My First 24 Hours with RPGMaker: A Learning Journey

Getting Comfortable with RPGMaker

This blog post explains my process of learning a new program, specifically RPGMaker. I will share my first 24 hours with the software and how I get comfortable with almost any program. You can use a similar strategy for other programs as well.

I will first discuss how to get comfortable with the software. Then, I will share my experience with RPGMaker, providing proof that my method works. This is meant to help you. I plan to create a separate post with RPGMaker tips and comfort strategies later.

The Importance of Taking It Slow

One of the best things I do is avoid overthinking. Overthinking often leads to headaches for me. Instead, I take things slow and explore the program. I don’t expect to create anything amazing right away. Instead, I focus on fiddling with the tools, seeing what they do, and learning from that.

Think about the first meal you ever cooked. It probably didn’t turn out great, but look at what you can make now. You are capable of learning and improving. Don’t worry about others at this point; just focus on your own progress.

Familiarizing Myself with RPGMaker

When I started with RPGMaker, my goal was to get familiar with the software. I wanted to create something, but I quickly realized how important the database is. Initially, I didn’t understand its function. Honestly, I still don’t know how to use it to its fullest potential, but at least I know where to find it. Getting used to the interface is my primary goal right now, and that’s enough for me.

Embracing Imperfection

Another approach I take is to create without external help. I find it more enjoyable to explore the program on my own. This isn’t cheating; it’s about my experience and learning.

Creating Without Fear

To create freely, I suggest making something, even if you know it won’t be great. You don’t need to share it with anyone. You are the judge of your work, not others. I’ll share my creations to show you that it’s okay to start small and imperfect. Just make something, even if it’s “trash.” If you’re new to a program, allow yourself to be bad at it initially. This is the best way to improve.

The Challenge of Adding Tile Sets

One aspect I struggled with was adding tile sets. While I understand the process now, I’m used to the drag-and-drop method from programs like Unreal and Unity. In RPGMaker, you need to adjust values, add them, and set them before you can use the tiles in your levels. I’ll provide a more detailed how-to later in my tips post.

The Artistic Challenge

Creating tiles was probably the most challenging part for me. I’m not an artist, and that’s okay. As I learn more, I’ll keep you updated on my progress. I made my own tile in Asprite and layered it in Photoshop, but you can also use Krita, GIMP, or other image editing software. Choose the one you’re comfortable with.

All I did was create a new layer, edit it, and export it. The order doesn’t matter as long as it works for you. I recommend not altering the default tiles too much, as they serve as a reference for your creations. If you need inspiration, Pinterest is a great resource.

My first tile isn’t great, but it works for testing, and that’s all I expected. You should have the same mindset for your initial creations. It’s common to experience this learning curve.

Overall Experience

Overall, my first 24 hours with RPGMaker were not too bad. I focused mainly on the level editor and didn’t delve into enemies, events, or other features. It took me about a week to accumulate those 24 hours, so I may have forgotten some details. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I figured out.

I plan to take better notes for future posts about this game engine. While writing this, I even came up with a game idea and need to create a Game Design Document (GDD) before I forget it.

I’ll make a post about the GDD later—maybe.

Acknowledgments

I want to give credit to RyokuHasu. He provided valuable hotkeys on the official forums, which may be helpful for some people. It’s much easier than watching a YouTube video and replaying the same part multiple times because I forgot it in seconds. Special thanks to you, dude!

For more information on keyboard shortcuts, check out this link.

Lastly, I want to thank Mark Newberry from Unsplash for the amazing image of the space invader used in this post. You can view it here.

( I did edit the image in the social posts a little bit, but the main picture on here is just the image.)