Final Fantasy XII

[Tobal]

Do characters you leave onthe side lines gain exp/lvls?, i've noticed they get LP. Cos i don't think i could keep leveling them as well.

[sj33]

They don't, but you don't actually need them. They are useful for when your main team dies and you can use them as backup, but I honestly think your better off letting the exp go to your main team. You also save so much money in weaponary.

[C']

No they don't. Characters only EXP and level up when you use them.

It's probably difficult to find now, but there was a detailed discussion earlier this thread on the pros/cons of leveling up all characters or focussing on 3.

One suggestion (that I'll be honest, I never used) is focussing on 3 for the initial parts of the game until a certain accesory becomes available that doubles EXP gain and using that for your secondary characters.

Personally I employed a rotation system for the characters, mostly had Vaan as leader 95% of the time with the remaining 2 party spots rotated on a regular basis to keep the levels balanced. I found this beneficial as losing 3 members in a battle is not game over as it is in previous Final fantasy titles, but instead the remaining 3 characters can be swapped in to finish the battle (this is how I basically beat the final boss). Having 3 spare characters massively underleveled means they may be unable to battle effectively should an emergency situation arise.

[sharky_ob]

No they don't. Characters only EXP and level up when you use them.

It's probably difficult to find now, but there was a detailed discussion earlier this thread on the pros/cons of leveling up all characters or focussing on 3.

One suggestion (that I'll be honest, I never used) is focussing on 3 for the initial parts of the game until a certain accesory becomes available that doubles EXP gain and using that for your secondary characters.

Personally I employed a rotation system for the characters, mostly had Vaan as leader 95% of the time with the remaining 2 party spots rotated on a regular basis to keep the levels balanced. I found this beneficial as losing 3 members in a battle is not game over as it is in previous Final fantasy titles, but instead the remaining 3 characters can be swapped in to finish the battle (this is how I basically beat the final boss). Having 3 spare characters massively underleveled means they may be unable to battle effectively should an emergency situation arise.

I had 2 parties of three, and levelled tham all up together. I've not found that this has given me any problems, and all my characters are really useful. I suppose it's down to the individual as this just seemed to be the natural way to go for me, and I was surprised others were only using 3 characters.

This was not the way I played previous FF games by the way, I've always had main characters I've focused on. The system in this game just seemed to lend itself naturally to this style of play.

[-Taurus-]

Just got this, and probably this have already been asked and answered, but does it make any difference trying to keep distances from the enemies until the attack is full to try and get less damage, or is it just a waste of time and the only use for the freedom is to get to the enemies?

[sj33]

No they don't. Characters only EXP and level up when you use them.

It's probably difficult to find now, but there was a detailed discussion earlier this thread on the pros/cons of leveling up all characters or focussing on 3.

One suggestion (that I'll be honest, I never used) is focussing on 3 for the initial parts of the game until a certain accesory becomes available that doubles EXP gain and using that for your secondary characters.

Personally I employed a rotation system for the characters, mostly had Vaan as leader 95% of the time with the remaining 2 party spots rotated on a regular basis to keep the levels balanced. I found this beneficial as losing 3 members in a battle is not game over as it is in previous Final fantasy titles, but instead the remaining 3 characters can be swapped in to finish the battle (this is how I basically beat the final boss). Having 3 spare characters massively underleveled means they may be unable to battle effectively should an emergency situation arise.

Mind you, judging from your previous posts, when I finished the game my 3 were higher level than yours, and as a result, I never needed to swap in the other 3 anyway.

I think it's all about whether you feel comfortable with having no backup party. I found keeping my backup party levelled a chore, robbed my main team of exp and just generally made things harder.

[Briareos]

Just got this, and probably this have already been asked and answered, but does it make any difference trying to keep distances from the enemies until the attack is full to try and get less damage, or is it just a waste of time and the only use for the freedom is to get to the enemies?

I did spend some time at the start running around behind enemies to see if i did more damage or if they couldn't hit me but it's still mostly stats based as far as i am aware; ie if you are in range and they attack it will go through the usual accuracy/evasion calculations to see if you are hit.

I found keeping my backup party levelled a chore, robbed my main team of exp and just generally made things harder.

I understand where you are coming from, i'm a sucker for punishment though and can't stand not having an even team. Twas easier in FFVII when really you were levelling up the materia and you'd just swop that about. But i'm currently a grinding fiend and don't mind levelling them up too much.

[saif]

The game doe take into account distance/reach. I would say it is worth setting up the attack before you are in range to get the first attack in. Also, I often attack and then run away. While the enemies chase me, my teammates can attack.
It works

[C']

I understand where you are coming from, i'm a sucker for punishment though and can't stand not having an even team. Twas easier in FFVII when really you were levelling up the materia and you'd just swop that about. But i'm currently a grinding fiend and don't mind levelling them up too much.

I totally get that. I also liked trying to set my characters out in different styles just to keep it interesting when different members were swapped in. Balthier as a Dark Knight type character with physical damage and Arcane/Black magicks, Ashe as White Mage type focussing on healing and protective Green Magicks, Penelo as the speedy Ninja/Thief type attacker with the high combo rate ninja swords and automatic Haste and Bravery gambits.

I tried not to view EXPing as a chore and never went out killing just for EXP instead combining it with exploration of some of the side paths, hunts or even farming specific loot (the closest I got to a grind I suppose). I suppose if you focus almost exclusively on the direct story path it will be harder to get all 6 characters leveled up at a decent pace but you'd miss out on so much that this game can offer.

[Bassman]

Bought mine from HMV for £19.95 last Saturday (had to spend a certain amount to take advantage of it but that was no problem).

Put in about 45 hour so far. Vaan is inevitably at a too high level (tend to do this for the main character in games wherever possible). At least meant I didn't need Quickening for the first Demon Wall.

Finished the Tomb of Raithwall, getting Demonsbane in the process. I have now got as far as Jahara (Teleport/Save stone) achieving Level 40 on Vaan in the process. Lowest levels in the party are 20. I am currently back in Rabanastre to hunt the Flowering Cactoid.

[Briareos]

I have now got as far as Jahara (Teleport/Save stone) achieving Level 40 on Vaan in the process. Lowest levels in the party are 20.

.


Just finished Girvegan (sic), and everyone is above 60, the uber grind continues! I fully intend to get everyone up to 99 and I'll try and post a screenshot if i ever do it. Right now i'm thinking of getting better weapons. I have an Ultima Blade, Formhault and Deathbringer as main party weapons. The Deathbringer is the weakest of those, so I'm looking into whether I can get Tournsol from the Bazar yet...

[MikeF]

Is anyone playing this on a PS3?

I know it boots up fine but I am worried that it may crash or glitch. I can set up my PS2 again but if it works fine on the PS3 then I would rather just play it on that

[Steve]

I'm up to Garuda and trying to equip more than one person with ranged weapons -but can't seem to do so. I've bought the licences and have the stuff in my inventory - why can't I do it?

[MartyG]

I have now got as far as Jahara (Teleport/Save stone) achieving Level 40 on Vaan in the process. Lowest levels in the party are 20. I am currently back in Rabanastre to hunt the Flowering Cactoid.

You should kill that in a single hit at that level

I've still not completed this, though I've not played it for a while. My characters are lvl 60-70, but the final area is real tough even at those levels, starts off ok but eventually you get surrounded by guards as it looks like they all respawn and area combat in this game isn't very good.

I've also completed the license board for every character, so I'm just grinding levels to make the final push a bit easy, and have a few hunts to complete and most of the the rare monsters to find.

[dontlie]

What an utterly magnificent game. I think this is the best game I have played in some time (probably since Resi 4).

Ive completed it now, characters are at level 70.

One criticism I would make though is that too many of the best items rely on having a guide in order to get them. For example, how would you possibly know how to get the Zodiac Spear? Also, the bazaar loot is a great idea, but maybe it would have been fairer to have recipes or something? I mean if I dont know what items I need to get, how can I even begin to start to look for them?

Overall though, an unmissable game.