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

[Donomni]

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.

[Regulus Tera]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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.

[01d55]

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.

[bluestarultor]

Nonsie, you haven't played FFVII? I assume if you're getting XIII, you have a PS3 and VII is $10. There is no reason you should not buy it. Despite the fanboys lauding it as the Second Coming and people like Nightie overreacting and calling it crap, it's overall a decent game.



That said, a helpful tip. Don't keep Balthier with guns. He's actually the slowest with them because of his badass flourish.

Also, (keep in mind this is my personal bias) stick someone with a good Pole. They do damage based on the target's MDEF, but you can get in a good number of hits with them (we're talking an average of 4-hit combos). Plus, Balthier looks badass with one. I can't say whether he's necessarily good with them, but it looked so awesome I didn't care.

[Kim]

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Nonsie, you haven't played FFVII? I assume if you're getting XIII, you have a PS3 and VII is $10. There is no reason you should not buy it. Despite the fanboys lauding it as the Second Coming and people like Nightie overreacting and calling it crap, it's overall a decent game.

I'm gonna be stuck with the 360 version of FFXIII, barring an act of God granting me 300 dollars for a PS3. I've played FFVII, but it was years and years ago, I never beat it, and Advent Children has made my memory very untrustworthy. I'll probably check it out when I have the time, which probably won't be until after Q1 of this year.

[Krylo]

Here's the only thing you ever need to do.

Get someone with haste/berserk/protect/shell. Then get Basche. Set up gambits to have the haste/berserk/protect/shell person keep Basche constantly under their effects.

Now have everyone else stand back and keep heals going his way.

Optional step: Lawl.

Also works with Balthier if you set him up with heavy armor and heavy melee weapons.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by NonCon

I'm gonna be stuck with the 360 version of FFXIII, barring an act of God granting me 300 dollars for a PS3. I've played FFVII, but it was years and years ago, I never beat it, and Advent Children has made my memory very untrustworthy. I'll probably check it out when I have the time, which probably won't be until after Q1 of this year.

Ah. Well, one thing's for sure, Red XIII is the best character in the game in every way. Once you get him, you'll understand what I mean. Especially after you meet his family.