I'm making an (almost) combat-free Windows rpg based on my wizard (http://thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?78318.post) thread. I am sick as shit of all these fantastic epic sprawling rpgs with brilliant plots that are bogged down with gratuitous fighting, and I want REAL DAMNED FANTASY.(See signature)
STEP ONE: I need a good program for mapping the various plot branches. As you can imagine, there will be a lot of them.
EDIT: before anybody opens their smart mouth, I know this will take about a million years. I am a turtle. I have time. :D
Honestly, the method of writing small and doing a flow chart on a big poster board is tried and true. The only programs I know of that I would consider using for such a thing would be a basic word processor (again for doing it the old fashioned way) or an old BASIC program and you could write it like a Choose Your Own Adventure book for yourself to reference. Actually, if you can find a program that let's you have somethink like a wiki but just on your machine, that would be damn near ideal; It could be searchable and include links to any related information.
Hmmm. Wiki. I'll have to hunt for something like that. Thanks D.
If you just need a flowchart, I think FreeMind might do a pretty decent job.
Quote from: Flay'd Childe avec Salted EyesHmmm. Wiki. I'll have to hunt for something like that. Thanks D.
There's a program called Notebook (http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Notebook_(software)) that does this. It is also free.
Check out Renpy (http://www.renpy.org/) for the actual game engine. It's cross-platform (even ported to Android), easy to code, and very flexible. If the basic scripting isn't enough for what you want, you can imbed Python/PyGame code.
If you do choose to do this, I might even be willing to help out a bit.
Quote from: Flay'd Childe avec Salted EyesEDIT: before anybody opens their smart mouth, I know this will take about a million years. I am a turtle. I have time. :D
New community motto located.
I don't know much about the question you asked. What I do know about is programming! So if you need help of a more technical nature, I'd be happy to give a bit of assistance, too.
What style of game are you going for? SNES CRPG style? More like an old Sierra adventure? Or just a text adventure? Something I haven't thought of?
Oh, and for offline wikis, use Wiki on a Stick. It's a portable wiki based on Javascript, so you can run it in just about any browser.
Thanks all!
I'm checking out Ren'Py right now. Looks promising. Also got hold of Notebook and am about to peek at Wiki on a Stick.
Quote from: Luminous CrayonQuote from: Flay'd Childe avec Salted EyesI am a turtle. I have time. :D
New community motto located.
I second this.
Offline wikis sound great, anyway. I think I need to check out these programs.
Bump. How's it coming along?
Plot, plot, plot. That's the first goal.
I've decided on four playable characters, whose stand-in names are SCIENTIST, SORCERER, SOLDIER and SOCIALITE. The setting is a modified version of Magnum Opus (http://thecbg.org/PLUGIN_DIR/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?61454), which I feel is a highly evocative setting and which my players love.
I'll be using Renpy.
Well, I always liked Magnum Opus. It's good choice.
Your character archetypes are interesting. One wonders about the place of religion in our four friends...