Hello all!
A short while ago I began modding my FF8, and today I'd like to share a tool I created to ease the process a bit. Please allow me to introduce GFRefine!
What is it?GFRefine is an editor for altering what refines into what else within abilities like T Mag Ref and the others.
What does it do?Sticking with the example of T Mag Ref, you can use GFRefine to make the 1 M-Stone Piece giving 5 Thunder into almost anything you like, such as 1 Screw giving 100 Apocalypse(you cheater
)! It even works with the cards!
What doesn't it do?GFRefine cannot change the rules of the refine abilities. T Mag Ref and the others follow the formula of [amount of item] [item] becomes [amount of magic] [magic].
Mid and Hi Mag are magic to magic, many are item to item, and card is card to item. To my knowledge, this cannot be changed.
GFRefine is currently incapable of editing refine descriptions. This is because it does not dynamically read where the information is in the mngrp.bin. For the initial release, all offsets are hard-coded, and any change to the descriptions can move information around and cause the editor to fail or behave erratically. As a side effect of this, GFRefine only works on the english mngrp.bin, and even then, only if mostly unedited.
To reiterate, GFRefine ONLY WORKS ON THE ENGLISH VERSION (for now, I'm working on it).
Mostly unedited?If you
have edited your mngrp.bin, don't worry too much. As long as you were careful enough to maintain the ability offsets in their original positions, GFRefine will have no issues working with your modified file.
How do I use it?Download Deling, extract mngrp.bin from the [eng] folder of menu.fs, and open it with GFRefine. When you're done, replace the one in menu.fs with your newly edited mngrp.bin, and load your game. Presto!
*NOTE:* Always, always,
always back up any files you plan to edit. I am not responsible for any file loss or damage caused by your own recklessness.
Sounds awesome, gimme!!!Alright, keep your pants on! You'll find the link to the download at the bottom of this post.
Plans for Future UpdatesIn no particular order:
- Compatibility with other language files
- A new Save As icon (the save icon on
the right is actually Save As... Sorry!) - A new icon for the tool itself
- Overall tool beautification
- Dynamic offset locating
- Pending the above, description editing
- Several other features that have yet
to make themselves apparent to me
In ClosingThank you for taking interest in my tool, I hope it proves useful to you in your modding adventures! If you have any comments, criticisms, or advice on how to improve GFRefine, feel free to comment on the thread. I'd also like to extend the oppourtunity to PM me, but am unfamiliar with if or how that works on Qhimm Forums. Finally, if you wish to help make GFRefine better by contributing assets, code, functionality, etc., please feel free to speak up! I'm an amateur coder myself, and without opensource projects and documentation I would not have been able to make GFRefine. I would love to receive your help and hear your tips, ideas, and feedback!
Alright, here's your link: DOWNLOAD HERE
