A Manual Randomizer for Pokémon Platinum, for use with the Archipelago Manual Project.
Everything that follows is a guide written for those already familiar with both Archipelago and the Manual Project. If you are starting from no knowledge on either of those, start with this guide.
If you already have an Archipelago install, and are at least moderately familiar with the Manual project, continue on.
Included with your download is two xdelta patches and the xdelta program. Open xdeltaUI.exe, and then choose whether you’d like to play in the original 30FPS, or with the patched 60FPS game, then open the corresponding .xdelta file as your Patch, your Pokémon Platinum ROM (which must be a clean Rev 1, also known as 1.1, which is the most common variant of the game) as your Source File, and then you’ll select a spot to save your modified ROM in Output File. Be sure to add “.nds” to the name of the file. If you don’t do this, you’ll have to add the file extension after the fact.
The normal patch will leave the game unchanged compared to its original DS release. However, the 60FPS patch will speed up many sections and aspects of the game, most noticeable in making all battle animations much snappier. This is slightly more taxing on one’s computer, and certain areas (most noticeably Eterna Forest) struggle to maintain a constant framerate with this patch. The Super Rod, which requires very precise timing in 30FPS, becomes nearly unreactable in 60FPS as well.
Next, a modified version of Universal Pokémon Randomizer ZX is included with the download. Open the program with the launcher file. In the top right, click “Open ROM” and open your modified ROM.
Given that you just opened a modified ROM, you can expect to see the red text and the “Unofficial ROM” support. From here, modify your settings just as you would with any randomizer! For the most part, any and all settings are entirely up to you, but I will discuss a few of them, both for what this Manual is built around and what you can expect from these settings.
If you are randomizing TMs, you must keep Field Moves! Otherwise, you lose access to TM70 (Flash) and Flash is considered in-logic for this randomizer. Consider it like Rock Smash in Crystal. This has the side effect of keeping TM28 as Dig.
Randomizing items allows you to ignore just about all the filler items you receive through the Archipelago client and just treat the pickups in-game as your filler.
Most importantly, not only will the "Ban Bad Items" option will remove things like mail and useless berries (which are not in the Manual’s item pool to begin with), but this modified program will ALSO prevent Plates from showing up anywhere in the game. Using this option will force you to rely only on Plates obtained from the AP Items Room, which will be more immersive for the Plate Hunt goal.
Raising the level of trainers is straightforward (you may want to raise the level of Wild Pokémon to compensate), and giving them fully evolved Pokémon will also make for a more consistently challenging game.
I’ve found that, above everything else, “Better Movesets” was one of the most consistently challenge-raising options I would encounter, as opponents would frequently have excellent moves to deal with me, even if I was ten or twenty levels higher than them.
Extra Pokémon and held items will only increase the difficulty from there. Lastly is Double Battle Mode, which is exactly what it implies; bear in mind that every trainer will have at least two Pokémon and be a double battle. (If you’ve played Emerald AP and tried to use the 100% Double Battle chance, you’ll understand why I explain this.)
Similarly, there are options for an easier game, so tailor the experience to what you desire! With just a few of these options bumped up, I’ve found that this is absolutely the hardest Pokémon game I’ve played in Archipelago.
When you’re done, hit “Randomize (Save)” in the top right to name/save your newly randomized ROM somewhere. You may also consider using the “Save Settings” option to revisit your options easily in the future.
Blind trainers and experience modifiers (found in the yamls for the other Pokémon games) are handled with Action Replay cheat codes. This randomizer is built for either DeSmuME or EmuHawk.
For DeSmuME, load your ROM and then go to Tools > Cheats List and add the Action Replay codes included in the AR Codes.txt file. These will persist whenever you load that particular ROM.
For EmuHawk, load your ROM and then go to Tools > Cheats and open one of the .cht files (Blind Trainers is bundled with them both). This will only persist for that session, and you'll have to reopen the cheats file every time you Reboot Core.
All releases will have a link to the Archipelago Manual APWorld and Universal Tracker. If you have those downloaded and in your custom worlds folder, begin by making sure that the YAML you used for generation is currently in the Players folder. Then, navigate to your Archipelago install, open ArchipelagoLauncher.exe, and then from that, open the Manual Client on the right side. Input the name of the Manual (Manual_PokemonPlatinum_Linneus), your room's IP and, when prompted, your slot name.
Sending checks is done by clicking on the corresponding buttons in the client. The buttons will not work unless you are clicked into the client's window.
Located in the basements of all 18 Pokémon Centers is the AP Items Room. Cross-reference with the left side of the Manual Client and pick up items there throughout your playthrough.
