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So I've been playing both FF1 and FFIX recently and so has my friend. He apparently had his party in FF1 at level 45 at the chaos fight and I had mine at about 25 (except for my white wizard who was at level 30 for some reason)

He looked at my file and said, "Wow don't you train?" I replied back with "Training takes the fun out of it, If I powerlevel then all I have to do is spam the attack button"

Same thing happened when I was playing IX. Both he and I had gotten to Ipsen's castle and apparently he had everyone at about 50+ while I kept mine at about level 29.

So how about everyone else? Do you powerlevel, do you keep your level low or do you stay at around the middle?

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If god is all-forgiving then why do we have to kill people in his name?

I normally just kill every enemy I see, except sometimes I train a bit, but mostly not for levels, but for AP (FF V or FF VIII for instance), not only in the last level, but mostly if I really need a skill or if I am close to it (just 5-10 fights away or so...>.>)

First time I play it through I usually just do enough to be able to win the fights by a fair margin. Recently I've been on FFIV for the DS. If I find some monsters which have a good gold or exp. drop then I'll usually fight them for a little while to power up a bit further. I don't like just winging it through the fights. I enjoy it more if I'm comfortable. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Having said all that, I voted powerleveling because I usually do this every other time I play through a game. You mentioned FFIX. I was probably around 29 at Ispen's Castle the first time I played it. However, the third time I played it through I really wanted to beat the Grand Dragons above Gizarmaluke's Grotto, so I had to do a lot of leveling to beat them. Then once the team could kill them fairly easily I fought them until level 60. The same applies to FFVII, where I battled at the beginning of the game until Cloud had Meteorain, and FFVIII, where I utilised Card Mod, the card games and used Card itself on all the monsters around Balamb and in the Garden until I had 100 Quake, 100 Curaga, 100 Meltdown and 100 Holy, yet stayed at level 7 for the aforementioned ease of battling that I prefer as the monsters were level 7as well. One of the top reasons why I like FFXII so much is that it gives you the option of fighting a T-Rex and a number of other really strong enemies right at the beginning of the game. Of course I had to train up and beat it as Vaan as early as I could.

I enjoy being a hoarder, gaining rare items and armour, and beating difficult enemies as early as the game allows. Leveling is the best way of doing this without much hassle.

This post has been edited by sweetdude on 27th July 2009 20:46

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

I don't usually level so much that I'm at 99 when I finish, but I make it a point not to run from enemies. I've ended up in bad situations before because I ran from more enemies than I fought so I try and keep it balanced now. Not too much intentional leveling or it makes everything to easy, but I do enough to keep me out of that situation of having to run around and level for hours, eventually, because I'm too weak to kill some wicked hard boss.

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Climhazzard is the timeless evil robot who runs some of the cool stuff at CoN (mostly logging chat, since there are no quizzes at the moment), all the while watching and waiting for his moment to take over the world. -Tiddles

Eh...I recall when I played FF VIII the first time(s), as I have stated it was my only PS game in the beginning, so I sometimes started to train up to lv 100 (mostly at the gate to heaven/hell, but also in the isle where you get bahamut + Eden) - Ironically, in FF VIII higher levels just make the game harder. Sometimes then I really got ripped off by random encounters, like behemoth, etc. which are EXTREMLY strong if you get to a higher level.

i level up when needed to like for those optional bosses or when it comes to a challenge like for example the no materia boss fight in ff7 and the demon wall in ff4

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I remember... That night, we talked for the first time. I
didn't know it then, but after that night, everything changed. For everyone...
For me...
~Tidus

I just go through the game normally, no extra battles and no running either. Unless the next area has enemies that are too hard or there's something at a store that I simply must buy. Oh, and after I finish the game, just cos'.

Right now I maxing levels in The After while I wait for the new chapters.

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"Love, and do what you will" Saint Augustine

I always level up as much as I can. In Pokemon I remember I had all Pokemon at level 99, no Rare Candies. And in FF's I always am at least a couple levels ahead of what I should be. I'm playing through XII right now, and I was at level 9 or 10 before I went through the whole palace scenario.

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Praise Be To Helix!

I usually over level a bit, except in VIII where I stay low level and abuse card mod.

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FF games completed: I (psp), II (psp), III (DS), IV (psp), V (GBA), VI (GBA), VII, VIII, IX, X, XI: Nations-Rhapsodies of Vana'diel, XII, XIII, XIV, XV.
Spin-offs: FFIV: Interlude & The After Years, Crisis Core: FFVII, X-2, XIII-2, Lightning Returns, Type-0 HD, Dissidia, Dissidia 012, and Tactics (original & WotL).
Enjoyed them all.

I'm like sweetdude, a hoarder. If there are rare items out there I strive to get them and not neccessarililily just to get better stats or do more damage but simply to brag that I have the most powerful weapon in the game and can dual-wield it and hit 8 times for 9999 damage and have a chance to cast Ultima Death Holy and Flare at the same time. I also do it for the challange because the sidequest bosses are generally tougher than the endgame boss. And the only way to escape the Icy Tower of Doom and Fire(?)and Destruction and Death and General All Round Nastiness with clean pants and 99 Hi-/X-/regular potions is to be level 99 when you do it. Also I try to get as much money as is in/humanly possible because, who doesn't like to be rich? apart from those that don't like to be rich. And I try to complete the game not just finish it because I don't like replays, you already know whats gonna happen next.

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Since I advertise CoN there I think it's only fair that I advertise The Wiki here.

I normally don't overlevel on purpose, unless there's a boss or a group of enemies that just wipe the floor with me when I first get to them, but I don't avoid any battles and I try to do sidequests and such as soon as they become available, so that leads to overleveling sometimes. It depends on the game though, because sometimes there are abilities that I really, really want and gaining character levels is just a side effect of getting those abilities.

I'd say I power level because I fight a lot of monsters most the time to complete the bestiary.

Also I try to use the best spells such as.

FF4 Meteo/Meteor
FF6 Ultima
FF7 Knights of he Round
FF10 Anima or whatever it was called

Never really finished any of the others yet except 1,3,9 and Tactics but forgot what the most powerful spells were.

So I guess I'd be considered a power leveler.




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I treasure those who I love that love me in return. <3

1 was nuke (Flare in the later installments. *Although IMO nuke sounds cooler*)
3 was either flare or meteo (they're both level 8 warlock spells)
9 was doomsday

This post has been edited by Messier17 on 29th July 2009 03:34

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If god is all-forgiving then why do we have to kill people in his name?

Quote (sweetdude @ 27th July 2009 12:44)

First time I play it through I usually just do enough to be able to win the fights by a fair margin . . . I enjoy being a hoarder, gaining rare items and armour, and beating difficult enemies as early as the game allows. Leveling is the best way of doing this without much hassle.

This pretty much describes me perfectly. I typically scrape by on my first playthrough, basking in the gaming experience. On subsequent playthroughs I'm more interested in perfection, a task made much simpler by being more powerful than all my opponents.

I power-level, but it's more for the abilities that come with new levels than for the stat gains. I just like having new attacks available to me.

I like that in FF Tactics it's is possible to power-level your jobs without necessarily over-leveling the characters themselves.

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Wha? Thanks to me?

Under leveling makes it harder. Its no fun if nothing can survive one turn.

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A creature born from eternal darkness and heavenly light. One single entity, birthed of two opposites. They somehow coexist, to create I, the Lunarian Prince...

i power level on every playthrough but the first one. i only level on the first at the end of the game, but other than that, i like just crushing foes into submission. i think it started in pokemon when id get a charizard before even attempting to fight misty, or leveling to get beta in ff vii. i know that its harder at lower levels, but why struggle through a boss fight and have to level later when you could crush them now?

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Aujourdhui a commence avec toi.

Underlevel. Like most of you have said, over leveling takes the fun out of the game. Not always, though. The things that really make the game a breeze is getting everything.

In Final Fantasy V it was mastering every job and getting the best items.

In Final Fantasy VII, getting the Quadra Magic, Magic Counter, Counterattack & Final Attack Materias, along with Ribbons, makes the game too easy. Even if you are seriously underleveled. Of course, that's not to mention that KOTR kills every god-damned boss. (Except the Weapons that are the real challenge)

In Final Fantasy VIII, it's different, though. Over leveling makes the game quite difficult. However, if you have a good amount of Ultimas, Meteors, Auras, Meltdowns, Triples, Tornados, Pains, Reflects, Full-lifes and other good magic... combined with every junction [Str, Vit, Mag, Spr, Spd, Lck, Eva, Hit, HP] then the game is a friggin breeze as well.

However, it is sometimes challenging to under level, specially in Final Fantasy VII and V, where you level up every three god-damned fights.

I remember that I once played Final Fantasy VII and I did it with the purpose of not running once ever... I was level 45 by the end of Disc 1.

On FF5, the story is a bit different. Considering that you may want a fully powered Blave Blade, then you'll have to win every random encounter. And if you add doing sidequests, then surely you will overlevel the game.

This post has been edited by edgemty on 6th September 2009 07:09

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Yep, I'm here.

I usually overlevel. I kill everything I come across, and every now and then I stay for extra exp and money.

For me it really depends on the game. I usually overlevel on the games that I like, though I usually do this at the end of the game, before the final boss and during sidequests. I tend to not power train much at all on games I don't like... which leads to me being unable to finish them. Handhelds I generally level up like crazy... handheld = ideal for leveling when you're bored somewhere.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

ahaha... overleveling is fun.
but, it's also dead hard, and leveling up gets kinda boring if you stay in one place too long.

I usually end up over-leveled, though not always intentionally. Usually I just train until local monsters feel comfortable and then plow through until I hit an especially thick wall.

That said, sometimes I find it amusing to go out of my way to power level to sheer absurdity; such as once leveling until Terra had Fire 2 before fighting Vargas. Incredibly, stupidly overkill (not to mention, kind of a bad idea for stat growth purposes), I know, but at least preventing Banon from having his face perforated was a cinch. Especially considering he had about 5-600 HP for Ultros to slog through, provided he could get a shot off before being turned into takoyaki.

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"If you're thirsty, life gives you crackers; if you're hungry, it gives you pants."

Quote (Tetsuken @ 26th September 2009 19:09)

I usually end up over-leveled, though not always intentionally.

This is what ussually happens to me but in some cases it is bacause i tend to try to beat the game with eveythingg and all the optional bosses deafeted. when doing this overleveling tends to occur such as in IX for the fight with Ozme.

I fight almost all enemies I run into that I think I can handle, mainly train and try to level up and achieve whatever I can get near the end though before the final boss.

I avidly take on Low Level Games (I think I've completed 5 or 6 games as LLGs now) so I'm used to keeping my character levels low. Even when I run into encounters that most people would say "I guess I should grab another level or two" I'm the type that'll keep at it, knowing that if level 6's can best end game bosses, I can manage a mid-game boss with decent levels.

I agree with the OP, overleveling can take the fun out of it. Others like mashing X buttons and overpowering their enemies, and more power to them. But it sure isn't my style.

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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 (Bas @ 27th July 2009 18:48)

Ironically, in FF VIII higher levels just make the game harder.

I think we have stumbled upon the reason so many people hate VIII! They will say it's about the translations and the junction system, but this is the real reason.

As far as the question goes, I just play the game yo. If I lose a fight, I try new strategies until I win. A level is nothing but a number if you have no clue what to do.

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This is a webcomic and gaming blog where I rant about nonsense. Enjoy.

I was a soldier, now I just play one in video games.

I overlevel but it usually causes me to get "burned out". FFVII is sitting there unfinished. I was in the process of building all my characters up to 99 before the assault on Kefka but have not played VI in over a year. It sucks. I have no desire to play either.

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Sabin: Kefka! Wait!
Kefka: Wait he says! Do I look like a waiter?

Quote (Nytecrawla @ 26th December 2009 23:45)

Quote (Bas @ 27th July 2009 18:48)

Ironically, in FF VIII higher levels just make the game harder.

I think we have stumbled upon the reason so many people hate VIII! They will say it's about the translations and the junction system, but this is the real reason.

Well maybe. I think it's worth mentioning that even though it's true that higher levels make the game harder, it's still very easy nonetheless!

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

Quote (sweetdude @ 27th July 2009 15:44)

First time I play it through I usually just do enough to be able to win the fights by a fair margin. Recently I've been on FFIV for the DS. If I find some monsters which have a good gold or exp. drop then I'll usually fight them for a little while to power up a bit further. I don't like just winging it through the fights. I enjoy it more if I'm comfortable. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Having said all that, I voted powerleveling because I usually do this every other time I play through a game. You mentioned FFIX. I was probably around 29 at Ispen's Castle the first time I played it. However, the third time I played it through I really wanted to beat the Grand Dragons above Gizarmaluke's Grotto, so I had to do a lot of leveling to beat them. Then once the team could kill them fairly easily I fought them until level 60. The same applies to FFVII, where I battled at the beginning of the game until Cloud had Meteorain, and FFVIII, where I utilised Card Mod, the card games and used Card itself on all the monsters around Balamb and in the Garden until I had 100 Quake, 100 Curaga, 100 Meltdown and 100 Holy, yet stayed at level 7 for the aforementioned ease of battling that I prefer as the monsters were level 7as well. One of the top reasons why I like FFXII so much is that it gives you the option of fighting a T-Rex and a number of other really strong enemies right at the beginning of the game. Of course I had to train up and beat it as Vaan as early as I could.

I enjoy being a hoarder, gaining rare items and armour, and beating difficult enemies as early as the game allows. Leveling is the best way of doing this without much hassle.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Wow this is a convo from 2006 and i havent heard a truer motto, in rpgs and in life. sorry new to the forums.

I typically overlevel by default in games, because I like to keep the same group throughout a file and I don't like avoiding or running away from battles. This keeps my characters above the normal level to continue through the game and makes them easier.

I just finished an FF6 file the other day, and I decided to always bring only the lowest-leveled characters along with me as my team. I did every sidequest in the WoR but ended up assaulting Kefka's Tower at around an average of level 38-39, lower than I think I ever have in the past. It gave the game a refreshing new level of difficulty and kept my interest throughout.

This post has been edited by Neal on 6th January 2010 14:14

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Hey, put the cellphone down for a while
In the night there is something wild
Can you hear it breathing?
And hey, put the laptop down for a while
In the night there is something wild
I feel it, it's leaving me