[FE: 7] Fire Emblem: Post Awakening

[IzzyK]

Okay so I'm pretty new to Rom Hacking. I once made a pokemon game but I stopped after the third gym so it was never published. I know a bit about coding but I have never done a fire emblem rom hack. Im reading the http://www.feshrine.net/ultimatetutorial/tutorial to try and figure out the basics.

Now onto the game. Im going to try and make a hack of Fire Emblem 7. The hack is going to, as said in the title, be a post Fire Emblem Awakening hack. The game will take place after Robin sacrificed himself to stop Grima and will follow Chrom as a new threat comes into play. Many of the fire emblem awakening characters will have gone off back to their own thing so only the characters I really like will be brought into this game. However the other characters may join later in again or have references and events.

A Couple chapters in Robin is going to be found in the field (The ending of awakening) and join the group and its going to go on from there. I don't know weather I'm going to make a second avatar who will be your player in this game or if it will just follow Robin and Chrom.

I just had this idea today and I'm not yet sure if Il even be able to do it. Tell me if you think its a good idea or if its not. If you guys think its a good idea then plot points, characters, and ideas are always appreciated. Also if there are any rules that I need to follow when making a hack can somebody please link me to them. If anybody wants to volunteer to help me make Maps, modify classes, or do anything like that then please let me know, i need all the help i can get. Also if you guys think the projects a waste of time please tell me so I'm not wasting my time on it.

Thanks for reading this, IzzyK.

Edited December 28, 2015 by IzzyK

[Rolandark]

I'm no moderator, but as for rules... http://serenesforest.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=54897

As for the idea in general, it's a nice idea, but I don't think it would be a good idea for a first hack. I mean, this would take ALOT of work. This seems like something that I bet even the veteran rom hackers would have trouble with. However, I'm new to ROM Hacking, so don't take my word for it!

[IzzyK]

Hmmm In the rules they talk about no copying others work, which of course makes sense. However the question of weather i can use awakening artwork occurred to me. Is it against the rules to, say, take Chrom's sprite from awakening and put it in this game. Or is that copying others work. To surmise to they mean copying other hackers work or coping the game itself work.

As for the work the main reason I'm doing this is because I just left my 3 year minecraft server and i have nothing to do. So I'm going to spend my hours of free time working on making a hack that others can appreciate. All good hackers started as a novice at some point so hopefully if i apply myself, read the tutorials, and put in the effort il be able to make this hack. I just like the awakening story so much and want it to go on, even if its just a fan hack. Also it gives me the chance to input my own characters into the story.

[Rolandark]

take Chrom's sprite from awakening and put it in this game.

That wouldn't be possible (like 95% sure on this). You'd have to remake the Chrom portrait to GBA quality.

[IzzyK]

That makes sense. Im not at that part of the tutorial yet but Im sure there must be some program or software which you put sprites into and it simplifies them. I dont imagine people draw out every pixel on the sprites. But if i need to il look into how thats done.

[Shin]

That makes sense. Im not at that part of the tutorial yet but Im sure there must be some program or software which you put sprites into and it simplifies them. I dont imagine people draw out every pixel on the sprites. But if i need to il look into how thats done.

I'm afraid that's what people do for the most part, or edit existing GBA sprites until they're content. I'd recommend learning the basics before worrying about artwork. It's all well and good having sprites but not being able to make a chapter!

[IzzyK]

I'm afraid that's what people do for the most part, or edit existing GBA sprites until they're content. I'd recommend learning the basics before worrying about artwork. It's all well and good having sprites but not being able to make a chapter!

Ha to true. Im reading up on the editing right now. I was just about to try and make a test map and chapter as the tutorial outlined. But yea thats a good point. Worry about the sprites later and the basic stuff first.

[Rolandark]

That makes sense. Im not at that part of the tutorial yet but Im sure there must be some program or software which you put sprites into and it simplifies them. I dont imagine people draw out every pixel on the sprites. But if i need to il look into how thats done.

Actually... I think people do draw out every sprite.... then again, I'm not a spriter.

I'm not aware of a "simplify" program. Can you IMAGINE how buggy that would be?

[Shin]

Best of luck, sprites can always be added at a later date. Just make sure you're familiar with the basic event and map tools, you'll be using them a lot.

[Rolandark]

I'm afraid that's what people do for the most part, or edit existing GBA sprites until they're content. I'd recommend learning the basics before worrying about artwork. It's all well and good having sprites but not being able to make a chapter!

That's my approach. For now, my hack is just a reskin of FE8 with a different take on gameplay. Which I figure is a good way to start.

[IzzyK]

Actually... I think people do draw out every sprite.... then again, I'm not a spriter.

I'm not aware of a "simplify" program. Can you IMAGINE how buggy that would be?

True. Il worry about the sprites after i make a basic chapter. I can always use default sprites at the beginning and call them "Chrom" and "Robin" then i can just change the sprites in a later version to the proper sprites.

Best of luck, sprites can always be added at a later date. Just make sure you're familiar with the basic event and map tools, you'll be using them a lot.

Thanks for the support.

Update: BTW I have tested making basic maps and now I'm going to try and insert it into the rom, but so far everything seems to be pretty straight forward.

Edited December 28, 2015 by IzzyK

[IzzyK]

Okay i would like to announce that I think this is going to work. I have downloaded all the basic necessary editors I'm going to need. I have the rom. I have made a test map for experimenting. So i know the software works. And the Nightmare Modules that allow me to import chapters appear to be in order. Im going to take a break for now but with time i think this project will work. I have all of winter break at my cottage with nothing to do so i plan to spend a few hours a day working on this. By the end of the break I plan to have it set up that I can start the game and play the first chapter. Once I can make the first chapter successfully it will mean i have done everything necessary to do it and the chapters following should be easy.

If anybody wants to co-work this with me (Make maps, or just help with story points, like for instance writing a script of what people say or whatnot) then i am thankful for all the help. If not then just the nice comments and support I get is enough for me to work on this.

[Rolandark]

Okay i would like to announce that I think this is going to work. I have downloaded all the basic necessary editors I'm going to need. I have the rom. I have made a test map for experimenting. So i know the software works. And the Nightmare Modules that allow me to import chapters appear to be in order. Im going to take a break for now but with time i think this project will work. I have all of winter break at my cottage with nothing to do so i plan to spend a few hours a day working on this. By the end of the break I plan to have it set up that I can start the game and play the first chapter. Once I can make the first chapter successfully it will mean i have done everything necessary to do it and the chapters following should be easy.

If anybody wants to co-work this with me (Make maps, or just help with story points, like for instance writing a script of what people say or whatnot) then i am thankful for all the help. If not then just the nice comments and support I get is enough for me to work on this

Well, I write a lot of stories just for the heck of it, and I'm quite fond of Awakening's story. If you want, I could help write story. Also, I have suggestion. So, you know how Lyn's tale serves as the prologue? Well, you could have Robin be found at the end of "Lyn's Tale" (Probably would be called Chrom's Tale if this ever was finalized.)

[IzzyK]

Well, I write a lot of stories just for the heck of it, and I'm quite fond of Awakening's story. If you want, I could help write story. Also, I have suggestion. So, you know how Lyn's tale serves as the prologue? Well, you could have Robin be found at the end of "Lyn's Tale" (Probably would be called Chrom's Tale if this ever was finalized.)

Hmm. So im not actually to familiar with Fire Emblem 7. I have played Fire Emblem 12 (Patched) and Awakening. Though based on what you said it sounds as if Lyn's tale is some kind of Prologue. The only reason I'm using 7 is because the hacking tutorials all use 7 so its the only one il be able to rom hack. I plan to play it later on this week on my Emulator. When i said i was using it i was planning on making maps from scratch and whatnot since I found tutorials on making events, player speeches, and whatnot. So i was not actually planning on using any of the pre-existing story from the game. Then again i have never hacked Fire Emblem so I'm not %100 sure how it works (I was able to successfully hack pokemon though) Im still reading tutorials.

Anyways back to the point. If Lyn's Tale is some kind of Prologue then yes, that makes sense for me to use it. I was planning for the beginning on having it end about half a week after Awakening. I need to find a excuse for a lot of people not being there. So i was thinking about in a opening cutscene (Map with people talking) i can say that the rest of the gang left to look for Robin and that Chrom, Lissa, Fredrick, and whoever else i take with me, are going back sword Yllistol trying to find leads on Robin (Since they all believe he is there they would probably go to some library in Yllistol to try and gather information). Il have a couple bandit attacks on the way and whatnot. Eventually il have some lead on robin. They follow up on it.

A suggestion for a basic story is that when everyone thought Basilio died in battle some Tyrant took control of Regina Ferox and branded Flavia as a traitor. I can have some battling with that storyline. A couple of fights here and there. Eventually they will find robin.

Thats what i have thought up so far but i could use some more concrete stuff. I also need a new main bad guy since the "Fell Dragon" is very dead and I'm not going to bring him back since that would be stupid. I need some new enemy. Is it a dragon/god or is it just a couple of mortal wars? Anyways plot suggestions are always helpful.

UPDATE: K so from my revised understanding the game is split into three areas, however at the end of the day those areas are made up of chapters, So i may not even follow their plot points as chapters. Il Make new chapters and end it when it is useful to end. Also i have made a base map and am uploading it to my test rom to see if i can make a basic chapter.

Edited December 28, 2015 by IzzyK

[Czar_Yoshi]

Have you considered trying to make it shorter and smaller-scale?

One day of planning isn't really going to give you the material and ideas to make something that can outdo Awakening, but that's OK since from your description it looks like you're going with a smaller cast and maybe focusing on character interaction over an overarching plot. Nobody in the community will "mind" a short hack- there are only two complete, full custom full length ones out there anyway, and everyone would rather have a complete small hack than an incomplete concept for a big one. And if it turns out that hacking clicks with you and you want to keep working, you can make another hack!

What if you tried five chapters, going on your idea for an overthrown Ferox? Cht.1 could be a prologue, Cht.2 could involve finding Robin, Cht.3 could be an initial confrontation with Ferox, Cht.4 could be finding Basilio and Cht.5 could be the final battle, maybe? Ten characters sounds about right- Robin, Chrom and eight others.

Give that a week of decent effort, and I bet it would start looking pretty good. Think about it!

[IzzyK]

Have you considered trying to make it shorter and smaller-scale?

One day of planning isn't really going to give you the material and ideas to make something that can outdo Awakening, but that's OK since from your description it looks like you're going with a smaller cast and maybe focusing on character interaction over an overarching plot. Nobody in the community will "mind" a short hack- there are only two complete, full custom full length ones out there anyway, and everyone would rather have a complete small hack than an incomplete concept for a big one. And if it turns out that hacking clicks with you and you want to keep working, you can make another hack!

What if you tried five chapters, going on your idea for an overthrown Ferox? Cht.1 could be a prologue, Cht.2 could involve finding Robin, Cht.3 could be an initial confrontation with Ferox, Cht.4 could be finding Basilio and Cht.5 could be the final battle, maybe? Ten characters sounds about right- Robin, Chrom and eight others.

Give that a week of decent effort, and I bet it would start looking pretty good. Think about it!

That seems like a good idea. Here is my plan so far. Il start off with a quick scene showing a spy reporting the news that Basilio fell in Valm to a new villain who wants to take power of Ferox. (When we all thought basilio died in valm)

Then il have the prologue. Chrom is on his way back to Ylllise to find robin. Il have them save a village or something, maby have a villager join them. Then the next few chapters are finding robin and whatnot. Il have total 5-6 chapters about the fight with Ferox. Then il end it there.

If people like the game then il make a second story arc and keep it going. If people dont like it il leave it as a 5-6 chapter complete game.

[IzzyK]

K Im happy to report that i have successfully inserted a custom map into a rom (It was a badly done map and its just a experiment) Anyways the point of that is that i have figured out how to create my own map and how to add it to the game. Now I'm working on setting up events such as people talking, units joining you, and other important stuff which needs to be added. Im glad to report that I know some of the stuff that i need to make this game. Im going to work to make this and i hope it all works.

[Czar_Yoshi]

That seems like a good idea. Here is my plan so far. Il start off with a quick scene showing a spy reporting the news that Basilio fell in Valm to a new villain who wants to take power of Ferox. (When we all thought basilio died in valm)

The game shows him falling to Walhart and then coming back in Cht.23, though. Are you planning on changing Awakening canon?

A villain with the resources to both take out a leader all the way in Valm and take over Ferox might be a little tricky to handle, so be careful with that. You'll need to look very closely at how they do what they do and make them no more powerful that they absolutely need to be to do that- if they're defeated too quickly for their power level, it'll break immersion and become hard to take them seriously.

[IzzyK]

He did not kill basilio. He was informed of it by a spy and took advantage of it. As for chapter 23. He called back his spy after basilio 'died' and was not informed that he was still alive. He then took Ferox during the chaos. No cannon change

[Czar_Yoshi]

OK, that works. The way you worded it, it sounded like a spy was reporting to someone that Basilio was felled by said villain in Valm.

[sirmola]

Actually... I think people do draw out every sprite.... then again, I'm not a spriter.

I'm not aware of a "simplify" program. Can you IMAGINE how buggy that would be?

It's possible to use an image editer to force an image to be compatible, but it would look horrid (because it would have to force a variety of colors to be the same color, and reduce the resolution). you can always wait untill FEXNA comes out (it accepts any picture of around the right size, because if is not technically a hack), but that could be years

[IzzyK]

It's possible to use an image editer to force an image to be compatible, but it would look horrid (because it would have to force a variety of colors to be the same color, and reduce the resolution). you can always wait untill FEXNA comes out (it accepts any picture of around the right size, because if is not technically a hack), but that could be years

Hmmm. Anyways sprinting is not really my main concern at the moment though. For now il create a chapter (Im running a test chapter now to see how to make the edits il need and figure out the programme) and then when it comes time to really starting to make the game. Il simply use other sprites. Like I can use Marth and just call it "Chrom" then later on in the game once I'm done i can go back and replace the sprites with the proper sprites il be using. Il also probably change the music.

[IzzyK]

K So I have figured out how to make maps, and understanding most of the main concepts I will need to make this game. All that remains is fixing up some errors for making events. I cant get my event script to load properly and am asking for help in threads as well as going back and trying to figure it out. I am making progress even if its not so fast and once I can get the event working the rest of the first few chapters should go pretty smoothly.

UPDATE: Damn. I just got 4 final/accumulating projects in school, Im going to have to dump this for now. if anyone wants it fine if not i cant do this now. Sorry.

Edited January 3, 2016 by IzzyK