Library of the Ancients => Final Fantasy IV Research & Development => Topic started by: Deathlike2 on February 18, 2008, 12:33:39 AM
Title: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on February 18, 2008, 12:33:39 AM
I will replay FF4 (mainly for another stat maxing run), but I will post the spells I recall from memory (ironic) that are included there. I will verify it once I get Tellah and get back to Kaipo for infinite MP usage+testing (or maybe I'll hack in 99 Tinctures/Ethers to make life easier)...
I believe he tried to once... but he managed to not have enough MP for that. :tongue:
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Pinkpuff on February 18, 2008, 10:05:28 AM
Wow, that's awesome! I think Recall might actually have been usable if it either worked all the time or didn't cost MP. In fact I think even if both restrictions were lifted it still might not be overpowered.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on February 18, 2008, 10:36:36 AM
Ok, the list of casted spells seems to be short... though I need to do more testing to be sure..
Common: Ice1, Fire1, Lit1
Semi-common: Bio Toad Break (Stone), Tornado (Weak) Death/Doom/Fatal
This confirms all of what Dragonsbreathern has said.
Recalled spells are not treated as a magical attack. Monsters like the larva (who cast Osmose when attacked) and the Waterbug monster (who heal when attacked by magic) don't react as if it was a magic attack.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Paladin on February 18, 2008, 12:43:06 PM
On this topic, I did some fairly extensive testing of the stock magic graphics this weekend and found a few interesting things.
While you could split the effects of the flare spell itself (the routine) You can't split flare's graphics, or at least the "descending orbs" part of it in a multicast spell. Well you can if you force the game to do so, but the graphics bug up (so it will work, just it looks ugly).
So the game shouldn't be trying to multicast Nuke/Flare with recall. If it is I'd be really surprised.
Also remember that if you're playing an unmodified version of FF-II and the cast name actually is "Flare", then that's the Twin command "Little Flare / Pyro" spell. It CAN be mulitcast.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on February 18, 2008, 04:20:36 PM
An additional detail... if Tellah doesn't have enough MP to cast selected spell, he will use the fail reaction instead of attempting to cast the spell.
I wonder if Tellah's fail reaction is in response to not being able to cast a "9th spell" Meteo? Doubtful but... an interesting thought.
Edit: It's not... oh well, wishful thinking
This command allows for two spells to normally not be multitargetable to be just that (Tornado and Death... multitargeted Tornado is effectively the Behemoth's Storm).. and allow Tellah to cast Death when he normally doesn't obtain said spell (which is strange for the most part).
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Paladin on February 18, 2008, 06:19:19 PM
I still have a couple combinations that I want to test, so I don't have a complete list yet, but there were very few spells that (had graphics that) bugged up when multi-targeted. For all intents and purposes it *appears* that any spell can be multi-targeted, the only problem is if the stock graphics will comply.
For example Dark Bahamut/Wyvern does cast a multi-targeted version of flare (MegaNuke), it just doesn't have the descending orbs pre-effect.
Figuring out what the spell VFX bytecodes do is rather complicated...When I get more data compiled I will have an Excel Spreadsheet that I will post.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on February 18, 2008, 10:24:16 PM
New info: The GBA version treats this command as a magical attack which is obviously logical. That is currently the only difference between the SNES version and the GBA version.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on February 19, 2008, 10:56:53 PM
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on March 03, 2008, 04:47:37 PM
This command is disabled while under Silence.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Phoenix on March 31, 2008, 03:09:10 AM
Here’s what I’ve figured out about the Recall subroutine:
The spells casted written above are correct: Recall casts Fire1, Ice-1, Lit-1, Stone, Virus, Weak, Fatal, or Toad. The code to determine which spell is casted is like so:
r = random number between 0x00 and 0xA0 if 0x00 <= r < 0x08 then spell is 0x2A = Stone if 0x08 <= r < 0x10 then spell is 0x26 = Virus if 0x10 <= r < 0x18 then spell is 0x27 = Weak if 0x18 <= r < 0x20 then spell is 0x2B = Fatal if 0x20 <= r < 0x38 then spell is 0x1D = Fire1 if 0x38 <= r < 0x50 then spell is 0x20 = Ice-1 if 0x50 <= r < 0x68 then spell is 0x23 = Lit-1 if 0x68 <= r < 0x80 then spell is 0x19 = Toad if 0x80 <= r < 0xA0 then fail? I’m not exactly sure what that last part is, it loads battle message 09 (which isn’t displayed or used as far as I can tell) and does something else I don't understand. Does Recall ever fail even if you have enough MP? Anyone know?
For the spells, Fire1/Ice-1/Lit-1/Toad have a three times greater chance of being casted than Stone/Virus/Weak/Fatal. The former have 24 possible values each for the random number, while the latter only have 8 each.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on March 31, 2008, 07:15:17 AM
I wrote some other stuff on this...
No, there is no message ever loaded for this commmand.
Yes, not enough MP causes automatic failure.
The only time the "Not Enough MP" message is displayed is when a target is Charmed and simply doesn't have enough MP to cast the spell that was randomly selected.
It's possible that that message was meant to be displayed in this case where he doesn't have enough MP to cast the spell, but it never gets executed apparently...
Failure to cast the spell due to MP or no spell being selected have the same visual actions.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Entroper on March 31, 2008, 02:51:32 PM
So, 5% each Stone, Virus, Weak, Fatal. 15% each Fire1, Ice-1, Lit-1, Toad. 20% fail. Those numbers work out very nicely.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on March 31, 2008, 03:35:44 PM
It might sounds strange, but Toad is probably the most useful spell of the bunch, given the implications of the status itself vs MP consumption.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Cleteromagos on April 27, 2008, 06:09:46 AM
Quote from: Deathlike
The only time the "Not Enough MP" message is displayed is when a target is Charmed and simply doesn't have enough MP to cast the spell that was randomly selected.
:hmm:
Unless I remember incorrectly (a distinct possibility), in FFIV (the SFC version at the very least), MP needed to cast a spell is subtracted at the moment casting is begun (as opposed to upon casting). Spells in a menu may be dimmed out based on MP at the time the menu is generated to prohibit the selection of a spell which cannot be cast due to a lack thereof. Due to this, schematically it would appear to be impossible for the player to initiate casting of a spell which could fail based on lack of MP.
However, if a character’s MP is siphoned away after the menu is called and before it is dismissed, it is not updated and the player can select a spell which should be greyed-out (this was not the case in FFVI, and probably also V). In the case of this anomaly, the game will see the PC go through the required casting time before calling the dialogue box in question: “Not enough MP.â€
Obviously, the message is also seen whenever a monster attempts to cast a spell as a matter of course without enough MP.
Quote from: Deathlike
It might sounds strange, but Toad is probably the most useful spell of the bunch, given the implications of the status itself vs MP consumption.
Are there enemies which Tornado would fail on, considering the period in which the command is available …?
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Deathlike2 on April 27, 2008, 09:11:34 AM
The only time the "Not Enough MP" message is displayed is when a target is Charmed and simply doesn't have enough MP to cast the spell that was randomly selected.
:hmm:
Unless I remember incorrectly (a distinct possibility), in FFIV (the SFC version at the very least), MP needed to cast a spell is subtracted at the moment casting is begun (as opposed to upon casting). Spells in a menu may be dimmed out based on MP at the time the menu is generated to prohibit the selection of a spell which cannot be cast due to a lack thereof. Due to this, schematically it would appear to be impossible for the player to initiate casting of a spell which could fail based on lack of MP.
However, if a character’s MP is siphoned away after the menu is called and before it is dismissed, it is not updated and the player can select a spell which should be greyed-out (this was not the case in FFVI, and probably also V). In the case of this anomaly, the game will see the PC go through the required casting time before calling the dialogue box in question: “Not enough MP.”
That's usually the other possibility, but the number of monsters that cast Psych/Osmose are far and few between (there's the Dark Sage, and the Insectus monsters in FF4A, the Insectus uses it as a magic counter though).
Quote
Obviously, the message is also seen whenever a monster attempts to cast a spell as a matter of course without enough MP.
No, that never happens. Monsters never consume MP. Consider Scarmaglione (the "living" version). His primary attack is Thunder. If Tellah syphons all of his MP, his attack will still occur, regardless. If Thunder ever misses, that's due to magic evade that all characters have except for Dark Knight Cecil.
Quote
Quote from: Deathlike
It might sounds strange, but Toad is probably the most useful spell of the bunch, given the implications of the status itself vs MP consumption.
Are there enemies which Tornado would fail on, considering the period in which the command is available …?
Other than the bosses, no monster is ever immune to the spell. It may be difficult, but that's only because there is a level comparison done.
The Tornado spell has the boss bit set, so it always fails to work on a boss. On the other hand, the one on Abel's Lance is not, which is the only difference. I'm not sure if any other property is different, other than the "set monster to death" vs when Abel Lance's Tornado is used. I believe a custom version of the spell is written for that weapon anyways, the original spell would not do that, even if the boss bit was removed.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Dragonsbrethren on June 20, 2008, 10:12:01 PM
Phoenix, do you have a disassembly of this command handy? I was going to make one myself, then I remembered (What is it with me and stupid puns tonight?) this thread. I'm going to upgrade it a bit for my hack, far less (Or maybe no) chance of failing, level 2 elementals, but I'll probably scrap the tornado and death effects.
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Phoenix on June 20, 2008, 11:24:24 PM
Indeed I do, and lucky for you, I've also commented the whole routine (not saying whether I'm completely right or not, but those are my thoughts). The offsets are for FF2us 1.0 (headered), as usual. Here's the disassembly from my ASM Interpreter (again, it might be wrong, so double check yourself!):
OffsetHex DataASM InterpretationComments ---------------------------------------- 1EC057BTransfer D to A; zero out A 1EC06AATransfer A to X; zero out X 1EC07A9 A0Load A with #A0; A = #A0 1EC0920 79 83Jump to subroutine at 18579; < Sets A to a random number between X and A > 1EC0CC9 08Compare A with #08; let the random number be r 1EC0EB0 04Branch to 1EC14 if carry is set; if r < #8 1EC10A9 2ALoad A with #2A; spell #2A = Stone 1EC1280 40Branch to 1EC54; 1EC14C9 10Compare A with #10; 1EC16B0 04Branch to 1EC1C if carry is set; if #8 <= r < #10 1EC18A9 26Load A with #26; spell #26 = Virus 1EC1A80 38Branch to 1EC54; 1EC1CC9 18Compare A with #18; 1EC1EB0 04Branch to 1EC24 if carry is set; if #10 <= r < #18 1EC20A9 27Load A with #27; spell #27 = Weak 1EC2280 30Branch to 1EC54; 1EC24C9 20Compare A with #20; 1EC26B0 04Branch to 1EC2C if carry is set; if #18 <= r < #20 1EC28A9 2BLoad A with #2B; spell #2B = Fatal 1EC2A80 28Branch to 1EC54; 1EC2CC9 38Compare A with #38; 1EC2EB0 04Branch to 1EC34 if carry is set; if #20 <= r < #38 1EC30A9 1DLoad A with #1D; spell #1D = Fire1 1EC3280 20Branch to 1EC54; 1EC34C9 50Compare A with #50; 1EC36B0 04Branch to 1EC3C if carry is set; if #38 <= r < #50 1EC38A9 20Load A with #20; spell #20 = Ice-1 1EC3A80 18Branch to 1EC54; 1EC3CC9 68Compare A with #68; 1EC3EB0 04Branch to 1EC44 if carry is set; if #50 <= r < #68 1EC40A9 23Load A with #23; spell #23 = Lit-1 1EC4280 10Branch to 1EC54; 1EC44C9 80Compare A with #80; 1EC46B0 04Branch to 1EC4C if carry is set; if #68 <= r < #80 1EC48A9 19Load A with #19; spell #19 = Toad 1EC4A80 08Branch to 1EC54; 1EC4CA9 09Load A with #09; if #80 <= r < #A0 1EC4E8D CA 34Store A to $7E:34CA; load message #09? 1EC514C B1 85Jump to location 187B1; < 33C8 = #F8, 33C9 = #03 > = special 1EC5448Push A (1 byte) onto stack; A = #03? 1EC55AATransfer A to X; 1EC5686 E5Store X to $00:D+$E5; E5 = #03? 1EC58A2 A0 97Load X with #97A0; \ 1EC5B86 80Store X to $00:D+$80; | 1EC5DA9 0FLoad A with #0F; | Load spell/item effect 1EC5F85 82Store A to $00:D+$82; | data into 289C-A1 1EC61A9 06Load A with #06; | 1EC6320 5E 84Jump to subroutine at 1865E; / 1EC66AD A0 28Load A with 1 byte at $7E:28A0; \ 1EC6929 7F'AND' A with #7F; | 1EC6B85 DFStore A to $00:D+$DF; | 1EC6DA9 03Load A with #03; | 1EC6F85 E1Store A to $00:D+$E1; | 1EC7120 E0 83Jump to subroutine at 185E0; | Load 28A2-4 with 1EC74A6 E3Load X with 2 bytes at $00:D+$E3; | element/status effect 1EC767BTransfer D to A; | data of spell 1EC77A8Transfer A to Y; | 1EC78BF 90 A5 0FLoad A with 1 byte at 7A790+X; | 1EC7C99 A2 28Store A to $7E:28A2+Y; | 1EC7FC8Increment Y; | 1EC80E8Increment X; | 1EC81C0 03 00Compare Y with #0003; | 1EC84D0 F2Branch to 1EC78 if zero flag is clear; / 1EC86AD 8B 26Load A with 1 byte at $7E:268B; \ 1EC8985 A9Store A to $00:D+$A9; | 1EC8BAD 8C 26Load A with 1 byte at $7E:268C; | A9 = current MP 1EC8EF0 04Branch to 1EC94 if zero flag is set; | = #FF if > #FF 1EC90A9 FFLoad A with #FF; | 1EC9285 A9Store A to $00:D+$A9; / 1EC94AD A1 28Load A with 1 byte at $7E:28A1; \ 1EC9729 7F'AND' A with #7F; | Compare MP cost with 1EC99C5 A9Compare A with data at $00:D+$A9; | character's current MP 1EC9BF0 06Branch to 1ECA3 if zero flag is set; | 1EC9D90 04Branch to 1ECA3 if carry is clear; | if MP cost is <= current MP 1EC9F68Pull 1 byte from stack and store in A; | then A = spell number 1ECA04C AD EAJump to location 1ECAD; | else return 1ECA368Pull 1 byte from stack and store in A; | 1ECA48D D2 26Store A to $7E:26D2; / 1ECA7EE 5D 35Increment 1 byte at $7E:355D; increment 355D 1ECAA20 36 CCJump to subroutine at 1CE36; < Spell/Item Subroutine > 1ECAD60Return from subroutine; return
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Dragonsbrethren on June 20, 2008, 11:35:34 PM
Thanks. :happy:
Title: Re: Recall Command
Post by: Grimoire LD on December 22, 2009, 04:22:15 PM
Well, I think I have my replacement ability for Baigan, great work here! With this info. I can make him into a semi-Blue Mage (sort of similar to Brina in After Years).