065227N'S PROFILE

Decided to start with a small game which I will hopefully complete. Because I don't like mapping and inspired by one of the Cookoff entries, I've decided to adjust my scope to trying to make some kind of Atelier/Recettear clone.

I do seem to have run into some issues with being unfamiliar with RPGMaker features though but first I will explain the game concept.



First, the player uses these bookshelves to pick a research topic. A cost and difficulty is displayed. After checking for cost and subtracting gold, a random number of 1-3 is rolled and checked against the item's difficulty. Research is cumulative and when the roll succeeds, you get a Recipe Key Item that allows you to craft said item.



The recipe item is also a helpful reference list for item properties. Other than price, each item has 4 elemental properties (Fire,Water,Earth,Wind).



Items, or rather, item patents can be sold to specific city districts (with their own specializations on which elements they like). Districts will start stocking a limited amount of said item (think Wholesale in Atelier) and also the elemental levels of a district will unlock new items to buy, research and craft.

Each action takes time, game ends in 100 days, total elemental levels will be calculated, final score given. Some minor but hopefully meaningful combat will be worked in as an alternative source of acquiring items for crafting but that comes after crafting system is done.

Anyway, current problems:
1) After making the event tree to research ONE item, I realized that trying to hardcode one for every researchable item in the game is probably not the smartest idea here.

Ideally I would to create one generic event that will read the properties in the Item Database like price and name but I don't know how to do that, the only thing I can find in the event editor for items is a check for whether you have the item.

I'm guessing scripts but I have no idea where to start with those.

2) Same thing with crafting I guess. Also, if I wanted some craftable items to consume more than 1 of said item, how am I supposed to make the game check that, event editor only checks a simple "If item is in inventory", no option of checking the number of specific items in an inventory.

3) Need to edit the shop function somehow to
a) stock your patented items.
b) Increase the elemental values of specific shops that you are selling to.

My current implementation of my concepts are a bit clunky ATM I think. Ideas on how to best implement them or suggestions on how to go about solving my issues will be appreciated.