I know there were some threads on making RPGs in AGS, and also questions about RPG Maker around here. While I am really sorry to exploit AGS community this way ( ;)), I am seeking an advice here because I feel it will take a while to figure correct answers by googling/reading documentations, etc.
Currently I am considering making a small RPG-try (or whatever you can name it); I have a sort of RPG system of my own invented for maybe 10 years or so, but I never had enough time or dedication to really work on a game itself. Perhaps I could have tried coding one from scratch using C++, but since there's already a number of game makers, I suppose it is better to use existing "engine" for that. The problem is, however, that I am worried that some of them won't satisfy my needs.
Stating this straight, is there a "game-maker" that will allow me to make a classic-style RPG (not jRPG), where I can...
1) ... define my own base character attributes, derived parameters and formulas that connect them;
2) ... make battle-system similar to cRPG, like Forgotten Realms, Realms of Arkania (or maybe even like Arkanum/Fallout) and alike; that is - not a plain background screen with sprites of monsters drawn over like in all those jRPGs, but where you have a proper tactical battleground and can move characters around, make formations, perform some strategical tricks etc.
There is an infinity engine open source clone in development called GemRB but I've no idea what level the development has reached.
Incidentally im making a JRPG in AGS :D
There is a 2d engine out there called Construct (http://www.scirra.com). I've been playing with it to make a platformer, but others on their forum (http://www.scirra.com/phpBB3/index.php) are making RPGs.
Constrict isn't technically in a final release, but it's fairly stable for being so new. Their forums are also very welcoming to newbies, which always makes the experience better.
RPG Maker is very J-RPG oriented in its predefined systems and classes. However, in the latest versions (XP and VX) you have access to a script editor and can reprogram pretty much everything, using Ruby. Keep in mind that would mean giving up on the graphical interface of the engine for most actions, which can end up being... painful.
(Note that technically, you can reprogram everything using the event editor available in RPG Maker, but that's even more painful. x) )
For 2D games, Multimedia Fusion 2 is very polyvalent and requires no programmation. Making an RPG with it can be a daunting task, though. I have heard some not too bad things about Game Maker as well.
All this makes me think that
1) If you want realy cool and professional game you should find a team and write it from scratch;
2) Otherwise you will have to do pretty much scripting and hacking to make it look like you want no matter what "gamemaker" you use.
...so better stick to AGS, since you already know how to use it ;D
Well, existing freeware engines usually cater to just one generic style. If you want something more specific you'll have to customise it (hard when you don't have access to the source) or make one for yourself. It's like shoes that way.
I've tried writing a simple RPG in AGS and I have to say you'd be better off coding it yourself in C++ or using an engine like Construct. AGS is powerful enough to make an American or Japanese style RPG, but the amount of coding required would almost be as much as what you'd need to make one with an engine like Irrlicht anyway, plus you have even more power.
Ah, it seems clear to me that what you want is a tool to make a game similar to the great Dungeon Hack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Hack) made by SSI. If this is the case, check out their Unlimited Adventures (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlimited_Adventures) game making tool. Using built-in content you can create dungeons, towns, set up stats and the like. It's not going to give you total control (it's fairly old) but I can remember having a lot of fun with it. Apparently, a bunch of hacks were made to it to allow custom content as well!
Quote from: auriond on Mon 23/11/2009 23:23:09
Well, existing freeware engines usually cater to just one generic style. If you want something more specific you'll have to customise it (hard when you don't have access to the source)
I think the new version of RPG Toolkit is now open source.
I would go for making my own engine with Game Maker.
RPG's use rather isolated spaces (like AGS rooms) so GM should handle the load OK.
Also, since you make your own engine, you can have whatever you want. And it's alot easier than digging in a mess of source code of some RPG-oriented tool
Quote from: ProgZmax on Tue 24/11/2009 11:41:01
Ah, it seems clear to me that what you want is a tool to make a game similar to the great Dungeon Hack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Hack) made by SSI.
Oh coooool, I downloaded that game of underdogs once and spent quite a while flailing around trying to figure out if I could use it for an original game. I had no idea there was so much cool fanmade junk out there for it.
Quote from: ProgZmax on Tue 24/11/2009 11:41:01
Ah, it seems clear to me that what you want is a tool to make a game similar to the great Dungeon Hack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Hack) made by SSI.
No, not really. I don't want
fights in first person view. I want only wandering around in 1st person view, and fights in either top-view or isometric projection.
On second thought I was considering making travel in 3rd person view as well.
Quote from: Crimson Wizard on Thu 26/11/2009 16:15:18
No, not really. I don't want fights in first person view. I want only wandering around in 1st person view, and fights in either top-view or isometric projection.
On second thought I was considering making travel in 3rd person view as well.
i.e. The SSI gold box games or the Realms of Arkania series?
WOTES is another good example, although that combines both perspectives for different parts of the game.
Quote from: Victor6 on Thu 26/11/2009 17:42:22
Quote from: Crimson Wizard on Thu 26/11/2009 16:15:18
No, not really. I don't want fights in first person view. I want only wandering around in 1st person view, and fights in either top-view or isometric projection.
On second thought I was considering making travel in 3rd person view as well.
i.e. The SSI gold box games or the Realms of Arkania series?
WOTES is another good example, although that combines both perspectives for different parts of the game.
Never heard of that game before, but if WOTES you mean is on this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ch7sIqCEkk) it looks exactly like I was imagining my game :)
Yep, that's WOTES. Classic CRPG stuff. Not the sort of thing you expected to find on the megadrive but, impressive for it's time.
Probably very doable with AGS too.