[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

Originally Posted by Jochie

Wow. I think everyone's further than me. The... Stillshrine? Of... something: I'm confused. I guess I need to

Spoiler:

point statues in certain direction(s)

or something like that.

Yes.

Spoiler:

See the big square shaped room in the middle of the map? Just point the statues to face that direction. There's arrows on the map that tells you where they're pointing, making it easier to finish the job.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Hachifusa

Ah, I actually did a lot of this very early on in the game, but I didn't know where to go to find the Cactuar (Cactoid?) Dran. Thanks a lot for explaining the rest of it; I thought I had blown it because I kept hearing people scream about a Serpentskin, which I promptly sold.

The serpent skin will simply change the reward at the end slightly, but it really doesn't matter much. I'm glad I clarified this for you, the guides available now are some vague nonsense, especially the hunt guides. =/

Quote:

I'm at around level 45 for my active party, and all have constant self-Haste, Protect, and Shell, so I'll be ok. They also have Archades armor (haven't gone back to Balfonheim or whatever it's called for the new armor) so I think I'll be ok on defeating them. Those Embroidered Tippets really help tremendously.
As long as I can Mist Quickening him at the end, I should be fine, I wager.

Well, you're going to have a touch of trouble, considering that you're not too far above them in levels. With your constant Protect/Shell/Haste you'll win, just be sure not to get mobbed (ie: keep your AI characters from running too far forward, once you're off the bridge due to traps + triplet/quadruplet spawns).

If you can manage to land Blind on Bloodwing along with Slow, he shouldn't be a problem at your level. If not, since I missed far too many times for my liking, just use whatever. He does little more than Leech + Attack Combos.

The game is a lot more fun when you take the time to do all of the extra stuff; it makes the game flow a lot more smoothly, I've noticed.[/QUOTE]

I beat Carrot today, level VII mark at level 55. Putrid Breath = Holy SHIT. It's like someone smacks your characters with a goddamn septic tank.

Espers? - Useless as this thing is wider than the Salikawood paths, and is maybe 5-6 characters deep, so no running around him. The breath will do the summoner in, dismissing the Esper.

Magick + Attacks - Useless unless you Dispel him, and only if you keep it that way, since his little "Brave" move rebuffs him completely (Protect, Shell, Haste, Faith, Bravery). Due to it being a Malboro, it's immune to every status effect I threw at it.

Quickenings - Godsend. Go in with your reserve team with all buffs, Dispel and go to town. After that's done, get some Ethers on two (or three if you can manage it) and start another chain. Switch out to main team and chop at his ass for a bit, then Quicken. Why this little pause? He uses 'Growing Threat' and doubles his level, so you save the Quickening for that.

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

I'm finding the boss battles increasingly difficult. I just finished beating

Spoiler:

Judge Bergen

I thought this guy was somewhat of a pain, because I couldn't get his three minions around him to pull of a quickening, so I just went ahead and did THE WORST quickening chain EVAR. It was basically 1X lvl 3, 1X lvl 2, and 1X lvl 1, which resulted in NO concurrence, obviously. It did take off like 80% of the dudes health, which at that point the boss went APESHIT on my party, dealing easily 500-1000 damage at any time, and I had to use probably a good 5 phoenix downs for that fight. It so happened that Balthier had one bar left, and I went with a quickening for him, and that chain was much better.

At any rate, what should I do now? I'm trying to find that Trickster hunt, and I'm supposed to go to Arcadia via the Salikawood. Would you recommend I hike all the way there and make a pit stop in Rabanastre to pack up? I'm pretty low on gil, so maybe I should.

Has anyone tried fighting Zeromuse in the Shrine, because I got a stone of the condemned, and would like a 3rd esper, if possible. Mind as well since I'm close. I just need to do some level grinding and perhaps get more loot, since I have exactly 666 gil in my bank account ^__^.

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

If you fail to stock up on the latest armour, like me (:D), you're going to have lots of trouble once you get to the Highwaste/Phon Coast, especially the Highwaste. Oh, and there's nasty werewolves in the Highwaste.

When you reach Nalbina though, make sure you do that July the Streetear sidequest while you're there. I missed out on it :(

I personally didn't have much problems with the boss you mentioned. The said boss was easier than the Esper right before said boss.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Spatula

I'm finding the boss battles increasingly difficult. I just finished beating

Spoiler:

Judge Bergen

I thought this guy was somewhat of a pain, because I couldn't get his three minions around him to pull of a quickening, so I just went ahead and did THE WORST quickening chain EVAR. It was basically 1X lvl 3, 1X lvl 2, and 1X lvl 1, which resulted in NO concurrence, obviously. It did take off like 80% of the dudes health, which at that point the boss went APESHIT on my party, dealing easily 500-1000 damage at any time, and I had to use probably a good 5 phoenix downs for that fight. It so happened that Balthier had one bar left, and I went with a quickening for him, and that chain was much better.

He was ridiculously easy, IMO. The Judges from behind got mopped up pretty fast, and when it came to him, he died before he could do anything other than that water thing.

Spoiler:

Crazy what one of them says about him having Nethicite in his bones/lining his bones. And we see that weird monster thing again too

.

Quote:

At any rate, what should I do now? I'm trying to find that Trickster hunt, and I'm supposed to go to Arcadia via the Salikawood. Would you recommend I hike all the way there and make a pit stop in Rabanastre to pack up? I'm pretty low on gil, so maybe I should.

After they told me that I had to go to Archades, I went back to Rabanastre on foot and then continued on from there the same way. Got some nice exp, loot and some sparse gil. I did the hunts though, but your level is pretty important. If you're 35-40, you can take him as long as you can get a nice chain on him. Just make sure he isn't immune to attacks when you pull them off.

Quote:

Has anyone tried fighting Zeromuse in the Shrine, because I got a stone of the condemned, and would like a 3rd esper, if possible. Mind as well since I'm close. I just need to do some level grinding and perhaps get more loot, since I have exactly 666 gil in my bank account ^__^.

I tried it just after finishing the whole Bur Omisace thing, and even with my overleveled characters, it was rape. Right now, I figure I'll go back once I can stock up on X-Potions if they even sell those. That way I can change my gambits to that and maybe get some Dark absorbing/reducing armor. You do stand a good chance of getting Adrammelech at around 40-ish in the Ozmone Plain Zertinan Cave, and Zalera you might have to level a bit more (up to 45 or higher if you want) to get your Quickenings strong enough. It's timed and his special attack is based on multiples of 5 IIRC, so chaining is the way to go.

The alternative is going desperation style and simply using quickenings with both teams hoping he takes enough to die.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Alright, I find my guys reacting pretty slowly, even though they have haste now. I think I'll have to do some grinding to keep up, since I find my weaposn aren't too great. I got Balthier to go Melee now, since he's missing TOO MUCH and guns that are available are just too week. I'm about 56 hours into the game now, just defeated the 2nd fightable judge.

Basch is at 38
Balthier is at 37
Ashe is at 36
Penelo is at 31
Fran is at 23
Vaan is at 21, since I hate him, but I might have to start using him so he can put up a fight later on, since he'll be my reserve character.

With your espers, how do you increase their levels? Do you just have to keep summoning them for them to fight and get XP? Man this is going to take a LONG time if that's the case. I found the AP system in VIII and even the other item system in X pretty easy to boost your GFs and Aeon stats.

FELIPE NO

How could you neglect Fran *sniff*

Of course I only have leveled 3 characters... S'all I need really

Espers are the same level as the person that summons them, I believe?

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

I neglect her because well, she's not hot anymore.

Spoiler:

She's like 70 years old?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Spatula

Alright, I find my guys reacting pretty slowly, even though they have haste now. I think I'll have to do some grinding to keep up, since I find my weaposn aren't too great. I got Balthier to go Melee now, since he's missing TOO MUCH and guns that are available are just too week. I'm about 56 hours into the game now, just defeated the 2nd fightable judge.

Basch is at 38
Balthier is at 37
Ashe is at 36
Penelo is at 31
Fran is at 23
Vaan is at 21, since I hate him, but I might have to start using him so he can put up a fight later on, since he'll be my reserve character.

With your espers, how do you increase their levels? Do you just have to keep summoning them for them to fight and get XP? Man this is going to take a LONG time if that's the case. I found the AP system in VIII and even the other item system in X pretty easy to boost your GFs and Aeon stats.

I think the Espers are the same level as the summoner, because if not, then that's just another thing that's going to extent my play time.

Spoiler:

She's at least 50, where'd you get the 70 figure from? Also, she has sisters, doesn't that mean she has a mother? father? I've got a nagging suspicion that The Wood births them, or at least that they're Her offspring since they seem to be the only race that can hear it.

Most amazing jew boots

How is everyone making the permanent decisions of assigning Espers to characters? Flipping through the strategy guide, I've noticed their aren't an even number of level 1, 2, and 3 Espers. This makes the difficult decisions even harder. As of yet, I've only received the first one; and I gave it to the character he "reminded me of". Not the most orthodox method I'll admit.

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

Originally Posted by Black Mamba

How is everyone making the permanent decisions of assigning Espers to characters? Flipping through the strategy guide, I've noticed their aren't an even number of level 1, 2, and 3 Espers. This makes the difficult decisions even harder. As of yet, I've only received the first one; and I gave it to the character he "reminded me of". Not the most orthodox method I'll admit.

I'm assigning them based on their bestiary description, and which character they match best with. Thing were going smoothly until I got Zalera... in which case I just chucked him onto Vaan. Now, the situation's become even worse, since I just defeated Exodus after a ridiculously long battle (more on it later). The only thing I know is that the final 3 Espers are going on my main party members, so the reserve team will have 2 a piece before the game's up.

Oh, about Exodus. I'm still amped at the moment, but I decided to try out the little Mosphoran Highwaste puzzle with the floatweed. Basically, you have to examine the shrine nearest to the southern entrance of the Babbling Vale map, and the shrine closest to the northwest exit. After that, go to the Emperyean Way map with a Chocobo and the floatweed should've made a path up to a new area. Follow this all the way through the Chocobo path, and take the left path (dismount) and push over the rock to gain access to the camp from here. Save, and go back and keep going on the Skyridge map, and activate this new shrine. By now you should have 3 blinking exlamation points 2 clustered in the NW, and one in the SE. Just follow along, kill the Vultures and prepare for the fight.

He locks item use right off the bat, an inconvenience that you'd wish wasn't present. Dispel his buffs, and from here on out he'll simply keep trying to rebuff himself with Reflect. I suggest you keep dispelling, as it forces him to waste a turn which would otherwise either be Flare or Unleash. Have Bubble belts/Bubble present along with Protect and Shell. My level 56 team had Diamond armor on and he was doing ~1064 to archer Penelo. His Physical defense is absolutely absurd, and he'll make himself immune to said attacks as his health starts dropping.

Use whatever you think is best here, but I used Drain + Cura. Cura for its range and Drain because it hurt him and healed me at the same time. I'm sure if I'd used Shear a couple times it would've gone faster, but I wasn't breaking my Cura/Drain chain. Oh, use your reserve team first and go for a chain then switch out for your strongest team and start chipping away.

Good Luck.

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

ABOUT 70.

Spoiler:

This number I’m throwing around, but didn’t they say that she did leave the woods on her own, not when she was a baby? I’m guessing she’s at least 20 when she left, of the decision she made 50 years ago. I dunno.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Spatula

ABOUT 70.

Spoiler:

This number I’m throwing around, but didn’t they say that she did leave the woods on her own, not when she was a baby? I’m guessing she’s at least 20 when she left, of the decision she made 50 years ago. I dunno.

Spoiler:

Her sister said she she said what she said when she left 50 years ago, so she clearly wasn't a baby, but who knows how old she was when she left. Maybe Mjrn's age?

Oh and about the shrines in the Mosphoran Highwaste. The only ones in the camp proper you should turn on are the Shrine of the Northwest Wind and the Shrine of the South Wind. Then just follow the path that starts a little to the south of the north entrance to the Empyrean Way map. Be sure to take a Chocobo or else you'll be blocked by the high grass at the end. I thought I should clarifiy this part.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Black Mamba

How is everyone making the permanent decisions of assigning Espers to characters? Flipping through the strategy guide, I've noticed their aren't an even number of level 1, 2, and 3 Espers. This makes the difficult decisions even harder. As of yet, I've only received the first one; and I gave it to the character he "reminded me of". Not the most orthodox method I'll admit.

Well I go on a number of factors such as storyline and which characters they seem to fit. I gave Baltheir Belias because it's his reward for going through Raithwall's tomb. Not to mention his level one Quickenings looks like a fire elemental attack.

BTW where do you buy/find the spell Bubble?

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Punishment

Well I go on a number of factors such as storyline and which characters they seem to fit. I gave Baltheir Belias because it's his reward for going through Raithwall's tomb. Not to mention his level one Quickenings looks like a fire elemental attack.

BTW where do you buy/find the spell Bubble?

Should already be available in the Phon Coast shop, though I think I got it a bit earlier. IIRC, it's one of the spells you can buy at the clan's shop.

Edit: Ah, I gave Exodus to Ashe. Seemed to fit the best I guess, even though it would've been better

Spoiler:

for Balthier who was supposedly a judge. Exodus' subtitle is The Judge-Sal, or something like that.

Likes to use Comet, though I haven't seen his little special thing. Adramelech's is nothing short of awesome, as is Mateus'. One final little surprise for me was that Zalera is apparently Holy. His subtitle is The Death Seraph, but I never imagined that he could heal himself with Holy (as he often does). 'Kill' is basically Warp and Condemnation is something fierce.

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

Originally Posted by Punishment

BTW where do you buy/find the spell Bubble?

The Bubble spell can be purchased at the clan shop after having attained a level 5 rank (Ward of Justice).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

As for the Forgotten Grimore, I think I got something called the "Warmage Something", which obviously isn't what it's really called, but it's called something similiar to that. This is my fourth Forgotten Grimore I've got today. Also I returned the unopened FFXII regular edtion to Best Buy, since that's basically $50 sitting there doing nothing, while I have the CE already. Talk about letting go of some pointless things, especially when I can get this game in 1 years time for half the price, which I doubt it.

Finally Basch has been the first to reach level 40. I've racked up over 500,000 clan points and am a Brave Companion for my rank, which I hope that Moogle will reward me somewhat handsomely. I've decided to go do some stealing while I make my way to Rabanastre, especially in the Ozmone Plains, where all the enemies are pretty weak now and can be taken down in about 2-3 hits.

As a matter of fact, I'd actually like to make a trip down to the Z caves, which I think are about has hard as the Feywood, but I can't remember. I just remember the first time I went down there, some crazy ass horse whipped my whole partys ass to me, and then I basically GTFO ASAP.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Spatula

As a matter of fact, I'd actually like to make a trip down to the Z caves, which I think are about has hard as the Feywood, but I can't remember. I just remember the first time I went down there, some crazy ass horse whipped my whole partys ass to me, and then I basically GTFO ASAP.

Mallicants are a wee bit harder than what I've encountered in the Feywood so far, due to their warping + status effect inducing crap. They aren't what you should be worried about. All of the Zertinan caverns lead to one area, and that's where you fight Adramelech. You should be strong enough to survive a barrage of magic from all sides (the shambling corpses that respawn endlessly) and dish out enough damage to end the fight quickly.

Mid to high 40s is good, unless you're fantastic with chains. Oh and your rewards for new ranks from Montblanc aren't that great. I find the clan provisioner something I look forward to much more. 1 more mark until gain a new level, with well over 2 million points, as well as Carrot (fucking bastard) in the Den.

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

Yeah it is very nice of Monblanc to give you Teleport Stones for defeating enemies with hundreds of thousands of HP, I guess.

I mean, yay, teleport stones!!

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

Originally Posted by Musharraf

Yeah it is very nice of Monblanc to give you Teleport Stones for defeating enemies with hundreds of thousands of HP, I guess.

I mean, yay, teleport stones!!

Dear God, don't remind me. After struggling to take down Carrot, I was expecting some awesome reward. When I got there, I got crap. Killed the last bit of hope I had of maybe getting something good from him.

Now I have to the Feywood, or at least pass through it. Tons of new marks, need one more for a new rank, but they're all rank V. Need to level a bit more, but with the embroidered tippets I bought, it shouldn't be a problem.

Spoiler:

Anyone know if there's a hidden Esper in Sochen Sea Palace or whatever it's called? There's one room that I could access, and it may have something to do with the "Pilgrim's Door" that I encountered earlier.

I was speaking idiomatically.

edit: yeah, forget about what I said just there.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Not that door seanne.

FELIPE NO

Well, I just got my Bradygames guide and I must say its very thorough. I love it.

I just beat that Elder Wyrm guy, the one with all of that them Sporefall attacks. As a matter of fact, the status effects were the things that were getting me in that fight. I was level 25 at the time but he wasn't hitting that hard. Only when he ripped me up with a mega-status drain of confuse+oil+silence+blind+sap did I suffer.
As a matter of fact, I think I used up all of my remedies in that fight, and most of my magic went to Esuna.
What a pain.

I love how the story's starting to pick up now. While I'm still dismayed at some of the dialog (who says "Pray be quick" these days?) I can't believe what happened.

Spoiler:

I'm starting to like Vayne more than any other Playstation FF villain. His double dealings are wicked, and while he's not outright massacring villages, he killed his own father to become emperor!

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

Originally Posted by Matt

Spoiler:

I'm starting to like Vayne more than any other Playstation FF villain. His double dealings are wicked, and while he's not outright massacring villages, he killed his own father to become emperor!

Spoiler:

Well, yeah he killed his own father, but I thought that was consensual in order to keep the Senate from taking over. The emperor was going to die from his disease in short time, anyway.

If anything, he was more evil for executing two of his brothers previously.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by JazzFlight

Spoiler:

If anything, he was more evil for executing two of his brothers previously.

Spoiler:

This one guy in Old Archades nailed Vayne in his description. This point is brought up over and over that Vayne's a cruel bastard. Hell, from what I've seen so far, he even sent on judge (Zecht) to Nabudis knowing full well what he was going to do.

Oh, and Matt, if you think Sporefall was bad way until you fight Carrot. Putrid Breath literally puts every negative status effect on you, talk about crippling.

There's nowhere I can't reach.