First off, there are a couple of things I should probably mention.
1) Placing the areas of Ivalice in certain patterns will net you some rather rare items. Two items actually can't be obtained any other way, unless you use Linking (which I won't be covering) - the Gastra Bow and Galmia Shoes.
2) "Manipulating the laws" means, at this point in the game, "dawdle around on the world map until you have the law you want."
Which is exactly what I've done here, for the second storyline mission...
- Mission 002: Thesis Hunt -
- [Location: Lutia Pass]
- [Laws: [Fight/Color Magic* ] [R2]]
Mission Summary: Bandits stole some guy's academic papers, and he wants them back. Montblanc muses that they might be nerdy bandits, but someone hired them and they just want the money.
The thieves apparently got the wrong document, and the bandit leader (Human Thief) and their client (Nu-Mou White Mage) get into a bit of verbal altercation.
But they're both enemies and will work together just chummily.
With "Fight" forbidden, I'm at a bit of a handicap, as the Soldier's basic ability is defensive.
However, the enemy party is at a huge disadvantage, as this early in the game, enemies don't really have that many A-Abilities (this battle is still straightforward even if you don't forbid Fight).
Enemy Setup:
- Human Thief ("leader" on the peak): A:Steal (Steal:Gil), A:None, R:Counter, S:None
- Nu-Mou White Mage: A:White Magic (Cure, Protect), A: None, R:None, S:None
- Human Thief: A:Steal (Steal:Gil*), A:None, R:None, S:Maintenance
- Human Soldier (right side): A:Battle Tech (Powerbreak, Magicbreak), A:None, R:None, S:None
- Human Soldier (left side): A:Battle Tech (First Aid), A:None, R:None, S:None
- Human Archer: A:Aim (Boost, Aim:Legs), A:None, R:None, S:None
Ability Notes:
- If I put an asterisk next to an enemy's ability, they haven't mastered it. If an ability is unmastered, you can steal or break the equipment that's teaching it to them to make them lose the ability. Also, you can't steal unmastered abilities.
- First Aid heals its user for a small amount and removes status effects.
- Maintenance prevents your stuff from being stolen or destroyed. It's not as useful as it sounds.
- Aim: Legs causes its target to become Immobilized. While Immobilized, a unit can't move. This is very annoying, as at this point you don't have too many ranged options, or Esuna. Fortunately, the game gives you a few Bandages to start with. You can use those to cure the Bind. The similar Disable status effect is also a Bind (although you'll need someone else to cure it - Disable removes the ability to use all Actions.)
- Boost charges energy to make your next attack more powerful.
- Powerbreak reduces the target's Weapon Attack stat.
- Magicbreak deals damage to the target's MP.
Battle Notes:
- Bring in a Black Mage of any kind in case their White Mage decides to cast Protect.
- If you need your MC to do damage and you've forbidden Fight, he can use his Combo (if you have JP).
- Soldiers with First Aid will tend to back into corners and use it when low on HP.
The battle drags a bit, but is still very easy. Towards the end of the battle, the AI shows its stupidity; the White Mage forgets to heal and the Archer uses the useless (this time) Boost.
Montblanc recommends we join the "Clan Wars" and we head out. Mission complete.
Mission Rewards:
- 4000 Gil
- 40 AP
- Class I Item (Pure Staff)
- Map Symbol: Nubswood
Mission rewards are (mostly) unfixed - items are grouped into Class I through Class VII, and each mission reward pulls items from sets Item Classes at random according to the mission's "script" - Thesis Hunt will always award a Class I item. The Pure Staff I got was a pretty good reward; it teaches White Mages Esuna (that skill I almost needed several times this mission).
I put the Nubswood towards the southwest, and I'm calling this entry off here.
