Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic

OK im just going to apologize in advance for the noobosity of this post. I just bought FFT today, and im just experimenting with some of the features. Most recently, i came upon the mediator job, and i liked the thought of "inviting" monsters to join by party and fight with me. However, after successfully inviting one (a grenade to be exact), and heading into another battle, i saw he was at level 1 with very low stats. So, my question is this: Is it worth "inviting" a monster into your party and then raising it to a higher level? Im not sure how the stats develop as the levels progress. I was thinking of inviting a formidable monster to join me, and then raising it and making it a permanent member of my crew (just to be unique). Please leave your thoughts.

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

Is PJ

I only used it so far as Chocobos go. I had two red's with Chocobo Meteor and they never left my party. They were excellant additions.

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

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

Hmm...yea i have heard about chocos being invited (i dont like that term so im going to refer to it as catching) into a party and then some of the members would ride them (?). I was hoping to find a tough random encounter enemy who had some very good attacks an high stats/mobility and then catching him and raising him. Eventually i was thinking of my final party consisting of: lancer w/ other abilities, ninja of course, offensive magic user (black mage or summoner most likely), defensive magic user (white/time mage), strong offensive monster.

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

Is PJ

First, congrads on getting the game. It has a really high replay value, and is really enjoyable.

Second, don't even sweat the noob factor. It was a good question, but even if it was "noobish", who cares? We all make flaky posts now and again.

Now, your question. Inviting monsters is fun, and regularly keeping one in the battle rotation is rather unique, but it's not really practical. The only monster I would ever consider keeping around to actually use is a tiamat,

Possible spoilers: highlight to view

Which you get in the bottom floor of the Deep Dungeon

I have seen several theme-based team ideas that revolved around monsters, though. Someone posted in here ages ago about capturing a red panther and renaming it Gwenhwyvar after Drizz't D'ourden's familiar. There was even a post, I believe, where someone wanted to make Ramza into Beastmaster Ramza, and have just him with 4 monsters on every battle.

Cool idea, but hard to pull off.

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

Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them.

~Pacifist Badge, 1978

Monsters have better base stats than humans, but because of their extreme lack of abilities, they can make the game tough. The only monster I have is Boco, because Chocobos can heal, and even then, I rarely use him (only during sessions where I do massive levelling up of a human).

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

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

Yes, I was going to make beastmaster Ramza FAQ. I decided not to, because, really, I didn't think I could add much to the FAQs with my own challenge lay out. Other FAQs already have a rough layout of monster-based FAQs and that's really all you need; the only strategy to the challenge is "get better monsters", whenever you can't beat a random battle or story scenario.

Also note that the Mediator can give you the Train ability, which will allow whoever has that ability to force a monster into that party simply by being the person who beats them into critical HP (so long as they are the one that made them go into critical without killing them, it will "invite" or "capture" a monster 100% of the time with a physical attack).

Basically, here are the Pro's and Con's of Monsters:
PROS:
-Monsters can definitely be a fun alternate and challenge to a standard play through, because mosnters have great stats and many unique attacks. They start off powerful, and have high physical strength.
-Monsters all have their strengths and weaknesses, and depending on what you use, you can have quite a diverse army at your disposal.
-Monsters can't use or equip items or equipment of any kind. This means the only person your money will go to will be Ramza.
-You won't have to agonize over what jobs make a perfect soldier more than once: Ramza is the only human you'll have, and if you're folowing Beastmaster Guidelines, Ramza's main role is going to be soley battle support. So, just give him good defense and a buttload of items. You'll have tons of cash to spare.
-Monsters are cool looking. 'Nuff said.



CONS
-Unlike humans, they cannot obtain new abilities (unless you count Monster Skill, which is only temporary, and is hard to use normally anyway). If you want variety to your monsters, you are gunna have to go out and get more. Monsters caught will eventually breed and spawn more powerful versions of what you have, which is as close to a "job advancement" as you will get, but often times, the original versions will have skills the higher ups don't. (Chocobos are a great example of this)
-As a result of the above, no Monster can naturally use more than three abilities, ever. Some only have one or two. if Ramza has Monster SKill, you can allow your Monster Soldiers to use one extra ability, but Ramza must be standing right next to them, which isn't always an option. The abilities aren't always useful, either, especially if they require specifc placement set up to work.
-They cannot equip or use any equipment or items. This means you cannot alter their stats via armor, weapons, accessories, etc. Only leveling up can alter their stats, and then its only basic increase.
-Unless they are automatically immune, monsters cannot be shielded against status attacks, least not without the help of a human. This is why Ramza is mainly going to have to remain as a Chemist for the duration of the game, because he will be the only person in your party who can support your monsters with healing and status curing items.
-Though having a diverse group of monsters may seem cool, as the game progresses and your human enemies become more powerful and varied in skill, you're only really going to be able to beat the game with certain types of monsters. The most powerful don't show up until Chapter Four. So, for awhile, your best soldiers are going to be various Chocobos and Skeletons. You may just end up being stuck with them for longer than you care for.


Now, the Cons seem to outweight the Pros, but(!) an all-monster challenge can infact be alot of fun. I've made it through the beginning parts of Chapter 3 without much trouble, and it is entirely possible to beat the game using only monsters (especially when you can start recruiting Dragons and Hydra-type monsters).

And if all you want is to have a single Monster to round out your team, then it can be a fun alternative. I myself had a Red Chocobo that practically carried my team through 2/3rds of the game, in my last full playthrough, and we're talking a team with two flying geomancer/monks and a calculator/summoner. So, they can be a great asset. Just depends on how you want to use them.

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

And behold, I saw a Pale Gaming System, and the name of he who rode it was Squaresoft, and Enix followed him.

To sum it all up, Caesar, there is an FAQ out there that tells you how to beat the game with *only* Ramza, so we know that doing the all-monster squad is'nt impossible.... but I can definetly see alot of frustration in attempting it. Sharkerbob has a good idea with Ramza being in the Mediator class to support and augment the monsters you choose. If you decide to go through with it, let us know how it turns out!

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

Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them.

~Pacifist Badge, 1978

Im not sure if i would use only ramza and a party of monsters, especially since i already have a few characters who have high job levels and a decent setup for my location. Ill be sure to let you know what i discover by experimenting though (i definitely will try catching different monsters, maybe breeding, who knows). One pretty cool thing i just tried this morning was inviting a wizard into my team (there was a random battle with two wizards, some grenades, skeletons, etc. in the z_____ desert...the name evades my mind right now). He had some pretty decent equipment, was two levels higher than the rest of my party, and had quite a few black and white magic spells. Im considering keeping him and possibly trying this tactic later in the game (inviting an already-developed character to join). Thanks for the advice!

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

Is PJ

I never tried, And I guess I won't try a Beastmaster Ramza game.
I have already done the Solo Ramza challenge, Wich I was able to get everything in the game exept,

Possible spoilers: highlight to view

All Elmdor's Equipment when you fight them at Limberry Castle

I guess It was too easy I haven't even done any power leveling, just some story battles are so long that you can get easely 2-3 levels per fight.

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

Sayonara

I don't personally feel that inviting monsters is worth it. Your homegrown characters can do so much more. But, if you really like one of the monsters there are a few pretty good ones (Tiamat).

The appeal of inviting monsters is how fun/challenging/novel it would be. I think, one of these days, that I'll eventually try the Beastmaster Ramza team. I'm thinking a yellow chocobo, a panther or vampire, maybe a plague, and a hydra, if I can snag one. I think the novelty alone would be cool.... but trying to come up with a good working strategy to win fights like the one against Velius with all monsters, save Ramza, would be worth it.

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

Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them.

~Pacifist Badge, 1978