Blame yourself or God! Let's Play Final Fantasy Tactics!

Today, Eddie has become a man. Great update.

I know you've heard this plenty of times already, but I'm going to say it again: this LP is extraordinary. It really is one for the ages.

That was excellent, I just did the fight myself yesterday. Except my Ramza was a level 33 dragoon of destruction (yes they actually call them dragoons in The War of the Lions!) with adrenaline rush. Despite that my battle with Belias ended in exactly the same way, Ramza getting the last blow, my summoner the only other one left. Good show!

Only Bard skills. Wow.

Wow.

Also, I don't recall having that much trouble with Velius. I usually start that one off with Lich, though.

The next battle's probably the easiest in the game, I don't know why people even complain.

Because unless your units have decent speed, the twins and Rafa are going to get their turns ahead of you, getting the latter killed before you can even act. It doesn't help that Rafa is... well, yes, she's suicidal and/or blind with rage in this scene, which fits the narrative nicely, but makes for a frustrating gameplay experience.

Well, I'll talk about this more when I do the fight, but the twins don't really seem to focus on her. They'll gladly go after your own units. The big man however, has no problem with focusing on her.

Also, as someone earlier mentioned, her AI appears to be randomly set; sometimes she'll be aggressive, and sometimes she'll run away. Either way it's not too bad as long as you've got two or three heavy hitters who can end the fight quickly.

- Eddie

I just wanted to say that the Wiegraf fight analysis was amazing. Every time I read one of your updates, it makes me want to start playing FFT, despite the list of unbeaten games that I have.

Luckily I consider the new edition "unbeaten" despite my playing the original, so I'm happily playing it.

Also the problem with the next fight is indeed that you can and probably will lose without taking a single action your first time. After a lengthy, unskippable dialog, of course. If you can beat Wiegraf then you should able to shuffle a few things around and manage, though.

Guys, I really want to read that new Dragon Quest 3 LP, but a goddang horrifying picture of Percy as a bunny girl keeps popping up.

Could someone please tell me anytime that horror is no longer viewable on the current page? I'm doing this for the good of everyone!

- Eddie

Yeah, her AI is random. If it comes up aggressive she can get herself killed she's 100% guaranteed to die before you can act. From my experience it eats up roughly every other attempt.

I'll be deleting those every time they escape from page 3. Consider them quarantined.

You're the best person ever.

- Eddie

Welcome back!

For reasons that will be explained during the fight, we're taking the time to outfit some of our characters with Jade
Armlets and Judo Outfits. This fight is usually about finishing it quickly, so bring your heavy hitters! Fast units like Ninjas
are great, and give Green Berets (+1 Speed) to anyone who can use one, particularly if it will bring them to 9 speed.



The part where your units pop out on this formation screen is a little confusing; the characters in "front" are going to
effectively be put behind most of the units in the battle, and viceversa. Put Ramza wherever you want (he is placed
elsewhere for the fight), and make sure to put any healers to the rear.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Roof of Riovanes Castle

(Scene: In the chaos that has engulfed Riovanes Castle,
two individuals have come to the roof searching for
something. Barinten has come searching for an escape
from Vormav's wrath. Rafa has come searching for her
brother... but she'll take revenge as well...)

(Terror 1)

Barinten: Why do you think you're even still alive today!
Because of me!



Rafa: You are the one who killed my parents! And you say
it's revenge for kindness? No... it's justice!







Barinten: I'm your father. I raised you! I'd like to see you
try and kill me! Hya, ha! You can't... And do you know why?



Barinten: Don't worry... that terror will gradually subside.
Hya, ha, ha.

Voice: Is that true?!!

(Malak emerges from hiding, appearing from below.)

(Ramza appears from behind.)



(Barinten glances at Ramza briefly.)



Barinten: Rafa, if you want to help Malak, bring the stone
here. Malak should have it. Find it!





















(Barinten's death scream is heard several stories below.)

(Elmdor's eyes shine with a red glow briefly.)





Elmdor: I never really thanked you for doing me this favor.
Thank you.... I don't want to have to get rough like Vormav
did. Please understand.



Elmdor: Didn't you hear me? Give me the stone first.





Elmdor: Are you abandoning her?



Elmdor: Very well. I didn't want to get rough but... Celia,
Lede, go ahead! That girl has the stone. Get it back....!

(Battle on the Bridge)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This battle is a really fast one: either Rafa is going to die quick, or you're going to take out one of the enemy units
(likely one of the assassins) fast. The assassins, Celia and Lede, are very strong, each of them being about (by my
unscientific estimate) twice as strong as Wiegraf.

"Assassin" is an incredibly appropriate name for these two, because they have multiple ways to kill you quickly. Let me
count the ways:

1. Seal. This attack has a range of 6 squares and petrifies a single unit with a 100% success rate. This is the
   same move Velius sometimes used.
   
2. Shadow Stitch. This attack has a range of 4 squares, and gives a unit "Stop" status with again, a 100%
   success rate.
   
3. Stop Bracelet. A close range attack, that adds "Dead" against any unit it can target (it has a very small range
   of 1,0) with yes, a 100% success rate.
   
4. Ultima. A small area of effect spell, about as powerful as Fire/Ice/Bolt 3, with a range of 4 and an effect of
   2,1.
   
5. Innate Two Swords, allowing either Assassin to deal ~ 200 damage to a unit.

In short, these two are going to take units out quickly. They also have great Speed of 8, and their innate Jump is a
ridiculous 7, which coupled with Seal and Ultima means they can mess you up practically wherever you are.



Their equipment is pretty good, but sticking around long enough to steal any of it is really risky. They're innately
immune to several status effects (such as Petrify and Frog), and their equipment (particularly their accessories) makes
them immune to a great deal more.

Speaking of their accessories, the Barette (Block: Undead, Darkness, Silence, Frog, Poison, Slow, Don't Act, Don't
Move, Death Sentence) and the Cashusha (Block: Dead, Petrify, Invite, Confusion, Blood Suck, Stop, Berserk, Charm,
Sleep) are rare women-only equipment. You should have a Barette from taking Alma's one (way back at the start of the
chapter), but the Cashusha is likely new. You can get both those items from poaching, so I honestly wouldn't bother
trying too hard to steal them. Celia and Lede are just too dangerous to let live too long.

(Side note: Barette's and Cashusha's are headgear. How are they equipping those in their accessory slot?)

If you fell you must steal them, your best bet is to try moves such as the Mediator's Persuade skill and the Oracle's
Paralyze skill on Celia to delay them. Equipping Jade Armlets will prevent them from using Seal or Shadow Stitch on that
unit, while Judo Outfits will prevent Stop Bracelet. There is nothing you can do about Two Swords past having a high
enough HP or evasion, but you can try Blade Grasp. That still leaves them the ability to hit you with Ultima, but that's
pretty much the lesser of all their evils.



Their boss, Elmdor (see previous pair of screenshots) meanwhile is little more than a glorified Samurai. This isn't to say
he isn't tough (he can do 280 damage with a swing of his Muramasa, which is more than enough to one-shot Rafa), but
he's certainly the weakest of the trio by far. He is, however, the most likely to go after Rafa. His assassin beauties will
happily go after your other units, but Elmdor tends to chase after Rafa, using Muramasa (~108 damage) when he can't
quite reach her, or if he can hit multiple units with it.

Rafa meanwhile is given a random AI to make your life miserable. Sometimes she'll be under "Run like a Chicken" which
will cause her to move behind Ramza (good), and sometimes she'll walk up and try and hit her an assassin (bad).
There's not much you can do sometimes if Celia or Lede decides to wipe Rafa out, but luckily they tend to focus on
your other units.

Your strategy should pretty much be to pick an assassin and kill her! You can kill Elmdor instead as well, but the
Assassins tend to be easier to reach for your units.

This is not a fight that should generally last more than a round, because you're almost guaranteed to lose at least one
unit every time the enemy goes, and all it takes is one good swing by Elmdor (or any attention from Celia or Lede) to kill
Rafa, losing you the fight.

So do the right thing, and go for the kill.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *





Elmdor: Celia, Lede, retreat! Listen Ramza, if you want our
stone, come to Limberry Castle! We'll be waiting...!

Bonus Money: 10,000 Gil

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

(Requiem)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rafa and Malak

Oh how so maligned.

Well, I think there's been some amount of sympathy for the pair on these forums, but there has been a lot of hate. The
pair regularly come up whenever FFT is discussed... and not in a positive way. One of the most memorable that I can
remember is that the pair got second place on a GIA poll years ago (godspeed you GIA), losing to an Earthbound
character who is your party for less than ten minutes.

Let's be honest; their class skills are mediocre. They hit random squares a random number of times, for fairly average
damage. However, I think Heaven/Hell skills are still better than the Squire's Accumulate skill (some of you might argue
with me on that). Their special skills are clearly the problem people have with them, because despite being better than
a Squire, they're not as good as either Mustadio or Agrias, who most people will still have. Worse, the next chapter is
filled with special characters who top their Heaven and Hell skill in terms of usefulness. People can forgive generic
characters for being average, but they can't seem to forgive Rafa and Malak for that.

Heaven Knight:
Weapons: Staff, Stick
Helmet: Hat
Armor: Clothes, Robe

Move: 3
Jump: 3
Physical Evasion Rate: 10%

Skills to get: Sky Demon

Unique Skill: Truth
Heaven Thunder: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Lightning elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 3. JP Cost: 100.
(There's a lot of overlap between Rafa and Malak's skills, so forgive me if I mush em together a bit. Rafa starts with
this, and it's your typical 'quick to cast, but not extraordinary damage' skill. Still, fast is good.)

Asura: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Fire elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 4. JP Cost: 200.
(Don't confuse this with the Samurai Skill. Rafa's skills are based purely off her MA skill; her faith has zero effect on it.
Turn her into a Black Mage or Priest and enjoy the damage it deals!)

Diamond Sword: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Wind elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 5. JP Cost: 300.
(Her skills effectively go up in damage, yet take longer to use, as you go down the list. Malak's skills do this too. The
increase in damage is small however, Sky Demon aside.)

Hydragon Pit: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Water elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 6. JP Cost: 400.
(For reference, with 11 MA Rafa's Asura skill will do 100 damage per hit. Assuming her starting 69 Faith, a basic Fire
spell will deal ~75 damage. The trick is hitting with it!)

Space Storage: Spell causes abnormal status with philosophies. Randomly attacks in its effective range (Add: Darkness,
Confusion, Silence, Frog, Poison, Slow, Sleep).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 5. JP Cost: 500.
(This skill only adds status ailments rarely. Skip it, because it otherwise deals poor damage. By the way, since I
haven't mentioned: Truth and Un-Truth skills strike panels anywhere from one to six times.)

Sky Demon: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Earth elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 7. JP Cost: 600.
(The trick to all Truth and Un-Truth skills is trying to use the terrain to your advantage. Since the skill has a maximum
height difference of 3, you can increase your chances of hitting if you target panels where instead of having five
panels to randomly hit, there is only 3 or 4 possible panels.)

Hell Knight:
Weapons: Staff, Stick
Helmet: Hat
Armor: Clothes, Robe

Move: 4
Jump: 3
Physical Evasion Rate: 8%

Skills to get: Sky Demon Back

Unique Skill: Un-Truth
Heaven Bltback: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Lightning elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 3. JP Cost: 100.
(Malak's skill uses almost the same formula as Rafa's, except that his takes both his and his target's Faith into account.
This makes his skills a lot more awkward to use.)

Asura Back: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Fire elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 4. JP Cost: 200.
(There's little you can do about enemy Faith; casting Innocent on a unit is about the best you can do.)

Dia Swd Back: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Wind elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 5. JP Cost: 300.
(Reducing Malak's Faith as low as it can go to 3 however, makes his skill a lot better than Rafa's damage wise. MA still
counts however, so using a magic using class is a terrible idea.)

Dragn Pit Back: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Water elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 6. JP Cost: 400.
(Instead, go for a class like Geomancer or Bard that will boost his MA. Geomancer will leave him with a competitive PA,
and a decent backup skill.)

Space Str Back: Spell causes abnormal status with philosophies. Randomly attacks in its effective range (Add: Darkness, Confusion, Silence, Frog, Poison, Slow, Sleep).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 5. JP Cost: 500.
(Making Malak a Bard is kind of interesting itself, but keep in mind it's only becuase other classes that would boost MA
would be crippled with a 3 Faith.)

Sky Demon Back: Spell attacks with philosophy. Randomly attacks in effect range (Earth elemental).
Range: 4. Effect: 2,3. CTR: 7. JP Cost: 600.
(Just because someone will mention it: Yes, Rafa's starting 31 Brave makes her a great unit to use Move-Find Item
with. Less told is how Malak makes a great anti-magic unit due to his low faith. It's always good to have one person
good at combating Wizard and Summoners... why not Malak?)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

you didnt steal muramasa?

Why would I? I can buy all the Muramasa's I want at the start of Chapter 4.

- Eddie

oops, confused it with masamune.

Even now, that last scene with Rafa and Malak moves me more than any other scene in the game...despite having never used the characters for more than one fight.

Time for Chapter 4!!

A Special Note regarding our Monster Squad

Well, it's the end of Chapter 3, and despite my efforts to get some enthusiasm for a Monster Face-Off, the response was, well, poor. I don't blame you guys, it was more complicated than it should have been, and sometimes things like this just don't get any momentum.

That isn't to say we haven't broken our 'four-way tie' persay; I had two individuals come forth to command a monster, so we'll be using.

Most of them all need names! I'm going to assume that we'll be using the top tier of each monster unless I get some significant pull to use a lower tier. Here is your Talking Time Monster Squad (to be built)!


Type: Marlboro
Name: Flavor Country
Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Likes: Spitting, riding horses, whiskey
Dislikes: Unfiltered cigarettes

Quote: "Come to where the Flavor is."


Type: Hydra
Name: ?

Likes: Trilogies
Dislikes: Captain America



Type: Zoidberg
Name: Byron/Gamon

Likes: Anchovies, Brains, Anchovie Brains
Dislikes: Wizards of the Coast Corporate Lawyers


Type: Behemoth
Name: ?

Likes: Supersized meals, Zdeno Chára
Dislikes: Low ceilings, International Hockey Rinks

* * *

So we're going to need some names for our Behemoth and Hydra! I'm giving ZRofel veto permission on any name/choice for the Behemoth, since he was willing to try out my crazy (failed) idea. Incidentally, the Zoidberg's name was chosen by Destil (who had agreed to represent them) and is from the current Mafia game that is playing in the "Talking about Everything" Forum.

Let's just say your author got someone's name horribly wrong on that one.

Please post any suggestions as to names, types, etc. If anyone would really like to know the differences between the tiers of monsters, I'll post some specific information.

See you guys in Chapter 4!

- Eddie

Your Tiamat could be named Hiryuu, or Tiamat, or Rafamalak.
Mittens is a good name for a Behemoth, as is Alice.

The Behemoth must be named either Sulley, or perhaps better...



KITTY!

I was actually thinking of the second tier squid-head, for the improved MA stat...

The multiplier difference is very small (96 for the Squidlarken, 92 for the Mindflayer) so I'm not really sure that's going to translate into much more MA. The Squidlarken does have a much higher HP multiplier, but it's slower and has less PA than a Mindflayer.

- Eddie

No more votes, we have our winner.

And the Hydra... I dunno. Trinexx, maybe?