The Path to a Great RPG

[The Gwaga Gmonk]

Yes, there are too many "How to make an RPG" articles out there. Yes, this is another. But anyway, let's get on track with Part 1 of this series.
PART ONE: The Paperwork
Before you even think of opening up RPG Maker, we've got to plan. This way you don't do a bit of your RPG, forget to add a bit, go back and do a bit more, think that this would be better etc.
To make a decent storyline, I believe these are the questions you must ask yourself:
1) Who is the main character?
Every RPG needs a main character, a hero. Plan out his name, strengths, weaknesses and so forth. This is one of the most important parts of RPG creation.
2) Where is the character?
The RPG needs a world, you can't just have the hero floating around in a blank void for the whole game. When deciding this, also think whether the game is set in the past, present or future.
3) Who will the character meet?
This includes eventual party members, villains and NPCs. You don't need to include every little detail, just the main characters. Don't bother planning out the random girl in the street.
4) What is the objective?
Don't confuse this with "What is the storyline?", because we are trying to make a storyline. Just plan out what the main goal is, where the game is heading towards.
After asking yourself these questions, you should be able to make a decent storyline.

We don't stop there, oh, no. After we've got the storyline, we need to plan out other things. Usually, I follow this pattern:
1) Ask myself the above questions.
2) Write the storyline as it would appear in the game manual.
3) Write the storyline as it would appear in the game (including events).
4) Characters.
5) List the entire game.
6) Solutions to the puzzles listed in 5.
7) List the items, including medicines, weapons, shields, story items, and miscelaneous.
List the spell and their effects.

"Whoa, slow down there, Gwaga! List my ENTIRE GAME?"
Calm down. It really doesn't take too long. I have a game with a huge complicated storyline, many events, puzzles and whatnot, estimated 5-10+ hours of gameplay, and it only took 17 lines.

"17 lines? No way, we're talking a 40+ line list here!"
Okay, then. Let's try an example. The hero needs to get past a guard. But in order to do that, he needs a bribe. Just as he finds it, a huge monster bird comes down and steals it! After retrieving it, he gives it to the guard, gets past, but needs armour to get him through the villain's castle. After finding the armour, he can go through a dungeon to get a healing spell, but he doesn't need to. Then he can finally face the villain.

Now, let's list that:
1. Talks to guard
2. Finds bribe
3. Gets attacked
4. Retrieves bribe
5. Finds armour
OPTIONALS
1. Finds healing spell
And that whole thing only took 5 lines, with 1 for optionals. It really isn't such a hard task as you think.

As for listing the solutions to puzzles, just look back at the list of the game and see what ones would require thinking to get past. Then, list that line, and the solution. After writing solutions, see what items are needed in them and put those as your story items. Voila! You're done with your paperwork! (for now, anyway...) We will return to it, later on, for more advanced things, but for now, put the pen down and you're finished.

Join me next week when I tell you how to begin creation. Until then, may you list all the events in your life for some reason.
BABUU!

[Gothxtreme]

thnx man.This was a good help.I always find myself forgetting a great storyline or plans i have for my game.

[Ryoshin]

This was a very good article, maybe the best "Way to make an RPG" article I've seen.

Sorry, gotta go to write a new storyline...

[The Gwaga Gmonk]

Should I post part 2, yay or nay?

[kadeity]

yeah, i mean look at the good response ya got!? post away man!

[Red Giant]

Go ahead.

[Ryoshin]

Go ahead.

[Ruler of the Dark]

Go ahead

[The Gwaga Gmonk]

Okay. Thanks for such positive response, people! Part Two will be up shortly!