Final Fantasy Hacktics

Let's make sure you're doing the process correctly! Here's a step by step.

Assuming FFTPatcher v0.493 Beta v6
Open FFTPatcher
Click File -> Generate Resources.zip
Make sure to generate the file in the same directory as FFTPatcher (and keep it there)
Open the zip -> Click on the PSP folder (If that's the version you are editing)
Say you want to edit SkillSets.xml, if you don't have something that knows how to edit xml's, export the file, change it in notepad, and import it back into the same folder it was in in the zip file without changing the name. If you do have something that can edit xml's, just double click on the file in the zip and edit it there, and save.
Close and open FFTPatcher again, your changes should be present.

Make sure you are preserving the formatting of the file while editing the entries. Here is an excerpt from the PSP's SkillSets.xml

  <SkillSet byte="05" name="Fundaments"/>
  <SkillSet byte="06" name="Items"/>
  <SkillSet byte="07" name="Arts of War"/>

Let's say you want to edit Fundaments to Witchcraft (idk), the file now looks like this

  <SkillSet byte="05" name="Witchcraft"/>
  <SkillSet byte="06" name="Items"/>
  <SkillSet byte="07" name="Arts of War"/>

Hope this helps!

It is possible that it's an issue of compatibility between the emulator and CCP. It's known not to play well with certain versions of ePSXe and anything that isn't pSXfin on windows, lord only knows what happens with it on emulators on mac. Good luck though!

I'm not sure if this will fix the issue (might just be the emulator? I'm not sure!), but you could try patching with this instead https://www.marcrobledo.com/RomPatcher.js/ and see if you get something that is playable.

Also welcome back!

The FFTPatcher suite comes with a tool called FFTacText which can change text (including unit names).

So for each character you want to replace, take a look at this reference: https://ffhacktics.com/wiki/Font

You can see the excel sheet asks for the Character ID and Character Width (both provided to you on the wiki page I linked). Put in the correct info for the character you want to replace. So if you want to replace the capital A, ID is 0A and Width is 6. Next draw the new character in the box by filling in the squares with the correct numbers (1 is darkest, then 2, then 3, then blank). Copy everything in the blue box and save it to a .xml file with some name (say, Areplacement.xml), put that XML file in the same folder as other FFTOrgASM hacks and apply it, then in game you should see that A has been changed to whatever you changed it to.
You'll create separate hacks for each letter, and then you'll have to edit the text in game with these replacements in mind.

Hope that explanation makes sense to you!

https://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=12548.msg228657#msg228657

You can use this tool to create an ASM hack that you can apply to do your font changes. I would stay away from older versions of the FFTPatcher, be sure to use the latest (FFTPatcher v0.493 beta v6).
Save the information to an XML, then use FFTOrgASM to apply the hack! Hopefully it works out for you.

Ganesha v0.75 is hErE!!

Once again, credit to Gomtuu for creating Ganesha and Twinees for doing past updates.
Credit again to Garmichael for working on more features and sending in bug fixes for his work from the last update!!
And of course, thanks to the community for testing things out and suggesting new features!

Here is the README update from v0.75:
- (Garmichael) Fixed an issue with importing palettes where Ganesha would only read part of the file
- (Garmichael) Changed palette editing window from having an Alpha slider to having a checkbox
- (Garmichael) You can no longer manipulate the sliders in the palette edit window with nothing selected
- Multi-Terrain Editing window is no longer able to edit Polygons, and should not result in more crashes
- Multi-Terrain Editing window is now able to properly apply Flat 0 and Natural Surface to multiple tiles at once
- Multi-Terrain Editing window will no longer set tiles to Convex NW when no slope type is selected
- Fixed a bug where using a hotkey with nothing selected would cause a crash
- (Garmichael) Added all polygons in map list to the Polygon edit window
- Camera panning has been added, use Alt-Right Click / Mouse-Wheel Click and drag

Not a huge update this time, but the frequently requested Camera Panning feature is here!
Garmichael has been putting in work on Ganesha (as you can see) so make sure you send him some thanks as well

Ganesha v0.75 Download

The download / install process remains the same as above, but this time I've only included the folder that has to be replaced in the ganesha-0.60 folder.

(Ganesha is also on github! If you have suggestions and/or bug reports, please note them on the Issues page of the project here: https://github.com/JustinMarshall98/Ganesha or send me a private message on the site, or join our Discord and reach out to us there!)

Ganesha v0.74 is HERE!
MORE features, MORE QOL updates! (More bugs discovered!!)

Once again, credit to Gomtuu for creating Ganesha and Twinees for doing past updates.
This time, major props and credit goes to Garmichael for creating the Palette Import / Export feature!
And thanks to the community for testing things out and suggesting new features

Ganesha is also on Github now! Come suggest new features or notify me of bugs in the Issues section
https://github.com/JustinMarshall98/Ganesha

Here's the README update from v0.74:
- Fixed the Saving a [0,0] tile Map Bug and capped the max tile count at 256. Any side of the map must be between 1 and 255 tiles.
- Fixed UV to be bound to values between [0,255] to prevent crashing
- Fixed bug where copying black polygons would cause Ganesha to crash while saving
- Polygons without a D point can no longer "rotate" around it
- Polygons and tiles will remain green after being moved with hotkeys
- Polygons and tiles can correctly no longer be selected together
- XYZ colour in polygon editing window now match XYZ axis colours in the map viewer
- Import / Export function added to the palette window (ACT format). Credit to Garmichael for fully implementing this feature.
- Select all polygons / tiles with CTRL+A. Cycle through different terrain levels (or all tiles) by hitting ctrl+a repeatedly
- Added in height changing hotkeys for terrain tiles
- Added a new window for modifying many attributes of multiple terrain tiles at once (Hit tab with multiple tiles selected)
- Polygon editing window now has column-based Copy/Paste buttons for values
- Added in functionality for copying multiple polygons at once
- Added +1/-1 buttons for XYZ and UV
- Added Timestamp into console window when saving

New Bugs:
DO NOT select text in the console window and then attempt to perform any operation in Ganesha. It will crash and corrupt your map files. (You can thank Python for this one)

Once again, limited testing has been performed. Please give feedback if you find anything!

Ganesha v0.74 Download

The download / install process remains the same as above, but this time I've only included the folder that has to be replaced in the ganesha-0.60 folder. Eventually I will attempt to just create some kind of new installer or something to remove this process, but it's not a high priority right now.

EDIT: Updated the link as of 11:46pm same day as posting. Fixed several bugs, pertaining to Import Palette, hotkeys, and the multi-terrain edit window! Please download the latest version to save yourself from dealing with Ganesha crashes

EDIT 3/10/2021: Another bug: Attempting to apply Flat 0 to multiple tiles using the multi-terrain editor and then saving causes Ganesha to crash. It also does not actually apply flat 0 to those tiles. Other slope types do function correctly, but beware for now.

It's update time! Welcome to Ganesha 0.73!

I've added a few more features / QOL updates, and have a to-do list for myself or anyone else that may take up Ganesha development in the future.

Major credit / kudos of course to Gomtuu for originally creating Ganesha, and Twinees for adding in COLOUR and features as noted in his above post.

New in v0.73

• Added the ability to select / unselect multiple polygons at once for mass editing / deleting
• Added hotkeys for adjusting X (+-28), Z (+-28), Y (+-12), and deleting polygons in the map viewer
• Added rotate vertex buttons in relation to two more planes (Just XZ in v0.70, now XZ, XY, ZY rotation possible)
• Added new 'settings' window with a legend for what every button does (Escape)
• Lighting and Palette textboxes now accept typed entries
• Fixed Lighting Elevation range from being bound [0,90] to [-90,90]

Still to-do:

• A better way to select UV for tiles(Option to move on the sheet, like X and Y +/-, or a mouse click!)
• Current map state display (Day/night/ect) display
• Duplicating black textureless polygons and then saving causes Ganesha to crash
• Setting map tile dimensions to [0,0] and then saving crashes Ganesha and makes your map unable to be opened
• Delete Elric (as per Kokojo's request)
• Other user suggested features people post in this topic!

I did pretty limited testing, the only issue I know of right now is that while doing multi-selection, you can unselect a selected polygon by clicking it again UNLESS it is a black no texture polygon. Your cursor will kind of 'pierce' it, and select any unsuspecting polygons that are behind it.

Download Ganesha V0.73 here

The installation process remains the same as in Twinees' original post above.

You'll have to be a bit more specific with what the problems you are having are. If you are able to open TacText, open your game image, then select things like Ability Names and Job Names from the Quick Edit drop down, and patch your image, that's basically all there is to it.

There have been issues with TacText in the past, my recommendation is for you to have downloaded the latest FFTPatcher Suite (At the time of this post, v0.493 beta v6 https://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=7163.msg229430#msg229430) to make sure you are using the latest (and least buggy) versions of these programs. Another good practice is to save your changes as .fftactext files before patching, and when opening Tactext later on to make more changes, load the changes from the tactext file instead of from the image.

If you're using Shishi then you also have the FFTPatcher and FFTacText programs, which will allow you to make the changes you want. Algus' sprite is one of the first few listed in Shishi, so you can just change his sprite there. Then, Algus has his own Job in the FFTPatcher (Job 7) with corresponding skillset 1F Battle Skill, you can either change that skillset to be Alma's skillset in the Job tab, or you can edit its name in TacText and then put in the skills that you want (in the skillset tab)!

Explore FFTPatcher, TacText, and Shishi to make sure you have a good grasp of what those programs are capable of doing!

Unfortunately we can't share the files ourselves or links to them, all I can say is keep googling! (Or rip it from the disc you own).

Bet you thought you'd never see the day!

Swap Music

This is just a simple byte swap for a few locations (Party Screen, Memory Card Menu, Shop, Fur Shop, Soldier's Office) that allows you to change what song you want to play there. The defaults set for each are the correct songs for them in vanilla. Refer to the ID's listed here: https://ffhacktics.com/wiki/Songs
I'm still working on tracking down the right locations for the bytes for the World Map, Brave Story, Tutorial, and Battle Formation screen.

More hacks to come maybe??? Find out next time on FFHacktics!

Skillsets 19, 1A, and 1B are all Ramza.
19 Guts is chapter 1, 1A Guts is chapter 2 / 3, 1B is chapter 4.
The fourth Guts skillset is Chapter 1 Delita. I believe Algus (mr. blonde guy) has a different skillset name, but you can check around the FFTPatcher (like check an ENTD with Algus in it) to see which job is his.

Quote from: LegaultCriez on February 13, 2021, 05:27:27 amMy first initial thought is just adjust some things using the FFTPatcher, go to the jobs section and change one of the 01,02,03 or the 04 since from what I understand thats all his right?

And then to make and change the skillset into my own custom skill set, just go to the skillset tab and add a new one, go back to the job and change the skillset to the one i just made? I guess its not that simple?

The first 3 jobs are Ramza, then Delita is the 4th, just like the skillsets.
You won't be "creating" new skillsets so much as modifying ones that exist, but yeah it is that simple.

Tedious because there are SO many special frames for Ramza.

To edit the EVTCHR stuff properly you need to have a program that can edit the palette of a bmp image, like Graphics Gale or GIMP. Wherever Ramza's palette is (it'll be one of the rows, where each row is 16 colours) you need to replace those with the first row of 16 colours from the Ramza sprite you have here. Whatever the first row of colours from the EVTCHR sheet is then needs to be put as the first row of colours in that Ramza sheet (skip this step if Ramza's colours were the first row). Then you can put frames from the Ramza sheet into the EVTCHR sheet. Then this process must be repeated for separate sections.

If this is for a personal hack that only you and maybe a few other people will see I would say it may be best to live with it? But if you enjoy seeing polished things then go for it! Good luck!

If you have a copy of the game and the FFTPatcher Suite, open up the file with Shishi and scroll down (just two down I think) to ch4 Ramza and export it.

When characters do "special poses" in scenes, it uses something called EVTCHR. You can edit that in Shishi now as well (though it is tedious). What you are seeing is Ramza's old special pose frames with palette data taken from the new sprite, which is why it looks so weird

You need an extra ASM hack to make those skillsets (the ones that reference Items I believe, so Draw Out, Throw and Item) function properly outside of the 3 generic skillsets that have them normally (enemies can use them fine but not human players).

Take a look at the latest FFTPatcher (v0.493 Beta v6), in FFTOrgASM under Glain.XML there should be a hack called Skillset Menu Hardcoding Fix that will allow this to work properly. If that doesn't work, look into the Generic Skillsets hack / fix, a few people have taken a crack at this problem.

Quote from: coldds on January 25, 2021, 10:15:57 pmHow many chapters do you guys want to release chapters besides 2? Or Ch2 is the last one?

JoT5 has been planned out to be 4 chapters, though each chapter has more content than any of the vanilla chapters.

Quote from: coldds on January 25, 2021, 10:15:57 pmDo you guys want to add new features for future Chapters too or Ch2 will have all the desired features and future Chapters will be usual "more stages and items" (which means that it will be released faster)?

Great question! Chapter 2 and the chapter 1 re-release together have covered the development of most new features, unless more are decided on later to be added in you are correct, the rest of the chapters will take a lot less time because it will be mostly event and balance work.

Quote from: darkskyx on January 26, 2021, 03:05:16 amI have a few questions, I wanna change Squire models but there are so many... I need to change all?

In Shishi the only squire's you need to change to effect generics are the one's listed near Chemist (#'s 60 and 61) (all the other one's are just duplicates once you've expanded your ISO with Shishi).

In Shishi's Other Images tab where you can now edit Unit.Bin and Wldface.bin (to edit formation screen sprites) they do not have duplicates so it's more straightforward.