So I did some database stuff creating templates for skills and enemies, and I got the first map made up, which is going to be a mostly open area where the player will be building a town, instead of rebuilding a fort.
The gap in the mountain north of the old town square will be blocked off to begin with, but will lead into a dungeon which includes a mine that the player can reclaim in order to allow the smith to make better gear. The cabin to the far right is the home of the fourth character for the initial party, who the player will meet just before the first boss fight. She's a ranger with a mysterious past.
I think this map gives the village plenty of room to expand, even without making the map bigger. So far I've done the inside of the ranger's house as well, and I need to design the inn next, since that will be the first building that the player unlocks. I would like to let the player decide where to place the buildings, but I'm not sure how to do that. The second building unlock will be the blacksmith, which will unlock the dungeon for the player to explore.
I also wrote a very brief introduction scene which brings the party onto the map and hints at their purpose here, and calls out the ruined statue as something of importance. I've also written an event which allows the player to knock on the door of the ranger's house and, if they've fought enough monsters so far, she'll show up, they'll talk, and the first boss monster will attack them. I'm pretty happy with it so far. It's simple, but I've really only been tinkering with RPG Maker for like, two weeks at this point.
Next on my to-do list is get monsters made up for this map and then test the fights against them. I want them to be a challenge but, including the boss fight, not too deadly, since the party won't have access to the inn yet in order to restore HP or MP (or whatever system I go with in the long run).