Building the Mechanics

• 1). Play and research other RPGs, both pen and paper games and those on various video game consoles. The genre is packed with mediocre and average games, but a handful stand out. Explore the good and the bad, so you can determine what makes these games successful and what elements are more frustrating than beneficial. Take notes on these.
  
  
• 2). Build the character creation and battle systems of the game. Start on paper, building a system of character statistics and monster statistics. The character and the monster need to attack each other until one wins or loses. Use your notes from your RPG research, as well as any ideas you have about the game going in. For pen and paper games, you will likely use a system of dice or cards to add in an element of chance. Computer RPGs could have a turn-based, an active, or a hybrid system; this system will take the pen and paper version of a battle system and automate it.
  
  
• 3). Make a workable demo version of this battle system and character creation system to test with friends and family. Have them sit down and give you honest feedback based on the mechanics of the system. If you're making the RPG on the computer, you can make one with very simple graphics to test the game out--noting that you will improve the style later.
  
  
• 4). Build the character leveling system. After a certain number of battles, characters should become stronger and better at fighting, so there should be some way to improve their character stats from level to level. Add this system to the battle demo, and test it again.
  
  
• 5). Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you feel the mechanics related to the game flow together in the way you want them.
  
  

Building a Story

• 1). Write the story that drives your game. Some stories don't work well in certain genres. Many RPG stories are lengthy, complex and nuanced, and they usually have a team forming at some point to save the world.
  
  
• 2). Map the world in which your game takes place. You will need a world map and a series of locations, places to go and ways to get there.
  
  
• 3). Design the characters, vehicles, monsters, technology and the buildings of the world. For pen and paper RPGs, this step is predominantly for fun.
  
  
• 4). Expand the battle system and add content to the game. Make a longer demo than the previous version. Adding about 20 to 30 minutes of game play to the demo will give people a good feel of the progress.
  
  
• 5). Play test the demo yourself. Then, have other people test the demo, and get their feedback. Improve the game with their feedback.
  
  
• 6). Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you complete the game.