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Hello all,

I know there is another thread on this topic already, but thought it would be easier to find this guide if I started a new one.

Anyway, I just obtained the all elusive Pinktail only a couple hours ago, and felt like sharing the proof with all of you (in other words, "brag"). Even after using every shortcut I could muster with my emulator, it still took me over an hour...although I believe I've mastered the technique to shorting the time it takes to obtain the Pinktail. I'll explain my methods for getting it in a moment, but first please enjoy these screen shots.



************** WARNING, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!! **************


EDIT: I've converted the bitmap's to jpegs now, so there shouldn't be anymore problems while trying to view the screenshoots...sorry for the previous inconvience.

Fighting the Pinkpuffs
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/PinkPuffs.jpg

Getting the Pink Tail
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/The_Impossible.JPG

Giving up the Pink Tail to the Collector
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Giving_Pinktail.jpg

His Reaction
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Pi...For_Adamant.jpg

Receiving Adamant Armor
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Receiving_Armor.JPG

My old stats (before equipping Adamant Armor)
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Old_Stats.jpg

In process of equipping Adamant Armor
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Equiping_Adamant.jpg

Adamant Armor Equipped
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Adamant_Equiped.jpg

My New Stats (after equipping Adamant Armor)
http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/New_Stats.jpg


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Well if there was any doubt (I know I had mine) about the Pinktail’s existence, this should clear it up.

Normally, I wouldn't take the time to write this absurdly long and detailed post, but I've been playing FFIV since I was 10 years old (way back in '92) on the SNES and this is the final challenge I had yet to concur, so it's worth it. Anyway, I'll explain how I got my hands on the Legendary Pinktail, so the rest of you stand a better chance.

Note: This is playing the Japanese version (i.e., “hard type”) FFIV rom, on the ZSNES emulator.

Step 1: Use an emulator: common sense. Trying to obtain the Pink tail the old fashioned way is a sure recipe to drive you up a wall...just get yourself ZSNES (or any emulator, but I highly recommend ZSNES).

Step 2: As you progress through the game, be sure to pick up at least one (or more to be on the safe side) "alarms" in the giant robot when you arrive back on earth with FuSoYa.

Step 3: Go to the room where the Pink Puffs appear (Lunar Underground 5, far right cave...the room is kinda shaped like a "P" with a single chest inside).

Step 4: Be sure to assign a button to auto fast forward through the fight. Go to "Config" > "Options" then check "Toggled fast fwd/slwdwn". ZSNES should assign the "`" (tilde button, next to the "1" key) as the fast forward button.

Step 5: Go to your item screen and highlight your alarm (i.e., click once so there are two hands over the item, don't actually use it yet) and use a save state.

Step 6: Use the alarm to start an encounter with the Pink Puffs.

Step 7: Hit the fast forward button to speed through the fight. Remember the Pink Puff will cast beserk on most or all your party, so you shouldn't even need to do anything to kill them (make sure your characters are powerful enough to do this without dying).

Step 8: Once you kill all the Pink Puffs, slow the game back to normal and check to see if you got the Pink Tall. If you did, it's time to start cheering and dancin' and whatnot, if you didn't...

Step 9: Load the savestate where you have the "alarm" selected and begin steps 6-8 again.

Step 10: Rinse and repeat until you get the Pink Tall.


Well, there you have it...that's how I got the Pinktail. Although my mind is still numb from all the encounters, I'd say it took me at least 64 battles to get the tail, and maybe as high as 100. As you can probably tell from the pics (if you were able to view them, that is) I was obviously using hacks to boost my characters stats.

This will help you get through the game much quicker, and virtually eliminate the possibility of dying, but it is not necessary. I can't give you a link to the codes I used, because I custom made the hacks through the cheat option in ZSNES...I'm too tired to explain how to use it, so you'll have to Google it (if you don't already know that is).

If there are any request for more pics let me know and I’ll do my best to make it happen. I took a few more pics of the trip back to earth from the pink puff room, but they aren’t really anything worth mentioning. Well, it’s 5:32am where I am, and I have to be at work in 2 hours…so this lunatic/insomniac is going to bed.

Good luck!

- Pink Tail

This post has been edited by PinkTail on 18th May 2005 07:13

Welcome to CoN!

Quote

Note: I hastily used GeoCities to upload the pics, and apparently the bandwidth allowed is extremely low, so if you get an error message, try again in about an hour.

It also helps if you save in .PNG or .JPG format, both of which are much smaller than .BMP (bitmap).

Just looking at a single BMP brought the system down, of course. I've heard of several good image-hosting sites, although Ican't recommend any of them, since I'm not at all familiar with them.

Quote

Step 1: Use an emulator: common sense. Trying to obtain the Pink tail the old fashioned way is a sure recipe to drive you up a wall...just get yourself ZSNES (or any emulator, but I highly recommend ZSNES).

I personally recommend SNES9x for Windows users, because it comes in a much more convenient window, which I find easier to use. It's slightly less popular than ZSNES, but has a smaller load time and a more intuitive interface.

Also, in the future, you might want to consider making an emulator movie of such an event. I know that both ZSNES and SNES9x have a movie creation feature (and, from watching both movie formats (.ZMV and .SMV, I believe) I know that SNES9x's format is less likely to screw up). Of course, it might be a bit hard, considering how many times you'd have to restart recording.

Nevertheless, an amazing find, though, I must say. I need to know when in the process the game determines what type of item you win from the battle, so I can more effectively grab that. I have FFIIus on rom, and I tried to savestate at various points before and during the Pink Puff battle, but ended up getting stuck with receiving an Ether2. Of course, add that to the fact that I don't have Alert items in my game.

Edit

By the way, I've recently heard that the newest version of SNES9x can record .AVI movie files (I haven't verified this personally yet, though).

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 22nd May 2005 02:22

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

As you have shown in the pictures and the post, the pink tail exists.

But that was in the japanese version of ffIV

FFIV hard mode...Which also exists on...

THE PS1 VERSION...DUMDUMDUMMMMMM

Does this not mean the pink tail exists on this game as well as the japanese version or the ZSNES or SNES9X?

Could it really be in the PS1 game too? HMMMMM...

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<DrkMagimaster282> MWAHAHA. I,
DrkMagimaster282, shall wreak havoc and destroy...
<Mother>TIIIIIIMMYYY...are you planning evil, unkind revenge again in the bathroom??
<DrkMagimaster282>UMMMMMMMM...NO.

CoN day is May 27th, 2005
Join elder-geek.com for unbiased reviews, no console wars here...

I didn't realize that it was still a question - yes, it's in all versions of the game. It's just easier to get in versions that have the Alert.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 17th May 2005 06:26)

Welcome to CoN!

Quote

Note: I hastily used GeoCities to upload the pics, and apparently the bandwidth allowed is extremely low, so if you get an error message, try again in about an hour.

It also helps if you save in .PNG or .JPG format, both of which are much smaller than .BMP (bitmap).

Just looking at a single BMP brought the system down, of course. I've heard of several good image-hosting sites, although Ican't recommend any of them, since I'm not at all familiar with them.

Quote

Step 1: Use an emulator: common sense. Trying to obtain the Pink tail the old fashioned way is a sure recipe to drive you up a wall...just get yourself ZSNES (or any emulator, but I highly recommend ZSNES).

I personally recommend SNES9x for Windows users, because it comes in a much more convenient window, which I find easier to use. It's slightly less popular than ZSNES, but has a smaller load time and a more intuitive interface.

Also, in the future, you might want to consider making an emulator movie of such an event. I know that both ZSNES and SNES9x have a movie creation feature (and, from watching both movie formats (.ZMV and .SMV, I believe) I know that SNES9x's format is less likely to screw up). Of course, it might be a bit hard, considering how many times you'd have to restart recording.

Nevertheless, an amazing find, though, I must say. I need to know when in the process the game determines what type of item you win from the battle, so I can more effectively grab that. I have FFIIus on rom, and I tried to savestate at various points before and during the Pink Puff battle, but ended up getting stuck with receiving an Ether2. Of course, add that to the fact that I don't have Alert items in my game.

Thanks for the suggestions...again, it was late and I was tired, so I forgot to convert the bitmap's to jpegs, i'll do that later today (hopefully) along with trying to get them uploaded elsewhere for greater bandwidth.

I also like the recording idea...yes, zsnes does have such a feature I believe, although I haven't used it in a very long time, I should be able to figure it out with a little messing around. Hopefully the filesize won't get out of hand. If nessisary, I'll try doing this on SNES9x if ZSNES gives me some problems (if snes9x will play the rom & savestates, not sure about that one).

To answer your question about when the game decides what item you will get...i can say with about 99.4% certainty that all is determined the moment the battle begins. I have tested this with my save states in many encounters and the results are always the same once the fight starts. That's why I suggest using a save state when you are a mere 1 click away from using alarm to call forth the pink puff's.

Note about the armor, against normal magic attacks (the ones rydia and rosa can use) it seems to reduce all damage to 1. And I *think* it does the same for melee damage, but I need to test the armor further before I can say for sure. However, special monster abilities will still do significant damage to the armor bearer, although it is still reduced proportional to the increase in armor value.

Zeromus's Big Bang attack for example, will still hit Cecil for a good dose of damage, but he should still be the last one standing in the group all else being equal. Also, I'm not sure if it's only in the japanesse version of the game or not, but as you can see from the screen shots, you get the armor directly from the collector. I didn't recieve any more adamant to take to the blacksmith to forge into the armor. I've read on some websites that this is not the case, so either the american verison is different, or they are misinformed.

Well my lunch break is almost over and I need to get back to the office...I'll try to post more tonight.

The armor doesn't reduce your damage to one, it raises your stats so high that you get that 15 defense multiplier.

If you cheat to get it, you don't get bragging rights. Using Alerts is fine, but using save states lowers your right to brag considerably.
By the way, kudos on getting Cecil 999 MP out of a possible 529

--------------------

"I had to write four novels before they let me write comic books."
-Brad Meltzer

Geez, I wish you'd been reading this forum since you were ten years old. The existence of the pink tail isn't in question at all, and the other threads pretty thoroughly outline how to go about trying to get one.

This post has been edited by karasuman on 20th May 2005 21:45

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Veni, vidi, dormivi.

Is it just me or do Pink Puffs look slightly more like Pink Goo or "Pinky" from Pacman? And... they seriously... dont look like they have... tails... You guys sure that they're the Pink Puff's... tail?

That could surmise the lil ol' midget's elation at aquiring one and parting with a near invincible armor... you never know... I personally never trusted any of those small little creatures in that town's sense of 'fun'. At that size... you can do some pretty kinky stuff with giant 'tails'.

Anyway, on to more serious matters, on the PSX version - will the attempt to aquire a 'Pink Tail' either turn me A: Insane or B: Cause me to break/harm or otherwise do physical or mental harm to anything, inanimate or living?

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"A little tight, but the price was right" - Locke
"Oh, what a Fuddy Duddy" - Relm
"..." - Shadow
"I'm a General, not some love starved twit" - Celes
"Although Edgar showers his attention on the ladies, most are smart enough to pay him no attention. Oh! King Edgar!" - Figaro Castle Inn Attendant

Quote (Dark Paladin @ 20th May 2005 16:39)

The armor doesn't reduce your damage to one, it raises your stats so high that you get that 15 defense multiplier.

If you cheat to get it, you don't get bragging rights. Using Alerts is fine, but using save states lowers your right to brag considerably.
By the way, kudos on getting Cecil 999 MP out of a possible 529

Edit

Edit- I just noticed this post. I was about to say the same thing

This post has been edited by MogMaster on 21st May 2005 23:53

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If you've been mod-o-fied,
It's an illusion, and you're in-between.
Don't you be tarot-fied,
It's just alot of nothing, so what can it mean?
~Frank Zappa

Sins exist only for people who are on the Way or approaching the Way

Quote (Dark Paladin @ 20th May 2005 15:39)

The armor doesn't reduce your damage to one, it raises your stats so high that you get that 15 defense multiplier.

If you cheat to get it, you don't get bragging rights. Using Alerts is fine, but using save states lowers your right to brag considerably.
By the way, kudos on getting Cecil 999 MP out of a possible 529

Sorry DP, but you're wrong...when it comes to magic spells (Ice/Fire/Lit/etc. type) all dmg IS reduced to 1. Checkout the screenshot below:

http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/1dmg.jpg

Again, I only said dmg is reduced to 1 from normal magic attacks and that I *thought* from physical attacks. I can't be sure about physical attacks, as Cecil's dodge rate is now 99%, and every physical attack I've seen against him since donning the adamant armor has been a miss.

http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Miss.jpg

To reiterate, monster special abilities cause normal damage to the wearer, as these Gold Dragons clearly demonstrate.

http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/999dmg.jpg

I'm glad I was able to clear that up for you.

As far as bragging rights go...it's true that I used cheats, but even with cheats it still took time to perfect the methods to shorting the time span between pink puffs, and still took over an hour to get the pink tail once I did. So, although I may not have full bragging rights, I have earned some...perhaps not from you DP, but there are plenty of people I work with who are hardcore FF fans, and they were quite impressed (and as you will notice Glenn Magus Harvey and DrkMagimaster282 gave me some kudos as well). But my main reason for posting wasn't to brag anyway, it was to give a step by step guide for others who might be having difficulties in obtaining the pink tail. In another poster's thread there were clearly several such player's and I wanted to help them out.

Don't get me wrong DP, I respect your knowledge of FFIV as you are clearly well versed in several of its nuances (looking at the FAQ and other posts). But, you can't make an accusation and not expect a rebuttal correct?

Quote (karasuman @ 20th May 2005 16:43)

Geez, I wish you'd been reading this forum since you were ten years old.    The existence of the pink tail isn't in question at all, and the other threads pretty thoroughly outline how to go about trying to get one.

Harsh words there karasuman, it's a good thing you're not in charge of the welcoming committee...otherwise CoN wouldn't have very many members would they? I realize that most players are aware that the pink tail exists, but because it is so difficult to obtain, it may *feel* like it is impossible to some players. Not to mention there doesn't seem to be a single pic of someone else actually getting the item (If I am incorrect about this, feel free to post a link to someone else's pic with the Pinktail and/or adamant armor).

"the other threads pretty thoroughly outline how to go about trying to get one."

Really? Because I looked and I could only find 1 other thread on this board ( "I hate Pink Puffs" by Sax). Although there are some tips mentioned there that I have in my guide, they are spaced apart in random posts, and a few tricks that I suggested are not mentioned. I looked at the offical FAQ, and it only mentions things like where to get it and the odds of fighting a pinkpuff, et cetera. So, until you can provide me the link to where all these supposed "other threads" are that clearly outline the fastest way to obtain the pink tail via an emulator, in a single cohesive post, I'm going to have to call your bluff.

This post has been edited by PinkTail on 22nd May 2005 03:15

Quote (PinkTail @ 21st May 2005 22:37)

But, you can't make an accusation and not expect a rebuttal correct? 

I don't believe a rebuttal is allowed if the accusation is correct. I think the true fans who went and got the Tail honestly should be given bragging rights. The fact that it took you an hour AFTER cheating surprises me. I would imagine you would be able to do that rather quickly.

I don't see why hacking your level, as well as your HP and MP, was neccesary to help you get the puffs either. With all due respect, I beat this game when I was 5.

Edit- And Yes i've gotten the puffs on the SNES platform, as well as the tail
Edit2- I also still wish I had my guide book from days of yore. It had the exact same way to get the pink puffs as you described above in it. It was old, tattered, half in ruin, and without cover or visable publisher, but when we lost it when we moved I was still upset. I would totally scan the page. It had the american and japanese versions listed (2US and Chronicle Versions). It made a young me irked over having only the SNES, where I had to fight a billion random encounters and, then go eat dinner while the fight played itself out. Luckily I got it on try 3. You aren't exactly re-inventing the wheel, son.

This post has been edited by MogMaster on 22nd May 2005 05:15

--------------------

If you've been mod-o-fied,
It's an illusion, and you're in-between.
Don't you be tarot-fied,
It's just alot of nothing, so what can it mean?
~Frank Zappa

Sins exist only for people who are on the Way or approaching the Way

Quote

"I don't believe a rebuttal is allowed if the accusation is correct.

The problem is Mog, the accusation isn't correct, and if you only had the foresight to look at my proof maybe you would have thought before you spoke. If you are attempting to make a career of putting your foot in your mouth, then you are well on your way to stardom.

Quote

I think the true fans who went and got the Tail honestly should be given bragging rights. The fact that it took you an hour AFTER cheating surprises me. I would imagine you would be able to do that rather quickly.

Two things, 1 I never said or suggested that those who get the tail the hard way don't deserve bragging rights (unless they simply got lucky by getting it on their first few tries *hint, hint*). 2, it took over an hour simply due to luck...a 1 in 64 shot doesn't mean its going to automatically happen after 3 tries mog. It could have happened on my first or second attempt, but as was my case it didn't happen until several dozen more. Not to mention that's taking in account time to eat, use the bathroom, etc.

Quote

I don't see why hacking your level, as well as your HP and MP, was necessary to help you get the puffs either.

It wasn't, and I never said it was. I merely said, that it made progressing through the game much quicker than normal, and helped automate the process. If you bother to pay attention to what you read prior to opening your mouth mog you might avoid looking foolish in the future.

Quote

With all due respect, I beat this game when I was 5. 

You used the term "with all due respect" however the tone of your post shows me anything but. So, you'll excuse me if I take that with a grain of salt. On to your great "achievement", am I honestly supposed to be impressed? I'd beaten several RPG's by the time I was 5, some significantly more difficult than the SNES version of FFIV. Just because I choose to use cheats for certain purposes (such as quickly blowing through a game I've already beaten about a dozen times, and getting a rare item) doesn't mean I am not skilled enough to do it without them...I simply have other priorities in my life that take precedence over playing a game for countless hours, just so I can obstinately proclaim "I'm hardcore" .

Quote

And Yes I’ve gotten the puffs on the SNES platform, as well as the tail

Yawn, you got it on your third try...that makes you mostly lucky, not mostly "hardcore".

Quote

"I also still wish I had my guide book from days of yore.  It had the exact same way to get the pink puffs as you described above in it.

Once again, I never said my method for getting into a random encounter with the pink puffs was unique. What my guide is, is the fastest way to get the pink tail via an emulator (to the best of my knowledge anyway). Since most game companies frown on the use of emulators, I highly doubt that the steps in my guide dealing with how to use ZSNES to your advantage could possibily be in there.

Quote

You aren't exactly re-inventing the wheel, son.

There are parts of my guide that are common knowledge, I don't dispute that. But, like I said, I have a very solid step by step process for getting the pink tail via an emulator. When I said "in other words, brag" in my original post, it was just for the mere fact that I obtained the pink tail. I wasn't trying to suggest that I was in anyway more skilled than another player, or anymore a "hardcore fan". In your haste to rain on my parade simply because I chose to use cheats to get the tail faster, you've taken what I've said completely out of context (for the umpteenth time). When you reply to this post Mog (which I'm sure you will) and try to take make more holier than thou type comments...at least due me the favor of actually taking the time to read AND comprehend what I say.

On a side note Mog, if you were 5 when you beat this game, then you are several years younger than I. In which case, I do not appreciate your arrogant use of calling me "son"...because to me Mog, you are still just a kid. Try showing a little more respect to your elders.

-------

The main reason I came here was to help others, and hopefully see that my guide assisted a player or two in their quest to get the pink tail. Unfortunately, several people have saw fit to take jabs at me, merely because of my methods of getting the tail are not to their liking. It really is sad that when someone comes here to help, instead of being thanked for their contribution, they are lambasted on the basis of their gameplay style. Thank you to those who were mature and polite enough to welcome me and give me credit for taking the time to attempt to add something of value to the community. It's a real shame you guys seem to be in the minority around here...well, in this thread at least.

This post has been edited by PinkTail on 22nd May 2005 19:33

It's somewhat hard to take someone seriously when they cheat to obtain something, then unleash a holier-than-thou slew of defensive rebuttals when someone challenges even a single one of their statements (even when rightly challenged; for the record, yes, the actual in-game code which calculates damages does give a defense multiplier when certain stats are maxed out that could drop pretty much all damage to 1; some attacks simply have different flags which use other stats.)

Dude, really, chill out. So you got the pink tail and had to resort to some cheating. Can't expect everyone to bow down to you when others have done it raw and well within the cartridge version's set of rules now, can you? It's an impressive acheivement, and surely your account of your retreival of this elusive item will be of great help to people trying to get it, but really, it's just a game. 5 posts and you're already slinging arrogant and angry rebuttal; that's not a very good start despite a pretty good initial post. Just relax and don't take stuff so personally.

And in regards to the thread, got a screenie of the room in question where you fought these guys? I've never actually found where to fight them (though can't say I've tried much) and given the low encounter rate, it's been a pretty frustrating search.

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"Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by
the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession
and the likelyhood of him sharing."

Quote

It's somewhat hard to take someone seriously when they cheat to obtain something

and your reasoning behind this is?

Quote

then unleash a holier-than-thou slew of defensive rebuttals when someone challenges even a single one of their statements

every statement made with a condensing overtone was met in a likewise fashion. If that bothers someone, then they should have either phraseed their comment with a little more thought, or not make one in the first place.

Quote

for the record, yes, the actual in-game code which calculates damages does give a defense multiplier when certain stats are maxed out that could drop pretty much all damage to 1; some attacks simply have different flags which use other stats.

If you can show me proof of this, or tell me where to find it in the game I will gladly withdrawal my claim and issue DP an apology. The fact that every spell cast against me is reduced to 1 (not just a weak level 2 spell that I used for an example) tells me that this is not likely to be the case.

Quote

Dude, really, chill out. So you got the pink tail and had to resort to some cheating. Can't expect everyone to bow down to you when others have done it raw and well within the cartridge version's set of rules now, can you?

I don't expect anyone to "bow down" to me, just a little respect and courtesy would be nice. "Glenn" didn't have a problem with this, even while suggesting SNES9x is the superior emulator, or changing the file type for the pics, etc.

Quote

It's an impressive achievement, and surely your account of your retrieval of this elusive item will be of great help to people trying to get it, but really, it's just a game.

I agree it is just a game...but that's not why I'm perturbed, I believe I have made the focus of my frustration clear.

Quote

5 posts and you're already slinging arrogant and angry rebuttal; that's not a very good start despite a pretty good initial post. Just relax and don't take stuff so personally.

my posts are no more "arrogant" than the posts they are in response to. And I believe if when you originally came here and had they same sort condensing attitude thrown your way, you'd probably wouldn't be so thrilled about it yourself.

Quote

And in regards to the thread, got a screenie of the room in question where you fought these guys? I've never actually found where to fight them (though can't say I've tried much) and given the low encounter rate, it's been a pretty frustrating search.

These are the types of questions/responses I was hoping to receive instead of the ones I've been replying to. Here's a pic of the room with the pink puffs.

http://www.geocities.com/theheckler2003/Room.JPG

This post has been edited by PinkTail on 22nd May 2005 09:19

As linked in another thread, a couple weeks ago: http://www.vgmuseum.com/art/pink/

Also, this thread is a train wreck. Let it go.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

I still hate Pink Puffs.

In any case, back to the topic at hand, when does the program determine if you win a tail? At the start of the battle or when you win it? And are the odds of winning the tail 1 in 64 per monster or per battle? If it's per monster than there's actually a 5 in 64 of chance of one of them dropping it. So maybe it's actually a 1 in 320 chance per monster, with a combined probability of 1 in 64.

Ah, numbers...

This post has been edited by sax_russell_the_green on 23rd May 2005 06:41

Quote (sax_russell_the_green @ 23rd May 2005 01:38)

I still hate Pink Puffs.

In any case, back to the topic at hand, when does the program determine if you win a tail? At the start of the battle or when you win it? And are the odds of winning the tail 1 in 64 per monster or per battle? If it's per monster than there's actually a 5 in 64 of chance of one of them dropping it. So maybe it's actually a 1 in 320 chance per monster, with a combined probability of 1 in 64.

Ah, numbers...

Going by the FAQ on this site, and what several people have said (and what I observed when playing) its based per encounter and not per pink puff. Not 100% sure, but it seems to be the most likely answer from my experience anyway.

As far as when the game determines if you win the tail (or any other item) I can tell you that at least when playing my emulator it is always determined at the very start of battle. I tested by reloading the save states serveral times in multiple battles and the results have always been the same for me.

I'm gonna go off to eat some strawberry pudding, just to spite those little things.

Reducing damage to 1 isn't a property of the armor, damage being 1 happens because it boosts stats so much. You have 178 defense and a 15 defense multiplier. You have Cecil at a high level and his stats are normally very high regardless. If you had, for instance, a low-level Tellah on the moon with the adamant armor, he would be getting more than single-digit damage.
Someone who's looked into the coding of the game can back me up on this, but the monster magic there works on a basis of magic, not some seperate stat/factor. Those dragons' lightning normally cause upwards of 3000 damage when it's split between five fighters. Not surprising it would do quite a bit against the adamant armor. If you want to see it go lower, equip the Diamond Shield.

In a less-wordy conclusion, you get hit with one damage because Cecil is good like that.

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"I had to write four novels before they let me write comic books."
-Brad Meltzer

DP,

Upon further testing of the armor, I can surmise that you are indeed correct, so I concede our debate that not all magic damage is reduced to 1. I noticed something unusual while testing the armor however. It seems that although spells like nuke, tornado, and holy (among others) due normal damage to Cecil, the 3 schools of elemental magic (Ice, Fire, Lit) still reduce Cecil's damage intake to 1 (which is why I falsey assumed he was invincible to magic). To make sure there wasn't another factor interfering with the results, I turned off all cheats and removed all armor except for the adamant.

(I would have preferred to take the initial comparison numbers without any armor, but unfortunately in that scenario Cecil receives 9,999 dmg every time causing an instant kill.)

Now the 3 elemental spells (lvl 3) with normal armor (basically crystal everything plus genji instead of the adamant) will cause roughly 2,600 dmg (lit 3) 2,900 dmg (fire 3) and 3,000 dmg (ice 3) to Cecil at level 98 (with variables of course). With this armor setup Cecil has a 99 base defense and a 13x modifier. Combining to 1,287 total pysical defense. Magic defense is 24 base and 4x multiplier. Combining for 2,091 total dmg reduction.

Doing the math with only the adamant, the base defense becomes 148 and has a 13x multiplier. Magic is 20 base with 4x multiplier (total becomes 168 base with 17x multiplier). Therefore, the adamant should absorb 2,856 total dmg. The difference between the two equipment setups is a bonus of +765 (2,856 minus 2,091) in favor of the adamant. Even with this 765 boost to dmg abortion leaves approx 300 dmg unaccounted for with respect to Ice 3 (or fire 3 with an upper dmg variable).

It doesn't seem to quite add up.

Perhaps I am not taking something else into account with these numbers, but as far as I can tell the adamant armor seems to oddly absorb all damage from the 3 elemental schools completely. You may have a more logical reason why this is however.

With regards to melee damage, the only way Cecil seems vulnerable to an attack is if he attacks himself. When striking Cecil with the Ragnarok he receives anywhere between 900-1,700 dmg with the adamant armor alone. Naked, he receives between 2,800-3,700, so the math seems to work in this respect.

This post has been edited by PinkTail on 24th May 2005 09:11

Quote (PinkTail @ 24th May 2005 04:37)

It seems that although spells like nuke, tornado, and holy (among others) due normal damage to Cecil, the 3 schools of elemental magic (Ice, Fire, Lit) still reduce Cecil's damage intake to 1 (which is why I falsey assumed he was invincible to magic).

Nuke and Holy are roughly 5x stronger than FIL. Tornado brings health down to single digits, ignoring defense.

Quote (PinkTail @ 24th May 2005 04:37)

It doesn't seem to quite add up.

The system works in algorithms, and your calculations seem to happen arithmetically.

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"I had to write four novels before they let me write comic books."
-Brad Meltzer