Making an Classic RPG - best maps, dungeons etc.

So I finally got RPG maker MV.

I am holding off on my "big" RPG project - and focusing on making a high quality classic RPG with the included and DLC resources that is "smaller"

After this project- I will take lessons learned etc. And focus on a bigger game and buying and hiring art and music assets.

What are some of your favorite classic RPG elements, in terms of environments, castles, dungeons or whatever.

I am looking to replay some classics and pay close attention to the maps and detail work, so I am seeking some suggestions.

A lot to what makes games feel "real" or "Profesional" is not just the base look but the layout and design of the paths, the routes etc.

Thanks all

Thanks for the input.

Tower of babil is one I really remember - but it was also very linear... however it is constantly refereed to as an exceptional part of the game...

I think some of that has to do with the visuals of the tower and the circumstances and position you are in leading up to it. It almost is a "sub-sub section" rather than another dungeon to crawl- it's big...but properly so... it has tons of unique little encounters and tons of treasure and bosses on bosses. You got pushed into it, not much prep time if any...yet was designed to be a achievable challenge if super peeped or if taken unaware.

So my first "castle" I looked to Baron Castle in FF4 - looking at it overall and as a map - it's smaller than I remember.

I will post some pictures of it once I "tighten up the graphics"

But FF4 overworld and town-city characters are traditional 1 "square" while in 6 they are 2 "squares tall" -- in RPG maker MV they are 1.5ish to look traditional but have more range and animation- so getting a feel for the proper "sizing" of things is key... lots of play testing to just wonder around and feel the size and visuals.

I have a "Big" plot - but I am not doing that right now- that one I want to do once I save some money up- have a stronger understanding of the system- and purchase or consign almost all the art and music elements. that one will be longer.

The plot I have for this game actually grew out of a smaller idea I had - and grew as I made the overworld map. I wanted to make something very classic, but not a direct rip-off of anything overly familiar.

I started wanting it to be "open world"-ish with no direct "from A go to B" and had the leveling and story all be generally accessible in phases- but I do not know if I am going to keep it that way... I may just have it be "X,Y and Z need to be done - you can go to whatever one you want in whatever order" in the middle and the start and end be more linear.

I am drawing up a physical plot outline now- as it helps to have while building events and event triggers etc.

Here is the over-world and the castle - spoiler-ed for size - as you can see the overworld is relatively small, I wanted the entire game to be on one landmass

I do appreciate your and all feedback.

I think that is getting a wee bit overly detailed for a classic type RPG... the reality of castles never much was in consideration - more of flow, and I agree with you on flow.

I think this specific example of mine needs some explanation as to what it is.

The idea, plot...whatever... is that "ye ol thousands of years ago" there were 2 big sides, they all had advanced technology - "yadda yadda yadda" they killed themselves - only a few survived in the aftermath- the world was scorched and the only place left was this small island that was used as a transportation hub- so "thousands of years later" there is a church like power that keeps technology and advancement suppressed for the good of the people - its very totalitarian etc. so the "big tower" that's in the back - ( that is up to the water edge cliff if you look at overworld and at it, and even boats are seen as technology and advancing beyond normal means and is forbidden..so its defensible..but there really is no "strife" per say as it stands ) is this holy tower that not anyone can just go in, there are secrets and all the typical JRPG type things... so it is not designed like a typical castle per say.

And RPGs never have 1:1 relations in beds to people, seats to beds, tables to chairs even... it mostly is to convey what it is... this is even so in DW and all the FF games, not until recently have things started to be portrayed in a 1:1 type.

However I think I will move the jail to being down and the rest still up on the main tower thing.

I will add more beds and see how it looks.

Yeah they increased the resolution in MV and you can natively publish them in ios exe and android - and and stock stuff and stuff purchased DLC are licensed for resale.

MV has a lot of improvements from over the years, I have used XP 2000 and 2003 and 7? or one of them.

Thanks for all the input and support hehe.

It does take a lot of work to get events and NPCs set up- and even a single "castle" takes quite a bit of time to get done if you want it to be slightly polished.

It is easy to get overwhelmed and just scrap the project - but this is my "Yearly" project of self-enrichment - my last was writing and self publishing a childrens book for my kids preschool.

So I did scope this game down, and sence it eventually will be sold mostly in app stores - I think I am going to focus and make more linear the plotline rather than trying to figgle the system and create a quasi-open world. I still may keep it basic- intro - intro mission - then 3 "main" quests - then finale. With some non-mandatory subquests.