[Map] Newbie Questions (Save Files, Mapping Resources, etc)

[MaxtheMerc]

First and foremost, I have been spending a good amount of time on Tutorials, mainly through PokeCommunity. However, if you have any recommendations of tutorials that have particularly helped YOU, please feel free to send em over!

Im attempting to do my own map on a FireRed ROM, thus I was wondering what the best way to move through it on my emulator would be, to check on the changes. While practicing on an Emerald ROM, I had found a save file online allowing me to start with a Pokemon knowing the move fly. However, everytime I would make changes on the map through Advance Map, save my game on the emulator and reload it, my changes would not occur. I would then have to reload the .sps save file I had found online and Fly from there. What would be a quicker way to do this and pretty much, how should I be saving my game on the emulator so that I don't have to reload the .sps file every time.
File > Save...
File > Save Game > 1
Start > Save (in game)
(Should I be using sa1 or sg1 files to load?)

Secondly, would you guys recommend scripting or mapping first? I assumed Mapping since most of the tutorials talk about mapping first, and I assume Scripting comes after putting the pieces together on the map.

Third, I would like my towns look more European, such as Lumiose in Kalos. Any resources out there I could use? Or should i venture more into pixel art?

Finally, I know this has been asked many times but I wanted to see where we were at as of 2018. Is there a way to script in a companion pokemon sprite to follow the protagonist much like in Pokemon Gold and Silver? For my project, it does not have to be the first Pokemon in your party, but always the same one.

Sorry if my questions come of as beginner-ish, I have been spending time reading and practicing, but those are some of the issues and topics I have been wondering about!
I appreciate any advice, comments!

Cheers,

Max

 

[Sakib66]

For your first question, you SHOULD NOT use any save file to check your map faster
For your second question, you already have the answer
For your third question, if you are looking for images then here:https://www.google.com/search?q=Eur...8qfbAhVGO48KHXhXBBkQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662

However, if you are looking for patches, then I don't know.

For your fourth question, no.

And don't feel sorry to be a newbie.

 

[MaxtheMerc]

Thanks for your answer @Sakib66

So regarding save files while mapping, how should I get to the city I recently worked on without having to play through the entire game?

Whereas for tilesets, just went through Le Pug's tutorial. It was very helpful, although ended up making a mistake and messing up the Saffron skyscraper looking building. Learned a lot though, just need to work on inserting tilesets without messing everything up. Any more tutorials someone can recommend me? I used Tile Helper Advance with Advance Map.

 

[Sakib66]

Write a script that will WARP you there immediately.

I don't think there is any tutorial better than Le Pug's when it comes to tileset inserting.