Final Fantasy XII

[Arianna]

I don't have the International Zodiac Job version; how I'm leveling up Vaan is good ol' fashion grind (cause you need to stock up on potions as well as phoenix downs) - as well as chaining a few Dustias.

Basically, get Vaan close to the zone edge and then force down his HP to 10%, then Dustia will appear (the top area of the map in Westersand - I forget what the area is called.) Use a phoenix down on the ghost, and then leave the area before the EXP and LP shows. Being close to the zone's edge (the blue dots that hover in the air) causes Dustia to come in close to you, so you can grab the loot, as well.

It's hard, and I've died quite a few times. I've got near 30 hours on the game so far, and am presently at level 36 or 37. I am not sure how long I'll want to do this before I move on, possibly 50s, maybe 80s...

 

[Tennyo]

I've never heard of this Dustia. I shall have to try it. Does it appear later on in the game as well?

 

[Arianna]

I've never heard of this Dustia. I shall have to try it. Does it appear later on in the game as well?

It's a rare creature; in the Westersand, uppermost section (on the map, again I forget the name). If you lose to 10% of your HP it will appear; it's a ghost. Yes, it's able to appear when you first have access to the Westersand after the new consul parade and speech. If you try to get it later in the game, wear a black mask, 'cause it will cast 'dark' on you (or try to, unless you zone out or destroy it in time.) You can gain the Flame Staff as well as Book of Orgain from it (provided you do not have your monographs; if you do, you can gain Arcana from it as well.)

 

[Arianna]

Okay, a bump and a question - hopefully, the bumpage is not looked down upon...?!

Anyhow - anyone else notice that sometimes you're speaking to ghosts?

Sadeen with the Croakadile hunt; as well, the children who commission the Diabolos hunt. Both times, the hunt is commissioned by ghosts.

Interesting, I think!

 

[Tennyo]

I did the Croakadile hunt but I haven't gone to do Diablos yet. I didn't know they were ghosts now it's ruined. ;_;

lol Kidding. But yeah, I didn't know about the children.

 

[Arianna]

Okay, I hope someone sees this and can answer me...

What the hell is Vanish and Vanishga for?!

I use it - thinking it makes one (or one's team) invisible - but still the creatures can see my characters!

Anyone out there with a hint or two about this arcane magick?

Thank you.

 

[Max Payne]

isn't that the one that makes the monster disappear?

 

[Arianna]

FF12 Grand Master was supposed to have a YouTube video showing the 'greatness' of Vanish/Vanishga. Alas, it has been 'removed by user' according to YouTube when the link is requested.

Also, it does not seem to be that there's a written form of this 'greatness' of this arcane magick, so... I have no other recourse but to ask here if anyone knows.

Though, I can say I found 'Float', 'Vanish/Vanishga' and then avoiding the closer proximity of enemies helps a great deal with running around undetected.

isn't that the one that makes the monster disappear?

They do use it, yes.

 

[Tennyo]

Vanish/Vanishga can make your party members and summons invisible to most enemies. It doesn't last very long, and I think if the enemy has you targeted for an attack it can still hit you, but as for the next attack if you aren't targeted when it is cast I think it won't be able to get you.

Also I don't think it protects from huge area spells.

I dunno I found it useful. I just wish it lasted longer.

 

[looneymoon]

Sorry if this is old news but I just learned about this earlier today...

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=167132

Does anyone have any idea as to what's up with this project? Apparently it's some sort of Ivalice/FF12 spin-off. From what I've read, the company that was supposed to make it for SquEnix (GRIN... I think it's a Swedish company) has since gone under, but the project hasn't been completely abandoned. Also, I've heard of concept art featuring Ashe in different dresses, but I can't seem to find it :<

Anyways, thought I'd share because the concept art looked interesting

 

[Makoeyes987]

Yeah I heard of this. The game was called "Fortress" during development. Square Enix said they're picking it up and going to release it as part of the Ivalice Alliance so hopefully we'll see it again. The concept art looks gorgeous, so I hope it one day comes to fruition. Thanks for sharing this. You can see more of it and know more details of this game, here.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

Game Informer reported on this debacle in their November issue. They were a little late to the news, but at least provided an amazing piece of concept art I haven't seen elsewhere.

It's a real shame that Grin wasn't able to continue. From the looks of things, they had a lot of affection for the material and wanted it to be something special.

Of course, after their iteration of Bionic Commando, God only knows how awful it might have been.

 

[Strangelove]

Why was I not informed of this?

Is there a reason they were outsourcing this and not making it in-house? I know Matsuno doesn't work there any more, but I doubt he was living it up in Sweden either.

 

[Arianna]

Game Informer reported on this debacle in their November issue. They were a little late to the news, but at least provided an amazing piece of concept art I haven't seen elsewhere.

That's where I learned of this; of course, what I remember is just a picture of a beautiful landscape, the comment about said picture via Game Informer and how it's a shame it could never come to fruition (basically), and then a small blurb about how the company that was in charge of this closed down. It would be neat if we could at the very least see all the production images.

 

[Vossler]

What a shame they had to under. There was some nice concept art there. I do hope that someone is going to continue. This is a good money maker for SE and the fans will eat it alive. Considering the fact that Christmas is coming soon.

 

[Strangelove]

This is Square we're talking about. The only Christmas they'll be in time for is Christmas 2011 if all goes well.

 

[ForceStealer]

Ah Square...what's it Crystal Chronicles that's coming out on December 26th? I mean, really Square? You couldn't release 2 days sooner?

They really really need to invest in a marketing department.

 

[Arianna]

Ah Square...what's it Crystal Chronicles that's coming out on December 26th? I mean, really Square? You couldn't release 2 days sooner? ... They really really need to invest in a marketing department.

You may already now, so forgive me if you do. Video games, same with movies on DVD, Blu-Ray, etc., are somehow bound to come out only on a Tuesday, at least in the states. I don't know if it's a law, but a store that releases movies before hand can be fined a good hefty price per unit sold ahead of time and prohibited to sell games, movies, etc. if they're caught. I learned this via an employee either at FYE or Sam Goody, a few years back. So - it's not really Square's fault.

 

[ForceStealer]

I have noticed that, but the 26th is a saturday...the tuesday before christmas would make A LOT more sense.

 

[Tennyo]

I think it's a good strategy. You see, nowadays people are far too chicken-shit to buy actual presents, so they just go buy gift cards. Peeps need something to go use those cards on.

 

[Arianna]

I have noticed that, but the 26th is a saturday...the tuesday before christmas would make A LOT more sense.

Wow. Okay, well, I didn't consult the calendar before answering. I agree with you as well, the Tuesday before the holidays would be a better choice. I don't know...?

I think it's a good strategy. You see, nowadays people are far too chicken-shit to buy actual presents, so they just go buy gift cards. Peeps need something to go use those cards on.

Hey! I'm one of those chicken-shits! lol

Seriously, for isntance, my step-father: I have no clue what to get him, so last year it was a Wawa convenience store gift card for $25.

I have no clue this year.

To save money, I'm going to try and find something I can gift my mother and step-father with together. It's probably going to be another gift card...

 

[Vossler]

Always at the last minute. But of course they are going to jack up the price and then after the holidays you always tend to find it for less.

 

[Max Payne]

You control your whole party in 12. Why do people keep saying you don't? At most you only move one character around on the field. You don't only command one character. You can give your party all commands without even having to switch characters, even though you can.

Also, I always thought transforming summons was stupid, the fact they didn't bother to even explain it made me lol.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

You control your whole party in 12. Why do people keep saying you don't? At most you only move one character around on the field. You don't only command one character.

While that's true, I can understand the gripes towards a system like that. While I didn't mind FFXII personally, I do understand the want for the player to control his party members every move. I myself prefer that to the Gambit system, but it's really hard to go without the Gambit system, because the game was made with the assumption that you'll use it to some degree.

 

[ForceStealer]

You can, but just like auto-battle in XIII, its much more strategically viable to just program them and never touch them. And the fact that you didn't just have all gambits available from the outset was ridiculous.

Are the transforming summons really that significant? The summons are just token plot points like they are in several FFs anyway. Any explanation probably would have been dumb, I think its better left unsaid if they were gonna have it.

However, I'm not sure how they're any more useful than they were in XII, I think they're grossly underpowered and serve, at best, as a delaying action as you can't die when you have one out.

And Mako, have you yet thanked one post that even hinted something positive about the game? Even one of Mog's?