Ivalice? More like Vana...lice! Shut up. (FFXII thread)

Donomni · 01-15-2010, 04:29 PM

Finally got around to playing this a few days ago, just beat the Demon Wall in Raithwall's Tomb(The second one, because I suck).

Besides FF III, this is the only FF game I've taken on without a strategy guide, although I have used GameFAQs for things along the lines of blink-and-you'll-miss-it-forever shit that RPGs looooove to do.

The plot is very good, like, right-from-the-get-go good. That bit with Reks at the end of the tutorial... god, so sad. It was also nice that that particular bit with the empire docking a fleet at Bhrujerba or whatever it's called when you first get there didn't end with the typical "We're the evil empire so FUCK DIPLOMACY" invasion bit.

I have this weird way of not hating characters unless they're gigantic dicks, so this might not mean much, but I like the main cast. Even Vaan and Penelo, despite knowing they have the depth and importance of a turnip compared to the rest of the cast. Shit, I still keep Vaan out all the time... out of habit, I guess.

The games seriously feels like an MMO, right down to monsters that can eat your face right next to cannon fodder. At first I didn't think I'd use Gambits, but they really do help take the load off insane micromanagement in combat, although I wish I could get more targets sooner(Can't make a Gambit for Charge, for one...).

The license grid is a semi-improvement to FFX's Sphere Grid, in that you don't need to spend items to learn junk or spend any points just to move around to wherever junk you need to learn. My only gripes about the system is that you apparently need to learn to use different pointy sticks despite the fact that they are the same type of pointy stick(Just using it for spells, stats bonuses, and learning just TYPES of equipment woulda been fine), and that everyone really does end up the same way waaaay too early.

Also, Marks are already getting to the point of "Fuck it, I'll come back later" things.

Anywho, discussion and junk. Just avoid posting spoilers for now, if you could, please... at least any past where I'm at, I'm more or less going in blind plot-wise.

Regulus Tera · 01-15-2010, 04:30 PM

Marks are the best thing about this game. <3 200 hours of my life lost.

I still wish they had brought the International Zodiac Job System here.

Ryong · 01-15-2010, 05:16 PM

Did you use a FAQ so you don't miss the Zodiac Spear? ( Well, you can get as many as you want, actually, but it's a chance of less than 0.001% for each. )

And also, Vaan is a pretty good character stats-wise, so I suggest you keep using him. Ashe and Basch too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus Tera

I still wish they had brought the International Zodiac Job System here.

Me too. You go check the people trying to simulate it in the normal game by making every class incredibly specific.

Donomni · 01-15-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryong

Did you use a FAQ so you don't miss the Zodiac Spear? ( Well, you can get as many as you want, actually, but it's a chance of less than 0.001% for each. )

Hells yeah, the last thing I want to deal with is bend-your-leg-thus-so-and-kinda-maybe-something-good-will-happen RNG manipulation bullcrap.

A lot I can deal with, but this Zodiac Spear nonsense? No way in hell, mang.

Kim · 01-15-2010, 08:46 PM

Don't try to rush and do all the hunts at once. You'll probably end up saving most of them until near the end.

Zodiac Spear nonsense can go fuck itself.

<3 Gambits

The plot is great and gets better.

There is some slowdown in one of the last dungeons and during one hunt. This is possibly the game's greatest flaw.

License board is nice for building certain types of characters, but it would have benefited from giving you less freedom.

Use the fuck out of your protect, haste, shell, etc spells before boss fights or during. This goes doubly so for hunts.

It's not perfect, but it's easily my favorite FF game of what I've played. VI is a very, very close second.

Donomni · 01-15-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NonCon

Don't try to rush and do all the hunts at once. You'll probably end up saving most of them until near the end.

Yeah, for sure. One hunt earlier against... Marilith, I think? Anyways, the damn thing nearly one-shotted each character, so I kinda had to run like mad to survive.

Plot wise, I got Belias and got back to Rabanastre. Yes, let's experiment with a stone that sucks in Mist in an area balls-to-the-walls full of it without proper equipment or safety precautions! Judge Ghis: Retard.

Just beat Croakodile through Belias summoning at the start then spamming blind and slow and buffs. Kinda of a "Holy fuck, I won?" moment.

Sithdarth · 01-16-2010, 01:50 AM

Just wait till you meet Yiazmat. Took me like 8 hours times about 4 tries, thats about 8 hours per try 4 times, with all level 99 characters to beat that damn thing. Mostly cause I had like no ribbons and kept dying on like the last 1-2 bars of its life.

Kim · 01-16-2010, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sithdarth

Just wait till you meet Yiazmat. Took me like 8 hours times about 4 tries, thats about 8 hours per try 4 times, with all level 99 characters to beat that damn thing. Mostly cause I had like no ribbons and kept dying on like the last 1-2 bars of its life.

You do know that you can walk away and save at any point during that fight, multiple times even, just so long as you make sure he doesn't cast Regen on your way out, right? RIGHT?

Sithdarth · 01-16-2010, 04:55 AM

I also know that when you do that the fight actually gets harder each time. Also, I wanted to do it in one go but I ended up eventually having to take one save once I got down to like two bars. Mostly to refill health and mana and get rid of some bad buffs.

01d55 · 01-15-2010, 09:46 PM

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but whoever you have casting heals most often should get the first three limit break squares on the license board - the second and third each give an entire extra mp bar.

Once you have multiple characters who can use 'em, you get access to this shitty minigame while they charge up which lets you A. queue another one to be used after the current one and B. get a free bar of MP.

01-15-2010, 04:29 PM	#1
Donomni Would you deign to supply me food? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 2,004	Ivalice? More like Vana...lice! Shut up. (FFXII thread) Finally got around to playing this a few days ago, just beat the Demon Wall in Raithwall's Tomb(The second one, because I suck). Besides FF III, this is the only FF game I've taken on without a strategy guide, although I have used GameFAQs for things along the lines of blink-and-you'll-miss-it-forever shit that RPGs looooove to do. The plot is very good, like, right-from-the-get-go good. That bit with Reks at the end of the tutorial... god, so sad. It was also nice that that particular bit with the empire docking a fleet at Bhrujerba or whatever it's called when you first get there didn't end with the typical "We're the evil empire so FUCK DIPLOMACY" invasion bit. I have this weird way of not hating characters unless they're gigantic dicks, so this might not mean much, but I like the main cast. Even Vaan and Penelo, despite knowing they have the depth and importance of a turnip compared to the rest of the cast. Shit, I still keep Vaan out all the time... out of habit, I guess. The games seriously feels like an MMOFFXI, right down to monsters that can eat your face right next to cannon fodder. At first I didn't think I'd use Gambits, but they really do help take the load off insane micromanagement in combat, although I wish I could get more targets sooner(Can't make a Gambit for Charge, for one...). The license grid is a semi-improvement to FFX's Sphere Grid, in that you don't need to spend items to learn junk or spend any points just to move around to wherever junk you need to learn. My only gripes about the system is that you apparently need to learn to use different pointy sticks despite the fact that they are the same type of pointy stick(Just using it for spells, stats bonuses, and learning just TYPES of equipment woulda been fine), and that everyone really does end up the same way waaaay too early. Also, Marks are already getting to the point of "Fuck it, I'll come back later" things. Anywho, discussion and junk. Just avoid posting spoilers for now, if you could, please... at least any past where I'm at, I'm more or less going in blind plot-wise. __________________ Dance your cares away! Chirrrrrrp. Also, dead blog.

01-15-2010, 08:46 PM	#5
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	XII>VI>X>IX>IV>III>I>VIII>II and I haven't played the others. Don't try to rush and do all the hunts at once. You'll probably end up saving most of them until near the end. Zodiac Spear nonsense can go fuck itself. <3 Gambits The plot is great and gets better. There is some slowdown in one of the last dungeons and during one hunt. This is possibly the game's greatest flaw. License board is nice for building certain types of characters, but it would have benefited from giving you less freedom. Use the fuck out of your protect, haste, shell, etc spells before boss fights or during. This goes doubly so for hunts. It's not perfect, but it's easily my favorite FF game of what I've played. VI is a very, very close second. __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

01-15-2010, 09:46 PM	#10
01d55 Not 55 years old. Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,098	Vaan is like, the plot's appendix: Useless but harmless. I've mentioned this elsewhere, but whoever you have casting heals most often should get the first three limit break squares on the license board - the second and third each give an entire extra mp bar. Once you have multiple characters who can use 'em, you get access to this shitty minigame while they charge up which lets you A. queue another one to be used after the current one and B. get a free bar of MP.

01-15-2010, 04:30 PM	#2
Regulus Tera lol i dont even know Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 7,271	Marks are the best thing about this game. <3 200 hours of my life lost. I still wish they had brought the International Zodiac Job System here.

01-16-2010, 01:50 AM	#7
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	Just wait till you meet Yiazmat. Took me like 8 hours times about 4 tries, thats about 8 hours per try 4 times, with all level 99 characters to beat that damn thing. Mostly cause I had like no ribbons and kept dying on like the last 1-2 bars of its life.

01-16-2010, 04:55 AM	#9
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	I also know that when you do that the fight actually gets harder each time. Also, I wanted to do it in one go but I ended up eventually having to take one save once I got down to like two bars. Mostly to refill health and mana and get rid of some bad buffs.