RGSS3 Support

First, I'd like to greet everyone in the RPG Maker community since I'm new here.

So, I bought RPG Maker VX Ace off of Steam a few days ago at full price. I had no problem with that as I was so impressed after researching game engines. So far, the program is impressively organized and somewhat simple to use. My problem is that I can't seem to find complete documentation for RGSS3. I don't want to completely learn Ruby, I want to focus on learning RGSS3 since this is what this program scripts in for easier use. Having to learn the entire Ruby language to learn RGSS3 is time consuming when I could just find a document for RGSS3. So, is there any complete resource where this can be found? I want to learn absolutely everything I can so I can get the most out of the program to make a commercial game (eventually). Having to learn RGSS3 from tidbits scattered over the internet, and guides not even made for RGSS3 but a parent language, just makes learning more difficult. Please let me know if I'm wrong about anything, or if any complete resources to RGSS3 are available. I'm very excited to start making my first games. :D

Thank you very much for any time and information!

Help → Contents or just press F1. The help file includes a RGSS and a short Ruby reference. And some other stuff. A better and more complete Ruby reference can be found here.

RGSS is not a parent language, Ruby is the programming language used by the RGSS. You don't need to learn it completely! That really would be time consuming and hard to achieve, but you still have to learn Ruby. And yes, that's nothing you can do in a few days or weeks.

I don't know any (good) tutorials about RGSS3 and the VX Ace standard scripts. Someone else probably can recommend some. I'm not a fan of video tutorials and in my experience most good (RGSS) tutorials explain only one thing and not everything.

If you think you have basic knowledge of Ruby, read the standard or other people's scripts. Or “unrelated” Ruby code. And try modifying some screens. The menu, for example. Just play around and don't be shy to ask, but even though that may take more time, try to understand it by yourself first.

If you're completely new, I suggest that you first make a game without scripting, just to learn what can be done that way - the engine is already very powerfull, you only need scripts to add new features into the engine.


Follow the link in my signature if you want to see sample games without any scripting.


Scripting in RGSS is programming in Ruby - you need to learn how to program in Ruby before you can script in RGSS. The differences between Ruby and RGSS are only a few methods removed or added to create a specialized variant.

But, if you're a begginer, make a game without using scripts. Then make a game with installed scripts. Then make a game with scripting (if you still wish to learn after finding those large resourceful scripts on the site).

Yes, you'll have to learn a bit of ruby, not all. Start by using some sites like RubyMonk, and get up the primer first. Yes, a few chapters, then you can go to some awesome topics like Working with game_system by soulpour. Soon, you'll be easy on programming and making your own scripts already :) .

Thanks for all of the replies. The only question I have now is if the RMVX Ace help file contains the complete RGSS3 Ruby syntax or if I'll have to find more somewhere else. I have no problem learning Ruby completely, in fact I'm glad RGSS3 is more powerful than I had thought. I simply wanted to get a few questions out of the way before delving in to the program and Ruby. :) I'll be sure to check out RubyMonk as well, it seems like a great resource.

There are some things that are undocumented (nothing you have to worry about as a beginner), so almost everything of the RGSS3 library is documented in there. The reference isn't very good, though. But that doesn't mean it's bad and useless!

The Ruby reference in the help file is very basic. I've linked to the official one (the site itself isn't) which is more complete and better.

The default scripts aren't documented in the help file. I would even go so far and say they aren't documented at all. The comments (green text in the Script Editor) are not really helpful.

Yes, that's true. Actually, only the RGSS3 built-in-classes are in the documentation. The whole module found in the script editor is barely mentioned. After Learning Ruby, You'd have to search and find the scripts yourself. Guess the meanings like in game_system- "What if i change that variable through a script call"? Or try using the variables mentioned in the game_party for your skill values, and you'll figure a lot of things.

As i already mentioned, Soulpour's topics like "Tips on working with Game_System" are very useful for you.

The reference is highly useful, anyway. I made my first window using the references and studying them...

Edit: Please delete my post,i posted it in a bad section. Excuse me for my bad english.