In the final week before my kit hits the GG Store. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I've worked on this thing since 2009 off and on losing code and sources from faulty HDDs and other miscellaneous unlucky mishaps but I'm finally here!

This tool kit / genre kit was made to help me create my game with as much automation tools as I could think of. Over the years that turned into a tool I wanted to bring to the community that can help anyone from a beginner artist with no or limited coding skills or a beginner programmer that is stepping into this for the first time. Today I want to share with you the final features and future developments for the RPG Engine Tool Kit.

RPG ENGINE TOOL KIT: Details

Overview

Currently the RPG Engine tool kit brings together several systems to help create a game quickly. The RPG Editor 2.0, a database interface tool that helps to quickly populate your game with event flows, class types, heroes, item types etc. NPC Generator 2.0, a tool that is used to build characters via morph blending, mesh merging, and data texture swapping. Using character templates that are easy to create and modify, can make prototyping a world with characters faster. Lastly the RPGinema Tool is a time line based cut-scene tool, used to help make cut-scenes for your game easily and swiftly, with built-in dialogue tools, and other features used to drive RPG/Date Sim like cut-scenes. On top of these tools is a template package that implements some of the common RPG work flows that makes a RPG environment.

RPG Editor 2.0

• Event flow creation for NPC/Trigger/Zoning interaction
• ---Note: Classic Battle system is not yet implemented but the code behind it is available for free in the resource section
• Creating grade based character classes
• Apply classes to customized hero characters
• Create Initial party setup
• Create items with a variety of data types and mixed combinations.
• ---Note an example of some basic usage available in the source code
• Create weapons/armors based ion configurable power levels
• ---Note: A basic implementation of a weapon included in the source code
• ---Note: Mesh skin to be implemented at a later date
• Create spell definition
• Create special definition
• Create Monster Definition Data
• Create Summon Monster Data
• ---Note: Implementation example not available currently
• Create Monster Spawn Groups
• Add new map locations for other RPG Editor Elements

NPC Character Generator 2.0

• Morph character targets using a pre-rigged character
• Create characters using different combination of morph targets
• Append shirt,pants,hair, and shoes to the base model
• Change body, shirt, pants, hair, and shoe textures loaded into texture template structures
• Add Custom Character templates to use your own character template models
• Export Characters as NPCs, Playable characters or monster AI Types
• Categories your exports and character names
• Materials.as generated per character. Texture names prefixed with character name for easy tracking
• Customize character heights upon export
• Random button to easily generate random characters
• Generic walk cycle included to find bad clothing layering and poke through geometry

RPGinema 1.0

• Create key framed actions on a layer based time-line.
• Camera Layer: Key frame camera placement
• Music Layer: Create the mood with songs and other SFX
• Script layer: Key frame explosions and other chaos for exciting events
• Actor layers - Character based actions can be added on this layer. Dialogues and more.
• Interactive time-line with live camera movements when the time-line is scrubbed

Implemented example code

• Active Battle System (button mashing battle type)
• Experimental Climbing System
• Item usage system
• One spell example
• Stat Leveling System
• Monster Battle AI System
• Party AI System
• 2D Tracker Digital Map System
• Player/Party Interface System
• Battle History Tracking System
• Night lamps automatically turning on based on the time of day
• One implemented vehicle: (Hover board) AKA Fun Board
• Saving and Loading System
• Enhanced controller mapping system using packages
• One example of a character melee combo using triggered events
• One example of a sword implementation.
• Test GUIs Implemented
• ---2D / 3D Start menu screens - (2D and 3D title screens are swappable via flag)
• ---Pause menu with party display
• ---Item Menu
• ---Hex Map 1.0 - Uses a hex grid to dynamically generate a hex height map of the area around you, as well as marking points of interest on the map.
• ---Save Menu
• ---Equipment Menu
• ---Inn/Item/Armor Store Menu

T3D Engine Modifications

• RPGPlayer and AIPRGPlayer
• ---Created from the original Player and AIPlayer
• ---UpdateMove has been created to be modular for better coding flexibility
• ---Added attacking states
• ---Added 360 character movement
• ---Added Climbing prototype coding
• ---Added Animation Trigger call backs for attack combinations
• ---Added Lock-On feature
• ---Added Swimming Buoyancy to swim or water surface
• ---Added Sink code to dive under water
• Removed Camera collision with the under part of the water when swimming near the top
• Added a decay to the steering controls for hover vehicles for better control
• Added the ability to make road mesh nodes via script - used for battle area bordering
• Added a done callback to detect when a video has finished playing in guiTheoraCtrl
• Added some changes to fix the weird rotation offset in the object as well as added a function to give the user the ability to rotate the camera via code. IE rotating character selection via L2 and R2. - guiObjectView
• Added a new object type for climbable objects.
• Fixed an issue where the collada handling code was not properly applying mesh morphs when importing the collada data, causing certain morphs to completely destroy the mesh

New RPGPlayer Class Main Modification

One thing I also included is the restructure I did for the players updatemove() function. My main reason to do this is to make modifying the character physics a little bit easier.

/*
	Main Move tick
*/
void RPGPlayer::RPG_MoveTick(const Move* move){

	RPG_contactNormal.set(0,0,0);
	RPG_jumpSurface = false;
	RPG_runSurface = false;
	RPG_desiredPose = mPose;
	delta.move = *move;
	RPG_moveType=MV_GROUND;
   
	/*
	if (isMounted() || mMountPending){
		mStrifeOn=true;
		setMaskBits(LockOnMask);
	}else{
		mStrifeOn=false;
		setMaskBits(LockOnMask);
	}*/

	if(isControlObject()){
		/*
		//Con::printf("Control Object%d %s",isGhost(), getStateName());
		*/
	}else{
		//Con::printf("AIPlayer %d %s",isGhost(), getStateName());
	}
	
	if(mClimbing){
		applyClimb360Movement(move);
		calculateGroundContact();
		switch(mClimbState){
			case CLA_MountfromGround :
				break;
			case CLA_MountfromJump :
				break;
			case CLA_MountfromTop :
				break;
			case CLA_Swinging :
					if(move->x || move->y){
						mClimbHeight=move->y;
						mClimbShift=move->x;
					}else{
						mClimbHeight=0;
						mClimbShift=0;
						RPG_acc.set(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f);
					}
					applyClimbJumpCheck(move);
				break;
			case CLA_StandardClimbing :
					applyMoveBasedOnClimbObject(move);
				break;
			case CLA_UnMountfromGround :
				break;
			case CLA_UnMountfromJump :
				break;
			case CLA_UnMountfromTop :
				break;
			default : 
				Con::printf("UNKNOWN CLIMB STATE: %d",mClimbState);
		}
	}else

	{
		checkGunFire(move);
		checkSwimmingState();
		calculateGroundContact();
		updateOrientationOfCam(move);
		applyRotationChanges();
		if (!mSwimming){
			if(inAttactingState){
				modifyGravity(-10);
			}else{
				modifyGravity(-20);
			}
			applyGravity();
		}

		if(!inAttactingState){
			applyGroundMovementSpeed(move);

			if (!mSwimming)
			{
				applySteepIncline();
			}

			if (RPG_runSurface && !mSwimming) {
				applyAccelerationBasedOnMovement(move);
			}
			else if (!mSwimming && mDataBlock->airControl > 0.0f)
			{
				applyAccelerationBasedOnFalling();
			}
			else if (mSwimming)
			{
				applyAccelerationBasedOnSwiming(move,false);
			}else{
				mContactTimer++; 
			}
			if (!mSwimming)
			{
				applyJumpCheck(move);
				applyJettingCheck(move);
				applyPZoneAcceleration();
			}
			//Overrides Swim to Diving if triggered
			applyRPGSinkAndSwimAlgorithm(move);
	
			applyRPG360Movement(move);
		}else{
			applyRPG360Movement(move);
		}
	}
	applyAllCalulatedAcceleration();
	applyWindResistance();
	applyBuoyancy();
	applyDrag();
	clampSmallVelocity();
	detectFallingStatus();
	dismountVehicalCallbackCheck(move);
	enterWaterCheck();
	applyPoseBasedOnAction(move);
	setPose( RPG_desiredPose );
	//If on the ground and attacking stop velocity
    if(inAttactingState && RPG_runSurface || mClimbing){
		mVelocity = Point3F::Zero;
	}

}

As you can see there are some modifications that I needed for the RPG extension of the class but the base breakdown of the long long long updatemove are as follows:

//New Move update for enhanced player
   virtual void RPG_MoveTick(const Move* move);

	//Algorithm Sectioning - To make the player calculation modular   
	virtual void applyJumpCheck(const Move* move);
	virtual void applyJettingCheck(const Move* move);
	virtual void updateOrientationOfCam(const Move* move);
	virtual void applyRotationChanges();
	virtual void applyGravity();
	virtual void calculateGroundContact();
	virtual void applySteepIncline();
	
	virtual void stopMovementSpeed(const Move* move);
	virtual void applyGroundMovementSpeed(const Move* move);
	virtual void applyAccelerationBasedOnMovement(const Move* move);
	virtual void applyAccelerationBasedOnFalling();
	virtual void applyAccelerationBasedOnSwiming(const Move* move,bool cameraControlledDiving);
	virtual void applyWaterMovementSpeed(const Move* move);
 	virtual void applyPZoneAcceleration();
	virtual void applyAllCalulatedAcceleration();
	virtual void applyWindResistance();
	virtual void applyBuoyancy();
	virtual void applyDrag();
	virtual void clampSmallVelocity();
	virtual void detectFallingStatus();
	virtual void dismountVehicalCallbackCheck(const Move* move);
	virtual void enterWaterCheck();
	virtual void applyPoseBasedOnAction(const Move* move);
	virtual void checkSwimmingState();
	virtual void modifyGravity(S32 gravityMod);
	virtual void checkGunFire(const Move* move);

Special Notes

In the current state the Full Template is not complete without the free RPG Starters Kit. This kit has free sounds, icons offered from free by http://ails.deviantart.com/. Music from http://incompetech.com/music/, testing models made by me, and free textures generated from the free version of Genetica. To get the free RPG Starter Kit please follow the link here:
RPG Starter Kit

Download all files and extract them using 'winrar' or an extractor application of your preference. When extracted place the art folder into the game directory of the RPG Full Template.

The RPG Starter Kit contains low rate prototyping characters. Better characters will be released with the RPG Engine at a later date.

What's next

My next goals is another learning session of the 3D Applications in my arsenal. With this will come free assets leading into the next update for the engine which will include a full art over haul. Also will include a fully defined class system with an upgrade to the NPC Generator which will have class support for the following jobs.

NPC Generator 2.5 Jobs:

• Warrior
• Knight
• Monk
• Gunner
• Arcane Mage

This should give me enough of a focus to enhance the battle system and polish off some things.

Free Resource

Height Map



Soon...

Stone Breaker

The release date should be 2/28/2014 or the Monday after that depending.

The cost will be $75.00. Upgrades are free AFAIK with Garagegames.

Til next time,
Kevin Mitchell
12 CatBlack Studios out...

RPG Engine Tool Kit Manual

Download Manual


PS...

Tutorials

I almost forgot about the tutorials... Over the course of this week I will be using my horrible narriative to guide those who get the kit. It's my first time ever doing voiced tutorials and I am both a nervous rack about recording my self as well as hearing my own voice. But in the end it should cover all featers to an extent. Any other questions could always be emailed to me or posted in the help forum that I will open when the packet releases.


RPG Engine Tool Kit Tutorials




... Can secretly feel Steve's Grammar patrol...