JPRATT'S PROFILE

I really like this concept... though I wonder how poor these people are.

Well thanks anyway guys

If this is an action battle system then the space is fine because there are a number of ways to fill it in. Especially in the further out areas, enemies could just become much more difficult.

First off, I recommend using RM2k3 as opposed to 2000. Though there are some minor things about 2000 that are better and it provides a different battle system, it also lacks some options that 2k3 provides that make it possible to do a lot more with your game. If you are going for simplicity though, 2000 is the way to go.

Now, on to the advice you actually asked for.

1. How important is the background story of a game?
If you are looking to make a true RPG then you need to remember their is a degree of - Role Playing -. People forget this and actually think an RPG stands for "Fantasy-based Game" or that it represents a particular type of battling and magic system. The background story isn't really so important as long as your character has a role to play and that role is clearly defined. If he/she is just wondering through the world with no purpose than I wouldn't dare call it an RPG but maybe a free-roaming adventure. Here's what I suggest: As opposed to designing a game back story first, I recommend building on your main character first. What is their purpose? Where are they from? What got them to this point in their life? What is their personality? What are their strengths and weaknesses (a good character HAS to have obvious weaknesses that they overcome. Story writing 101)? As you develop the type of character you want, you'll start to discover who he might associate with and why. These will become your other characters. Where do they come from? What is their purpose? What reason would they have for interacting with your main character? As you develop all this the world background story will begin to form itself. It can be cliche too, as long as your characters have depth.

2. What do you think of a system where you can hatch a creature that can act as a summon character?
This is rather vague. As you said you're new to making RPG's I will give you this one VERY important piece of advice. If you want to have any hope of completing your first game from start to end, you need to plan it out in depth beforehand and stick to that plan. Otherwise you will become lost in ideas later in the process and it will be incoherent and the project will either be abandoned, fall apart, or be utter crap if completed. So! Plan out the following and look back on this plan in writing on occasion as you progress through development: characters, plot, game mechanics (I recommend programming all your game systems first once you start), primary graphics to be used, all locations, etc. Write down all the ideas you have for things you want in the game then try to look at them objectively to see if they make sense together. Does this one particular idea have a purpose or add to the experience, or will it just clutter the game experience? In other words, I can't tell you what I think of that system unless I know why its there.

3. Do you feel the above idea is possible in RPG Maker 2k?
Yes, but as a novice you may need to get some help with the programming as you go. This is one of the reasons I say to implement your systems first. They give you the most experience in programming and once you can figure out a custom menu or battle system, the other stuff becomes quite easy. Learn about variables and their many uses or you'll be using a million switches which will take you longer and waste a lot of space and time for you, not to mention make your game run slower.

4. Modern or Classic RPG?
What do you want to make? Ultimately you need to make something you'll have fun with. If you try to make a game for other people you'll discover quickly that you can't please any of the people any of the time in game development. At least not as a novice. There are more graphic resources available for Classic RPG's than modern though, if you don't plan on making your own graphics I would suggest at least that. I also recommend trying to create something unique about your game from others. Can you design a never before tried magic system? Can you break away from the common experience building system? Can your character be something unexpected? The best part about making games is the ability to put whatever YOU want in it, so be creative.

I hope this was helpful. Keep Calm, Game On