Changing the character

[Swordhunter]

Some one knows any way to make a charecter change into another when it levels up? Some other way then puting a 'Parallel Process' event the chaking the level of the party member on every map and changing the member if the condition met?

 

[shiroun]

Easiest thing I can think of is to make them on a specific map fight a character, have a cutscene, change the level, and change the character, but that's my opinion.

 

[Brewmeister]

Try this out...

Insert this script right above "Main"

Spoiler: Change Graphic with Level

 class Game_Actor
   
  #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  # 04DEC07 - Added "Change Character Graphic with Level" code - Brew
  #
  #  Create a character set named <actor_name>_<level>.png
  #  in the Graphics\Characters\ folder.
  #  For example, to change Aluxes graphic when he hits level 5,
  #  Create a character set named "Aluxes_5.png"
  #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  # * Change Level
  #     level : new level
  #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  def exp=(exp)
    @exp = [[exp, 9999999].min, 0].max
    # Level up
    while @exp >= @exp_list[@level+1] and @exp_list[@level+1] > 0
      @level += 1
      # Check to see if there is a new graphic for this level
      new_graphic = "#{@name}_#{@level}.png"
      if FileTest.exist?("Graphics\\Characters\\#{new_graphic}")
        # Change the character graphic
        set_graphic(new_graphic, @character_hue, @battler_name, @battler_hue)
        $game_player.refresh
      end
      # Learn skill
      for j in $data_classes[@class_id].learnings
        if j.level == @level
          learn_skill(j.skill_id)
        end
      end
    end
    # Level down
    while @exp < @exp_list[@level]
      @level -= 1
    end
    # Correction if exceeding current max HP and max SP
    @hp = [@hp, self.maxhp].min
    @sp = [@sp, self.maxsp].min
  end
  
  def level=(level)
    # Check up and down limits
    level = [[level, $data_actors[@actor_id].final_level].min, 1].max
    # Check to see if there is a new graphic for this level
    new_graphic = "#{@name}_#{level}.png"
    if FileTest.exist?("Graphics\\Characters\\#{new_graphic}")
      # Change the character graphic
      set_graphic(new_graphic, @character_hue, @battler_name, @battler_hue)
      $game_player.refresh
    end
    # Change EXP
    self.exp = @exp_list[level]
  end
end

See the comments at the top to create the new graphic.

Be Well

Seph, feel free to check this for 'brain farts'!

 

[Swordhunter]

^Thanks but can you make the same for battlers?
Thanks again!

 

[SephirothSpawn]

I must teach you the power of the alias function Brew.

If you use the alias, you don't need to even tough the exp= method.

class Game_Actor
  alias_method :brew_levelgraphicchange_gmactr_cn, :character_name
  alias_method :brew_levelgraphicchange_gmactr_bn, :battler_name
  def character_name
    name = brew_levelgraphicchange_gmactr_cn.dup
    # this is a better way to test if a file is included
    begin
      bitmap = RPG::Cache.character("#{name}_#{@level}", @character_hue)
      name += "_#{@level}"
    rescue
    end
    return name
  end
  def battler_name
    name = brew_levelgraphicchange_gmactr_bn.dup
    # this is a better way to test if a file is included
    begin
      bitmap = RPG::Cache.battler("#{name}_#{@level}", @battler_hue)
      name += "_#{@level}"
    rescue
    end
    return name
  end
end

Now, this uses the character/battler name. I never suggest using actual character names, just graphical filenames. 001-Fighter01_1.

Let me know if there's any part of the code you don't understand Brew. I would be happy to explain any of it to you.

 

[Brewmeister]

Cool, I get most of it.

Scratching my head on:

is "alias_method" the same as "alias"?

Isn't "character_name" a property?  (didn't know I could alias a property to a method)

why do we need the '.dup'?  (we're not dealing with pointers, are we?)

when does the new "character_name" method get called?

I still need to call 'set_graphic' from the exp= or level= methods?

Or, we need a $game_player.refresh somewhere...

If you try this out, using an event to change the exp or level, it doesn't change the graphic of the current player sprite. If I go to the menu, which calls character_name, it changes the graphic in the menu.  (same if you test it in battle)


Thanks

 

[SephirothSpawn]

So many questions... lol

1) is "alias_method" the same as "alias"?

Yes, it is. I use alias_method because of the SDK. The SDK has a alias log method, that aliases the alias_method, to auto-log methods. XD

2) Isn't "character_name" a property?  (didn't know I could alias a property to a method)

You can alias a method, and...

class Game_Actor
  attr_reader :character_name

Creates a method that returns the instance making it public by accessing the character_name method (hence, public instance variables).

3) why do we need the '.dup'?  (we're not dealing with pointers, are we?)

Yeah, that's why we dup. I honestly can't say for sure if we need to do it (because I am too lazy to test 85% of the code I give out), but I believe we do, as the original method returns an instance, and modifying it modifies the pointers and all that jazz. I hate pointers. They always get me.

4) when does the new "character_name" method get called?

Anywhere. All Game_Actor objects are readable by accessing the $game_actor[actor_id], and because character_name is a method that returns the instance, any place in the game can read this instance. In our instance, Sprite_Character and Sprite_Battler read this method in their update methods. They set the bitmaps.

5)
I still need to call 'set_graphic' from the exp= or level= methods?

Or, we need a $game_player.refresh somewhere...

If you try this out, using an event to change the exp or level, it doesn't change the graphic of the current player sprite. If I go to the menu, which calls character_name, it changes the graphic in the menu.  (same if you test it in battle)

You shouldn't have too, but I will look into it.

 

[Brewmeister]

Ah, I got it. (attr_reader).

I tested it without the .dup, and it works the same. ok.

I don't 'hate' pointers, they can be really handy. What drives me nuts is
inconsistent use of them in libraries.

4) character_name is not getting called when Exp or Level gets changed. (thus the reason I overloaded those methods)
I don't see anywhere else that $game_player.refresh gets called, so I'm pretty sure we have to force it.
I see where Sprite_Character is checking & setting:
@character_name = @character.character_name
but that's defined in the Game_Character class, not in Game_Actor.
Where does the filename get transferred from Game_Actor to Game_Character?
(in the refresh method of Game_Player?)

It also looks like Spriteset_Map, should refresh the player with:
@character_sprites.push(Sprite_Character.new(@viewport1, $game_player))

but the sprite isn't changing when I transfer maps either.

my brain hurts!

thanks

 

[Swordhunter]

So you can make the script to change the battler too?
P.S: I don't get it, how people know how to script? :O I learned once scripting and I know some basic methods but I just don't know what to do on a real script

 

[Brewmeister]

Patience. ONce we get Seph's code working, it will change both the char & battler graphic if they exist.

 

[quily2002]

You can do this really easily with Common events, I think

Just set a Common event so that it has the conditional or whatever "When X is level Y or more" and then put change character/graphic, or whatever.

Set it to Parallel Process, and have it be activated by a really early switch in the game (like... a "beginning cutscene" switch or something)

Then it should work once you reach that level.