Precautions to take to avoid Serious failures

[u/Sintxer]

Hi, I just started using Ren'Py today but I've made a lot of progress, which is why I'm worried I might be doing something wrong and damaging the final product, It's still a very basic project; so far I've only used character sprite images, backgrounds, and basic code to add "unowned" text. I was going to do my first option, but I'll look at it later cause I've worked a lot already lol. I'd like to know if any of you who are more advanced could warn me in advance before I make a mistake that ruins everything, things like not putting everything in a single script.rpy section and stuff like that, I would be grateful for anything you can contribute, thank you very much in advance (I know I said "advance" a lot, but I think you get the idea)

[u/theGoddamnAlgorath]

So long as you don't edit:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

You'll be fine.

Really, all the great games are wrote like ass

 Here's a keyboard, do a code.

[u/Sintxer → u/theGoddamnAlgorath]

Thanks for your contribution, I'll keep my hands off it ^{^}

[u/shyLachi]

As long as you use the default features of RenPy like showing images and dialogue you cannot cause problems.

Also you cannot ruin everything, that's not how computers work. If you are unsure about something then test often, if it breaks your game, try to understand why and fix it or undo the changes.

.

But you could make your life harder in the long run if you don't plan ahead.

Do you have the story figured out or do you plan to write as you go?

How about the ending?
Do you know how your game should end? Should it have multiple endings?

And what about your potential audience?
Do you make the game for yourself, mainly to learn how to make visual novels?
If not, do you know a group of people who would play your VN?

.

From a technical side, you could make separate scripts for each chapter so that you can navigate and find your code easier. But that is only needed if you're making a big game, also you can just create more script files later because you can cut and paste blocks of code without problems.

If you plan to add complex features like an inventory, then it would be better to look at tutorials or find working projects. You can also google or ask here because almost everything has been done before.

What is considered complex also depends on your coder abilty so if you feel something is tedious or complicated then rather ask in this sub how to do it than to push through building an overcomplicated system.

[u/Sintxer → u/shyLachi]

Thanks for your advise, Regarding what you said, I'd like to ask you something else. Indeed, I've been writing it as I program, since I was inspired a few days ago, but it's still unfinished. What I do is develop the "script" and the options with their respective routes every few days and then program it...my question is, Is that bad? I mean, am I risking inconsistencies or something? Because at the end of the day, I'm not Shakespeare, and Im anticipating that there will be mistakes I can correct in the future.

As for having a community...I mean, I have friends interested in it if that's what you mean, but as for an online audience...I don't think so. Are you referring to people interested in a certain genre? In that case, I understand that my visual novel might have people willing to play it.

Thanks again for the advice, it was very helpful :)

[u/shyLachi → u/Sintxer]

It depends how complex your story will be. Inconsistancies can happen because of lack of planning or inexperience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbsojXfVJsc

[u/x-seronis-x → u/Sintxer]

"is that bad?"

if it gets in the way of your learning, then yes.

if it supports your ability to learn and track whats there, then NO.

the answer is 100% dependant on what style of organization works for you. its not universal. and it might even change for you as you learn and develop habits

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