[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

There are male Viera, obviously, but they remain hidden away in even more secluded forest villages. When you think about it, it has to be this way. If the male to female ratio was equal, their population would go out of control very quickly, with their extremely long and (mostly) danger-free lifespans. Other races don't live as long and die far more frequently.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I like how I'm level 35 and have the Zodiac Spear. I've got a bunch of other way too powerful armor and weapons for where I currently am in the game, and I'm also overlevelled. I'm tempted to just blast through the rest really quickly, but on the other hand, I kind of don't want to abuse the powerful equipment that I have because I'd like to face some kind of challenge.

Anybody got some tips for setting up the party? Gambits/roles, etc...?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

There are male Viera, obviously, but they remain hidden away in even more secluded forest villages. When you think about it, it has to be this way. If the male to female ratio was equal, their population would go out of control very quickly, with their extremely long and (mostly) danger-free lifespans. Other races don't live as long and die far more frequently.

Yeah, IIRC in FFTA, it was explained that there are male Viera and I think you actually get to see one but that was a while back and my memory is fuzzy. If I hadn't known this, I would've assumed that the Viera were simply birthed by the Wood.

But the Wikipedia entry shows that much of the forests they lived in are gone, which explains the low Viera population in general.

Quote:

Anybody got some tips for setting up the party? Gambits/roles, etc...?

I always have Ally Status: KO, Arise/Phoenix Down as the first or second. On Vaan, it's the top priority since he's the most likely the one to be alive (highest HP) and Balthier has it second after HP-Critical Renew/Curaja. The first one before the slash is for intense battles, the second one is for regular stuff.

Healing comes next at various percentages and then status effects, with debilitating ones like Disease, Stop, Confuse and Disable taking priority when in a difficul battle (and common ones outside of those situations). The rest is attack gambits and post-battle buff refreshing.

FELIPE NO

So what's the deal with the fishing mini-game? Is it just a waste of my time trying to unlock all of the areas or do you actually get something out of it? Also, does there have to be a blizzard in order for Fafnir to come out?

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by SOLDIER_2825

So what's the deal with the fishing mini-game? Is it just a waste of my time trying to unlock all of the areas or do you actually get something out of it?

Lu Shang's badge, one of the badges needed to get the Wyrmhero Blade. Other two are:

Godslayer's Badge - Received for defeating the final mark, Yiazmat, from Montblanc.

Omega Badge - Received for defeating Omega

Turn them all in and you get the Wyrmhero Blade.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

How hard is Omega? Also, how hard is the Seer? I want to know before I bother running around in subterra, only to die horribly.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

How hard is Omega? Also, how hard is the Seer? I want to know before I bother running around in subterra, only to die horribly.

Shadowseer is incredibly easy, but he drags the battle out by summoning the monsters you fought on the way up the Pharos:

- Pandemonium
- Slyt
- Fenrir

and the Phoenix which you should've fought on the Penumbra subterra. While you fight these, he has complete Physical/Magic immunity and he debuffs you constantly and buffs his summonsed creatures. Oh yeah, he also uses Fearga like crazy along with Dark/Holy spells, so get those White and Black masks out.

Omega isn't a pushover, especially with it's considerable defense after the halfway point, but he only has one bar. His physical attacks are brutal, but IMO it's like a shorter (but more intense) Hell Wyrm battle. Oh, you can't run out of that one, but why would you?

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

Quote:

- Pandemonium
- Slyt
- Fenrir

Are they at the same levels they were when I fought them the first time? Because I killed them all in a few hits when I did.

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

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

Are they at the same levels they were when I fought them the first time? Because I killed them all in a few hits when I did.

Don't remember if they were, just that they were still the same pushovers as before. If they got any significant level boost, I didn't notice. Fearga got irritating though, since he also casts Death.

I was speaking idiomatically.

And I'm still at Phon Coast. Yeah this area is getting somewhat boring now, but at least I'm using Fran much more, as well as my secondary party.

63 hours.

Vaan 25
Balthier 43
Fran 34
Penelo 35
Basch 41
Ashe 40

I really want to get everyone to at least the mid thirties, so it looks like Vaan requires the most work to get this through. I got him a ninja sword, something called the Kotetsu or something like that, pretty nice weapon. And I'm still so far behind you guys. ^__^

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Go to Archades now and buy some Embroidered Tippets from the Seeq near the exit from the Cave Palace. Then you can get double EXP for Vaan.

FELIPE NO

Sounds like a good idea. About how many dungeons away is Archades from Phon Coast? I'm budgeting about 90 minutes per dungeon if I do 1 sweep.

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

First run through the Tchita Uplands area, and then there is a cave complex, the Sochen cave palace. It shouldn't take too long if you run right through, although there is a boss. He can create multiple copies of himself, and all of them can attack. Archades is directly after that.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

For those who got past

Spoiler:

the Pharos, I'm wondering when does Reddas leave your party? I'm at the Pharos right now and want to get on with the story and leave all the sidequest/espers/omega for later, but I also want the extra character to help with the fights, so can I still do all those with Reddas after the Pharos or does he go back to his mansion right after?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Do you really want to know?

Spoiler:

Reddas uses the Sword of Kings to cut the Sun-Cryst and dies. So if you need him, use him now. I wish I had.

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

Yeah, definitely take PN's advice:

Spoiler:

All the hunts that you can do before the Pharos are definitely a bit easier due to them splitting their attention among four characters. Almost felt like an FF of old.

I have a little theory: The Sun-Cryst is a large magicite crystal, no? It's obviously not nethicite because that absorbs mist, while this thing spewed it forth endlessly. Could we see an end to the Mist soon after the game? Or is it coming from somewhere else?

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

Spoiler:

Nethicite absorbs Mist and magical energy, true, but it also seems to be capable of expelling it back out, to very great effect. This is what happened at Nabudis and also what happened when Judge Ghis had the Dawn Shard analyzed. All of the mist that was contained within was immediately and forcefully released, creating an enormous explosion. Afterwards, the Garif leader told Ashe that the shard was dead, meaning that it had spent all of its energy.

Dr. Cid said that the Sun-Cryst was "glutted" with Mist, implying that it had been absorbing (or feeding on, if you will) Mist for a very long time.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

Spoiler:

Nethicite absorbs Mist and magical energy, true, but it also seems to be capable of expelling it back out, to very great effect. This is what happened at Nabudis and also what happened when Judge Ghis had the Dawn Shard analyzed. All of the mist that was contained within was immediately and forcefully released, creating an enormous explosion. Afterwards, the Garif leader told Ashe that the shard was dead, meaning that it had spent all of its energy.

Spoiler:

Yeah, but that's only when an external forces tries to reverse the stone's very nature (ie: release mist, rather than absorb it). If it was actually Nethicite, that massive crystal would've taken out all of Ridorana, Pharos and a good bit of the ocean around it.

Quote:

Dr. Cid said that the Sun-Cryst was "glutted" with Mist, implying that it had been absorbing (or feeding on, if you will) Mist for a very long time.

Now that I think about it, it probably is Nethicite since that's the soruce of the Dawn/Midlight/Dusk Shards. Just strange that the smaller stones when forced to expel their energy took out entire areas, while the source merely destroyed the top floor of the Pharos.

Now, as for magicite and the source of the Mist? I have no idea. They never even mention that, IIRC. One peculiar thing I noticed, was that the Occuria were positively seething with it. Could they be the source? All the stones they make have to do with mist one way or the other.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Alright, has anyone else found the fishing to be extremley frustrating? I'm about two more goddamn trips away from losing my controller!

FELIPE NO

I've yet to get Lu Shang's badge, though I'm close. I rather do this than fight some bosses with ungodly amounts of HP.

Here's a nice picture of Ultima:



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

Originally Posted by SOLDIER_2825

Alright, has anyone else found the fishing to be extremley frustrating? I'm about two more goddamn trips away from losing my controller!

Would you say this is at the "dodge-200-lightning-bolts-consecutively" type annoying? It's mainly patience to get that done right, actually. And good reflexes.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Spatula

Would you say this is at the "dodge-200-lightning-bolts-consecutively" type annoying? It's mainly patience to get that done right, actually. And good reflexes.

Well I wouldn't say it was that annoying. I can't think of a more annoying sidequest then the Lighting Dodger in the Thunder plains. I was one time at like 180 dodges or so and I sneezed and ended up getting hit by the lighting and had to start over. I guess you could say I was a little upset! But anyways that's not to say that this does not test your nerves. It's more like the restoring the lighting rods on the thunder plains for FFX2. I think it was Paines where she had to strike the symbols as they fell down the screen or something like that.In essence though it is the lightning dodger sidequest of this game. But overall your going to get a better reward in XII (that is if you can defeat Yizmat and Omega.....). I just try to do a couple trips at a time, and if I'm starting to get pissed off I'll go try and get the loot for the tournsol to calm down.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I got my 10th esper today so I travelled to the Henne Mines Secret Area which is, uhh, tough?! I especially like it when a mob of like 15 bats attack you after you pulled a certain switch. Is there a way to clear the way to Feywood?

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

Originally Posted by Lionking-Cyan

So now, what do you think is the best main party. Till now, i've heard of "Vaan, ashe and fran", and "Balthier, ashe and fran", what do you say?

Vaan is a fuckin loser, don't include him in your party. I used him, though I would've definitely switched him for Balthier (+ Ashe and Penelo or Fran (though she's a bitch, I mean, why can't she just tell her damn age, instead of acting like an ass about it?)), had I known that there are no fights where only the main character (Vaan) can participate, like some RPGs have.

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

I used Vaan, Fran and Basch in my main party through pretty much the entire game. The rest of them stayed at level 10-14. It got very interesting during the times when my main party died...

One of my good friends played through the game with Vaan, Ashe and Basch. It apparently worked well for him. The characters are mostly interchangable anyway.

I was speaking idiomatically.