Topic: FF4A (E) Hacking Notes and Mod

[Kea]

Alright, the new status effects for Protect and Shell are (almost - they don't display on the status effect list) complete! I had a rough time finding every little situation that called the critical HP bit - in one version, characters who died and were revived would start playing their spellcasting animation - but I think I've got everything. For the moment, Protect reduces damage from physical attacks by 33%, and Shell does the same for regular damage spells. I might make it reduce the accuracy of status spells by 33% as well, not sure yet.

Another thing I'm thinking of doing is removing the 50% cut to accuracy imposed when physically attacking to or from the back row, leaving just the 50% reduction in damage (or vice versa, leaving in half hit but removing half damage), or making the penalty a flat -20 to accuracy. Having to deal with half hit and half damage is a bit too much IMO, and makes your physical fighters extremely durable in the back row, since they'll take 75% less damage on average. Though that doesn't hold a candle to the original's effect of doubling defence.

[Kea]

Finished the Dark Elf/Dark Dragon battle a couple of weeks ago - the concept for the Dark Elf half is completely new - but I've gotten hacker's block on the Tower of Zot. Instead I've been brushing up on 6502 Assembly and hacking FF3j, another of my favourites.

As part of changing the Dark Elf/Dragon battle I've made yet more systemic changes: Dispel is unusable by monsters by default as it lacks an effect formula, so a new formula was created by modifying Black Hole to accept targeting parameters. Sap now inflicts 1 + (Current HP/128) damage per tick; Bio-induced Sap doesn't last long enough for it to be nasty, but there's a few Sap-inducing things I intend to introduce that will make good use of it. Additionally, units that absorb the Darkness element will instead be healed by Sap.

I also came up with a solution to the problem of determining when units should attempt to resist spells: magic spells can now be set to ignore MDF, ignore M Evade or both; this lets buffing spells not worry about missing without making spells reflected or cast by Confused monsters doing more damage than intended. And, it allows for damaging spells that cut through your defenses.

Finally, Goblin has a new formula; its base power is determined by the target's level. There's a random element so it won't be consistently powerful later on, but it's a fun and cheap way of doing damage if you have it.

[Swordmaster]

Greetings, mina-san.  ::bows::  I have been silently observing this forum for years.  However, I must have gained a level and learned a skill to overcome my social anxiety.   

The reason for my post is this:  I have greatly enjoyed this FF4A hack, Kea-san.  I was wondering if you were still working on it.  It has been a really long time since a post was made in this thread.  I wanted to let you know that you have at least this one fan.


  Um... is there a reason I am a Mist Dragon?  lol

[chillyfeez]

The monster that represents you is directly related to how many posts you've made on the forum.

[Kea]

Hey Swordmaster, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Unfortunately I haven't done much work on the hack since my last post here. Part of that was having doubts about how interesting the hack's concept really was and how well FF4's engine was suited to the type of gameplay I want to create (plus how it's slow and laggy in general). I also had trouble focusing on just making progress with the hack as opposed to worrying about small details and minor ASM enhancements. I ended up shifting my attention to FF1-Dawn of Souls and privately working on a hack for that. I might post about that one once it's done.

But the real reason I haven't posted much is that I've been busy this summer, and I'm going to be busier in the months to come, so I can't guarantee that I'll have another release out soon...we'll see. It's not a very encouraging report, but I thought I should explain the long absence.

[Swordmaster]

Arigatou gozaimasu, Kea-san.  ::bows::  I truly thank you for the update and for all you've done.  I found your hack incredibly interesting, and have been following this thread since the first post.  I played through every iteration upon release.  I think what sets it apart from other FF4 hacks are all the additions you've made.  It's like... the game is more fleshed out than vanilla.  I'm probably not explaining this well.  The changes you've made just really resonate with me, I guess.  I also love the fact that there are more ultra rare items to be won.  Before knowing about this hack, if anyone had asked me "If you had a choice of one thing to change or add to make FF4 more enjoyable, what would it be?"  My answer would be more ultra rare items from more monsters throughout the game.

Sorry for being so "wordy" and for the terrible job of explaining.  I really appreciate your work, and I will check out anything you release in the future.

By the way, I'm a bit of a grammar Nazi... or maybe "spelling Nazi"?  Anyway, I noticed several typos in your hack.  If you want, I could give you bug reports via screen shots next time I try out a project of yours.  I have helped out the guys over at Dynamic-Designs a few times in the past.  I am known as SwordmasterAbel over there.  That goes for anyone else reading this.  Threat from Within is especially riddled with typos, though admittedly I've only played about an hour of that one so far.   ...I hope I haven't offended anyone.  I have a bad habit of saying whatever I'm thinking, even via typing.   

Ok, I'm getting off topic, so I shall end this post.  Thanks again, Kea-san.  And thanks to anyone else reading this nonsense.  lol

[chillyfeez]

I'd love to have someone "copy edit" TfW if you're legitimately offering.
You do realize what you'd be getting yourself into, right?