-edited- Getting started! (i now have started but got questions)

[Eneru]

Hello! Just joined this forum as i search through the internet a way to get into making my own rom hack.

After looking for a while (like the last 3 hours) i haven't found a clear way of getting into it and i was hoping this forum had some sticky post for starters (haven't seen any?).
I got a grasp of what tools are there but i don't know where to begin with.

I'd love to modify a gen 4 game, such as Soul Silver, but if it's harder (at least some info i found said so), then i'd start with gen 3, broadly stated as somewhat more rom hack friendly?

As you can see, i'm pretty lost. I don't intend to start big, but i'm eager to get my hands on something and start breaking it first before creating something functional.

Thank you all for your time!

 

[Vladmir_Fox]

Home

A beginner's guide to hacking gen 3 Pokémon with decomps. - Bivurnum/decomps-resources

github.com

This should get you started on setting up the pokeemerald-expansion Decomp and some basic programs like map editing.

 

[Eneru]

Seems like it will be perfect! I'll check it in more deph later, thank you!!

 

[Eneru]

I have started my journey on working with decomps! (pokeemerald-expansion)

So far so good, but i'm starting to get some headaches learning to improve some graphics (inserting tilesets, i know it's possible but very tedious) and adding some mechanics (like apricorns/bonguri in gen3).

Now that i'm more into it i'll share some of my goals and ask questions accordingly:

- New region. Edit/remove emerald maps and create my own.
- Mini games. Introducing even if "lame" mini games like playing sports with pokemon. I guess code wise i could make something work, but i don't know about animating balls from one point to another, for exemple.
- More choices. For exemple, i don't want to give the pokedex right away but instead start as a note pad or something like it and also be able to choose what path to follow to complete your history (set various paths).
- "Gen4 graphics". I love gen 4 graphics and i'd like to port them, at least some, to the game.

After following some tutorials and reading documentation, i feel like decomps are more of a way to modify the original game (which i love) but not to stray too far from it.
Here come the questions.

- New region. I already know editing maps is doable on decomps (done some), but is it recommended to start a whole new region/set of maps?
- Mini games. Is adding new mechanics easy enough? I like coding, but after wrapping my head around Poryscript it feels... overcomplicated? Problably it's just me not getting the hang of it.
- More choices. I guess it's really tied with the question before. I understand the principles but can't see how to apply some changes within the original game's code.
- "Gen4 graphics". And this i know it's possible to do so to some extent, i've checked other posts here and you can get some. But is it worth the investment, what are the limits?

After all it got me thinking, maybe my idea is best worked on a fan game (RPG Maker + essentials)? What do you guys suggest?

For perspective, i work on my job using Typescript and C# fundamentally, but i'm pretty new to it (year and a half) so i like to think i got the basics but not much.
If you think my goals are doable in a pokeemerald-expansion decomp and i just need to dig and work and practice, then tell me so!