Lemma Soft Forums

I've never created a VN before but I've written ideas for VN games. About a month or so back, I tried my hand at Ren'py then bought a VN creator... but I still don't understand how creating a VN works. To me, it seems like I have to dabble a lot with coding- something I have little to no experience in- and everything seems so complicated...

I want to be able to create one on my own but I'm too scared to because I don't understand coding. I know there are tutorials out there but all the information is a lot to take in... >< I feel like if there's no one in person teaching me how to do this, I won't completely understand it...!

If anybody has dabbled with Ren'py or VN creators before, please let me know what your experience with those was like. Was it complicated to learn on your own? Did you have someone helping you out? Or did it all come easily to you either due to experience or dabbling with code before? Or am I just making it out to be harder than it actually is?

If there is an easier way to learn about this kind of stuff, please let me know on that as well.

Thank you!

If you can't code, then pick up Tyranobuilder. It's only $15 on Steam. Almost no coding necessary.

You can learn to code. Also how much learning you must do really depends on how complicated you want your game to be. If you are not planning on making a complicated game then the code isn't complicated. This is a complete working game in Ren'py for example:
Really if you are worried. I'd say build a basic test game that consists of one scene, just like the one above. Then add elements one at a time. For example add a background other than black. Then create two characters with images. Show these characters and have them "talk." When you have that, add a choice menu.

Just build up little by little and look at the code of other games. Study the code of The Question for example.

You can do it if you want to.

I have almost no experience coding in Python and I've found that taking things one step at a time has allowed me to learn Ren'Py fairly well.
You can create a game in Ren'Py with no coding knowledge, then expand upon that as trooper6 suggests.

From time to time you'll stumble, but the forum, documentation and Ren'Py tutorial are always there to help you overcome any obstacles you face.
Its okay to be a beginner, everyone was at one point.
It will take time and effort, but the end result is usually worth it, even if you fail, you gain experience for your next attempt.

Echoing everyone else, but Ren'Py is a very user friendly system! (Especially if all you're trying to do is something really basic.)

There are also a ton of great examples in the Cookbook if you're trying to do something fancier. (Most of it just comes down to copying and pasting their code then inserting your own dialogue or images.)

As long as you're not super determined to do something fancy like, oh, create a complex combat and inventory system, you can probably figure it out! (And even if that is your goal, people here are super helpful I've found!)

go step by step to learn how to code

by watching tutorials and repeat them
by looking at renpy cookbook
by asking help here if you get stuck on something
by looking others peoples codes
and last one would be go to python website as well there thing on there
but be careful there web base codes that are in python so when you go there, there should be a category for games

for now work on a game that is basic and build upon it while you learn