Final Fantasy Hacktics

Undead Red Mage fun, replaced the old stupid Reflect Mail.  Did anyone use that?

Armor fit for a corpse!
HP＋140  Always:Undead
Cancel:Blood Suck - Poison
Absorb:Dark   Half:Ice
Weakness:Fire Holy
Armor: Sq Ch Kn Ar Mk Pr Wi TM Su Th
        Me RM Ge Ln Sm Nj Cl Bd Dc DK

I'll keep adding to this.  Going slow and testing when possible.

First fight, invis Delita.

Quote from: Nyzer on September 30, 2024, 05:53:00 pmI would expect that if you're running into that many graphical glitches that nobody else has reported that something is wrong on your end. Are you using special settings for Duckstation, such as the widescreen hack?

I had noticed the same. I'd be happy to test that when I get a chance.

Quote from: Nyzer on September 25, 2024, 02:10:19 amInnate Doublecast with its attached mid-level White and Black Magic solves all of the main issues that previously had to be countered in other ways. It gives the Red Mage a ton of unique versatility that cannot be so easily replicated on just any other old job any longer.

Thanks for the response.  I'm a huge fan of your work and love dissecting your responses.

I've been messing around, and giving him 00CC-Bio (Oil) at 150 JP gives him a single attack spell and access to the Oil status.  I also added Reverse Undead, Darkness element, and made it more akin to a normal spell (hit caster, enemies, allies, 2x, Math, Mimic).  This is less efficient (MP), less potent (dmg), and 3x more costly (JP) than a tier-1 BLM spell.  BUT, the Red Mage (or better yet, a Dualcaster willing to sacrifice MAtkUP) is the only one that can cast Bio and follow up with Fire 2 for roughly 650 dmg.  Are the Geomancer slots available, or reserved for the ASM hacking on Geomancer?  Some other missing staples might be Temper (+Brv/PA) and Aero.  It would be awesome to see a mix in of sword spells, similar to Matra Magic, while avoiding a cheap clone of Beowulf.

Bio + Fire = Something like Ardor
Matra Magic + Cure = Replenishment (possibly full given optimal HP/MP values)

Bio is not intended to be permanent, as it's a Lucavi spell and I haven't tested the implications of these changes.  Just having some fun with options.  Someone else with far more knowledge would have to make sure I didn't break Queklainn.

I feel like there are other possible combinations, but would require some other spells to be moved to the underutilized skillsets, like Pray Faith to White (kinda tracks) and Paralyze to Time (Don't Move already there).  I haven't bothered to enumerate all the possibilities, but added Bio via the patcher last night and wanted to share.  Red Mage can't strengthen Darkness through anything but 108 Gems.

As I was putting the final edits on this post, I started salivating at the thought of a Black Mage with Red Magic and Doublecast that can blast out a Bio + Fire4 or Summoner that can do Bio + Ifrit.  It may not be the most practical, but I'll bet that would be fun.

First and foremost, I'm necroing this post because it's mine.  Nyzer has changed the game, literally and figuratively.

I have been thoroughly enjoying Nyzer's mod, FFT ReMix v1.2.  It is extraordinarily well done, offering significant QoL improvements without sacrificing the Vanilla feel we all love.  The additional events, skills, and character dialogs share the PSX and canonical Final Fantasy stylistic elements.  Most importantly, the recent additions have paved the way for a Red Mage that stays true to the Jack-of-all-trades trope, with one difference that isn't even a deviation from FF canon: he's a master of debuffs.

What I just can't seem to figure out, however, is after all that work, even adding a Doublecast, is where the Red Mage be at?!  It's still in spot 55, improperly named the Oracle, which sucks and is about to get a much needed remake.

I'll list out the changes, loosely by tab in FFTPatcher, followed by the logic behind those changes.

Jobs

Stat	Value	Rank	Supporting Details
HPg	11	7
HPm	95	8
MPg	10	7
MPm	110	5
SPg	100	3	1: Ninja, 2: Thief, 3: all other classes
SPm	105	5
PAg	50	10
PAm	100	11
MAg	50
MAm	100
Move	3
Jump	3
C-Ev%	10

Red Mage stats for levels 1, 50, and 99:

Level	HP	MP	SP	PA	MA
1	29.44	15.94	6.29	5.00	4.00
50	149.70	86.99	9.35	9.80	7.84
99	269.95	158.04	12.41	14.60	11.68

White Mage for comparison:

Level	HP	MP	SP	PA	MA
1	24.79	17.39	6.59	4.50	4.39
50	135.27	94.90	9.80	8.82	8.62
99	245.74	172.41	13.00	13.14	12.85

Equipment
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Red_Mage_(Final_Fantasy_V)
Knife
Sword
Rod
Staff
Pole
Shield
Hat
Armor
Clothing
Robe

Innate: Doublecast, it needs to be done...

The Logic
By making the Red Mage have extraordinarily average stat growth and multipliers but a large equipment pool, he can fill any role with a slight change.  For a larger MP pool, robes and/or MP replenishment skills such as MP Rage.  For front line melee, armor and perhaps a pole, but at least the iconic Enhancer (below).

By end game, I releveled my mage using the Mime and ended up with the following:

435 HP / 153 MP
93 Br  / 84 Fa
9 PA
24 MA

Enhancer (renamed Rune Blade +2MA)
Aegis Shield (+1MA)
Ribbon
Robe of Lords (+2PA/+1MA)
Chantage (Genji Gauntlet is a great choiceat +2/2, but I like to not die)

Red Magic (previously Yin Yang)
(Thinking Time Magic, undecided though)
MP Rage
Magic AttackUP
Move +3 (could go with Move-MP UP though)

My Skillsets are:
Attack
Red Magic
(Time Magic?)
White Magic (x2 subset)
Black Magic (x2 subset)

I can instant cast a 400-500 damage 2-tier spell without equipping an elemental weapon.  That's no Orlandu, Dark Knight, or Dual Wield Ramza, but I can also instant cast 200-250 HP Cures and smack dudes around for 120-240 damage.  This is all before the battle altering array of debuffs.  It's worth mentioning that I built my Red Mage as a mage, and she doesn't disappoint when it comes to being disappointly average, which is precisely the goal.

Skillset
Subtle changes, added Matra Magic for the sword users, made it x2 for now, can target self.  This allows the Red Mage to swap MP and recharge, making better use of an already odd character.  Swap and heal to recover most of your health, but it's MP heavy and leaves you vulnerable.  I moved the Support abilities to the Calculator and moved Doublecast to the Red Mage.  It has been, and will continue to be, the only thing this utility class provides (along with fun).  I also made it 999 JP, which is odd for Tactics, but a throwback to FFV's 999 ABP cost to master the Red Mage.  I'm a nostalgic guy.

Items
Logic first on this one.  I found that increasing the melee efficacy of mages by adding spells to staves and rods is not game breaking, but makes for a wider range of play styles and increases heat (by 19%) from some random battles.  I was farming JP and got mildly rekt by 2 time mages that outgeared me in Ch1 because they had Gold Staves (Magic: Petrify, nod to Midas) and I had no softs.  It forced me to bail early, and that's enough to be fun.

ID	Item	Update (blank if no change)	Description (if changed)
09	Air Knife	Strengthen: Wind
1D	Ice Brand	Strengthen: Ice
1E	Enhancer		Sabre that increases magical power. (FFV desc)
33	Rod
34	Thunder Rod
35	Ice Rod
36	Fire Rod
37	Poison Rod
38	Wizard Rod	Magic: Spell Absorb
39	Dragon Rod	Magic: Flare
3A	Faith Rod
3B	Oak Staff
3C	White Staff
3D	Healing Staff
3E	Rainbow Staff	Magic: Demi
3F	Wizard Staff	Magic: Spell Absorb
40	Gold Staff	Magic: Petrify	Glittering golden staff. Capable of turning things to solid gold with but a touch.
41	Mace of Zeus	Lightning elemental Strengthen:Lightning Magic:Bolt 3
42	Sage Staff	Magic: Ultima
72	Whale Whisker	Strengthen: Water

The Red Mage can enhance the following (excluding accessories):
Fire Lightning Ice Wind Earth Water Holy Dark

I'll add more later, especially my thoughts and justifications, but this is the bulk of it.  I know Nyzer will disagree, which is half of why I'm posting it.  For example, we were both against armor at the beginning.  Buuuuut the FF Red Mage's first gear was the Chain Mail, and the thought of a Reflect Mail on a spell caster is interesting.

Excellent work!  You made the disappointingly mediocre possible!  (and I mean that in a very good way!)

Nah, it's not the poaching.  It's the permadeath/crystal/chest.  I poached a few enemies successfully and instead waited for the Trent/Woodman crystals.  Poached fine, got the game over on a Trent crystal.  Loaded an all human party, killed Luso, same thing: Game Over on crystal.

I tested in 1.2.06 and the issue was not present.  I hope that helps.

Quote from: Nyzer on September 11, 2024, 08:46:52 amZodiark being called something different is largely because this is the PSX translation, so I felt it was fitting to simplify his title a bit.

All good.  I'm late to the game (figuratively and literally) so I apologize if I came off as critical.  Just tossing it out there if you were otherwise unaware.

Excellent work!  Definitely enjoying the new additions.

Quote from: Nyzer on September 11, 2024, 10:39:36 amI deployed a Black Chocobo and poached it without any issues. You'll need to be more specific.

Neither of those things was happening for me. Are you using an incompatible emulator or a bad copy of the game?

I run Linux and am therefore stuck with Duckstation.  Open to recommendations.
I used a freshly patched game, but let me mess around a bit more.  I am right before Orbonne in Ch 3 and I attempted to poach Trents and Woodmans on the Mandalia Plains.  I'll poach some other monster types and try to do some enemies.

1.2.07 - Game Over occurs when poaching an allied unit.  Unsure of enemies and guests, will edit with updates when available.

Also, 1.1, Zodiarc is the Keeper of Precepts. https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Esper_(Final_Fantasy_XII)#Zodiark,_Keeper_of_Precepts

Oops, just saw the bug thread.  Will post over there.

It seems like the most correct answer is to rebalance MA/PA and leave MP out of the equation.  It sounds like this achieves the highest degree of vanilla authenticity and customization potential.  This also makes other skills like Aqua Breath, Aero 1/2/3, and Flamethrower, Blue Magic staples, feasible again.

@Nyzer @nitwit Good points.  I just wanted to clarify for the sake of the integrity of the original post (which I've updated).

As far as why, Duskblade on Orlandeau can crush MP with the fury, but I suppose if you're doing that, you'd be killing it with a different ability instead.  I don't know.  I'm feeling inclined to try now, just to say I've done it.

Anyway, thanks for the answers.

Quote from: Nyzer on May 07, 2020, 01:29:39 pmThe skills don't need to be 0 MP. Monsters won't consume the MP, but the AI won't attempt to cast if their MP isn't high enough. You just have to give them better MP multipliers.

I don't think I'm asking the question the correct way.  In fact, I'm sure of it, because I should be asking for clarification around "MP".  Is that current or max MP?  Can a monster use a 40 MP skill with 0/200 MP if the monster skill consumes 0 MP?  I'd be concerned about the exploit @yamish pointed out, "Osmose"-ing a monster to 0 to cause it to avoid using a skill.

Is it possible to give some of these monsters an innate "No Charge" hidden ability?  Specifically the ones with 4 innate abilities already.  I would feel much better with 0 MP skills if the Blue Mage had to cast and the monsters didn't (unless they did, like the Ultima Demons).

Hey, @Nyzer , can the Blue Mage Dual Cast? 

jk, but I updated the post slightly to include some of your points.

Quote from: Elric on January 20, 2020, 11:04:05 pm1) Ja, Raven's Workbooks has the weapon battle graphic assigner

@Elric Sorry to bring this back up.  I don't find a lot of time to just sit at my computer much these days to follow up.

I've looked through the folders, but haven't seen anything that stands out for the battle graphic assigner.  Am I missing it?  I've clicked through most, if not all, of these files in the resources provided.

https://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=7271.0 Raven's Workbooks here.

Quote from: Nyzer on January 21, 2020, 09:43:32 pmAn alternate animations spreadsheet exists, we use it for Jot5 to allow monsters and humans to have different animations for the same skill. Unsure if it's public.

@Nyzer @Elric  Would one of you be so kind as to share?  I was unable to find the sheet referenced.

Quote from: Heisho on February 23, 2020, 08:50:16 pmIf I may add something.

Don't let the sarcasm fool you. I'm all about collaboration in this post!

Quote from: Heisho on February 23, 2020, 08:50:16 pmIn my take I will do that instead of using something that deals damage. That way the stats re balance might not be as difficult.

If you have anything you are especially proud of, let us know and I can add it to the main post.

Quote from: Timbo on February 20, 2020, 12:27:26 pmLooks like it.

I love the honesty.

@Timbo I specifically call out the rebalancing. I do actually need to restructure the original post, though, so I'm open to recommendations on format. Not to point the finger, but did you miss it? Should I move it up in the post?

Quote from: old school on January 21, 2020, 07:15:02 pmIn conclusion, to successfully implement the Blue Mage, you would need to
Rebalance all the stats of your monsters, accounting for MP consumption and MA/PA consequences
Get a nice list of versatile monster magics to fill your skill set (and make some of your own!)
Figure out how to
     • do conditional animations
     • animate them all as magics for player and monster, or
     • give up and still feel good about your crappy Macarena looking deal you do before blowing away a foe
Come up with a cool name!

Oh man, I totally forgot to add a nod to the "Enhancer". Also this:

Quote from: Nyzer on January 22, 2020, 10:14:42 amRemoving beneficial effects in order to heal a unit, removing negative effects from allies at the cost of HP, MP restoration (if not using the Red Mage for it), etc. They can be status-focused without being so one-note.

That's pretty awesome, Nyzer. I like that idea!