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[Red Scarlet]

I saw this thread pop up and read the 1st 2 pages and then realized it was back in 5/2008. Nobody has really helped you so far. You keep playing and hating this game and giving up on it but you keep asking people to help you.

I think I've helped him a decent amount so far. And this:

I taught Fran to recharge her mp if she's attacked, when she attacks, and even when she defeats enemies. omfg.

Would be those augments that do it, not gambits. Setting a gambit to use an Ether or Charge after any of those things would be counter-productive.

And your avatar is too tall, mr_nothin.

Got any weapon tips for my man Balthier?

He's using bows? No real idea..I know you can get a lot of the higher-up arrows in a later area, but I never really did anything out of the norm with bows.

What's a good level to beat this game

I was probably around 50s-60s the first time or two.

But he's barely using gambits.

I barely use gambits any time I've played. Just standard healing/revive/item usage mostly.

 

[Red Scarlet]

This giant white chocobo is easy until he uses Paling, so your physical attacks do jack shit to him. I hit him with Bio with all three characters and he STILL won't go down. He's basically got no HP but he's still alive.

What keeps this chocobo ticking?!

And Balthier uses bows AND guns.

I think you can still hurt him with the Drain spell, try that. If you did some hunts, you could get the strongest gun in the game after about 15? of them, maybe more. But you can also find it in a pot in an area I believe you can go to right now..but you need a Diamond Armlet.

I rarely used many different bullets and just stuck with the Silence-inflicting one.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Is the Diamond Armlet rare?

I'll look it up..I don't remember where you can easily start getting it. I got it "early" in that 9:25 thing at the area before the Sochen place, but it is a pretty rare pot. You need the Diamond Armlet to get rare stuff in pots, and in the area with the stronger bullets/arrows/strongest gun/other strong stuff I think you need the DA to be able to get any of the decent stuff there. Time-wise it may be faster to get the gun from a hunt area, but I think you need a Diamond Armlet to get it there too.

It looks like there's 4 ways to get the Diamond Armlet, and the "early" one is still the only one you can do right now..I'd just wait probably.

It'd probably be fastest to do the 2nd method they listed:

Spoiler

buy one at the Dalmasca Estersand for 20,000 gil after you beat Giruvegan (where Cid told you to go to after you beat him)

.

If you really want to get one right now, you can get one in a pot in the Tchita Uplands..but it can take 2+ hours to get one. It looks like the pot has a 10% chance of showing up, and 50% of the time it does show up it has money in it, and it you do get an item, it's either a High Ether or the Diamond Armlet. If you're really bored though, it's near a save point.

 

[Red Scarlet]

I think it was the blue crystal.

Yeah.

 

[Red Scarlet]

It's one screen south of the blue crystal..at the very southern edge of that screen.

That video in the re-edit isn't mine; if you want to save a little bit of time, strand a character by having Fran cast Cure on herself twice when you enter the screen with the Diamond Armlet, that way when you get to where the pot is, if it isn't there or if you don't get what you want, you just switch to her as the leader and she's near the top of the screen, then you just walk 1 screen up past the save crystal to try respawning the pot again. Saves some walking time.

Really though, it'd probably be faster to just buy one after you beat the next area...but you won't have the gun and whatever else you may find there. Don't forget the Deathbringer is coming up too..Basch with that and constant Berserk would do fine in the meantime.

If you chain a badguy in the next area, they can drop them, also. I saw a video showing an instant kill method for them..but have never attempted it.

 

[StreetDisciple]

This game was all kinds of awesome f the haters.

 

[acevans2]

This is my favorite jRPG of all time, and one of my favorite games of all time. I honestly don't understand how some people can hate it.

 

[Zoe]

The hunts offer AMAZING gameplay. Why isn't the main game like this?!

Ideally you're supposed to be carrying out the hunts concurrently with the main quest.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Holy crap. Beat the Trickster.

The hunts offer AMAZING gameplay. Why isn't the main game like this?!

I tried tackling on the Ant lion, only to find that he hosts 4-5 praying mantis minions alongside him in one cramped up cave.

Holy crap, I got raped.

Finally got Bubble and other crap from the clan shop!

I'll try to get the Demonsbane tomorrow for Fran and Basch.

Since you've gotten to the Antlion (cast Aero spells..they target multiple and I think the mantis guys are weak to it), you can get the best gun in the game in its lair. You may have to beat the Antlion, then leave the screen and come back. It doesn't look like you need a Diamond Armlet, so beat the Antlion, go to the save crystal, then go back to its lair and open the pots there and try to grab it. If you don't get it, it may be faster to just do a quick reset and try grabbing it again.

Ideally you're supposed to be carrying out the hunts concurrently with the main quest.

The hunts are a double-edged sword. Do them concurrently with the main quest and the main quest is horrifically brain-dead simple. Do them later on in the game and the main game stuff is more difficult, while early hunts are brain-dead easy, and the endgame main quest is brain-dead easy.

I know you won't go for it Himu, but I'd personally go through the rest of the regular game without doing any more hunts, then later on do a play where you do the hunts along the way of the main quest.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Now, on to more pressing matters.

WHERE CAN I FISH IN THIS GAME

In the Eastersand, at the screen with the river (I think you gotta do it from the Southside). You must have finished the Gilgamesh subquests -the three of them.

 

[Chiggs]

This is easily one of my favorite Final Fantasy games. The gambits are so addictive, and the world is among the best ever seen in the series. I also love how you can go places you're not supposed to go and get the shit knocked out of you (or exploit the game for unbelievable XP).

Here's to you FFXII!

 

[Regulus Tera]

Where can do the Gilgamesh quests? =/

The first two Gilgamesh quests are Elite Marks. Or was it just one Elite Mark with two fights? I don't remember, it's been too long since I've played it.

The last Gilgamesh quest is not really a quest per se; you just find him somewhere in the mines where you fight the Esper Zalera (forgot their name) if you've already beaten him twice. He gives you a legendary fishing rod or something.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Where can do the Gilgamesh quests? =/

It's one of the later mob hunts. Have you gotten the Barheim Key from a hunt? If so, you could do what an earlier poster said and steal a Deathbringer (or however many) from a rare monster there.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Fomalhaut

Spoiler

I didn't realize they were all named after stars for a while

.

Guns have low attack power, but they ignore defense. You should probably do 2000+ damage with it (even at level 1) on most any monster (aside from bombs and other types that guns don't damage much). It will easily do more damage than the bow you are using.

Penelo with Fomalhaut:

 

[Red Scarlet]

Don't go by its attack power. It's one of the highest damaging weapons in the game.

2908 to the balls (non-critical).

 

[Red Scarlet]

Getting that then.

That antlion shall be mine...

once I'm around level 50 or more :lol

Did you do the hunt where you were given the Barheim Key? If so, you can steal Deathbringers from a monster in there. With Thief Cuffs or whatever, I've stolen one in a couple of minutes.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Eh? Is that a key item or regular loot item?

It's a key item I think..someone gives it to you upon accepting the mob hunt it wants you to do. I don't remember which one it was though.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Ah, it looks like you get the Barheim Key for doing a non-mob hunt thing in the "town" near the Barheim Passage. No hunt involved, I guess.

This is what a guide says about it:

To get Barheim Key follow the steps below...

Spoiler

------------
< Starting >
------------

- Clear Flower Saboten and Nidhogg Mob Hunt missions (rank E/rank I), so you
should have Great Serpentskin, if you keep this loot/treasure to clear this
quest, you do have a chance to get extra reward. Without it, you still able
to get Barheim Key, read below.
- After got your reward of Flower Saboten mission from Dantro (your client),
talk to him again in Dalmasca Estersand and he will request you to pass the
flower to his wife.

- Now go to South Bank Village where you can find the Dalmasca Estersand
Gate Crystal. Talk to Dantro's wife to get Bundle of Needles (treasure).
- Leave and return this area, talk to the people near the river and the boy
named Tchigri, then choose first option to North Bank Village.
- Talk to Tchigri for some events, then will back to South Bank Village.
- Now speak with Dantro's wife again, then search behind her camp for the
red flower, examine it, a flower saboten will follow you.
- Speak with the boy, Tchigri to go North Bank Village again.
- Get close to the giant flower saboten, watch a scene. The flower saboten
left you 1000 gil and Wyrmfire Shot.


7a-3-2. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------
< Choosing an Extra Reward >
----------------------------

Ok, let see the how are the possible rewards being affected
before going for the loot that will Dantro's Wife request.

First of all, the requested loot/treasure by Dantro's Wife for
the Recovering Traveler can recover a little HP (not yours!),
and the extra reward is based on the Recovering Traveler's HP
when the quest is end. Below is the list of them

Loots that will Amount of HP
Dantro's Wife recovered by The Maximum and
request for the this loot Minimum amount of
Recovering Traveler | this loot you need
\ | / |
\ | / |
---------------------------------------------
| Loot Needed | HP. | Max | Min |
|-------------------------------------------|
| Semclam Shell | + 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Nebralim | + 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Valeblossom Dew | + 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Great Serpentskin | + 3 | 1 | 0 |
---------------------------------------------


After all, the Recovery Traveler show out and give you the extra reward
depending on the treasures/loots that you gave Dantro's Wife during the
quest. And below is the list of the rewards accordingly.

Extra reward that The total HP of The Recovering Traveler
comes with the Recovering Traveler who show in the end.
Barheim Key when the quest end /
\ | /
\ | /
---------------------------------------------
| Rewards | Total HP | NPC |
|-------------------------------------------|
| Balance Mote | 3 ~ 7 | Bangaa |
| Magick Gloves | 8 ~ 12 | Hume |
| Golden Armlet | 13 (max) | Moogle |
---------------------------------------------


7a-3-3. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------
< Collecting Loot for Extra Reward >
------------------------------------

Back to the quest:

Semclam Shell (max = 5)
- Talk to Dantro's Wife in South Bank Village, she will request the
Semclam Shells. You can find 5 of it.
- Search the shore and check the shinning thing for the Semclam Shells.
- Some more are around the Banks of the Nebra section, near the shore as well.
- Pass the Semclam Shells to Dantro's Wife once you got the amount you want.
- Afterwards, she will request for the Nebralim.

Nebralim (max = 2)
- Return to the Outpost section and talk to Dantro. Same place, find the
boxes in the central, check the jars there for Nebralim, another one is the
jar behind the chocobo, pass them to Dantro's Wife also.
- Now Dantro's Wife request the Valeblossom Dew, which can be found in the
Broken Sands section.

Valeblossom Dew (max = 3)
- Talk to Tchigri and move to Northern most section of Dalmasca Estersand,
find the flowers in the valley. One of them is in the middle of the section,
beside the rock which you can push down, examine it to get Valeblossom Dew.
You can find 3 Valeblossom Dews here.
- Back to South of River and give the Valeblossom Dew to Dantro's Wife.

Giving the Great Serpentskin
- And now Dantro's Wife will ask for the Great Serpentskin, give her as
you choice of the extra reward, of cause you can refuse to pass it over.
Check the section above (7a-3-2).

Barheim Key and Extra Reward
- Leave here for awhile and return. Speak to the Recovering Traveler, she's
behind the camp where Dantro's Wife is, and the Recovering Traveler will
give you the Barheim Key with the extra reward depending on how many
Semclam Shell, Valeblossom Dew, Nebralim or Great Serpentskin you gave
Dantro's Wife.

From the Dalmasca Eastersand Gate Crystal, go South, then turn to South-East,
there is a small area, use your Barheim Key to unlock that door can back to
Barheim Passage now.

A lot of it is for an extra reward aside from the key.

 

[HK-47]

Did you do the hunt where you were given the Barheim Key? If so, you can steal Deathbringers from a monster in there. With Thief Cuffs or whatever, I've stolen one in a couple of minutes.

You can do that quite earlier on if I recall. Used those swords until I got the Zodiac Spear. The instant death is a nice extra

 

[HK-47]

Haha. Yeah. I need me a guide.

This game is monstrous.

And Deathbringers. Totally worth effort.

 

[Darkpen]

Should I bother with Zodiac Spear, Scar?

Personally, I'd say no, but I imagine it'd fill that certain niche part in your brain that stimulates pleasure for acquiring the strongest weapon in the game.

If you're looking to get it, I hope you specifically avoided several item chest things located in dalmasca D:

 

[HK-47]

Personally, I'd say no, but I imagine it'd fill that certain niche part in your brain that stimulates pleasure for acquiring the strongest weapon in the game.

If you're looking to get it, I hope you specifically avoided several item chest things located in dalmasca D:

Well obviously if he avoided the chests, why not use it? Its not the be all end all though.

Older FFs were way worse with the lost forevers. Especially the PS1 era FFs

 

[dustytruly]

Personally, I'd say no, but I imagine it'd fill that certain niche part in your brain that stimulates pleasure for acquiring the strongest weapon in the game.

If you're looking to get it, I hope you specifically avoided several item chest things located in dalmasca D:

i hated the game for a while because of this fact...

when i learned the most powerful weapon in the game was obtained completely on chance i was like wtf... that dosn't make any sense... how am i supposed to resist the vase outside of that old man's house... or the 16 chests on that beach...

i dunno... it just seemed retarded... BUT... it's good because you can get it like... a quarter of the way through the game... lol

 

[Red Scarlet]

Should I bother with Zodiac Spear, Scar?

If you avoided the particular pots, I don't see why not. But you likely opened at least one of them. Fomalhaut + Deathbringer should be ok for a decent/long while (at least for the remainder of the regular game, you're good to go with them).

 

[robertsan21]

this game was one of the best FF experiences I have ever had!

hennas mines.... Lvl 85 abystels.....Float,bubble and the right gambit setup= Awesome!

 

[darkwings]

this game was one of the best FF experiences I have ever had!

hennas mines.... Lvl 85 abystels.....Float,bubble and the right gambit setup= Awesome!

but frustrating random drops. Gee I wonder if I will get 7gil or an awesome weapon.

 

[robertsan21]

but frustrating random drops. Gee I wonder if I will get 7gil or an awesome weapon.

hmm well I am just talking about the crossroad where you have the switch...once you pull it there is like 15 lvl 85 abystels that drops down on your ass, best place to level up in this game once you reach level 65 or so.. before that you wont stand a chance there if I remember correctly

 

[Red Scarlet]

What chests have the Zodiac Spear?

Float works well in FFXII? I barely use it.

Only two have it. One is guaranteed to have it, but only if you did not open some particular pots earlier on in the game. The other one may have it, but I think it is a verrrrrry low chance..it may in fact be a 1% chance of the pot showing up, and then a 1% chance of the spear being inside (so 1 in 10,000 chance?).

I don't remember all the pots you can't open..I do remember that you can't open the one across from Dalan's house in Lower Rabanastre (I think this is the one that usually kills it for people), the two or 3 chests in the Dalmasca prison place thing next to where you get your equipment back, then the 16 pots in a 4x4 pattern at the Phon Coast.

Float lets you avoid traps..helps in high-frequency trap zones when the other characters run around sporadically, and it helps against a particular boss that uses earth-based attacks.

Did you ever go to Nabudis? That's where the easier to pick up Zodiac Spear is found.

 

[Zoe]

Float lets you avoid traps..helps in high-frequency trap zones when the other characters run around sporadically, and it helps against a particular boss that uses earth-based attacks.

I also seem to remember it helping as a distraction against some boss cause it would just keep casting Dispell rather than attacking.

 

[Red Scarlet]

I know Dispel worked that way against that boss in the Henne Mines, making him tend to just keep trying to rebuff himself, but haven't heard of it working for the party by making the boss keep casting Dispel, that I can think of. See if you remember what boss it was!

 

[prodystopian]

I hate you for this thread. I now want to go back and play this game. I realize that I would love to have a hard mode for FF games, though. Most of the ones I've played, I've been over leveled just from exploring most of the areas before moving on. It'd be interesting to have to use more strategy without having to rush ahead in the game to force a challenge.

 

[brandonh83]

I hate red scarlet. every post reminds me that I'll never have FFXII International.

 

[prodystopian]

I hate red scarlet. every post reminds me that I'll never have FFXII International.

What does the international version have? I remember really wanting to play FFX: I because it had the dark Aeons, but I'm not sure what XII: I has.

 

[Deadly Monk]

I miss getting my 300+ chain in order to sell items and make lots of gil. Will replay this soon.

 

[Red Scarlet]

What does the international version have? I remember really wanting to play FFX: I because it had the dark Aeons, but I'm not sure what XII: I has.

The main thing about the international one was that it had a job system, and each job had its own license board. Other features included, but weren't limited to: new gambits, all gambits being buyable at shops early on in the game, 1 room pot respawns, nearly all pot contents were changed around, (mostly) new weapons and some new armor, some spells being found in pots, different way to get the Zodiac Spear (which I never knew how to get started in international), guest characters could have their gambits changed and be controlled, some spell effects were different to beef up certain spells (Cure 1, Fire 1, Ice 1, Lit 1 all were area of effect instead of single target), Gold Amulets were harder to get, and there was a Trial Mode added that was a 100-stage "battle arena"-type mode for your party to try, along with a new boss fight at the end.

I love you too brandon! I'd gladly help you out if you tried out the International version.

 

[Aeana]

What does the international version have? I remember really wanting to play FFX: I because it had the dark Aeons, but I'm not sure what XII: I has.

The major changes in FF12 International are the job system (12 individual, unique license boards that you can lock a character to), controllable espers and guests, the fast-forward feature, trial mode (kind of like an arena mode with 100 battles to fight through), new gambits and most of the gambits are available from the start of the game, a few spell changes (such as making lower-level single target spells like cure and fire affect multiple targets), mist quickenings have been decoupled from MP - they get their own bars that charge up like limit breaks in other FF games, and new game plus and minus. There are some other changes, like new items and stuff, but the above are the big ones.

EDIT: Beaten.

 

[Zoe]

What's new game minus?

 

[Aeana]

What's new game minus?

All of your characters start at their lowest level and cannot gain experience.

 

[ronito]

I'm in the same boat as Himu, I really feel I need to finish it because it's final fantasy. Now I'm halfway through, should I just start over and be sure to get all the strongest stuff? Or can I just pick up where I am?

 

[prodystopian]

That 100 room battle arena sounds interesting. Is that somewhere in the game world, or do you access it from the main menu before going into the game? Do you just use the characters from your save game? Can you heal up and buy things between rooms? ANy other info is appreciated.

 

[Red Scarlet]

The major changes in FF12 International are the job system (12 individual, unique license boards that you can lock a character to), controllable espers and guests, the fast-forward feature, trial mode (kind of like an arena mode with 100 battles to fight through), new gambits and most of the gambits are available from the start of the game, a few spell changes (such as making lower-level single target spells like cure and fire affect multiple targets), mist quickenings have been decoupled from MP - they get their own bars that charge up like limit breaks in other FF games, and new game plus and minus. There are some other changes, like new items and stuff, but the above are the big ones.

EDIT: Beaten.

Ahaha, can't believe I forgot about fast-forward and that other stuff.

That 100 room battle arena sounds interesting. Is that somewhere in the game world, or do you access it from the main menu before going into the game? Do you just use the characters from your save game? Can you heal up and buy things between rooms? ANy other info is appreciated.

It's a mode you choose at the start of the game, and you choose the save data you want to use in the mode. Each segment is 10 of the stages, where you get some items and are given the option to save the game after stage 10, 20, etc. Each zone is a particular 'screen' from the game, with pots that have spells and equipment (I guess to technically help a lower-level party progress). As soon as you kill the last enemy in each stage, you go to the next, so you can't do anything between them. You can't buy anything, so you have what items and equipment you currently have, not counting what you can find in stages and the prizes for beating a clump of stages and what you can steal/is dropped from some enemies.

Aside from the stage 100 fight, there are a few other 'new' things to fight, like the sky pirate guy from Balfonheim and his crazy girlfriend pirate.

I used to have a video of all 100 stages uploaded, but not anymore. I'm pretty sure you could find something on youtube; I remember one guy was going to try going through Trial Mode at level 1.

 

[Aeana]

That 100 room battle arena sounds interesting. Is that somewhere in the game world, or do you access it from the main menu before going into the game? Do you just use the characters from your save game? Can you heal up and buy things between rooms? ANy other info is appreciated.

You access it from the title screen, and you load one of your game saves and you get to use the characters from it. Every 10 floors, you get some rewards and the option to save.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Yeah, Ashe10's Trial Mode videos are at youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywHxun756p0&feature=PlayList&p=1FBC8E5D58348F70&index=0&playnext=1

He's using a super-buffed party though, with the beyond strongest weapon in the game (the invisible bow with 224 attack), so he probably zooms through 95% of it. I think the first time I played it with an endgame save (did no hunts), I got past the early stage 80's once and not again. I didn't get to the end until I did a save doing all the hunts and getting all the summons (and the I think 2nd strongest weapon, the invisible sword with 153 attack).

 

[prodystopian]

*tries to think of another question to see if Aeana can beat Red Scarlet this time*

Thanks for the info!

 

[neoism]

Man, I love this fucking game, I've been listening to the soundtrack this morning, and it is sooo good, I know a lot of peps, think it wasn't the good, I personally think it's Hitoshi Sakimoto's best work. I seriously need to reply this game.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Have you done the invisible shield trick/glitch yet Aeana? Who knows how easy Trial Mode would be with that.

 

[Aeana]

Have you done the invisible shield trick/glitch yet Aeana?

I haven't gone for the new equipment yet... I've been tempted to try the trick that the Chinese site mentioned, but I haven't gotten around to it. I'm considering doing a replay of the game once I finish what I'm playing now, so maybe I'll do it then.

 

[neoism]

Should I bother with Zodiac Spear, Scar?

I was soooo lucky in getting that spear, because I bought the guide (as I do with all my JRPG's). I decided to look a little bit ahead, that's when I read about the chest not to open! I just about open the first one your not suppose to!:lol As soon as I was able I got it, barely could survive that dungeon it was in(can't remember the name). OMG, was my Basch a beast after that,:lol I was about 20 levels over leveled in that game the whole game though. I basically used Basch the rest of the game after that!

 

[Red Scarlet]

You know you want it, yes you dooooo.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Beat the Antlion, got the Fomalsakkakakasdlfjad;fa fa;dlfk

It's nice doing 2000-3500 damage per hit on the regular.

To beat the Antlion I walked into the Antlion den, killed all the mantis minions. Then I grabbed the gun, ran away.

Then I grinded for pelts and got 150 LP so Balthier could equip the gun, leveled up to 43 in the process.

Went back to the den.

Balthier: Foe: Nearest enemy -> Attack
Fran: Ally: HP < 50% -> Curaja
Basch: Foe: Nearest enemy -> Aeroga

Worked like a charm.

I'm amazed that I find the game ONE THOUSAND TIMES MORE FUN when I teach all characters magic compared to having just one. I usually don't go for that, I like limitations. But by having each character having magic, I can balance my battles out and make them more flexible like above.

It seems in FFXII's case it wasn't the game's fault, but me forcing my own playstyle on the game when it's not designed around my playstyle.

Does normal FF12 have 'weakest enemy' as an attack gambit? That worked the best I thought; made everyone hit the same badguy until it was dead.

If you're going to give magic to the other people, try splitting up buffs; have Fran cast Protect on someone (and Regen if you want), and have Balthier cast Haste on whoever, to ease up MP expense. Also on the table if you want a powerhitter is to just set someone to cast Berserk on Basch. If you put Balthier as your leader, the slower 'charge up time' for the Fomalhaut should allow him to get a shot off before the other characters kill the monster..except if Basch is Berserk (and Hasted), his meter probably goes up 4x as fast as Balthier's would.

Is Curaja necessary at the point in the game you're at? Does it overheal? How much is Cura doing? Maybe you can save some MP that way.