So the last thing I have to do is come up with a monster interface. I would like to do something like Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy where you randomly run into enemies on the map, and then the screen switches to battle mode.

Dragon Warrior 1 keeps the map in the background but just opens a small square window in the middle with the metal slime or whatever.

I only need two options, fight or run. Winning will depend on current stats and strength of the monster.

I am open to suggestions about how to do this the simplest way possible. My first guess is to load an entire new nametable for each monster I create, then turn off graphics, load the nametable, and turn back on. Then I could just write in the nametable A = fight, B = run, and poll the pad.

Anybody have other suggestions or ideas? Simpler is better.

-Pulper