DRMADFELLOW'S PROFILE

Ramblings
I've been using rpg maker since 2002 (possible earlier, its hard to say) and in all this time I've started about a dozen projects that all ended up scrapped. I have always had one project however that I always come back to. A project that at one time I created an entire Action Battle System for in rm2k3 (though those files are long lost). That particular ABS project also had over 50 maps some of which were 500x500+ with massive amounts of detail. However inevitably as with all projects I have ever started, at one point I looked at what I had made and decided it was utter and complete shit, scrapped it and started over.

Now finally with VXACE and thanks to PearlABS (probably the best abs for any version of rpg maker I have ever seen) I can actually make something that holds up to my extremely high standards for myself. I am however terrified of falling into the same ol rut over and over again that i've put myself into before. How do I know when it's better just to push a game through than to restart? What if all the work I put into a project is for nothing and the project still turns out terrible?

Project Idea
I've been working on this idea for nearly a decade, but I'll give you the extremely simplified version.

Story
The story takes place on a world called Aridai, and focuses on a mercenary named Tristam. Tristam lead the "Red Tail" Mercenaries, a group consisting of mostly defectors from the once great Relian Empire. The group was formed to protect citizens from slaughter during the "Red Rebellion" against the Empire. The Empire has now been split into 7 different territories, all of which are constantly fighting for dominance. For now the "Red Tail" is working for the forest folk of Carmien, protecting them from invading armies as they have no army of their own.

Tristam dies on the battlefield and awakens in the underworld where the game begins, he must battle the demons of the underworld and race to return to his body. However before leaving the underworld, the God of the Underworld, Therin, forces him to strike a deal. The deal is that Tristam must accept the mark of the underworld, allowing Therin a view into the world above through Trisams eyes, a deal which will slowly consume Tristam entirely until he loses his free will.

The bargain is struck and Tristam returns to the world above where the battle he was a part of is still raging on. He discovers that through his deal he has gained new powers that give him distinct advantages in battle. Tristam realizes that he can use this gift to finally unite the warring countries of Aridai, to do at least some good before his soul is taken from him. So he sets out, initially only with a small army of mercenaries to unite the kingdoms under his name. All the while Therin is slowly consuming his sanity, his morals, and his soul.

Characters (main ones)

Tristam Mortem- Leader of the "Red Tail" mercenaries, and main character. He has gained a reputation as a man who always gets the job done, no matter the odds. Is quite famous in his homeland, and well known to the Relian Empire as an outlaw.

Kyle Fearn- Co Leader of the "Red Tail" mercenaries, and best friend to Tristam for nearly a decade. He is a brilliant tactician, and former general in the Relian Empire. He is fiercly loyal to Tristam after Tristam saved him from death during the "Red Rebellion".

Therin- God Of the Underworld, the only god known to make direct contact with mortal creatures. He is obsessed with the mortal world and often influences events to his amusement.

Fluffy- Your comically named pet that you found in the swamps, you've never been able to identify what he actually is, but given his extreme intelligence and scaly skin you suspect him to be some distant descendant of dragons. He has a flame attack, and can crawl through small holes you are unable to.

Relina Starbringer- Princess of Carmien, and Divine Priest of Yveen, the goddess of nature. She is an extremly powerful healer and believes that one day she will be able to rid the world of all sickness. Dangerously idealistic, she often puts herself in danger without realizing it.

(I have over 30 characters planned already, these I just posted are just 4 of the main ones. Of the characters I have already written for, 12 of them affect the plot of the story)


Gameplay Ideas
-The action battle system will be key to the entire game, using special attacks to access certain areas, advanced minigames, etc. I've always been a huge fan of the gameboy,and ds zelda games, they added a lot of puzzle functionality to the combat system.

-Death will send you to the underworld, each time you die you are placed deeper and deeper in this world until eventually you are simply consumed by the corruption you accumulate. However you can combat your corruption by finding relics in the mortal world and consuming them. These relics are often protected by powerful bosses or cost exuberant amounts of money. Death could be sort of common, and corruption fairly slow so the system is balanced and fun.

-I'm not a huge fan of world maps, I'd rather break my story up into chapters with locations you can revisit (sans the events that took place the first time). This would give you the option to go back and find secrets or talk to people you didn't before.

-An upgradeable base of operations that can give you certain advantages during key battles, as well as provide you with discounted items, minigame areas, and many quests.

Final Thoughts
Sorry for this giant wall of text, I seriously want some input but please keep in mind what I have written here is simply a small snippet of my stories and characters. I will of course go into much greater detail with the game.

Does this seem like a realistic project, or even well... a good one? I am open to any suggestion you might have and can gladly elaborate on anything I wrote.