Tactics Ogre Reborn Union Level Removal Mod

[Alisdair]

Introduction

It's me again with another Reborn mod. This time it's the removal of union levels; a mod which some may deem to be overdue. Many people take issue with how limited grinding options are in this version of the game. In the SNES/SAT/PS1 versions, you could use training mode to go as high as the max level of 50, and while the PSP version didn't have a training mode, you could still grind more class levels if you so desired. Hence, this mod exists to give players the comfort to do things as they would both in older versions, and in several other SRPGs.

If you have issues with the mod, post here, the Moogles and Mods Discord server, or my own which can be found through a link to my Linktree on the readme file of the mod.

Where to download?

A link to the main build can be found here:
https://mega.nz/folder/1AVl3bLQ#Hzwvn6MR98UrFC05yP5dJA

How to install

Same as with my music mod.

1) Extract the zip anywhere you like.
2) Go into X\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tactics Ogre Reborn\Data\event\chapter and move the following files into a safe place (not the directory where you extracted the zip):
- chapter_1.dat
- chapter_2a.dat
- chapter_2b.dat
- chapter_3a.dat
- chapter_3b.dat
- chapter_3c.dat
- chapter_4.dat
(X will be the partition which has Program Files (x86))
3) Paste the contents from the extracted zip into the chapter directory. You may need to cut the old files from the chapter directory to avoid having to rename them all.
4) Enjoy!

You could just extract the zip in the chapter directory, but you may wish to keep the old versions of the .dat files.

Issues

This will overwrite my music mod. To fix this for those who liked that mod, a link to a merged build can be found here:
https://mega.nz/folder/8BdU1ICT#-kLaCGvpa4j18pLqEopWBg

Credits

ChaoticBrave: For making the hack of course!
Gibbed: For producing the tools for decrypting and encrypting the .dat files. Without them, this mod wouldn't have been possible.
Asvel: Datamined Reborn so that I was able to find what I needed to mod the union levels in the first place.

[Haddon]

I've not played much yet, in my backlog, and I like the unity level mechanic, but this makes me really happy for all the people who dislike it. Great job ChaoticBrave (should you happen to see this).

[Vicccious]

Ha, nice. I don't mind the new version too much. In fact, I find it a bit more challenging late-game the way it is. Any mods in the works to give more ability slots though or that you know exist? Like the earlier games? ha. Would be fun to experiment with after playing this version the way it is, then making my chars really OP.

[Greenphazer]

I tried this mod today and have been unable to get it to work (chapter 4). I've verified the old files are no longer in the directory and that the modded files are in the chapter folder. Any suggestions? I'm on the Hanging Gardens on the last section of the game and I'm just ready to be done with the game.

[jimm0thy]

Just tried it and it does not appear to be working. Chapter 1, moved default files into their own subfolder and extracted mod files into the correct directory. Union Level still shows on map, and units say they are at max level (lvl 8 currently)

[Alisdair]

Something to keep in mind with this mod is that it will only update the union level the next time the updates it. I will see if I can find a way to have an opcode execute when the game is loaded.

@jimm0thy With the union level on the map, is it saying 8 or 50?

[xKNKYxKing]

Awesome to see this mod made for the game. Is it possible to install this mod using the Steam Deck without Windows?

[MakiMaki]

Nice! Thanks for the work.

Personally, I actually like the implementation of union level as it prevents me from grinding and breezing trough the game without much challenge and need for tactics/strategy (which I'm prone to do if given the opportunity xD).

That said, it's great to have such a mod available for people who would like to take the Tactics out of the Ogre.

[jimm0thy]

Originally posted by Alisdair:

Something to keep in mind with this mod is that it will only update the union level the next time the updates it. I will see if I can find a way to have an opcode execute when the game is loaded.

@jimm0thy With the union level on the map, is it saying 8 or 50?

It says 8, but to be fair I haven't gotten to a point where it would update yet. Just loaded in a did some training. I'll test some more though

[Purple Sauce]

Thank god, thank you a bunch :)

[[sMil3]]

But I was told by fans of this game how perfect it is, why would you need mods?

[Alisdair]

@xKNKYxKing Sadly, I do not own a Steam Deck so I can't answer your question well. I mean, you probably could through the desktop mode.

[jimm0thy]

Ok so on the next union level update the map now shows lvl 50 for union level, also I can check on steam deck but I don't see any reason it wouldn't work. Just have to replace the files in desktop mode as mentioned

[Purple Sauce]

Originally posted by sMil3:

But I was told by fans of this game how perfect it is, why would you need mods?

The original and the versions before this? Yes. This version of the game? It made many many changes and one of those was a level restriction that makes zero sense.

[Pickleton]

Zero sense? What doesn't make sense is a "strategy" game where a single unit has the strength of 10... and then having an army of those.

There are no other Matsuno games I can think of that don't have some mechanic to at least try to prevent that, whether through scaling enemies (like the psp version), experience gains dropping to 1 (like the SNES version), or things like chaos frame drops in motbq for being overleveled.
Reborn doesn't have an easy workaround, so people are mad, failing to understand the point of the restriction attempt in the first place.
At that point, might as well just play with mods/cheats, or watch a Let's Play, rather than blaming the game for being too hard (it isn't).

[LuckyEddy]

Great mod! Can you tell me the steps needed to mod the game? I want to mod the battle_data_release.dat file.