User:Raijinili/Modding intro draft
So You Want to Write an FFT Mod
What, this ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE isn't good enough for you? Fine, join the club.
What do you want to do?
I don't actually want to make a mod. I just want to play it.
You're in the wrong place. Go here.
A simple rebalance patch
It sounds like you just want to modify #Stats.
A complicated rebalance patch
#Stats editing lets you reuse existing formulas, but if you want to make a new skill formula, you'll need to reprogram the game with #ASM hacking.
Make my own job
- Create and edit the #Stats of the job.
- Give the job #Sprites.
- Change the names and descriptions of the job and skills through #Text editing.
- Make skill #Animations and #Effects.
- To make skills that are not simple variations of existing skills, you'll need #ASM hacking.
Make my own mechanics
Reprogram the game with #ASM hacking.
Make my own story
- Story cutscenes are coded as #Events.
- Edit the #World map.
- Edit #ENTD for battles.
I want to do it for WotL!
Most hacking tools work on WotL PSP, with one major exception. (iOS/Android versions of WotL are not supported.)
Unfortunately, #ASM hacking techniques don't carry over from the PSX version, because all the code was recompiled and moved around. There's a tool called Valhalla that lets you apply ASM hacks for the PSP, but you'll need to develop the hacks yourself.
FFT modding types
Stats
FFTPatcher is a general tool to modify almost all relevant gameplay data. You can do a lot with just FFTPatcher. You should play around with it just to see what's possible.
ENTD
Use FFTPatcher's ENTD tab to modify the units in battles.
See also: #Maps
Text
FFTactext lets you modify almost all text except #story text. It includes:
- Names and descriptions of jobs, items, menus, etc.
- Pub text, such as rumors and propositions (WotL: Errands).
- Job quotes.
- Brave Story.
Tutorials:
Maps
- Discord channel: #map_editing
Use Ganesha to modify battle and story maps.
World map
Use ?? to modify the world map.
Sprites
- Discord channel: #spriting
Sprites are the images used for units and items.
See also: #Animations
Animations
Animations are sprite movements. Story cutscenes also use animations.
Edit them in FFTPatcher's "Animations" tab.
Effects
Effects are the flashy things that happen when you use skills. Story cutscenes also use Effects.
FFTPatcher allows you to set which effect a skill uses.
To make your own effects, see:
Events
- Discord channel: #eventing
Events are used to play cutscenes and make story battle things happen. Events use their own unique programming language.
To change the units in a cutscene, you'll also need to edit #ENTD.
ASM hacking
- Discord channel: #asm_hacking
ASM hacking lets you reprogram the game. With ASM hacking, you can rewrite the entire game, within the limits of the PSX.
FFT is a PSX game. The PSX's CPU speaks in a language called MIPS I. MIPS I is an example of assembly languages, so we refer to the language of FFT as ASM.
