Quick Modding/Hacking Answers Thread

Balfrog has an entity set? That's news to me. Considering I've only just learnt about it, no I don't have it set to Interactable.

...i meant 'do you have the entity set AS interactable', apologies for poor wording



just mentioned it because i had a similar issue where a boss suddenly wasn't taking damage and i realised it was because i'd set it to interactable, planning to have the player able to talk to it after the fight was over. however, i haven't had to use a special map boss yet, so i don't know anything about them, so this might not be your issue

 

...i meant 'do you have the entity set AS interactable', apologies for poor wording

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just mentioned it because i had a similar issue where a boss suddenly wasn't taking damage and i realised it was because i'd set it to interactable, planning to have the player able to talk to it after the fight was over. however, i haven't had to use a special map boss yet, so i don't know anything about them, so this might not be your issue

Right, so if you can't a special map boss's entity set, then the issue lies elsewhere. Perhaps it's a scripting issue?

 

I think so, Cave Story uses this script to start the boss: <BOA0020<WAI0100<BOA0010<MSGGeghrooakk<NOD<BOA0100<BSL0000 (of course I cut out the DNP and stuff since Barlog isnt the boss) so perhaps what you're doing wrong order, otherwise I'm not going to be of any help (it could also be that <BOA0100 needs time to function so you should use a message, but I highly doubt it)

 

maybe this doesn't matter, but put the <BOAXXXX like this: <BOA0010<BOA0100<BSL0000

Aren't those numbers just for the entity numbers ?

 

no, those are the animation numbers, <BOAXXXX is used to animate the boss in the Major Boss tab (well at least on CE)

 

So if this Balfrog problem is purely a scripting issue, is there any way I can rewrite the script to make it function properly?

 

using the original script as reference wouldn't be a bad idea, I said previously this might work: <BOA0020<WAI0100<BOA0010<MSGGeghrooakk<NOD<BOA0100<BSL0000 since these are the <BOA that Pixel used, I can't help in any other way sad, try the script out, see if it works.

 

I've been looking to the original Frog script (though I'm having trouble knowing which bits are for the boss and whichs bits are for the pre-boss cutscene) and have updated it, even adding an entity with Event #0200. Yet the problem still persists.
Script for reference:

 

how do you get Monster X to exist again?

 

1. Go to MapData for the room you're working on and set the Special Boss to Monster X, and use NpcX.bmp for the NPC Set 2 option.

2. You don't have to do anything else, other than look at the scripts on how to start the boss battle with him, Monster X isn't affected by gravity, so he can come from out of nowhere if you have a smaller map. If you want the battle to be more immediate with his presence being there right away, make a room that is at least 180 tiles wide.

3. Monster X generally spawns in this area, as marked through this modified Labyrinth map (it's 180 tiles wide), so go nuts if you wanna make the room feel visually smaller than it really is. If you're daring, you can even place an <FON on a null entity and have the room only focus on the area (this is probably more recommended if you're working on a widescreen mod, now that I think of it, oops). Just don't forget to do <FOM0016 once either the battle is over or you <TRA to another room.

 

1. Go to MapData for the room you're working on and set the Special Boss to Monster X, and use NpcX.bmp for the NPC Set 2 option.

2. You don't have to do anything else, other than look at the scripts on how to start the boss battle with him, Monster X isn't affected by gravity, so he can come from out of nowhere if you have a smaller map. If you want the battle to be more immediate with his presence being there right away, make a room that is at least 180 tiles wide.

3. Monster X generally spawns in this area, as marked through this modified Labyrinth map (it's 180 tiles wide), so go nuts if you wanna make the room feel visually smaller than it really is. If you're daring, you can even place an <FON on a null entity and have the room only focus on the area (this is probably more recommended if you're working on a widescreen mod, now that I think of it, oops). Just don't forget to do <FOM0016 once either the battle is over or you <TRA to another room.

I actually did that myself and was able to do all of that, but he still didn't come alive, I tried going through the the labyrinth for some FL+ that might work but nothing happened, is that normal? If so I just need to know what flag or whatever it is (yes, I tried saying "open salami" dont ask me), but the widescreen thing was a good tip, thanks.

 

I actually did that myself and was able to do all of that, but he still didn't come alive, I tried going through the the labyrinth for some FL+ that might work but nothing happened, is that normal? If so I just need to know what flag or whatever it is (yes, I tried saying "open salami" dont ask me), but the widescreen thing was a good tip, thanks.

I... am not actually too sure. I did suggest looking at the original TSC events for the boss.

#0300
#0301
<DNP0301<BOA0001<FL-0680<END
#0302
<DNP0302<CMU0007<BOA0010<CNP0300:0013:0000<BSL0000<END

I think you just need to use the script from Event 0302, barring the <CNP0300 part, that just turns some null entities into force fields. (This was tested via the Randomizer, since that's the only way you can enter the Labyrinth from the other direction and fight Monster X.)

 

huh, it worked, I'm very thankful

 

what the hell is a pxa file

 

what the hell is a pxa file

You know in Booster's Lab, you right click on a tile and it lets you choose what kind of tile it is? .pxa files are basically memory files for the game to properly read what kind of tiles they are in the Prt bitmaps.

 

ok, thanks, but another question, is there a reason why only some maps have a pxa file?

Spoiler: Example

 

PXA files don't correspond to maps, they correspond to tilesets. When you find a .pxa file, there will also be an associated .bmp/.pbm file. The .pxa file determines whether the tiles in that tileset are solid, not solid, sloped, water, or some other tile type.

 

got it, much thanks

 

Guess it's best to repeat this for idk how many times now.

Stage folder file extension guide (of doom):
.pbm - (.bmp but made so it won't show spoilers) - You know what it is. If you use Booster's Lab, they'll automatically be converted into .bmp files for easier access.
.pxa - (???) Tells the game what kind tiles the tilesets are supposed to be. There is one per tileset, not one per map.
.pxe - (PiXel Entity) It holds the entity placement in all the maps and stages of the game.
.pxm - (PiXel Map) It holds all the foreground and background tiles you place in all the maps and stages of the game.
.tsc - (Text SCript) The events that every map has. Can be used for interactions, cutscenes, bosses, technical behind the scenes, etc. It can also access some memory addresses for some stuff if you're skilled enough.

 

yeah, I thought the rest were self explanatory, e = entity, m = tileset pieces and background stuff. I already knew what TSC was, but it seems I was much too senile to see that its pbm because its to prevent people seeing the tilesets