RPG Maker Tutorial

Topic: Story-Line Creating
Creator: Melchior M. Philips
Version: Any
Coding: No
Difficulty: Beginner

Even though creating a story-line is almost completely apart from RPGmaker, A good story-line is needed for any good RPG you create.
You want to have a clear main Story-Line. Thinking up Backstories for your main characters is always a good idea aswell.

But for now: How to make a story-line!

First, you gotta know what a story-line looks like


well, approximately like that.
Note that your game can kick in at ANY point. At The beginning, Where the problems are already getting worse, or at the end, making the entire game one giant Butterfly-Effect flashback.

Here's some in-depth info:
Pre-Story/Prologue

Beginning

Problem(s)

More Problems, Problems get worse

Peak/Epitome/Climax

Slow Improvement

Ending


Making a Story-Line is the art of putting all characters(consult my yet-to-be made Tutorial) and settings in one story.
The best way of making a story is by continually asking yourself these questions:
"Who?"
"What?"
"Where?"(and optionally, "Where to?")
"When?"
"Why?"(Most important one)
"How?"
"What would Melchior bitch about if I didn't put it in?"
"What the f*ck is a Ryon Coin?"

NOTE: Answering why with "NOBODY KNOWS", "For no appearent reason" or "Because he/she/it wanted to", will cause your story-line to suck. Not every little piece of info has to be clear in the actualy game itself, but make sure at least you know.

Here's an example of a little bit of a story:
Who?
Mr. Greenwood.
What?
Seeking Revenge (Who?) on his Ex-Best Friend(Why?) because he betrayed him(What?) etc.
Where?
On his Sailing Ship(Why?) He's looking for his Ex-Best Friend, who sails around these water aswell(Why?)etc.
When?
10:30 in the morning, Monday the 11th of June, 2011.
Why?
(already answered)
How?
...By Sailing?
What would Melchior bitch about if I didn't put it in?
Pirates
What the f*ck is a Ryon Coin?
...I ... I have no idea.

See? it's easy.

I hope this helped you write your plot and story-line

Cheers,
Melchior M. "Not Enough Dicipline to Write a Book" Philips

A Ryon coin is the most wonderful thing in the world. When you get one it will all make sense.

I'm loving your tutorials man. The story line is the bit I'm having trouble with myself. I think I could work everything else out without too many problems or questions, but actually getting a story written down is very difficult so far.

Thanks.

And I hope this helps you a bit with getting a story-line written down.

my storylines either start off good and end up wandering aimlessly or thats it lol no storyline.

also yes when you earn a Ryon Coin you'll understand what it is.

Honestly you can't make a good RPG without a good Story-Line.
You game will make no sense and all will feel wrong.

Can you Imagine The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion having no Story-Line?
Then you aimlessly wander around Tamriel without anything to accomplish.
It gets boring.

wait you mean elder scrolls has a storyline?!

EDIT:

actually its because of the storyline , thats the reason i LOVE Runescape.

JAGJKAGHHKSJHSGHJGSHHWKJBWBSKJBSHBSHBSHJBSHBSKJSBHJHJBXJBXHBXHJBXHGJBSHDGSJSBVHJDVBJHDVBKJDHKSUV AWHOIUWBBJNIXHXCJHXNOGXVHKJSJGSVJHSHSUJHSIGVJHWHEJEUEYHEGEE

DOES NOT COMPUTE
DOES NOT COMPUTE

You can't be serious....

If you payed any attention to English Class (or something similar) you should know how to make a story.

Prologue(optional), Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Conclusion, Epilogue (optional).

I will however refer this when thinking of a story.

It's about the same, just with terms everyone can understand.
be glad I didn't go into setting, theme, main idea, blahblahblah, story analizing. I suck at it so I can't tell you much about that.

YOUR BASIC STORY FORMULA:

" Normally, a good Introduction (introducing the scenario, world and characters) then middile conflict
(throw the characters into a hole of a plot) and then getting them out victorious (conclusion) is what you should do, "


Its even how George Lucas put together the first 3 Star Wars films (episode 6, 7 and 8... i think.)
Some might like to add a suprising twist at the end with one of their characters doing the unexpected or a side arc detailing some of the other characters.


Although I myself throw this all out the window and use the Mr. Insane in the Membrane
Hideo Kojima Story telling method: More Plot Twists then M. Night Shamylons Sexual Secret Diary!


First 95% of the Story = WTF IS GOING ON... EVERY STEP I TAKE IS A PLOT TWIST.

Last 5% of the Story = OH!!!!!!! .... wtf did I just play? ...




Also, Melchior, you hate Runescape?

Also Also:



Besides being the Shadow of Martin as you carry him on your back for 2 hours only for him to turn into a Statue and no one thanking you besides a silly suit of armour?

.. Not that I hate Oblivion, its one my favourite games of all time... But the story is QUITE weak compared to the gameplay.

Infact Knights of the Nine and Shivering Ilses had much better plots then the main storyline! ... Which pretty much save Oblivion plotline wise since I loved both of those Expansions.

Edited by Melchior M. Philips: Double Posting gives you wrinkles.

(did i accidentally double post? srry ;_;)

Expansions are always better than the base game... for Bethesda Software at least.

look at Fallout 3, those expansions are awesome. Aliens, brain cutting, all the good stuff.

Also, yes, I hate runescape.
then again, I hate pretty much every MMO in exsistence. they remind me of MySpace too much, which coincidentally, I also hate.
it's not half as bad as Habbo Hotel or Kingdom of Loathing though.



sounds good to me.
looks alot like an online collaboration comic I did back at Newgrounds.
aahhh... those were the days...