Formation Manager

Engine: RPG Maker MZ
Tested on Engine Version: 1.5.0

Plugin Version: 1.1.6

Terms: 

• Non-commercial Projects: Free to use. Please credit "GGZiron" in your project. Donations are appreciated, though not required.
• Commercial Projects: Free to use. Please credit "GGZiron" in your project. Donations are appreciated, though not required.
• Redistribution: Do not redistribute this plugin directly. Instead, link to my itch.io page.
• Modifications: Edits are allowed for personal use. Do not distribute the edited version. You may distribute this plugin only as part of your game.
• Extensions: You are allowed to create and distribute extensions for this plugin.

Introduction

This plugin allows you to set different Formations for the side battle view. Each formation can have different coordinates for the actor battlers, and each formation can set coordinates for as many members you want. If formation allows more members than have registered, the rest would be positioned according formula, that orders them like in the default side view.

Those formation allow more than visual change, they also allow you to give param bonus. If you want to give additional bonuses, you can give state bonus too. The state will work as traits objects, and nothing will remove it as long the formation stays. Those bonuses can be for the entire formations, for individual party members, or combinations of both.

Other Features:

• Option to hide or to deactivate a formation with the game switches. When hidden, formation doesn't display at all. When deactivated, it show alternative data(name "???" or "locked", alternative conditions that explains what must be done to unlock it, alternative description). 
• Options to set one global background picture, as well one picture for each formation.
• Resize windows. Some sizes are changed directly, others – indirectly.
• Set Battleback for the window "Formation Display". 
• Set motion for the actors.
• Set color tone and motion for the ghost actors (which represent the empty slots).
• Party Members can change formation position without changing their party index.
• The option to hide the condition window, in case you intend all formations to be without condition. That is not something you can change in-game, with plugin command.  

Plugin Commands:

• Open Scene Formations: force open the Scene Formations. No parameters.
• Disable Formation Validity Check: By default, when starting new game,  it is disabled. Useful when you don't want to trouble player with   formation auto-checks. Like when playing cut scenes, playing small no   battle segment, or something else.
• Enable Formation Validity Check: Enables formation validity, then  performs validation. While enabled, whenever Game Switch changes value,   or party get new member or loses member   (via the event code or the correct methods. May not trigger if other   plugin do it).
• Change Max Battle Party With Value: Changes the max battle party
  with the value you provide. On value error, would console.warn the error message, then ignore the command. Works only if you didn't opted out Change Max Battle feature.
• Change Max Battle Party With Variable: Changes the max battle party
  with the variable ID you provide. If ID is 0 or less, party would be reset back to 4. If invalid value hold on the variable, will console.warn the error message, then ignore the command. Works only if you didn't opted out Change Max Battle feature.
• Scene Always Use Current Battleback: Two arguments:
  • Use Current Battle Back: Set ON or OFF. On new game, is OFF. When On, on Scene Formation Select, Window Formation Display will use the currently set battle back. If none, will display no battleback. 
  • Battleback Rect: works only if you set the above argument to ON. You can modify the rect of the battleback, to display only part of it.
• Scene Set Battleback Picture: Three arguments:
  • File Bottom: Select Battleback One. 
  • File Top: Select Battleback Two. 
  • Battleback Rect: You can modify the rect of the battleback, to display only part of it. Using this plugin command sets "Always Use Current Battleback" to OFF.

Information about the other files:

• GGZironCore: Optional, version 1.1.0.  Needed if you want to be able to drag sprites with mouse/touchscreen in dev mode. Need to be above this plugin in your plugin list. That drag sprites feature is so you place sprites around the box, and their new coordinates get printed in the console, so you get some idea what to type for party members X and Y position.
• Add Menu Button for VSMainMenuCore: Needed only if you use VisuMZ_1_MainMenuCore. This file is JSON data, that you should copy.  You can see here how to.

Information about the plugin parameters:

• In the Plugin's help file.

Contact me if:

• You found bug with my plugin. Bug reports help me make it better. If reason is it doesn't go well with other plugin, might do or not do,  depending how much free time I have and how popular is the other plugin.
• You want to say thanks.
• You got question about the terms.
• You want to suggest how to improve it.
• You want to commission me to adapt it for your project's specific needs.
• You want to send me published game that uses some of my plugins.

Special thanks to:

JacSkulls and Vuono87, for providing me with feedbacks and ideas!