Character Development: Only the Best

December 26, 2007, 6:15 AM

Okay, so I was playing through this game and I really like how they allowed you to modify the chars, to a much greater extent then I've seen previously. However, with such flexibility, there always comes uncertainty.

So my question is this: What is the best way to develop the characters? Who is best with a sword? With a staff? Who should be the white mage, the black mage, and so on, without wasting a valuble warrior as well? There's so many choices to pick from and yet it's very hard to decide what to do!

The more specific in this thread you can be, the better. But it doesn't really matter a whole lot. I just want to know what the heck I should do with these people.

~ The Dragon

December 26, 2007, 11:37 AM

Vaan makes a great tank, his HP, Strength and Evasion make him a top choice for drawing enemy attacks. A good choice of weapons for Vaan is the Main Gaunch Dagger as it give him an amazing evade rating. His MP is also quite good so as a secondary concern he shopuld be casting support spells.

Balthier works well as a support character, he is a good all rounder, although he has the lowest max HP of the male characters if equipt with decent armour, and ranged weapon he can inflict can take a good amount of damadge and he has enough MP to be effective at casting support spells, and some offensive magic.

Basch is the best choice for a damadge dealer. His strength is the best of the whole party so is best equipt with either a two handed sword or a spear. His MP is not great but he should be able to cope with a few buffing spells to increase his strength such as Bravery and possible Beserk.

Fran Yet again is a good support character, a ranged weapon is best for her, as her HP isn't great. Support and healing spells should be her first concern. Especially curing status effects such as poison and vox.

Ash Should be used as more of a Mage than Fran due to her higher MP. Use of Black or Arcana magic should be used when ever possible. As with all mages some healing should be carried out to share responsability. As for choice in weapons, magic rods make a good choice.

Penelo is an out and out mage. Great MP, but low HP means she should be kept in the back ranks of the fighting. Cross bows arn't a bad choice for her, or measure if you want to risk some close combat are good choices. Magic of all sorts she be used by her. Most of the damadge she will inflict will come from dark magic, but a couple of spells such as Faith and the technique of charge will be very useful here.

If you want any more advice on specific set ups of gambits for characters message me and I'll send you my full party setup, for different parts of the game.

December 26, 2007, 3:16 PM

Personally, I think FFX has more flexibility in choosing your characters style. Black Mages in this game suck, mainly because of the waiting time between spells. White mages aren't too shabby either but I much prefer having warriors who can both heal and attack at the same time.

Anyway, out of the characters Vaan and Ashe are the most balanced. They can be made into anything from warriors to mages. Penelo is the best mage. Basch is the main damage dealer, although he has very low Vit. Fran and Balthier can be made into anything but of a lower class than Vaan and Ashe.

December 26, 2007, 3:31 PM

Vaan is a great all rounder, and he has a great balance between Power, Speed, and Magick, but he's got a slightly better Strength stat than a Magick stat. Same with Ashe, but her Magick is higher than Vaan.

Basch has the greatest HP and Strength, and Balthier and Fran are just slightly weaker versions of Ashe and Vaan.

Penelo is the best one to make a mage, with proper training she can do more damage with Magick than the others are doing with physical attacks.

Although, really, it all depends on how you yourself train them, the weapons and armour you choose are major factors in how your characters stats develop too. For example, if you want a higer Magick stat, you would equip magick armours.

December 27, 2007, 12:05 AM

I liked the fact that we could do that.

But I'm still sticking to what they were in the first place.

I have all the characters learn all the abilities, but I get them to keep their original weapons e.g. Vaan with a sword, Balthier with a gun, Fran with a bow, etc ...

December 27, 2007, 1:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerith

Although, really, it all depends on how you yourself train them, the weapons and armour you choose are major factors in how your characters stats develop too. For example, if you want a higer Magick stat, you would equip magick armours.

Agreed. It really all depends on how you customize your characters. I don't think there's really such a thing as "Who is best with a particular weapon?" It all comes down to your own preferences. However, I find that Basch, Balthier, and Vaan are my strongest characters in general, despite what weapons they are using. I never really used a mage job, as I found it easier to be the offensive and healer type for all my characters.

January 20, 2008, 11:26 PM

I have always made my characters as their attitudes and appearance follow....like what they seem right with. Like with Vaan, I have always made him my warrior, but I have given him the ability to be a good spell caster as well...I have made everyone able to do and use w/e they want. But on the long run I will always make Vaan and Balthier my warriors, Fran my mage, for she is good with both white and black magick. Penelo is also good with magick and I did give her a bow...I don't want her near the enemy, she always leaves her self too open for death ._.;;
Ashe and Basch I made into warriors but Ashe can cast very well too, so she's the one that splits.
I think I'm very satisfied with what I have done with my characters, They are able to surivive anywhere now

February 11, 2008, 1:48 AM

Vaan - my Monk/Ninja/Thief etc, was empty handed at a time, but always stealing and then i made him have ninja weapons, he casts buffs too

Balthier - my Gunner/Buffer, that pretty much says it all....Gunmage?

Fran - my Archer/White Mage she healed and shot, and buffed here and there

Ashe - my Red Mage/Samurai fist she was sword and shield, then i gave her a kitana then a rapier, she always buffed

Basch - my Berserker/Dragoon buffed himself with Protect, Lure, Berserk, and Bravery and beated face

Penelo - My Black Mage...

what Espers do you think the peoples deserve, i gave Belias to Ashe and Matues to Fran to name a few

February 11, 2008, 1:51 AM

I hate having too much freedom with weapon choices it makes me really indecisive to the point were I pretty much just equip everyone in the same armour & give them all swords. Although I think I actually gave Vaan Balthier, Penelo and Fran light Armour & the other 2 got heavy

I just randomly dished out the espers aswel, wasn't really fussed who got what as I never used them like ever