Character exchanging

[Dashman]

This is my first tutorial, and maybe the last one I make. I don't know if anyone had this idea before me, so, if you use it, don't give me credit if you don't want to.

Have you ever wanted to make it possible to change your
characters while you are playing the game or add more than 4 heroes to play with? If you have played the test
game that may be included in RPG Maker 2k, and you
finished it, you might noticed that there you can change
your characters on your ship, but some people don't
understand it(I didn't). So here is a way that I
consider easier. Do the following to exchange
characters.
If you want to make a place like the one of the test game,(an HQ ship), that would be an easier way to change your characters.

Note: Have in mind that, to know how it works, you must
understand at least a bit of variables. If you don't, just
follow the instructions. Also, if you are starting the
game and want to have the party ready to be used, you
might have to learn about auto start events.

Index.

1.- A map
2.- Setting the Variable
3.- Event time!
 3.1 Page 1
 3.2 Page 2
4.- Variety
5.- Testing
6.- What can be wrong at this time
7.- Disadvantages of using this
1.- A map.

Like in Don's Adventures, you need a map(s) to put your
characters. Also, make events with the graphics of the
characters(or just one, when you finish, copy and paste  it). Once it is ready, go to the next step.

2.- Setting the variable.

Prepare a variable. You can call it "Partynumber" or however
you want. If you have started a game, make an auto start
event. On it, increase the variable "Partynumber" by 1.
If you have already advanced in the game, place somewhere
something that increase the variable by 1 that only
increase it once. If it increase it more, you will fail.
Alternate way: Prepare the variable, but do not increase
it, in case the other way fail.(not tested)

What we have at this time is the map and the variable
with 1 number.

Alternate way: We have a variable ready to use and a map.

3.- Event time!

Note: Before reading, for an easier way only make 1 event
and copy it and modify it when it is finished.
I assume you have the graphics of the team. If you don't,
get them. Now, make events. 1 for each party member you
want. I assume you start the game with only 1 character.
This are the stats of the events:(Another note, you need 2
pages)

Page 1:
Events conditions: None.
Start condition:   Push key
Select graphic:    Any
Movement type:     Any
Position:          Same level as hero
Animation type:    Any
Movement speed:    Any

Page 2:
Events conditions: Hero(the one that will join on this event)
Start condition:   Push key
Select graphic:    Any(transparent, if you don't insert a
                   graphic, you can't exchange the character)
Movement type:     Any
Position:          Same level as hero
Animation type:    Any
Movement speed:    Any

3.1.- Page 1

On page one, I recomend to start with any message, like
"Can I join the party?" After it, select "Show choice" event.
There, on the Yes branch, insert fork condition. Choose the
variable "partynumber" and put below 3. It must have an Else case
What it does? I'll explain later. Put another message, like
"Ok, I'll join" and, if you want, some music and a message like
"Brian have joined the team". On this tutorial, we will not use
them. Now insert the event to change the party and add the hero, in
this tutorial it will be Brian. Now, increase the variable
"Partynumber" by 1. On the else case put a message telling "Your
party is full" or something like that. What is that for?

We have a fork condition and a variable set with 1 when we
talk with him. Each time you accept someone in your team,
the variable increase by one. Once the variable is 4, the one
who you talked with will say that your team is full. But this
is not the end. On the No case, write something like "I'm
too good for you" or something like that.

Alternate way: Don't use the show choice event to make them
join once you talk with him. Also, if you followed the last
alternate way, set the fork condition to below 2. I have not
tested it, so I don't guarantee it will work.

The way no matter, we have a party memeber with us, but...
how to get rid of it?

How it looks by the normal way:

<>Messg: Want me to join?
<>Showchoice Yes/No
:(Yes) Case
  <>FORK Optn:Varbl(0001:Partynumber)-3less
    <>Messg: OK, I'll join
    <>Changes hero's party: Brian->Ad
    <>Variable Ch(0001:Partynumber)+,1
    <>
  ELSE case
    <>Messg:Your party is full
    <>
  :End Case
  <>
:(No) case
  <>Messg: Ok, I won't join
  <>
:END case
<>

3.2.- Page 2

Now, we finished the first part. This one is not so hard. Like
on the first one, write a message that say something like "Want
me to leave?" or "I'm leaving for a while". I'm tired of the
Show choice command, so I won't use it this time. Reduce the
variable "Partynumber" by 1 and change the party, this time
make him leave instead of joining. That's all

How it should look:

<>Messg: I'll leave for some time.
<>Variable Ch(0001:Partynumber)-,1
<>Change hero's party: Brian->Remov

That's all. Now the simple part.

4.- Variety

Once this event is ready, copy it and paste it wherever you want.
Modify the person who join, make it leave the team, change the
graphics, and the hero needed to be on the team to activate the
page 2. Also, change the messages, add music, so everyone have
their theme music once they enter the party, etc. You don't want
that everyone say exactly the same, or you do? In RPG Maker 2k you
must be as creative as you can be. Now, did this work? It's time
to see.

5.- Testing

The time of the truth have arrived. Did you followed my ord... I
mean, my instructions? Let's see if they work. Let's say you
have 5 events, each one near the other

1 2 3 4 5

    x

x= main character

Talk with 3 of them that you want. (I choose 1, 3 and 4). Now you
have a 4 persons party. Talk with 2. If it worked, he or she
won't join, because you already have 4 characters. Now, talk with
3 again and then with 5. If 3 left the team and 5 joins, it worked
too. At this moment, 1, 4 and 5 should be transparent and 2 and 3
should be visible 100%.

6.- What can be wrong at this time:

1.- Forgot to make the auto event that add 1 to the variable, and only
1.
2.- Copied the events, but forgot to change something.
3.- You got bored and did not read the full document
4.- You are analphabet
5.- Your brain was about to explode, so you stopped reading.
6.- I forgot to write something here.

For any trouble, or bug, send me a mail to lord_valdomero@terra.com.mx

7.-Disadvantages of using this

I don't have many to mention, just that you must use the main character at all times, you can't change him.

well, that's all, I suppose. If it does not work, tell me. I tested it with a main character and 6 more and it worked for me.

[darkrune]

Nice tutorial

[CoolZidane]

The hardest part is not the party-changing itself, but changing the messages to apply to whoever is in your party.

[Dashman]

Thanks. I changed a bit on the tutorial. I thought that it was posible exchanging inn RPGM2k3, but now I know that it's not. However, it does not affect it.

[BlackIceAdept]

heh...way-to-go...have a...wow, no idea of a djinn to give you...(blue hair? red shirt?)

Aw whatever people need these too much here have Mars and Mercury!

[DarkBell]

Nice but can I ask you somethin'?

Well suppose if we get one main Chara off our party and get another when we'll go back to get the same chara back in our party wouldn't he be at the intitial level of his?

[Meiscool-2]

You would use varibles for that.

However, if you'll look at the post date, you'll notice that this is over a year-old kick. Please don't post in old topics, even if your intentions are good.

If you need to learn more, I suppose you could PM me with the question you have and I'll try to answer it as best as I can.