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So, was a trinket required to become a member of the Red Wings coincidentally stashed in a Sand Worm's lair, or was such a creature purposely put there in order to test recruits? If it's the former, I'm surprized that frequent contact with humans hasn't made the species rare. And if it's the latter...well, now I have this image in my head of Cecil in some kind of Sand Worm breeding ground built with taxpayer's money, trying to come up with some logical reason that won't lead to a revolt.

By the way, this is a good Liveblog thus far. Keep it up!

I'm wondering more what a Sand Worm is doing near Mythril when in the first game they're only found in the Damcyan Desert. It doesn't seem like a very suitable habitat for the thing.

You going to get a lot of face palms......long before this looooooooooooooooooooooooooong story ends — I promise you that!

Oops, I meant to say the following: You are going to do a lot of face palms before this loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong story ends, I promise you that!

I'm well aware of that, I assure you.

First moon phases, and now a Soma. I wonder, how many other games utilize moon phases as a gimmick? Because right now, I can't stop thinking about Shin Megami Tensei...and the recent Nocturne Liveblog certainly doesn't help.

So, am I to assume that the tales will be played in the same order as they were originally released on Wiiware? Or is it more of a matter of personal choice, with no option spoiling the plot any more than the others would? I'll still be reading along and voicing my opinion either way, but if there's some tale that seems impossible to beat until you have a better communal inventory, I suggest you avoid causing yourself a ton of mental strain; a happy blogger makes for a good blog, and all that.

Can't do Wiiware order, I'll explain a bit later.

I'll go down the list, most likely, it's the order the tales were released in the original Japanese mobile version. So Rydia's tale is up next.

Well, I've already cleared out all of the main prizes for the dungeon, so I guess next tale will start tomorrow.

Stats if anyone is interested:

Hooded Man: Lv 41 HP:2244 MP:109 Strength:51 Speed:32 Stamina:44 Intellect:9 Spirit:24 Attack:72 (9x90% Accuracy) Defence:58 (6x10% Evasion) Magic Defence:3 (2x5% Evasion)

Ceodore: Lv 42 HP:1936 MP:239 Strength:45 Speed:31 Stamina:40 Intellect:18 Spirit:32 Attack:71 (7x90% Accuracy) Defence:54 (5x26% Evasion) Magic Defence:8 (1x12% Evasion)

I kinda felt for Rydia, not getting to see her Eidolons anymore.

A summoner without her summons, a tomboy dwarf, and two dolls that have a tendency to explode...not exactly the embodiment of girl power, are they? But, with the underworld in such a state, their combined might would certainly be an asset...

At least the dolls aren't attacking us this time.

You going to wishing Rydia has unlimted MP when you stop into that Challenge Dungeon!

Okay! A few hours and a lot less insanity as expected later, we'll fully outfitted. Levels capped at 40, so we're not quite as strong as we were after Ceodore's Tale.

Final stats for this tale:

Luca: Lv 40 HP:2213 MP:106 Strength:53 Speed:23 Stamina:44 Intellect:4 Spirit:4 Attack:88 (8x85% Accuracy) Defence:51 (2x0% Evasion) Magic Defence:8 (0x7% Evasion)

        Rydia: Lv 40 HP:1524 MP:411 Strength:21 Speed:21 Stamina:20 Intellect:57 Spirit:39 Attack:45 (4x65% Accuracy) Defence:30 (2x30% Evasion) Magic Defence:25 (3x36% Evasion)

"This is not a repeat of the past," says Kain. Aside from the parts where Baron knights invade the kingdom for its crystal, Yang & his allies fight back in roughly four battles, and a dragoon acts like a real [CENSORED]. I'd go on, but since the main joke of this update was how heavily it 'borrowed' from the original title, it just wouldn't feel right.

I'm pretty sure if I knew the writer of that line, I would slap them. This is probably the worst part of the game until we reach endgame, and considering some parts that are still to come, that's a big claim.

Harley is most certainly not the worst player character in this game! That dishonor probably goes to Guard A.

She's only the worst one who isn't a Guest Star Party Member-slash-Player Mook.

How about "The worst player character I give a damn about" then?

And done!

Yang: Lv 40 HP:2829 MP:89 Strength:61 Speed:30 Stamina:53 Intellect:8 Spirit:18 Attack:97 (9x80% Accuracy) Defence:45 (3x50% Evasion) Magic Defence:12 (0x14% Evasion)

Ursula: Lv 40 HP:2032 MP:100 Strength:65 Speed:43 Stamina:40 Intellect:15 Spirit:29 Attack:98 (11x99% Accuracy) Defence:38 (5x59% Evasion) Magic Defence:9 (2x14% Evasion)

Yes, this does mean Ursula is stronger than Yang. No, I don't know how I pulled that off.

As they say over at RP Gnet: 1 Laugh Point!

It must be her equipment, since stat boosts aren't in any way random in this game.

Yeah, it would be, I arranged the CD equipment pretty haphazardly. Not like it matters, it's like a 100 damage difference usually.

Another laugh point for you!

So, must all Epopts-in-training come to this tower? I mean, it was like this place was built to teach the fundamentals of Black Magic; someone with only White Magic would probably have a harder time tackling this place.

Doubtful. Assuming this is the first Epopt replacement since FF 4, and the tower truly did not exist at that timeframe, then Leonora must be the first person to take this version of the test.

Yeah, unless Troia has a high Epopt turnover rate, I have my doubts that tower's seen much use.

Endark Culi: What you've noticed is most definitely not the plot hole it may at first appear. If I recall correctly, it gets brought up in... oh, the next plot sequence or so. Palom actually gets a really good line about it, if memory serves.

ROMBWL!!!!!!!!

If case you wondering what that means. It means I rolling on my bed with laughter.

Well, that ending certainly was...confusing. I mean, all of the episodes so far have ended in cliffhangers, so another crystal being taken from heroes left for dead isn't a shocker. But for what reason would Porom and Mr. Traitor be in such close proximity? I suppose I have no choice but to wait for future updates to reveal the truth...

I know why and I still don't think it makes that much sense.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

That sure sounds like quite a show! Alas, thanks to internet sites such as Youtube, the thrill of working hard and earning the privelage to see things such as this merry scene is quickly becoming lost to many young gamers. Why, back in my day, I...oh, never mind; I just wouldn't feel right finishing such statements unless I had grey hair and a wooden cane to swing about.

Funny, I've always seen it recommended that you play Tsukinowa first - his is one of the easiest scenarios, and he has more shop access than the rest of the ninjas (Edge aside) combined.

It's not like any of the four missions are actually that difficult, though.

From what I'm seeing Gekkou - High HP & Strength & hammers therefore Waning Izayoi - High Spirit & Healing & femaleness & bows therefore Waxing?!? Tsukinowa - Boomerangs & speed therefore New Zangetsu - High Intelligence & Old manness therefore Full

Thank you for enduring this for us. The though process behind the game design just confuses me.

Maybe, the game is toying with you?

I think the implication here is that the Black and White Mage who went with Ceodore raised Porom's suspicions with their report on Baron. It's too bad they left the party before they had much to report.

I feel your pains. Took me forever to finish this chapter

I think there will be a lot of level grinding before I do as much as look at the Challenge Dungeon of this Tale.

What, "The whole world appears to be preparing for war" doesn't count as learning something?

Considering the fact that she forgets to tell Edge, no!

Edge's challenge dudgeon is going you headaches

So Mi B's party decided to go to the underworld. Does the game ever explain why?

Not that I can think of, no. In the next tale that follows on from this one, you can't even get into the underworld, IIRC.

Well, that was frustrating as hell. Hooray for auto dash and auto battle.

Gekkou: Lv 40 HP:2460 MP:146 Strength:58 Speed:24 Stamina:45 Intellect:18 Spirit:15 Attack:89 (9x85% Accuracy) Defence:34 (3x32% Evasion) Magic Defence:7 (1x10% Evasion)

        Izayoi: Lv 40 HP:1824 MP:191 Strength:33 Speed:40 Stamina:25 Intellect:22 Spirit:26 Attack:58 (7x70% Accuracy) Defence:30 (5x69% Evasion) Magic Defence:17 (2x25% Evasion)

Edge: Lv 40 HP:2198 MP:172 Strength:40 Speed:34 Stamina:32 Intellect:25 Spirit:22 Attack:106 (8x99% Accuracy) Defence:32 (4x27% Evasion) Magic Defence:7 (2x10% Evasion)

        Tsukinowa: Lv 40 HP:1748 MP:136 Strength:38 Speed:43 Stamina:33 Intellect:21 Spirit:18 Attack:103 (7x95% Accuracy) Defence:38 (5x30% Evasion) Magic Defence:7 (2x10% Evasion)

Zangetsu: Lv 40 HP:1869 MP:222 Strength:37 Speed:28 Stamina:31 Intellect:24 Spirit:16 Attack:85 (6x90% Accuracy) Defence:33 (3x50% Evasion) Magic Defence:8 (1x12% Evasion)

Yeah, Porom's chapter is one of the more pointless. It's mostly flashbacks, playing it doesn't add any characters to your final lineup, Porom gets basically no character development compared with her brother, the parts that aren't flashbacks are covered in Edge and Kain's chapters pretty well (made worse by the fact that, in the Wii version, Kain's chapter was released BEFORE Porom's), and it has THE WORST challenge dungeon, hands down. Sad, I like the twins.

Well, at least after this one, the tales are getting better, aside from one really idiotic thing in Edward's Tale

I can't think of the "idiotic thing" offhand, unless you refer to Harley being an awful PC. But it's been a while since I played.

I'm referring to the several trips through the Underground Waterway. Damcyan has a hovercraft, why isn't Edward using it? It's stupid and is nothing but padding. But yeah, Harley is an Awful PC.

Oh, yeah. That.

Porom met Anna? I wonder when that happened...

I wouldn't state that Tellah didn't have problems with the Octomammoth right away like that. Remember that when he joins Cecil, he builds it up as something he can't (or is unwilling) to fight alone. On the other hand, you're right that the Cooler Mammoth is much more complicated to fight.

Fair point, although I don't think he ever points out it would be impossible to do by himself, just that Cecil and Rydia would be helpful in the battle.

Of course the white mage would be a supporting character in her own Day In The Limelight.

That is so sad.

By now, you're probably meant to accept that Porom's tale exists to develop just about everyone [i]except[/i] her. So that the "stupid" twist coming soon has it's intended effect...

And we don't get a good idea of whether the meeting with Ceodore has happenned yet. Darn.

Given what happens in Mysidia after Porom returns, it's pretty clear when you think about it that the Porom/Ceodore meeting takes place before Porom's tale. Er, not counting all the flashbacks. Probably not LONG before, but before.

And if that's not a big enough hint, how about a certain something that will soon be removed from Mysidia? It's actually still there in Ceodore's chapter.

I could discuss the likely timeline concerning Ceodore, Porom, and Kain... but it would involve spoilers for those who haven't played and read the other chapters yet.

Why did they give Porom a tale if they weren't going to develop her? If they did not have any ideas they could have at least continued her and Palom being foils of each other.

Just so people know, I am working on the next update, I just really don't like the Challenge Dungeon or the grind so it may take a while for me to actually be motivated enough to finish it.

A lot of annoyance, ally stabbing and grinding later, and we're done with this Tale.

        Porom: Lv 40 HP:1435 MP:402 Strength:17 Speed:22 Stamina:18 Intellect:31 Spirit:72 Attack:50 (4x70% Accuracy) Defence:34 (2x28% Evasion) Magoc Defence:25 (3x37% Evasion)

That ridiculous Spirit is all in the equipment, her base Spirit is 47

Now, about future updates: Odds are, they will mostly occur on weekends only, with the occasional one on Friday. This is because uni's starting up again here, and, well, I don't get home until after dark most days, and I'm not going to update that late.

You forgot to mention the bad hit rate on Piercing Sight. Or the fact that it doesn't bother to tell you which weakness it added, so you need to spend another turn with a White Magic user or Cid/Luca to get full use out of it.

There's a Dummied Out Blue Magic command in the game; most fans believe that it was supposed to land either on Calca (because his Jive skills are the sorts of thing one would expect of Blue Magic) or Harley (because Blue Magic involves studying monsters, and, let's be honest, what exactly is Harley's impressive Intelligence score supposed to DO?!)

Well, can't wait to see what you think of the next two chapters!

Yeah, the next (and last) two chapters are where the game starts actually being fun. Playing through the final chapter right now, I'll probably wait for you to catch up so we can compare notes.

Don't be surprised if there's no update this weekend, I'm still trying to clear this dungeon. It doesn't help that this is the first chance I've had to play this week, and the 50k Gil chest doesn't guarantee a good item.

I guess you might see an update tomorrow, dungeon's been cleared.

        Edward: Lv 40 HP:1637 MP:170 Strength:32 Speed:27 Stamina:19 Intellect:36 Spirit:41 Attack:53 (6x99% Accuracy) Defence:31 (3x32% Evasion) Magic Defence:20 (2x29% Evasion)

        Harley: Lv 40 HP:1671 MP:164 Strength:33 Speed:25 Stamina:23 Intellect:47 Spirit:40 Attack:56 (6x75% Accuracy) Defence:32 (3x30% Evasion) Magic Defence:18 (2x28% Evasion)

See how the two are near equal? Yeah, not a good thing for Harley, as that's not what she needs to be good.

Back when the game was first being released, the idea that Dark Kain was an active participant in the plot was a common theory. So common that people were disappointed when they were proven right.

That's the issue with the plot: Our old heroes are already so clearly defined that there's only one direction the plot can go with them in charge.

Edward being clever is actually interesting. It shows some growth and potential to rule. Sad that, that is the current high point.

Well, I would say from the fight with the Dark Elf in FFIV that he's always been clever, but I will say you're right over both his growth and how this is the high point so far. He has certainly improved over the 17 years since FFIV.

Kain has unlocked the power of Persona!

Awe Striker: Thanks for the laugh!

Seems I wasn't the only one to be reminded of Persona during that scene.

Slight typo there SCM: Kain's new class is "Holy Dragoon", not just "Dragoon".

Damn, I thought I caught that.

I'll keep in mind to fix it when next update occurs - last time I checked, editing an old entry bumps it to the top of the Live Blogginations index, and I don't want to do that when I've got nothing new to post.

And that's done! Getting Cid and Rosa up to 50 is a pain, but at least the latter can be quite valuable.

Ceodore: Lv 50 HP:2811 MP:284 Strength:58 Speed:38 Stamina:48 Intellect:22 Spirit:38 Attack:108 (10x99% Accuracy) Defence:64 (7x32% Evasion) Magic Defence:7 (2x13% Evasion)

        Rosa: Lv 50 HP:2352 MP:421 Strength:36 Speed:28 Stamina:30 Intellect:38 Spirit:63 Attack:74 (6x87% Accuracy) Defence:40 (3x30% Evasion) Magic Defence:27 (3x36% Evasion)

Kain: Lv 50 HP:3232 MP:154 Strength:72 Speed:40 Stamina:57 Intellect:28 Spirit:37 Attack:115 (12x99% Accuracy) Defence:68 (8x20% Evasion) Magic Defence:6 (3x12% Evasion)

Cid: Lv 50 HP:3197 MP:101 Strength:70 Speed:21 Stamina:52 Intellect:12 Spirit:10 Attack:119 (10x92% Accuracy) Defence:61 (2x0% Evasion) Magic Defence:8 (0x8% Evasion)

Keep ahold of your Lustful Lali-Hos; in the Developer's Room in the final chapter, you can trade them for a far more useful item.

Yeah, I do actually know what they're used for, I'm just questioning the decision to have a porno mag as an item.

Strange how she already has Asura, when it was previously implied that she captured the Feymarch Eidolons immediately after seizing Baron...

Then again, that was only an implication.

Well, if you know the truth about the Mysterious Girl, you realize how she accomplished that. ;)

And this is what I was alluding to in the previous chapter: while I haven't worked out the timeline in its entirety, where the Mysterious Girl is concerned it's less of an issue. "She" (more like THEY) can be multiple places at once.

Heroic Jay: THEY is the correct pronoun for the Mystery Girl.

Those of you interested in the timeline, a good acquaintance of mine once sorted everything out. While there is a pretty solid timeline, it falls apart when you try to put Yang's and Edward's Tales together.

Spoilers, obviously: http://thelifestream.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7879

It would have been nice if there was a way to easily tell individual Mysterious Girls apart in retrospect. Like, the one who let Kain join could have been all around more mellow, but we can't be sure because we don't know which of her other actions were the same one.

"Evil is Evolution at it's purest," huh? That's something we should keep in mind for later...

I don't think they're meant to be treated as separate characters with separate personalities. They seem more like a hive mind, or at least without any personal free will (prior to... er, spoilers.)

Okay, Golbez is all Diamond-ed up now. I also gave him the Soma Drop we found earlier.

Golbez: Lv 44 HP:2971 MP:349 Strength:45 Speed:27 Stamina:48 Intellect:47 Spirit:34 Attack:104 (7x99% Accuracy) Defence:63 (5x32% Evasion) Magic Defence:11 (2x20% Evasion)

For people who have noticed that Golbez's HP is unchanged since we started the tale, he has no HP growth until about level 55. The cap for this tale is 45.

BTW, did you take the unique sword from flashback!Golbez? Just curious.

Nah, I don't think it's really necessary.

Done.

Golbez: Lv 45 HP:2971 MP:356 Strength:46 Speed:28 Stamina:65 Intellect:44 Spirit:35 Attack:127 (7x99% Accuracy) Defence:71 (5x34% Evasion) Magic Defence:14 (2x20% Evasion)

If you could switch party members, or at least fill up the fifth slot, who would you pick at this point?

Probably Izayoi or Brina, some extra healing potential would be nice, as Edge is the only one of the four that can heal right now, and it's really limited.

I really don't like this party, it feels really unbalanced, sacrificing healing ability for what isn't that noticeable of an increase in damage output. Eh, I'll just chuck it on the pile of problems I have with this game.

Even if they did want to force those four on you, they really should have let you fill the fifth spot, at least, with a doll, ninja, or character you'd rescued (Porom or Leonora, once you rescue them, could provide your team with REAL White Magic.) Alas...

The Mysterious Girl can't tell Holy Dragoon Kain apart from Dark Kain. I would say this is evidence that she's actually built to tell people apart by aura, but a reflection Made Of Evil should show up significantly different from a Holy Warrior in those senses.

I think she's just oblivious in this case. As far as we know, she doesn't know about the two Kains, and aside from the armour they presumably look the same, so she's probably just assuming it's the same Kain. Someone should inform her that nobody ever seems to change their clothes on this planet unless they have a Heel Face Turn

Must get smelly.

Though come to think about it, Rydia did get new clothes after she returns from the land of summons. I guess the old ones no longer fit.

Okay, Heel Face Turns and aging cause clothing changes, but that's it.

I am never, EVER, moving again without having a modem ready.

Update sometime within a week.

I take it the scene changes if Porom has been rescued already?

It should be.

Either way, have fun!

Here are a couple of themes to go with:

Crystal Guardians: Yang, Edward, Porom, Leonora, (Ursala, Harley, Palom)

Main Characters: Rydia, Ceodore, Kain, Golbez, [Edward, Edge, Palom, Porom (Unlike Rosa, her personal journey didn't take place entirely offscreen)]

Yes, I do realise I may have missed some Bands, but I had to finish up quickly. We'll learn the rest that I can learn now at the beginning of the next update.

Why not take along all the smartest characters for the next section.

On one hand, I like that Edward is the smartest person in the game. On the other that was low game. What were the makers thinking. Anybody playing this game probably beat FFIV already. Which means all the drama from that is used up.

Yeah, I agree. There's absolutely nothing new there, and in FFIV it led to a great scene. Here? There's no big scene surrounding it. Hell, you don't even have to bring Edge, IIRC. It's just awfully done.

One take from the scene is that whoever is using the old bosses now Did Not Do The Research as to which ones would actually be useful. That certainly sounds like the Mysterious Girls: so assured of their success that they don't even try to understand anything else.

Good point, but a scene that falls flat intentionally still falls flat.

You don't even have to take Edge? wow. I thought maybe they wanted to hurt Edge or something but wow.

Bring Kain and Rosa.

You could use Cid and Luca again since you'll have Edward and Harley

Hmm... I'd rather switch out Cid and Luca (Luca's been in there too long, Cid's just too slow in this game) so unless anyone has any further suggestions, I'll probably go with Kain and Rosa.

And now for shameless plug time! I'm involved in FFWiki Plays Final Fantasy VI, which is, well, a video LP of FFVI involving several members of the Final Fantasy Wiki. First episode can be found here if you're interested.

Cool. I will check that out. I like Kain and Rosa as well for the next two slots.

Bring Ceodore, Palom, and Leonora. No particular reason, I just thought they could use more training.

Didn't Edward put his past behind him in FFIV?

Leveling up some weaker characters could be interesting.

I'm surprised the Sensechel hasn't been throwing women at Edge by now. A 43 year old king without and heir and spare is very risky for the future stability of the kingdom. This is especially true with one who risks his life so readily.

I vote for Yang.

Also, why did they exile Rydia? Was that ever explained?

I do not remember if they ever explain it.

Wow. So the whole start of Rydia's story in this is just left unexplained? That is just sad.

The Mystic Whip is "just some whip"? Bull, it has the same Intelligence boost as the high-end Rods. As many Whips D Ecrease Intelligence, that's fairly nice, and if you're using Palom or Leonora alongside Rydia for whatever reason, it frees up a Rod for them.

By this point you're getting tons of stat boost in your important stats (except for Minerva Bustier on anyone but Luca and maybe Ursula, dunno what exactly Chakra scales on but I'm guessing Spirit), it doesn't particularly matter what boosts what.

The obvious reason why Rydia is locked out of the Feymarch is that they don't want her aging to death before she can guarantee the next generation of summoners in the physical world.

Nice that the official end game party for ffiv gets an awesome group attack.

Lich and Kraken actually used Boss Battle A, which fits them better.

Next time, bring Cecil/Ceodore, Rosa, and Cid/Luca/Gekku, why not?

I am aware that Lich and Kraken use different music in FFI, but, eh. I'm lazy too. Just not as lazy.

So this game defiles not just FFIV but also the first. What next, FFVI and VII.

I vote for Rydia, Rosa and Edge. Close to the original final party.

They really are going through the previous Final Fantay's.

I vote for the three that would make the next section easiest on you.

Is there any combination that has less stupid banter? Is so you can go with that, otherwise I propose whatever gets you through faster or easier.

It's been a while guys, but I'm back to working on this! Hell, with only 4 more important floors and me having a week off from uni, I may even be able to finish the game this week. Stay tuned, next update will either be tonight or tomorrow.

I am still following. I just got distracted by stuff this week. I would have voted for Porom the last time you asked anyway.

Belated comments: I wonder what would happen if you fought Ultros with an all female party?

Also Edward is still the smartest man on the planet and Edge apparantly is similar to the pervert Octopus. How nice.

Well, the first half of the Ultros fight would be even easier but as the second half doesn't have that special "counter only men" thing, it would be about the same.

Have fun and good luck!

P.S thanks for doing this.