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The Official Final Fantasy 12 (NA) Thread
- Thread starter Red Scarlet
- Start date
Avalon said:
Actually, no one's stats really take off. Basch is a lot stronger than Penelo but since damage is inferred by level as well as by strength and often other stats, and since the difference between 39 and 50 is not as distinct as the difference between 10 and 20, with all these numbers incrementally creeping up, if anything, the differences are getting less distinct than they once were. It's really gear that pushes it over the top, as late game gear gives huge stat boosts.
It's still something, however, it's quite clear that Ashe and Penelo cast spells better than anyone else, it's just as levels go on and numbers get higher but the difference in numbers stays the same, the difference gets marginalized.
Without gear, Basch still has more hp than anyone else and more strength (Balthier's always trailed him), but with Ashe and Penelo it's gone back and forth. Really the main difference between Ashe and Penelo is that Penelo has more speed, Ashe has more strength, but again, modest differences.
They'll still matter, but not as much as I originally thought.
Tokubetsu
Member
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!
I'm at the 2nd major city
Just got there, but I really don't know where i i want to take my characters. Ive got a nice dagger and leather shield with leather armor on vaan but I'm thinking about switching him out for Balthier (party limit should have been 4 =[). Fran looks like im gonna make her into a black mage..she had been healing the party throughout most of the train ruins. Im gonna go the heavy knight route with basch. Any reccomendations and suggestions?
P.S: I don't like the license board...I only have 1 quickening (red spiral) and thats with Vaan. I only ever want to use the board when i need to unlock an armor type =/
I'm at the 2nd major city
the air city.
P.S: I don't like the license board...I only have 1 quickening (red spiral) and thats with Vaan. I only ever want to use the board when i need to unlock an armor type =/
Red Scarlet
Member
Thanks, Zap. 
Juice said:
Multiple characters with Mist abilities seems to help. When a characters icon comes up, press the button twice. When you can't see any icon, press R2 when the prompt comes up... It will shuffle everything. You might get more character icons at that point. It seems to be random.
Man, did anyone else find it hard to take that whole scene in
Eruyt Village
Fran's sister
Red Scarlet
Member
I use all 3 characters, then switch to the backups if I want to use the things. Mandoric says using 2 characters, in teams of 3, is more effective. I don't know though, I'm lazy and just use all 3. Kenta uploaded a video of me doing that, but it's pretty boring.
Red Scarlet
Member
Tokubetsu said:
Go with what you want. I've used different weapon types to see what they are like, and it doesn't matter that much for a regular play. Your leader with a ranged weapon like Bow or maybe Gun seems to get me free hits, so I go with that. Weapons that can do multiple hits tend to make magic not that great overall; why cast a spell for 2000 when I can sometimes do 9000 with a 3 hit combo attack that costs 0MP? I see no point in limiting magic spells to certain characters, not when it's so seemingly implied that everyone should use magic when you purchase it. But if that's what you'd rather do, then by all means go for it; it seems a couple people here have done that and progressed fine through the game.
Play how you want, the game isn't noob-unfriendly it seems for the most part (I've had little to no problems with the game in my playthroughs).
Juice said:
I can't be sure, but a couple of times it seems as though the counter would give 'bonus time' sometimes. Time's Up sucks though, yeah.
Avalon said:
I actually loved that scene and wanted more like it. This game positively aches for more character moments. There's so little character development here, I almost feel cheated out of one of my favorite parts of an RPG. I generally enjoy the plot and characters so far, but man, I want more small moments.
Then again, small moments get us the infamous whistling and laughing scene from FFX, so maybe it's evident Square doesn't do those very well.
I'm about 32 hours into the game so far. Haven't played an RPG for more than four hours in five years, so I guess that for FFXII to have retained my interest this long, it must be special! Though I do have a few gripes.
For one, the License Board sucks. I like the idea, but the implementation is all wrong. Not knowing where you have to go to enable the use of, say, a katana, is simply retarded. Or how I had to spend 300 License points unlocking random squares until I found the shield that I wanted to equip. It's inexcusable for the one basic aspect that an entire game revolves around to be this muddled and aimless. I should only have to resort to GameFAQs for one of the ultimate secrets; not this. (My workaround at first was to use each character to unlock one section of the board to see what was in it, but wasting my hard-earned points on abilities I couldn't equip just made me mad.)
Two, at the point where I'm at, all the characters have the exact same abilities since there's nothing else left on the License Board for me to unlock. Fine and dandy, but shouldn't this be happening at the end of the game, and not when I'm only about 25% through?
Three... the game needs more cutscenes. The characters are awesome, but Balthier and Fran joined my party after three lines of dialogue each. The overall story is riveting, and I'm glad there's no hokey sentimentality like in past FF games, but I wish this felt more like a book and not an ensemble cast movie.
Other than that, this is like crack. And Larsa rocks! Best character in the game. Why couldn't he take Vaan's place?
For one, the License Board sucks. I like the idea, but the implementation is all wrong. Not knowing where you have to go to enable the use of, say, a katana, is simply retarded. Or how I had to spend 300 License points unlocking random squares until I found the shield that I wanted to equip. It's inexcusable for the one basic aspect that an entire game revolves around to be this muddled and aimless. I should only have to resort to GameFAQs for one of the ultimate secrets; not this. (My workaround at first was to use each character to unlock one section of the board to see what was in it, but wasting my hard-earned points on abilities I couldn't equip just made me mad.)
Two, at the point where I'm at, all the characters have the exact same abilities since there's nothing else left on the License Board for me to unlock. Fine and dandy, but shouldn't this be happening at the end of the game, and not when I'm only about 25% through?
Three... the game needs more cutscenes. The characters are awesome, but Balthier and Fran joined my party after three lines of dialogue each. The overall story is riveting, and I'm glad there's no hokey sentimentality like in past FF games, but I wish this felt more like a book and not an ensemble cast movie.
Other than that, this is like crack. And Larsa rocks! Best character in the game. Why couldn't he take Vaan's place?
nelsonroyale
Member
damn, I loved ffx, and Im enjoying this more...this is ff without the flash...but I like it oth ways....keep the lack of random battles though and invisible enemies...best chage in ff since its inception...oh yeah and the massive world and rotatable camera.....
game of the year along with Shadow of the Collosus for me (only played it this year)
the gameplay is so much more enjoyable than previous ffs...
only complaint....I want vossler in my team dammit...why isnt he????
peace
game of the year along with Shadow of the Collosus for me (only played it this year)
the gameplay is so much more enjoyable than previous ffs...
only complaint....I want vossler in my team dammit...why isnt he????
peace
nelsonroyale
Member
jett said:
kefka is pretty weak villain to be honest...check hunter x hunter to see how a pscho-pedo clown should be done (Hisoka)....it might be a cliche around here but sephiroth was definitely better...I enjoyed the fact that he was always ahead...never quite in site until the end....were as kefka was arsing around and put down on his ass so many times....he was a laugh though...
peace
brandonh83
Banned
When it boils down to it all villains are like bwahahahaa world domination bitches!
That, or they want to become a god or some shit... in which the above applies as well by default. Seriously, I love most FF stories, but I wouldn't say they've EVER had super duper unique amazing villains. Likeable, memorable villains, sure. But let's not put them on any kind of pedestal.
That, or they want to become a god or some shit... in which the above applies as well by default. Seriously, I love most FF stories, but I wouldn't say they've EVER had super duper unique amazing villains. Likeable, memorable villains, sure. But let's not put them on any kind of pedestal.
charlequin
Banned
brandonh83 said:
I don't understand what the heck people want from Final Fantasy villains. I'd totall feel cheated if I played through an FF and I fought a final boss who wasn't trying to destroy the entire world. With that in mind, there's only so much room to maneuver. FFX had a totally great villain in Sin (especially once its history and intent became clear later on) but I feel like people just go "Seymour is the goofy mean evil guy = FFX is teh sux!"
I mean, if someone always just grits their teeth and bears it I don't blame them, but in that case I don't see why FFXII should be held to any higher standard than the rest of the series....
I'm agreeing with you, brandonh83, btw, if it isn't otherwise clear in my reply.
I dunno, Kefka and Sephiroth are easily some of the most memorable / well-written video game villains I can think of. I recall "which one was the better villain" debates with some amount of delight and a larger amount of anguish. :lol
Jonaleth Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2 was perhaps a better villain, but no one else I can think of comes very close to those two.
All three of those men have great back stories and their own behavioral quirks that make them a far cry from the generic Black Knight or Spooky Wizard villains, or the generic demons Dragon Quest seems to favor.
Jonaleth Irenicus from Baldur's Gate 2 was perhaps a better villain, but no one else I can think of comes very close to those two.
All three of those men have great back stories and their own behavioral quirks that make them a far cry from the generic Black Knight or Spooky Wizard villains, or the generic demons Dragon Quest seems to favor.
Hitler Stole My Potato
Banned
Kammie said:
I understand the complaint about not knowing where to go on the license board but at the same time I think that's what I like about it. I kinda enjoy opening up squares to see what's around 'em. You might waste some LP doing it but if you go out and buy everyone a Golden Amulet, those points can be made up in no time. I was able to get everyone's license board maxed out thanks to that amulet without a lot of effort.
brandonh83
Banned
Honestly, I thought Kuja was pretty cool. I mean he had the Kefka complex but the game actually threw out some cool stuff concerning Kuja and Zidane later, IMO. Kefka just wanted to blow shit up.
joelseph said:
chests are random between a few possible choices. you can come back and they will respawn, giving you the possibility of gaining the loot you want.
For example, in one dungeon after you fight the
Demon Wall
Demonsbane sword
Hitler Stole My Potato
Banned
Chests, by and large, are garbage bins. You might get something useful every now and then but for the most part it's just filler.
brandonh83
Banned
I was afraid of opening the chests anyway because of the SUPER SECRET WEAPON!
Sounds like I didn't miss much.
Sounds like I didn't miss much.
Hitler Stole My Potato
Banned
I'd like to know how to get this ultimate weapon but I also don't want to play the game using a guide or a FAQ. Anyway if it's dependent upon not opening chests, I guess I've already blown my chance at it. 
brandonh83
Banned
How far are you guys? I'm at the Mosphoran Highwaste at the moment with 41 hours.
brandonh83 said:
Kuja was awesome, but then they pulled that Necron shit. I hate it when Square does that.
Seifer and Edea were setup to be great villains too, but by the end of VIII you're fighting some spooky witch from the future.
I find IV's similar Golbez => Zemus changeover infinitely more palatable, but I couldn't really tell you why. Golbez is kind of a generic black knight villain so I was happy to see he wasn't the puppet master, plus it allowed for a more Star Warsy feel at the end of the game, which is always good in my book.
__Andrea__
Member
levious said:
:lol
I did that
Just thought I'd check in (20 hour mark)... I LOVE this game. THIS is how you do an RPG battle system. This has to be the first FF that I've actually had more fun fighting monsters / upgrading my character than actually paying attention to the story / talking to towns people. :lol
Maybe its my love for MMORPGs that is showing through here... but i like it.
Maybe its my love for MMORPGs that is showing through here... but i like it.
Avalon said:
Oh I don't avoid the story or the townspeople... I'm just saying in past final fantasys I usually fly through the dungeons just so I could get to the next storyline cutscene. But in this one I find myself grinding dungeons for hours before I even think about going on to the next plot sequence.
nelsonroyale
Member
JayDubya said:
Oh I hated that change over....golbez was awesome though....I was kind of sad when he went away at the end....
peace
charlequin
Banned
JayDubya said:
Necron doesn't really bother me that much because it isn't supposed to be "aha the hidden puppetmaster," he just pops in from somewhere completely different because he spotted what was going on. It's goofy but it doesn't bug me, I guess.
Also, Garland doesn't get nearly enough props in FF IX. They didn't set it up quite right but I think it's really cool how Garland is the actual mastermind of all the evil going on and then Kuja just wastes the hell out of him because he was pushed too far
VIII's story has so many problems.
Doom_Bringer
Banned
hmm just helped Fran's
. One question though,
BTW I totally own3d in the mines! Now the game seems to be getting easier
sister and now she is back at village
in the rabbit girl village I noticed there aren't any men there! How do they reproduce without men?
BTW I totally own3d in the mines! Now the game seems to be getting easier
Doom_Bringer
Banned
RaijinFY said:Cheat codes help for sure!
not rly. I am just using the 999999999999 gill cheat code, I bought 100 high potions and phoenix downs so that helps.
Illuminati
Member
I still don't know why anyone would play this game using a game enhancer or cheat codes. Ruins the whole thing.
And spoiler that shit with Fran, some of us aren't at that part yet!
And spoiler that shit with Fran, some of us aren't at that part yet!
Doom_Bringer
Banned
I Am Error said:
sorry
Illuminati
Member
No need to apologize, it wasn't even that bad of a spoiler anyway.Doom_Bringer said:
You can really do most anything you want with any character and they'll be decent at it. There are minor stat variances that help them at certain things (Ashe and Penelo are better with magic, Balthier and Basch are the strongest, etc.) but they don't make nearly the difference your own progression through the license board will.Tokubetsu said:
My approach was to specialize the characters in a way that would let me evenly distribute quickenings early in the game. You can zoom around the license board and find where the quickenings are, so plan accordingly so that guys don't need to trek across a whole board to get them if possible.
To that end here's what I did with party.
Basch - Paladin type, a little white magic and acessory growth, but primarily used his LPs to fill out the augment and heavy weapons/armor paths on the board. Thanks to him I quickly found the best HP and physical damage boosters, as well as where Katanas, Great Swords, etc. were located.
Balthier - His early start on gun development and technicks lead me to develop him along those two paths. He is now my primary technick guy, but along the way to guns I found poles, which he does better with (imo) thanks to his high strength. As a result I've also branched him into spears (Basch uncovered a very cheap path for him) and he is now a front line poles and spears guy with a little white magic and heavy technick usage. His big tech development obviously makes him one of my stealers, a skill I exploit pretty heavily (Gambit of Foe HP = 100% > Steal) to maximize looting and therefore money.
Vaan - Good all around, I quickly developed him along the black magic path while also picking up a little heavy armor and two extra sword levels. He's my primary black magic caster and now I plan to develop him as a Katana wielder with heavy and mystic armor, making him an offensive force with a little support and healing magic tacked on. He's also a stealer.
Ashe - Much like Vaan, only with white magic. She comes with a big white magic head start, so I just went with it, filled out maces and staves for her to get the three quickenings down there, and have begun her Katana development. Like Ashe, heavy and mystic armor with Katanas currently, but if a powerful staff, rod, measure, or mace comes along I have someone who can use it.
Fran - Already has a good jump on bow devlepment, so I followed it through. Same with black magic. She's one of my long range attackers (which I like to control in boss fights) with some support magic but mostly offensive. I've begun progressing her in Ninja swords as well, as both bows and ninja swords are strength and speed dependent, her two best features from what I can tell.
Penelo - Early development though daggers and ninja swords, which I'm now going to turn into gun usage, as her physical abilities look to be the weakest, making her an ideal gun user (no physical modifiers). Early on she assisted in my exploration of the grid by cover the top section of augments and the light/mystic armor path in armor, so she quickly could pick up the white magics, making her into my second long range but one who uses support and healing magic.
I've since paired them off into two teams of three. Basch, Vaan, and Penelo are one group, while Balthier, Fran, and Ashe are the other. This way Basch and Balthier can share armors, as can Vaan and Ashe, and Fran and Penelo. I only need three sets of great armor at any one time and I swap teams either by dungeon or every 5 levels, which ever comes first. Along with that I have the non-actives equip Gold Amulets which double LP gained, so either the characters are active, racking up XP, or inactive, racking up LP.
I think its working out quite well. By sending guys on specific paths I got to see what all the different armor and weapon types were like and was able to make more informed choices about how I wanted to specialize each character. Obviously everyone dabbles a little in white magic, as its free healing and pretty essential, as well as technicks, since Charge is a really great way to regain MP for your healers or post-Quickening combos in big battles. I'm currently ~40 hours into the game and I've had all three quickenings for everyone for almost half that, and full view of the grid through various characters for ~10-12 hours of play.
brandonh83
Banned
itsme said:
I can kinda see that, it's why I like the game so much--I mean of course aside from its general kickassery.
charlequin
Banned
Y2Kevbug11 said:
The space scene works, tons of the Laguna stuff works (partially because it's a much more adult story), and the ending part where you don't see Squall the whole time is really awesome. They're all like pretty flowers at a trainwreck in terms of the whole game's story and presentation though.