Download Spell Name Modernization Patch ROM Hack

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|  Dragon Warrior III (NES): Spell Name Modernization Patch  |
|                        Version 1.1                         |
|                                                            |
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** changelog **

v1.0: * initial release
v1.1: * updates corresponding with the US releases of DQ5, DQ6 and DQ9:
        - Pilgrim is now Priest instead of Cleric
        - Merchant is Merchant again, instead of Dealer
        - Whoosh is now Woosh (DQ9)
        - Limbo is now Kapoof (not official, but it's an upgrade of Expel/Poof
          and this would follow the general convention for two-tiered series of
          spells like Sap/Kasap)
        - changed Awaken back to Cock-a-doodle-do (it was rendered with one 'o'
          in DQ9, thus doesn't run afoul of the 16-letter limit)
        - changed Kerplunk to Kamikazee - better match (Kerplunk is DW4's 
          Farewell)
        - CurseOff is now Sheen, per DQ5
        - I still lack official names for Open/Invisible.
      * all instances of things in menus being written in ALL CAPS should have
        normal capitalization now; there may be some missed on account of them
        being in strange places in the code I wasn't comfortable messing with
      * location names remain unchanged due to script references I don't want
        to mess with

** what it does **

This patch has three noticeable effects:

It changes all the spell names, where applicable, to match the translations
used in Square Enix's most recent Dragon Quest series translations (Dragon 
Quest VIII; Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen; Dragon Quest V: Hand of
the Heavenly Bride; and Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies for DS).

It changes the class names to reverse Nintendo of America's censoring of some
of the NES version's religious references, to those used in the English version
of Dragon Quest IX, with the exception of the Fighter class, which has remained
as-is because Martial Artist is too long for the game, and Jester, because the
Minstrel class in DQ9 is really nothing at all like this game's jester/goofoff
and as such it would be a little misleading.

Where appropriate, it changes the 2-letter class abbreviations that are
displayed on in-battle status screens to match the changed class names.

There are a few limitations to the above that I know of, and possibly more I
don't:

There are three spells in Dragon Warrior III that, to the best of my knowledge,
lack any equivalent in any of the modern Dragon Quest English translations:
Limbo, Open, and Invisible.  For Limbo, I devised a "new-style" spell name
based on the precedent set by other spell series: the better version of Sap
is Kasap, and the better version of Buff is Kabuff, so the better version of
Poof is Kapoof.  The other two remain unchanged.

When viewing in-game menus, such as the spell lists in the Status menu and the
Spell menu, in or out of battle, the spell names will be truncated at
9 letters.  However, the full name of the spell will be properly displayed in
combat messages when it is cast.  For example, the "Deceleratle" spell will be
listed as "Decelerat" in menus, but combat text will properly read:
"Erdrick chants Deceleratle."

Speaking of Erdrick, I retained it over Loto to avoid having to make script
edits to go along with it.  Besides, the official localization of Dragon Quest
IX used Erdrick over Loto as well for the various cameo items..

In this version of the patch, I made more effort to find textual references to
changed names in messages and changed them where possible.  The wearoff message
for the Holy Protection spell now reads "The Holy Protection has run out."
rather than referring to the old spell name of Repel.  A few references to the
old class names were fixed as well.  I think I caught all of them.

** the list of changes **

OLD NAME        NEW NAME
Hero            Hero
Wizard          Mage
Pilgrim         Priest
Sage            Sage
Soldier         Warrior
Merchant        Merchant
Fighter         Fighter
Goof-off        Jester
Erdrick         Erdrick

Blaze           Frizz
Blazemore       Frizzle
Blazemost       Kafrizzle
Firebal         Sizz
Firebane        Sizzle
Firevolt        Kasizzle
Bang            Bang
Boom            Boom
Explodet        Kaboom
IceBolt         Crack
Snowblast       Crackle
Snowstorm       Kacrackle
IceSpears       Kacrack
Infernos        Woosh
Infermore       Swoosh
Infermost       Kaswoosh
Zap             Zap
Lightning       Kazap
Beat            Whack
Defeat          Thwack
Sacrifice       Kamikazee
Expel           Poof
Limbo           Kapoof
RobMagic        Drain Magic
Slow            Deceleratle
SpeedUP         Acceleratle
Heal            Heal
Healmore        Midheal
Healall         Fullheal
Healus          Multiheal
Healusall       Omniheal
Vivify          Zing
Revive          Kazing
Sleep           Snooze
Awake           Cock-a-doodle-do
StopSpell       Fizzle
Surround        Dazzle
Return          Zoom
Chaos           Fuddle
Transform       Morph
BeDragon        Puff!
Ironize         Kaclang
Sap             Sap
Defence         Kasap
Upper           Buff
Increase        Kabuff
Bounce          Bounce
Barrier         Insulatle
Bikill          Oomph
Chance          Hocus Pocus
Antidote        Squelch
NumbOff         Tingle
CurseOff        Sheen
Repel           Holy Protection
Day-Night       Tick-tock
Open            Open
X-Ray           Peep
Outside         Evac
Invisible       Invisible
StepGuard       Safe Passage

** why? **

I was bored, and a friend of mine on IRC who had been introduced to the series
by Dragon Quest VIII expressed interest in the older games (especially after
playing Chapters of the Chosen) but couldn't get used to the original spell
names.  I experimented, discovered it was an easy project, and did it.

** how to use **

Apply the dw3_spellnames_v1.10.ips patch to an unedited Dragon Warrior III (US)
ROM using your favorite IPS patcher.  That's all.

** disclaimer **

A full test playthrough was completed without incident.  If you have any major issues,
though, please use the contact information given below to let me know, and I'll
see if I can figure out a fix.

** contact information **

This hack was created by Reiska.  I can be contacted on the RHDN forums by that
name if you have any issues with the patch that aren't related to not knowing
how to apply it.

** acknowledgements/special thanks **

A shoutout is in order to the regulars of Lunarnet IRC #rpgfan for the idea to
do this. As well, Square-Enix and Nintendo must be acknowledged for continuing
to bring the Dragon Quest series to the United States.

** disclaimer **

Square Enix, Dragon Quest and all related indicia are trademarks of Square Enix
Holdings Co., Ltd. 
Please do not distribute the patch file without this readme.
Please do not distribute ROMs pre-patched with this patch.

- Reiska, July 22, 2011