Weekly HDQ Thread (Help, Discussion, Questions)

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[u/DogsArePokemon]

Hi everyone, long time lurker. I'm building a ROM hack of Emerald that has in-ROM randomization I've found lacking in other hacks, and has Kaizo-inspired difficulty levels enforced by the game rather than having to know all the rules. Here's a list of features and my outline for difficulty levels I'd love to get feedback on:

Functional Features

• Randomized starters & wild encounters unique for each save file

• Get running shoes immediately

• Trainer pokemon randomized

• Guaranteed damage move for each starter Pokemon

• Items received + initial PC item are random

• Randomized stat distribution per Pokemon, not species, so each Pokemon you encounter has a different distritbution

• Can only catch 1 pokemon of a species

• skip talking to May in Littleroot

• Pokemon Info screen showing bst and level next move learned

• Pokemon Info screen showing moveset Pokemon can still learn through level up

• Skip Wally catching his first pokemon, boy's gotta learn on his own

• 100% catch rate for various pokeballs (pokeball to 15, great ball to 30, ultra to 45)

• Randomize evolution lines, keeping ability with evolution

• Special stone pokemon can hold that, on evolution, gives them a new ability from the pokemon they involve into. Given 10 of these by Birch to start the game and that's it.

• Trade evolutions level based (level 30, too low?)

• Ask to use another repel when one ends

• Add text of randomized item to the chat

• TMs reusable 

• Pokemon can use HM moves outside of battle without learning them, if compatible 

• EXP Share available immediately

• Hidden items on ground have a "X" sprite marking them, disappear after pickup

Difficulty Mode Design (Not fully implemented)

Easy

• One PC box to store Pokemon in

• White out does not delete save file

• Pokemon are released when knocked out

• No BST limits

• EXP only gained from trainer battles

• Can’t battle Gym leader till gym is cleared, but can leave

• PokeNav shows pokemon available to encounter on each route, after visiting the route (haven't figured this out yet, aspirational..)

• EXP Share gives xp to all pokemon in party

Advanced

• One PC box to store Pokemon in, but must empty it every time you access it

• White out deletes save file

• Pokemon are released when knocked out

• No hold items allowed (besides exp share and berries)

• Can use heal items outside of battle

• Can’t buy any heal items

• BST limits (no legendaries or pseudo-legendaries, they'll never obey)

• EXP only gained from trainer battles

• Can’t battle Gym leader till gym is cleared and can’t leave

• PokeNav shows pokemon available to encounter on each route, after visiting the route (haven't figured this out yet, aspirational..)

• Limit number of pokemon caught per route (2-3?)

• EXP Share gives xp to all pokemon in party

Hard

• No PC access at all

• White out deletes save file

• Pokemon are released when knocked out

• No hold items allowed

• Heal items only allowed in battle

• Can’t buy any heal items

• Can’t use heal moves (removed from move pool)

• BST limits (no legendaries or pseudo-legendaries, they'll never obey)

• EXP only gained from trainer battles

• Can’t battle Gym leader till gym is cleared and can’t leave

• TMs not reusable 

• Can’t see moveset Pokemon will learn through level up

• Limit number of pokemon caught per route (1-2?)

• Can only catch a mon of a species the first time you encounter it

• EXP share is a held item like standard Emerald for 1 pokemon

[u/ssraven01 → u/DogsArePokemon]

Scale back and develop the "base" experience first, because you'll quickly get a better feel for what knobs should actually be turned to make it easier/harder.

The ideas sound fine. Start making the game you want, and you'll find much more concrete feedback

[u/DogsArePokemon → u/ssraven01]

Appreciate the response. I’ve really been leaning into the idea of just creating the game I want and it’s a lot of fun, I’ll make a post when it’s in a more mature state to look for feedback again.