[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

I saw golden amulets at Mr. Bur-Om...blah. I thought I bought one for everyone, but nope, I found out later that Ashe doesn't have one. D'oh.

My Fran seem to have no problem hitting enemies with her bow though. *shrug*

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

I think he was talking about the accessory that doubles your XP, not your LP. You can buy it somewhere, but I forgot where. I would check google or gamefaqs if I were you.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Oh...oops. My mistake. Sorry :(

I didn't know there was an item that doubled XP. Cool beans. It probably won't appear until close to the end of the game.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You can steal it off the Coeurls in the Uplands with the thief cuffs. I got all three of mine from them, =- )

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Dr. Uzuki

Well, I have no idea, but something else about bows. Since speed is a contributing factor in the damage rate, why do they make Fran out to be a bow user when she is the slowest character? Vaan plus longbow equals win. Gave Fran a pole. Also, I like how Penelo is wielding a goddamned katana that is nearly bigger than she is.

Those are simply the starter weapons, that's all. You don't really have to keep them. Personally, I just made two teams with differing setups, as one is 2 range + 1 melee and the other is 2 melee + 1 range. Each of them is a refreshing change from the other as the battle flow is different (even when I put the same gambits on them, which is a bad decision given the differing speeds of the weapons they have).

What's even more amusing than that, though, is giving Fran the katanas as they simply make her look completely ridiculous due to their massive size (adds to her already large stature).

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

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

- Ring Wyrm (III)

I was afraid after looking at this guys massive HP amount, but he's not that bad.

Spoiler:

I had all six characters at full MP, and started just knocking him around with regular attacks. Cast slow and try poison on the guy. He'll shoot out breath which is a fire attack, but it's great if you have Belias out to help you, since he'll do about 3000 dmg per hit. Keep your summoner focused on healing both him/herself and the summon, not fighting. I had Ashe as the summoner and she had 3 full bars, so I summoned Belias three times.

After that, I switched out my active party with my reserve and got them all the quicken with level 3 quickenings, and this took off quite a bit. After I switched back to my first party, then continued fighting and healing where needed. Make sure you have Esusna on your active party. After that just quicken with your active party.

Quote:

Note: Also, why on earth do the bows/crossbows miss so much against certain enemies? Often times, against skeletons/toads/wolves I'll get consecutive misses. So much so that I switch to the character's secondary weapons (Penelo's bow swapped for dagger, Ashe's Xbow swapped for partisan, or my spiffy heavy lance).

If youre having trouble with the aiming and missing (which Balthier was terrible at) then switch back to guns. Guns are weaker but have basically 100% accuracy, and can deal equal damage regardless of enemy class or armour, I think, but Guns are slow, and even if you have haste, it'll be slightly slower than your melee comrades.

Speaking of hunts, most of the 16 I've done so far haven't been anywhere near hair raising. Going to the Feywood is about three times more challenging than the most difficult hunt so far, maybe the Gil Snapper would be the hardest, but not too hard. I like how the dudes in Clan Centurio are basically acknowledging my hunting skills now. GOOD JOB SON, YOU'RE LOOKING MORE LIKE A HUNTER NOW!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Spatula

I was afraid after looking at this guys massive HP amount, but he's not that bad.

Spoiler:

I had all six characters at full MP, and started just knocking him around with regular attacks. Cast slow and try poison on the guy. He'll shoot out breath which is a fire attack, but it's great if you have Belias out to help you, since he'll do about 3000 dmg per hit. Keep your summoner focused on healing both him/herself and the summon, not fighting. I had Ashe as the summoner and she had 3 full bars, so I summoned Belias three times.

After that, I switched out my active party with my reserve and got them all the quicken with level 3 quickenings, and this took off quite a bit. After I switched back to my first party, then continued fighting and healing where needed. Make sure you have Esusna on your active party. After that just quicken with your active party.

Wow, looks like I won't have a problem then as long as I go and get all three Quickening levels. To put my license board in perspective, my Augment section is completed for each character, Magic is almost done, accessories too, Technicks is a wait-and-see approach and I've gotten the two levels of armor and weapons for my characters in anticipation of said weapons.

What do you do to lure him out? The petitioner said he only comes out when the elementals are to his liking, but that isn't very clear at all.

Quote:

If youre having trouble with the aiming and missing (which Balthier was terrible at) then switch back to guns. Guns are weaker but have basically 100% accuracy, and can deal equal damage regardless of enemy class or armour, I think, but Guns are slow, and even if you have haste, it'll be slightly slower than your melee comrades.

Heh, it's like you read my mind. This first came up when I bough the Bowgun and Sirius and I tried out the former for a bit. Balthier couldn't it the broad side of a fucking Slaven for heaven's sake, it was ridiculous. The extra speed boost was being negated by what I call "Blind Man's Aim". Even if it is slower, armor piercing, consistent and reliable damage is the way to go. He's on this team:

- Balthier: Sirius
- Penelo: Elfin Bow
- Vaan: Lohengrin

So the battle flow goes something like, Penelo, Vaan and then Balthier. He works in this team as the time between each attack is very short and it really helps against monsters with high defense that weaken the other two's attacks. So, I learned my lesson and kept the guns on him.

Penelo's lost this problem as she's leveled, as did Ashe but they miss every so often. Penelo rarely, Ashe seems to need a little warming up time, in which case I just give her a heavy lance and then the bowgun works just fine again. =/

Quote:

Speaking of hunts, most of the 16 I've done so far haven't been anywhere near hair raising. Going to the Feywood is about three times more challenging than the most difficult hunt so far, maybe the Gil Snapper would be the hardest, but not too hard. I like how the dudes in Clan Centurio are basically acknowledging my hunting skills now. GOOD JOB SON, YOU'RE LOOKING MORE LIKE A HUNTER NOW!

Whoa, so Gil Snapper was supposed to be hair raising? The bastard was irritating, though I can see how it'd be difficult to bring down at a few levels lower than I was. What the... they say the same thing to me and I have about half as many marks killed as you.

Thanks for the info though, now I'm going to grind on some more Panthers. Oh, do you know how soon I'll be getting new guns/bows/crossbows? I already got a nice katana from a Wu, so that's not necessary.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by kharaalaik

Where can you buy the amulet for doubling XP? I think I found one that was loot off an enemy, but I cant seem to find where I can buy it anywhere.

They are sold in Archades.

@Metal Sphere
It took me 5 times to get the Demonsbane. I saved after defeating the wall, then opened the chest. If it was gil, I reloaded the game and tried again. Technically, the probability is 50% but it doesn't always happen that way.

As for the hunts:

Spoiler:

Try the Wrym first. He only comes out during sandstorms in the westernmost area, so enter and exit the area until it has sandstorms. Use the Belias esper you received as the Wrym can't hurt it. For a rank III the wrym was pretty tough since he has twice the hp of those rank Vs. Once you have the quickenings, try the mousse. It may seem impossible at first but after casting berserk on it and using quickening chains, its not so bad. Plus you get a really good bow for defeating it. Then try the Orthos. If everyone uses only Fira the fight will go very fast. Then try the Marilith. I didn't fight it until I was super overpowered so I don't know how hard it was. Blinding it helps, and then use the same techniques above.

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

Originally Posted by ashaman

They are sold in Archades.

@Metal Sphere
It took me 5 times to get the Demonsbane. I saved after defeating the wall, then opened the chest. If it was gil, I reloaded the game and tried again. Technically, the probability is 50% but it doesn't always happen that way.

Damn, I've been killing the 1st wall for no damn reason every time I reload then, heh. I'll keep trying to get it, thanks for the heads up.

Quote:

As for the hunts:

Spoiler:

Try the Wrym first. He only comes out during sandstorms in the westernmost area, so enter and exit the area until it has sandstorms. Use the Belias esper you received as the Wrym can't hurt it. For a rank III the wrym was pretty tough since he has twice the hp of those rank Vs. Once you have the quickenings, try the mousse. It may seem impossible at first but after casting berserk on it and using quickening chains, its not so bad. Plus you get a really good bow for defeating it. Then try the Orthos. If everyone uses only Fira the fight will go very fast. Then try the Marilith. I didn't fight it until I was super overpowered so I don't know how hard it was. Blinding it helps, and then use the same techniques above.

Whoa, Fira? None of the magick shops have the second level elemental spells in, does this mean I have to advance the story? Everything else is doable, since I Blind + Silence + Slow + Immobilize in mark battles, as well as having cast protect and shell before hand. Is level 37-40 good enough? I have no real way of figuring out what levels correspond with each mark level. Also, how do I get back down into the Waterway?

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

Is anyone at the end? I'm curious as to where to buy the stuff I'm missing because I've hardly filled out the license board. I was playing as though I still had half a game to plow through, but I suddenly came up to the last bit this morning.

Also where to level?

Spoiler:

I just finished that god awful bitch of a tower, where at the top the mobs are about level 49ish, but to get back there I need to climb the tower again. So, right now the hardest place I've checked out is Necropolis where I got the Zodiac spear. Are there any other places?

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Whoa, Fira? None of the magick shops have the second level elemental spells in, does this mean I have to advance the story? Everything else is doable, since I Blind + Silence + Slow + Immobilize in mark battles, as well as having cast protect and shell before hand. Is level 37-40 good enough? I have no real way of figuring out what levels correspond with each mark level. Also, how do I get back down into the Waterway?

Fire should work, but the second level magicks are not that far from you storywise. I think they show up when you reach Nalbina which is the next stop after Mt. Bur (finish the Shrine first). To get in the waterway, you have to use the right (east) gate, the left one is locked. They are right across from each other. In the water room with all the exits, take the west exits and walk south (some steps are hidden from view) and go due south, then east until you reach the Mousse. The map is confusing but you will eventually memorize the area.

Level 37-40 is actually pretty high for where you are so it should be no problem. At those levels, I recommend advancing the story a little more so you can go to the Necrohol of Nabudis to the west of the Salikawood. The Elvorets there drop the penultimate heavy armor, and if you didn't open the 3 chests earlier in the game you can get the Zodiac Spear which is the strongest weapon in the game (+150). Otherwise stick to using Deathbringers from Barheim passage. After getting those weapons/armor, try getting the optional espers. At least 6 of them are open to you by the time you reach Phon Coast, although only 4 are really defeatable. You need to be in the 50-60 range for the other two.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Spatula

Speaking of hunts, most of the 16 I've done so far haven't been anywhere near hair raising.

After you've done about half of the hunts you should notice an increase in difficulty. Both the marks themselves and (and perhaps even more so) actually finding them.

Originally Posted by soapy

Also where to level?

The best place I found to do regular leveling was an area in the Nabreus Deadlands. Have you taken care of the mark called Roblon yet? If so you should know what area I'm talking about. And if not, get to it =p

There is also this "auto-leveling" scheme you can do. Which can come in really handy if you think regular leveling is boring.

By the way, I just remembered you could do something simillar at the early stages of FFVI. Anyone remember that part where you were floating around on a raft on a maze-like river and you had that guy called Banon (or something like that) in your team? I left the SNES running overnight and when I woke up my team had gone from something like lv. 15 to 65. Pretty much killed off any challenge for the remainder of the game it did =D

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Anyone know the probabilty of the Demonsbane even appearing the chest?

There's a 75% chance that the chest will be there. If it is there, there's a 25% chance that it will be the Demonsbane. I think I read this on my roommate's official Brady Games FFXII guide or one of the guides on Gamefaqs. I only got one before moving on because of the long walk to get to the chest. Also, it's a really good sword, but it will get replaced a few hours later so don't spend too much time trying to get one if you're getting unlucky. Good luck.

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

Ditto about Fran.

So do the Summons get more powerful, or simply different attacks as the game goes on? I've given the first one to Vaan and now wounder if I should give him the last so it measures out

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by ashaman

Fire should work, but the second level magicks are not that far from you storywise. I think they show up when you reach Nalbina which is the next stop after Mt. Bur (finish the Shrine first). To get in the waterway, you have to use the right (east) gate, the left one is locked. They are right across from each other. In the water room with all the exits, take the west exits and walk south (some steps are hidden from view) and go due south, then east until you reach the Mousse. The map is confusing but you will eventually memorize the area.

With the help of panthers and the gold amulet, I was able to get everyone their 2nd and 3rd quickenings. After a little bit, I'll be off to fight him, so wish me luck. Yoichi Bow, as I've found out what you get, is nothing to pass up at this point.

Quote:

Level 37-40 is actually pretty high for where you are so it should be no problem. At those levels, I recommend advancing the story a little more so you can go to the Necrohol of Nabudis to the west of the Salikawood. The Elvorets there drop the penultimate heavy armor, and if you didn't open the 3 chests earlier in the game you can get the Zodiac Spear which is the strongest weapon in the game (+150). Otherwise stick to using Deathbringers from Barheim passage. After getting those weapons/armor, try getting the optional espers. At least 6 of them are open to you by the time you reach Phon Coast, although only 4 are really defeatable. You need to be in the 50-60 range for the other two.

I don't think I've ever been to Nabudis before, and if you mean the fortress at the beginning of the game, I didn't open a single chest there during that little part of the game.

Are the monsters there unbearably difficult, since this sounds a bit too good to be true at level 40. BTW, thanks for the info Spike. Looks like the odds for that sword aren't all that good.

BTW, can someone clarify the monograph situation? I'm supposed to enter/exit each shop and the clan provisioner 40 times each to get all the monographs available? Will this get me more shots/bolts?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Nabudis is a completely optional side-dungeon accessible through the Salikawood about halfway through the game.

If you remember from the intro: "Basch: Nabudis has fallen!" etc.

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

I just beat the game... I had a bit of a break so I'm a little foggy on a couple of aspects. Obviously don't read if you haven't finished yet

Spoiler:

Reddas is Zecht, but what role did Zecht play before? What happened? I remember them mentioning his name but I forgot. Also, Landis... what is that? These are the two parts that made me confused, otherwise this is a straight forward story, as far as Final Fantasies go.

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

I'm at King Raithwall's Tomb and have a question regarding the story thus far...

Spoiler:

Ok, Ghis steals the Dusk Shard. Ashe needs... the Dawn Shard to prove her blood (which I still don't understand why people can't visually recognize her). Apparently this Dawn Shard is real "deifacted" nethicite. Yeah, ok. Then theres the Midlight Shard somewhere in there as well.

All these stones and shards are really confusing me. Wouldn't it really be the Dusk Shard that proves Ashe's blood since it was the one that was given to the Kingdom of Dalmasca?

Thanks!

EDIT: Nevermind. More progression into the story made all clearer.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Cobalt Katze

Nabudis is a completely optional side-dungeon accessible through the Salikawood about halfway through the game.

If you remember from the intro: "Basch: Nabudis has fallen!" etc.

Nice, I'll drop by there and see if I can snag some of the things ashaman mentioned. Now... about the Monographs. Do I seriously have to talk to each of the merchants 40 times?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by soapy

Spoiler:

Reddas is Zecht, but what role did Zecht play before? What happened? I remember them mentioning his name but I forgot. Also, Landis... what is that? These are the two parts that made me confused, otherwise this is a straight forward story, as far as Final Fantasies go.

Spoiler:

Only thing I can remember about him is that he was the judge that destroyed Nabudis. He mentioned that sometime during that scene at the top of the lighthouse (that involved the final fight against Cid), if I remember correctly.

FELIPE NO

80 hours in, I'm almost done with the hunts. Just the King Behemoth left before the last one. Fafnir wasn't pretty hard, but as long as the Behemoth isn't completely absurd, I think I can take him down. Now as for the last guy....

- WraithTwo -

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

I have a question regarding the story. I'm currently returning to Rabinastre after Raithwall's Tomb.

Spoiler:

Why is it the Vayne is being accused of being behind Rozarria's plans to attack the Archadia?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Black Mamba

Spoiler:

Why is it the Vayne is being accused of being behind Rozarria's plans to attack the Archadia?

Spoiler:

He's not being accused of that. The Senate is angry with him for hastily deploying Leviathan and the 8th Fleet because that directly led to the fleet's destruction, which creates a weakness in Archadia's air forces that Rozarria could exploit. They want to punish Vayne for being reckless, not for being in cahoots with Rozarria.

Also, for soapy:

Spoiler:

The Republic of Landis is the home of Basch and Judge Gabranth. From what little is said of it during the game, we learn that it was invaded by Archadia sometime before even the opening FMV and is now no more. Those that survived the invasion apparently either joined the Empire (like Gabranth) or fled to another country (like Basch).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

Are the monsters there unbearably difficult, since this sounds a bit too good to be true at level 40.

First of all, the demonsbane is more than worth it. If you save after killing the wall, the extra 20 or so minutes it takes to open the chest over and over are well worth doubling your attack power (although you may have better weapons than I did when I earned it) .

As for Nalbudis, the enemies are hard, but you can flee from the hardest ones witout too much trouble. The problem with the small guys is that they always come in packs of three and swarm you. Even if it looks like there is only one, two more will appear out of nowhere. But if you run deeper into the dungeon, you will find Elvorets (flying imps). Kill those and they will drop Maximillians when are the penultimate heavy armor in the game. Try chaining Elvorets as much as possible, and make sure you have the appropiate grimoire/monograph. They make the entire venture worth it (although the merchant which sells cheap Ethers is nice too). The Zodiac Spear is found in a chest only if you did not open 3 specific chests earlier in the game, with a fourth one being in the Phon Coast which you haven't visited yet. Unfortunately, those chests were very obvious and easy to open, so if you didn't know about them then chances are you did open them.

Quote:

BTW, can someone clarify the monograph situation?

From GameFaqs (not really spoilerish, just long):

Spoiler:

Here is a quick rundown, all of these items will appear as Forgotton
grimoires in the bazaar, after the talk to ones a message will pop up
saying that there is a new item in the bazaar:

18,000 gil = Hunter's Monograph = from Gatsly after you kill thextera
(increase good drops from Beasts and Avions)

22,000 gil = Scholar's Monograph = talk to armor merchant 20 times
(increase good drops from Constructs)

21,000 gil = Mage's Monograph = talk to magick merchant 30 times
(increase good drops from Fiends)

19,000 gil = Knight's Monograph = talk to weapon merchant 35 times
(increase good drops from Giants and Insects)

20,000 gil = Warmage's Monograph = read the hunt board 25 times
(increase good drops from Amorphs and undead)
(thanks to HydeReloaded for giving me the correct price)

22,000 gil = Dragoon's Monograph = read the hunt board 50 times
(increase good drops from Dragons and Plants)

25,000 gil = Sage's Monograph = talk to any merchant 100 times
(increase good drops from Elements)

250,000 gil = Canopic Jar = sell Phobos Glaze, Diemos Clay,
and Horakhty's Flame to any merchant for it to appear in the bazaar
(increase the chance that any enemy will drop an Arcana)

Shots and bolts are earned either through hunts, or selling specific loot and buying them from the bazaar. Although you won't know which items they are until you buy them. Any bazaar item which includes a bow and "nice thin bolts/arrows", etc., usually comes with one.

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

ARRRRGHH!!!

I tried three times to kill the Earth Tyrant, but I've failed each and every time. The horrible part about it is, I manage to bring it down to a bloody sliver of HP before my party succumbs. Bah!

I defeated 11 Marks so far, and I managed to kill a Rare Species today. It was the Wary Wolf. They're hideously rare all right.

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