Lost lol.

[Destrix]

Hey there. im sorta lost on everything being said here. is there any guide or way for me to understand everything easier?

[Mari]

Could you be a little more specific as to what you're having problems with?
What you can/can't do, etc.
Where you run into a problem..
All that junk.

[Destrix]

Well im like very noob to hacking. im like dunce at hexing the game to play a story i want it to play. and like some of the technical terms i have no clue wth they mean.

for example. what ASM means.

whats a ppf.

err and then when changing the names or a sprite of a unit.  

err well lets say i want to change `Knight` to `Runic Knight`, which ones do i choose. (theres like 4 or different different names for each.)

and also about the spell effects.

like in this thread.

http://www.ffhacktics.com/forum/viewtop ... 38#p106838 .

How exactly do you go through half of this stuff (yes im a noob but asking is more about learning ) .

I would like to create a final fantasy tactic like game that i always wanted to.


I would like to learn to create storyline events and such. :S

[philsov]

for example. what ASM means.

It's an assembly language used to code the game.  Basically 'hard' hacking.

whats a ppf.

A data file of differences... more or less a patch.  A ppf is made from the program ppf studio.  You tell it to compare your original game to your patched game, and it creates a ppf file which has all the changed values.  This enables you to share patches with a light bandwidth and not running into copyright issues.

err and then when changing the names or a sprite of a unit.

err well lets say i want to change `Knight` to `Runic Knight`, which ones do i choose. (theres like 4 or different different names for each.)

FFTactext Utility, part of the FFTPatcher bundle, which is the bread and butter of hackings around here.  Download that from the main page and open it up  Tactext modifies most gameplay text, ffpatcher does most gameplay, and shishi allows for sprite swapping.

and also about the spell effects.

like in this thread.

viewtop ... 38#p106838 .

The "Effect" option when modifying an ability in FFTPatcher

How exactly do you go through half of this stuff (yes im a noob but asking is more about learning ) .

A lot of trial and error, but really these programs are rather intuitive once you actually open them up.

I would like to learn to create storyline events and such. :S

Event Compiler and Decompiler.  There's a list of instructions on the front page and coupled with the readme included it should make a lot of sense.

[Destrix]

err and then when changing the names or a sprite of a unit.

    err well lets say i want to change `Knight` to `Runic Knight`, which ones do i choose. (theres like 4 or different different names for each.)

FFTactext Utility, part of the FFTPatcher bundle, which is the bread and butter of hackings around here. Download that from the main page and open it up Tactext modifies most gameplay text, ffpatcher does most gameplay, and shishi allows for sprite swapping.

but what about the different knights names? do i change every knight into runic knight?

[philsov]

...tch.  It seems the latest bundle only has a patcher readme -_-

After importing your iso for editing, go text -> quick edit.  This'll apply a single text change into the 4 or so different locations that require it.

[Destrix]

I have 2 questions.
(this might be part of the hard coding)

How come when i change the skills for geomancer, i cant use the skills for them? same for mime.

[philsov]

bingo x2.

The geomancer deal is actually fixable with hex editing:

spoiler

0x000E9378 :
FFFFFFFFFFFF05FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF050505FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF05FFFFFF0505FF05FFFF05FF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
60402790
11002000
1500013C
2108E100
78032190
13006000
FF000334
02006110
00000000
25382000
10080000
DC040508
12180000
0x000DA36C :
16410508
00000000
Generic Skillset ability fix.
It should be noted that by default, this hack has every "buggy" skillsets set as 05. This makes the said skillset to copy the functions of skillset 0x05, which is basic skill, a perfectly normal skillset. Else, if the value is 0xFF, the skillset type will remain unchanged. The table reads the original values, so you don't have to worry if you make skillset 0x05 copy 0x06 and vice-versa at the same time.
For example if you want to turn jump (Skillset 0x12) into a normal skillset, you have to make it <default> in the "Action Menus" tab of FFTPatcher, and change the value in the hack's table to 0x05, or anything linking to a normal skillset.
0x000E9378 + 0x12 = 0x000E938A
Like I said, by default all those type of skillsets are set to normal skillsets, so make sure you edit properly before yelling at me.

As per viewtopic.php?f=8&t=953

On a side note, Geomancy ablities can take in some formula no problem, but without this hack they're still ultimately controlled by terrain placement.  And, no, I don't know what works within Elemental and what does, I just know that [(PA + X) * PA/2] and [(MA + X) * MA/2] do work as well.

Mime... is a bit trickier and isn't cracked at this time.

[ffta707]

It's an assembly language used to code the game. Basically 'hard' hacking.

Very hard. And takes A LOT of practice (or labor).

[Destrix]

Is there a  crash course guide in thiS? Like a guide for Dummies.

[philsov]

Very hard. And takes A LOT of practice (or labor).

Well, I meant hard as in "not soft".  A lot of what we do is just variable switching.

Anyways: http://ffhacktics.com/tutorials.php

[ffta707]

Very hard. And takes A LOT of practice (or labor).

Well, I meant hard as in "not soft".  A lot of what we do is just variable switching.

Anyways: http://ffhacktics.com/tutorials.php

Lol. I know, I was just emphasizing it.

[Destrix]

What happened to the info on the wiki? i was using it o.0.  

Also still no luck on finding the mime job?

[LastingDawn]

You mean its not there anymore...? I had thought Mime was cracked by this point? With the Generic Skillset fix?

[FFMaster]

All classes except Mime unfortunately.

[Destrix]

ok i was wrong about the wiki. its just if you have it bookmarked on firefox you get a blank screen. :S eh.  so mime is a no no :s.    OK!!! now onto my next questions  

1.when it comes to editing sprites/creating your own. you use : Graphics Gale, and MS paint only?

2,when you extend an iso (which i need to learn along with how to use a ppf file) is there a way to add in a map and have the "route" labeld on the world map?

[Kill_Bones]

1. Some people use photoshop. Just use the one that you like best. I used GraphicsGale and it was pretty good.

[Destrix]

Thanks Bones ^^

[Destrix]

Does Anyone know a good "easy to learn" custom sprite making guide?

[Jon]

I don't think that exists yet...I could be wrong though. The easiest thing to do is recolor a sprite or just use one of the existing ones from here:
http://ffhacktics.com/sprites.php
Once you found a sprite, follow the tutorial I wrote to get it to work quick and easy in the game:
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=5868