[Other] A couple of questions

[~Wind~]

So, I have a couple queries that it would be nice to get some help with.

Firstly, a lot of hacks nowadays have various bells and whistles which have been common to expect from a modern hack - battle engine upgrades, Pokémon expansions, repel systems, reusable TMs, etc.
How would one go about both getting a ROM to a good base with these features to begin working with - and for an existing hack how would one add some of these without creating conflicts with the edits that have already been made?

Secondly, there's a few hacks I'd like to make, but in order to actually complete something I want to work on one at a time, and in order to get the experience I need for the more ambitious ones I'd like to do them in an order which would be the best learning curve. If anyone could both suggest a good order to attempt them in and what resources might be needed for my goals it would be very helpful! I've put a small list in the spoiler below, in vaguely the order I currently expect would be easiest to hardest.

Spoiler:

• A sequel of sorts to Pokémon Emerald along the lines of BW2, using that game as a base and including a new story, a few new areas including two or three cities and routes to get there, a reworked path through the region and new trainers to compliment this, plus typical bells and whistles of modern hacks
• A hack - likely using a FireRed base - featuring a new 'Region' based on IRL Northern Kanto, to the north of Kanto and therefore similar to it, but with some Pokémon from later gens, a simple story (possibly without gyms?), a fair amount of areas to explore and etc, as a stretch goal, possibly some new regional forms
• A classic type of overhaul hack with a new region based on an unused area of Japan and taking inspiration primarily from the first few generations - but with few new Pokémon, if any besides the starters
• Most ambitiously and of course what I would plan to do last, another overhaul hack with a new region, a fair number of new Pokémon, unique story etc, and possibly some new or difficult mechanics like minigames or trainer customisation etc

I recognise this all may seem a bit ambitious but I'm not expecting to knock any of that out in a week, just to work on them in spare time over a long period with no pressure towards myself - very long term goals, essentially.

Finally, recommendations for some of the best current tools and such to use, as all the tutorials and guides I've found thus far are at this point a couple years outdated! ^^;

Many thanks to anyone who can offer some advice & pointers to places to get tools and info!

 

[Tacobell24]

For Fire Red, look into the Complete Fire Red Upgrade and Dynamic Pokémon Expansion. They're both very comprehensive and pretty user friendly once you start playing around with them a bit. Adds all moves and abilities, (even most of Gen VIII), as well as stuff ,ike dynamax and Mega Evo. It also adds most of its stuff dynamically so it has decent compatibility with in progress hacks.

Well worth a look for sure.

For Emerald (something I'm less familiar with), there's Dizzy Egg's Emerald Upgrade, which is much the same but for
emerald as I understand it.

Good luck!

 

[Gavoca]

I agree with Mr.Taco above........but starting an hack with an cfru can be hard....maybe start simple (like using patches..... like Mr.Dollsteaks's or Prof leon dias's rom bases).....