I am now halfway through the project. Combat is still not in, which is a concern, but I’m not anticipating any real problem with it. The subsystem I’m anticipating having all the problems with is the inventory.

Anyway, looking and talking both work, and NPCs now either stand still (if they are merchants or the king), wander around (if they are townspeople) or wander around until you get close, then hunt you down mercilessly (if they are monsters). See?

Let’s do a quick assessment. Here’s what I’ve gotten done in twenty hours:

• Gathered and created the necessary tile graphics; created the background
• Game framework (mostly created before I started, but put to the test for the first time on this project)
• Basic map structure with passability data
• Basic player structure
• Basic NPC structure
• Basic item structure
• In-game lists for NPCs and items which “float” over the map
• A simple but functional map editor
• Simple bitmap font system
• Designed the basic character advancement and combat systems
• Created the NPCs and monsters for the game
• Created a simple GUI system and the specific GUI for my game
• Player movement, looking and talking
• NPC movement updates based on data-driven AI flags

My remaining tasks, in order of increasing difficulty:

• Saving and loading (very important)
• Map links
• Creating the remaining town maps
• Creating the overworld map
• Creating the dungeon maps
• Creating the end boss’s castle map
• Combat
• Spells
• Inventory
• Equipping of items
• Buying and Selling

Can I do it all? Keep tuning in to find out! If I do, the game is going to end up being a very simplistic game based on a fairly complete RPG engine. I don’t think I could have asked for more in forty hours.