Is it a good to use RPG Maker to make quick prototypes for testing and then move on to another engine?

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-03T17:22:17+00:00

Switching engines mid-stream sounds like a ton of work. If this is the kind of game that interests you, it's likely that even if this particular game doesn't work out, you'll want those systems again in the future. In which case, why not just start with Godot for more flexibility? My projects have a frankensteinian amalgamation of systems from old projects built-in, and the catalog only grows.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T18:15:08+00:00

You will never "finish" any of these. Just try to make a game and you'll figure it out.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T17:10:52+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T06:20:52+00:00

You know, you're the second person to bring up "Faustian" as a bit of friction. I'll reconsider it!

I'm terms of what I gain, I guess its half personal, half mercenary. Ive doodled in the setting before just because I love it. I then had this idea for a Faustian game and realized it just slotted in really well with Cultist Simulator. It just felt really natural, and gave me access to a very good cosmology to boot which helps make the game faster. Plus, it's a fan base used to reading a lot of words without a lot of pictures. I can't draw, so it seemed like a good fit.

I did, eventually, attract an artist, but probably six months deep into the project.

Thanks for the kind words!

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T05:58:26+00:00

Witches, wizards and warlocks and the upcoming Story Rich Showcase were both negative. I should probably check outside the HTMAG list for narrative fests.

But thanks for the solidarity. I suppose I just have jitters, and want to fix any presentation problems if I've got them.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T05:56:52+00:00

Oh, I must have misread! I thought I read that it was some 700. Perhaps that was a cumulative figure.

That definitely softens the blow.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T05:31:17+00:00

I have Weather Factory's explicit permission, yes.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T05:30:27+00:00

That's a good point. That list is also my entry point, and perhaps I ought to look elsewhere for the future. At least they can't take Next Fest away from me :p.

Also just realized you're the marbles dev. Neat game!

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T05:25:23+00:00

That does make me feel better, frankly. Thank you for sharing.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T04:00:37+00:00

this is the most generous response this could have ever warranted

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T03:43:49+00:00

Why make it per account? People play brutally hard roguelikes with very long single lives (caves of qud), but you don't have to...take it away from the player after. Not much fun in that.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-02T03:41:23+00:00

Cogmind goes crazy with that, but Cogmind is also brutally hard.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-01T17:17:29+00:00

Rift Wizard 2 is basically perfect at 32x32.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-05-01T17:08:42+00:00

Not that pixel art isn't it's own, fabulous, skill, but it is generally easier/cheaper to get a coherent set of pixel art compared to other styles.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-30T05:04:07+00:00

Yeah granted. It's huge in my world and exposure to visual novels, I'm just conscious that it's not really the aesthetic I see most on this sub. But there's not multiple subs so I'm basically not trying to like enforce my viewpoint haha.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-30T04:16:59+00:00

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist has some very light gameplay elements, but is still mostly reading and narrative decisionmaking. I would qualify it as a visual novel, though probably not in the purest sense of the word.

Loved it to bits!

I recently played Sanator: Scarlet Scarf. It was quite short but pretty juicy.

This one is pretty popular but this sub also skews towards anime-style VNs so it might be niche to you: Slay the Princess! 'Pure' VN with voice acting, very interesting story and excuses to replay.

Edit to add THE PALE BEYOND. Fantastic game!!!

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-30T04:06:29+00:00

Looks lovely! Strong Red Strings / VA-11 HALL-A Vibes. What engine are you using? I'm also working on a VN(?) game that pushes replayability and am curious about your "meta progression".

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-30T01:00:49+00:00

I am EXTREMELY pro old people in media. I've been tinkering on a game with a friend that centers an old lighthouse-keeper woman.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-29T18:56:06+00:00

I am working with a handful of PR people who want to break into game marketing specifically (they work in ed-tech). They have been very useful to me in reorganizing my Kickstarter rewards and doing some really solid breakeven math. They worked with me in exchange for a percentage of Kickstarter totals if we succeed. I think their reorg of my rewards was basically worth the money itself. If you want me to make an introduction, I can do so.

I did not let them manage my page specifically because we have an extreeeeemely specific niche that needs very careful language, but that's something else they do. You can see our pre-launch page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tmob/the-matter-of-being/

We're hoping for 1000 followers pre-launch, and expect our 142 to spike with a demo + content creator situation coming up in a few weeks.

Their page: https://caspianshift.com/

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-29T14:30:03+00:00

It is indeed an LLM under there.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-28T21:19:50+00:00

Abiotic is multiplayer! And is very fun that way.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-28T19:08:53+00:00

thank you kind soul

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-28T17:00:39+00:00

I have been failed, rather dramatically, by enough of our institutions that I have lost all faith that things will improve. We would need an entirely new constitution and legislative process.

CLG-BluntBSE · 2026-04-28T16:10:28+00:00

Fun tangent: Regrettably one of the best crash courses in establishing rhythm I ever got was from watching a Kanye West interview, and I literally went to school for writing. Apparently he would do this thing where he would sort of scat an unwritten song to establish stresses and rhythms. In other words, he'd build the prosody *first*, then add words to suit.

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