Final Fantasy XIII

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=4254.msg141604#msg141604 date=1268706081]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141602#msg141602 date=1268705917]
Btw the part where it opens up feels really, really daunting and makes you want the linearity back because there's so much to do there

Haven't made it there yet. Off to play VI.
[/quote]I mean it's really cool, but it sucks because there's king behemoths that when they change form they'll almost always one-shot you.
[/quote]

Behemoths have always been like that   What attack is it?  Haymaker/Suplex/Whatever they're calling it this time around?

[Squishy3]

Karrde link=topic=4254.msg141672#msg141672 date=1268764046]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141606#msg141606 date=1268706690]
[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=4254.msg141604#msg141604 date=1268706081]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141602#msg141602 date=1268705917]
Btw the part where it opens up feels really, really daunting and makes you want the linearity back because there's so much to do there

Haven't made it there yet. Off to play VI.
[/quote]I mean it's really cool, but it sucks because there's king behemoths that when they change form they'll almost always one-shot you.
[/quote]

Behemoths have always been like that   What attack is it?  Haymaker/Suplex/Whatever they're calling it this time around?
[/quote]There's behemoths throughout the game but they never oneshotted you.

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

In other FFs they have onehit kill attacks that either do a fuckton of damage (but not necc fatal), do 9999 damage at all times, or have instant death as an attribute.

[Ianki]

[quote author=[fr31ns]Karrde link=topic=4254.msg141672#msg141672 date=1268764046]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141606#msg141606 date=1268706690]
[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=4254.msg141604#msg141604 date=1268706081]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141602#msg141602 date=1268705917]
Btw the part where it opens up feels really, really daunting and makes you want the linearity back because there's so much to do there

Haven't made it there yet. Off to play VI.
[/quote]I mean it's really cool, but it sucks because there's king behemoths that when they change form they'll almost always one-shot you.
[/quote]

Behemoths have always been like that   What attack is it?  Haymaker/Suplex/Whatever they're calling it this time around?
[/quote]There's behemoths throughout the game but they never oneshotted you.
[/quote]

man, learn to sentinel.

Actually, i'm on the part where it is just hope and snow for the first time, desperatly trying to grind up snows weapon and having some fun playing around with the sentinel/synergest combo.  I bet a rev/sentinel/sabotage to commando/sentinel/rev would be a killer combo to take down some tank mother fuckers fast.

The story line is like a novel if every paragraph ends with a semi-melodramatic cliff hanger.  I'm hopping from cut scene to cut scene like i go through triskets.

[Surf314]

I'm at Sazh/Vanille in XIII and I just got to South something in VI. God I suck at names. Anyways liking both so far.

[Surf314]

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessag...c=53950404

For caff to rage at later 

[Ianki]

somehow in two days i managed to log more time in with final fantasy tactics advanced 2 than i have with ffxiii.

I think it's because each battle takes like 20 minutes and once jobs start opening up the grind potential is near limitless.

[Surf314]

Without giving anything away I just got to a town with light and hope. Also I figured out weapon leveling and tried it a bit. I probably effed stuff up but oh well. There are two types of upgrade mats: organic and tech. Organic give low XP but increase your multiplier in large amounts. Tech give high XP. So you need to first have a lot of something. Then you use about 20-36 organic mats at one time to get a good multiplier, then use as many of the same tech mats you can, repeat.

[korkesh]

the upgrading will take a long time, i had poured all the items i got in my playthrough into only lightnings weapon and i barely made it to the 3rd stage

[Surf314]

the upgrading will take a long time, i had poured all the items i got in my playthrough into only lightnings weapon and i barely made it to the 3rd stage

I heard there is a way to upgrade super fast with minimal grinding from chapter 11 on. Basically you use just the right amount of certain mats in the right way.

[CaffeinePowered]

[quote author=korkesh link=topic=4254.msg141959#msg141959 date=1268918453]
the upgrading will take a long time, i had poured all the items i got in my playthrough into only lightnings weapon and i barely made it to the 3rd stage

I heard there is a way to upgrade super fast with minimal grinding from chapter 11 on. Basically you use just the right amount of certain mats in the right way.
[/quote]


Translation: Spend Money on the player's guide

[Surf314]

[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=4254.msg141960#msg141960 date=1268920299]
[quote author=korkesh link=topic=4254.msg141959#msg141959 date=1268918453]
the upgrading will take a long time, i had poured all the items i got in my playthrough into only lightnings weapon and i barely made it to the 3rd stage

I heard there is a way to upgrade super fast with minimal grinding from chapter 11 on. Basically you use just the right amount of certain mats in the right way.
[/quote]


Translation: Spend Money on the player's guide
[/quote]

If I ever buy a player's guide I feel like I've already lost the game, but I may have to. Or I could check GameFaqs for free.

To upgrade, select the weapon or accessory you wish to improve and you will see its current level (Lv. 1, for instance) and its experience points (EXP) displayed in the Attributes panel. Now choose a component to combine with it. Regular components have an EXP value that will be added to the EXP of the item when combined. Once you have raised enough EXP to meet or exceed the next EXP target shown, your equipment will gain a level. Depending on the item, this can mean higher stats, greater damage or improved effects.

You can find components in Treasure Spheres; earn them as Spoils from battles; or buy them from the shops. Shopping is the fastest way to acquire large amounts, though, and this is ultimately the key to upgrading in the most efficient manner.

Even when a weapon or accessory reaches its maximum level (*), it may be possible to upgrade it further through the use of a specific transformational catalyst. These are race and expensive components whose sole purpose is to transform one item of equipment into a superior one. Each piece of equipment thus has a fixed development path to its fullest potential:

Initial form Lv. 1
Initial form Lv. *
Transformation via a specific catalyst
Upgraded form Lv. N
Upgraded form Lv. *
Etc.

*Side Note: When you upgrade through a catalyst, the newly made item doesn’t start back at level 1.*

ADVANCED TIPS:

Each component has a hidden multiplier value that influences the EXP Bonus applied to upgrades. As a general rule, organic components (with a claw icon by their name) gradually raise the EXP Bonus but add very few experience points to the equipment. Mechanical components (with a bolt icon) offer high EXP values but will reduce the EXP Bonus when used.

The best way to upgrade equipment, therefore, rests in first using organic components to build the EXP Bonus to its maximum level (x3 – a 200% gain), and then spending a large quanity of a single mechanical component type in one go. This will reset the EXP Bonus, but triple the experience value gained from all of the mechanical components.

Ideally, being cost/time-efficient when upgrading involves being able to identify the components with the right attributes, and to acquire them in great quantities – most likely from shops – up to the inventory maximum of 99.

The EXP value of a component will vary from item to item. This is because of another hidden value, the item’s rank. The better your equipment, and thus the higher its rank, the less it will gain in EXP from the components you spend on it.

DOING THE MATH:

Using organic components add to the EXP Bonus. For example, the very first component in the list – the Begrimed Claw – is worth +4 points to the multiplier value. Further down the list, by contrast, you’ll see that a Spark Plug is worth -18 points.

The game keeps track of the running total in the background, remembering the multiplier value for each item you upgrade. The item’s EXP Bonus changes whenever this hidden total crosses certain thresholds:

0-50 = X1
51-100 = X1.25
101-200 = X1.5
201-250 = X1.75
251-500 = X2
504 = X3

So, following the example, upgrading with 26 begrimed claws (26 x 4 = 104) would add 104 points to the multiplier value and raise the EXP Bonus to x1.5. The further addition of a single Spark Plug (-18 points) would reduce the multiplier value to 86 points, so the EXP Bonus would also drop to x1.25.

There are several components with a higher multiplier value, which cannot be purchased, and which take considerable time and effort to obtain in large numbers. Even if found or won, some components (like perfume, at +120) would still be more efficiently exchanged for Gil.

Sturdy Bone, Barbed Tail, and Vibrant Ooze have the best cost-effective rate; use 36 of them and you get an instant X3 EXP Bonus. Otherworldly Bone, Diabolic Tail and Transparent Ooze are just behind – a slightly lower ratio per Gil, but lighter on the inventory space as you only need 24 of them to reach that X3 EXP Bonus.

After boosting the EXP Bonus to X3, thanks to organic components, it’s time to use mechanical components to actually level up the equipment. For the best results, use a large quantity of a single type in one go so that the X3 applies to every component. If you added them one by one, your X3 multiplier would soon be reduced to zero after just a few. Again, the ideal solution is to identify what components offer the best EXP value-to-cost ratio.

Ultracompact Reactors are perfect when you need huge amounts of EXP, as you’ll find when you see the requirements for taking an ultimate weapon to its maximum level. Particle Accelerators are an intermediate solution – still very high EXP, but ten times lower. You will need to unlock the R&D Depot retail network to buy these items.

At this price, you should also avoid waste incurred from using more components than necessary. Work out how much EXP will be required by multiplying the number of levels to be upgraded with the average cost of each level (depending on how many levels have yet to be gained). Aim to come in as near as possible to the maximum level. Make up any final remaining difference with lesser components.

Don’t be surprised by the fact that the same component may offer different EXP depending on the target equipment. The higher the rank of the item, the lower the EXP gained from the component. Ranks run from 1 to 11, lowest to highest. Two weapons with a maximum level of 61, but different ranks, will require very different total amounts of EXP.

As a general rule of thumb, upgrading an initial weapon from Lv. 1 to Lv. * requires approximately 50,000 EXP; upgrading an intermediate weapon from Lv. 1 to Lv. * requires approximately 450,000 EXP; upgrading an ultimate weapon from Lv. 1 to Lv. * requires approximately 1,500,000 EXP. Alternatively, trial and error with a saved game can give an equally good answer.

If you want to make precise calculations, it might help to note that every item starts with a base EXP requirement to take it to Lv. 2, and then increases the requirement by the same amount per level. For example, a Silver Bangle needs 200 EXP to level up at first, then 256 EXP, then 312 EXP, rising by 56 EXP per level. The same applies to every item, though each has its own base and increment value.

SUMMARY: EFFICIENT UPGRADING:

For players who just want a shorthand guide, here’s a five-step recap of the procedure to follow:

1. Choose the piece of equipment you want to upgrade.

2. Check its rank and maximum level, then calculate the EXP amount required ( or simply approximate EXP requirements just above).

3. Use 36 Sturdy Bones, Barbed Tails or Vibrant Oozes (or 24 Otherworldly Bones, Diabolic
Tails or Transparent Oozes) to get an instant X3 EXP Bonus.

4. Follow it with the right quantity of Ultracompact Reactors, Particle Accelerators or one of the other recommended components to bring the piece of equipment directly to maximum level (*)

5. Where applicable, use the transformational catalyst required to transform the item into its superior version, then return to step 2.

RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS:

ORGANIC:

Sturdy Bone +14 80gil
Barbed Tail +14 80gil
Vibrant Ooze +14 80gil

Otherworldly Bone +21 150gil
Diabolic Tail +21 150gil
Transparent Ooze +21 150gil

MECHANICAL:

Ultracompact Reactor 40,000 Exp Average 50,000gil
Supercharger 774 Exp Average 1,600gil
Particle Accelerator 4,800 Exp Average 10,000gil
Turboprop 768 Exp Average 1,600gil
Superconductor 400 Exp Average 840gil
Perfect Conductor 751 Exp Average 1,600gil
Chobham Armor 460 Exp Average 1,000gil
Bomb Core 551 Exp Average 1,200gil
Tesla Turbine 823 Exp Average 1,800gil.

[korkesh]

Just finished it, and I must say that I have not played a final fantasy this good since the ps1 era.

I put this as my favourite final fantasy next to 8 and 6.

[Ianki]

Without giving anything away I just got to a town with light and hope.

without giving anything away, that cut scene with lightning, hope, snow, and fang is beyond epic.

Also without giving anything away, i had a good cry over some Sazh/Vanille stuff last night.  Sazh is the man, and by far has the most emotional story arch.

Also, in terms of upgrading weapons, right about now surf you're going to start killing off waves and waves of psicom officers and they all but just drop either pheniox downs, credit chips, or incentive chips.  I grinded there for a good hour and got all my equiped weapons up to level 12 with the mad cash i was raking in.

It's the same deal with where i'm at right now. i'm about 3 hours into an epic raid on a airfortress, and the psicom kids are basically giving me their paychecks from battle to battle. i have to keep running back to a save point just to cash in and buy me some component parts.  (as an aside, thanks for that guide.  i was fiddiling around with how best to upgrade in the middle of the cash bananza and came up with about the same conclusion but the math makes it much more transparent)

[korkesh]

I would not worry about weapons so much, you can beat the game using the weapons you start with

[Ianki]

I would not worry about weapons so much, you can beat the game using the weapons you start with

I can beat chrono trigger at level 40 too, doesn't mean i don't play until i'm level 99

[Surf314]

[quote author=korkesh link=topic=4254.msg142000#msg142000 date=1268935451]
I would not worry about weapons so much, you can beat the game using the weapons you start with

I can beat chrono trigger at level 40 too, doesn't mean i don't play until i'm level 99
[/quote]

Yea I've got overkill-itus too. If it's worth beating it's worth beating at level cap 

[Ianki]

[quote author=Ianki link=topic=4254.msg142009#msg142009 date=1268938336]
[quote author=korkesh link=topic=4254.msg142000#msg142000 date=1268935451]
I would not worry about weapons so much, you can beat the game using the weapons you start with

I can beat chrono trigger at level 40 too, doesn't mean i don't play until i'm level 99
[/quote]

Yea I've got overkill-itus too. If it's worth beating it's worth beating at level cap 
[/quote]

i heard somewhere that you gain the last cp level AFTER you beat the game, so you can keep grinding

[korkesh]

I can beat chrono trigger at level 40 too, doesn't mean i don't play until i'm level 99

I am the exact same way, im just saying that you can weapon upgrade after you beat the game. After killing the last boos you can save and the game spits you out to the place with all the side quests; which i am doing right now.

[Ianki]

[quote author=[fr31ns]Karrde link=topic=4254.msg141672#msg141672 date=1268764046]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141606#msg141606 date=1268706690]
[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=4254.msg141604#msg141604 date=1268706081]
[quote author=Squishy link=topic=4254.msg141602#msg141602 date=1268705917]
Btw the part where it opens up feels really, really daunting and makes you want the linearity back because there's so much to do there

Haven't made it there yet. Off to play VI.
[/quote]I mean it's really cool, but it sucks because there's king behemoths that when they change form they'll almost always one-shot you.
[/quote]

Behemoths have always been like that   What attack is it?  Haymaker/Suplex/Whatever they're calling it this time around?
[/quote]There's behemoths throughout the game but they never oneshotted you.
[/quote]

I just got to pulse and i am dealing with a king behemoth or two.  the problem doesn't seem to be that they deal 1-2k damage, but that they have about a million hp and only stagger at 600% so you need at least a com/rav combo to hit it up, which doesn't leave much constant healing for the sent