Relative noob needs a lot of help

[Scorpion]

I've basically started 1000 projects and haven't finished a single one. This time I'm determined to get at least on game finished before I start serious studies and get a career in game design/concept art so I know exactly what I'm getting myself into.
I'm horrible at following proper plans so I mainly need help getting the ball rolling.

What I want to make is a 2d rpg that is pre-rendered and incorporates good story telling, action and adventure as well as many of the things a good rpg should have and I'll try my best to avoid the things that are bad about some rpg games of the past.
So far I've got a general idea, the story set out in my head and some character drawings.
I don't know what exactly I should do next. I've read some tutorials on rpg design but find it hard to keep going with things. I have too many ideas that I get bored with old ideas very quickly so I need to get everything planned first so I can find the motivation to finish it. I also need help with the basic things of rpgs like how to make it fun while being serious and tell a story without forcing the player through one path doing mind numbing tasks and repetitive hack and slash. I've already got the software, hardware and talent to do this (at least I think I do) I just need some direction.

I'm sorry for the long post and I'm not sure if this should be here but I desperately need advice.

[Xenith]

well the story, isn't a problem yet, first you should work out the basics like battling, walking, magic, using items, shopping, npc interaction, and those other little things, once you've done that, creating the game should be a sinch(sp?) but then you need to have graphics, and most of the time graphics are the most important thing in a game.

[IsmAvatar]

I've found that a lack of motivation is sometimes actually a computer set-up issue. Various computer setups can cause you to be more motivated than others (for example, when I have mine on the floor I find I can get down to business easier). Another huge thing is the OS you're running. Unix = Plenty of work with plenty of play; NT = Not Today.

Anyways, just had to get that out of my system

Indeed, getting the graphics together is the most difficult part, and the most important. But basically, set up for a new game, prepare the movement and such. Then once you get an idea, you can easily and quickly implement it.

[shad0w]

I found that a good engine is good motivation. Just recently i started work on my olf rpg, simply because I realised that it had a pretty nice engine attatched to it.

[Scorpion]

Thanks people . I was going to make this a really epic game but I'll probably never get something like that done so I'm going to make simple (but still beautiful as possible) graphics with sprites. I might even decide to use my art directly in the game for backgrounds, splash screens ect. The pre-rendered games like Diablo look nice but I just don't think I can make all those 3d models, textures and all the other components of a game on top of that. I consider myself a pretty good spriter here's an example of a sprite I made a while ago for practice:
I'm not very good at animating yet but I'm getting there. I've made an example of my own that has some of the basics. It has the character that walks, attacks and can change weapons between bow and sword. I've made him have an arrow limit that is written on the top of the screen along with health and mana bars that can decrease by pressing h or m. I also made the arrows stick to objects but only still ones for now. I've learnt from and been inspired by other game maker games such as magecraft which is great. I even played it twice just to see what spells you can get if you make different choices. My game will need playability like that to be fun and long lasting. I got through baldur's gate dark alliance with my brother in one weekend (lucky we rented it) it's that sort of thing that makes a game dull, the player should enjoy the game so much that they play it again and again with each time being a new experience in some way .

Sorry I sort of started preaching there, please post your honest feed back, criticism or comments.