(RPG MAKER 2000) THE VARIABLE REFUSES TO CHANGE!

At all.

Here's the story:

I've made a common event. I know this common event works by leiu of a message test (where I insert a blank message at the spot where I want things to occur. I attempt to then replace my message with a change in a certain variable. No matter what I do in terms of changing it, said variable stays at 0.

(I cut the code down to its simplest form possible. Won't even set the thing at 20. >__>)

*facepalm*

Sometimes I manage to make myself feel REALLY stupid.

This is one of those times. Thank you so very much.