Zoltar: Some Kind of Supernatural Story

[Fisherson]

Aww no demo? I want to play this darnit...

Well firstly I think the idea of a party you have to recruit yourself and make effort do so? Isn't a bad idea, but may deture some others who are less interested in beating a game 100%. People who for example get so caught up int he story they move on past the recruitment point and get locked into an area. Means using barriers to keep people out of sections will be...tricky to say the least. I recommend making one area where people will appear if you do their sidequest or whatever to unlock them so you can go back on your own time. Either that or leave only your final area enclosed and keep everyone unlockable without a ascending order. ^^;

EXP outside of battle is a smart idea. Ever think of having puzzles reward EXP for completion?

So there will be two world maps? Or will it be like Persona where you went to the tower and had to explore it and unlock each level by exploration and clearing floor bosses?

Wise idea. Summons should be a command, not a piece of equipment. Especially considering how integral they are to this story. Just don't over load your DBS with custom scripts. ^^;

1: Mark itself? Meh somewhat. Mark JASTER on the otherhand I would say not. Though honestly we play JRPGs all the time where the characters do not have accurate names. Heck look at me! I'm a Jedi named DAVID DENT. <.< No D'veed Dentronos or something spacey. Bandit from JO also really makes you think he'd be a theif robot or something but he's just Demolition Bot and fun character. *Shrugs* Names are important I suppose but in games you can get some leighway with them. Especially on ethnics. Though weirdly this does make me realize in most games we don't really have many ethnically accurate members much. More 'token' characters like Barret and Yuffie.

Oh and n the subject of corret hair type and color on game characters? XD Need I point to Sonic, Sephiroth, Marth or any other character in existance? Leave it be. Kinky hair isn't easy to sprite and make it look good. Just take a browse through the Charas Online Gen and you'll see we don't have many that are really all that accurate.

2: Services? Same as any RPG I suppose. Inn, Shop, Weapons Shop and any other extras you want to add. There's no real standard mix for any modern RPG. I'd personally add some flavor areas like a comic book store or such just to get people to go into them since EXP is tied to maps too.

3: Er I think your phone is messing up but I think what you are trying to ask is should there be alternate ways to make money? Sure why not? Depends on how much you want to program, Z.

4: ...I guess? Not sure. Honestly I've never met many trans people but I do suppose that pink shirt is a bit much. I'd more adjust the hair as it looks like Zoltar's only recolored. <.< Using my Charas Ex 2.0 upgrade? Do you still have copy? I lost mine and I really, really don't want to re-make it by hand.

5: None at all. Just try to be subtle maybe? Let it be part of the characters and not some message? Subtle like.

[Zoltar]

Okay before I update my characters to show their new Phants I decided to post this.

Oh and that issue with the four types? Ressolved.
 

Empaths will heal the party a random amount for no AP cost BUT using their skill will put the user into a defence pose and it's random between 50-200 which is great early on but latter that will pale in comparison to actual healer's abilities. Still nifty tough!

[Fisherson]

So THAT'S What you wanted my skull helm sprite for. Nice! =D Very cool, Zolty! Though I'm not sure you should have posted two new characters. ^^; But I must admit I've not seen a more impressive looking party in a while.

The Empath's skill sounds like it's well balanced for a 'free heal' move too. Maybe vary it between Empath's so it's not stackable? I mean cause I'd have a pair myself. Even if it's only 50 for one then 100 for the other that's gonna make grinding wild monsters waaaaay easier. Probably will let me conserve my potions and horde my good healing items. ^_^; Don't want to make it too easy.

[Donut]

That looks very good indeed!
I haven't had much time to play the past few months, and I still have the chain game to play *panics* but when you release something I'll definitely have a look at it
I like your monsters they look cool!

[Zoltar]

That looks very good indeed!
I haven't had much time to play the past few months, and I still have the chain game to play *panics* but when you release something I'll definitely have a look at it
I like your monsters they look cool!

Thank you! I worked mondo hard on those monsters. Some of the larger sprites are in need of cleaning up. Also  because I make them by hand making map sprites is harder. Still I am mondo appreciative that you like them, Donut Brah! I am working on a minute or two long demo right now and it's going well. Just adding a facset system and getting the hang of balancing the word ratio. I would use pictures but you can't use them in battle I think? Otherwise you could male a Boss HP grid.

So THAT'S What you wanted my skull helm sprite for. Nice! =D Very cool, Zolty! Though I'm not sure you should have posted two new characters. ^^; But I must admit I've not seen a more impressive looking party in a while.

The Empath's skill sounds like it's well balanced for a 'free heal' move too. Maybe vary it between Empath's so it's not stackable? I mean cause I'd have a pair myself. Even if it's only 50 for one then 100 for the other that's gonna make grinding wild monsters waaaaay easier. Probably will let me conserve my potions and horde my good healing items. ^_^; Don't want to make it too easy.

Yep! Thanks for lending it to me, Fishman. Though a tip? You're using the original unedited Cuebone specs and Doc's are more suited for a charaset. Feel free to study it or take his cow skull version. Oh and Chasity isn't new but has been remade. Shauna is brand new. Her bio  will be up soon. Need to make a battle chara and test how useful her skill set is in practical use.

They will be blanced, my brosef. But grinding is worthless to gain EXP. You get more from actually doing quests and completing them. Read the front page. 

[Donut]

Thank you! I worked mondo hard on those monsters. Some of the larger sprites are in need of cleaning up. Also  because I make them by hand making map sprites is harder. Still I am mondo appreciative that you like them, Donut Brah! I am working on a minute or two long demo right now and it's going well. Just adding a facset system and getting the hang of balancing the word ratio. I would use pictures but you can't use them in battle I think? Otherwise you could male a Boss HP grid.

If you're using the unofficial RM2k3, there's a Cherry Patch that allows you to use pictures in battles, which is quite useful if you wish to animate your monsters especially.
Since patches don't work on the official release, this won't work then, unless Cherry changed that in an update to the official release (and that would be Steam only, unfortunately)?

[Fisherson]

Yep! Thanks for lending it to me, Fishman. Though a tip? You're using the original unedited Cuebone specs and Doc's are more suited for a charaset. Feel free to study it or take his cow skull version. Oh and Chasity isn't new but has been remade. Shauna is brand new. Her bio  will be up soon. Need to make a battle chara and test how useful her skill set is in practical use.

Huh I'll take a look for sure and I might add it to my gen ex 2.0....though honestly I lost the most current version when I upgraded laptops and I can't even find my old zip file. ;_; It'll take a while before it's updated to it's full glory. I am pleased you remember that thing though! ^_^ Wait....unless you might per chance have that zip file?! =D Free requests forever if you do!

They will be blanced, my brosef. But grinding is worthless to gain EXP. You get more from actually doing quests and completing them. Read the front page.

Really now? I'll have to keep that in mind.  Do you have a sub menu for reviewing quests then? Cause you'll need one. Especially if you have side quests and such.

[Zoltar]

If you're using the unofficial RM2k3, there's a Cherry Patch that allows you to use pictures in battles, which is quite useful if you wish to animate your monsters especially.
Since patches don't work on the official release, this won't work then, unless Cherry changed that in an update to the official release (and that would be Steam only, unfortunately)?

I'm afraid I ditched the old Tsukuru for the Steam.  Cherry should update to modify the Steam 2003! It'd be a smarter move. I suppose I could use a background with an HP bar for bosses that changes as the battle progresses? Anybody ever do something that tubular before?

I touched up the story and added some support characters, without pictures for now. Madam Laurena is not going to be playable. Mark's last name has been changed from Jaster to Sampson. It sounds African American now right? Hope so. Oh and added a panel about how weapons don't change form but their  abilities are changed by buying equips. Just a little question though....

What happened to the spoiler options?! 

I had them once but now they are gone! Why??

[Fisherson]

I'm afraid I ditched the old Tsukuru for the Steam.  Cherry should update to modify the Steam 2003! It'd be a smarter move. I suppose I could use a background with an HP bar for bosses that changes as the battle progresses? Anybody ever do something that tubular before?

I touched up the story and added some support characters, without pictures for now. Madam Laurena is not going to be playable. Mark's last name has been changed from Jaster to Sampson. It sounds African American now right? Hope so. Oh and added a panel about how weapons don't change form but their  abilities are changed by buying equips. Just a little question though....

What happened to the spoiler options?! 

I had them once but now they are gone! Why??

Spoilers have been gone for a bit mysteriously haven't they? Weird. Also weapons with a add-on thing eh? Inspired by my weapon mod system in the Grande Adventure?

[Zoltar]

Spoilers have been gone for a bit mysteriously haven't they? Weird. Also weapons with a add-on thing eh? Inspired by my weapon mod system in the Grande Adventure?

Umm....maybe, Fishman. I think it was more me not wanting to make anymore weapon sheets lol 

[Zoltar]

Arcana City First District rough draft. I'm trying to get the streets to be more realistic but I have to ask do they need to be really? I mean it I'd a video game and yet you will get to drive a car on them eventually as it's the only way to travel between Districts. What do you think?

[Momeka]

Nice map, I like it and the streets looks all right to me. I think it might look a tad nicer if the character and cars were a bit smaller on it.

[Zoltar]

Nice map, I like it and the streets looks all right to me. I think it might look a tad nicer if the character and cars were a bit smaller on it.

Hey that would look cooler! Well if I can make the sprites smaller without losing too much detail. Is there anybody on Charas who specializes in miniturizing sprites or is there a program?

[Momeka]

You can scale it down in most paint programs, but it will require you to go in and clean up the sprites cause it will probably mess up some lines and such.

Here's a quick example:

[Zoltar]

You can scale it down in most paint programs, but it will require you to go in and clean up the sprites cause it will probably mess up some lines and such.

Here's a quick example:

Okay that doesn't look so hard! Little update too. I made a Boss HP system using the advice Fishman gave me about backgrounds. It's ...primitive and sometimes it doesn't remove the last bar but it does the job! Just four colors with a 25% reduction rate and a basic screen shake and scream for the victory tone. I sort of wanted it to flash and fade away like in tye olden ganes but the options for that are limited in RPG Maker 2003....unless....what if I used the Monster Transform to switch between a slowly fading away monster sprite? That'd work right?