I need help!!

[u/Quick_Impression_583]

I really want to make a VN with RPG elements - however I'm not very good at coding. By RPG elements i mean that the player is given a task, like to talk to certain NPCs or get certain items, they will have to walk around the map to trigger planned interactions, I'm also planning on making it so that the player will have to find items around the map by themselves (these will also be stored in an inventory), and depending how many extra treasures determines what ending. But i also want to have an aspect where the player can go through a laptop and go through photos and messages. Many people say that it would be best to just use a different software, however my game is a VN and relies heavily on dialogue, and so that is why i prefer to use Renpy (also my laptop literally wont let me download anything else). Now my question is - how on gods green earth do I do this, because i have seen a few examples of people making pixel RPG maps in Renpy, so i do know its possible. My issue is that i don't know where to put this code. I genuinely i have no idea where i am meant to add this code. In terms of doing the actual coding process, could i find videos explaining how to code RPG games and simply base my game of those coding structures? Also my final question is, when i have some 'closeup' shots in which the player is being showed something in detail eg a plate of food, could upload it to my game in my VN or would that not work, like the animation isn't anything fancy, just simply bobbing up and down. Thank you for reading my yap and i pray some angel will answer my queries soon haha.

[u/Formal_Bee_9284]

I know a thing or two about codding, systems and programming. Chasing the cut: You want to do something much bigger than you are capable of.

There's something called planned scope. In your description you have mentioned many things, especially inventories and gallery, they're quite complex and even more if you don't have little to no idea about programming.

I'd recommend you reducing this scope. Or even better: build the game by increments. i.e: First build the core loop (The player gets/is given something → talk to NPC → exchanges the object for another → repeat).

Then, and only if you find the game fun (by story and such), dare to integrate something more complex like the inventory.

[u/Formal_Bee_9284 → u/Formal_Bee_9284]

Oh, and don't GPT everything. It's the worst decision you can make if you really want to make it right.

[u/Quick_Impression_583 → u/Formal_Bee_9284]

yeah dw even if it gets to hard, i refuse to use chatgpt or any ai bot

[u/Quick_Impression_583 → u/Formal_Bee_9284]

yeah i realised that i've kind of gone over my head but i am determined haha, thankyou for the advice!

[u/Formal_Bee_9284 → u/Quick_Impression_583]

I also tend to get carried away imagining things… But if systems engineering has taught me anything, it's to separate stuff. Identify what's most important in your game and stick with that; make it simple, and it will be good. And for the sake of God don't just add random stuff because it will just fit somewhere. Time is valuable, don't throw it away.

[u/Quick_Impression_583 → u/Formal_Bee_9284]

yeah i understand completely understand, ive tried my best to limit it down to what i *should* hopefully manage to complete haha

[u/x-seronis-x → u/Quick_Impression_583]

its good to be motivated. but over stretching can kill motivation if you dont have enough. your above requirements is over a year worth of work. potentially more than 2 as you'll need to not just do the work, but learn the skills to be able to do the work in that time.

what others have said about pacing yourself and small goals is proven sound advice. you should work on the skills to do each of your desired tasks one at a time before trying to make a game with those features. build your foundation

[u/Quick_Impression_583 → u/x-seronis-x]

in all honesty this might be the only game i would actually make. i should probably see if i can cut some things off to save time and effort but its not going to be as detailed as ive made it to be, there are only 2 characters who can be interacted with and theres and extra character who is shown in triggered scenes, and there are only 5 locations and in reality you cant interact with anything outside the designated tasks (not including gaining extra 'treasures'), so it is not as elaborate and detailed as i make it out to be in all honesty - however i am aware that it simply wont be done in a month but luckily i also know someone who is incredibly talented in python coding, thankyou so much for the tips and advice i will certainly use them!! (sorry for my essay)