Tools You'll Need:
* A ROM Editor: Popular options include:
* Advanced Map Editor (AME): Powerful and user-friendly, great for map editing but also has text editing capabilities.
* Universal Pokemon Editor (UPE): Another comprehensive editor with excellent text editing functions.
* NintenTools (NT): Includes a dedicated text editor for Pokemon games.
* A Hex Editor: While not always necessary, having a hex editor like HxD can be helpful for directly modifying text entries.
* Knowledge of Pokemon ROM Structure: Understanding the game's file organization and how text is stored is crucial for successful editing.
Steps to Edit In-Battle Text:
1. Understanding the Text Format: In Pokemon games, text is usually stored in specific sections of the ROM. Each text entry is a series of hexadecimal values, which represent the characters, punctuation, and other elements.
2. Locate the Text Table:
* Use ROM Editor: Most editors have a "text" or "string" section, allowing you to browse the game's text entries.
* Consult Resources: Online resources like forums and wikis often list the addresses for specific text sections (e.g., battle text, menu text, etc.).
3. Identify the Target Text: Search for the text you want to edit. This might involve scrolling through the text table or searching for specific keywords.
4. Edit the Text:
* Replace Text: In your chosen ROM editor, simply type the new text you want to use. The editor should handle converting your text into the proper hexadecimal format.
* Use Hex Editor (Optional): If you're comfortable with hex, you can directly edit the hexadecimal values representing the characters in the text table.
5. Save the Changes: Save your modifications to the ROM file.
6. Test the Changes: Load the edited ROM into your emulator to see if the in-battle text has been changed correctly.
Additional Tips:
* Back Up Your ROM: Always create a backup of your original ROM before editing.
* Use a Valid Text Encoding: Ensure your editor is using the correct text encoding for the game. Pokemon games typically use Japanese Shift-JIS encoding.
* Learn About Text Pointers: Some ROM editors allow you to edit text pointers, which link specific text entries to different game events.
Note: Editing Pokemon ROMs can be a complex process, especially for beginners. If you're not familiar with ROM hacking, it's best to start with simpler modifications and gradually move towards more complex tasks.