How to Make Your Role Playing Game Enjoyable
Using programs like RPG Maker can be a fun way to make games. Here are some tips to keep
in mind when creating your first few RPGs.
Have a sense of scope. Know what's within your boundaries and go for it. Don't rush
your product but at the same time don't take forever on miscellaneous details. Plan it out
and stop halfway through and re-assess what you can and can't afford to do.
Storyline: It's why we're here. If you aren't making an open-world RPG pay careful
attention to your storyline. Find ways to make it deeper and interactive as often as you can.
Sometimes a great storyline can save an RPG with so-so gameplay. On the other hand, a bad storyline
can kill an RPG with outstanding gameplay. This is what the player is going to be following
for some ~20-80 hours of their life. If they don't like the story in the slightest bit, they
will drop it within the first couple of hours.2
Allow some freedom. Yes, even in the most linear of RPGs you need to have sidequests
and optional dungeons and bosses. Players like to explore and take on new challenges. Don't
be the one to deny them that.
Create an atmosphere. It is fine if a game's setting, mood, and so on so forth, is
foreign to the player but make sure it fits and is crafted carefully. A lack of atmosphere
can make the player feel disembodied from the story and a broken one can destroy immersion
and ruin a perfectly good story for the audience. When done right, your game can do just the
opposite and draw the audience in.
Think about choice. Even if you don't make a game with branching dialogue options
or multiple endings, it is still good to consider choice and imagine where it might fit into
the game. This helps you look at the story from the player's perspective and not just the character's.
Are players really going to like the new NPC you introduced even if he's on their side? If
not, don't make the party constantly take actions to keep that NPC in the spotlight, or have
a character with an unfriendly disposition interact a little more with the NPC than others
to give some satisfaction back to the player.
Look into end game content. It's kind of like the cherry on top. If the player is
able to explore and find more challenges to take on they will applaud you all the more for
it. On top of that, it keeps players engaged with your game after the climactic showdown with
the big baddie. This will make them more likely to spread the word about your game or replay
it at a later date.
Balance everything. If players have to consistently grind at certain parts of the
game to stay on par then something is wrong.
Focus on the core. Usually the core gameplay of simple RPGs is combat but regardless
of what your core gameplay is, make sure it holds up and stays varied within its bounds. For
instance if you use a quest system as well. Make sure to vary the quests available and keep
them interesting.
Don't create n-Dimensional characters. Most original characters have the issue of
being n-sided. No matter how many characteristics you add, the character will always feel lacking
in some areas and too opinionated in others. Realistically, a character has an infinite number
of faucets to their personality but it is understandable if that is hard to accomplish. Rather,
pick a theme for the character and work from there.
Meddle with the MC. Let the player create their own character or make them a silent
protagonist. In the end, the main character probably won't be leaving the player's sight, so
make sure it is someone they like.
Juxtaposition is key. A dark sorrowful story can't stay that way for too long and
realistically no character is able to stay so depressed for so long without doing something
drastic. Show that they are still human without killing the atmosphere.
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