NEED ADVICE FOR CHOOSING AN RPG MAKER

If this is the wrong section to post this question, by all means feel free to move it to the proper one, sorry for the bother in that regard.

Now then, thing is I was trying to make a Golden Sun fan game, trying to follow the style of the GBA games. So far I've been trying to go with RPG Maker 2003 and managed to make several things work out (does help that many aspects are similar between the games and the Maker, though): Djinn attaching use and storing; summons; weapon unleashes; field psyenergy and puzzles for the most part (though these need lot of polishing though).

I could make classes work in a custom way for the most part, in that characters gain and lose abilities and it changes based on Djinns, however it couldn't get to work the base stat multipliers (which work with percentages)properly, mainly with keeping track with boosts from level ups and items. IIRC the classes apply to base stats after increases. So if a character has 100 HP, then goes into a class that rises HP to 150% then, he'll have 150 HP. Simple enough, but if he levels up and gains another 10 HP, then his new 110 base will get the class boost and go to 165. I couldn't reliably keep track of that.

The other issue I had is I couldn't find a way to implement elemental attack and resistance. I know attributes could help, but the jump in their grades is a bit abrupt, not to mention that, as far as I know, it can't be changed with events and can only go up and down one "letter" with equipment and once again with a battle ability. GS has several element affinity affecting elements such as equipment and the djinn themselves.

The last isn't so much of an issue but a detail I wanted to tweak. Namely,a Magic Attack stat to give Mage Classes an edge with offensive Psyenergy and a Luck stat. I know newer makers do have those, so I've been considering that.

I guess a custom battle system could work out most of those issues, buuut trying to make one is getting way ahead of myself and what I can do.

Sooo, I was wondering if I should stick to 2003 or try to move to newer makers. I use RM2K3 mostly out of familiarity and a bit of nostalgia. And well, I have no idea how to script, but from what I know the newer makers do have more "traditional" options like switches and variables to work with, so I can try to simply learn to use them. The last issue is what makers do have an audience. I mean, I don't plan on this game to be popular or anything, but I've seen they are dismissed as too old and older games get a pass on it due to having been made back in the day (I could be mistaken on this one, though.)

I wanted to ask what you guys think. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

author=0StarTropics0
Maybe this script could help you with the whole items affecting equipment idea. It allows special items to affect your characters equipment in slots (I think like materia from ff7, but Im not sure).
http://rmrk.net/index.php?topic=47980.0

I appreciate the help, but it's not quite what I meant. That system is for upgrading the characters themselves, while what I meant was if it was possible to make a system to upgrade equipment existing in the database directly by changing their parameters. I could come with my own system for upgrading characters, though, (my take on the Djinns) but the script you're linking is certainly more polished and detailed, so it's a good source for improvements. Once again, thanks!

author=boos405
I prefer VX Ace myself but you could try them all out or watch videos of them all and see what you like best.

Yeah, seems to be the best way to go. As well as try games directly to see finished work to check out what can be accomplished. Right now I'm checking out VX Ace. The core is more or less the same as older makers but it has gotten a lot of shortcuts and newer options that polish the whole experience. Wish hadn't wasted my MV trial to check that one out seriously >_>.