I've got a Job for you! - Let's Play Final Fantasy V!

Technically some characters have better stats than others for certain attributes, but it won't really mean that much. They're essentially four blank slates for all intents and purposes who can be molded however you like. Much like the cast of FF3, but without the annoying HP-at-level-up "feature" which could cripple your mages in that game.

Name | Strength | Agility | Stamina | Magic
--------------------------------------------------------
Bartz | 28 | 25 | 27 | 25
Lenna | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28
Galuf | 27 | 24 | 28 | 24
Krile | 25 | 28 | 24 | 27
Faris | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26

Spoilered for possible spoiler, but everyone is basically a baseline of 26, with a variance of +/-2 in any stat, so the biggest difference between characters is a maximum of 4 points. Unless you reeeeaally want to min-max, it's totally negligible.

Basically, it's like worrying about esper stat boosts in VI.

Which I never do.

Oh, and stop making me want to replay this game! These two threads are really tempting me, but I've never made it through the last third or so where your skills really start to matter.

More significantly, levels don't affect your stats. Lenna as a level 1 White Mage has the exact same stats as Lenna as a level 99 White Mage.

Not that levels aren't important; the short version is that most damage formulae use your level as a component, and higher level is better.

EDIT: I should comment that more specifically, your relevant stat is multiplied by your level; Lenna's +4 Magic Power in relation to Galuf is a lot more significant when you're multiplying it by level 50 or so.

So what your saying is it's not a bad idea to make Lenna focus on magic, but not exactly critical. The Galuf/Krile swap is interesting if you look at it like that.

Wait, you mean Faris isn't the fastest?

Faris is the fastest for a sizeable chunk of the game. Isn't that good enough, really?

So I could make Galuf a monk/mage for the first part of the game, and then have [spoiler] later be a fast mage later in the game? That's kind of awesome. I always hated the mage=slow thing in RPGs.

You are soulless if you base your class decisions on anything other than costume cuteness. </sagewisdom>

So whoever has White Mage should make Krile one...Mystic Knights look pretty cool to, IIRC.

Basically, this is the only criteria that applies.

You know how Sky Render keeps blaming Square's PSN releases for delaying his LPs?

Will this create a time paradox?

Amusing timing there. But probably not; I'm not a big fan of the Dingleberries and their Y-Burn buddies.

Didn't the Final Fantasy V PS1 port suck?

Well, given it recycled a script that was originally intended to be "Final Fantasy Xtreme", back before it was canceled in favour of FF6... I'm really not sure why they didn't just retranslate it from scratch like Nintendo did with FFV Advance.

Because that costs money, which goes at odds with releasing a quick-and-dirty port.

Nintendo didn't translate FFV Advance.

Nintendo owns the copyright on FF5A's translation, which is close enough.

Part II - Sailing into Trouble

Supplies! I decided, what the heck, let's get this update out the gate now instead of waiting for Friday. So we'll be on an every-4-days update schedule now unless something comes up. Anyway, it looks like we'll have a pretty versatile party out the gate! Here's our lineup for this update:



Bartz is our master of mashing monsters into mush, a Knight. He will tank and draw aggro. He will later give into the desire to destroy dastardly demons more deliberately and become a Black Mage.

Lenna is our bold and bare-fisted boisterous brawler, a Monk. She will be the party's glass cannon. She'll later take up the literal life-saving lore of love and become a bare-fisted White Mage. She'll kick ass for the Lord!

Galuf is our spiffy spell-slinging superhero sage, a Blue Mage. He will buff and debuff as necessary and generally be awesome. Later he'll take up the sword to slay sinister slime as our replacement Knight.

Faris is our cunning cat-footed coy cutpurse, a Thief. He will acquire loot and be on Potion duty. Once he's done with that, he'll be blasting baddies with broken battle lore via the Blue Mage class.



♪♪ Battle 1 ♪♪

Naturally since we're so classy, we'll be wanting some abilities to make Galuf awesome. Goblin Punch starts off his repitoire.



Oh, and we'll be buying some new spells for our eventually-to-be mages.



A visit back to the cave from before reveals that Boko has been a naughty bird! We'd better see what happened.



On the way Galuf learns Vampire. You do not want to know how long it took to get the damned bat to target him. Also, Steel Bats are surprisingly hard to steal from.



Lenna doesn't quite hit like a mack truck yet, but keep in mind that she gets 2 hits for every attack. The only one matching her overall melee damage right now is Bartz, and he has to use a sword to do that.

♪♪ Victory Fanfare ♪♪



♪♪ Pirates Ahoy! ♪♪

Now we can access Faris' hidden pirate cache that was guarded before! The other two are an Ether and 300 Gil. Not bad!



Aha, so Boko DID come this way! Putting a bird into a bed sounds... impractical. Also, unsanitary.



Hey now, don't even think about turning Boko into KFC.



The image of a Chocobo lying in a bed always cracks me up...

*Boko faces Bartz*
Boko: Kweh...
Lenna: Oh! He's been hurt!
*The old man jumps slowly*
Old Man: Found him zonked out in the cave, so we brought him back here. But he'll be fine, now that he's in my capable hands.
*Bartz looks down*
Bartz: Please, if you can help him, doc...
*The old man jumps slowly again, this time raising his arms in the air like he doesn't care*
Old Man: Leave everything to me!

It's good to know that our steady mount is still kicking. Man, I bet it hurts to get kicked by a bird big enough to lug four people around...



Hopefully he'll return to be our faithful steed at some point in the future, then.



The credo of all good pirates! Let's see what your buddies have to say.

Pirate: Those quakes must've opened up a path to our cove from th' outside.
Pirate: We'll hold down the fort while the captain's away!

Not much of interest. Okay, that's that, so we'll do a little skill-grinding, get Aero, and then be on our way!



This took way too long to learn. Most players wisely opt to put all characters in the Blue Mage class when trying to learn new skills, since it only counts if the spell hits someone with the Blue Mage's Learning trait AND if that person is alive at the end of the battle. Annoying.



These little Nutkins are our best AP option at this point. They're easy to kill and give twice the AP of any other fight in the area. But we won't grind for TOO long, don't worry. In fact, let's move on right now! To Torna Canal!

♪♪ Fate in Haze ♪♪

Or not. That could be a problem. But who has the key? Maybe someone in Tule can help...



♪♪ Tenderness in the Air ♪♪

What a silly name.

*Lenna faces the others*
Bartz: Someone you know?
*Lenna nods*
Lenna: yes. He built the Torna Canal.

Ah, so THIS is who we want to grill on the whereabouts of the key to the canal! Excellent, in we go!



After nabbing some god-bird feathers from a nearby bush. ...Who the hell hides god-bird feathers in a bush?



On that note, who stuffs a perfectly good pair of Nunn Bushes in a box near a waterwheel? I tell ya, these Tule folks are crazy.



I think he's happy to see us.

Zok: Ohhh, Princess Lenna!
Lenna: Zok! It is good to see you.
*Lenna and Zok walk up to each other*
Zok: Yes... It's been a long time.
Lenna: Zok...I have a favor to ask. We must go to Walse, so we need to pass through the Torna Canal.
Zok: Oh dear. Ever since the wind crystal was destroyed, the beasts in the canal have multiplied like rabbits! It's much too dangerous to enter! {How does HE know the crystal went boom? The party only just discovered that!}
*Zok looks down and the other two walk up*
Zok: Moreover... I-I seem to have lost the key to the canal somewhere...
*Zok looks up*
Zok: I'm sorry I cannot help you with the key. Still, since you've come all this way, won't you at least stay the night?
*Lenna checks with the others and nods*
*Zok hops for joy!*
Zok: Wonderful. Then, follow me!

And he leads the party off to three spare beds he just happens to own. Don't even want to know...



Uh oh, Bartz is getting sentimental. I smell flashbacks!



♪♪ My Home, Sweet Home ♪♪

Yep, sepia-toned and everything!

*Bartz' dad looks down*
Bartz' Old Man: Stella-if anything should happen to me, never tell Bartz about the crystals... They aren't his burden to bear.
*Stella walks over to Bartz' dad*
Stella: Oh, darling...please, don't say things like that...
*Bartz' dad faces Stella*



Seriously, why does this old dude have 4 beds? It's creepy. And why is he staring at Lenna while she's asleep? That's also creepy.



*Bartz faces Zok*
Bartz: Nothing... I was just reminded of my folks... They died a while back, though...
*Zok thinks to himself for a moment, then walks up to Bartz*
Zok: ...Here. Take it.
Bartz: Huh? Take what?
Zok: The key to the canal. With it, you can open the gate and travel to Walse.
*Zok looks down*
Zok: I was worried about Lenna, so I hid the key, but...
*Zok looks up*
Zok: Please! Take care of her!
*Bartz nods*

Well, that was convenient. I guess we can continue onwards now!



♪♪ Pirates Ahoy! ♪♪

Oh boy, forgot about that. How is Faris going to deal with his pirate crew if he has to go save the world with our band of misfits?



Like any good pirate captain does: by abandoning them!

*The pirates jump in shock and anger!*
Pirate 1: Cap'n!
Pirate 2: But why!?
Pirate 3: You know we'd follow ye to th' ends of th' earth!
*Faris faces away and shakes his head*
Faris: I know, and I thank you for it. But not this time.
*The pirates walk up*
Pirates: Cap'n!!!
*Faris faces the pirates*
Faris: This smells of a long journey... While I'm gone, I need you louts to guard the hideout. We can't just let anyone raid our booty! {Too late, Bartz already did. Mwahahaha...}
Pirates: But, Cap'n!
Faris: Please.
Pirates: ...
*The pirates all ponder and then look up*
Pirates: Aye-aye, sir!
*The pirates nod, and the party leaves town*
*Another pirate rushes out just as Faris is about to leave, and Faris faces his crew*
Pirates: Wind at your back, Cap'n. Godspeed!
*Faris nods, and the pirates wave as he takes off*

Aww, that was touching. Really.



Aboard the S.S. Juniper-Berry, we have another long-winded conversation.

Lenna: The wind crystal has shattered...
♪♪ Lenna's Theme ♪♪
*Lenna faces Bartz*
Lenna: Right now, the only difference is that the wind has slowed... But soon, it will stop blowing completely. And in a few years, the air will grow stagnant, and the birds won't have any place to fly...
*Bartz walks up to her*
Lenna: Father said that we had to protect the three remaining crystals.
*Lenna walks down-center, and Bartz faces her*
Bartz: ...Three crystals? {Yeah, Bartz is not a brain trust.}
Lenna: Yes, the crystals of fire, water, and earth.
*Bartz steps down and faces Lenna*
Bartz: If those were lost too, then...
Lenna: At first, nothing would happen. But it wouldn't be very long before the earth began to decay... the seas dirtied and rivers ceased to flow, fires lost their heat and the world became dark and cold... It really would become an unlivable world... {And that's why you don't concentrate all of the world's elemental powers into crystals.}
*Lenna looks down*
*Galuf hops up from belowdecks and does his fist-pound routine*
*The other two face him*
Galuf: We've gotta protect the crystals!
*He walks down to face the other two*
Bartz: Huh? Did that trigger any of your memories?
*Galuf shakes his head*
Galuf: Nope... Doesn't matter. I'm still gonna help!
*Faris steps down from the left side*
Faris: Well said, old man. I'm coming along too.
*The others face Faris*
Faris: Plus, we still have to find Lenna's father.
Bartz: King Tycoon? But he disappeared into thin air.
*Faris steps down and raises his arms*
Faris: He still lives, I feel it in my bones! Never for a moment believe otherwise!
*The others look at Bartz, who looks at his shoes*
Lenna: Bartz... Will you come with us?
*Bartz and Faris face Lenna*
Bartz: Before, I was just coming along for the ride... But seeing everyone here...
Lenna: The crystal shards...
Bartz: We were given power to protect the world... The power of the wind crystal... ... ... ... That's it, I'm in! We've got some crystals to save! {I hope so. Your Chocobo's wounded, remember? Your only other option is to sit around waiting for it to get better.}
*The others nod*
*Galuf walks down the foremast of the ship and the others face him*
Galuf: Sure enough! Let's be off!
*Galuf raises an arm, and the others nod*

You know, I said in the FF6 LP that it revolutionized RPGs by having so much blocking in its scenes, but I think FF5 did it first after seeing all that. Anyway, now we can tackle Torna Canal!



♪♪ Fate in Haze ♪♪

Bartz: Does it matter? Let's get going!
*Bartz nods and raises his arm*

On the other hand, the blocking in FF5 is kinda repetitive at times. Anyway, since Bartz has unlocked the way forward, we can proceed!



Torna Canal
Enemies: Octokraken, Sucker

The enemies in the canal only attack women, or so the local rumors in Tule say. But this Octokraken just smacked Faris! I think we can conclude that the monsters in the canal are in fact gender-confused.

♪♪ Danger! ♪♪

It's never a good sign when a whirlpool blocks your progress in an RPG.



A lot of fast-moving water?

Lenna: Oh no...the sealed monster...
*Lenna steps down and the camera pans up to Faris at the wheel*
Faris: Thundering typhoons! The rudder's not responding!
Galuf: You'd better figure something out fast, 'cause we're getting sucked in-
*Galuf steps up to Faris*



Just our luck. Hopefully it's not Leviathan. You just know he'd eat Lenna or something.



Syldra does not like this turn of events either.

Faris: Syldra, what's wrong!?
Bartz: Look alive, something's coming!

I think we have a boss fight!



♪♪ Battle 2 ♪♪

Karlabos is a nasty bastard for an unprepared party. But Team Pulp-N-Snatch is ready!



Feeler is one of his meaner moves. The damage isn't high, but it paralyzes the target. Meaning our boisterous bruiser can't do her punching thang for a bit.



Karlabos' regular attack is pretty weak here, and of course Lenna's in the back row, so she just gets lightly tickled.



Aero isn't the best of spells, but it does do better damage than attacking physically for Galuf. Bartz, of course, hits plenty hard on his own thanks to his high Strength as a Knight.



Tail Screw is THE nastiest attack this guy has. It drops the target to critical HP, as you can see. Man up, Faris, it's just a flesh wound!



Unlike his canal buddies, Karlabos will hit men. Not that it really matters, with hits THAT weak.



A few well-placed punches, slices, and Aero blasts later, and this giant enemy crawfish is no more.

♪♪ Victory Fanfare ♪♪

We're free! But... Wait hey give us our sea dragon back!



Indeed! Also, why are you not manning the helm!? I swear, every helmsman in every FF game is delinquent...

Bartz: ...I'm sure she's okay. She's a fighter, and you know it.
*Faris hops onto the foremast, not convinced*
Faris: Syldra!!!
*Bartz and Galuf restrain Faris from presumably hopping into the sea to save his sea dragon buddy*
Faris: Lemme go! I said, get off! Syldra!!!



And Syldra gets dragged under with a pitiful scream! The red screen flashes afterwards do not improve anyone's mood.



Traumatized, I'd wager.

Galuf: As well as can be expected. We should leave him be.
*Galuf and Bartz face each other, then Bartz looks back over the rail*
Bartz: The ship is just drifting with the current...
Galuf: Wonder where we'll end up?

Things aren't looking good, in short.



Faris: ...
*Faris looks up, then walks over to the rail and looks down again*

Yeah, he's traumatized, all right.



And so they're adrift. And amazingly, Bartz does not get thrown overboard for constantly singing "What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor?".



Man, that grog got us smashed. What do they put in it, anyway? Galuf and Lenna rouse their companions.



Faris: The graveyard of the sea...
Lenna: A gathering place for ruined and scuttled ships...and a nest for the undead.
Galuf: Brrrrr. All the more reason to hotfoot it out of here!
*Everyone agrees with Galuf*

Well, seeing as we are in the midst of such a hellish place, I think it's time to reconsider our party's vocations.

♪♪ Cursed Earth ♪♪



Bartz is sporting the !Guard command to help cut down on damage when he runs out of MP. Lenna is of course a bare-fisted brawling badass of a White Mage who is not afraid to melee up front. Galuf is Bartz' replacement as a valiant knight who can also learn Blue magic, and Faris is now the party's Blue Mage who can sense secret passages. Sorted!



Ship Graveyard
Enemies: Skeleton, Calcruthl, Undead Husk, Mindflusher

How's that for broken? Bare-handed white mages are death on two feet.

(The rest of this update will be in Morbid Black since we are in a nest of undead, after all.)



Almost EVERYONE misses this bit. You have to sit there like an idiot for a few seconds staring at the sea while standing on the first rock.



The reward is a new weapon for a White Mage, ergo it's actually pretty useless to Lenna since she can punch it up just fine.



This is as good a time as any to reveal why mixing up your class abilities is a good idea. See that Strength score? White Mages do not get that much Strength normally; it's been inherited as a carry-over trait from Barehanded. Similarly, sticking melee fighters with magic commands will boost their MP and magic power considerably too. Mix and match your way to success!

The interiors of the ships around here are a bit creepy.



Bartz: What, are you going to melt or something? Come on!

Hmm, now why would Faris not want to get wet if he's a pirate? You'd think he'd be used to it. Mystery upon mystery...



Nice, we found pirate booty!



Magic can really mess up high-defense enemies like this. Of course it helps that Undead Husks are weak vs. wind.



Mind the gap!



How unlikely!

Lenna: This room seems safe enough... Let's take a rest.
*They nod to one another and Lenna walks over to the nearby door*
Lenna: I'm going to change into dry clothes... No peeking!

Convenient that they have dry clothes with them. You'd think they all got soaked on the way. Guess Bags of Holding are waterproof.



*Faris looks off to the side*
Faris: I'm fine like this...don't worry about me.
Galuf: Are you crazy, boy? You'll catch pneumonia in those wet things!
*Galuf and Bartz walk over to force the issue*
Faris: Hey, what're you doing? Get away! Don't touch-
*Faris is not amused and throws them off, but not before...*



Bartz: Yeow! Lenna-this-he-
Galuf: Oh, my stars and comets! HE'S A SHE!

DUN DUN DUN!



No, ma'am.

Lenna: Of course not... Just, why were you trying to hide it?
♪♪ Lenna's Theme ♪♪
*Faris walks down to the fire and the others stand behind him her*
Faris: When I was just a lad-er, lass, a pirate band took me in. I've been one of them ever since.
Bartz: Yeah, so?
Faris: Well, would YOU want to be the only girl on a ship full of pirates? {Wow, unfortunate implications.}
Bartz: ...Ah, right. Yeah.
*Galuf walks down to Faris' side and nods to himself*
Galuf: Haw! I knew from the start that you were too pretty to be a man! *whew...* {Ahahaha oh Galuf you're so homophobic.}
*Faris faces the others*
Faris: Anyhow-make fun of me for really being a woman and I'll shiver your timbers but good!
Bartz: Uh...okay... {Somehow I think Bartz would enjoy that.}
Faris: That's right, it's okay! Now, I'm turning in, and you louts had best do the same!
*Faris walks down to a convenient 4-bed configuration and the others just stare at each other*

Well, that was an interesting revelation. Also, why the hell are there four perfectly arranged beds on a ruined ship?



She's cheerful enough, at least.



Haha Galuf is too incompetent to operate a blanket.



Taskmistress Faris tells it how it is.

*Galuf gets up and shakes out the cobwebs*
Galuf: Bah... If you aren't gonna dress like a girl-and you should, a real shame to hide such assets-y'could at least talk like one... {Oh, and set in his ways! Can't forget that!}
Bartz: Heh... No point in trying to change her... Faris is who she is!
*Lenna walks over*
Lenna: That's for certain!

Well, now we can continue on our merry way.

Inside another nearby ship we find the world map item! That will be useful, no doubt.



Odd spot for a treasure chest, but whatever. We're at a dead end, it seems, too. Where do we go from here?



Holy crap! Opening that chest raised the entire ship!



No, but you are a cad.



♪♪ Deception ♪♪

What the hell?

Bartz: Mom?
*Bartz steps up, then shakes his head in confusion and rubs his forehead*
*Bartz looks down and gets dragged over magically to Stella*

Hey not cool!



Oh not again!

Lenna: Father!
*Lenna starts to walk over, and Faris follows her*
Faris: Lenna!? ...ah...
*Both women are caught up by the same spell as Bartz and are dragged over to King Tycoon*

What is going on here?



Wha? Whozat?

*Galuf just stares, then shakes his head in confusion*
Galuf: Who's that? I just can't remember...



Ack, soul thieves!



I knew it! It's a trap set by the undead!

*Galuf steps forward*
Galuf: Demon! What are you?
Siren: Oho... I didn't expect any of you to escape the effects of my magic... Greetings, I am Siren. I'm afraid your companions' souls now belong to me. Still, I'm feeling generous... I could be convinced to spare yours if you ran home quietly.
*Galuf steps forward again*
Galuf: You think I would abandon these kids? Fat chance, missy!
Siren: Why would you risk your life for these people?
Galuf: Because... They're my friends! {Hooray for the power of friendship! And plot-convenient amnesia too!}
*Galuf looks at the others*
Galuf: Don't be fooled by her trickery! Open your eyes!



And he smacks them all on the head! That'll do the trick, won't it?



I guess it will.

*The others walk over to Galuf*
Bartz: Galuf!



Wait what!? ANOTHER boss fight for this update!?

♪♪ Battle 2 ♪♪

Yep. This is Siren, as you probably surmised. She's not very nice either.



She opened by silencing our healer. Not cool, bitch!



Not that that means much as magic doesn't hurt her. Suddenly Bartz regrets becoming a Black Mage.



For some reason Siren will cast Libra on your party and get their stats sometimes. I don't get it either.



She also tosses her own magic sometimes. Galuf, being a Knight, doesn't have the best magic defense and takes it in the kisser.



Now here's an interesting twist! Siren just made her life worse for herself and doesn't even know it. Though Vampire won't work on her now...



...Magic will! She doesn't last long after that.



And hey, we're even going up in the world with our abilities!

♪♪ Victory Fanfare ♪♪



Galuf: Ehh, don't sweat it.
*Galuf rubs his forehead*
Bartz: Aww, you're blushing!
Galuf: I'm doing nothing of the sort!
*Galuf does his fist-pound routine*
*The others just laugh*

How touching, a post-battle celebratory taunt for the guy who saved your lives.



♪♪ Four Valiant Hearts ♪♪

And so we leave the Ship Graveyard and enter the world map outside it. Looks like things can only get better from here! Now that we're free of that dastardly place and its undead abominations, what shall we do with our brave heroes' classes?

Bartz - Level 9, Black Mage L2 (Cover, !Guard, Black LV2)
Lenna - Level 9, White Mage L2 (!Focus, Barehanded, White LV2)
Galuf - Level 9, Knight L1 (!Check, Learning, Cover)
Faris - Level 9, Blue Mage L2 (Find Passages, !Flee, !Check, Learning)

Next time: We get a dragon and Lenna goes home!

I felt kind of special for stumbling upon this when I first played it. Too bad its useless as anyone trying to use a White Mage knows to give them the Barehanded skill first.

The first time I played FFV was on an emulator that didn't know how to render the transparency effects from the fog in the ship's graveyard (this was some 10-odd years ago). I actually got to the very end of this area by stumbling blindly before I discovered the key that turned off the foreground layer. Up until that point I thought the dungeon had been made that way by design.

Change them all to Blue Mages!

Why does baby Bartz have blue hair?