However, I have just recently continued my effort on making an "area editor" for the strategic, overhead view. Besides dialog and final game art, this is the biggest content chunk of the game, since there will be lots of objects to place in the overhead-view game areas. Most, if not all, exploration will take place by having the main character roam the countryside, which will include fields, forests, rivers, etc. It is hard to describe, so I will start with a screenshot:
Right now, the area objects are just placeholder art, but I think it gives a good idea of how the game will work while playing in overhead-view mode. In this image, I have placed trees, rocks, bushes, and a road. Again, since these are placeholder graphics, all of the trees and rocks are seen from the side (that just the way I drew them), where as I hope to have the final graphics appear from ~30 degrees from overhead. This can be done using a tool for creating 3D models, and then rendering sprites at the necessary angles (and animation frames for moving objects/characters).
In a previous game-making attempt, a friend of mine made some objects and characters using Maya. I have included some examples (I hope he does not mind). I have been looking for a reason to try out Blender, and adding final art (if I ever get to that point) would be the perfect excuse.
This is also when I learned first hand about the practical difference between true perspective and isometric projection. I had known about the conceptual aspects, but I only realized the practical issues that would arise when I first tried putting per-rendered 3D objects into a game (think Heroes of Might and Magic 3 as compared to 1&2 (hand-drawn sprites) and 4&5 (full 3D)). Since the perspective was set and unchangeable in the bitmap sprite, I could not line the bricks up next to each other:
