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Bismark is overrated.

Rush past the game, earn as little xp as you can, get to the Underground Castle and get Odin. +1 speed for 25 levels then catch up the rest, average every stat at 50 points, including speed.

For Celes and Terra, once their stats are balanced, concentrate on +2mag pwr. You should be able to reach about 80. The damage spells cap out early enough but at some point you can get them to heal an entire party with cure2.Having these two around adds to the storyline. Most of the game, from early on, is based on these two, the two wielders of magic. Pair of earrings on one and the Gembox/Economizer on the other and your set.

Sabin and Edgar are your real power house.With these two characters can get the Bumrush and the Chainsaw. Pair them up with hard hitting relic and weapon combinations and these two guys will burn through everything. Still, balance the stats then boost on Vigor. These guys will hit hard and be able to heal themselves for decent keeping a good pace.

Locke and Shadow get maxed on speed. keeps the stats balanced then boost their speed. Pay close attention to these two. Remember your most recent play through the game> "Damn that action bars runs slow", cast haste on these two and you'll see it. Throw your old unsold gear and random enemies for a change of pace. This game isn't really stealing intense but it comes in handy here and there.

Relm and Strago are your offensive caster. You can only really play these two together. Go over the top in heisting their Magic Power and catch up on the others near the end, don't over do it though. Strago has his blue magic and Relm has the ability to control enemies. Go hunting the lore skills the easy way. The fake mustache is what makes the pair insepperable. You can also raise one to be a healer and make either Terra or Celes an offensive caster. Seriously, if you're trying to get the lore skills via random encounter and random casting chance, you've got it all wrong. Try playing these two together through the game and you've got a whole different game than you're used to playing.

Gau is you're call. It's a long ways to getting all the rage skills. Understand that if you really want to get all those skills, you have to realize you're in for a long ride. Every single story plot must be heavily farmed. Fight 15-20 fights in every area. The Veld must be visited after every story sequence. The monsters must be acquired, all of em, before you move on. If you want to wait for the airship for that second visit. You're going to have to travel the Serpent Trench after Kefka and ZoZo. Use the Noiseblaster on the Gambledekak and they cast vanish on you. Once you get the the Empirical continent, you have to fight all those zones and eventually get back to the Veldt asap. Use the NoiseBlaster on the cknlip and they cast Quake, make sure you have float, then you just have to kill the Wyvern. That stretch from the Floating Continent through Daryll's tomb. After that just keep the pattern. By that time you know every move by most of the monsters. Pick out your favorites and repeat. Speed is the stat to concentrate on. When he's in rage you want him doing whatever he can as fast as he can.

GoGo is you're wild card. Do whatever you want with her, Don't think you just found yourself another Offering and Gembox. The abilities used don't follow relic combination. Just have fun with this one, you don't need another Offering/Genjiglove or Gembox/Economizer. Not much lives when you let that puppy out.

Mog and Umaro go together but not as strongly as Relm and Strago. Umaro is and obvious power house but you can play him differently. Equip him with the Blizzard Orb and/or Crystal Ball and he takes on a magical aspec. Mog is a real savior here. His Moogle Charm leads you to Locke quickly. Why so quick, to fixed the Cursed Shield in Narshe, can't get it without Locke. Get that shield equipped as fast as you can and stick a ribbon on the wearer. If you get this shield fast enough you can unlock it early. The Paladin shield is worth the grind. It also teaches Ultima to the wearer. Get the Ragnarok Sword, bet it at the Coliseum and get your Illumina. You want this sword. If you fucked up and got the Esper, well one of the Satues has it on its droplist, it's a bitch to get. Apart from that, Mog and Umaro just usher in a different pace, but that Moogle Charm really lets you go places, fast. His dance don't do much, but fun to learn. That's how I found out when I could get him in the World of Balance.

Setzer lets you have a good time early. His slots are a decent change and everyone feels lucky once in a while. Get the Coin Toss relic and you can control the fights early on. GilToss allows you to spend that piile of GP that's just growing needlessly. The Talking Chocobo, Robotic Imp and 1/1200 Airship would be mine. Buyout two airships, park in outside Albrook, with my raft.

Don't bother levelling Cyan, that bitch is useless.

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Yeah, I barely post.

Tanx!!! you really helped! although because of your advice to get as little EXP. as possible I got Game Overed thrice and had to start a new game!

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

Quote (Max @ 2nd July 2009 08:40)

Bismark is overrated.

Rush past the game, earn as little xp as you can, get to the Underground Castle and get Odin. +1 speed for 25 levels then catch up the rest, average every stat at 50 points, including speed.

For Celes and Terra, once their stats are balanced, concentrate on +2mag pwr. You should be able to reach about 80. The damage spells cap out early enough but at some point you can get them to heal an entire party with cure2.Having these two around adds to the storyline. Most of the game, from early on, is based on these two, the two wielders of magic. Pair of earrings on one and the Gembox/Economizer on the other and your set.

Sabin and Edgar are your real power house.With these two characters can get the Bumrush and the Chainsaw. Pair them up with hard hitting relic and weapon combinations and these two guys will burn through everything. Still, balance the stats then boost on Vigor. These guys will hit hard and be able to heal themselves for decent keeping a good pace.

Locke and Shadow get maxed on speed. keeps the stats balanced then boost their speed. Pay close attention to these two. Remember your most recent play through the game> "Damn that action bars runs slow", cast haste on these two and you'll see it. Throw your old unsold gear and random enemies for a change of pace. This game isn't really stealing intense but it comes in handy here and there.

Relm and Strago are your offensive caster. You can only really play these two together. Go over the top in heisting their Magic Power and catch up on the others near the end, don't over do it though. Strago has his blue magic and Relm has the ability to control enemies. Go hunting the lore skills the easy way. The fake mustache is what makes the pair insepperable. You can also raise one to be a healer and make either Terra or Celes an offensive caster. Seriously, if you're trying to get the lore skills via random encounter and random casting chance, you've got it all wrong. Try playing these two together through the game and you've got a whole different game than you're used to playing.

Gau is you're call. It's a long ways to getting all the rage skills. Understand that if you really want to get all those skills, you have to realize you're in for a long ride. Every single story plot must be heavily farmed. Fight 15-20 fights in every area. The Veld must be visited after every story sequence. The monsters must be acquired, all of em, before you move on. If you want to wait for the airship for that second visit. You're going to have to travel the Serpent Trench after Kefka and ZoZo. Use the Noiseblaster on the Gambledekak and they cast vanish on you. Once you get the the Empirical continent, you have to fight all those zones and eventually get back to the Veldt asap. Use the NoiseBlaster on the cknlip and they cast Quake, make sure you have float, then you just have to kill the Wyvern. That stretch from the Floating Continent through Daryll's tomb. After that just keep the pattern. By that time you know every move by most of the monsters. Pick out your favorites and repeat. Speed is the stat to concentrate on. When he's in rage you want him doing whatever he can as fast as he can.

GoGo is you're wild card. Do whatever you want with her, Don't think you just found yourself another Offering and Gembox. The abilities used don't follow relic combination. Just have fun with this one, you don't need another Offering/Genjiglove or Gembox/Economizer. Not much lives when you let that puppy out.

Mog and Umaro go together but not as strongly as Relm and Strago. Umaro is and obvious power house but you can play him differently. Equip him with the Blizzard Orb and/or Crystal Ball and he takes on a magical aspec. Mog is a real savior here. His Moogle Charm leads you to Locke quickly. Why so quick, to fixed the Cursed Shield in Narshe, can't get it without Locke. Get that shield equipped as fast as you can and stick a ribbon on the wearer. If you get this shield fast enough you can unlock it early. The Paladin shield is worth the grind. It also teaches Ultima to the wearer. Get the Ragnarok Sword, bet it at the Coliseum and get your Illumina. You want this sword. If you fucked up and got the Esper, well one of the Satues has it on its droplist, it's a bitch to get. Apart from that, Mog and Umaro just usher in a different pace, but that Moogle Charm really lets you go places, fast. His dance don't do much, but fun to learn. That's how I found out when I could get him in the World of Balance.

Setzer lets you have a good time early. His slots are a decent change and everyone feels lucky once in a while. Get the Coin Toss relic and you can control the fights early on. GilToss allows you to spend that piile of GP that's just growing needlessly. The Talking Chocobo, Robotic Imp and 1/1200 Airship would be mine. Buyout two airships, park in outside Albrook, with my raft.

Don't bother levelling Cyan, that bitch is useless.

WTF DUDE?

Bismark is +2 str and on snes version it is the only one i think.

+1 speed is for thieves and ninja like characters and there might be a +2 somewhere along there,i cannot remember

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We are stardust.Our bodies are made from the guts of exploding stars.

Neil Degrasse Tyson.

That's a pretty well thought out strategy you've got there. Thanks for that, I might try out a couple of these combinations sometime.

Quote (mertinatron @ 3rd July 2009 21:24)

That's a pretty well thought out strategy you've got there. Thanks for that, I might try out a couple of these combinations sometime.

Use espers to raise stats of:speed,vigor,str etc.


These effects improve your characters dramatically and make sure everybody is good int and wis so they can be good casters.



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We are stardust.Our bodies are made from the guts of exploding stars.

Neil Degrasse Tyson.

I must admit that I'm not sure exactly what each statistic does anymore or know their calculations to see effective each is. Despite this and as well thought out as the strategy may be, I fail to see how it proves Bismark as being overrated. It fails to go over Bismark's pros and cons in comparison to Odin and different character builds. If I recall correctly, Vigor is partially responsible for the attack stat? What about Genji Glove+Offering characters who do primarily do physical attacks, or other physically based archetypes?

I'm assuming if you're using an economizer, wether it's Cure 2 or Cure 3 that fully heals the party doesn't matter. Well, unless the animation is longer and locks you out of making subsequent choices that is, that I don't remember. Even without the economizer, Osmose can M.P. virtually a non-issue when learned. I realize the speed is important to circumvent the damage cap, but if you only need 25 levels for speed training and there are status points to spare in the difference between Cure 2 and Cure 3, then why not put them into Vigor instead?

Could you please go into more detail as to why Bismark's an inferior choice before making blanket statements about it? It'd really help to prove your point, especially to those of us less knowledgeable to the points of your view. Sorry for my lack of expertise in the area by the way, I'm just curious.

This post has been edited by Tonepoet on 3rd July 2009 22:51

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Role reversal at its finest.

Quote (Tonepoet @ 3rd July 2009 22:47)

I must admit that I'm not sure exactly what each statistic does anymore or know their calculations to see effective each is. Despite this and as well thought out as the strategy may be, I fail to see how it proves Bismark as being overrated. It fails to go over Bismark's pros and cons in comparison to Odin and different character builds. If I recall correctly, Vigor is partially responsible for the attack stat? What about Genji Glove+Offering characters who do primarily do physical attacks, or other physically based archetypes?

I'm assuming if you're using an economizer, wether it's Cure 2 or Cure 3 that fully heals the party doesn't matter. Well, unless the animation is longer and locks you out of making subsequent choices that is, that I don't remember. Even without the economizer, Osmose can M.P. virtually a non-issue when learned. I realize the speed is important to circumvent the damage cap, but if you only need 25 levels for speed training and there are status points to spare in the difference between Cure 2 and Cure 3, then why not put them into Vigor instead?

Could you please go into more detail as to why Bismark's an inferior choice before making blanket statements about it? It'd really help to prove your point, especially to those of us less knowledgeable to the points of your view. Sorry for my lack of expertise in the area by the way, I'm just curious.

You are quite correct.

Also remember that it doesn't take alot of levels to max out vigor on cyan.

It might not be really necessary to put agility.

I am not even sure if it raises speed,it would raise evade and possibly and maybe make it easier to steal? Its a ninja and thief stat no? At least in most games it is.

Int wil be far more usefull in this game as it is overpoweringly powerfull in this game with the amount of magic in this game.
Ultima*5 and byebye regular enemies,as for bosses it will hurt anyways and improves heals.

The best thing to do in fact is start with the easy ones such as:+2 vigor on bismark or +1 on stat or whatever you can get in world of balance early on and once you get magic and stuff start improving also early on speed on locfke.Forget about raiden as it takes too long.There might be something else.




This post has been edited by Magitek_slayer on 3rd July 2009 23:18

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We are stardust.Our bodies are made from the guts of exploding stars.

Neil Degrasse Tyson.

Quote (Max @ 2nd July 2009 03:40)

For Celes and Terra, once their stats are balanced, concentrate on +2mag pwr.

...

Sabin and Edgar are your real power house.With these two characters can get the Bumrush and the Chainsaw. Pair them up with hard hitting relic and weapon combinations and these two guys will burn through everything. Still, balance the stats then boost on Vigor.

...

Locke and Shadow get maxed on speed. keeps the stats balanced then boost their speed. Pay close attention to these two.

...

Relm and Strago are your offensive caster. You can only really play these two together. Go over the top in heisting their Magic Power and catch up on the others near the end, don't over do it though. Strago has his blue magic and Relm has the ability to control enemies. Go hunting the lore skills the easy way. The fake mustache is what makes the pair insepperable. You can also raise one to be a healer and make either Terra or Celes an offensive caster.

...

I stopped reading around the Relm/Strago section, but I would like to address some of your statements.

1. Terra/Celes--It is generally advised to train one in a magical way and the other in fighting. That way, you have differentiated two very similar characters. Granted, by the end of the game it's not going to make much difference anyway.

2. Sabin/Edgar--Sabin should have his MAGIC stat increased as much as possible, as his Blitzes are based on this (or at least all of the good ones). Edgar shouldn't be using the Chainsaw end-game, it is underpowered. A dragoon set-up is usually preferred.

3. Shadow/Locke--Locke needs his "vigor" (Strength) raised, not his Speed. Speed is very much an "on-paper" stat that looks better than it really is. Upping his strength allows him to do some excellent damage end game with the Valiant Knife and/or Zwill Crossblade, Ultima Weapon, etc. Shadow is a bit harder, but I advise against strength and suggest strength or magic.

4. Relm/Strago--Gee, I think I can play them separately just fine. Most Blue Magics are outclasses by Magic, aside from Grand Delta, which is easy to obtain anyway. Control is generally regarded as useless. I would also advise against raising any one character as a "healer" and another as an "offensive" caster. Give both characters both types of magic. In fact, give all your characters as much magic as possible.

Quote (yelanates @ 3rd July 2009 23:11)

Quote (Max @ 2nd July 2009 03:40)

For Celes and Terra, once their stats are balanced, concentrate on +2mag pwr.

...

Sabin and Edgar are your real power house.With these two characters can get the Bumrush and the Chainsaw. Pair them up with hard hitting relic and weapon  combinations and these two guys will burn through everything. Still, balance the stats then boost on Vigor.

...

Locke and Shadow get maxed on speed. keeps the stats balanced then boost their speed. Pay close attention to these two.

...

Relm and Strago are your offensive caster. You can only really play these two together. Go over the top in heisting their Magic Power and catch up on the others near the end, don't over do it though. Strago has his blue magic and Relm has the ability to control enemies. Go hunting the lore skills the easy way. The fake mustache is what makes the pair insepperable. You can also raise one to be a healer and make either Terra or Celes an offensive caster.

...

I stopped reading around the Relm/Strago section, but I would like to address some of your statements.

1. Terra/Celes--It is generally advised to train one in a magical way and the other in fighting. That way, you have differentiated two very similar characters. Granted, by the end of the game it's not going to make much difference anyway.

2. Sabin/Edgar--Sabin should have his MAGIC stat increased as much as possible, as his Blitzes are based on this (or at least all of the good ones). Edgar shouldn't be using the Chainsaw end-game, it is underpowered. A dragoon set-up is usually preferred.

3. Shadow/Locke--Locke needs his "vigor" (Strength) raised, not his Speed. Speed is very much an "on-paper" stat that looks better than it really is. Upping his strength allows him to do some excellent damage end game with the Valiant Knife and/or Zwill Crossblade, Ultima Weapon, etc. Shadow is a bit harder, but I advise against strength and suggest strength or magic.

4. Relm/Strago--Gee, I think I can play them separately just fine. Most Blue Magics are outclasses by Magic, aside from Grand Delta, which is easy to obtain anyway. Control is generally regarded as useless. I would also advise against raising any one character as a "healer" and another as an "offensive" caster. Give both characters both types of magic. In fact, give all your characters as much magic as possible.

Hmm well actually there are some decent lores.

I don't use as often rages as i did in world of balance.

During the endgame.

Big guard,forcefield and white wind are some of the best lores you can get,it adds safe and shell on the whole team forcefield i believe changes your elemental weakness wich isn't as usefull in the endgame and white pearl wind heals whole team depending on their current hp,it can be a advantage if you have it already and strago is in youir team.


The rest are nice but not as usefull

Having elemental spells like pearl elemental fire spells like aquabreath and l? pearl wich does light elemental can be usefull against undead and other stuff.

Quasar isn't bad either,it pierces defenses for those enemies real resistant like grand train,Then again flare is cheaper than both and does high dmg and there are spells more expensive than grand train and quasar but i'l have toc heck up to see the cost of mana.

Anyways lore is nice if you spend the time to get em,it is not 100% necesary but it makes strago more than some extra character and a little usefull.


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We are stardust.Our bodies are made from the guts of exploding stars.

Neil Degrasse Tyson.

I've read through the thread, one of my major points has been overlooked. You don't need to do 9999 damage with every character. If that's your plan, have fun doing it, it's really easy to achieve and lets you kill things fast. Good job you beat the game, the same way you did when you were 12.

I wanted to pitch the idea that characters unique abilities are the way they are for a reason. The Relm and Strago argument proves that. Why else would that relic enable you control enemies, then learn their skills with another player, who is heavily related to the prior in the story. Doesn't matter if the Lore skills aren't heavily used, it's the point of going around and getting them that makes it fun.

The argument used against me is ridiculous. As an example, in FFVII, go get all the ENEMY SKILLS without the Manipulate Materia. Don't play them together if you don't want to, don't use lore if you don't want to. If you're happy doing 9999 with and Genjiglove/Offering your whole way through the game go nuts.

Bismark is overrated, doesn't mean he's bad, I like the vigor bonus. But if you're maxing out every character on strength then you aren't exploring the game. Vigor should not be the best stat for everyone. Instead of having all your characters with 100+ vigor, try designating certain characters to certain roles.

It is entirely possible the play through the game with brute strength, but whats the point.

Terra And Celes have backgrounds. One is half Esper and the other has been infused with Magitek. That makes it quite obvious no?

Of course you should teach all magic to all characters, but some should be casting more than others.

Hey R8.50 Mango, l2p!

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Yeah, I barely post.

Quote (Max @ 4th July 2009 02:19)

I've read through the thread, one of my major points has been overlooked. You don't need to do 9999 damage with every character. If that's your plan, have fun doing it, it's really easy to achieve and lets you kill things fast. Good job you beat the game, the same way you did when you were 12.

I wanted to pitch the idea that characters unique abilities are the way they are for a reason. The Relm and Strago argument proves that. Why else would that relic enable you control enemies, then learn their skills with another player, who is heavily related to the prior in the story. Doesn't matter if the Lore skills aren't heavily used, it's the point of going around and getting them that makes it fun.

The argument used against me is ridiculous. As an example, in FFVII, go get all the ENEMY SKILLS without the Manipulate Materia. Don't play them together if you don't want to, don't use lore if you don't want to. If you're happy doing 9999 with and Genjiglove/Offering your whole way through the game go nuts.

Bismark is overrated, doesn't mean he's bad, I like the vigor bonus. But if you're maxing out every character on strength then you aren't exploring the game. Vigor should not be the best stat for everyone. Instead of having all your characters with 100+ vigor, try designating certain characters to certain roles.

It is entirely possible the play through the game with brute strength, but whats the point.

Terra And Celes have backgrounds. One is half Esper and the other has been infused with Magitek. That makes it quite obvious no?

Of course you should teach all magic to all characters, but some should be casting more than others.

Hey R8.50 Mango, l2p!

I have played this game 20 times or 30 and beat it,i always explored and i know the map game by heart.

I've used the characters to death.

And bismark is not overrated,it is a esper like any other and has its uses just don't overruse it.

I like a mixed gameplay and i use every single esper in my vicinity that i can gain,from ramuh to crusader who is the last one.

And i like raiden very much fyi but the problem is odin has meteor and raiden is quick.

I think next time i play,what i want to do is go through the game the way i did but i want to do something completely different.

I want to not have ragnarok and instead just have the sword of ultima and the cursed shield wich i heard also teaches you ultima.



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We are stardust.Our bodies are made from the guts of exploding stars.

Neil Degrasse Tyson.

What does 12p mean?

I never really used bismark and I get where Max is coming from.FFVI seems more story and role based than other FFs that I've played(FFV FFIII )Making everyone maxed is sorta like cheating. you could have Strago and Relm do 9999X8 damage with a physical which seems out of character

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

There are certainly different styles to play the game. So maybe someone is comfortable with one way to raise their characters and that same set-up doesn't work for others. Of course there are also certain patters, I've never seen someone make Relm a physical fighter, but even that is possible.

I say play the game whatever the hell you want, there are no rights or wrongs, go with the ultimate set-up or raise the characters according to their personality, the game is forgiving enough so you can play favorites.

Personally I raise my party this way:

Magic then Vigor – Terra, Celes, Sabin.
Magic then Speed – Setzer, Strago, Relm.
Vigor then Magic – Edgar, Shadow, Mog.
Vigor then Speed – Locke, Cyan.
And Gau gets alternate Magic and Vigor bonus.



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"Love, and do what you will" Saint Augustine