Final Fantasy XII

[Hector]

As to the canopic jar, it increases the chances of finding arcana from nonexistent to frequent (they're kind of like pebbles)

As to Tales, the only problem I had with the characters was that they could have tried for somewhat more mature themes.

As to using Elixers, try fighting the Seer. I only used elixers three times, once in the beginning of the game and twice in the final battle for fun (I decided to hit the final boss with Zodiak and Quickenings to kill him in a few minutes). But the magic jars, dealing with them took six or more.

And if anyone can actually kill a magic jar, I'll be thoroughly impressed. I've done every hunt except the final level eight one and have every summon, but the magic jar seems invincible (I think Zodiark might be able to kill it, but I haven't tried yet).

[sirusd]

12 is par at best. For being in development for 5 years, they should have done something more. When I got to the last dungeon, I was stunned I had already reached it. Without the side quests, the game is 30 or 40 hrs, tops. That's not much longer than FF6. It felt rushed and the storyline was unimpressive.

Suikoden V and Valkyrie Profile 2 were both much better.

[Vivi_Rules_Pie]

And if anyone can actually kill a magic jar, I'll be thoroughly impressed. I've done every hunt except the final level eight one and have every summon, but the magic jar seems invincible (I think Zodiark might be able to kill it, but I haven't tried yet).

Two high chained quickenings in a row does it for me... well sometimes. Emphasis on the high chained part.

[I-n-j-i-n]

I think you are actually supposed to feed an Elixir to the Magic Jar. Do not attack it, but just feed the Elixir first. It's supposed to snap out of its invincibility so you can attack it.

[WesPip]

I think you are actually supposed to feed an Elixir to the Magic Jar. Do not attack it, but just feed the Elixir first. It's supposed to snap out of its invincibility so you can attack it.
Sounds right, 'cause that's how it's been for...a few games now, at least.

[Dj_Vitality]

seconded, Thats how it was in 7 at least...and then we all proceded to break the game with w-item, and get back our elixir ^_^

[The Mutericator]

That was the problem I had with ToS: true, it had lots of character interaction, but it was eye-rollingly bad character interaction. I very nearly permanently shut the game off in protest right before the final boss battle after listening to the awful dialogue ("Discrimination is in the heart!") I like for my games to be games, not misguided and poorly executed efforts at social commentary by writers who clearly lack the talent to adequately address the subject matter.

Point, but that was all mostly near the end. The beginning 3/4 of the interactions were interesting, and many were actually well-hidden - wandering around the southern continent in Tethe'Alla, you can get several skits of Presea's crush on Lloyd, which I didn't know about until my third playthrough. The interaction is optional, reallly.

[Blueearth]

You end up getting about as many Arcana as you do Pebbles.
Ie: A whole lot more than you'll EVER NEED.

Yeah, after a few hours hunting with the Jar, I've gotten tons of Arcana. :P

[Xerol Oplan]

OH GOD THE CHOPS

[Thalzon]

OH GOD THE CHOPS

Pretty easy, actually. Just remember the pairs are always on the same section of the map.

[Citan]

I don't think FFXII is the best, but it's in my top 3 favorite FF games (FFVII is still at the top). I didn't like the general lack of direction in the game. I'm always wondering where I'm supposed to go next, and the license board just doesn't seem very creative. Not being able to see spaces on the license board until you've activated the space next to it makes planning ahead pretty hard.

[Super-Duper Sombrero]

I haven't beaten it, but I feel like I'm pretty close to the end.

Great game, I've spent 70+ hours on it, and my brother over 100...

I love the gambit system, and the new combat to fit. I'm not a big fan of the whole restriction to one spell at a time. Numerous are the times I could have been saved by a Curaga interrupted by Thundara. Even the mass-effect spells cast one at a time. Rather irritating, but a small complaint.

The music is good, but it's all very similar. I kind of miss the variety found in 7 and 8 (sometimes orchestral, rock, electronic. Very diverse).

My only real complaints are with the voice acting. Vaan's lines always seem rushed, like he's frantically scrambling to fit ten lines into a one line timeslot. This may be true, but still... And he sounds angry. Fran's speech is supposed to sound forced and difficult (I think), but it's very unnerving to listen to her. Balthier and Basch had great acting, and Ashe was sort of mediocre.

I like how there's no real main character, but Vaan's purpose quickly fades, and he's just sort of tagging along.

The story is good. All of the characters talk about everything else in the world, not just where you're going next or what happened thousands of years ago. It really brings the impact of crisis to the player.

I would have liked some sort of character build system, and the license board doesn't really make much logical sense. Of instance, learning how to use a pole for tens of hours ought not to qualify the use of a high-level crossbow after a few spent LP. I'm not saying I want defined classes for the character a la FFIX, but some diversity would be nice. All my characters turned into greatsword-wielding berserker-mages... ? Yes, even Penelo.

In a summary: FFXII = good. Dialog = maybe not so much.

[I-n-j-i-n]

I don't think FFXII is the best, but it's in my top 3 favorite FF games (FFVII is still at the top). I didn't like the general lack of direction in the game. I'm always wondering where I'm supposed to go next, and the license board just doesn't seem very creative. Not being able to see spaces on the license board until you've activated the space next to it makes planning ahead pretty hard.

Lack of a coherent story hurt a lot with FFXII as I see it. Things just happen and it's hard to connect with the situation since so little of it is explained. And the license board thing was a bit silly since lot of it simply increased the grind and the game wasn't any more or less customizable with the characters as they leveled up. It may as well have been the traditional "level up then get your spells and benefits" deal and it would've played out similarly to having the license board there.

I love the gambit system, and the new combat to fit. I'm not a big fan of the whole restriction to one spell at a time. Numerous are the times I could have been saved by a Curaga interrupted by Thundara. Even the mass-effect spells cast one at a time. Rather irritating, but a small complaint.

I'm pretty sure it's because the game engine can't handle it. It's funny when enemies are wailing on me and my characters are standing around like statues for their spells to load up. If there's more than two spells going off for some reason, the game lags noticeably.

The story is good. All of the characters talk about everything else in the world, not just where you're going next or what happened thousands of years ago. It really brings the impact of crisis to the player.

The problem is that there are almost no twists in the story to speak of, no real personal input for the majority of the game in terms of dialogue and insight. Even FF4's cornball story had way more insight and back story for its characters.

[Dj_Vitality]

Yeah, although that stupid impersonator one was annoying...and you need to get ALL the chops in ALL the areas to access The Terrace area so you can get those hunt thingys done too :P

[Blueearth]

Lack of a coherent story hurt a lot with FFXII as I see it. Things just happen and it's hard to connect with the situation since so little of it is explained. And the license board thing was a bit silly since lot of it simply increased the grind and the game wasn't any more or less customizable with the characters as they leveled up. It may as well have been the traditional "level up then get your spells and benefits" deal and it would've played out similarly to having the license board there.



I'm pretty sure it's because the game engine can't handle it. It's funny when enemies are wailing on me and my characters are standing around like statues for their spells to load up. If there's more than two spells going off for some reason, the game lags noticeably.



The problem is that there are almost no twists in the story to speak of, no real personal input for the majority of the game in terms of dialogue and insight. Even FF4's cornball story had way more insight and back story for its characters.

My understanding is that multiple spells go off at once if you have it on Active Battle mode instead of Wait. Can anyone confirm/deny?

[Brycepops]

My understanding is that multiple spells go off at once if you have it on Active Battle mode instead of Wait. Can anyone confirm/deny?

I think that's true, seeing as how I've had healing go off at about the same time I was getting blasted by high level magic.

[Reaif]

I was under the impression that there were certain spells, mainly the later ones that they don't give you till the very end, that just won't go off until they are the "star" of the show, meaning that it is the only majorly graphical thing going on at the time. And if there is another spell in the process, it is more than willing to wait until the stage is free. I know for a fact that I've done multiple -ara and -aga spells while I've had to wait forever while on the other hand my guys take turns being wasted and trying to cast flare. it was really depressing to me that you couldn't just mass flare and all those other mean spells.

In summary, I don't think it matters too much whether you are in active or wait mode, but that it's the type of spells you cast that determine that crazy wait time.

[Blueearth]

I was under the impression that there were certain spells, mainly the later ones that they don't give you till the very end, that just won't go off until they are the "star" of the show, meaning that it is the only majorly graphical thing going on at the time. And if there is another spell in the process, it is more than willing to wait until the stage is free. I know for a fact that I've done multiple -ara and -aga spells while I've had to wait forever while on the other hand my guys take turns being wasted and trying to cast flare. it was really depressing to me that you couldn't just mass flare and all those other mean spells.

In summary, I don't think it matters too much whether you are in active or wait mode, but that it's the type of spells you cast that determine that crazy wait time.

Well I think it is all about the active vs. wait. Check on the Game Mechanics FAQ.

[Hector]

Are you forgetting about Sandstorm? everytime it was cast, the game halt action for a few seconds so that the spell could go off. Even attacks were delayed.

[Xerol Oplan]

What really pisses me off is that there's no multi-hit water spell available to humans.

And thinking about it, Blue Magic wouldn't've been too hard to implement:

1) Add a technick called "Capture" or something like that, that allows you to perform a Poach-like action on critically injured foes. Capturing a foe would give you a chance of acquiring a licence for a specific Blue Magic.
2) Add a section of the board for the appropriate skills.

AND REALLY, SQUARE, WOULD IT HAVE KILLED YOU TO PUT WATERGA ON THE LICENCE BOARD?

[WesPip]

Are you forgetting about Sandstorm? everytime it was cast, the game halt action for a few seconds so that the spell could go off. Even attacks were delayed.
I don't think actual ATTACKS are delayed during Sandstorm/Ice Break/Pyromania. Everything else, including technicks, is.
Sometimes I'm about to use a technick, then see the aforementioned stuff going off, so I change to a quick attack so I don't have to wait.
This is on active, mind you. I dunno about wait.

e:
Oh yes, and I'm finding a lot of the last hunts to be such a hassle. King Behemoth and Pylraser are just unfriendly. Mind you, my strategy generally consists of hacking at shit 'til it dies, so that could be part of it...

[Hector]

For Pyraser, just pour oil on it (I used oil bombs) and spam it with firaga. Also, use a bubble-good shield-lure combo to handle his damage (I recommend a pre-buffed party). (this is the giant T-Rex, right?)

For the Behemoth King, I recommend warp spells to take care of the preconditions for the fight. After that its just a matter of how good your healing gambits are and whether you are capable of dealing damage by both magic and physical. I relied on glacial staffs and blizzaga for magic damage (I find high-powered spells wasteful); and a hasted, berserked, genji-wearing, masamune wielding Vaan for physical. And to maintain your spellcaster's mana, I recommend using the Syphon spell on party-members. I actually found the Behemoth King much easier than Fafnir.

[Petara]

What really pisses me off is that there's no multi-hit water spell available to humans.

And thinking about it, Blue Magic wouldn't've been too hard to implement:

1) Add a technick called "Capture" or something like that, that allows you to perform a Poach-like action on critically injured foes. Capturing a foe would give you a chance of acquiring a licence for a specific Blue Magic.
2) Add a section of the board for the appropriate skills.

AND REALLY, SQUARE, WOULD IT HAVE KILLED YOU TO PUT WATERGA ON THE LICENCE BOARD?

Hammer. Nail. Direct hit. I was like:

Fire? Check
Ice? Check
Wind? Check
Earth? Check
Black? Check
White? Check
Water? ok, but where's ga?
Waterga? ....? You've gotta be kidding me

Seriously, just excluding it is mind boggling, but having enemies use it against you on top of that... wtf?

[Xerol Oplan]

Earth? Check

Wait, what? We didn't get any earth magic either, unless Gravity counts, and I don't think it does.

[Petara]

Wait, what? We didn't get any earth magic either, unless Gravity counts, and I don't think it does.

Oh, God... You're right. To think I spent 103 hrs on that game and can't remember what elemental spells I actually used. I remember seeing the symbol for sure when fiends used it against me. Damnit anyway.

[Blueearth]

Have any of you guys successfully found Ishteen, one of the Hunt Club mobs who supposedly appears in East-West of Barheim Passage if you wait long enough? I can't seem to make him appear.

[Hawkwing]

So after not having the time to play this for 2 months i sat down yesterday and played it again...and i realized that a lot of the music sounds like its from FFIV

[Bahamut]

So I've been playiing this game for the past week/week and a half...why do they force you to level up still :-( . Even after exploring all sorts of areas of maps, I still find I'm generally underleveled and underequipped. I'm currently up to Ahriman, and that boss pisses me off.

[Citan]

So I've been playiing this game for the past week/week and a half...why do they force you to level up still :-( . Even after exploring all sorts of areas of maps, I still find I'm generally underleveled and underequipped. I'm currently up to Ahriman, and that boss pisses me off.

Yeah, the excessive grinding was one of the biggest problems I had with the game. After every dungeon, I'd have to spend anywhere from 2-3 hours grinding so I can gain a few levels and buy new equipment so the monsters in the next area don't completely annihilate me. It took me 75 hours to beat the game, and I probably spent half that time just grinding. Even worse, I had a 4 level advantage over the final boss, and I just barely won the battle with him by the skin of my teeth. He'd just sit there and pummel my entire party with one flare-based spell after another, effectively cleaving off half of my health per hit.

[DragonFireKai]

Have any of you guys successfully found Ishteen, one of the Hunt Club mobs who supposedly appears in East-West of Barheim Passage if you wait long enough? I can't seem to make him appear.

I found him, it's just a matter of waiting long enough. the liklyhood of finding him increases the longer you're in that place.

[Bahamut]

Yeah, the excessive grinding was one of the biggest problems I had with the game. After every dungeon, I'd have to spend anywhere from 2-3 hours grinding so I can gain a few levels and buy new equipment so the monsters in the next area don't completely annihilate me. It took me 75 hours to beat the game, and I probably spent half that time just grinding. Even worse, I had a 4 level advantage over the final boss, and I just barely won the battle with him by the skin of my teeth. He'd just sit there and pummel my entire party with one flare-based spell after another, effectively cleaving off half of my health per hit.

Yeah, like I need to level up a lot still for better equipment, a few almost 10k gil spells, and a lot of techs still...this game is starting to get as ridiculous as FF3 DS. It's the opposite of fun.

[Hawkwing]

I found him, it's just a matter of waiting long enough. the liklyhood of finding him increases the longer you're in that place.

I came across him by accident and just said "what the fuck is this guy?" and realized he was rare game. pissed me off cause i was on my way to hunt bloodwing and get zalera.

[Citan]

Yeah, like I need to level up a lot still for better equipment, a few almost 10k gil spells, and a lot of techs still...this game is starting to get as ridiculous as FF3 DS. It's the opposite of fun.

What's even worse is that there's a spin-off of FFXII in the works for the DS:

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/finalfantasyxiirevenantwings/index.html?q=Final%20Fantasy%20XII

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=3491

Ever since Enix bought and merged with Square, the FF series seems to have taken more of a "quantity over quality" approach. Just the name of FFX-2 was terrible... Why would anyone call a game "10-2"? And this whole "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII" crap is just awful, it's a rape of one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) games of all time.

[SleazyC]

What's even worse is that there's a spin-off of FFXII in the works for the DS:

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/finalfantasyxiirevenantwings/index.html?q=Final%20Fantasy%20XII

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=3491

Ever since Enix bought and merged with Square, the FF series seems to have taken more of a "quantity over quality" approach. Just the name of FFX-2 was terrible... Why would anyone call a game "10-2"? And this whole "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII" crap is just awful, it's a rape of one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) games of all time.
Revenant Wings actually looks pretty decent as far as spinoff's go. I'm interested in seeing how they evolve the combat system to fit into a portable-gaming environment in comparison to the console environment.

As far as FFVII spinoffs go Crisis Core looks absolutely stunning for a PSP game but I am still a bit wary since Dirge. I really want to believe that it will be a good game and regardless the game looks just so damn pretty I may buy it.

PICTURE SPAM INCOMING:

http://mokkori60.free.fr/Crisis%20Core/fami_3-9_1.jpg

http://mokkori60.free.fr/Crisis%20Core/fami_3-9_2.jpg

http://mokkori60.free.fr/Crisis%20Core/fami_3-9_3.jpg

http://mokkori60.free.fr/Crisis%20Core/fami_3-9_4.jpg

[Citan]

Make no mistake, Square Enix definitely knows how to make things flashy. Have you seen the FFXIII trailer? I think it's absolutely jaw-dropping. But lately, it's begun to dawn on me that being flashy is almost all they are anymore.

[WesPip]

So I really don't wanna fight Yiazmat. It look me a good hour or so to kill the bloody Hell Wyrm, and Yiazmat's supposed to have roughly 5 times the HP.
Not looking forward to that.

[Thin Crust]

Lets see, I beat the game already. Rushing through it actually took me almost 70 hours. I am currently level 37-38 at 41 hours and I am about to go to guerovegan(sp) to get the treaty blade.

Also, I saw the trailer for revelant wings and if it comes out in the US, I will buy a ds for it and ff3. Come on people. Just because it is a spinoff, doesn't mean that it is a bad game. It looks like an ff tactics game which is fitting because the same people that brought you ff12 are the ones that brought you ffT. I will say it again, who cares if it is a spinoff? If it is good, then would you complain that it is? Find out if it is good or not and then decide to critize it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=87zraiFC_0A

Don't they look younger? Also, the characters look like they are made in the same style as ff9.

EDIT: By the way, I am currently listening to the credits because that music isn't in the game.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vRMM9_9t7D4
I so wish someone would do a remix of the song starting at 2:05. It was on the trailer for the game and I was looking for it all game and it finally came in at the end.

[Thin Crust]

Ok, so I need a little help. I am 42 hours into the game and ironically all my characters are also level 42. Maybe one 43. When the key to the Luthusu(sp) mines fell from the sky city, it would wash up on shore somewhere. Well, in the hunters camp outside of Archedia, I found someone talking about it, but I have talked to everyone there in that hunter camp and there have been no other clues. Also, any help with getting into those two doors in the necoral of nabudis would be great. Same with the Sochen cave palace. There is a locked door there as well.

[Thalzon]

1) Check near the guy who fell from Bhujerba, the key is next to him on the ground.

2) The three (not two) doors in Nabudis are part of a seperate sidequest. To start it, go talk to Old Man Dalan if there's a nu mou guy in his room.

3) The sochen door is where Hell Wyrm is. You need to get the key from the crazy guy on Cerobi Steppe, who is around windmill #10.

4) Go to gamefaqs next time.

[The Orichalcon]

Just finished the game. Avoided this thread until I had all spoilers out of the way. I finished the game hunts, killed Yiazmat. Got the Tournesol. Missed the Zodiac Spear though.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5707/picture2dx4.jpg
As much as some didn't enjoy that fight, I sure did.

I guess all I have left now are the rare game that I missed and Omega.

[Hector]

What'd you have to do to get the Yizmat figtht? I've done every hunt and summon in the game with the sole exception of Yizmat, and Montblanc still hasn't handed over that quest. And is there any sensible way of taking him down that does not absorb all of your time? I've heard he has 50,000,000hp, and that equates to summonning Zodiac 1,000 times. I enjoy a brutally difficult fight (Zodiac is perhaps my favorite boss), but not when my chief concern is with regards to how long it would take.

[Glenn565]

What'd you have to do to get the Yizmat figtht? I've done every hunt and summon in the game with the sole exception of Yizmat, and Montblanc still hasn't handed over that quest. And is there any sensible way of taking him down that does not absorb all of your time? I've heard he has 50,000,000hp, and that equates to summonning Zodiac 1,000 times. I enjoy a brutally difficult fight (Zodiac is perhaps my favorite boss), but not when my chief concern is with regards to how long it would take.

You have to complete all the hunts and defeat Hell Wyrm.

The best part is you can leave and come back and he will still have the same HP as you left him. So you don't have to beat him in one sitting.

[I-n-j-i-n]

Summoning stuff to kill Yiazmat is the stupidest thing to do ever. Unless you really want to sit though a few thousand summoning spells that do miniscule damage.

The toughest part of the Yiazmat fight is the boredom of the 95% of the fight (I simply picture-in-picture play it while watching TV), then the annoying last 5% of the fight where he uses a lot of cheap fast attacks.

All you really need to do is concentrate on Curaga, Arise and the occasional Berserk for one offensive character. Hastega in the Gambit is great too.

Oh, and maybe taking down Yiazmat's overall defense with Expose (you have to repeat exposing Yiazmat 20 times each time you rezone and come back).

[The Orichalcon]

For the last 5%, I got rid of all gambits except for Arise and Attack. Bubble belts on them all and just let them bash the hell out of Yiazmat. He combos way too fast for Cure spells to be affective.

Don't summon anything, it's a waste of MP and a waste of time. Just put Genji Gloves and Genji Helmet on whoever has the Masamune, cast Bravery/Protect/Haste on him, and let him combo over and over on Yiazmat while your other two heal him. That's how I got him down. The fight took me 5 and a half hours, and I stopped to save 9 times.

You need to finish all the hunts and kill the Hell Wyrm in Sochen Palace before the Yiazmat hunt will be offered.

[Thin Crust]

I'm sorry to bring this thread up again, but I need to ask a question. Where do you think is the best place to level up? So far I have been going through Nabudis over and over again and it's starting to get really repetative. Oh, and I also found the merchant there by accident and got some cool stuff. I saw somewhere that there was a merchant but I never knew where to look. I just beat guerovegan(sp) and I don't want to go any further because I want reddas to be at as high a level as I can him because he doesn't improve. All my characters are currently between lvl 53-55, and I have no hunts left or espers to get. Also, I just beat the hell wyrm. Son of a gun was the worst or rather unpleasent, boss I have ever faced. It took me 3 hours and all my guys were between lvl 48-50. That hp/mp inverse was a godsend to me because I couldn't have finished it in my first try if it didn't do it. I only had about 8 ethers, 5 high ethers, 5 elixers, and 5 megalixers. And that wouldn't have been enough if he did not do that little favor for me. But back to the origional question: Where do you think is the best place to level up? The place where you get the most exp?

[Alexis]

I just beat the hell wyrm. Son of a gun was the worst or rather unpleasent, boss I have ever faced. It took me 3 hours and all my guys were between lvl 48-50. That hp/mp inverse was a godsend to me because I couldn't have finished it in my first try if it didn't do it.

Lol, I just beat him the other day and my characters are all lvl 70 right now and I just set up my gambits and put down the controller. The only annoying thing was having to check back every so often in case the party leader died or something...But even with my characters at that level, it still took like two hours to finish.

I'm wondering if anyone has beaten Yiazmat, what level were you and how long did it take? The Orichalcon, what level were your characters?

[The Orichalcon]

The Orichalcon, what level were your characters?

99. I did the Henne Mines levelling trick.

Also, I should point out that I only used Balthier, Vaan and Bash. Never levelled Ashe, Penelo or Fran. Never summoned a zodiac (except to open the Giruvegan door.)

The fight is easy if you keep switching the Masamune/Genji Gloves combination between characters (and disabling everything other than attack and revive gambits.) You can usually get between 3-12 combo hits with those two equipped. And just keep the Ragnarok and Tournesol on the other characters. Lots of guides I've seen have people wielding really slow weapons in fights with Yiazmat which makes no sense. Since the damage is capped, you're better hitting 3+ times at 3,000 damage than once at 6,999. The only reason to switch weapons is that your MP eventually dies down on the two other characters as they take the job of healing, casting bubble etc. The Masamune hits hard and fast so it regenerates HP for the hitter pretty fast, then you just keep switching it to whoever needs MP.

[Thin Crust]

99. I did the Henne Mines levelling trick.

What's that? I went into the phase 2 shaft but the stuff there didn't give much exp so I just packed up and left for nabudis.

[The Orichalcon]

What's that? I went into the phase 2 shaft but the stuff there didn't give much exp so I just packed up and left for nabudis.

There's a 3-way area in the second section of the mines (towards the last esper) that generates 20 or so of those nasty bats all at once when you flick the gate switch. You can set your characters up to cast sleepaga to put them all to sleep, then to cast curaga (holy magic harms them), three hits of 9,999 curaga will kill them all. That's 20 bats killed in 2 minutes for something like 3,500 xp each (I think), then you just run two screens and return to flick the switch again over and over.

Faith, bubble and hastega on your party helps. Although eventually the chain level will max and you'll be picking up coins that'll cast protectga and shellga on your party.

[Thin Crust]

Ok cool, but what exactly does faith do "augment characters magick"? Haven't a clue how that's supposed ot work. And the curing oponents. Do you need to use gambits to do it? I have never tired it out before. And also, the origional question still stands. Where is the best place to level up? Is it in the mines? What other places are good?

[DragonFireKai]

Eh, a cheap way to gain levels would be to use the Stillshrine gambit loop.

[The Orichalcon]

Ok cool, but what exactly does faith do "augment characters magick"? Haven't a clue how that's supposed ot work. And the curing oponents. Do you need to use gambits to do it? I have never tired it out before. And also, the origional question still stands. Where is the best place to level up? Is it in the mines? What other places are good?

The XP trick in the mines is the single best place to level. You get over 60,000 xp for three characters in 2 minutes. You won't get that kind of efficiency anywhere else. Another good xp/time place is in Nabreus Deadland where the Bone Warriors generate (hidden area), you get 2,500 from each of them and there are about 40 of them in the area. So you can kill 120 before having to switch screens. It's good XP for lower levels, but it takes longer than the henne mines.

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6605/henneminesxpspottu2.png

Gambits you'll need are (top to bottom):
Ally: any - Arise
Enemy: Undead - Sleepga
Enemy: Undead - Curaja
Ally: any - Faith
Ally: any - Curaja
Ally: any - Hastega

Also, equip a demon shield (from nabudis) and main gauche (dagger, sold in some places) to max your evasion to 74%. You won't be doing any attacking, so strong weapons mean nothing. The bats also drop demon shields.

Edit: Forgot to say, Faith doubles magic potency. ie: it makes Curaja hit twice as hard.

[DragonFireKai]

Go to the Stillshrine of Miriam. Find the Rare Game Negalmuur, and set your gambits like this.


Party Leader
1. Ally: any...................Raise
2. Ally: HP<40%................Curaga
3. Ally: any...................Esuna
4. Self: MP<20%................Charge
5. Foe: HP>/=5,000.............Haste
6. Foe: HP<3000................Attack
7. Ally: any...................Regen
8. Ally: any...................Haste

Second Member
1. Self........................Decoy
2. Ally: any...................Raise
3. Ally HP<30%.................Curaga
4. Ally: any...................Esuna
5. Self: MP<20%................Charge
6. Foe: HP<3000................Attack
7. Ally: HP<100%...............Regen
8. Ally: HP<60%................Curaga
9. Ally: any...................Haste

Third Member
1. Ally: party leader..........Raise
2. Ally: party leader..........Phoenix Down
3. Self........................Decoy
4. Self: MP<20%................Charge
5. Foe: HP<3000................Attack

Put your controller down, and go to sleep. This loop will yield roughly 108,000 EXP per hour, and runs automaticaly. Sleep for eight hours, and that's 800,000 EXP per character.

[The Orichalcon]

Put your controller down, and go to sleep. This loop will yield roughly 108,000 EXP per hour, and runs automaticaly. Sleep for eight hours, and that's 800,000 EXP per character.

eight hours for 800,000 xp with that method. 1,200,000 xp per hour (ie: 9,600,000 xp per 8 hours, though theres no need to go for that long) with the henne mines one. Admittedly you can't walk away from the game with the henne mines xp trick. But it is faster.

[DragonFireKai]

eight hours for 800,000 xp with that method. 1,200,000 xp per hour with the henne mines one. Admittedly you can't walk away from the game with the henne mines xp trick. But it is faster.

True, but that's the beauty of the stillshrine loop. If you're like me, and get dragged off to drill, or some other event for a whole weekend, you can still make that time productive in FFXII.

[Thin Crust]

Go to the Stillshrine of Miriam. Find the Rare Game Negalmuur, and set your gambits like this.

Man I went looking all over for that dumb Negalmuur. When looking at the beastary, I thought it was those two demon things hanging around the waystone. After I killed them and hung around for 5ive minutes, got really board, and finally looked up them again, I found out that it wasn't them. So I looked everywhere for that rare game and still didn't find it.

Also, when I tried to do that bat thing in the Henne mines, I discovered that I couldn't go there because I have 9 espers. When I said that I went into the phase 2 shaft, I meant that one hallway from the feywood. There wasn't much there and I figured that it wasn't worth going. But it was later that I realized that you needed to get there from phase 1 rather than the feywood.

Anyway, All the characters are now lvl 55-56. I want to wait until 60 before I go after altima and open up the phase 2 shaft.

[Dj_Vitality]

When looking for Nelgamuur, you have to sometimes kill everything, Exit up the stairs into the room with the giant dragons, and kill all thems, then come back down. Nelgamuur will spawn right at the T intersection. Its a cheap way to gain levels, but when you're almost done with the game(2 hunts left, and game beaten) then it doesn't matter because those last 2 hunts are WAY LAME...>.<

[Thin Crust]

99. I did the Henne Mines levelling trick.

Also, I should point out that I only used Balthier, Vaan and Bash. Never levelled Ashe, Penelo or Fran. Never summoned a zodiac (except to open the Giruvegan door.)



Are you ASephiroth by any chance?

Also, I just got back from the henne mines doing that bat lvl up trick. The gambit combo worked great. But, it only worked once. I just reread the post and you said that you needed to two areas away so I guess I will try it again. I died by the way. All those undead things on the bottom right area of the map got to me. My characters are lvl 61-63 now and since I died, I have to set all the gambits again. That was a pain.

[The Orichalcon]

Set the gambits before you head off and save them. Make sure you have the evasion weapons/shields or you'll get raped.

And no I'm not ASephiroth, I don't even know what/who that is.

Edit: Also, in that picture I posted above. If you follow the path in red below, it counts as two screens and you don't run into any other monsters on the way. Just follow it to the second screen and then follow it right back.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1126/hennepathuf8.png

[Thin Crust]

And no I'm not ASephiroth, I don't even know what/who that is.ASephiroth (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ASephiroth) is this insane rpg gamer. He has probably has every major rpg 100% complete and done multiple times. He has about 500 videos on youtube. He posted this video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=vRMM9_9t7D4) which is where I first saw him. Someone needs to do a remix of the song starting on 2:04 and 6:53. They are the same song, but with little differences.

Edit: Also, in that picture I posted above. If you follow the path in red below, it counts as two screens and you don't run into any other monsters on the way. Just follow it to the second screen and then follow it right back.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1126/hennepathuf8.png
Thanks, but I found it already. I tried to do it over and over again, but I missed the part where you said that you needed to go to two areas and do it again. I only tried going out and back in again.

Edit: I said again 3 times in 3 sentences.

[Thin Crust]

Just out of curiosity, is it possible to get stuck in the henne mines? I know that you need a teleport crystal or a chocobo to get there, but what if you are out of teleport crystals? There might be chocobos outside, but what if you are out of Gyshal(sp) greens? That's something that concerns me. I always make sure I have at least 10 teleport crystals every time I level up there.

Also, I am currently between lvls 72-76 doing the henne mines leveling trick. Thanks for the info on how to do it.

[AarowSwift]

Just out of curiosity, is it possible to get stuck in the henne mines? I know that you need a teleport crystal or a chocobo to get there, but what if you are out of teleport crystals? There might be chocobos outside, but what if you are out of Gyshal(sp) greens? That's something that concerns me. I always make sure I have at least 10 teleport crystals every time I level up there.

Also, I am currently between lvls 72-76 doing the henne mines leveling trick. Thanks for the info on how to do it.

If I remember correctly, there's always a Wayward Chocobo outside the mines. No need for greens to ride it. Just go out and take a look to see if one's there after you duck into the mines.

[Thin Crust]

So one more thing, does anyone know where to find the embroidered tripliet or whatever it's called? It's the item that doubles exp earned. I got my only one at the bazaar in Rabinastre I think but now I can't seem to find them any more.

[Fritz the Cat]

Archades, I think.

Yeah. Old Archades. 5000 Gil

[chucky90]

i beat one of the hardest marks, Yiazmat or w/e, 50 million HP, took me 4.5 hours


but yeah, this game kicks ass

[DJ_ReFluX]

Final Fantasy XII is a great game!

Evaluation:

Story - 7/10 (FFVII has the best story ever)

Music - 8/10 (Nobuo Uematsu did a better job... Although the orchestration is awesome in FFXII)

Graphics - 10/10 (They used the full potential of the PS2)

Voices - 9/10 (At least they're better than in FFX... They didn't even call Tidus' name -.-')

Overall - 8/10

That's my opinion about it...

[Hawkwing]

Final Fantasy XII is a great game!

Evaluation:

Story - 7/10 (FFVII has the best story ever)

Music - 8/10 (Nobuo Uematsu did a better job... Although the orchestration is awesome in FFXII)

Graphics - 10/10 (They used the full potential of the PS2)

Voices - 9/10 (At least they're better than in FFX... They didn't even call Tidus' name -.-')

Overall - 8/10

That's my opinion about it...

I prefer 6s story over 7. Hands down.

[Tricklozen]

Overall - 8/10

That's my opinion about it...

Figuratively..

Story - 5/10

Music - 2/10 (Can't mute it either, but I'll include Sound - 9/10 in this context.)

Graphics - 9/10

Voices - 9/10

Overall - Trite, which best describes my general feeling while playing the game, and after completing it (the main story, that is). The voice cast impressed me the most.

[Nautilus]

This game was initially very fun but quickly became very dull.

Graphics 10/10
Music 6.5/10
Gameplay 7/10
Story 3/10
Voice Acting 6/10

Story was really, really sorry.

[Thin Crust]

My only grievance with the game is that the voice actors needed better microphones. The sound quality wasn't that good, but their talent was great. Except for Kytes btw. And believe it or not, FFXII uses half the number of hexagons as FFX in order to introduce a rotating camera.

And the reason they don't say Tidus' name is because you have the chance to change it. They couldn't include it in the voice acting because if you had named him something different, then it wouldn't have worked. One time I named him "2+2=22" Just for fun.

Edit: Oh, and I loved the story. It's much better then some silly love flick that many have alongside the story.

[The Orichalcon]

Graphics 9/10 - Really well done, couldn't have been much better. But there's always room for improvement, so doesn't reach the elusive perfect score
Music 8/10 - I really enjoyed the soundtrack, and I've listened to it a lot on its own. Some of the battle music fell short unfortunately. But the Esper Battle and Boss Battle music was superb. Overall I enjoyed about half of the soundtracks tracks enough to listen to them again outside the game. "Theme of the Empire" and "The Feywood" being two of the best tracks in the game.
Gameplay 9/10 - Can't fault it in any way. The gambit system can take a long time to set up. But it's one of those things that I personally really enjoyed
Story 4/10 - I agree that the story was where the game fell short. I enjoyed the game most when it broke free of the story and I was able to go do my own thing. The story was confusing, and too many characters were really left out to not actually do anything. Penelo and Basch didn't add much to the storyline. Vaan started off strong but was shoved into the shadows later on. Balthier, Fran and Ashe were story central, but even then I didn't get a sense of a "team" the way you do in other Final Fantasy games.
Voice Acting 9/10 - I liked it a lot. Unlike a lot of other people. Basch, Vaan, Fran and Balthier in particular were done really well. Ashe was the only one that got on my nerves.


I should point out that it's not the story itself that I didn't like. It was promising. But it's the way it was told, too many things were left unexplained properly. It just got really confusing and tacky.

[Oddllama]

I would have liked more interplay and background between the former judges (Balthier/Reddas) and the current empire administration (Gabranth/Gheis/Royal family).

[prophetik]

I would have liked more interplay and background between the former judges (Balthier/Reddas) and the current empire administration (Gabranth/Gheis/Royal family).

i agree. i would have also just liked more basch. i think that the story of redemption is one that is both central to a lot of RPGs (ff in particular) and i liked him as a character. i thought as a whole the game almost felt rushed, like there wasn't enough storyLINE to flesh out the story properly.

[UnforgivingEdges]

i agree. i would have also just liked more basch. i think that the story of redemption is one that is both central to a lot of RPGs (ff in particular) and i liked him as a character. i thought as a whole the game almost felt rushed, like there wasn't enough storyLINE to flesh out the story properly.

In Matsuno's original script treatment, Basch was the main character. Had he stayed on for the entire development process, FFXII would have been a much different game.

[The Orichalcon]

In Matsuno's original script treatment, Basch was the main character. Had he stayed on for the entire development process, FFXII would have been a much different game.

Basch was my party leader from the point that I had him in my party. He should've been the lead character.

[Thin Crust]

Basch was my party leader from the point that I had him in my party. He should've been the lead character.

But that would violate RPG rules. 34 year olds are only available as supporting characters. The lead always needs to be a teenager or very early 20's

[prophetik]

Basch was my party leader from the point that I had him in my party. He should've been the lead character.

basch was my only attacking warrior, my other two wound up being magicians. he was also freaking sweet.

[UnforgivingEdges]

Basch was my party leader from the point that I had him in my party. He should've been the lead character.


Same here. The intro sequence and endgame were my favorite parts of the plot because of the heavy focus on Basch's backstory.

[Thin Crust]

Lets see, I've been playing through a second time and I am at the point where you get Reddas, but I won't get him until my characters are really high because Reddas comes in at 2 lvls above your average party level. (I think) But anyway, All my characters are lvl 90 and It took me an hour and a half to get the Excalibur Dumb thing wouldn't show up in the chest.

I am 93 hours into the game, and here's my party arrangement:

Vaan: mage knight. All magical items except for a sword and shield.
Gambits: arise, cure, if enemy is weak against a certain element, use it. flying= telekinesis, attack

Fran: Archer. All heavy equipment with a bow.
Gambits: arise, attack, cure

Basch: Tank. All heavy equipment with the Excalibur.
Gambits: arise, flying=telekinesis, attack, cure

Ashe: Mage. All magic items complete with staff.
Gambits: arise, cure, if enemy is weak against a certain element, use it. flying= telekinesis, attack

Penelo: gunner. All heavy equip with the most powerful gun.
Gambits: arise, undead=cure, attack, cure

Balthier: Knight. All heavy equipment with a sword and shield.
Gambits: arise, attack, cure

Of course, these gambits aren't exact, but close to what they are on my game.


So is this a good setup? If not, what should I change?

EDIT: Oh and I forgot to ask, has anyone bothered with the trophys and giving them to the guys at the hunters camp at the Phion Coast?

[Liontamer]

* Liontamer is listening to Nobuo Uematsu (arr. Hitoshi Sakimoto) - "Chocobo (FFXII Version)" [Final Fantasy XII OST] (02:03)
<Liontamer> bastard!
<Liontamer> didn't give this one a variation name!
<Liontamer> bastard!
<Liontamer> THIS SOUNDTRACK SUCKS ASS
<zircon> haha
<zircon> like Techno de Chocobo?
<Liontamer> yeah, wtf
<Liontamer> geeks like me live for that shit
<Liontamer> THIS SOUNDTRACK SUCKS ASS
<Liontamer> CLEARLY, TOP TO BOTTOM, THIS MAN IS A HACK!

[Fritz the Cat]

Setting a gunner up with heavy armor is sort of pointless; as I understand, the damage a gun does has no bearing on your strength, which means the strength bonus from the armor is just being wasted. Better to have them with light armor, then they get an HP bonus, which is more useful.

[prophetik]

except that they die slower, which i'm assuming is the idea.

[Thin Crust]

The only disadvantage I have with my heavy armored gunner is that she is very slow. I don't know if that is the consequence of the heavy equipment but that's how it is. I have my gambits casting haste on her at all times. And she is still slower then Ashe casting something.

The game kind of promotes all heavy melee weapons though. What is the point of having everyone completely customizable if you have the desire to have them all be tanks?

I decided to get reddas. He's at lvl 92 which I guess is good enough.

[Evilhead]

Well, your gunner should be well out of harms way, so I'd agree that light armor would make more sense.

Personally I never used a gunner. I just kept Fran on bows which worked well. Yeah, her damage isn't as good, but she has a much faster rate of fire, and the added status effects of the arrows can be very helpful, especially if you have a few to choose from.



Ah, but this game has joined the pile of RPGs that I've played RIGHT up just before the final battle/dungeon and quit. I don't know why I always do that. You'd think that after playing a game for 80+ hours or so I'd at least be interested in seeing the ending, but for some reason I never am. I've done this with so many games...

[The Orichalcon]

Ah, but this game has joined the pile of RPGs that I've played RIGHT up just before the final battle/dungeon and quit. I don't know why I always do that. You'd think that after playing a game for 80+ hours or so I'd at least be interested in seeing the ending, but for some reason I never am. I've done this with so many games...

Possibly because the ending is usually disappointing. I know I was disappointed with the end of FFXII.

[prophetik]

you didn't like the cliche 'this is where we all went and we're all happy now' movie? with cliche letter included?

[The Orichalcon]

you didn't like the cliche 'this is where we all went and we're all happy now' movie? with cliche letter included?

It wasn't so much the ending movie as the ending battles, which were way too easy for high-level characters, as usual.

Square need to start shaping bosses based on your level. Like they did with Diablos in FF8.

[DragonFireKai]

It wasn't so much the ending movie as the ending battles, which were way too easy for high-level characters, as usual.

Square need to start shaping bosses based on your level. Like they did with Diablos in FF8.

They mapped every enemy to your character's levels in FFVIII, save in the Lunatic Pandora and the Islands closest to Heaven and Hell. Hence why you could tear through the game at level 12 by spamming draw points.

I think the answer lies with the seal method that was used in Star Ocean: The Second Story. Add an optional seal that can be removed from the final bosses that increases their power vastly. Unlocked Gabriel was a bitch. Legend of Mana had a similar method with it's No Future mode.

[prophetik]

i beat ff8 at about level 14 or so. LOVED the game, and loved that it didn't take a zillion hours. i redid it at a normal set of levels, though.

its not even just having a locked seal, make the bosses damn tough AND have them with a minimum level built in, no matter what. so, the bosses might be mapped to your level but they're never going to be below a certain (and still difficult) level.

[Thin Crust]

Well, I finally did it. I got all 13 espers. Zodiark(SP) was the most annoying thing ever and that includes hell worm (or is it wyrm). This esper always had a physical attack immunity and only dropped it's magic attack immunity for 10 seconds while when I tried to cast flare, it would have reflect. I even had everyone equip a demon shield halfway through but it only absorbed it's darkja sometimes.

Anyway, I'm trying to get the big weapons now. Forget the tournesol(sp). It's too much.

Only two hunts left until yizmat whatever.

[PriZm]

Yiazmat ?

Prepare to be BORED

[prophetik]

yiazmat is like 6 hours or so, right? the annoying thing is that it can easily kill your characters at any time if you let up. it's SOOOO annoying.

[Fishy]

I just completed this like, 10 minutes ago and I'm still in shock from the sheer epicness.

[prophetik]

you were working on this game when i was...back in february. why'd it take so long for you to finish it?

[Fishy]

Well I got all the way up to archades and got stuck because I wasn't sure what I was doing, so I restarted and did everything properly. I was about 10 levels higher by the time I got to where I was before, made things a lot easier.

[Trash Man]

Funny thing is. I never bothered to beat the game yet. I got to the final area, and then I decided to do all the extra stuff first.. But then like 100 hours down the road (250 total game hours on that turn). I decided to just not bother beating it. (maybe I will someday though).

I beat Yiazmat, Got all the espers, and did various sidequests (like fishing, which was so boring). The reason it took me so long because I refuse to use a guide. So, I'm probably not gonna find everything, and I already know I screwed up the Zodiac Spear because everyone on Gamefaqs blabs on about it like it's better than SEX. So, I won't be bothering to get that weapon because it's just ridiculous how they hid it.

Then I hear they are making an international version which will have all the biggest problems fixed (easier to obtain best weapons...). And it will (again...) be a Japan only release. I may actually get it though, which will be the first time I ever got one.

Overall, I liked FF12 though. It was nice to see the word espers again. And the battle system rocks IMO. Too bad it has strong downsides like the super insanely hard to obtain weapons and armor. IF you are like me and refuse to read guides for games, you will probably never find them all.

[Thin Crust]

QUESTION: I have been hugging the left wall in the first level of the basement and went everywhere on that floor and I can't find a way to get to the next level down. Help anyone?









PS. Following the left wall ensures that you will get to where you need to go eventually in almost any maze.

[The Author]

QUESTION: I have been hugging the left wall in the first level of the basement and went everywhere on that floor and I can't find a way to get to the next level down. Help anyone?
PS. Following the left wall ensures that you will get to where you need to go eventually in almost any maze.

While that is true with mazes with entrances and exits on the same floor, mazes with staircases follow a different logic. Following the left wall (or right, really, just following a wall) will lead you around the external wall. But the stair may be in the center of the map. Following an exterior wall also means missing on all the chests inside the maze's inner rooms.

[Thin Crust]

I know, but this maze consists of four areas all located around different 'corners' of a circle. These areas are not connected with another and while going through it, it is pretty obvious that I went in every room in each of the four areas.

[WesPip]

I know, but this maze consists of four areas all located around different 'corners' of a circle. These areas are not connected with another and while going through it, it is pretty obvious that I went in every room in each of the four areas.
This is the lower levels of the Pharos, or am I misunderstanding?
'Cause for the Pharos, you need to "light" the pedestals in each "corner" [right in the "main" part of the corner, ie: the first room] with varying numbers of Black Orbs til it says you can't put anymore on/in. Once you do that in all four corners, you can take the elevator to the next floor down.

[Thin Crust]

This is the lower levels of the Pharos, or am I misunderstanding?
'Cause for the Pharos, you need to "light" the pedestals in each "corner" [right in the "main" part of the corner, ie: the first room] with varying numbers of Black Orbs til it says you can't put anymore on/in. Once you do that in all four corners, you can take the elevator to the next floor down.

Ok, thanks. Shouldn't be too hard. All the monsters go down easy at lvl 92-94. Major thanks to The Orichalcon for info about the leveling trick.

[The Orichalcon]

Don't pick up the black orbs when they drop. If you leave them, they'll float off to a particular spot on the map after 10 seconds or so and give you 3 instead of the 1 you'd get if you picked it up from the enemies. Just watch the orb and keep an eye on where it floats off to so you know where to go to pick up the final one. You can quickly get 30 orbs by killing only 10 enemies that drop them.

[WesPip]

Don't pick up the black orbs when they drop. If you leave them, they'll float off to a particular spot on the map after 10 seconds or so and give you 3 instead of the 1 you'd get if you picked it up from the enemies. Just watch the orb and keep an eye on where it floats off to so you know where to go to pick up the final one. You can quickly get 30 orbs by killing only 10 enemies that drop them.
OHHHHHHHHHHH.
I was wondering why the large ones seemed to just randomly appear.
Heh, shame I've already finished that bit, then.

[SetzerGabbiani]

But that would violate RPG rules. 34 year olds are only available as supporting characters. The lead always needs to be a teenager or very early 20's

I lol'd....

Anyways FFXII was the Final Fantasy that restored my hope in the franchise, with VI being the last great FF before Square got caught up in the FMVs of FFVII, (don't get me wrong, I love VII, but some points of the game had me so bored...) never played VIII or XI, heard they were "okay" though. The linear gameplay of X, any real FF fan wouldn't count FFX-2 if their life depended on it, and XI feels like work to me(thank jeebus for WoW =D). FFXII was a breath of fresh air in the series. With the new real-time fighting and he story of politics, redemption, and all the other goodness in the game, I couldn't put it down till it was finished...the characters were developed and had me feel I was right there with them tryin to figure out what the hell was going on. I can't wait for E3 to see what XIII has in store =)

My main party was Vaan, Basch, and Fran. With the other 3 just there to Revive my main party when they died =D (don't have time to level up everybody like i used to, hence I couldnt do too many sidequests lol)

and that's my two cents...

[Thin Crust]

Really? I'm playing ff6 for the first time on the DS(it's a gba game, I know) and I don't see what everyone else sees in it. I think it was so popular because it was a great game back in 94'. But now, I'm looking for the scattered party members after kefka destroyed the world and it's boring. The game doesn't hold interest like it should. Anyway, I'm at the third level down, the abyssal, and going to get the staff of the magi for Ashe. I already know how to get it. But the sad part is, I haven't gotten any good items from chests except for dragon wisker which is actually weaker than all my current weapons. All I get is 1 gil in them. Last, I think they should have made a different way to get to the next level. The black orbs are fine for one time, but the other(s) should have different methods.

[Arek the Absolute]

Really? I'm playing ff6 for the first time on the DS(it's a gba game, I know) and I don't see what everyone else sees in it. I think it was so popular because it was a great game back in 94'. But now, I'm looking for the scattered party members after kefka destroyed the world and it's boring. The game doesn't hold interest like it should. Anyway, I'm at the third level down, the abyssal, and going to get the staff of the magi for Ashe. I already know how to get it. But the sad part is, I haven't gotten any good items from chests except for dragon wisker which is actually weaker than all my current weapons. All I get is 1 gil in them. Last, I think they should have made a different way to get to the next level. The black orbs are fine for one time, but the other(s) should have different methods.

1) NO
2) SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP



AND JUST TO KEEP THIS GAME ON DISCUSSION, I just beat the game and this overall, though a totally different experience, was pretty entertaining.

[Thin Crust]

It's personal preference. What I think about the game says nothing about its quality or its fun factor. Keep your words to yourself.

[Arek the Absolute]

I will if you will, but you rarely do that, if ever, so let's see how that goes.
SNAP

Anyhow...I feel like restarting this game, so I shall.

[prophetik]

drama +1 ftw

[Hawkwing]

Really? I'm playing ff6 for the first time on the DS(it's a gba game, I know) and I don't see what everyone else sees in it. I think it was so popular because it was a great game back in 94'. But now, I'm looking for the scattered party members after kefka destroyed the world and it's boring. The game doesn't hold interest like it should. Anyway, I'm at the third level down, the abyssal, and going to get the staff of the magi for Ashe. I already know how to get it. But the sad part is, I haven't gotten any good items from chests except for dragon wisker which is actually weaker than all my current weapons. All I get is 1 gil in them. Last, I think they should have made a different way to get to the next level. The black orbs are fine for one time, but the other(s) should have different methods.

Even if you don't know what you're doing you can regather the scattered members in under 4 hours. If you know what you're doing you can do it in under 2 hours. It's not that hard.

[Thin Crust]

I will if you willNo you wont.

[prophetik]

DRAMA +1

intarw3bs - serious business

[Victis Honor]

This is quite possibly my least favorite...I hated almost every aspect of this game. The battle system was horrid for me and I really didn't like the characters that much. I also felt that the in-game voice acting was terrible quality compared to the FMVs. However it is hard to follow a game like Final Fantasy X.

[Critical Hit]

This is quite possibly my least favorite...I hated almost every aspect of this game. The battle system was horrid for me and I really didn't like the characters that much. I also felt that the in-game voice acting was terrible quality compared to the FMVs. However it is hard to follow a game like Final Fantasy X.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[Thin Crust]

Personal preference at it's best. Some hate it, some love it. I happen to love it. I even thought the voice acting was awesome, and I also loved the battle system and the story better then FFX. For me, no love story = better story.

[atmuh]

Personal preference at it's best. Some hate it, some love it. I happen to love it. I even thought the voice acting was awesome, and I also loved the battle system and the story better then FFX. For me, no love story = better story.

find yourself a girl

and regardless of the love story or whatever ffx just sucked
horribly

and arek high five for the ff6 comment!

[Avatar of Justice]

FFX has my favorite overall storyline, but I think I had the most fun gameplay-wise in FF12 compared to all other FF's. It's the first one I sank 115 hours into and loved almost every minute of it.

[Alexis]

Yiazmat is such a buttmunch...he keeps killing my leader so I can't go do other things cause you have to change your party leader or whatever. Grrr. I gave up after about an hour and all my party had done was take away like three of the stupid little dots. I guess I'll try to level them up some more, but it takes forever since they're all like level 70/71. Any suggestions as the best place to level them up?

[Thin Crust]

Yiazmat is such a buttmunch...he keeps killing my leader so I can't go do other things cause you have to change your party leader or whatever. Grrr. I gave up after about an hour and all my party had done was take away like three of the stupid little dots. I guess I'll try to level them up some more, but it takes forever since they're all like level 70/71. Any suggestions as the best place to level them up?

I asked the same question. Start reading from here.
http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4757&page=30

My characters are all 95. I got the last 5 levels at the underground pharos. And as a side note,

!!!!???!????

I spent all that time trying to get the staff of the magi and it isn't the best staff? It was weaker then the cloud staff that I had equiped when I got it. Biggest letdown I had in this game.

[Alexis]

I asked the same question. Start reading from here.
http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4757&page=30

My characters are all 95. I got the last 5 levels at the underground pharos. And as a side note,

!!!!???!????

I spent all that time trying to get the staff of the magi and it isn't the best staff? It was weaker then the cloud staff that I had equiped when I got it. Biggest letdown I had in this game.


Ahhhhhhh thank you! That henne mines trick is friggin amazing! Three of my members just went up 10 levels in about an hour and a half...gonna do the other ones later. Yey for exploiting gambits!

[Malaki-LEGEND.sys]

This is quite possibly my least favorite...I hated almost every aspect of this game. The battle system was horrid for me and I really didn't like the characters that much. I also felt that the in-game voice acting was terrible quality compared to the FMVs. However it is hard to follow a game like Final Fantasy X.

Haha...













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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! !!!!!!!

















*Dies*



















You sir, are a comedic genius!

No, but seriously, FFXII is not only a breath of fresh air as far as JRPGs go, but it is also one of the best FFs out there. I'm willing to say that it's on the level of FFIV and VII. After playing through the game and watching the ending, I don't see how there will be that many games that can top it.

[prophetik]

the story was too short, but it was pretty good. i'd put it on the level of six and ten, which IMO are some of the best. nothing's topped eight, though, whether its through storyline or through gameplay. if you didn't game the game, it was fantastic.

[Malaki-LEGEND.sys]

VIII definitely had some awesome atmosphere, great concept and several of my favorite FF characters(Laguna, Ellone, Raine, and pretty much anyone Laguna interacted with during his side of the game). Another reason I loved FFVIII so much was the fact that it had the first insert song, Eyes on Me, in any FF game(and coincidentally, the only one to get it right other than FFXII).

FFX seemed way too drab to me. The sphere grid system was extremely limited(I didn't even know what I should have done with Kimhari and Rikku), voice acting was pretty bad for the lead roles(he was much more believable in Ratchet and Clank and Hedy Burress was just too soft spoken). The concept was cool enough and I loved Auron and Jeckt, but the scenarios and plot placement was rather shoddy what with the whole mentioning that Sin was Tidus's father not only what I thought was too early, but not emphasized and dealt with enough.

The game had a bunch of cool points, like CTB battles, BLITZBALL!!!(seriously SE, release a much more expanded version of this game), introduction of voice-acting into the series, top-notch FMVs at 60 frames(I think that was the count), and Bender(Wakka should have had Bender's personality. That would have made the game that much more awesome), so I'll cut the game some slack, but there were other elements about it that just made it bleh to me. I haven't even gone into the massive amounts of lame that is Seymour, but I'll leave that one for another day.

[The Pezman]

Licenses.

WTF? No point at all... just let the chars learn magic as they level like a normal video game. It makes equipment shopping a huge rectal pain and you end up choosing your pics based on where you happened to have spent your license points.

[The Mutericator]

Licenses.

WTF? No point at all... just let the chars learn magic as they level like a normal video game. It makes equipment shopping a huge rectal pain and you end up choosing your pics based on where you happened to have spent your license points.

Because with the liscense system, the idea of having classes is completely eliminated. You can make a Black and Green Mage, a White Mage with Barehanded who can beat the crap out of opponents and then heal themselves, a Time Mage who is proficient with guns... whatever. There's no limit on who can learn or wear what at all, just all-out awesomeness.

[prophetik]

i did like the complete customization of the game. i tend to prefer characters that can just do whatever i feel like letting them do rather than having them focus on something specifically. i only wish that the characters could 'focus' on certain abilities - like, i wish that as you used a certain style more over time you'd become more proficient at the inherent abilities of that type...aka, as Basch hammers the crap out of enemies, his physical attributes go up. however, if i want basch to be a time mage, as i use more time magic his magic and mp skills go up in that way.

[The Pezman]

Because with the liscense system, the idea of having classes is completely eliminated. You can make a Black and Green Mage, a White Mage with Barehanded who can beat the crap out of opponents and then heal themselves, a Time Mage who is proficient with guns... whatever. There's no limit on who can learn or wear what at all, just all-out awesomeness.
That is completely possible without you being unable to equip an awesome weapon or armor that happened to find lying around but wait... you spent your license points on abilities instead of equipment. Now you're out of luck.

No other RPG has made us choose between equipment or skills.

[Avatar of Justice]

After getting Yiazmat down to his last 10 bars, then getting my ass kicked once he doubled his level, during Christmas vacation, I've decided to pop FF12 back in and give it another shot. Just 3 1/2 bars left. Now, I'm not even bother to heal anyone, just constant casting of Arising. Pretty slow going. The last five bars suck since he stops using his breath weapons and just spams you to death with Rake. I went from around 74 to 80 using the Henne mines trick, and that enabled me to at least get past the first five bars of the last ten.

[Thin Crust]

I'm about halfway through his bars. (lvl 95) After I got about 5 bars in 1.5 hours, I finally said screw it and went all heavy weapons. the most powerful weapon I have is the ragnorack, and the save the queen, and the excalabur is useless in this fight. This thing is taking way too long. A good tactic is to bezerk one of your tanks. But not two because if your healer or magic caster dies, then you have to switch out if you want your third position filled.

[Avatar of Justice]

I must say, after Yiazmat, Omega Mark 12 was a huge disappointment in terms of the length of the battle and difficulty. I had assumed it was to be the "Omega Weapon" of the game, but I guess I forgot that Omega Weapons in Final Fantasy have almost always been really easy to defeat. And the Wyrmhero Blade that you get out of killing them both and completing the fishing mini-game is just way too slow to be worth using. Not that there's anything left in the game to kill it with.

[The Orichalcon]

That is completely possible without you being unable to equip an awesome weapon or armor that happened to find lying around but wait... you spent your license points on abilities instead of equipment. Now you're out of luck.

No other RPG has made us choose between equipment or skills.

I went through most of the game without using any licence points except for when I needed to learn a certain spell or equip a particular item. So once I realised that you could boost your skills on the licence board, I was well towards the end of the game. Never ran out of points and never had a problem with the game while I wasn't using them. So the complaint against the licence board doesn't really sit with me.

[Bahamut]

I went through most of the game without using any licence points except for when I needed to learn a certain spell or equip a particular item. So once I realised that you could boost your skills on the licence board, I was well towards the end of the game. Never ran out of points and never had a problem with the game while I wasn't using them. So the complaint against the licence board doesn't really sit with me.

Leveling was tedious as fuck though...that's probably one of my two major complaints that sits with me with the game.

[Malaki-LEGEND.sys]

You know, I didn't find leveling that tedious at all in the game, save for the near-end when all I wanna do is beat the damned thing. But then again that always happens to me in every RPG I play so I don't really pay it any mind.

The gambit system was a little tricky to really get a hang of, but for the most part, I loved looking around for stuff to kill. This game really does make turn-based combat look archaic to me. I honestly don't know how I'm gonna be able to play another JRPG again after this. Also, if you really wanted to breeze through leveling(well, I wouldn't say "breeze through" so much as "level a bit faster"), you could just steal Embroidered Tipets from Coerls at the Tchita Uplands.

I love this game so much, I'm already about to start my second(as close to 100% completed as I can get)run. This time I'm going to actually try mapping out specific classes instead of giving everyone licenses all willy-nilly like.

And to end this post, I'll just say that this game needed more John DiMaggio. Hell, every game/anme/cartoon needs more John DiMaggio. Fuck it, they should just put Bender in everything.

[prophetik]

the part i loved was farming for LP in the desert. i used to just groove around there for hours slamming those yensa into the dirt. i think i got a chain of about seven hundred or so before i mistakenly attacked one of the pumpkinheads.

[Warmech]

Ok, so how do you complete the Hunt Club sidequest at the Phon Coast? I've killed all the trophy monsters, but the Huntmaster says I've only given 29 of them away because he took the first one that I got from the turtle. How do I "get" that trophy back?

[Thin Crust]

I DID IT!!! I finally beat Yaizmat. I had to go and save 14 times, but I did it. I was at level 95 and all I did was attack, and have 2 curers. I spent a lot of time casting breavery and beserk as well. But when he did growing threat (level doubles) he just killed my guys too quickly. So, I set my gambits for every character to arise, chronos tear, attack. Don't worry about curing, it isn't worth it. I think someone already said that here somewhere.

Also, I was wondering about the hunt quest at the phion coast too. I have about 20 trophies, but haven't given it to anyone. Which banga should I give it to? They put different things into the bazzar.

[Trash Man]

Yiazmat is a joke compared to other bosses like Omega Mark XII or Zodiark. Sure, he has a butt-load of HP, but that's all he really has going for him. I was at like level 70 or so when I beat him the first time (Maybe not even that high). Reserves, as usual, were never touched, so they were all really low levels.

Zodiark was harder IMO. I think I died like twice before I learned my lesson on him (Level 70ish for him as well on my first time). I never got a game over on Yiazmat. I only left because it got boring over time, and I wanted to play it safe just in-case the power went out or something.

I remember the old days of FF optional bosses, where you can get entirely raped in just one turn. Didn't matter if you were max level, max stats, or so on. It was still able to happen. Nowadays, it's just big show bosses that have no real bite in them anymore.

OH and uh, the hunt club prizes are worthless, you can easily get all those things elsewhere. And those are all you get.
there are 31 rare game hunt club enemies. 1 to start the thing (The turtle), then 30 more to get trophies that you give to Atak Blok or Stok. You get nothing special otherwise. Yeah, what a fun waste of time huh? The worst part is that nothing you get from them is even worth the effort it takes to find those enemies (assuming you are the honorable player who does not use a guide to get answers).

[The Orichalcon]

Zodiark... hard? I beat that thing in like 40 seconds.

[Trash Man]

I said he's harder than Yiazmat. I didn't say he was HARD to beat. I only died the first two times because I didn't equip the proper things to protect against Darkja. After two failures, I learned from my mistake.

Also, I didn't use cheap tactics like quickenings pulled off right before he puts up the pailing.. Or the old I'm the suck so I'll use Decoy, Reverse, Stop trick.

Yeah, if you use those, then it's a quick battle.

Also, the only way I see you beating that guy in 40 secs is if you are one of those really lamer people who use the dark matter when it was charged all the way up.

[Warmech]

31 rare monsters? But...no...I can't find any more. What the crap.

[prophetik]

I said he's harder than Yiazmat. I didn't say he was HARD to beat. I only died the first two times because I didn't equip the proper things to protect against Darkja. After two failures, I learned from my mistake.

Also, I didn't use cheap tactics like quickenings pulled off right before he puts up the pailing.. Or the old I'm the suck so I'll use Decoy, Reverse, Stop trick.

Yeah, if you use those, then it's a quick battle.

Also, the only way I see you beating that guy in 40 secs is if you are one of those really lamer people who use the dark matter when it was charged all the way up.

its not cheap if you can do it every time. they recommend using the nicopawhatsit and remedies on every boss, for goodness sake.

[The Orichalcon]

I can't remember how I beat him. I just remember mashing him down really fast with my three strong male leads.

[Trash Man]

By any chance remember your level and weapons and armor? The later two make a huge difference. All I had on my first time against him was 3 Save the queens, Maximillion, Some hat that protects against Darkja (didn't know to use it until 3rd try), Bubble Belts (which were later switched to Opal Rings so I could just attack him with Flare). Level was only 70 or so. So yeah, it took me longer than just a few seconds. I can see how if my level was higher, and if I had the best weapons in the game, that it would make him die faster.

I also just don't see how a person could walk in there and just know he's gonna throw Darkja at you and know to protect against it (unless they use guides to do everything in a game, which to me, is not what a good gamer does). Even with protection, there's still a 50/50 chance it will kill a party member, if not all 3. So even if you had protection, chances are slim that he did not entirely wipe out your entire party with one of his Darkja attacks, which he spams to hell and back. And later on he puts up a pailing, so having 3 strong guys will mean nothing, since the pailing never goes away, and you are forced to use magic. And if you dare use Dispel on him, he also puts up a magic pailing, rendering himself near impossible to beat. The only way to have beaten him really fast, is to know what was coming, and rape him before he got his pailing up. Otherwise, it would have been at least a few mins battle, even it it went well, seeing as the first 20 secs are just you watching Darkja happen right off the bat as soon as you enter the room.

I never liked using quickenings because to me, they just seem to make the game too easy. I know about other tricks too, but it also just feels cheap, and I'm the kinda person that likes to make a game harder. Sorta like how in FF6, how you can just beat almost any boss/enemy in the game in a single turn with the old vanish/doom or vanish/X-zone trick. I know about it, but I never use it.

[The Orichalcon]

Like I said, I can't remember how I beat him. I do know I was expecting him to be super difficult, but his HP just went down so damn fast, it was an easy battle.

I didn't read any guides, I can't even remember if he used darkja. Maybe I got lucky and he didn't hit me with anything like that? I remember him putting up the paling, but I switched my attack gambits to the strongest magic I had immediately and he went down fast.

I did have most of the strongest weapons by that point, and I was level 99 all around. But keep in mind that a good gambit set-up can overcome pretty much anything an enemy throws at you. Arise, Faith and Curaja going consistantly, especially in a short battle, keeps everyone going.

[irriadin]

maybe I'm a bad player. maybe the time I fought him, I got really unlucky. But when I first fought him (knowing nothing other than that he was supposedly hard as hell) he wiped out my entire party with darkja. I died soon afterwards.

Next time I went in, I brought some dark resist stuff, and proceeded to have an epic 20 minute fight. He used darkja at least once every minute or so.

[Warmech]

He just spammed Darkja way too much for me to beat him. Plus towards the end he had Faith in effect that I couldn't Dispel because he would put up a Reflect so it hit everyone for 9,999 damage. Even with a Black Mask equipped you still have a 50/50 chance of dying instantly. I couldn't overcome it.

[Thin Crust]

Yiazmat is a joke compared to other bosses like Omega Mark XIIThis is a joke right? It took me all of an hour to beat Omega. It is the most predictable boss ever. Its laser did a little over half of my max HP with bubble belts so they die in 2 hits. He attacks too fast for cure to be used effectively. What do you do? Set gambits to arise, attack. Then switch your party leader when he/she dies. I had all three characters put on the strongest weapon (ragnorack, Excalibur, save the queen) and attack until dead. I hated that boss because it only had one attack.

Anyway, I'm done completely now. Last time I played through the game, I did it fast, and it still took 60 hours. Ok, fine, I didn't do it that fast. But the second time, it took over 130 hours. I did all espers, hunts, levels, and everything I can think of except for the rare game side quest. FF12 is my favorite game.

For the record, in ff6, I have my 12 characters gathered, and now I'm leveling up the weakest ones. The game got much more fun once I got past the tower of the cult of Kefka. I used the moogle charm to get to the top. Every time I tried to ascend to the top, something always stopped me just before I reached the top. The first time, I got hit with some massive damage spells. Like earthquake and died just a few steps before the top. The second time, I had float cast so the earthquake did no damage, but then tornado with meteor right afterward took me out. The next time, I was a few steps from the top when my battery died. Now I'm done, and I'm about to assault the final dungeon.

[Malaki-LEGEND.sys]

If it wasn't because FFIV was the first FF I played and thus my all-time favorite(it has more than enough merits other than just that), then FFXII would be my all-time fav. Amazingly enough, it beat out VI and VIII.

[Alexis]

So I just got a hamster. Why is this in the FFXII thread you ask? Because I named her Penelo. :)!!

[prophetik]

i thought penelo was kind of annoying.

[Malaki-LEGEND.sys]

So I just got a hamster. Why is this in the FFXII thread you ask? Because I named her Penelo. :)!!

Why does that name sound so fitting?

[megadave]

Hamsters rock. I have one too. That thing is huge. We call him Chubby Cheeks

[shikigami]

final fantasy VII killed final fantasy. final fantasy is dead.

[Thin Crust]

final fantasy VII killed final fantasy. final fantasy is dead.

Heathen!!!

[q-pa]

Why does that name sound so fitting?Does Penelo pee?




:tomatoface:

[G_D]

Why does that name sound so fitting?

Isn't the female hamster in Hamtaro named Penelope?

/smacks self in face for knowing that