Yes, I have to figure what my story is and what type of elements and characters I will be appying to said story before I can begin to start on anything else or it will end up in a big disaster. Like when I first started back in 2008, my game was a big mess because I had no clue what I really wanted. After a couple month hiatus, I started actually getting serious. I almost done with the planning stage, so mostly designing, since I don't really have a team. I can't keep any mappers and scripters are kind of hard to find. I mean how many are on this site besides you and liz. Me?
Graphics and Scripting
Planning any story based game is well like writting a book, but with a battle system and other engines of course.
Find your story and characters(main cast and side characters)
Brainstorm game elements, such as what battle system you choose to use or what type enviorment your characters will exist in. etc, etc...
Depending on the size of your game, if its huge you can try and gather a team. but the lack of potential help in forums is sometime lacking and might require you to hand out offers (such as cash). Which is great if you plan on selling your game but pointless if your game is free as in turn your just losing money and time. Also your team might not notify you about life and just disappear most of the time without any notice. (believe me my mappers never give me notice and disappear). If small no need for a team as it should be easy to complete.
After brainstorm your story elements, unless your a scripter or have a scripting team ready. You can start searching for scripts that can help in the development of the game.
Same as #5, unless you have a team for graphics. Getting a graphic software like photoshop (windows paints is garabage) can help great images that can be implanted into a developers game.
I'm probably forgetting stuff but that most of the things I do when I'm creating my game.