[FF8] Battle Hardcore Patch - one problem

[Colly]

Hi,

I create Hardcore Patch for FF8 and I have one problem. Anybody knows, where is stored data about max possible level of monster (for Ifrit, Ultimecia, etc.)?

[gjoerulv]

I just started exploring the FF8 files. Where is all the data for enemies stored anyway? I would guess in the battle archive. Would love to boost the difficulty in FF8.

[Colly]

I created Battle Hardcore Patch two weeks ago, but installer is in Polish (but it's simple ), so I don't published this here yet.
If you want this patch now, download it from here: FF8 Battle Hardcore Patch.

INFO: This patch is working with English version of the game.

Instructions:
1. Download Hardcore patch.
2. Create a backup of "battle.fs", "battle.fl" and "battle.fi".
3. Create a new folder inside Final Fantasy VIII folder (in this folder you have FF8.exe).
4. Extract files from the patch into this folder.
5. Run FF8_BHP.exe.
6. Choose difficulty level (Ruby Medium, Ultima Hard, Omega Extreme).
7. Click "Zastosuj" button (Polish translation of "Apply") and wait to the end of job inside cmd.exe window.
8. Close FF8_BHP.exe and run FF8 .

I suggest you to choose Hard difficulty level. Extreme level is really Extreme

Unfortunately, I can't changed data about max possible level of monster.

To create this patch, I wrote a program to change data in battle files, I'll publish it soon

[polaris_027]

so what exactly does this patch does? what's the difference from all of those modes?

[gjoerulv]

Wow this is really great Colly. Though I would like to know where the data for the enemies are located. 2 days ago I got hold of FF8 PC version so I figured out I should tweak it some too. There's a lot of stuff I want to change, not just enemies. If someone know anything it would be great if you told me!  Thanks!

[Colly]

Files for enemies are located in battle.fs archive. This is the files with names c0mXXX.dat (from c0m001.dat to c0m143.dat).
When you'll open this file, look on the 0x1C. There is a pointer to the offset in this file, which we need. From this offset, about all needed things you can read from this pdf: FF8 enemy parameters.

You need a table of magic and item values to read all properly from this PDF. This tables are here:
FF8 Item values
FF8 Magic values

As you can see in Magic values - yes, you can insert "The End" magic to draw from any enemy (I tried this with Glacial Eye - it works )

Notes about HP, STR, etc. parameters:

Legend:
x is a value of monster level)
average_party_level is a result of: (first character level + second character level + third character level) / 3
finish_char_level is a level of character which killed the monster


Values of all parameters are a result of:

HP:
(hp_1 * x * x / 20) + (hp_1 + hp_3 * 100) * x + hp_2 * 10 + hp_4 * 1000

STR:
x * str_1 / 10 + x / str_2 - x * x / 2 / str_4 + str_3) / 4

MAG:
exactly like STR

VIT:
x / vit_2 - x / vit_4 + x * vit_1 + vit_3

SPR, SPD, EVA:
Exactly like VIT

EXP:
exp_value * (5 * (x - average_party_level) / average_party_level + 4)

Extra EXP:
exp_extra_value * (5 * (x - finish_char_level) / finish_char_level + 4)


That's all, I think. I doesn't search values about drop cards and devour status, but maybe I'll search it some day

Maybe somebody will insert this info to Qhimm wiki?

There's a lot of stuff I want to change, not just enemies.

What do you want to know? Maybe I'll help (screens of FF8 in Polish )

[gjoerulv]

Yeah, sorry I wasn't precise when I asked but you got it anyway. It's quite obvious the enemy stuff is in those files but where to look in those files is another question. Thanks man! I really appreciate it! I've never seen this before. I've always assumed no one really knew much about FF8 (naive, I know).

Do you know how the game calculates damage? I'm not gonna change the formulas, but rather change the attack power of certain spells. I haven't played the game in a while (years) all I remember is that magic was basically too weak. In the beginning of the game it was all good, though magic quickly became pale compared to physical attacks by junctions.

Hmmm other things... Yeah I would also like to alter how magic effects stats (junction). Not HOW it effects, but alter the values of the effects. Some magics gives too much power to the stats, and makes the game a walk in the park early on. Any clue here?

Sorry if I ask too much.

Yeah get this stuff up on the wiki. There really is nothing there on FFVIII.

[Claude]

Sorry if i fail to see the sense in hard, or the omega difficulties, how am i supposed to beat a bat that has 19 000hp? I'm in the cave right now and if i'm gonna fight it takes more than the 40 minutes to kill one bat. Pretty ridicilous

[gjoerulv]

ok as I understand it FF8 text encoding goes like this:

Code: [Select]

45 = A
46 = B
47 = C
48 = D
49 = E
4A = F
4B = G
4C = H
4D = I
4E = J
4F = K
50 = L
51 = M
52 = N
53 = O
54 = P
55 = Q
56 = R
57 = S
58 = T
59 = U
5A = V
5B = W
5C = X
5D = Y
5E = Z
5F = a
60 = b
61 = c
62 = d
63 = e
64 = f
65 = g
66 = h
67 = i
68 = j
69 = k
6A = l
6B = m
6C = n
6D = o
6E = p
6F = q
70 = r
71 = s
72 = t
73 = u
74 = v
75 = w
76 = x
77 = y
78 = z


[Colly]

Gjoerulv, yeah. For English version I use this table:

Code: [Select]

02=\n
0E=<$>
20=
21=0
22=1
23=2
24=3
25=4
26=5
27=6
28=7
29=8
2A=9
2B=%
2C=/
2D=:
2E=!
2F=?
30=...
31=+
32=-
33==
34=*
35=&
36=jap "
37=jap"
38=(
39=)
3A=[' in middle]
3B=.
3C=,
3D=~
3E="
3F="
40='
41=#
42=$
43=`
44=_
45=A
46=B
47=C
48=D
49=E
4A=F
4B=G
4C=H
4D=I
4E=J
4F=K
50=L
51=M
52=N
53=O
54=P
55=Q
56=R
57=S
58=T
59=U
5A=V
5B=W
5C=X
5D=Y
5E=Z
5F=a
60=b
61=c
62=d
63=e
64=f
65=g
66=h
67=i
68=j
69=k
6A=l
6B=m
6C=n
6D=o
6E=p
6F=q
70=r
71=s
72=t
73=u
74=v
75=w
76=x
77=y
78=z
79=&#321;
7C=Ä
88=Ó
8A=Ö
8E=Ü
90=ß
94=ä
A0=ó
A2=ö
A6=ü
A8=VIII
A9=[
AA=]
AB=[SQUARE]
AC=@
AD=[SSQUARE]
AE={
AF=}
C6=VI
C7=II
C9=â„¢
CA=<
CB=>
E8=in
E9=e
EA=ne
EB=to
EC=re
ED=HP
EE=l
EF=ll
F0=GF
F1=nt
F2=il
F3=o
F4=ef
F5=on
F6= w
F7= r
F8=wi
F9=fi
FB=s
FC=ar
FE= S
FF=ag
Claude, hard bat, huh? Try Medium difficulty. Hard and Extreme is really hard and extreme, as you can see. The key to this battles is MAGIC and limits. Try use more magic, it works better than physical attacks.

Do you know how the game calculates damage? I'm not gonna change the formulas, but rather change the attack power of certain spells. I haven't played the game in a while (years) all I remember is that magic was basically too weak. In the beginning of the game it was all good, though magic quickly became pale compared to physical attacks by junctions.

This problem is because of too strong physical attacks and too weak raising Mag stats by characters. I don't know where is stored this data. But when all monsters will have strong VIT, player should do more work to raise MAG stats Rinoa with MAG 255 and Angel Wing limit is very powerful

Hmmm other things... Yeah I would also like to alter how magic effects stats (junction). Not HOW it effects, but alter the values of the effects. Some magics gives too much power to the stats, and makes the game a walk in the park early on. Any clue here?

Unfortunately, I don't know :/

[gjoerulv]

Hmmm yea, I would like to alter the power modifiers for magic.

When I think about it, the game is pretty well balanced by default. Except that some magics are too weak, most of the enemies too weak and physical attacks too strong.

[Kudistos Megistos]

I always found myself using magic only for junctioning; physical attacks were much more powerful as well as being free (in the sense that using junctioned magic lowered the stat), so why bother using magic?

I've always thought that since magic attacks (unlike physical ones) are not free in most RPGs, they should be significantly more powerful (and certainly not less powerful).

[Claude]

I'd like the medium difficulty if you could raise the amount of damage enemies do, the only difference i see is that HP has skyrocketed, making the battles only more time-consuming, not really hard. I don't want to be rude, just saying what i think, for example, on medium difficulty Ifrit has 1300hp, on hard he has over 10 000, probably almost 20 000, can't remember but over 10 000 anyway. Why such a big leap on HP between the difficulties? Is that a bug or is it intended

[-Ric-]

what exactly does this patch change?
it it just the monsters hp?
would be cool if u could explain with details what was changed 

[Colly]

what exactly does this patch change?
it it just the monsters hp?
would be cool if u could explain with details what was changed 

This patch change parameters for HP, STR, VIT, MAG, SPR, SPD and EVA, not only HP (but I think some of this parameters, for monsters, are different - there is DEX and INT (Dexterity and Intelligence), I think instead of SPD and EVA).
In the medium level of the patch, parameters are raised by approximately 30%, in hard by 60–70% and in extreme by more than 100%. HP is an exception, this HP are changed intended, by adding some value to the 3rd and 4th parameter.
For what? When the team are on 50 or more level, their stats raising very quickly (by junctioning) and standard value of HP are low (Ultima Weapon killed in 2 turns). In the beginning of the game I recommend play on Medium difficulty
After the Dollet mission you can change the level into hard or extreme (not recommended though).

But I play the beginning of the game with hard difficulty and it's possible - but I have to draw more and USE more magic Are you going to the Fire Cavern? Fight with some Glacial Eyes and get Blizzard

[-Ric-]

what exactly does this patch change?
it it just the monsters hp?
would be cool if u could explain with details what was changed 

This patch change parameters for HP, STR, VIT, MAG, SPR, SPD and EVA, not only HP (but I think some of this parameters, for monsters, are different - there is DEX and INT (Dexterity and Intelligence), I think instead of SPD and EVA).
In the medium level of the patch, parameters are raised by approximately 30%, in hard by 60–70% and in extreme by more than 100%. HP is an exception, this HP are changed intended, by adding some value to the 3rd and 4th parameter.
For what? When the team are on 50 or more level, their stats raising very quickly (by junctioning) and standard value of HP are low (Ultima Weapon killed in 2 turns). In the beginning of the game I recommend play on Medium difficulty
After the Dollet mission you can change the level into hard or extreme (not recommended though).

But I play the beginning of the game with hard difficulty and it's possible - but I have to draw more and USE more magic Are you going to the Fire Cavern? Fight with some Glacial Eyes and get Blizzard

thanks for the good explanation, will definitely try this patch! 

[-Ric-]

well 1st of all sry for the bump...

i was testing this patch  and picked "hard" from the 3 patch options, not extreme and well...




10k hp on bite bug lvl 6? 

[gjoerulv]

I made a program that can alter the c0mXXX.dat files from battle.fs if anyone are interested. I named it ifrit! 

http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=8741.0

Requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or higher. May require Microsoft Visual Basic Power Packs 3.0 or higher as well (I used minor VB stuff).

[gonomodevil]

Hi,

I create Hardcore Patch for FF8 and I have one problem. Anybody knows, where is stored data about max possible level of monster (for Ifrit, Ultimecia, etc.)?

Hey
Did you find out where is stored data about max possible level of monster (for Ifrit, Ultimecia, etc.)?

[Foyboy]

I'm sorry about bumping this thread, but I really wanted to play an FF8 difficulty patch, and the links in this thread don't seem to be working anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[smf052910]

The only thing I could find: http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=8761

[Foyboy]

Unfortunately, that patch still seems way, way too easy. The multipliers given to enemies are way too insignificant compared to what this patch promised.