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13375K31C43R

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Restoring monster count
« on: June 25, 2017, 11:27:03 AM »
The monsters in FF2SNES have names of eight characters or less, which leaves room for a convenient count of each monster type. In FF5, translated by RPGe, the monster names are expanded to a window-filling ten characters, eliminating the monster counts. The same goes for FF3SNES, but right now I'm only interested in FF5 (and I think it'd be harder to shorten the monster names there).

Suppose I managed to shorten every monster's name in FF5 to eight characters or less. What code would I need to modify to be able to add the counts back in?
« Last Edit: June 25, 2017, 11:35:43 AM by 13375K31C43R »
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Praetarius5018

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2017, 01:22:40 AM »
good question, I don't know.
but 7E4008 and following hold the monster ids (2 bytes each) for the names so that would be a start?
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Squall

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2017, 04:33:28 AM »
OMG I didnt even know there was counting in the original game :D
So I watched a video of gameplay on original (J) and yes, there is counting  :cycle:
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noisecross

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2017, 10:17:37 AM »
Quote from: 13375K31C43R on June 25, 2017, 11:27:03 AM
Suppose I managed to shorten every monster's name in FF5 to eight characters or less. What code would I need to modify to be able to add the counts back in?

The first thing you should do is read only 8 characters from the monsters name, and not 10.
Edit the byte at C1/3019 from 0A to 08 to achieve this.

To recover the counts... I am not 100% sure but check the diferences in the next ASM:

Code: [Select]
Original (j)
C1/3058: 9006    bcc $3060
C1/305A: 18      clc
C1/305B: 6953    adc #$53
C1/305D: 20EA2D  jsr $2DEA
C1/3060: 60      rts

RPGe
C1/3058: 222000E0 jsr $E00020
C1/305C: EA      nop
C1/305D: EA      nop
C1/305E: EA      nop
C1/305F: EA      nop
C1/3060: 60      rts

Check what is happening at E0/0020, but maybe taking back that Original (j) ASM will do the trick for you.

 :edit:
The sub at E0/0020 write #$05 at the addresses "sta($bc),y" and "sta($ba),y" so I guess the purpose of this sub is redraw the right border of the monster name window.
If you are displaying only 8 characters, this redraw won't be necessary.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2017, 08:19:28 AM by noisecross »
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13375K31C43R

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2017, 08:40:11 AM »
Thanks for the help, noisecross! I found a solution thanks to the pointers you gave me, and I have attached a patch for anyone who wants to try it out.

Note that there are some enemies, such as bosses, that still have ten-character names. One issue that I find with this is that, for whatever odd reason, a small part of the monster name window's right edge disappears, which doesn't seem to happen in the normal game.

Also, on a personal note, I think I just prefer it the way it is.
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noisecross

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2017, 08:47:38 AM »
Quote from: 13375K31C43R on June 27, 2017, 08:40:11 AM
One issue that I find with this is that, for whatever odd reason, a small part of the monster name window's right edge disappears, which doesn't seem to happen in the normal game.
It may be the mentioned sub at E0/0020? C1/2DEA may be also involved at this.
Won't you share the asm you edited? Sure it would be interesting to see.
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13375K31C43R

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2017, 12:08:48 AM »
Here's a new version of the patch, with the right border issue fixed and ASM included!
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noisecross

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2017, 04:21:00 AM »
Nice work!

By the way, I think the next line of code should replace the '#$52' with a '#$53', isn't it?
Code: [Select]
E00E8D: ADC #$52  ; otherwise, turn number into a character
The tile '0' is in the position 0x53 in the '2bpp font tilemap'.
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Squall

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2017, 04:50:33 AM »
Quote
By the way, I think the next line of code should replace the '#$52' with a '#$53', isn't it?
In the context of the code C = 1, so ADC #$52 is like A = A + $53
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noisecross

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2017, 05:10:32 AM »
Quote from: Squall on June 28, 2017, 04:50:33 AM
In the context of the code C = 1, so ADC #$52 is like A = A + $53

After a bcc the carry flag will be set. If no clc is done, "adc #$52" will be "add #$52 + #$01". Brilliant.
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13375K31C43R

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Re: Restoring monster count
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2017, 02:02:30 AM »
One thing I neglected to mention: the patches I wrote were actually intended for Spooniest's "Legend of the Crystals" addendum patch, not the actual RPGe translation. Here's a new version that is intended for the original translation, but the LotC patches have been kept.
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