Devlog – ABI_ShinySpawn v2.0 Making Shinies Feel… Shiny (Randomization + Better Integration)

In this update, ABI_ShinySpawn grew up from “works great, but a bit predictable” into a proper, production-ready shiny system that feels fair, exciting, and flexible.

🎲 1. Randomized Shiny Selection (No More “Always the First One”)

Old behavior:

• When multiple enemies in a troop had <Shiny: x, y>, the plugin checked them in a fixed order (left-to-right in the troop).

• With 100% odds, the same slot would always become shiny (e.g., Slime A was always the shiny, Slime B never was).

New behavior in v2.0:

• On battle setup, the plugin now:

  1. Takes the troop member list.

  2. Makes a copy.

  3. Shuffles that list using a proper Fisher–Yates shuffle.

  4. Decides shinies based on this randomized order.

Result:

• With two Green Slimes and <Shiny: 511, 100%>, only one will be shiny per battle (same as before)…
  but which one it is changes from battle to battle.

• Even at lower odds, shiny choices feel more natural and less “scripted.”

🎯 2. One Shiny Per Battle… Unless You Say Otherwise

The original design intention was “one shiny per battle” to keep encounters special. That’s still the default:

• The plugin picks the first eligible enemy (in the shuffled order) whose roll succeeds.

• Once one shiny is chosen, later rolls are skipped, so you don’t end up with a full field of shinies by accident.

But for testing or special events, there’s now:

• Force Shiny Switch ID (plugin parameter)

If that switch is ON:

• The one-shiny limit is ignored.

• Every enemy with <Shiny: x, y> is evaluated normally.

• You can do “all-shiny” showcase battles or test graphics without editing the database.

🧠 3. Smarter Odds Parsing (Multiple Styles Supported)

The plugin’s odds system was cleaned up and clarified. It now supports:

✅ Integer odds (1 in y)

<Shiny: 511, 128>   <!-- 1 in 128 chance --> <Shiny: 511, 1>     <!-- 1 in 1, always shiny --> 

✅ Fraction odds (a in b)

<Shiny: 511, 1:4096> 

✅ Percentage odds

<Shiny: 511, 3%>    <!-- 3% chance --> <Shiny: 511, 0.5%>  <!-- 0.5% chance --> <Shiny: 511, 100%>  <!-- Always shiny --> 

Clarification:

• <Shiny: 511, 100> = 1 in 100 chance (1%), not 100%.
  Use:

  • 1

  • 1:1

  • 100%
    for guaranteed shinies.

If odds parse to 0 or an invalid format, the tag is quietly ignored and logged in Debug Mode.

🪧 4. ShinyFound Switch for Battle Events & Animations

To make the plugin play nicely with battle events and other systems, there’s a new parameter:

• Shiny Found Switch ID

Behavior:

• At the start of each battle, that switch is set to OFF.

• If at least one enemy becomes shiny, the switch is set to ON.

• You can now:

  • Use Turn 0 / Span: Battle battle events

  • Condition: Switch [ShinyFound] == ON

  • Show animations, messages, or do anything else you want.

This switch is also what makes the new companion plugin ABI_EnemySpawnAnimation feel so powerful when combined with shinies.

💬 5. Cleaner Message Behavior

Shiny messages have been polished:

• The message string is configurable:
  A shiny %1 has appeared!
  (%1 = enemy name)

• If multiple shinies share the same name (e.g., two Shiny Green Slimes), the message is only shown once per unique name, not spammed.

• Messages are injected after battle starts, once sprites and UI are ready.

You can toggle the message system on/off in the plugin parameters.

🧪 6. Debug Mode for Tuning & Testing

Debug Mode has been kept and enhanced to help you tune odds and confirm behavior.

When DebugMode = ON, the console will show:

• Which enemy’s <Shiny: x, y> tag was parsed

• How odds were interpreted (rawOdds → chance)

• The randomized troop order used for shiny selection

• Each roll, compared against the calculated chance

• Which enemy actually became shiny

• When the ShinyFound switch is flipped

Perfect for balancing rare encounter rates or making sure your tags are set up correctly.

✅ 7. Compatibility & Intended Use

This version is built to be:

• Friendly with VisuStella Battle Core

• Friendly with event battles and random encounters

• Friendly with spawn animation plugins and battle events

Recommended workflow:

• Base enemy (e.g., Green Slime) gets:

  <Shiny: 511, 1:512> 
  

• Shiny enemy (e.g., Shiny Green Slime) is a separate database entry with:

  • Its own graphic

  • Its own stats/drops

  • Optional <SpawnAnimation: x> (via companion plugin)

• Optional:

  • Use ShinyFoundSwitchId to trigger special events or visuals.

🧾 Summary of Changes in v2.0

• ✅ Randomized shiny target selection (no more fixed order)

• ✅ Stronger, clearer odds parsing (integer, fraction, percentage)

• ✅ ShinyFound switch integration with clean ON/OFF behavior

• ✅ One-shiny-per-battle logic preserved, with an override switch for “force all shiny”

• ✅ Debug logs expanded and clarified

• ✅ Help text and parameters updated and fully documented

If you’re updating from an older version:

1. Replace your old ABI_ShinySpawn.js with v2.0.

2. Double-check your plugin parameters in Plugin Manager (especially ShinyFoundSwitchId and ForceShinySwitchId).

3. Confirm your notetags—no syntax changes, just more flexibility and less predictability in who becomes shiny.