Add Difficulty Mode

By devolov. Huge help for FRLG-Plus for inspiring this

Goal: Add difficulty mode that causes trainers' Pokemon's levels to scale with the badge count.

For a given badge count and difficulty setting, the level addition to the trainer's Pokemon is given in the table:

Badges	Easy	Hard
<2	-1	1
<4	-2	2
<6	-3	3
<Champion	-4	4
Champion	-5	5

Ex: At 5 badges and a HARD setting, a normal level 16 trainer Pokemon will be 19.

If you already have a menu in your game, then adding the logic is all you need along with setting VAR_DIFFICULTY in your menu (0 = Normal, 1 = Hard, 2 = Easy).
If you don't then you can follow my method, which is allowing the setting to be changed at One of Prof Birch's PCs.

Add Difficulty Mode Logic

Declare a var that will hold the challenge

--------------------------- include/constants/vars.h ---------------------------
index 214b80d1b..82378d7fb 100644
@@ -267,9 +267,9 @@
 #define VAR_WILD_PKMN_ROUTE_SEEN_1                       0x40F8
 #define VAR_WILD_PKMN_ROUTE_SEEN_2                       0x40F9
 #define VAR_WILD_PKMN_ROUTE_SEEN_3                       0x40FA
 #define VAR_WILD_PKMN_ROUTE_SEEN_4                       0x40FB
-#define VAR_UNUSED_0x40FC                                0x40FC // Unused Var
+#define VAR_DIFFICULTY                                   0x40FC
 #define VAR_UNUSED_0x40FD                                0x40FD // Unused Var
 #define VAR_UNUSED_0x40FE                                0x40FE // Unused Var
 #define VAR_UNUSED_0x40FF                                0x40FF // Unused Var

Add #defines for the settings that `VAR_DIFFICULTY` holds. Normal setting is 0 so that it will be set as such by default at a new game.

------------------------------- include/global.h -------------------------------
index 6e2cfa9b8..deea675e2 100644
@@ -138,8 +138,12 @@
 // This produces an error at compile-time if expr is zero.
 // It looks like file.c:line: size of array `id' is negative
 #define STATIC_ASSERT(expr, id) typedef char id[(expr) ? 1 : -1];
 
+#define DIFFICULTY_NORMAL    0
+#define DIFFICULTY_HARD      1
+#define DIFFICULTY_EASY      2
+
 struct Coords8
 {
     s8 x;
     s8 y;

Add the code that modifies the Pokemon's level and add it to the `GetSumOfEnemyPartyLevel` function (which looks like it's only used for the transition scene).

------------------------------ src/battle_setup.c ------------------------------
index 62158de8d..01b029c06 100644
@@ -810,33 +811,33 @@ static u8 GetSumOfEnemyPartyLevel(u16 opponentId, u8 numMons)
         {
             const struct TrainerMonNoItemDefaultMoves *party;
             party = gTrainers[opponentId].party.NoItemDefaultMoves;
             for (i = 0; i < count; i++)
-                sum += party[i].lvl;
+                sum += GetScaledLevel(party[i].lvl);
         }
         break;
     case F_TRAINER_PARTY_CUSTOM_MOVESET:
         {
             const struct TrainerMonNoItemCustomMoves *party;
             party = gTrainers[opponentId].party.NoItemCustomMoves;
             for (i = 0; i < count; i++)
-                sum += party[i].lvl;
+                sum += GetScaledLevel(party[i].lvl);
         }
         break;
     case F_TRAINER_PARTY_HELD_ITEM:
         {
             const struct TrainerMonItemDefaultMoves *party;
             party = gTrainers[opponentId].party.ItemDefaultMoves;
             for (i = 0; i < count; i++)
-                sum += party[i].lvl;
+                sum += GetScaledLevel(party[i].lvl);
         }
         break;
     case F_TRAINER_PARTY_CUSTOM_MOVESET | F_TRAINER_PARTY_HELD_ITEM:
         {
             const struct TrainerMonItemCustomMoves *party;
             party = gTrainers[opponentId].party.ItemCustomMoves;
             for (i = 0; i < count; i++)
-                sum += party[i].lvl;
+                sum += GetScaledLevel(party[i].lvl);
         }
         break;
     }
 
@@ -2347,4 +2348,38 @@ u8 currLocConvertForNuzlocke(u8 currLocation){
     default:
         return currLocation;
     }
 }
+
+u8 GetScaledLevel(u8 lvl)
+{
+    u8 badgeCount = 0;
+    u8 levelScaling = 0;
+    u32 i;
+    for (i = FLAG_BADGE01_GET; i < FLAG_BADGE01_GET + NUM_BADGES; i++)
+    {
+        if (FlagGet(i))
+            badgeCount++;
+    }
+
+    if (FlagGet(FLAG_IS_CHAMPION))
+        levelScaling = 5;
+    else if (badgeCount >= 6)
+        levelScaling = 4;
+    else if (badgeCount >= 4)
+        levelScaling = 3;
+    else if (badgeCount >= 2)
+        levelScaling = 2;
+    else
+        levelScaling = 1;
+
+    if (VarGet(VAR_DIFFICULTY) == DIFFICULTY_HARD)
+        lvl += levelScaling;
+    else if (VarGet(VAR_DIFFICULTY) == DIFFICULTY_EASY)
+        lvl -= levelScaling;
+
+    if (lvl > 100)
+        lvl = 100;
+    if (lvl < 1)
+        lvl = 1;
+    return lvl;
+}

---------------------------- include/battle_setup.h ----------------------------
index feaa30c00..5541cbac6 100644
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ void SetTrainerFlag(u16 trainerId);
 void ClearTrainerFlag(u16 trainerId);
 void BattleSetup_StartTrainerBattle(void);
 void BattleSetup_StartRematchBattle(void);
 void ShowTrainerIntroSpeech(void);
+u8 GetScaledLevel(u8 lvl);
 const u8 *BattleSetup_GetScriptAddrAfterBattle(void);
 const u8 *BattleSetup_GetTrainerPostBattleScript(void);
 void ShowTrainerCantBattleSpeech(void);
 void PlayTrainerEncounterMusic(void);

Modify the `CreateNPCTrainerParty` so each Pokemon they use have their levels scaled.

------------------------------ src/battle_main.c ------------------------------
index 0f16660f1..cfd4265a5 100644
@@ -2085,9 +2085,9 @@ static u8 CreateNPCTrainerParty(struct Pokemon *party, u16 trainerNum, bool8 fir
                     nameHash += gSpeciesNames[partyData[i].species][j];
 
                 personalityValue += nameHash << 8;
                 fixedIV = partyData[i].iv * MAX_PER_STAT_IVS / 255;
-                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, partyData[i].lvl, fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
+                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, GetScaledLevel(partyData[i].lvl), fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_GENDER, &otGender);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_NAME, gTrainers[trainerNum].trainerName);
                 break;
             }
@@ -2102,9 +2102,9 @@ static u8 CreateNPCTrainerParty(struct Pokemon *party, u16 trainerNum, bool8 fir
                     nameHash += gSpeciesNames[partyData[i].species][j];
 
                 personalityValue += nameHash << 8;
                 fixedIV = partyData[i].iv * MAX_PER_STAT_IVS / 255;
-                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, partyData[i].lvl, fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
+                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, GetScaledLevel(partyData[i].lvl), fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_GENDER, &otGender);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_NAME, gTrainers[trainerNum].trainerName);
 
                 for (j = 0; j < MAX_MON_MOVES; j++)
@@ -2125,9 +2125,9 @@ static u8 CreateNPCTrainerParty(struct Pokemon *party, u16 trainerNum, bool8 fir
                     nameHash += gSpeciesNames[partyData[i].species][j];
 
                 personalityValue += nameHash << 8;
                 fixedIV = partyData[i].iv * MAX_PER_STAT_IVS / 255;
-                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, partyData[i].lvl, fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
+                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, GetScaledLevel(partyData[i].lvl), fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_GENDER, &otGender);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_NAME, gTrainers[trainerNum].trainerName);
 
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_HELD_ITEM, &partyData[i].heldItem);
@@ -2144,9 +2144,9 @@ static u8 CreateNPCTrainerParty(struct Pokemon *party, u16 trainerNum, bool8 fir
                     nameHash += gSpeciesNames[partyData[i].species][j];
 
                 personalityValue += nameHash << 8;
                 fixedIV = partyData[i].iv * MAX_PER_STAT_IVS / 255;
-                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, partyData[i].lvl, fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
+                CreateMon(&party[i], partyData[i].species, GetScaledLevel(partyData[i].lvl), fixedIV, TRUE, personalityValue, OT_ID_PRESET, fixedOTID);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_GENDER, &otGender);
                 SetMonData(&party[i], MON_DATA_OT_NAME, gTrainers[trainerNum].trainerName);
                 if (partyData[i].species == SPECIES_SLAKING && gTrainers[trainerNum].trainerPic == TRAINER_PIC_LEADER_NORMAN 
                 && gTrainers[trainerNum].trainerClass == TRAINER_CLASS_LEADER)  //Set Norman's Slaking to have intimidate

Remove Badge Boosts on Hard Difficulty If You'd Like

------------------------------ src/battle_main.c ------------------------------
index cfd4265a5..06cfb2a0e 100644
@@ -4755,8 +4755,9 @@ u8 GetWhoStrikesFirst(u8 battler1, u8 battler2, bool8 ignoreChosenMoves)
 
     // badge boost
     if (!(gBattleTypeFlags & (BATTLE_TYPE_LINK | BATTLE_TYPE_RECORDED_LINK | BATTLE_TYPE_FRONTIER))
         && FlagGet(FLAG_BADGE03_GET)
+        && (VarGet(VAR_DIFFICULTY) != DIFFICULTY_HARD)
         && GetBattlerSide(battler1) == B_SIDE_PLAYER)
     {
         speedBattler1 = (speedBattler1 * 110) / 100;
     }
@@ -4789,8 +4790,9 @@ u8 GetWhoStrikesFirst(u8 battler1, u8 battler2, bool8 ignoreChosenMoves)
 
     // badge boost
     if (!(gBattleTypeFlags & (BATTLE_TYPE_LINK | BATTLE_TYPE_RECORDED_LINK | BATTLE_TYPE_FRONTIER))
         && FlagGet(FLAG_BADGE03_GET)
+        && (VarGet(VAR_DIFFICULTY) != DIFFICULTY_HARD)
         && GetBattlerSide(battler2) == B_SIDE_PLAYER)
     {
         speedBattler2 = (speedBattler2 * 110) / 100;
     }

-------------------------------- src/pokemon.c --------------------------------
index db0e8099d..21bf84c15 100644
@@ -3421,8 +3421,10 @@ u8 CountAliveMonsInBattle(u8 caseId)
 static bool8 ShouldGetStatBadgeBoost(u16 badgeFlag, u8 battlerId)
 {
     if (gBattleTypeFlags & (BATTLE_TYPE_LINK | BATTLE_TYPE_EREADER_TRAINER | BATTLE_TYPE_RECORDED_LINK | BATTLE_TYPE_FRONTIER))
         return FALSE;
+    if (VarGet(VAR_DIFFICULTY) == DIFFICULTY_HARD)
+        return FALSE;
     else if (GetBattlerSide(battlerId) != B_SIDE_PLAYER)
         return FALSE;
     else if (gBattleTypeFlags & BATTLE_TYPE_TRAINER && gTrainerBattleOpponent_A == TRAINER_SECRET_BASE)
         return FALSE;

Adding a Place to Set the Difficulty

pokeemerald_modern-0

----------- data/maps/LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab/scripts.inc -----------
index 603242d71..d4bc105a4 100644
@@ -686,8 +686,79 @@ LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_GrindRunNo::
 	clearflag FLAG_GRINDRUN
 	msgbox LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_GrindRunNo, MSGBOX_SIGN
 	end
 
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_Challenge::
+	message LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_Challenge
+	waitmessage
+	switch VAR_DIFFICULTY
+	case 0, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_DefaultNormal
+	case 1, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_DefaultHard
+	case 2, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_DefaultEasy
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_DefaultNormal:
+	multichoicedefault 21, 6, MULTI_TAG_DIFFICULTY, 1, FALSE
+	goto LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_ChallengeSelect
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_DefaultHard:
+	multichoicedefault 21, 6, MULTI_TAG_DIFFICULTY, 2, FALSE
+	goto LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_ChallengeSelect
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_DefaultEasy:
+	multichoicedefault 21, 6, MULTI_TAG_DIFFICULTY, 0, FALSE
+	goto LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_ChallengeSelect
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_ChallengeSelect:
+	switch VAR_RESULT
+	case 0, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedEasy
+	case 1, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedNormal
+	case 2, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedHard
+	case MULTI_B_PRESSED, LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedCancel
+	end
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedNormal:
+	msgbox LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedNormal, MSGBOX_DEFAULT
+	setvar VAR_DIFFICULTY, 0
+	closemessage
+	end
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedHard:
+	msgbox LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedHard, MSGBOX_DEFAULT
+	setvar VAR_DIFFICULTY, 1
+	closemessage
+	end
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedEasy:
+	msgbox LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedEasy, MSGBOX_DEFAULT
+	setvar VAR_DIFFICULTY, 2
+	closemessage
+	end
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_SelectedCancel:
+	msgbox LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedCancel, MSGBOX_DEFAULT
+	closemessage
+	end
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_Challenge:
+	.string "What difficulty would\n"
+	.string "you like to play at?$"
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedEasy:
+	.string "Easy difficulty\n"
+	.string "was chosen.$"
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedNormal:
+	.string "Normal difficulty\n"
+	.string "was chosen.$"
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedHard:
+	.string "Hard difficulty\n"
+	.string "was chosen.$"
+
+LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SelectedCancel:
+	.string "Difficulty is\n"
+	.string "unchanged.$"
+
 LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_Text_SkipIntro:
 	.string "Would you like to skip\n"
 	.string "the intro in the future?$"

------------- data/maps/LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab/map.json -------------
index 00a3912ec..3695c5256 100644
     {
       "type": "sign",
       "x": 1,
       "y": 10,
       "elevation": 0,
       "player_facing_dir": "BG_EVENT_PLAYER_FACING_ANY",
-      "script": "LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_PC"
+      "script": "LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_Challenge"
     },
     {
       "type": "sign",
       "x": 1,
       "y": 9,
       "elevation": 0,
       "player_facing_dir": "BG_EVENT_PLAYER_FACING_ANY",
-      "script": "LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_PC"
+      "script": "LittlerootTown_ProfessorBirchsLab_EventScript_Challenge"
     },

----------------------- include/constants/script_menu.h -----------------------
index c58df7335..819e89266 100644
@@ -121,8 +121,9 @@
 #define MULTI_WHERES_RAYQUAZA              110
 #define MULTI_SLATEPORT_TENT_RULES         111
 #define MULTI_FALLARBOR_TENT_RULES         112
 #define MULTI_TAG_MATCH_TYPE               113
+#define MULTI_TAG_DIFFICULTY               114
 
 // Lilycove SS Tidal Multichoice Selections
 #define SSTIDAL_SELECTION_SLATEPORT        0
 #define SSTIDAL_SELECTION_BATTLE_FRONTIER  1

-------------------------------- src/strings.c --------------------------------
index 2107e2d82..6ff3c35bb 100644
@@ -1225,8 +1225,10 @@ const u8 gText_BattlePalace[] = _("BATTLE PALACE");
 const u8 gText_BattleFactory[] = _("BATTLE FACTORY");
 const u8 gText_BattleArena[] = _("BATTLE ARENA");
 const u8 gText_BattlePike[] = _("BATTLE PIKE");
 const u8 gText_BattlePyramid[] = _("BATTLE PYRAMID");
+const u8 gText_Easy[] = _("EASY");
+const u8 gText_Hard[] = _("HARD");
 
 ALIGNED(4) const u8 gText_FacilitySingle[] = _("{STR_VAR_1} SINGLE");
 ALIGNED(4) const u8 gText_FacilityDouble[] = _("{STR_VAR_1} DOUBLE");
 ALIGNED(4) const u8 gText_FacilityMulti[] = _("{STR_VAR_1} MULTI");

------------------------------ include/strings.h ------------------------------
index e944de306..ee63e8f5b 100644
@@ -267,8 +267,11 @@ extern const u8 gText_Floor7[];
 extern const u8 gText_Peak[];
 extern const u8 gText_SafariBallStock[];
 extern const u8 gText_BattlePyramidFloor[];
 
+extern const u8 gText_Easy[];
+extern const u8 gText_Hard[];
+
 extern const u8 gText_MenuOptionPokedex[];
 extern const u8 gText_MenuOptionPokemon[];
 extern const u8 gText_MenuOptionBag[];
 extern const u8 gText_MenuOptionPokenav[];

---------------------------- src/data/script_menu.h ----------------------------
index 79355748c..ee4d60478 100644
@@ -770,8 +770,15 @@ static const struct MenuAction MultichoiceList_TagMatchType[] =
     {gText_ExpertTagMatch},
     {gText_Exit},
 };
 
+static const struct MenuAction MultichoiceList_TagChallenge[] =
+{
+    {gText_Easy},
+    {gText_Normal},
+    {gText_Hard},
+};
+
 static const struct MenuAction MultichoiceList_Exit[] =
 {
     {gText_Exit},
 };
@@ -897,8 +904,9 @@ static const struct MultichoiceListStruct sMultichoiceLists[] =
     [MULTI_WHERES_RAYQUAZA]            = MULTICHOICE(MultichoiceList_WheresRayquaza),
     [MULTI_SLATEPORT_TENT_RULES]       = MULTICHOICE(MultichoiceList_SlateportTentRules),
     [MULTI_FALLARBOR_TENT_RULES]       = MULTICHOICE(MultichoiceList_FallarborTentRules),
     [MULTI_TAG_MATCH_TYPE]             = MULTICHOICE(MultichoiceList_TagMatchType),
+    [MULTI_TAG_DIFFICULTY]             = MULTICHOICE(MultichoiceList_TagChallenge),
 };
 
 const u8 *const gStdStrings[] =
 {

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Add Difficulty Mode

Add Difficulty Mode Logic

Declare a var that will hold the challenge

Add #defines for the settings that `VAR_DIFFICULTY` holds. Normal setting is 0 so that it will be set as such by default at a new game.

Add the code that modifies the Pokemon's level and add it to the `GetSumOfEnemyPartyLevel` function (which looks like it's only used for the transition scene).

Modify the `CreateNPCTrainerParty` so each Pokemon they use have their levels scaled.

Remove Badge Boosts on Hard Difficulty If You'd Like

Adding a Place to Set the Difficulty

Clone this wiki locally

Add Difficulty Mode

Add Difficulty Mode Logic

Declare a var that will hold the challenge

Add #defines for the settings that VAR_DIFFICULTY holds. Normal setting is 0 so that it will be set as such by default at a new game.

Add the code that modifies the Pokemon's level and add it to the GetSumOfEnemyPartyLevel function (which looks like it's only used for the transition scene).

Modify the CreateNPCTrainerParty so each Pokemon they use have their levels scaled.

Remove Badge Boosts on Hard Difficulty If You'd Like

Adding a Place to Set the Difficulty

Clone this wiki locally

Add #defines for the settings that `VAR_DIFFICULTY` holds. Normal setting is 0 so that it will be set as such by default at a new game.

Add the code that modifies the Pokemon's level and add it to the `GetSumOfEnemyPartyLevel` function (which looks like it's only used for the transition scene).

Modify the `CreateNPCTrainerParty` so each Pokemon they use have their levels scaled.