Spanky The Beaver's simple guide to switches and variables.
This tutorial was written for the newbies to Rpg Maker 2k. 
If there are any questions on this tutorial, you may contact me at 
djlethalman@aol.com 
Thanks for reading
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                       The Idiot's Guide To Switches
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1. What is a switch?
2. How do I make a switch?
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1. When a newbie opens up his newly acquired RPG Maker 2000 and he or 
she begins to review the contents of the event screen, then they might
come across something called a switch. Puzzled by this, they may just
skip over it and keep on looking. Now, what a switch is, is a trigger
that will cause an event to "change it's page." For example, if your 
main hero is fighting an inn keeper who will not let you stay at his
inn unless you beat him in a duel, and you don't want to fight him 
everytime you want to stay at the inn, this is where the switch comes in.
The first time you will speak to him, it may go something like this.
Hero: Hi, got a room for me?
Inn Keeper: Yeah I got a room forya. But you don't get it unless you beat
            me.
Hero: Ok Let's go.
At this time, you both combat and you win. If you speak to him again, then
he will allow you to stay at his inn without a fight. Why you might ask?
because of the switch.

2. When you're making a switch, the first thing's first. You have to make
a second page to your event. Start an event, and look towards the top of 
the event editor. You should see a button that you can click labeled 
"New Page". Click on this once to add a page to this event. Now start off
by creating dialogue between the Inn Keeper and The Hero. After they speak
to each other for a bit, have the innkeeper start combat on the hero.
Pay close attention to the next step because this is where it gets a bit
tricky. Double click a new line to make a new part of this event.
On the first section of events, you should see a button that says: Change Switch.
Click on this. A little box will pop up with a switch selection box in it. 
You should see a tiny square you can click on with 3 dots in the middle of it.
Click this once and yet another box will pop up. You will see a list of 20 switches.
Assuming that you are new, 18 of these 20 spots should be open. Click the third spot.
Now you will have to name the switch. Name it: "Inn Keeper". and click ok.
Now, press ok again and it will bring you back to the main screen of the event
editor. Now click on the second page which you created earlier in this proscess.
Towards the top right of the second page, you will see something labeled Event Conditions.
There will be two boxes you can click for switch, and one you can click for variables. 
Click 1 box for switch. Again you will see that same tiny square with
3 dots in it. Click on it and select the switch called inn keeper and now you are all
set to to make your second page of dialogue. Here is the sample code:
Page 1
      <>Messg: Hero- Hi. Ya got a room for me?
      <>Messg: InnKeeper- Yeah I got a room for ya. But you don't get it unless you
               beat me!
      <>Messg: Hero- Ok Lets go!
      <>StrtCmbt:SlmexX2
      <>Messg: You're pretty good kid. You got me!
      <>Change Switch: [0003:Innkeeper]ON Set
Page 2
      <>Messg: Well I guess I gotta let you stay here now.
      <>Call Inn: Cost 0'
Thanks I hope you all understand my Tutorial, I am always open to anyone's emails for help.