[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

Ok so as it turns out I only had 1 Leschah halcyon whereas I though I had 3 of them and now i can't mangae a blizzard in the Paramina Rift! Do blizzards stop spawning after you kill Fafnir?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

As for the Gambits thing: Even if you were playing in wait mode, not using them only makes the game unnecessarily tedious. Imagine fighting Omega or Yiazmat inputting every single command. Or even lesser things, like the monsters in Henne.

And if you're worried about your characters doing things on their own, if you actually take a good look at the game, you have more control over your character's actions than most other FFs. IMO, Matsuno succeeded in replicating that tactical feel he was aiming for (something I was extremely skeptical of when I first heard it).

I couldn't agree more here. For some of the bigger fights not having the gambit system would draw them out and it would become very very tedious and annoying. It's not like you aren't controlling your character's while using the gambit system. I don't know about evryone else either but it's not like during certain boss fights and rare games where you don't input your own commands often times as well. All in all having the gambit system was a good idea in letting you have a larger control factor on your party and allowing for less tedious fights with stronger and more time consuming monsters.

Ohhh and MS, good call on entering the Rift through the Feywood, first time through I got a blizzard. On my way to getting all those Durandal's now!

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

So I'm about to go do the Hell Wyrm fight. I'm at level 79 right now so I don't know if that is too low or not but we'll see. I think i read somewhere that the only bad things about the fight are the fact that his HP is really high and that he often casts reverse? Is all that true and should I grind a bit before fighting?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Hahaha, here's a fun thing to try with MS's new magic technique. I went to the deadlands and to the Overlooking Eternity. Run around there until a whole ton of dead bones come out (I think they only come out like 5-6 at a time but still...) and then cast your magic off of yourselves and watch them all fall. Your chain level will jump. Very Very amusing, I just laugh everytime I do it!!! Enjoy.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Yeah, if only there was a way to get the characters to cast the magic onto themselves without having to do it manually, though I guess it's best this way. Oh, for added security, make the person you could switch the caster/healer role so your character is the healer/reflectga refresher. Otherwise, you might wipe yourselves out if you're not in the buffer's range.

Yea I need some practice with that anyways to make sure i'm up to snuff with it and able to actually use it in battle and not just messing around. Although it is a pretty nice little tool, it will especially handy for those annoying enemies who put up those damn physical palling's.

How exactly does poach work? Do you have to have the enemy's health low before you can execute it? I'm trying to get my LAST scarletite for the Tournsol from the Emeraltitan in the deadlands(since im so close to getting it I've decided to postpone my rendezvous with Hellwyrm until I get it). It says that it drops it or you can poach it for one but I can't for the life of me get the bastard to drop it!!

Edit: Nevermind I figured that out seeing as how obvious it was. Still no Scarletite though....ohh and I also found that it was two Zombie powders I had not Soul Powder. So one more Soul powder and one more Scarletite

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Just kill them. Poaching Emeralditans in the Deadlands is a waste of time. Kill all of them on the map, run through the save map to the Leynir (Sleipnir-like horses) map and back again. The Emeralditans will have respawned and you can try again.

Oh and poaching is easy to automate:

Foe status: HP Critical > Poach
Foe: nearest > Attack

Your characters will attack until the enemy reaches HP critical (blinking red) at which time they'll start poaching. Some enemies are immune, so make sure to turn it off when you're done. If you've already got 10 Espers speak with Geomancer Yugelu (sp?) just across from the shop in Jahara so he can open the way to the eastern section of the Henne Mines.

Go along until you start seeing reaper type enemies called Etem. Kill them until you get your soul powder.

Yea I had been zoning like that but just with no luck. But I would imagine as with most other rare loot in the game it just takes time and sometimes luck so i'll just keep at it for now.

I have ten Espers but I have been weary to go down there yet since I have read in earlier posts about the gang rapes that take place down there. But I'm thinking that with my characters at lvl 80 now they shouldn't be all that bad.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Is there any other way to enter the new section of the Henne Mines? (...Feywood?) Or do you always have to go in through the Ozmone Plains?

After searching for awhile the only enemy that pissed me off was the Hectytes and that's because of the mytrill bubbles. I wish all of my member HP was higher so I could just stop using the Bubble Belt. I know I can just cast bubble and all but sometimes when doing that and it wears off in the middle of the fight it ends up killing me. But down here I might do it anyways and keep casting it so I can actually utilize my other accessories.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

You don't need bubble down there. Just have your healing gambits set high, and keep all your buffs refreshed and ready. The Hecteyes can be dealt with easily, just make sure you don't run into a whole lot of them with Abysteel. They'll freeze the battle with all their spells, while the bats tear you to ribbons.

I learned that one the hard way on my first run through but it's not all that bad now. But yea I'll just rearrange the gambits like you said and go a little deeper. I didn't want to push my luck there for a bit so I turned around right before the Phase 2 shaft without running into any Etem's. I'm guessing that they are probably in the special charter shaft so I'll have to make another run down there to get that last Soul Powder (finally got that last damn Scarletite). My goal is to have the Tournsol by the nights end, and with so little left to do, I'm pretty sure it wont take that long

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Well I must say I am quite excited now. I finally got the last item I need to get the Tournsol. Now I just have to make it out of the Mines without dying. Shouldn't be too bad though.

Additional Spam:

Originally Posted by Spatula

Notice how I butcher up every spelling of the games locales? I really should start to get the guidebook beside me, rather than it sitting on the lazyboy 6 feet from my right. I'm not sure that I can take on level VII marks yet. I've taken out the Overlord, or something like that, which was a level VI rank. It wasn't sweating bullets hard, but it did provide an interesting challenge. I somehow really don't feel inclined on doing this fishing game. Is this like a "DDR" press-the-bhutans-to-get-a-prize-type mini-game.

I'm sure your party is fine to take on some of the VII marks. I think my party was in it's early 50's when I decided to try it out and they weren't all that bad. As for the fishing game I understand what your saying. I have spent countless hours on it and am still stuck trying to get one friggin item (cactoid something, the one after the compact in the hidden shoals). But some people I know got through it quite quickly. It's a matter of luck so long as your scoring perfect trips.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

The fishing game is unbelievably easy. The only part that's irritating is when fishing in the Upper Reaches after having obtained the Matamune fishing rod. You have 10% chance of getting the Cactoid Compact that allows you to fish in Hidden Shoal.

After that, it's a breeze, since over in HS, all you have to do is fish perfectly once which makes the Cactoid family gather on the boat. There, they present you with the Cactoid Commendation and you're off to the Master Den. There, the first fish you ever see is the King of Nebra. Simply enter the combination every time the fish swims by (it stays the same, don't worry) and by the 9th time, you'll have caught it.

Ruksel examines the fish's stomach/mouth and gives you what was inside, Lu Shang's Badge.

WHAT? I have done literally 100 perfect trips in HS, so your saying they give you the commendation after one perfect trip? I must be doing something wrong then because I have done countless perfect trips and have yet to see them gather around Ruksel.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

Tell me, is there any kind of special prize for beating all of the marks? I have yet to defeat the Seer and have no desire to do so, ever. I'd rather fight Omega MKXII again than walk around in Subterra for even a minute.

Motivate me, people.

I felt the same exact way before taking on the hunt. All in all though it really wasn't that bad. I have to say it was pretty gratifying to take down that piece of shit after he kept on calling the previous sub-bosses. Once I got the hang of the whole orbs thing (haha) it only took about an hour at most.

Edit: Well I finally got the damn Commendation. After you said you got it in one try MS I was bound and determined to have it by nights end. I feel so accomplished now haha.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Well I finally went and fought Hellwyrm. It was a pretty easy fight, the only thing that annoyed me was Judgement and then at the end of the fight where every other move was invert. Aside from that though he was basically pretty easy. Took about a half hour so I can only imagine what's in store for the Yizmat/Omega fights.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Haha So Drex is there anyway you could tell me some more detailed information about the weapons, or even possibly play the game for me? haha just kidding.

I'm thinking of devoting some serious time to leveling up my secondary party since they are only at 50 while my main is at 86. I wanted to have them equal before the Yizmat/Omega fights. Well definetley for the Yizmat fight but did you guys have to use your second party for the Omega fight?

Edit: Does anyone know where I can find a good Great Crystal map, or just give me GOOD directions to Ultima?

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Jimmy Choo

Ok, so like just completed the Goliath and Roblon Hunts, they were ridiculously easy. While in the nechrol of nabudis on the way back i managed 2 slay 6 oversouls which eventually spawned a Hevenik or whatever its called, he was harder than Roblon and Goliath =| However i still beat him and he dropped a magic lamp. Anyone know what i can use it for? And where in Ivalice can i look around in and find weapons such as Excalibur or Ultima Blades or just really good armour.

The Excalibur can be found in the upper map of the Great Crystal In Giruvegan, sometimes hard to get it to spawn though. The Ultima Blade you either have to make it through the Bazzar (2 Admantite, 2 Death Powder, 1Gnoma Halcyon) or there is one that I found in the Pharros Subterra on the Umbra level. For Armor the best place to go would be the Baknamy shop in the Necrohol.


Does anyone have a tip as to how to make the Mythrill Golems drop the Aquarius Gem, or the Feywood Golem's for that matter. Been trying forever and still only have one Gem to show for my efforts.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Speaking of optional bosses, I think since my game is saved in the Great Crystal already, I should probably go ahead and take a run at Omega. Is he really even hard or is it another instance of time not difficulty?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Well I decided not to go to Omega yet because I think I am more apt to use MS's method during the fight. So I will probably have to level up a bit more till I'm at 99. I also want to have the Whale Whisker becuase of the insane combo rate. I believe Metal referred to it as "Pure Sex", haha I love that.So until I can get the rest of the Aquarius Gems I think I'll hold off. Now it's time to go ahead and take out Chaos. Don't know why it took me this long to finally do this quest but I have all the medallions and stuff now. With the new magic trick it should be a cakewalk.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Just use Piccolo's confirmed spell: Scathe. He did reflected one Scathe spell and it did 9999 points worth of damage three times to the Shield Wyrm he used it against. Now, if you have all three do it then throw on the Opal Rings you need, he'll take ~89,991 points of damage if they all hit for the maximum amount.

That's definitely not something to scoff at, since it's 3x as much damage as you would've done if each individual scathe was cast directly at him.

Yea I have tried it out as well and for that reason I am very much looking foward to this fight. Even if he is taken out after just a couple spells! Just went through the Humbaba mistant fight with ease. What commical way to go huh?

BTW, how long did it take you to get the Z. Estecheuon (sp?) to spawn? I think you said there was one in the Cerobbi Stoppe if I'm thinking correct.

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Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Yeah, both Fury and Humbaba Mistant, after being made out to be some world destroying beasts, were actually just clowns. Fury especially.. WTF?



Ugh, you don't want to know. I think 50% of the time, the chest isn't even there, and you have to go through a Ash Wyrm and 3 Skulwyrms to get to it (you have to go through them to make it respawn too). Just do this (after unlocking Taurus II)

- Make sure you saved before
- Go to the platform with the chest on it
- If it's not there, run all the way back to Capricorn II (just inside the map)
- Run back to the chest and check.
- That constitutes 3 maps, so the chest will be forced to spawn or respawn

If you want to make a Sagittarius Bow, this is a GREAT place to get Moon Rings, as the Wyrm drops them often (along with Koga Blades). You'll also leave with a ton of Wyrm Bones for anyone who wants to make the Scorpion Tail.

Damn man, that sounds like quite a bitch to get. I think I may have to hold onto that one for a day when I get really bored and need to just kill some time. I think my patience would be running thin after a little while especially with all the zoning and shit.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Well after a long break today I finally took out Fury Mistant and Chaos. He actually gave me more trouble then I initally anticipated (So basically it took about 5 minutes). Only because I figured I could have all three people attack with Scathe and not have a designated healer. But that had to be changed. Still pretty easy though with triple-casting.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Tomahawk

Sephiroth's Upper Crystal map

Man WTF - if you guys take a look at the Upper Crystal map I just posted, there's 2 tresure chests just below where it says "Map 2".

I was expecting to get the Excalibur from one of those chests. But even with Diamond Armlet equipped, I got friggin gil out of them! 2500 gil from one, and another 2800 gil from the other.

WTF is this shit? Can't the game even tell that I have 500,000 gil in my damn huge-ass pocket as it is? Such bullshit.... I bet there's gil waiting in the other treasures as well... LAME AS FUCK

Just keep zoning and trying again. I know it took some people a few hours to get it, I happened to get it on my second try. So just keep at it for a bit and it will eventually pop up.

Well I have found it is a lot easier trying to get the Aquarius Gems in the Fewood. Still only have 2 of them but I didn't get one of them in Giruvegan so I guess I'll keep trying in the Fewood till the other two come around.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

I sell them in bunches, just to be safe, but the items required for most of these weapons are only used for these weapons, and nothing else. It remembers the amounts you put in, and once you hit the required number of this and that, the item will be made.

Yea I have found that since I don't need to sell things for gil anymore ( I have something like 1.2 Mill) that I will wait until I have everything in my inventory just to play it safe. I know that the game records what you sell for items and then creates them accordingly, but I guess that's just my cautious side. Maybe a little OCD but hey, whatever so long as I have the good weapons I'll keep doing that.

Edit: Well I finally got the Wahle Whisker, What stat causes for the greates combo levels? Is it speed? I have Vann, Balthier and Basch in my main party and have deicded to give it to Balthier. Atleast for now.

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Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Cautious? Give yourself more credit than that! It's simply being safe rather than sorry, since you spent so much time getting these items, it'd be foolish to just up and toss them in without being sure.

Haha, yea I just know I would probably want to go ahead and jump off my roof (well not exactly but you get my point) if I did all of that rare-loot hunting and then found out I fucked it up somehow. Right before I sold my items for the Tournsol I went and saved it first just to be TRULY safe about it.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

So the three fights I basically have left before entering the Leviathin are Yizmat, Omega, and Zodiark. The first I want to take down would be the Zodiark but I truly hate traveling through the Henne Mines now(is there a reccomended level for that fight, I am currently in the high 80's). Then I plan on moving onto the Omega fight, leaving Yizmat to be my Finale!

I have to say that all of this discussion of the Helvenik is quite interesting. I think that tomorrow when I get some free time I will have to give'er a test run of my own and see what I can come up with!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

!!! Yeah, probably the easiest one out of these techniques to use. I was loving that Chain+Break trick before I started on Helvinek. I got Humbabas to drop Beastlord Horns like nothing.

Yea I think that leaving Yizmat right before the end of the game would be quite a high to finish on.
Now you said you have made the Humbaba's drop the Beastlord honrsn often eh? Did you have to have a considerable high chain in order to make them drop said item? That's basically the one item that has seemed to evade me throughout the game! I tried fighting Catoblepas on five sperate occasions whilst getting no Beastlord Horn! Therefore it obviously made it impossible for me to get the Saggaurtis (sp?) Bow. Not that I am adamant about using it but the Perfectionis side of me would indeed like to add it to my repertoire!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

No. You see those damn Wolgen all over the place in the Mosphoran Highwaste? Set your gambits so that your characters only attack them. Build up a nice chain with them, then turn off your gambits and use Break on a Humbaba. When they turn to stone, they'll drop their loot as if you'd been chaining them (LOL! Whoever tries to do this shit is insane, they're too spread out). This doesn't break your chain, provides you with the rare item you want, AND, if you go only one screen away, they'll be normal again ready for more petrification. If you don't get the item you want, simply chain more of the weaker enemy, then go petrify the one you want the item from.


The drawback is that this doesn't work on enemies that are immune to break. If they aren't they're game for this little exploitative trick.

Well since i don't have all that much left to do I suppose I wouldn't mind going on some more rare-loot hunts. I can't see it being any more infuriating then some of the loot needed to acquire the Torunsol! Even though it was well worth it obviously, I would still like the most powerful bow in the game. So I suppose I will just look at it as another challenge to overcome. Even if it is a frustrating loot to find this is one game in which I would be willing to spend all of the time to find the neccessary items! (BTW I just crossed the 135 hour mark!, the most I have put into a game in quite some time). The sad thing is, well I don't and am sure many people don't find it to be so, is that I am seriously contemplating starting the game over. One reason is so I can utilize Fran (there is just something about those ears huh? lol), and the second reason being getting the Zodiac Spear, which I missed due to the whole treasure chest fiasco. So we shall see. For now I think I will just level up and go hate-fuck Zodiark, god willing, as well as my secondary party haha.

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