[FF8PC-Steam] Ragnarok Rebalancing Mod (v1.2.3 & v1.1b)

[Callisto]

Dying to know if there's any way we can get some kind of enemy change files? Just got the Ragnarok and feeling kinda -done- with the overworld encounters. Same with the bosses. Eventually you kinda just want to look at a file with weaknesses/vulnerabilities, ya know?

At the moment, there isn't a comprehensive list of every single enemy change. As for checking the elemental weaknesses, there is the Scan magic, and if you want to inflict status effects, use your highest Strength attackers when trying to achieve them through St-Atk, and your casters when using Magic. If they miss three or more times, then they are probably immune. Unsure if there will ever be a full list, as it would take a lot of time, so I'll leave it at that for now.

It was so funny winning against that fire cavern bomb boss, I'm not sure I even did the correct way. I tried reflect on it, zombifying it, confuse works but the sun bath immediately cures it. Are we supposed to use counters and return damage? I haven't tried gfs.

Yes, relying on Counters and Return Damage is one of the possible ways to defeat it. Bomb can also be affected by Stop (though it's highly resistant due to it maxed out Spirit stat in this battle), summoning Bahamut or Eden afterwards can kill it quickly. Armor Shot with high enough Strength and Crisis Level can also kill it in one turn, the same goes for the Kamikaze command if it crits and the user's HP are high enough.

In my opinion maybe it's possible to still have enemies and some bosses have a percentage weakness for no immediate proc, have it last a shorter time or turn it into vit-half instead. Just thinking out loud, I don't know if any of these are possible or easy to implement.

Making it Vit/Spr-half instead of 0 is easily possible from a programming perspective, and it's already implemented, just not released yet. With that change, more enemies can be made vulnerable for sure. As for now, the most reliable way to inflict Vit 0 is using Quistis' Ray-Bomb Limit Break. It may work where the Meltdown magic fails, due to its way higher success rate. Odin or Ruby Dragons are good examples for this, as they are highly resistant to this status effect.

Amazing work on this mod! I'm planning to play it with my community, and I've been going back and forth from the Remaster to the 2013 version, trying to see how I want it to look. I've noticed that when I start the 2013 version, Shiva has Str-J learned, but not in the 2019 version.

Does that mean I've done something wrong with either install or is that just the current status of the mods?

It's the current status of the mods so I don't think you've done something wrong. The 2013 version is just a little more up to date with its changes to the ATB system and EXP-None ability, which aren't in the Remastered version yet.

[hobbitdur]

Callisto !
Happy to see you here, I have lots of question.
There is now a mod manager and people ask a lot to have your mod in it. Would you agree ?

I work hard on documenting the game https://hobbitdur.github.io/FF8ModdingWiki/.
And you have found info I am not able to found back anymore. I have really a lot of questions but one is bothering m for a mod I would like to do: How did you change the probability of Rare item of bahamut ? Reading your hex, it's not possible for me to find it there

If you have time to pass on the discord to exchange https://discord.gg/sCbmwh2nbv i would greatly appreciate !

Thanks for passing by.

[Callisto]

Callisto !
Happy to see you here, I have lots of question.
There is now a mod manager and people ask a lot to have your mod in it. Would you agree ?

I work hard on documenting the game https://hobbitdur.github.io/FF8ModdingWiki/.
And you have found info I am not able to found back anymore. I have really a lot of questions but one is bothering m for a mod I would like to do: How did you change the probability of Rare item of bahamut ? Reading your hex, it's not possible for me to find it there

If you have time to pass on the discord to exchange https://discord.gg/sCbmwh2nbv i would greatly appreciate !

Thanks for passing by.

Hey hobbitdur!

First of all, sorry for the late reply and the hex file not being properly documented at the moment. I'm fine with my mod being added to the Junction-VIII mod manager.

The bytes corresponding to the item probabilities with Rare Item equipped are in the hex file, and modified as followed in the mod:

Code: [Select]

#Rare Item probability values for each item slot
865F6 = 78
86600 = C8
8660F = E6
86610 = 00
866B4 = 78
866BF = C8
866CF = E6
866D0 = 00
86820 = 78
8682B = C8
8683B = E6
8683C = 00
This changes the base probabilities from

rnd = [0..255]
  if (rnd < 128) Slot = 0
    else if (rnd < 242) Slot = 1
      else if (rnd < 261) Slot = 2
        else Slot = 3

to

rnd = [0..255]
  if (rnd < 120) Slot = 0
    else if (rnd < 200) Slot = 1
      else if (rnd < 230) Slot = 2
        else Slot = 3

Which leaves a 26/256 chance for Item #3 being dropped/mugged rather than the usual 0/256.

Base values taken from Battle Mechanics FAQ by ForteGSOmega.

[hobbitdur]

Happy  to see you coming back to FF8 ! No worry foor the delay, we all have a life (even tho I admit I was waiting it ^^).
Ok nice for J8, do you wanna work on it ? We can explain you all on how it works. You'll see it will even help you to update the mod if you want in the futur.

Ok super for rare item, thanks a lot.I am learning to retro-engineer. I saw on some of your message you are pretty good at finding values. Do you have some database we can share together ?
I will post all my question later, as I don't want to suddently flood you with question. But one think that would help the community is to details your hext file.

Also, I am making a mod called cronos with a team, I know you have your own mod but if you maybe wanna keep it on this state and work on new thing, you are welcome to join the task force. The idea is to bring a gameplay mod that everyone can love as it will offer options.

For the moment on my side I am studying the sequence animation, and searching by RE squall hit100% and escape part of battle. If you have any info on those please share

[hobbitdur]

For the Rare item, I find the probability a bit everywhere. Actually rare item also have impact on mug and card drop. But those value seems to only fix the item drop rate. Is that correct ?

[Callisto]

For the Rare item, I find the probability a bit everywhere. Actually rare item also have impact on mug and card drop. But those value seems to only fix the item drop rate. Is that correct ?

The values above change probabilities for both item drops and mug (per item slot). One of the 3 sets of values from above (78, C8, E6, 00) is likely not used by the game, but I changed those values just in case as they represent the modified base game values when the Rare Item ability is equipped. To my knowledge, Card drops aren't affected by Rare Item, and even if it does, the values from above are not related to it.

If you want Gunblade attacks to use a standard hit-rate, it's probably best to merge Squall and Seifers physical attack path (which does not contain any hit-rate calculation whatsoever) with another already existing physical attack path that has one, such as attack type 1 or 36 (standard physical or vit-igoring physical, see Doomtrain tool). The Gunblade path info is found in the .exe with a call to it at 0x922F2. However, just redirecting this path to something else is not enough, as this path contains vital information regarding Squall's Renzokuken Limit Break, so you'd have to transfer this info over as well.

[kellueHaze]

There is now a mod manager and people ask a lot to have your mod in it. Would you agree ?

Is ragnarok on the mod manager yet? is there a link for it

[gunner_1207]

Is ragnarok on the mod manager yet? is there a link for it

not yet soon we hope   

[hobbitdur]

I ported Ragnarok to J8 (only classical for the moment).

[abronamedJP]

Greetings,

I have recently downloaded and installed the Ragnarok mod and everything is running smoothly until the dreaded Irvine in the prison "cutscene" where it's just his coat firing at the guards and the game crashes after.. apparently it's a known issue with occurring with graphic mods.. but I do not have any other mods installed it's just the Ragnarok mod (with the demaster, etc)

Playing on Steam FF8 Remaster 2019 version.
Any help in identifying what or which file might be the problem would be greatly appreciated! Having a lot of fun with the mod so far.

[Callisto]

Greetings,

I have recently downloaded and installed the Ragnarok mod and everything is running smoothly until the dreaded Irvine in the prison "cutscene" where it's just his coat firing at the guards and the game crashes after.. apparently it's a known issue with occurring with graphic mods.. but I do not have any other mods installed it's just the Ragnarok mod (with the demaster, etc)

Playing on Steam FF8 Remaster 2019 version.
Any help in identifying what or which file might be the problem would be greatly appreciated! Having a lot of fun with the mod so far.

Open demaster.conf file, set FIELD_ENTITY value from 1 to 0 and save. This should fix this issue.

[abronamedJP]

Open demaster.conf file, set FIELD_ENTITY value from 1 to 0 and save. This should fix this issue.

You are the GOAT. That worked! Glad it was such a simple fix. Now to continue my playthrough!

[Divatox]

Sorry for the question, but how do you created those special bosses?
Like super Ruby Dragon and Yunalesca? And how do you inserted them in the game
(asking because, they have only 1 file each for the enemy Ruby Dragon and Sorceress to MOD)
You duplicated those files like c0m143.dat and renamed to c0m144.dat

[Callisto]

Sorry for the question, but how do you created those special bosses?
Like super Ruby Dragon and Yunalesca? And how do you inserted them in the game
(asking because, they have only 1 file each for the enemy Ruby Dragon and Sorceress to MOD)
You duplicated those files like c0m143.dat and renamed to c0m144.dat

No, I didn't use any of the dummied .dat files after 143 to create those battles. Just c0m52.dat for the Ruby Dragon and c0m116.dat for the Sorceress. You can set up custom AI for each enemy dependent on battle ID. For example, check base game Sacred file and you will see that he uses a unique AI for battle 189 where he appears alone, without Minotaur.

So in order to create custom AI / battles, you first need to set up a custom, previously unused battle ID using the Cactilio tool, then implement your desired custom AI using the Ifrit tool (if battle == 999) do this, else, do that etc.

Hope this helps.

[hobbitdur]

I'll add that the ifrit tool is outdated and a new tool with pretty nice AI editor is available here: https://github.com/HobbitDur/FF8UltimateEditor/releases

[MrCheng91]

Brand new to these forums, and to the Ragnarok Mod. I installed the Mod on the 2019 Remaster version of the game on Steamdeck after many, many attempts, and although Ragnarok now works (enemy changes, junction, Card Mod, etc.), I seem to have an issue with the drawing system. My characters are locked to the usual 9 spell draw cap, and I don't know how to fix it. Any help would be much appreciated!

For context, I am also running other graphical mods seen in the Lunatic Pandora bundle. Ragnarok is the only gameplay Mod currently activated.

I should also mention, I am not very savvy with the ins and outs of modding, and I'm also pretty new to the Steamdeck, but I will give anything a shot!

Cheers!

[MrCheng91]

Any help with this would be much appreciated guys. I'm now on Disc 2, but would love to play the rest of the game without the draw cap 

[MrCheng91]

Disregard. I hadn't patched the EFIGS.dll. It works just fine now, spell damage is much, much more noticeable after patching it too, caught me off guard a little lol

[hobbitdur]

Any help with this would be much appreciated guys. I'm now on Disc 2, but would love to play the rest of the game without the draw cap 

You can use my Cronos mod which allow for specific little change like this, but be aware  as ragnarok might modify the same thing.

[Drev101]

This mod looks awesome. I have the 2019 version. I notice there's a few parts of the mod that aren't quite finished for 2019 compared to 2013. What I'm not sure on is what the actual impact of these differences are. Is there anything I should keep in mind when playing 2019 Ragnarok to keep it in line with Callisto's intention?

[Callisto]

This mod looks awesome. I have the 2019 version. I notice there's a few parts of the mod that aren't quite finished for 2019 compared to 2013. What I'm not sure on is what the actual impact of these differences are. Is there anything I should keep in mind when playing 2019 Ragnarok to keep it in line with Callisto's intention?

It's nothing too major. The overall experience should be identical between both versions. Few things to keep in mind when playing the 2019 version though:

- Rinoa's Angel Wing mechanics are similar to those found in the base game, so it's possible to cheat a little with endless Meteor spam, even though the damage multiplier has been reduced to 3 to compensate (in 2013, where spell selection mechanics are different, it's set to 4).

- There is no attack type that does damage in addition to removing status effects.

- Enemies have no real resistance to the Vit 0 status effect; they are either fully susceptible to it, or completely immune (they can still block it with a high Spirit stat if not immune).

- The EXP-None character ability is currently absent in 2019.

- ATB doesn't stop when selecting targets and ATB speed is too fast on the highest setting; leaving it at default value or lower is strongly recommended when playing 2019.

[Drev101]

Great. Thanks so much, I'm just finishing a vanilla run and will play with this mod next. Really looking forward to it!

[agnitriers1]

@Callisto - is there an expected release date for the 1.3 update - or perhaps a beta?
A lot of the 1.3 features listed as 100% completed for 2013 version sounds *awesome*  - if you need any help testing, I'm definitely up for it.

[Callisto]

@Callisto - is there an expected release date for the 1.3 update - or perhaps a beta?
A lot of the 1.3 features listed as 100% completed for 2013 version sounds *awesome*  - if you need any help testing, I'm definitely up for it.

Version 1.3 will be skipped; a 2.0 for Steam 2013 is currently being worked on which contains everything mentioned in the 1.3 progress report on the first page in this topic, and much more on top of that, including a third difficulty option. I'll do my best to release it by the end of this year, thank you for asking.

[agnitriers1]

That sounds awesome Callisto - very glad to hear that you're still working both on the mod, and on the 2013 version
Just my personal take, but with Junction VIII + ffnx working as good as it now does, I can't imagine myself ever preferring the 2019 release.

And as a last note - I hope you will consider putting the mod on Github sometime after the 2.0 Getting into gameplay modding for a game like FF VIII, still (to me) seems somewhat daunting - but having a 'sample' mod like Ragnarok would help a lot with understanding the different aspects.
Thank you again for the massive work you've put into the mod!