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Close I was thinking of making an horror themed RPG. One thing I could not wrap my mind around is how to combine the two to make a decent RPG.
I haven't thought of any story yet, because I am thinking of game design first. I would like some ideas like themes, settings, or game play ideas to help me start thinking. I will be using RMVX so keep that in mind while you suggest ideas.
Thanks
I haven't thought of any story yet, because I am thinking of game design first. I would like some ideas like themes, settings, or game play ideas to help me start thinking. I will be using RMVX so keep that in mind while you suggest ideas.
Thanks
Avee
5794
You can search the games hosted here using the Horror and RPG tags:
http://rpgmaker.net/games/?engine=&status=&tag=HOR&tag=RPG&rating=&commercial=exclude&sort=&portal=yes
I've played A Nightmare in Sunnydale before, I know this one at least is properly tagged. It might be a good example for you to get inspired from.
http://rpgmaker.net/games/?engine=&status=&tag=HOR&tag=RPG&rating=&commercial=exclude&sort=&portal=yes
I've played A Nightmare in Sunnydale before, I know this one at least is properly tagged. It might be a good example for you to get inspired from.
Well, if you are planning to make a traditional RPG with a horror theme, it might be worthwhile to look into the 1989 Famicom game Sweet Home, which some argue is actually the originator of the survival horror genre:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Home_(video_game)
If you're thinking about a fantasy-themed horror game, you can also check out the TurboGrafx16 game "Jaseiken Necromancer", a dark fantasy with a very grim atmosphere and visuals:
http://www.thebrothersduomazov.com/2010/11/necromancer.html
Moving forward a bit in time for something a little different, there's "Nanashi no Game", or "The Nameless Game" released in 2008 for the DS. The game is about a haunted RPG, a seemingly innocuous Dragon Quest style game that will kill the player within seven days. It may sound a bit silly, but the game is actually surprisingly effective at creating atmosphere and tension, and it's a good example of how traditional RPG sprites can tell a downright chilling narrative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanashi_no_Game
Those are just a few examples I can think of off the top of my head; there are of course many others. I guess as far as advice goes, just think about how any horror story works; questions are good, answers are bad. Present a scenario that focuses around an unknown and that is very dangerous, and you'll have the recipe for a good horror story. You can then flesh it out with all of the basic human fears; fear of losing freedom, fear of the unknown, fear of torture, fear of despair, fear of rejection, fear of isolation, fear of failure and fear of death. Once you have your basic idea of what you want to focus on, you can concentrate on a setting and characters who will make that possible.
I just went to Springhole.net's "Creepypasta & Supernatural Horror Story Prompt Generator" for a random idea to serve as a framework:
One night, a government agent, a boy, and a programmer destroy an abandoned factory haunted by the spirit of a strange girl with the help of a janitor, a government agent, and a disturbing pendant.
That works!
http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/creepypastaplot.htm
I hope this rambling was of some help. Best of luck!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Home_(video_game)
If you're thinking about a fantasy-themed horror game, you can also check out the TurboGrafx16 game "Jaseiken Necromancer", a dark fantasy with a very grim atmosphere and visuals:
http://www.thebrothersduomazov.com/2010/11/necromancer.html
Moving forward a bit in time for something a little different, there's "Nanashi no Game", or "The Nameless Game" released in 2008 for the DS. The game is about a haunted RPG, a seemingly innocuous Dragon Quest style game that will kill the player within seven days. It may sound a bit silly, but the game is actually surprisingly effective at creating atmosphere and tension, and it's a good example of how traditional RPG sprites can tell a downright chilling narrative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanashi_no_Game
Those are just a few examples I can think of off the top of my head; there are of course many others. I guess as far as advice goes, just think about how any horror story works; questions are good, answers are bad. Present a scenario that focuses around an unknown and that is very dangerous, and you'll have the recipe for a good horror story. You can then flesh it out with all of the basic human fears; fear of losing freedom, fear of the unknown, fear of torture, fear of despair, fear of rejection, fear of isolation, fear of failure and fear of death. Once you have your basic idea of what you want to focus on, you can concentrate on a setting and characters who will make that possible.
I just went to Springhole.net's "Creepypasta & Supernatural Horror Story Prompt Generator" for a random idea to serve as a framework:
One night, a government agent, a boy, and a programmer destroy an abandoned factory haunted by the spirit of a strange girl with the help of a janitor, a government agent, and a disturbing pendant.
That works!
http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/creepypastaplot.htm
I hope this rambling was of some help. Best of luck!
Ignore Defense on all techniques (making defense nearly worthless). Make certain equips give elemental resist (like Bulletproof vest).
Make healing items hard to come by.
Make the final boss unwinnable.
Make healing items hard to come by.
Make the final boss unwinnable.
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Why would the final boss be unwinnable?
I am looking for a traditional RM horror type game with mixed RPG elements.
I thought of the idea of roaming bosses that can be avoided, but if incounterd you will be in for a tough boss fight.
I am looking for a traditional RM horror type game with mixed RPG elements.
I thought of the idea of roaming bosses that can be avoided, but if incounterd you will be in for a tough boss fight.
ubon
66
roaming bosses are definitely an idea with potential, since a lot of horror is basically about threat avoidance. are you sure than an rpg is the best format for the game, though? an important part of the kind of horror that's based in some external threat is that you're able to establish that threat as... well, as a threat, and make any encounters with it short and terrifying.
most rpg systems are more slow-paced, and constructed in a way that would give the player a lot of breathing room. an example of this would be the well-known rm2k horror rpg The Longing Ribbon -- while I adore the puzzle and storytelling aspects, the horror itself isn't particularly strong, simply because whenever a threat shows up the game goes turn-based and gives you time to strategize. the more a player can examine a threat and learn about it, and the more well-defined its limits get, the less frightened a player is going to be to run into it.
granted, though, this is primarily an rpg maker forum, and rpg maker games are a nice and easy way to explore a concept. it might be worth thinking about branching out into another genre once this game you're planning begins to take a defined shape, though.
e: Sweet Home completely rules, although it's (again) a better adventure game than a horror game.
most rpg systems are more slow-paced, and constructed in a way that would give the player a lot of breathing room. an example of this would be the well-known rm2k horror rpg The Longing Ribbon -- while I adore the puzzle and storytelling aspects, the horror itself isn't particularly strong, simply because whenever a threat shows up the game goes turn-based and gives you time to strategize. the more a player can examine a threat and learn about it, and the more well-defined its limits get, the less frightened a player is going to be to run into it.
granted, though, this is primarily an rpg maker forum, and rpg maker games are a nice and easy way to explore a concept. it might be worth thinking about branching out into another genre once this game you're planning begins to take a defined shape, though.
e: Sweet Home completely rules, although it's (again) a better adventure game than a horror game.
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well I thought of an idea to make battles. The battles do not come often, but random.
The battles will be some evil sprite that follows you, but you can not see. You would hear a loud whisper before battle. The battles will be different nightmares, instead of just scary monsters it will be disturbing images that take up the screen. Different nightmares will be more effective to different party members. Also I will have to find some very uncomfortable music to play while the battle happens. Right now I am just thinking how I will use combat for this system though.
The battles will be some evil sprite that follows you, but you can not see. You would hear a loud whisper before battle. The battles will be different nightmares, instead of just scary monsters it will be disturbing images that take up the screen. Different nightmares will be more effective to different party members. Also I will have to find some very uncomfortable music to play while the battle happens. Right now I am just thinking how I will use combat for this system though.
author=Repaer
Why would the final boss be unwinnable?
I am looking for a traditional RM horror type game with mixed RPG elements.
I thought of the idea of roaming bosses that can be avoided, but if incounterd you will be in for a tough boss fight.
The horror genre is about conveying hopelessness.
The fantasy (RPG) genre is about heroism.
In the end of the game, you're probably fighting a Cosmic Horror. You might be able to win the battle itself (yay for heroism). But then the monster gets second wind and kills you. And destroys the universe.
ubon
66
personally, I'm a bigger fan of the "protagonist succeeds but at a horrible cost" scheme when it comes to endings. just having the thing you've been struggling against all game wipe you off the face of the earth is a bit disappointing.
that's plot stuff, though, and he could do whatever he wanted with the ending if his execution was good enough. it isn't really accurate to imply that horror can't have a happy ending, since it's what the player goes through to get to that point that makes the real difference.
e: oh, p.s., horror can be about a lot of different things actually. games like REDDER and such aren't explicit horror of the something-shows-up-and-chases-you variety, but it (and another game I can't remember the name of right now) just does such a fantastic job of conveying the feeling of loneliness that I think it's worth mentioning. loneliness is a very powerful thing once you know how to evoke it.
that's plot stuff, though, and he could do whatever he wanted with the ending if his execution was good enough. it isn't really accurate to imply that horror can't have a happy ending, since it's what the player goes through to get to that point that makes the real difference.
e: oh, p.s., horror can be about a lot of different things actually. games like REDDER and such aren't explicit horror of the something-shows-up-and-chases-you variety, but it (and another game I can't remember the name of right now) just does such a fantastic job of conveying the feeling of loneliness that I think it's worth mentioning. loneliness is a very powerful thing once you know how to evoke it.
(I meant during a cutscene or something. It's actually kinda funny to win the battle, and have it blink and custom move kill you. And have people fumble with... "But... I won. Why?")
There was some video about the horror genre genre, saying there were three basic ending scenarios to a classic horror (loneliness is a different category of horror than classical, which is based on fear, but yea I have written such an ending at least once): hero eventually comes to terms with the frightening thing and overcomes it (and you can too!), the second is that the monster/villain wins (this happens ALOT), and the third is usually ends with the hero triumphing over the monster... or does he? A closer look at the ending shows some hint that the hero has actually become the monster.
Horror that involves loneliness or isolation is a bit different. There is no sudden stuff jumping out, just a very cold, grey feeling to the thing. Scenes are big and sparse, emphasizing that no one is around... for miles. This video gives a good overview of the tone you want.
I call horror emphasizing sadness, grief or loneliness Gothic Horror, because it's more depressive and eerie than typical horror. Listen to that music and the dissonant undertones, the spacious scenery, everything. Sadness and grief are a type of hopelessness, basically having the person despair of being accepted by others.
Btw, Oracle of Tao has a sort of loser ending. You fight the special bosses and win, only to choose a crappy choice of giving up on everyone (there's a fairly obvious better option), making you literally the last person in the universe. It's not handled so much as horror, but it's really terrifically depressing.
There was some video about the horror genre genre, saying there were three basic ending scenarios to a classic horror (loneliness is a different category of horror than classical, which is based on fear, but yea I have written such an ending at least once): hero eventually comes to terms with the frightening thing and overcomes it (and you can too!), the second is that the monster/villain wins (this happens ALOT), and the third is usually ends with the hero triumphing over the monster... or does he? A closer look at the ending shows some hint that the hero has actually become the monster.
Horror that involves loneliness or isolation is a bit different. There is no sudden stuff jumping out, just a very cold, grey feeling to the thing. Scenes are big and sparse, emphasizing that no one is around... for miles. This video gives a good overview of the tone you want.
I call horror emphasizing sadness, grief or loneliness Gothic Horror, because it's more depressive and eerie than typical horror. Listen to that music and the dissonant undertones, the spacious scenery, everything. Sadness and grief are a type of hopelessness, basically having the person despair of being accepted by others.
Btw, Oracle of Tao has a sort of loser ending. You fight the special bosses and win, only to choose a crappy choice of giving up on everyone (there's a fairly obvious better option), making you literally the last person in the universe. It's not handled so much as horror, but it's really terrifically depressing.
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