I am relearning all the things again.

Last week I talked about figuring out a way to make a quest out of item drops using a swap item event. And then I watched this video:

I like that about learning. I found a way to do something thanks to variables, which when I was younger, I could not wrap my head around. 

When I was younger and struggling to understand RPG MakerXP people kept telling me variables were "A box you put something into" but that sage advice didn't click at all back then. I didn't have tutorial videos to learn from. It was extremely frustrating to feel like some sort of hidden, secret knowledge was being kept from me. Now that I'm 'getting it' I feel like I'm uncovering that secret, hidden knowledge every day.

Slowly, bit by bit, I am discovering just how insanely powerful this engine is and it's wonderful.

This game engine, to me, makes me feel like a little kid in a sand box that wants to make a sand castle and instead of one of those little plastic buckets that comes with a rake and wee shovel, an entire construction crew and all of the crew's equipment has shown up in my yard.

All I have to do is figure out how to boss them around. 

That said I still have no idea what I am really doing. Mechanics are only half the game. I still have to hammer out the story and write a script for it, plus make all the items I have in mind, and the quests, and keep working on the battle system... and ... and ... and....

I have had a surprise life event pop up today that may take a lot of my focus this week*,so instead of working on my game directly I think I'll be focusing on a game design document and trying to get all of my idea down on real life paper. I'll be watching GDD videos and taking lots of notes.

My question for this week is: What aspect of RPG maker did you struggle with and then overcome? What are you still struggling with?

Variables still baffle me a bit. I want to learn them and learn them well.

*AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Now I have to deep clean my entire house! WHY!?!?!