Freedom Reborn

Freedom Force Forums => Scripting Forum => Topic started by: MarvelHero on May 05, 2025, 09:00:01 AM

Title: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: MarvelHero on May 05, 2025, 09:00:01 AM
Hey guys,

I am wondering if the transforming attribute shapeshifter is possible for custom characters?

Or is it just for built-in characters only? If I don't want to put all my characters as built-in. Is there a workaround for this?
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: Epimethee on May 06, 2025, 01:20:38 AM
Yes, you should be able to use Shapeshifter with custom characters. As a matter of fact, a previous versios of FFX came with demo custom character John Snow (not related to Game of Thrones). Cf. the FFX manual (https://ffx.freedomforce4ever.com/manual.htm) under Custom Characters and Sample Characters.
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: MarvelHero on May 06, 2025, 02:34:24 AM
Thanks, Epimethee. I will look into it. :thumbup:

It said the John Snow character is available on FFX3.0.

I am using FFX3.3 and the only featured character is Slowball.

Anyone here willing to lay out a way for a custom character to have a transforming power? A quick tutorial perhaps?
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: oktokels on May 06, 2025, 10:24:40 PM
Quote from: MarvelHero on May 06, 2025, 02:34:24 AMThanks, Epimethee. I will look into it. :thumbup:

It said the John Snow character is available on FFX3.0.

I am using FFX3.3 and the only featured character is Slowball.

Anyone here willing to lay out a way for a custom character to have a transforming power? A quick tutorial perhaps?

QuoteSHAPECHANGER
TEMPORARY FORM
By Dr Mike
Characters with these attributes are able to switch between a variety of forms, each with their own powers and stats. Health, energy and hero points are shared between forms and recalculated proportionally to each form in the case of health.
Each form is designed as a separate character in either the FFEdit program or the Character Screen in Freedom Force.
The character's normal form is given the SHAPECHANGER attribute and the other forms can be given the TEMPORARY FORM attribute since they are not playable as characters in their own right.

Customisation
SHAPESHIFTER
Effect: The effect played when turning back into the main character from a temporary form
Animation: The animation the character plays whilst changing shape
COMMAND: This will be the command that the character's temporary forms use to turn back into the default SHAPESHIFTER form.
Form1 to Form6: A list of temporary forms that the character can assume. Form2 to Form6 are optional. The droplists here will automatically detect any characters who are TEMPORARY FORMS.
TEMPORARY FORM
Effect: The effect played when turning into this temporary form
Animation: The animation the character plays whilst changing shape
COMMAND: The command used to assume this TEMPORARY FORM.
Revert Trigger: A state that can trigger the temporary form back to normal. Defaults to isNever so this never happens. See the Query User Functions guide for details.

See the Customisation Guide for an explanation of Commands, FX and Dummy Powers.

Using a custom SHAPESHIFTER in a campiagn
To use a shapeshifter, just recruit the main form. Make sure you don't delete the .hero files for the temporary forms, as these are required for the character to function correctly. During a campaign, you can level up the temporary form by quitting the game and buying extra powers for the custom character - whether you choose to cheat or not is your own business :)
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: MarvelHero on May 07, 2025, 02:19:14 AM
That looks challenging indeed. It's not as simple as I thought it would be. Thanks a lot. :)
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: oktokels on May 07, 2025, 11:32:31 AM
Quote from: MarvelHero on May 07, 2025, 02:19:14 AMThat looks challenging indeed. It's not as simple as I thought it would be. Thanks a lot. :)
You just need to put the "shapeshifting" attribute to your character, and for his second form you give the "temporary form" attribute. Then you can easily configure the attributes in the control center.
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: MarvelHero on May 07, 2025, 12:43:23 PM
Ok, I got it. I hope it works. I'll test it out in my free time. Thank you. :thumbup:
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: Epimethee on May 08, 2025, 02:43:38 AM
Quote from: MarvelHero on May 06, 2025, 02:34:24 AMThanks, Epimethee. I will look into it. :thumbup:

It said the John Snow character is available on FFX3.0.

I am using FFX3.3 and the only featured character is Slowball.
I don't remember why the 3.0–3.1 hero files weren't included in 3.2, but as this was the release I managed and created the installer for after Dr Mike's passed us the torch, I probably just forgot to include them...
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: MarvelHero on May 08, 2025, 03:03:18 AM
I would love to have them. Slowball stays in my roster. Kind of like a staple character now. :)

Sidenote: FFX3.3 is smoother than FFX2.6. I tried adding 50 plus characters in FFVT3R FFX3.3 watchmode and there was no problem. While FF FFX2.6 crashed when I try to replay.
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: spydermann93 on May 08, 2025, 06:14:36 PM
I actually think I have all of the older heroes.

Let me double-check my hero file stash.

EDIT: Hmm... I don't see them in my stash. I'll keep an eye out for them, though. They are pretty neat! I'll post here if I find them, but if you install older versions of ffx3, you'll get them.
Title: Re: Is Shapeshifting possible for Custom Characters?
Post by: MarvelHero on May 09, 2025, 01:39:13 AM
I only have the FFX3.3 and FFX3.2.

And the old FFX2.6 for FF.

It would be wonderful if I could get them.

Edit: Great news. It worked. The only minor downside is, it doesn't play the animations before transforming.