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HeartGold hack: Refined Gold Overhaul [COMPLETE]

Heya, I got a question, do you happen to have the first release of refined gold/silver (version 1.0 basically)? mostly asking cuz I mainly wanted to find a version that mainly has all pokemon available in one version, without the whole generic difficulty spikes and stuff most romhacks have. (it's fine if you dont have it)
 
Hey
Thanks for this version!
My question is how exactly the "no trade" evolution mechanic works? What levels?
And what about pokemon like steelix for example how can I obtain one?
 
Heya, I got a question, do you happen to have the first release of refined gold/silver (version 1.0 basically)? mostly asking cuz I mainly wanted to find a version that mainly has all pokemon available in one version, without the whole generic difficulty spikes and stuff most romhacks have. (it's fine if you dont have it)
Hmm, sounds like you may want to use the "Coarse Patch".

- In few words: A very purist approach for people just looking for a definitive edition to play and complete the Nat Dex. (Including the difficulty curve).
I understand where you're coming from (I also dislike those "difficulty hacks" that seem to be all over the place nowadays), but I think V1.0 would be a handicap rather than an improvement.
The latest version (v4.0.1 as of 1/20/2025) is complete, stable and pretty much a genuine upgrade to your experience (whether you play with the Coarse patch or the Overhaul).

So again, in few words: apply the coarse patch to your clean copy of HeartGold using the Delta Patcher (may need to google how, but trust me, it's easy as can be).

Best of luck!
 
Hey
Thanks for this version!
My question is how exactly the "no trade" evolution mechanic works? What levels?
And what about pokemon like steelix for example how can I obtain one?
I had these same questions haha, the answer can be found in the full Documentation here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I_Vukoq3CK2q4BtcglUp9x-OZh4hEJqHhfzjmPQv0l8/

But I'll copy paste section 2a for convenience (Spoilers of course):

Haunter and Graveler evolve upon learning a key move for their skillsets. Politoed is heavily associated with Drizzle, so Poliwhirl evolves into it by learning Rain Dance.

Evolutions not mentioned here have not been edited. All preexisting methods still work.

Move Evolutions
Haunter - Evolves when leveling up while knowing Shadow Ball (Level 36)
Graveler - Evolves when leveling up while knowing Earthquake (Level 36)
Poliwhirl - Evolves into Politoed when leveling up while learning Rain Dance (Level 36)

Level Evolutions
Kadabra - Evolves at level 38
Machoke - Evolves at level 38

Location Evolutions
Nosepass - Evolves into Probopass by leveling up on Route 10
Magneton - Evolves into Magnezone by leveling up on Route 10

Held Item Evolutions
Poliwhirl - Evolves into Politoed by leveling up while holding King's Rock
Slowpoke - Evolves into Slowking by leveling up while holding King's Rock
Eevee - Evolves into Glaceon by leveling up while holding Blue Shard at Night
Eevee - Evolves into Leafeon by leveling up while holding Green Shard in the Day
Magmar - Evolves into Magmortar by leveling up while holding Magmarizer
Electabuzz - Evolves into Electivire by leveling up while holding Electrizer
Rhydon - Evolves into Rhyperior by leveling up while holding Protector
Scyther - Evolves into Scizor by leveling up while holding Metal Coat
Onix - Evolves into Steelix by leveling up while holding Metal Coat
Seadra - Evolves into Kingdra by leveling up while holding Dragon Scale
Porygon - Evolves into Porygon2 by leveling up while holding Up-Grade
Porygon2 - Evolves into Porygon Z by leveling up while holding Dubious Disc
Feebas - Evolves into Milotic by leveling up while holding Pamtre Berry
Dusclops - Evolves into Dusknoir by leveling up while holding Reaper Cloth
Clamperl - Evolves into Huntail by leveling up while holding Deep Sea Tooth
Clamperl - Evolves into Gorebyss by leveling up while holding Deep Sea Scale


Hope this helps :)

***

Edit: Looks like Steelix was missing, my bad for mistaking Scizor with it, but I'd assume it evolves in a similar fashion, but whichever the case you can still trade with other versions of HG/SS (I recommend MelonDS for PC) or you can just add one in with "the Tool that should not be PK'ed".
 
Hmm, sounds like you may want to use the "Coarse Patch".

- In few words: A very purist approach for people just looking for a definitive edition to play and complete the Nat Dex. (Including the difficulty curve).
I understand where you're coming from (I also dislike those "difficulty hacks" that seem to be all over the place nowadays), but I think V1.0 would be a handicap rather than an improvement.
The latest version (v4.0.1 as of 1/20/2025) is complete, stable and pretty much a genuine upgrade to your experience (whether you play with the Coarse patch or the Overhaul).

So again, in few words: apply the coarse patch to your clean copy of HeartGold using the Delta Patcher (may need to google how, but trust me, it's easy as can be).

Best of luck!
the reason i asked for a 1.0 of refined (not refined overhaul) is because there were still other things added in this "coarse" version, i believe extra superbosses and the such, so i was hoping to get a version before those were added for an even more vanilla experience while having all pokemon available to obtain
 
Hmm, sounds like you may want to use the "Coarse Patch".

- In few words: A very purist approach for people just looking for a definitive edition to play and complete the Nat Dex. (Including the difficulty curve).
I understand where you're coming from (I also dislike those "difficulty hacks" that seem to be all over the place nowadays), but I think V1.0 would be a handicap rather than an improvement.
The latest version (v4.0.1 as of 1/20/2025) is complete, stable and pretty much a genuine upgrade to your experience (whether you play with the Coarse patch or the Overhaul).

So again, in few words: apply the coarse patch to your clean copy of HeartGold using the Delta Patcher (may need to google how, but trust me, it's easy as can be).

Best of luck!
Yep! That is exactly the purpose of the Coarse patch - letting people do Nat Dex while keeping the Johto campaign nigh identical.
the reason i asked for a 1.0 of refined (not refined overhaul) is because there were still other things added in this "coarse" version, i believe extra superbosses and the such, so i was hoping to get a version before those were added for an even more vanilla experience while having all pokemon available to obtain
You are allowed to not interact with optional content. You don't need to even beat Mr. Game to get access to all Pokemon. I strongly recommend you grind off of them or Rematch E4 to get the exp you need for Nat Dex, but if you want to use grass instead who am I to stop you?

v1.0 is long gone - even if I have some old copies of idk maybe v2.0 - but it also would have had both minor tweaks to bosses and not had any of the actual current QoL in its current form. It would NOT be what you want, and I literally spent a considerable length of time backporting features to create Coarse to make it even more vanilla for people like you.
 
I'll have to play this. I am only able to play on twi menu tho, is it safe? Was reading the thread where you said it's buggy
 
Update v4.0.2 is out! Some small balancing tweaks to do with the first few route trainers post-Falkner and post-Bugsy, correcting a small relic of earlier approaches. In addition, some flavor text additions to Olivine Cafe and the enigmatic Furret House!
Poggers!
 
Approximately!
I'm sure there are some minor bugs I missed but there's not exactly any major stuff I would want to add in. I might do an update to add in battle music for legendaries etc, but that would be probably at least a year from now and there's no sense in not playing right now. I have other plans for the near future, and one of them is letting the dust settle and enjoy my work myself.
 
This RomHack looks really awesome. Almost exactly what I'm looking for in a HGSS romhack. Definetly going to play this when I get time.

Is there EV/IV training within the Battle Frontier or a possibilty to change natures or abilities in game? Or might it be planned? Personally I really like to have these features for the post game when trying to complete the Battle Frontier. And if not, I assume this romhack is compatible with PKHex?
 
Update v4.0.2 is out! Some small balancing tweaks to do with the first few route trainers post-Falkner and post-Bugsy, correcting a small relic of earlier approaches. In addition, some flavor text additions to Olivine Cafe and the enigmatic Furret House!
does coarse patch get a v4.0.2 update too or is it only for overhaul?
 
This RomHack looks really awesome. Almost exactly what I'm looking for in a HGSS romhack. Definetly going to play this when I get time.

Is there EV/IV training within the Battle Frontier or a possibilty to change natures or abilities in game? Or might it be planned? Personally I really like to have these features for the post game when trying to complete the Battle Frontier. And if not, I assume this romhack is compatible with PKHex?
There is not any training shenanigans available (setting aside the improved but still pathetic Judge). However, I have made sure to maintain PkHex compatibility for this exact reason! I personally do not care if you use PkHex to give yourself legal level 50 teams for Battle Frontier stuff, have fun and go nuts.
Semi-related I do strongly recommend trying to make your team for the Superboss quest by hand, as that's part of the fun. (You should be able to manage it without any IV breeding at roughly the same level, or even a few levels below if you give yourself optimized EVs.)
does coarse patch get a v4.0.2 update too or is it only for overhaul?
Yes, the Coarse version contains the bit of flavor text and the Furret House bugfix. Obviously there is no change to trainer rebalancing in Coarse. Overall it is a minor set of changes but the Whitney segment trainer stuff was one of the last notable tweaks I wanted to put in before letting the game sit for a while. Unless I get wind of a big bug, lots of minor ones, or have a flash of inspiration, it's probably staying as is for the foreseeable future.
 
Unless I get wind of a big bug, lots of minor ones, or have a flash of inspiration, it's probably staying as is for the foreseeable future.
I have one final question however, before I leave the conversation and sink myself in the Game. Maybe I'm missing something obvious but is there a way to see which version I'm playing on?

And as a friendly request (if I may), I think it would be cool to somehow allow us to change the Trainer Battle Music at the Battle Frontier facilities to Diamond/Pearl/Platinum Trainer Battle, I mean HG/SS Trainer Battle Theme is amazing too, but I just think D/P/P battle theme has A LOT more tension and it fits the Battle Frontier so nicely, so letting us pick which Battle Theme we want to hear for the entire grind would be a welcome addition.

It would only be that particular track really, nothing from Hoenn, Kalos, Galar, no man just that good old classic D/P/P track, to keep things simple, nice and smooth.
 
There is not any training shenanigans available (setting aside the improved but still pathetic Judge). However, I have made sure to maintain PkHex compatibility for this exact reason! I personally do not care if you use PkHex to give yourself legal level 50 teams for Battle Frontier stuff, have fun and go nuts.
Semi-related I do strongly recommend trying to make your team for the Superboss quest by hand, as that's part of the fun. (You should be able to manage it without any IV breeding at roughly the same level, or even a few levels below if you give yourself optimized EVs.)
Thats great to hear!
 
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