Need feedback/idea for skill learning system Options

[Icenick99]

I feel that the heart of all games is the battle/skill system, so I decided to start building a solid base then work in story, maps, characters, etc...

So originally what I wanted to do was create a fantasy world where there are 10 elements, 5 major (fire,water,earth,lightning,wind) and 5 addition combinations (i.e: water+wind = Ice).
The way you would learn skills would be like FFX sphere grid, each character would have some starting point Fire/Wind/Lighting/etc... The whole idea is that healers or healing spells appear only in certain elements such as lighting, defense and tank abilities would lie in earth.

The problem, building a sphere grid is not a simple task, let alone implementing it into RPG Maker. Also there is a lack of uniqueness when everyone can do everything.

To counter this I wanted to include a secondary learning system or unique skill that each character will have (example FF3/6).

Finally I liked the concept the ideas and the spells, however binding it to my story was the hard part. The problem is that the story Im set on and the abilities don't make sense together.

I want to make a game somewhat simpler to X-men, in the sense that your main party will be "mutants" with a unique power set. Taking this approach I feel limits options, if you want healing abilities you need to take the lightning "mutant". You may say well whats the big deal, many rpgs have done this before white mages only learn healing. Also a power set like telekinesis does not reflect well in RPG turn based games, and I dont want the mutants to only be limited to controlling 1 type of element.

First off when I was creating my elements I had a vision, a sense of mastery over an element, such that lightning can shock people, restore life or even create a flash to blind enemies... What im getting at is the lightning grid offers customization so that your hero doesn't have to be a healer if you don't want, lightning in nature does more then heal it can strike you down.
Secondly the learning system would be very linear, even if I allow multiple options and paths to learn different skills. To counter this a job system might work, but again the story takes place in the semi-modern world, with humans, it kinda doesnt make sense to have swordsman, warrior, ninja, etc... jobs. But thats my opinion.

Sorry for the long wall of text. If you stuck it out this far thanks, and in conclusion, I want to bind my story with my element skill system, Im not sure how, some good systems would be similar to espers or materia, but they eliminate my sphere grid idea.
The ideal situation would be to have my heroes have 1 Unique mutant ability, the ability to learn elements and include a job of some sort (job more for the weapon and passive stats, i.e: Theif, Warrior, etc..)

I feel like its too much and doesnt make sense. Any ideas or feedback?

[rewells]

I feel that the heart of all games is the battle/skill system, so I decided to start building a solid base then work in story, maps, characters, etc...

Good approach :-) I don't like sphere grids because they usually end up being very linear - you generally have small decisions like "do I want to spend extra EXP on more HP or learn another skill now and get the HP later?", but that's pretty much the limit.

One solution could be adding skill classes to equipment. Maybe since your settings is modern, there can be like ipads or something that can control certain elements, so any character can use those elements if they have it equipped. Another option is making combo spells that require multiple characters, like in Chrono Trigger, so your ice character and your wind character could use a strong ice + wind spell if they are both in your party (I have no idea how to implement that in RM, though). Either way, I'd recommend making some charts/graphic organizers to help plot out your ideas. I like the idea of an RPG about mutants and I hope to see a demo eventually :-)

[Icenick99]

I feel that the heart of all games is the battle/skill system, so I decided to start building a solid base then work in story, maps, characters, etc...

Good approach :-) I don't like sphere grids because they usually end up being very linear - you generally have small decisions like "do I want to spend extra EXP on more HP or learn another skill now and get the HP later?", but that's pretty much the limit.

One solution could be adding skill classes to equipment. Maybe since your settings is modern, there can be like ipads or something that can control certain elements, so any character can use those elements if they have it equipped. Another option is making combo spells that require multiple characters, like in Chrono Trigger, so your ice character and your wind character could use a strong ice + wind spell if they are both in your party (I have no idea how to implement that in RM, though). Either way, I'd recommend making some charts/graphic organizers to help plot out your ideas. I like the idea of an RPG about mutants and I hope to see a demo eventually :-)

Thanks! The sphere grid is so hard to make though, and I imagine it being a nightmare for a noob rpg maker like me lol.

I was thinking about equipment for learning skills but not the elements I have A LOT of skills per each element.

I want the world to be semi-modern, so before ipads per say (I know it was an example lol) I envision it like FF7 or FF10, in the sense where there is 1 large city (government) and the rest are huts and lower class. Cars may not exist in this world or be very rare, I can see some trains since trains have been around for a while and definitely no airplanes, classic airships for me lol.

I have maybe 40% of my skills (elements) written down and yes they do interact with each other, I was inspired by chrono trigger but its more then just Wind + Water = Ice based attack. Each Element has a state associated with it i.e: Water causes you to be damp while in turn you take more damage from electric, less from fire, and Ice can freeze instead of slow. I dont wanna reveal too much about interactions especially right now but thats a very basic example.

I was thinking having people have an attunement to 1 specific element (like Chrono Trigger) but through mastery and progress can expand to another one, even all of them!
I was never a fan of FF9 where if you wanted Black Magic your party had to have Vivi in it. I want to get away from that hence my sphere grid idea. Its the best way I can think of it, and I may just have the grid only for skills and not stats (I feel that may not be the best way though). Is there another system that can fit my model? Where you have someone whos natural source of energy comes for Fire but say hey, I dont just want to burn stuff I want to get some Earth powers and build my defense!

Yeah I have the story outlined in my head, its going to be a somewhat dark story where your not interested in saving the little girl's lost cat. Humans being the majority fear the mutants and treat them differently. I'll leave the story for another time, I do intend to get a working demo hopefully this year but I have a lot ahead of me.

Im really stuck and need to think of a great idea to tie elements, humans and mutants together. I kinda feel like an esper system could work in some ways, maybe have a sphere grid and unlocking an "esper" would expand which paths you can take.
I like the materia system but when you think about it its kinda dumb, for 1500 gold I can cast fire! Turning any average Joe into a mage.

Anyway... Looking forward to some more feedback bounce some ideas and hopefully think of new ones while chatting here, im open to any suggestions if anyone wants to put their 2 cents .

This post has been edited by Icenick99: Apr 8 2012, 05:23 PM