Tactics Heroes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tactics Heroes?: Tactics Heroes is a program that lets you create and customize your own strategy RPG style game. You can then release your game on the internet, and other people with the program will be able to play it.
When will it be done?: In short: We don't know. Building any kind of project takes time, and this is only being worked on in people's spare time. Just be patient. It's considered impolite to ask a freeware development team this.
Where can I get it?: The engine is still a work-in-progress, but you can download the latest release at the downloads page.
How often are new versions released?: We try to release a new version once a month, however there is no guaruntee that this will happen. Some versions will also have more updates than others.
What happened to Fire Emblem Factory?: Tactics Heroes is what happened to Fire Emblem Factory. New ideas were added, and the decision was made to change the name. You'll still be able to make games like Fire Emblem Factory using Tactics Heroes, though.
Is this game released under the GPL license?: No. You can read the full license here.

What kind of strategy RPGs can I make with this?: The engine is inspired by the Fire Emblem style of gameplay, with an overhead map and square tiles, as opposed to Final Fantasy Tactics's isometric play style, or a hex map-style game.
Will I have any control over the formulas used to calculate damage, etc?: Yes, although how much is yet to be determained.
Will my friends have to download the engine to play the campaigns I make?: Yes, they will. The files can't play themselves, you know.
Can I play over a LAN or online?: We would like to see this in the future.

What resolution does the engine run at?: The engine runs at 640x480.
Can you run it in a window?: Yes! You can either press F6 on the keyboard, or edit the setting.ini file.
Will Tactics Heroes have a built-in sprite editor?: No, you'll need to use another program to make your graphics. Microsoft Paint, included on Windows computers, will generally be enough for most people.
Will I have to make a different sprite for each faction color?: No, as long as you make your sprites using the default palette, the engine will adjust them itself based on what you want to set it to.
Will there be battle scenes like in Fire Emblem?: This is a planned feature, but will not be implemented for some time.
How will battle scenes work?: This is yet to be determained.
Will there be auto-smoothing terrain, like in the Advance Wars map editor?: Yes, and you'll be able to tweak how it works per terrain.

Will I be able to make custom cut scenes?: Yes. And, eventually, you'll be able to create them in the engine.
How much control will I have over cut scenes?: We'll see.

What are Rule Sets?: Rule sets are a collection of files that include the graphics and data which tell the engine what classes to use and how stats will work. You could have a rule set for maps in space, another one for the old west, etc.
What are Multiplayer Maps?: Multiplayer maps are one-map battles that are played by more than one player (or by one player against the computer). Multiplayer maps refer to already established rule sets on what graphics to use, and how stats work. Since multiplay maps are smaller and easier to download than rule sets, you shouldn't make one rule set for every map you make, since other people will have to download both the rule set and the map to play.

What are campaigns?: Campaigns are a string of maps with story scenes that play out like an idividual game.
Do I need to make a rule set for each campaign I make?: No, campaigns have their rule sets built in.
How will I be able to distribute my campaign?: Put the campaign's folder (along with all its contents) in a zip file, and then upload it to the web. Someone else can then download it, unzip it, and place the folder in their own campaign directory. When they boot up the engine, it will see the folder and add it to the list of playable campaigns.