This isn't the first RPG tutorial, but it covers scrolling, interaction, cosmetics, and a better algorithm to expand on. I'm not sure who I'm really targeting this for though, you may need prior experience to understand what the hell on earth I'm exactly doing.
Covers:
simple movement
creating a complicated map
map scrolling
objects/items/exits on map
decorations
also features a sample map, though some of its contents (namely the mouse and dialogue boxes) will not be covered in this tutorial. Can you unlock the red portal?
Let me know if this helped, have a great day.
This game is done in Flash, you can grab a 30 days free trial at Adobe.com. Though chances are without prior knowledge to actionscript, it won't work out so nicely.