Arcana - Seal of Rimsala! (SNES)

[TimeSpaceMage]

Well, I found the source of the Heal crash! This one's my bad 
Turns out two of the spell animations I used make the game crash in no$sns, the white swirl for Heal spells and the white-blue swirl for Sleep.

[sluffy]

no$sns is buggy in its own ways, that doesn't happen elsewhere. That's from enough Canoe emu patch testing.


rainponcho did an amazing enough job fastrom'ing this game. I can't come close to the same optimizations. The actual renderer seems too rigid to make any faster. Without cheating using sa-1 which would kill most hardware enthusiasts.

[PersianImm0rtal]

Just wanted to let you know I tried the latest beta you sent me, and it froze on a black screen after a few minutes after a few battles.


Tried starting a new game, and it freezes right after the beginning cutscene on a black screen, right after it says "Chapter One".

However, my save seems to work fine when I go back to the unhacked Arcana.

[Time/SpaceMage]

Whoa, really? Maybe I did a bad patch job. I'll run it myself when I get off work but I swear I double checked it before sending.

[SCO]

He didn't say in what emulator was this.

[Time/SpaceMage]

Persian isn't using an emulator; he has a flash cart (Super UFO Pro 8 ).
And I patched it right, so one of those changes broke things. It softlocks for me too. Why spell animations would affect the first loading screen is beyond me... I'll fiddle around with it.

[firedropdl]

This one is pretty exciting man.  Looking forward to playing it someday whenever I get around to fiddling with SNES stuff.  Me and my bros got this cart from Funcoland back in the day and loved it.  Thanks for your effort. 

[PersianImm0rtal]

Let me know when you need me to test the next beta version 

[TimeSpaceMage]

I'm back, bitches! 
Thanks to LSA's IPS Patch Checker, I found an incompatible byte between Levelup v0.3 and FastROM v0.3. After editing the IPS files, it turns out FastROM was wrong again 
Here's the updated version, works on vanilla: FastROM v0.4 patch (unheadered)

So this means... we're back in business again! Seal of Rimsala is on v0.96 and in testing. I'll have time this month to work on the script, and barring anything happening I'd like to release by the end of the month! It's been a long and crazy ride 

[TheSiege]

Can anyone provide a link for the level up patch? The links no longer work.

[Time/SpaceMage]

Can anyone provide a link for the level up patch? The links no longer work.

So sorry for the delay! I must have missed the topic reply notification. Persian if you're reading this, could you post your test results here?

Levelup v0.3

Almost finished Ch.4s script! There are still a couple lines that sound way too vague and I'm deciding what to do with them.

[TimeSpaceMage]

Okay, so the dungeon graphics glitch is still alive and well in Snes9x 1.51, 1.55 and 1.56. I was hoping for a July release, but it's better if it's postponed until this gets hit on the head.

So it's the FastROM patch again  I'll have to use trial and error to narrow it down, but at least my script and levelup v0.3 aren't affecting anything.

[PersianImm0rtal]

Okay, so I finally got around to playing the latest beta version sent to me, and it seems to be working pretty good.

When I first loaded my save from my Super UFO Pro 8 flashcart and got into the dungeon (Forest of Doubt in Chapter 2) I got a slight graphics glitch, but as soon as I got into a fight it went away permanently. Man this game is fun, and I really enjoy the low encounter rate! It's just enough where it doesn't get too annoying and make you want to quit, because you want to know what's just around the next corner and down the hall. All of the boss battles are tough, and close fights, but not impossible... don't really need to grind much, but there is still strategy. Makes the game VERY enjoyable!! Plus the music is really really good.

BTW, did you change Zerel's name to Zero? I just got to Chapter 3! Not sure if I should keep playing... or wait for the next version. Let me know.

Man... we need more easy patches on old 90s RPGs like this.

[Time/SpaceMage]

Awesome, so 0.96 works on flashcart?! Could you start a new game and check from there in case SRAM is affecting anything?

The dialogue should be good for all of Ch 3. TheSiege and I were brainstorming ideas for the rest, but we were having trouble with graphics bugs in other versions of Snes9x and in BizHawk. I really want to get to the bottom of this bc this project has been waiting on release for way too long!

[PersianImm0rtal]

Ok I'll check starting from a new game. If I go on to chapter 4 does the encounter rate stay low or does it change because you haven't gotten that far yet?

[Time/SpaceMage]

Encounter rate is global afaik. Since 0.96 I made more script changes and it's nice to have someone check them for displaying properly (you have to insert the line breaks manually). TheSiege gave me feedback there so you can go on and beat the game, but I'd like it if you could hold off on beating Ch 3. I'm planning on making some interesting treasure changes, and I made a forgettable boss a bit challenging (who casts Smash 1 in Chapter 4?!)

Btw, this feature was in the original: some equipment can be used in battle to cast spells.

[TheSiege]

(who casts Smash 1 in Chapter 4?!)

The kind of boss that lets me pass by at level 14

Spoiler

especially when he shows up later alongside his even stronger counterpart

[close]

Spoiler

Seeing as Darah now casts Lightning 2 in the latest patch as opposed to Smash 1, I've decided to amend what I wrote about the battle previously. The battle against Darah alone seems more reasonable now, especially when you compare it to the infinitely harder Hydra battle from the previous chapter. Darah also now has 500 HP and Barah has 750 HP. Both of these changes are very welcome in creating a balance in both battles that simply didn't exist before.

[close]

Here's a bit of a pro-tip. The elements go in a cycle of weakness: Wind < Fire < Water < Earth < Wind. From what I understand, if you don't have an element, then you have a 25% resistance against all elements. Normally you'll want to change the team's attribute to make you both attack harder and take less damage. However, in a case that an enemy is attacking with a spell using an element that is on the opposite end of the spectrum, it's better to do nothing and retain that 25% resistance.

Edit: Made the entire comment a spoiler alert as opposed to just the suggestion and corrected a few mistakes.

[TheSiege]

So I've been playing the Japanese version of this recently, and I've noticed a lot of translation errors in the game. I figured I'd post my translations here.

Equipment:
The Desiree is actually the Ragnarok
The Flying Axe = Francisca
The Giant Sword = Strongest (Best) Sword
Grand = The Strongest (Good change)
Demon = Devil (Not sure why you changed it to Medusa Axe when it's weak against Medusa)
Battle Hammer = Warhammer
Blackthorne Whip = Thorn Whip
Wish Wand = Soul Wand
Memory Wand = Wand (It's just a wand)
Scimitar = Buster Sword (This is a translation that I actually agree with, but consistency is fine too)
Seam Mail = Splint Mail
Mithril = Silver (I'm guessing the translator was at least somewhat familiar with Tolkien's work, but decided to keep the Robe as Silver)
Rococo Armor = Gorgeous Mail (rococo is a very fancy word for "Antique")
Robe of Valor = Mage Robe
Shaman Robe = Sacred Robe
Caeser Shield = Kaiser Shield
Gauntlet = Bracelet (Armlet)

Monsters (by area):
Barnia Temple = Barniba Temple
Gurgeon = Chimera
Hound = Dog
Lupus = Wolf
Jell = Pudding
Saurian = Valium/Barium (I 100% agree with the change)

Draven Pass = Dwarven Pass
Forest of Doubt = Lost Woods
Crimson Valley = Red Valley
Trunk Man = Dryad
Flytrap = Cloud (Funny thing to note is that means that Cloud and the Buster Sword are both in this game)
Huetree = Tree with a Face
Wolfsbane = Aconite (both mean the same thing)Zerel = Zero (which I believe you caught already)

Jeru = Gel (pretty obvious one)
Manteco = Manticore
Raiton = Lute
Bajis = Basilisk
Undead = Zombie
Sauza = Sauzer/Salza/Souther (common Japanese antagonist name, also featured in Dragon Ball Z as "Salza" and Fist of the North Star as "Souther", both with the same Japanese Romanji spelling)

Stavery Tower = Endless/Topless Tower
Jara = Wight
Fult = Ghoul
Reach = Lich
Aurane = Alraune
Rilus - Lilith
Merlini = Sorcerer
Nostrus = Knight
Darah = Durham
Barah = Balam
Ariel = Alan

Bintel Castle = Byzantine Castle
Shaman = Bishop
Karul = Karura (Carla)
A Tunnel = Underpass
Desurin = Death Lich
Minotaurus = Minotaur (just minotaur)
Rimsala = Rimsalia

Magic:
Most of the translations for spells are serviceable, so I'll just do the more noteworthy ones.
Restore All (Marid) = Mist of Purification
HP Restore All (Marid) = Sparkling Water Therapy
HP Restore (Ifrite) = Flame of Life
Destroy (Ifrite) = Death
Change to x Attribute = Whirlwand Wall, Stone Wall, Flame Wall, and Water Wall
Restoration of Spirit = Elemental Prayer
Home = Interdimensional Portal

And now the moment you've been waiting for: Attribute spells
Sky Blast
Flame Windmill
Ice Vacuum
Hellfire Lava
Soil Dragon
Ice Flame Slash
Ice Crushing Storm
Lava Storm
Ice Flame Tornado
Thermonuclear Explosion
Explosion of Heaven and Earth

[Time/SpaceMage]

Spoiler

Seeing as Darah now casts Lightning 2 in the latest patch as opposed to Smash 1, I've decided to amend what I wrote about the battle previously. The battle against Darah alone seems more reasonable now, especially when you compare it to the infinitely harder Hydra battle from the previous chapter. Darah also now has 500 HP and Barah has 750 HP. Both of these changes are very welcome in creating a balance in both battles that simply didn't exist before.

[close]

Here's a bit of a pro-tip. The elements go in a cycle of weakness: Wind < Fire < Water < Earth < Wind. From what I understand, if you don't have an element, then you have a 25% resistance against all elements. Normally you'll want to change the team's attribute to make you both attack harder and take less damage. However, in a case that an enemy is attacking with a spell using an element that is on the opposite end of the spectrum, it's better to do nothing and retain that 25% resistance.

Edit: Made the entire comment a spoiler alert as opposed to just the suggestion and corrected a few mistakes.

Just noticed your edit >.>
Really good to hear the balance worked out well. Yeah Hydra is crazy hard with Level Select. I pretty much have to come loaded with Water Cards. I didn't have a figure for element-less resistance, so that's really good to know. Btw if I ever figure out how to copy and edit spells, I'd LOVE to give Rooks a "Change Attr. to None" spell. Of course it still wouldn't affect the spirits nor elemental equipment, but I bet it would make battles more dynamic. If enemies got a simple AI for say, multiple spells, it would make battles more interesting! There really aren't enough enemies throwing debuffs around like lowering your defense.

It bugs me that some of the Mithril equipment resists undead but not all of it; there's gonna be more consistency when I get done with it!

[TheSiege]

Actually, it turns out that the information about 25% resistance could very well be incorrect. I just saw another guide here that I've been testing and finding to be more accurate here: http://mikesrpgcenter.com/arcana/attributes.html

No attribute takes 100% from all. Same attributes are 80%, advantages are 160%/40%, and opposite attributes are 120%

Opposite attributes are Wind/Water and Fire/Earth, so for example

Spoiler

Changing Attribute to Wind against Darah will have you doing 120% damage to him, but only take 80% from his newly found Lightning 2 spell (or only 40% from his Smash 1 spell if you're playing the original), but you wouldn't want to do that before defeating Barah as he can get a lucky critical and potentially end your game.

[close]

I first noticed this when I was able to one shot a Gurgeon/Chimera as a none attribute, but could no longer do so after matching its attribute.