[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

You know... I wish there was a beastiary entry for "Occuria". That would be so damn awesome.

FELIPE NO

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Holy crap, stop putting stuff into my mind, heathen beast! Imagine another optional dungeon Throne of the Gods, where you could get some uber-good weapons/armor for each type. On top of that, you could fight each of the Occuria and gain different entries for them. Imagine you fight them and during said fight they summon the scions of light. Of course, all this would be wrapped up in a beautiful but labyrinthine dungeon with level 89-95 monsters.

I have a feeling if you tried to fight them you'd get your ass handed to you royally. Remember how Venat manhandled Gabranth? And he didnt' even have to manifest. How could you even attack something you couldn't see, hear, or touch?

How ya doing, buddy?

Don't even bother trying to get the Zodiac Spear from the Henne mines. You won't. Ever.

And I agree, the treasure system in this game sucks hard. All of the best equipment either takes hours of item collecting to make or is in a chest that has a completely random (or extremely small, or both) chance of putting out. I'd rather go play Catcher Chocobo all day long than try to get another Tournesol or Darkblade again.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

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Basically, instead of risking getting directly attacked and challenged, they manipulate the world via the nethicite shards by selecting a few to guide history how they want. That was Venat's main sticking point: How can you govern and rule properly if you're beyond time's influence, so far removed from the changes your decisions bring?

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I've been thinking about this, and I still don't get it. There is nobody that could possibly stand up to them. They could probably lay waste to the entire planet, if they wanted. What are they afraid of, exactly? Humanity's development? That won't be a problem if they keep judging them every few centuries, like they have been. Certainly, they must be pretty pissed at Ashe for disobeying them. Why not smite her with a lightning bolt?

Something just doesn't add up here. If Venat can leave Giruvegan and affect the world directly, certainly the others can, and they could do it with impunity, too.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

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But here's what I don't get. There isn't anybody left who poses even a remote threat to them. If the Entite entries are anything to go by, they probably could have wiped out all of Archadia in an instant. Just like that. Nobody would have ever seen it coming, and nobody would have any reason to suspect them, because nobody knows who or what they are, or could even detect their presence.

If anybody did somehow find out, just smite the crap out of them. They would be helpless, like a newborn kitten.

Here's how things would have gone down if I had been Gerun.

Ashe: I am no false saint for you to use!
Me: Oh yeah? Well then how about this.

*Random party member explodes violently, showering the area with blood spray and body parts.*

Me: How 'bout them apples?

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

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I understand, I just think it's BS, that's all. It doesn't make any sense. Beings possessed of such extraordinary power couldn't possibly be afraid of anything, especially not lowly humes. The beings that created the world, created (and defeated) the espers, and laid waste to said world several times, and are nigh untouchable in combat are afraid? I could understand such fear if they were actually weaklings and didn't want people to find out, but they're not weak!

They let Venat teach the humes how to make Nethicite! Why? There are five of them (Gerun, Angel Wings, Fatty #1, Fatty #2, and Scales, as I call them) only one of Venat. They should have stopped him! And they let Reddas destroy the Sun-Cryst! Gerun was right there! (In the form of Rasler's ghost.) He could have killed them all in an instant! Well, all of the humes at least.

To me it is a very big inconsistency and doesn't make any logical sense. Nobody is that cowardly, especially when they're the most powerful beings in the world, by far. Perhaps not truly untouchable, but definitely effectively so.

Maybe the Occuria will make an appearance in Revenant Wings. That would be so cool.

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

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But their paranoia just plain doesn't make sense when you consider their level of power compared to everything else in all of Ivalice.

Oh well, I guess I'll give up trying to understand it. Personally, I think it is a serious story blunder.

Most amazing jew boots

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The Nu Mou also seriously challenged their power before, as Ashe mentioned in that legend.

About that. Where did you see that at? Looking through the game script, the only time the Nu Mou are ever mentioned is here:

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Fran: In vainglory they [the espers] arose, shouting challenges at the Gods. But prevail
they did not. Their doom it was to walk the Mist until time’s end. A Legend of [that is, from]
the Nu Mou.

I've done all of the sidequests and defeated all of the marks; I never saw Ashe say anything about the Nu Mou.

As for omnipotence, I do not believe in such a thing. I simply believe that during the events of the game, they are the most powerful beings in Ivalice, by a pretty good margin. Certainly, they must know this. There is no reason to be afraid. Any real threats to them have already been delt with.

To summarize:

1. I do not think that they are omnipotent, or invulnerable.
2. I do believe that they have weaknesses. (The game even says so.)
3. I do believe that they possess great power.
4. I believe that during the events of the game, there is no entity or group of entities that approaches their power, assuming the powers described in the beastiary entries are indeed theirs.
5. Any beings that were a threat to them (such as the Espers) have already been dispatched. (Although beings such as Yazmat are extremely difficult to defeat, this is done for purposes of gameplay. In reality, I think it's safe to assume that the Occuria are even stronger, especially when you consider the Beastiary entry about the God and Dragon.)

That leaves only the minor, mortal races of Ivalice to oppose them. Races that, on their own, are virtually powerless to do anything to anyone. What are they going to do to the Occuria? Shoot missles at them? Use machine guns? I suppose it is possible that manufacted Nethicite could have been used against them somehow, but they could have easily nipped that in the bud with absolutely no threat to themselves. Certainly, they knew this.

IMO, the only being that truly poses any kind of threat to them would be Zodiark. After all, his authority is absolute.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

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I don't think you recall correctly, then. I'm on my second play through of the game, and I just beat Raithwall's tomb. Ashe said nothing like that. It certainly doesn't appear in any of the game scripts of translations on GameFAQs. Here is what Ashe says:

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Ashe: There is a legend concerning the King and a demon. A young Raithwall supposedly slew the demon and was recognized by the gods. After that the demon had to be a loyal servant to Raithwall.

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Machines that can manipulate mist flows at will (absorb and release), ships that can fly in jagd (gaining access to Giruvegan potentially), and nethicite-infused soldiers/machines. On top of that, just having manufacted nethicite could absorb powerful mist attacks. All this, in about 6 year's time. Given more time and the technology would spread and become even more effective.

I suppose. That's why they should have blown them all up before things got out of hand!

FELIPE NO

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I see it, I'm just having trouble accepting it. I can't. I won't! Nobody is that cowardly! Not even the Occuria! There are a million things they could have done to take control directly without any threat to themselves whatsoever. Why not just destroy everything remotely? Send out some kind of time-delayed magical mist-bomb. Detonate it when it floats over Archades. (Or wherever.) Then they wouldn't even have to leave their hideout. Certainly they're not too paranoid for that? And besides, how can anybody have wrath toward them when only a few people on the whole planet even know they exist, and none of them even have any Nethicite (at that point, before the game starts; before manufacted Nethicite is developed) to defend themselves with, even if they did?

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

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BTW, if I was in their position I'd make Mist cover the entire world and make it lethal. I'd wipe the slate clean except for those I deem worthy.

Evil! Who would the worthy ones be?

You know, I have to wonder, why did they ever bother making the world (assuming that it was they did it and not some even higher power) if they were just going to fear all of their creations and attack them whenever they felt threatened? They have to be the worst gods ever.

I also must wonder, are they really the Gods? It is clear that their are indeed the "Gods" mentioned in the bestiary, but are they really the highest beings in the FFXII universe? Where did they come from? Did someone else create them? Did they really create Ivalice, or did Ivalice create them? I'm thinking (theoretically, of course) that perhaps they arose from the primordial mist flow, before any other beings did, or perhaps over time evolved into the beings they are today.

Random junk: The bestiary says that Ultima's job was to guide the spirits of the departed to heaven, and to help in their reincarnation. Assuming that the Occuria were the creators of the Espers (most likely true) Does this mean that when someone in Ivalice dies and goes to heaven, they meet the Occuria? Yikes!

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Jam it back in, in the dark.

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Perhaps every world in the FFXII universe has its own personal overseers. Ivalice was just unfortunate enough to get stuck with the Occuria.

I don't think Giruvegan is heaven either. I just didn't have any screenshots of Gerun in heaven.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

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Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

It's possible, since Ivalice isn't the name of the planet, but just that area. It's never been said that Ivalice = World, so I don't think there's any problem with that view.

I wonder then. If Ivalice is just that particular group of continents, what lies on the other side of the planet? Perhaps there is a civilization there that is even more advanced than Ivalice's. They may even have their own "Gods". Although I can't see why the Occuria wouldn't know about this. They seem to have the ability to manifest anywhere, so they certainly must have explored the world before going into hiding.

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I think the Occuria kind of appointed themselves overseers/rulers after what happened with the creation of the land of Ivalice.

This is exactly what I've been thinking. They just sort of said to themselves, "Well, then. We're in charge, now."

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If what I believe is true, then they are the victors of that war. You've completed the Seeq entry, right?

I have not. I haven't picked up FFXII in weeks. What does the entry say?

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Heh. Giruvegan, is little more than a fortress/city. Did you notice the background up there? It looked like at one time there were either more Occuria as well as people up there. I wouldn't be surprised if the Espers did a number on them in that struggle.

I believe that at one time there may have been many more Occuria, and perhaps there are still more left than what we saw in Giruvegan.

I wish there was more information on why the Espers rebelled in the first place. Perhaps they didn't want to be controlled anymore? Or maybe they themselves were also hungry for power? Or, perhaps (my personal theory; one that is a bit too hopeful, maybe) the Espers tired of watching the Occuria abuse the Ivalice and its inhabitants and wanted to stop them, like Venat.

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Zodiark wasn't involved with them it seems and was sealed because of his power.

Cursed to forever remain a child. And rightfully so. I bet they all said a big collective "Uh-oh" when they created him!

How ya doing, buddy?

Here is some funny-as-hell shit for us FFXII fans. I found these on Youtube and have been meaning to share them for a while now:

FFXII: The True Story

Here is the first episode. The rest are in the related items list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FA_4JjjAqU

These are some damn funny shit.

FFXII Directors cut:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3SW1NaTXMU

L-O-L funny.

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

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/459841/43190

Be careful when facing off against the Seer. He summons a very powerful Phoenix that will rape you if you're not careful. Even with my level 99 party, I barely managed to scrape by.

I was speaking idiomatically.

The spear is worth it. It is the first really powerful weapon you can get, and you can get when you're slightly more than half-way through the game.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

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it seems that you can also get it from a treasure chest from Henne Mines Phase Dig 2 (page 268).

No, you can't. The chances of the chest even appearing there are next to zero, let alone having it contain the spear.

FELIPE NO

The story yes, although it isn't as fully developed as it could have been. The characters are cool and well-acted, but the primary focus of the game is not on character development.

Originally Posted by Jamma

I didn't bother with Reverse either. It's not the type of game I play. (to be honest I haven't used it before, but it sounds like a sucky way of playing).

No! Whatever it takes to win! I used Reverse+Decoy on both Gilgamesh and Omega, to great effect.

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

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edit: I forgot to ask. Is it me... or do the the voices of the characters sound like they're speaking through a Darth Vader mask? It sounds muffled. Could it be my speakers?

No, it isn't just you. The voices are heavily compressed, both data compression and audio level compression.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I used heavy armor and weapons on all of my characters, and I had no dedicated mage at any point during the game, except for super-hard battles like Yazmat. Black magic in this game is less than useless, so there is no need to specialize any character in that area. White and green magic spells were dispersed equally between all of my characters.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I leveled all of my characters up to level 99. I leveled them evenly too, so that there would not be any drastic differences in their levels. Having a second party really helped me out on several occasions.

My game never stalled.

How ya doing, buddy?