Nothing like a bit of time pressure. I spoke to mum about organising some playtesters, and she went ahead and arranged around FIFTEEN of them! I’ve now got to get a prototype ready for this weekend! So, I’ve decided on a plan of attack.
RPG Maker MV comes with a library of pre-made assets, which I’m planning on using to quickly map out an area. What I’m trying to do is get the basic gameplay up and working. I can always swap out the visuals later, once the game actually works.
I’ve also got some project files from the paid asset library labelled “First Seed Material“, which has a bucket ton of interlinked sample maps that I could use and modify to create my own world. The maps themselves are incredibly detailed, so they may take some work to re-build in the 16-bit style that I’m using. I have two ways of doing it, first of which is my “Region Mapping” technique that I’ve mentioned before. The other, which I thought of tonight was saving the map as an image, then marking it up with a grid, including co-ordinates, then doing it manually by-eye. Both methods are incredibly time-consuming, but with a few all-nighters, it shouldn’t be too hard to pull off.
Now I know that this project hasn’t gone according to plan. Part of that, I will admit, is my own fault. I sometimes get distracted, and once distracted, I find it difficult to get back to what I was doing. Part of it isn’t entirely my fault, as I’ve had research and technical issues. Personally, I find research quite dull and stressful. It may be that I’m not doing it right. I’m not sure.
Another issue that I’ve been having is with my mental health. It’s not really an understatement to say that it’s been falling apart. Now this may seem personal, but I feel that I need to say this. I’ve been suffering from depression for years, but I can’t handle anti-depressants; all they serve to do is amplify my autism. Because of this, as well as the stress and fear about sorting out my uni application for next year, I’m now not sure that I’m gonna make it. I’m my own worst enemy at times. Also, I’m not sure exactly what’s being expected of me. The course I’m on is in the early stages, and there is no real precendent as to whats achievable or acceptable. I’m just guessing as to what I’m really doing. The grading criteria doesn’t help either. It’s designed to cover multiple disciplines, but because of that, I find it really difficult to understand.
I’m gonna be honest here; I’m bloody terrified of everything right now. I’m scared of not getting into uni. I’m scared of buggering up this project. I’m just scared of change.
I’m gonna get to making my prototype tomorrow, and I’ll post updates as I go. So until later!
So, now for the long-awaited story outline. I know, it’s been a long time coming, especially as I don’t have much longer left of this project, but I wanted to make sure it worked.
I’ve decided to take inspiration from “Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions”, “Final Fantasy X”, and “Gaia’s Melody: Echoed Melodies”. Each one of these sources brings something to the table, which I’ll go through shortly. As this will definitely ruin the plot for anyone who hasn’t watched or played them: SPOILER ALERT!!!
Ok, so let’s start with Gaia’s Melody. Made by Echo607 (a YouTuber who has some amazing tutorial videos for RPG Maker MV), the main character Akira is in fact the reincarnation of the Goddess Melody. During the story, the Dark Lord Agares tries to kill her, but she comes into her power, slays Agares, and uses her newfound divine powers to protect the world (until she later destroys it in Endless Melody: Symphony of the Goddess, by accident!) As one of my main protagonists, Jeanné, is very similar in some respects, having been born with special, unique abilities, I thought it would be a good place to start.
Promotional Cover Art for Gaia’s Melody: Echoed Melodies
Next brings me to Grimgar. Personally, I get annoyed by stories that focus on one character to the exclusion of all others, but Grimgar has a full cast of characters that form an adventuring party. Each has their own story role, special skills, and personalities that are at least somewhat realistic. I’m hoping to have a group quite similar, with their own plotlines in my own work, so I find it a good indication of how to create a believable group dynamic. It’s also massively inspiring my ideas about class-based mechanics, as well as how my world’s structure and realism will work. The series also takes into account perma-death (Permanent Death), Economics, Mental Health (including trauma and PTSD), as well as morality. Overall, it’s been a major factor in my story and world design.
Main Cast of Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions From left to right: Manato (Priest), Shihoru (Mage), Yume (Hunter), Ranta (Dark Knight), Haruhiro (Thief), Mary (Priest), Moguzo (Warrior)
Lastly, I’m looking at Final Fantasy X. As per traditional for Final Fantasy games, it has an earthshaking plot that involves saving the world. What FFX has that’s different is the exploration of religious themes, discriminatory practices based on said religions, and the age-old arguement of Science vs Religion. As Jeanné is supposed to be some sort of “Holy Maiden“, I thought it would be prudent to look at how other JRPG’s handle the concept of religion. I know Dragon Quest has major religious overtones across the series, but it’s not quite as indepth as the Yevonite religion presented in Final Fantasy X. The Yevonites persecute a culture of technology users called the Al Bhed, and because of this, many Al Bhed are killed by Yevonites. This creates some issues for some of the main characters, especially Rikku who is an Al Bhed, as well as Yuna, who is half-Al Bhed. As I’m having Priest as a playable character class, as well as having a Holy Maiden, it makes sense to look at how religion can be accurately portrayed.
Cast of Final Fantasy From left to right: Auron, Rikku, Wakka, Tidus, Yuna, Kimahri, Lulu
Final Fantasy X – Cover Art
Final Fantasy X – Rikku
Final Fantasy X – Yuna
Final Fantasy X-2 – Yuna Notice her eyes? Yuna has heterochromatia, which means she has two different eye colours Only Al Bhed have green eyes, and Yuna has a single green eye, inherited from her Al Bhed mother
Another intersting factor about Final Fantasy X is that Yuna is in fact a priestess (of sorts). She posseses magic that allows her to summon Aeons, being formed of magic and the soul of a Fayth. A Fayth is a human that willingly allowed their soul to be trapped inside a stone statue. Only Summoners (priests of Yevon who have the power to summon Aeons) have a chance of defeating Sin, a giant semi-demonic monster that ravages the world. Later in the story, she discovers that the Yevonite religion is corrupt, and that Sin is in fact at the core of the belief system, being a manifestation of Yu Yevon, the founder of the Yevonite faith.
A truly exquisite scene from Final Fantasy X is when Yuna performs a “Sending“, a ritual that sends the souls of the dead onto the afterlife. As my project is going to utilise religious aspects, I think it would be a shame not to share this scene. It’s also tempting me to make my Priest class a bit more like a japanese Shinto priest, rather than a traditional western Cleric.
Final Fantasy X – Yuna performs the Sending Prior to the scene, Lulu explains about the Sending
There we go! How does that sound. I know it may come across a bit derivative and simple, but that’s only the basic synopsis. To be totally honest, I’m not too sure what I’m trying to create. I don’t want to straightjacket myself, but at the same time, I do need a basic story premise. It’s a very fine line, but it’s one I hope I’ve got right.
Now on to my story concept. The reason it’s taken me this long is in fact listed in the Yanfly video I posted the other day about the 5 Traps that Indie Devs fall into. One of my major issues has been too much inspiration, so I had to spend some time thinking about how I could narrow it down into a more concise narrative and mechanics.
<STORY SYNOPSIS>
The basic premise behind my story revolves around a group of
adventurers who do quests to earn a living, but with no idea that the fate of
the world lies with them. Jeanné, one of
the party, is in fact a prophesised Holy
Maiden, who holds in her the power to save the world or destroy it.
The party must juggle the ancient prophecies with their normal jobs as
adventurers.
Through the course of the story, I’m hoping to explore some of the world background I laid down in my previous game project “Legend of Dragonstone Mountain“. In that game, the objective is rather simplistic; slay the dragon. However, I added a small intro and end scene that showed that this was just a part of a much greater scheme being played out by gods and demons.
<PLOT>
The story will start with Jeanné and her childhood
friend Tommyn leaving their hometown to register for the adventurers
guild. Once they arrive at the town, it’ll be attacked by monsters, causing Jeanné
to uncontrollably use her innate divine powers. This sets in motion a war with
varying factions who seek to control her for their own ends. Trying to juggle
this with being an adventurer, as well as being the target of mortal and
immortal powers will push the characters to their abject limits. The ending
will result in her choices, as she can join the gods, the demons, or ignore
them both. Each ending will be dictated by the players choices.
To be fair, I’ve always been fascinated by the effects of
religion and spirituality on cultural development, so by adding these, I was
hoping to add some context to my very basic narrative. This time, I’m going to
explore my world in more depth, as well as setting up a more complex narrative.
I’ll be back soon with something on my core gameplay. Until later!
SLGameDesign FMP 