Lake of destiny

[Noobpwner]

Well I remember trying to make this game along time ago and I kinda screwed up like I always do so I decided to try again, Start fresh, With the same plot but I will probably change it a lot.

Eric
age: 26
genre:male
story
He was born in the city of Cram where he grew up and went to university. At the age of 23 he graduated from university and had a bachelors degree in medicine. After 4 years of working he was unhappy with his life and decided to take his savings and escape to a small lake his friend told him about, where everyone was friends and the work wasn't hard. Thats where the story really starts...


Grandpa
age:95
genre: male
story
Eric's Grandfather,  He dies when you go back to Pine cone lake.

Leanne
age:25
genre: female
story
She is Eric's old friend whom he met while visiting his grandpa at pine cone lake, They were best friends.





Eric is a ordinary guy with ordinary problems his boss is a jackass his girlfriend left him because hes boring, he hates his job, You about get the point his life is sucking
and hes a loser.  He remembers the days from his childhood when everything was good how he use to go with his grandpa to the lake and play in the water.... So about a week later Eric's walking to work when some punks jump him and steal all his stuff, In turn this makes him late for work,  He gets fired and cant pay his rent. So when he gets a phone call about two days before his rent is due from one of his old friends from the lake asking him to come visit he gets on the first bus to pine cone lake.
When he arrives Leanne Informs him that his grandfather has died, and left his cabin and all worldly belongings to Eric.  So once again Eric can relive his childhood memories swimming in the lake having fun with Leanne Ghost stories... He even got another Job.  Until he decided to ask himself why everything was so perfect and why no one can go in the forest....

Ive decided to make it so you can NOT I repeat can NOT name the character

[game_maniac]

Well, the plot is mysterious alright, but not very well developed. In my opinion, you need to add more detail on what exactly has happened. Some screens and more information about the game itself would help too.

[Noobpwner]

I got 2 Screens of the maps I have done so far.  I wil add more about the story in Awhile because I am working on it at the moment.


Screen 1
The pond/Lake





Screen 2
The forest

[Dragonium]

Gragh, your maps are so... square, if you know what I mean. Think about how forests and ponds actually look. Are they always in straight lines? No. Try to get them looking more "organic".



Here's an example based on your first screen. I knocked this up in literally 5 minutes. Notice how I used curves and corner tiles on the trees to make them look natural. Also notice the use of different terrain types. If the player has to walk around boring, artificial looking maps, they'll get bored.

Work on your mapping, and your game will be a whole lot more fun.

[game_maniac]

I agree with Dragonium, you need to make your forests more antural. For example, on the second screen, it's too blank, try adding different terrains (like grass) and spreading bushes, flowers and branches along the way.

[Noobpwner]

Ok I will edit this post with better mor "organic maps..




Screen 1



Screen 2

[Archem]

Still quite bland, boring, and squared.

[A Forgotten Legend]

ugh.

[A Forgotten Legend]

Sorry, double post, but I'm too lazy to use photobucket


and no, I'm not pointing to that one bird.

And these are only some of the things I'm seeing.  There wasn't enough room on the image for my writing...


Any questions?

[Meiscool-2]

Unless it is something man-made, or unavoidable, try to never put more than 4 of the same tile in a straight line. Autotiles are an exception to that opinion of mine.

[Noobpwner]

Thanks Mies and AFL I will try harder, This quality map making stuff is hard... But It makes it look way better right.

Checklist
No Square
Fill space wisely
No more then 4 of the same tile in a line
less bland and boring

So is that what I need to change?

EDIT:does anyone have a better forest tileset cause theirs not very much for variation on this one

EDIT: Changed the story a bit READ TOP AGAIN I EDITED IT

[game_maniac]

^Meis actually has a very good mapping tutorial, you should read it.

[Phayre]

The good news: once you get the hang of making half-decent maps, it's pretty fast work. Of course, those aren't jaw-dropping OMG this is gorgeous maps, just "Well, that's okay lookin', let's go with it".
The bad news: Once you learn how to make half-decent maps, you feel an odd compulsion to attack every map you've ever made.... ever. At least, if you're as neurotic as I am.
But yeah, read Meis's tutorial. It's good stuff. And it's really not a matter of better chipsets. You can do a lot with what you've got, but.... if you really want something different, just look in the complete resources, silly billy. Search for forest, woods, trees, whatever. Also look for some cool tree charsets.
Ah, and wouldn't med school take longer than what you've given?

[Bluhman]

Oy... WHY is your hero always facing up in your shots!? I WANT TO SEE HIS FAAAAACCCEEEE!!! AAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!

Damnit, it makes me think that he has this hideous face that he must hide in bushes and other random foliage.

And I also think your maps are a bit messy, as opposed to bland now. After finishing a map, just... LOOK at it, and see if it pleases the eye or not. If it doesn't, then you probably aren't using the chipset right, or the chipset you're using is just crap. In this case, it's the way you're using it. Take a while to just look at the maps and see what's not right in them.

[Noobpwner]

Okey well what do you guys think of the revised story?


EDIT: I'm also trying to make my own battle chars but Every time I do my character ends up looking like hes sliding back and forth and it looks hideous heres what I've done...



EDIT: the last ones him jumping so thats normal.  They are small because I wanted to make them sprite size so its easier to edit.