DARIA'S PROFILE

Gotta love the illusion if choice. The outcome may be identical but the player feels better about the situation if they think they are in control.

What about using one of those fake bosses that are unbeatable? Dying just continues the story but you purposely have the boss target the party leader on turn 3 or something with, as you suggested instant death. You could throw the player into a false game over and continue the game.

So... Post your script as code and describe what bugs you're experiencing. If someone's able to help they will.

author=LOLninja
I played TLOZ Spirit Tracks and realized that the dungeon design was actually one big 'tutorial' for the new skill you get in that dungeon.

That's been a big part the "Zelda Formula" since, well there was Zelda. You always get that one useful item that's immediately needed to advance in the dungeon. And then you have to rack your brain to remember where you saw a similar obstacle and rush off to collect another heart container.

The worst example of an ingame tutorial I can think of was Enchanted Arms. The beginning of the game kept interrupting you with useful tips like "press X to climb the ladder" and "press X to jump". It was frustrating because A. Every tip told you to use the X button, and B. More often than not I was about to press X when the message would pop up. Annoying.

The another type of tutorial I despise is the forced mock-battle. Lets face it RPGs are NOT difficult and usually it's just a matter of getting used to the menus- which I can usually do by trial and error during one of any of the gazillion grinder battles. I don't need hand holding to tell me exactly which option to select in the menu preceded by a novel of explanation as to why I should select it. Just let me play the game.

In these instances I usually just mash the selection button continuously without reading and end up having to figure it all out on my own anyway.

Heh no. Blinx the Time Cat this is not. Although I'm a total sucker for time traveling story lines (gotta love Chrono Trigger and Dragon Warrior 7) the mechanic wouldn't be appropriate for my game. I actually plan on doing away with traditional xp and levels. Instead you have to purchase training at a sort of Adventurers college and I needed a clock system to demonstrate a passage of time. Eventually I'll expand it into seasons as well.