Hack Series: Pokéluv - A Balanced, Randomized Experience (FireRed/Emerald) [UPDATE]

[Akiak]

BIG UPDATE #3

I have completed the modified version of the randomizer, and it is now included in the download file.

When you open the randomizer, the recommended settings are already set, so there's no need to change anything unless you want to.

The randomizer has been heavily tweaked, so that the opponents will still have the occasional NFE Pokemon even at high levels, and for certain trainers (including boss battles, gym leaders and E4), the randomizer will give every Pokemon a random competitive moveset chosen from a list.

Hope you enjoy!

PS: I recommend at least randomizing the trainer teams, as I haven't modified them from vanilla. Randomizing the wilds is up to preference.

 

[Akiak]

BIG UPDATE #4

- Several moves have been updated (see below)
- Most Gym Leaders have 1 extra Pokemon & better held items
- Many more trainers use custom movesets (only affects randomized playthroughs)
- The 'Sturdy' ability has been updated
- Critical hits nerfed to 1.5x
- Berry Juice works like Rare Candy (without evolving) and can be bought at the E4
- A Lucky Egg that doubles your EXP is available from Mr. Stone after delivering the letter (Emerald)
- The Master Ball is replaced by TM35, and an extra PP Max is available (hint: scanner) (Emerald)
- Switched to the "Vanilla Wilds+" version of Emerald Final (which includes version exclusives) to make randomizing less chaotic (386 version still included)
- Some minor randomizer tweaks (Wallace is no longer a Water specialist)
- Minor bugfixes
- Rebalanced the following mons:

Move updates (full list in OP):

Spoiler:

Acid (sp.def drop)
Beat Up (12BP)
Blizzard (110BP)
Clamp (80acc)
Covet (45BP)
Crunch (def drop)
Disable (60acc)
Fire Blast (110BP)
Flamethrower (90BP)
Glare (95acc)
Headache (fixed)
Heat Wave (95BP)
Hi Jump Kick (90BP)
Hydro Pump (110BP)
Ice Beam (90BP)
Icicle Spear (16BP 25PP)
Jump Kick (75BP)
Knock Off (25BP)
Mud-Slap (25BP)
Muddy Water (90BP)
Overheat (130BP)
Petal Dance (80BP)
Pin Missile (90acc)
Poison Gas (60acc)
Rock Blast (85acc)
Rock Tomb (55BP 85acc)
Sand Tomb (20BP 80acc)
Splash
Surf (90BP)
Thief (45BP)
Thunder (110BP)
Thunder Wave (95acc)
Thunderbolt (90BP)
Toxic (90acc)
Uproar (55BP)
Will-O-Wisp (80acc)

I have completed my first full playthrough with the following team:

It took a long time to update all the trainers, but it was worth it. I highly recommend randomizing at least the trainers to get the full experience.

I tried to balance everything around the following challenge, aiming to make it as difficult as possible, but without being impossible or unfair:

Spoiler:

LuvLocke Challenge

1) Use 'Set' Battle Style
2) Randomize the game using the recommended settings
3) Don't use any items in battle (held items are fine)
4) Don't use any evolution items (including Rare Candies)
5) Don't overlevel the next Gym Leader (or the final member of the E4)
6) You can only catch the first encounter in every area (excluding duplicates)
7) If a Pokemon faints, you can no longer use it.

PS: the level caps are the same as vanilla

Feel free to use as many or as few of these rules as you like. For my playthrough I used all except 7.

If someone manages to complete it, I'll be very impressed :)

Known bugs:

Spoiler:

If you catch a Pokemon for the first time and simultaneously gain a level, the Pokedex info screen will look weird (Emerald)
Some text/capitalisation errors (Emerald)
Multi-hit moves won't break Sturdy
If you enter a double battle with a single Pokemon, you might lose some of your other Pokemon after the battle. I recommend saving often. (Emerald?)

 

[Akiak]

BIG UPDATE

- Added 7 new moves, with tutors
- Recolored player sprites & battle UI
- Rebalanced several moves
- Removed EVs (you can still use the Altering Cave in post-game to EV train)
- Added 9 Berry Juice obtainable before Roxanne, as well as certain Pokemarts
- Rough Skin has been updated
- A lot of small tweaks & fixes

Full details in OP

I decided to focus on a single version of the hack this time around. The previous version is still available in the OP though.

Enjoy!

Known bugs

Spoiler:

If you catch a Pokemon for the first time and simultaneously gain a level, the Pokedex info screen will look weird
Multi-hit moves don't break Sturdy
Entering a double battle with only 1 Pokemon can cause issues
If you use the Randomizer too quickly, it can cause errors, which will be visible in the terminal window. Slow down!

 

[Bladeheart111x]

Question: I see that legendaries are uncatchable. Does that mean that obtaining all 386 pokemon is impossible without trading (if trading even is possible), or do the legendaries join you a la mystery dungeon?

 

[Akiak]

Question: I see that legendaries are uncatchable. Does that mean that obtaining all 386 pokemon is impossible without trading (if trading even is possible), or do the legendaries join you a la mystery dungeon?

It does unfortunately mean that, yes. I didn't really put much thought into Dex completion as it's not something I personally try to do.

You should be able to catch every non-legendary though, provided you use the default randomizer settings.

 

[Bladeheart111x]

That's fine... i guess it makes sense, since Rayquaza is op even in vanilla Emerald

 

[Akiak]

BIG UPDATE

• FireRed version added! Based off of the latest version of Throwback. I also added a patch that removes the need to teach HMs as long as you have certain types in your party (see here). Doesn't work for Flash sadly.
• Reimplemented EVs. You can discourage EV grinding by just banning wild Pokemon grinding, so I don't feel it's necessary to remove them anymore. There's still an optional patch to disable them if you want.
• For Nuzlockers, I've implemented a second Rare Candy substitute. See the Nuzlocke section of the OP for more details.
• Cleanse Tag now reduces wild encounters by 1/3 instead of 2/3.
• Fixed May's bag sprite being glitched.
• Fixed trainers having 0 IVs.
• Included more optional patches & documentation.

If you want to see a challenge run of Pokeluv using only Natu & Weedle, tune in to twitch.tv/spadealastair tomorrow (Saturday) at 7PM EST!

 

[Akiak]

BALANCE UPDATE (August 2022)

• Physical/Special split is now applied only to certain moves rather than universally. This was done for balance reasons, and because I think it fits Gen 3 better. There are optional patches to re-enable it fully if you want, but I don't recommend it.
• A new move has been added: Eerie Pulse (replaces Mirror Move)
• Several move updates (Mimic is now Mirror Move, Secret Power is physical Hidden Power, Strength is now Secret Power, and much more) (see OP for details!)
• Added the 7 new Move Tutors to FireRed version (hints for locations in ReadMe)
• Taillow line is now pure Flying-type, like in the beta version
• Fixed move animations & descriptions in FireRed version
• Fixed some randomizer-related bugs
• Balanced the following Pokemon:
  
  
  

Enjoy!!!!

EDIT: Eerie Pulse wasn't working properly so I have changed it to a 25BP move that lowers SP.ATK by 1 stage

 

[Akiak]

EXP UPDATE (August 2022)

• Added optional Gen 6-style EXP Share obtainable at the start of the game (if in the Bag, entire party receives 100% of the EXP)
• Added Scaled EXP system from Gen 5 (Pokemon receive more EXP if they are underleveled, less if they are overleveled)
• Steven now gives you a Lucky Egg instead of the EXP Share, that nullifies all EXP for the Pokemon that holds it (useful for level caps) (Emerald)
• Some minor move updates
• Changes to the following Pokemon:
  
  
  
  

I've also come up with a new challenge ruleset that makes use of the EXP ALL, and is honestly quite fun. Check the Luvlocke Challenge section in the OP.

 

[Akiak]

SMALL UPDATE (August 2022)

• Steven now gives you 6 Lucky Eggs that disable EXP, and you can also obtain them in FireRed
• Added 3 Berry Juice obtainable before Brock (FireRed)
• A couple minor move edits
• Some randomizer tweaks & fixes

The Luvlocke Challenge in the OP has also been finalized. I'm pretty happy with it. If you find it hard, feel free to remove or adjust any of the rules as you see fit.

 

[Shrew]

I learned about this romhack through your post about the Luvlocke ruleset. I look forward to trying it all out!