k sounds great. Can't wait to use it. I'm going to fill you in with what I'm working on. It's a bit lengthy, so I apologize in advance...
I have been working diligently over the past month on my ROM (a work in progress for the last few years, just finally getting back to it) that I hope to release soon. Things like Erikin's great graphic updates and other cool things causes a bit of project creep for me, thus causing further delays (because new work submitted by these guys are just so good and I want to include them in my ROM!)
I have made a great deal of graphic updates to the game, some things taken from the challenge MOD and Erikin's changes (made a lot of changes to his that I feel cleaned them up quite a bit), in addition to graphic changes of my own; I made a warrior based on the skeleton graphic who guards the orb of light (kind of like the knight at the end of Last Crusade, he's really an enemy just a test to see if you're worthy). The graphic is crude, and by no means even close to Dan's skill, but nevertheless a first draft that I hope to continue to improve upon. I created numerous map sprites for added enemies that are palette swaps (but looks really good to for the map sprites to match the battle sprites). Also added more really cool items and animations for enemies. All in all, a really nice blend of all the great work many have contributed over the years.
I have re-written A LOT of the story to give it more depth and emotion to the characters (just one example, Anri and Max are in a forbidden love type situation and they have grown up together since Max arrived on the shores of Guardiana as a little one) in edition to things like hidden journals, diaries, etc. you can read to get more back story (granted I know most don't care, but I do, as this game is truly amazing! hahaha) I took elements from what was originally planned in the Japanese version of the game, in addition to RoDD elements, plus a bunch of my own thoughts. It's rather quite enjoyable following the story while playing.
My hands are a bit tied due to the volatility of Rubix's tool at the moment involving the scripting and dialogue trees, in addition to some parts he didn't include in the code or even able to find at all (the ending sequence where they're talking about Max not escaping or the where Darksol is disguised as the priest in the Light Chapel). Getting into that ending scene we're they're all talking is a must in order for me to have my story come to an end; i.e. Anri has to be in the group and speak, but she's not there in the original game. I'm really trying to be able to write the Kane battle end scene where the screen can flash and a Kane sprite without a mask sprite I made can appear while he and Max are speaking (Like when Darksol is the priest). Also I'm trying to figure out a way for when you're in Dragonia, to be able to talk to Kane in the Mask as you do before the battle, but when he walks with you by the shrine door, it's the maskless Kane sprite. I get access to this stuff and it will let my story overhaul be completed.
The battles I have made quite difficult, especially for those that stick to not farming experience points. It takes a lot of strategy to get through. Spending a lot of time on making enemies not just blindly charge like in the Challenge MOD (every enemy is set to that way in the his ROM), but more tactical and attacking in groups while in close proximity to each other. Each battle is kind of laid out in multiple waves, rather than just a bum rush. (Again, it's the best I can do with what's available, it would be great to be able to get under the hood and redesign the enemy AI a bit so it's a bit more sophisticated).
Sorry if that was long, I can re-post in a new thread if you like. Let me know your thoughts.
