(RM2k3) - Randomizing battle BGs (Earthbound)

Thanks to Arrow's Fancy Background set, I felt like making an EarthBound spoof. I'm nowhere near done, and I don't even have a real story laid out... but nonetheless, this project may have something going for it.







I don't know how to randomize the backdrops in battle though... I know there's probably a parallel process you can set on the maps, but I'm not totally sure.

Well, there are two ways you could do this to be honest. One would be to use a Parallel Process to randomise battles and BGs for you, but that would be slightly more difficult. I would do it using the Monster Group eventing. Set this up so it triggers on "Turn Number 0" so it starts off straight away.

Code: [Select]

>Variable: Var[xxxx: Background] Set: Random Number 0-X
>If Var[xxxx: Background] Then
   >Change Battle BG: background.picture
>End If

Just repeat the If statement for every single background you want to set up. Oh, and make sure the starting background is completely empty so no one notices the change properly if the event lags slightly...

Err... maybe I should have better specified... xD

It's frames. ._.;

Frames? I don't really understand what you're trying to achieve.

Well, frames being moving pictures set with different forms of color and transparency, overlapped to somewhat make the backgrounds look animated.

The only way I could think of is to have a parallel process, and have the same enemy encounter occur at random, but with different music / frame animations each time.

Oh, you want an animated battle background. You could use a constant "battle animation" call to try and give the effect of animation, but there's a good chance that the player could wait it out and the animation would stop. You'd really have to try and extend the battle animation out really far for it to last that long, and it would look wierd transisting over each turn...

I can't really think of a way to do this, to be honest, I've never tried to do it before. I will say this though, you can't use a Parallel Process since that would only be in effect out of battle,

No, I meant changing the frame anims prior to each fight, instead of using the associated frame that goes with the tileset.

When you call a battle via an event, I believe you can set the battle background to follow a terrain. If you are using Frames I assume you have an idea on how to set terrain backgrounds, so you just need to choose the background/terrain you want.

*checks own copy*

Yep. There is a drop down box "Use battle background associated with: [terrain list]". Since you are spoofing Earthbound, I guess you will also have enemies running around the map? That's where you'll need to set this up. Random encounters don't do it - although they do follow the terrain you are currently standing on, which can also be set in the event.

I hope that helps.