would have to make over 100 conditions for each equipment slot to check which item is actually there so i accuately show name of it, but that might be the only way if there is no way to simply change the way the original Item Name is displayed in the current system during game play.

[Drew]

Re: Need Help

I couldn't find any Name Items command in the Game/General Settings window. All i could find was the ability to select what items are in the party's bag at the start of the game. My game doesn't use the bag at all, so that wasn't something i had to worry about.

Your ideas about creating a new custom menu to display equipment is one i've considered. Would take a lot of scripting though....a whole lot, and not sure it is worth the memory. I would have to make over 100 conditions for each equipment slot to check which item is actually there so i accuately show name of it, but that might be the only way if there is no way to simply change the way the original Item Name is displayed in the current system during game play.

Doyleman and I's Final Fantasy Starter Kit will have a custom menu for items and equipment. If you want you can wait for that to come out to get a reference of how to do it.

[Jeremy]

Re: Need Help

Doyleman and I's Final Fantasy Starter Kit will have a custom menu for items and equipment. If you want you can wait for that to come out to get a reference of how to do it.

I would be intersted in taking a look at that. You can always learn a lot by looking at other people's work, although i still feel creating an entire new custom menu for my items and equipment is like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly... to use an old chineese expression.

What i'm wanting to do seems like it should be so simple. Just tag a variable at the end of my item name on the menu list when it's displayed is all i want to do ; ;

But i would deffinitely like to play around with one and see what all is possible. I'm sure it'd give me all sorts of new ideas and tricks.