UB: The Video Game(Updates and Spoiler Free discussion)

If I was going to contribute it'd be with music, but I know zilch about digital sound production so...good luck with all that.

I mght start A YT channel in college.

I have a YT channel, but all I do nowadays besides watch subscriptions is compile video game soundtracks that I like into a lot of playlists (because 200 is max, apparently).

I really want to use POR's engine, but I don't think it's possible with VX Ace. More than likely, the graphics will be more old school.

This is, of course, assuming I can implement some sort of Manakete/Weredragon/Laguz system. Otherwise, it's completely pointless making a game based off UB. And right now, it's not looking too promising.

RPG Maker VX Ace works as a template system, using Coding Scripts. Scripts can alter and add many functions to the default system. There is already a fully working, and well made Tactical Battle system, which is virtually identical to FE. There is also a compatible Script for the Tactical Battle System, or TBS, that adds the FE Weapon and Magic Triangle, as well as Weapon Ranks.

So, essentially, I already have a FE battle system. However, I cannot find a Script to introduce Manaketes and Laguz into the system, and apparently, such a Script is extremely difficult, if not impossible to create. The closest thing I've found is a Transformation State Script, which allows characters to change class in the middle of a battle.

In order for that to work, I need to have someone create dragon classes for me(Manakete, Divine Manakete etc) and then I have to get the author of TSS to make a compatibility patch, and after that, I'll still have to get the author of the tactical system to create a compatibility patch as well. This could work, but it depends entirely on 3+ total strangers- two of whom may not even be around anymore- helping a nameless newbie. And even then, it would probably take months to complete the patches.

Now, the graphics won't be completely retro. I will be using a Mode 7 Script(Old school 3D), and the character portraits will have modern, anime-ish graphics. There are already sprites in the system that I can tweak, and the battle system has decent graphics, as does the overworld and cut scenes. I would love some custom sprites, however I would have to ask the author of the TBS to make a patch for every character, or one large patch for all of them.

Soooooooo, how would you go about creating all those branching story paths? Because seriously the amount of story changes that could occur is a bit high.

What Doug said. I would use the choices already made in UB up til this point, and then I would use the 'canon'. While there isn't any official canon, I do know how the plot will play out(there aren't any more drastic plot changing votes in UB), and I have a firm image of what's most likely to happen in my mind. This image is derived from the remaining choices, plot, and my active voters, most of whom I know extremely well. Essentially, I know what my readers will vote for even before they do.

The margin for error is quite low, low enough for me to be comfortable with it. I am the closest thing to a Psychic you'll find IRL.

Also- and this is one of the main reasons I don't want to simply mod FE8- in the VX Ace system, when you create 'Events', there is an option to add choices, and branching outcomes based off said choices.

So, even if I weren't psychic, I could still pull it off.

Now I wanna go in there and f*** with the vote style. Rock the boat, if you will.

And I'm pretty sure FE can handle choices. Like when you choose which story you wanna go through. Even making it a custom script wouldn't take much.
Though I get wanting to stick with something user-friendly. But SF has some decent tutorials, IIRC. Though complete hacks are noticeably rare.

If I had to implement dragon-transformations into FFI's engine, I'd have a command that changes the sprite into a shadow on the ground in a similar way to how the sprite changes when you're dead. The implication that you're flying above the battlefield now, and the dragon is out of view. And then the dragon only appears during attack animations, implemented in the same way spell animations are.

Dunno how feasible that is on a SRPG level though. From what it sounds like you're having enough trouble just trying to change classes.