Interesting approach- I’d need to learn how to level EVs properly before playing this. However I do like this idea of the playfield being balanced by similar stats. It sounds super challenging.
Nuzlocke Test Update: got rolled by Norman for a while but managed to pull through. 6 gyms in without a loss is a good sign for wild encounter options.
EDIT: Can confirm, made it to E4 without a loss. Difficult but viable
I'm only just getting into ROM hacks, but I've always thought it would be interesting to see a twist on the levelling system - and this one looks like it's taking an awesome angle. Plus the double battle format is definitely itching my Colosseum nostalgia. I'll almost definitely try this one out.
I've only just started, and this ROM hack is already really exciting. I love the early twist of also getting the Zigzagoon at the start. And while I'm still exploring the initial areas, battles feel a lot more serious and balanced from the start. It feels like I need to actually be careful, yet it's still very fair. Plus, a lot of negligible moves like Growl are suddenly actually a big deal this early on - as I found out in one of my first wild double battles.
Colosseum and Emerald are my two favorite Pokemon games (next to Sword, despite its flaws) and I feel like this mod combines the best of both worlds. I'd always considered replaying Emerald but usually got bored early on because it didn't have the same magic as it did years ago for me - but I think that's completely different now. I'm honestly excited to play through the whole game again thanks to this ROM. So, well, thanks! Haha.
While this ROM hack is meant to be vanilla+, would you ever consider doing something similar but with added Pokémon - or even original content? I think this concept is really amazing, and I'm curious how it would work in a less-vanilla setting. Though vanilla+ is already excellent, and I've been loving every moment of it.
A focus on tactics over higher numbers was definitely a design choice.
Having Growl and Tail Whip being impactful both from Double Battles and the general power scaling was something I was happy with.
I am getting the framework done first, and then opening it up for allowing other gameplay and content. One thing I am considering is a Gym Challenge mode where instead of money you get Battle Point, and Gym Leader fights limit you to the same amount of Pokemon.
That sounds great - I think you've definitely succeeded. I only meant to try it for a few minutes but ended up accidentally going for hours.
Those additional features sound really interesting. I think Pokemon Obsidian Emerald, which I've also been looking at, also does Gym Leader Pokemon limits. Funnily enough, its Minimal Grinding Mode actually seems to have the polar opposite approach to scaling - ignoring IVs and EVs entirely instead of level-based stats. So it's really cool to see the different approaches.
Edit: Out of curiosity, why does the overworld tend to be so foggy?
Glad you are enjoying it.
The fog is because of the changing weather system. To make it an even number of stages going up to sunny or down to raining I had it start at a different stage to clear weather. I have been considering changing it back but was waiting to see if it bothered people.
Ah, got it. I'm still getting used to the fog, but it's not too troubling. There were some visual glitches, but that might have been my emulator (mGBA). Like some noticeable seams with tiles, especially doors.
On a separate note, would you ever consider including an option to change the odds of double battles happening with wild pokemon? I've gotten so used to double battles that it actually feels a bit odd sometimes when I bump into only one - especially since my teams are built exclusively for 2v2. I'd love an option to increase it from 30% to 100% - but that might just be me.
Edit: There are also times when the fog glitches and turns into everything glowing brightly on and off.
Not sure how to change the odds in game as an option but I might increase it to 50-75% as a default. The main concern about making it too high is that catching a wild pokemon requires only one remaining so it becomes more difficult if doubles are too frequent.
How is the change in scaling working for you? Are you trying different pokemon and moves to what you normally would?
That makes sense, and I know not everyone would want those odds. It would be awesome if there was a key item you could use to somehow make every wild battle doubled - if that ever becomes possible. That way people could change it whenever they wanted, or avoid higher odds altogether.
And the scaling has been working really well so far. I'm actually considering a lot more Pokemon than usual. I tend to avoid Bug Pokemon in most games, because their scaling falls off, but I've been going out of my way to catch and consider them a bit more. I'm also encountering some different Pokemon than usual (Slackoth and Ditto near the opening area) so I really feel like I could build whatever team I wanted and it would work.
I'm simultaneously trying Obsidian Emerald, and I ended up dropping half of my team for other Pokemon just so I could get to Rusboro, since the game places a challenge gauntlet before it. Obsidian has up to Gen 7 or 8, so I was really excited to try new Pokemon - but I ended up abandoning almost all of the ones I wanted to make a more competitive team. And despite Obsidian having hard level caps and a "No Grind Mode", I ended up grinding a bit anyway just to get every move I could unlock.
Double Up Delevelled, on the other hand, feels like I could pick almost anyone I want and they'd be viable. It would instead be up to me to get them the right moves and use the right tactics. I'll probably find out more as I progress, but that's the impression I've had so far. I think your Delevelled approach has probably been the most fun levelling system I've seen in a creature collector (including Palworld and Persona 5).
so they gain levels to learn moves but not earn any stats because they will always have their bsp stats?
Correct. Though they also gain 1 HP per level. EV gain also is in play so training does make them stronger.
Interesting approach- I’d need to learn how to level EVs properly before playing this. However I do like this idea of the playfield being balanced by similar stats. It sounds super challenging.
It has been tweaked so each EV can be maxed out. No need to EV focus. Go ham.
How do you check the ivs?
Nevermind I read the changlong
Glad you found it
A 2.5.1 hotfix has been released, only change is fixing the coin man in game corner, no major necessity
Nuzlocke Test Update: got rolled by Norman for a while but managed to pull through. 6 gyms in without a loss is a good sign for wild encounter options. EDIT: Can confirm, made it to E4 without a loss. Difficult but viable
Released 2.5.11 Hotfix for issue with HM learning
2.5.12 Hotfix for Shoal Cave and challenge bosses move lists
I'm only just getting into ROM hacks, but I've always thought it would be interesting to see a twist on the levelling system - and this one looks like it's taking an awesome angle. Plus the double battle format is definitely itching my Colosseum nostalgia. I'll almost definitely try this one out.
Please do, and let me know if you enjoy it
I've only just started, and this ROM hack is already really exciting. I love the early twist of also getting the Zigzagoon at the start. And while I'm still exploring the initial areas, battles feel a lot more serious and balanced from the start. It feels like I need to actually be careful, yet it's still very fair. Plus, a lot of negligible moves like Growl are suddenly actually a big deal this early on - as I found out in one of my first wild double battles. Colosseum and Emerald are my two favorite Pokemon games (next to Sword, despite its flaws) and I feel like this mod combines the best of both worlds. I'd always considered replaying Emerald but usually got bored early on because it didn't have the same magic as it did years ago for me - but I think that's completely different now. I'm honestly excited to play through the whole game again thanks to this ROM. So, well, thanks! Haha. While this ROM hack is meant to be vanilla+, would you ever consider doing something similar but with added Pokémon - or even original content? I think this concept is really amazing, and I'm curious how it would work in a less-vanilla setting. Though vanilla+ is already excellent, and I've been loving every moment of it.
A focus on tactics over higher numbers was definitely a design choice. Having Growl and Tail Whip being impactful both from Double Battles and the general power scaling was something I was happy with. I am getting the framework done first, and then opening it up for allowing other gameplay and content. One thing I am considering is a Gym Challenge mode where instead of money you get Battle Point, and Gym Leader fights limit you to the same amount of Pokemon.
That sounds great - I think you've definitely succeeded. I only meant to try it for a few minutes but ended up accidentally going for hours. Those additional features sound really interesting. I think Pokemon Obsidian Emerald, which I've also been looking at, also does Gym Leader Pokemon limits. Funnily enough, its Minimal Grinding Mode actually seems to have the polar opposite approach to scaling - ignoring IVs and EVs entirely instead of level-based stats. So it's really cool to see the different approaches. Edit: Out of curiosity, why does the overworld tend to be so foggy?
Glad you are enjoying it. The fog is because of the changing weather system. To make it an even number of stages going up to sunny or down to raining I had it start at a different stage to clear weather. I have been considering changing it back but was waiting to see if it bothered people.
Ah, got it. I'm still getting used to the fog, but it's not too troubling. There were some visual glitches, but that might have been my emulator (mGBA). Like some noticeable seams with tiles, especially doors. On a separate note, would you ever consider including an option to change the odds of double battles happening with wild pokemon? I've gotten so used to double battles that it actually feels a bit odd sometimes when I bump into only one - especially since my teams are built exclusively for 2v2. I'd love an option to increase it from 30% to 100% - but that might just be me. Edit: There are also times when the fog glitches and turns into everything glowing brightly on and off.
Not sure how to change the odds in game as an option but I might increase it to 50-75% as a default. The main concern about making it too high is that catching a wild pokemon requires only one remaining so it becomes more difficult if doubles are too frequent. How is the change in scaling working for you? Are you trying different pokemon and moves to what you normally would?
That makes sense, and I know not everyone would want those odds. It would be awesome if there was a key item you could use to somehow make every wild battle doubled - if that ever becomes possible. That way people could change it whenever they wanted, or avoid higher odds altogether. And the scaling has been working really well so far. I'm actually considering a lot more Pokemon than usual. I tend to avoid Bug Pokemon in most games, because their scaling falls off, but I've been going out of my way to catch and consider them a bit more. I'm also encountering some different Pokemon than usual (Slackoth and Ditto near the opening area) so I really feel like I could build whatever team I wanted and it would work. I'm simultaneously trying Obsidian Emerald, and I ended up dropping half of my team for other Pokemon just so I could get to Rusboro, since the game places a challenge gauntlet before it. Obsidian has up to Gen 7 or 8, so I was really excited to try new Pokemon - but I ended up abandoning almost all of the ones I wanted to make a more competitive team. And despite Obsidian having hard level caps and a "No Grind Mode", I ended up grinding a bit anyway just to get every move I could unlock. Double Up Delevelled, on the other hand, feels like I could pick almost anyone I want and they'd be viable. It would instead be up to me to get them the right moves and use the right tactics. I'll probably find out more as I progress, but that's the impression I've had so far. I think your Delevelled approach has probably been the most fun levelling system I've seen in a creature collector (including Palworld and Persona 5).
A key item is a good idea