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spare us your quiddities!
(Subject line is my favourite quote of Balthier's. I thought he said it to someone else, but no, he says it Vaan).
OK so before I start, let me tell you that I am two episodes behind everyone else on Kill la Kill (no spoilers, thanks!) and I got SO DISTRACTED by FFXII, that I actually forgot to catch up today. I also have no interest in catching up tomorrow, either (I'll do it while I'm working instead :D )
(I love being self-employed. I can watch TV while I work and no-one tells me not to because I'M THE FREAKING BOSS).
*ahem*
Preliminary notes:
- this is the game that got me into Akihiko Yoshida's artwork and Hitoshi Sakimoto's music. Not a surprise, I know. I think both of them are equally awesome. I am sad that I wasn't more Yoshida's art at the time I was doing my HND because damn it would've been hilarious to see what my tutors made of his stuff (especially the one who had Opinions about what was and wasn't art and frankly as far as I am still concerned six years later, can go fuck himself).
SO THAT SAID, on with other stuff that may be spoilers! (From the start to arrival at Bhujerba - though there are spoilers for later game things, due to stuff I've been reading, so be warned).
Twin thought vomit in that: I find it interesting that both brothers ended up serving/protecting royalty or other equivalent. I presume that this is deliberately done from a storytelling point of view to show and contrast the differences between them, and show up the similarities. But it is essentially a What If...? in that we don't have to imagine what if Basch had served the Empire? What if Gabranth hadn't? I know that it's not exactly the same, because obviously they have different characters, but it's just a thought I had.
Presumably the Archadians have been conquering other countries for decades by the time the game begins (which is borne out by Landis having been conquered nearly two decades ago, and that we don't even know where it was on on the map, if it was even on the map we're shown in game). Also the Rozzarians, but nobody cares about them ;)
Does Reddas not find Basch even the slightest bit familiar looking when they meet? I mean ALL THE JUDGES HANG OUT, RIGHT. He will have been around Gabranth at some point in the past. As pointed out by my flailing in earlier posts showed, they don't actually look too different.
A random thought I had that I felt must be addressed: Cid was 36 when Balthier was born.
Oh then I wrote half a fic in second person in the middle of my notes. Heh.
Ashe and Larsa both have similar collars on their clothes, which I think is a nice detail. Even if it does make me think of sailor clothes. Did wonder if it meant Ashe was wearing Archadian clothes, but then I thought naaaaaaaaaah.
Also would Larsa not recognise Basch when they first meet? (I mean because he looks like his brother, not that he's the Kingslayer). Given what he says later onthe Shiva(??) the Leviathan* makes me think that he does, but opts to keep silent with regards to it. Because he's a smart lad is that Larsa.
*I get confused because Ghis is on both ships and also how long is it since I've played this part of the game (must be at least three years). Also I forgot entirely that Vaan goes shooting his mouth off practically the moment they've met Larsa. Which is one of his traits that doesn't endear him to me.
Notes on familial relationships (which I find interesting, given I am the youngest child myself):
- Balthier has/had 2(?) older brothers.
- Ashe had 8 older brothers, but they all died; she was never intended to be queen, and I find that really fucking interesting.
- Penelo had an unspecified amount of older brothers.
- Vaan had an older brother (Reks).
- Fran is the middle child of three.
- Basch is the older twin. (this is obvious in the Japanese version, due to there being specific words for older/younger brother, but was never apparent in the English dub until it was confirmed in Dissidia, of all places).
I spent time running around Giza for leaked EXP/LP, and I noticed things I hadn't seen before, such as a whole bunch of Slavens, and my first instance of surprise!snake. But then again, I have never run around for leaked EXP/LP before. If I've ended up with good levels previously, it's been from getting hopelessly lost (hai giruvegan i am looking at you).
I encountered a Razorfin in the Garamsythe Waterway on the way to the palace, and I beat the shit out of it! It turns out that it was a five star Rare Game, so I have little to no idea what I did to trigger its appearance.
Everything seemed to go faster than usual, but I think that was because I played it in small chunks of an hour to an hour and a half. Balthier's gambit tutorial (particularly "vitality before violence, if you will") reminds me that I don't play this game enough, or am hopelessly unfamiliar with it. (A script would be nice). Bear in mind I've played the Mass Effect games A LOT in the past three years, versus five times in seven years here.
Hearing the Final Fantasy theme makes me want to stand up and salute (unlike, say, my actual national anthem). (Link is XII's version, but it's true across all versions).
I swapped Fran and Balthier on weapons because the fact that they're slow on their defaults annoys me. They're also sort of slow swapped, but eh. I was in the middle of a sewer what the hell could I do??? Balthier's victory pose with a bow is the most showy offy thing I've ever seen him do. THAT SAID: Balthier crits a lot with a bow, and that's kind of awesome.
I love and I hate the fact that the enemies have gang mentality, particularly the imp-types. It's not so bad in Garamsythe, but it really shows itself in Sochen, where I repeatedly am killed by groups of 5+ imps *sighs*
The party was level 8 for the Firemane fight, and he went down SO EASILY. I think that was the quickest I've done that fight, but I think that's partially down to knowing what the hell I am doing with the fights and so on. Being a level above the boss probably didn't hurt anyway.
Also Ashe never died in that fight and usually she does. Colour me surprised.
Weapons:
- Balthier has a sword right now. He and Basch fight pretty similarly, although Balthier tends to fight with a bit more of a flourish, obviously.
- Fran is staying on guns until I can think of something else. I think she's better with a ranged weapon.
- Vaan is on staves because WHY NOT. Although I will not be using him, so it doesn't really matter.
- Basch is on bows because DANG. Usually I stick to swords for him, but NOT THIS TIME.
- Penelo IDK right now
- ditto Ashe
I think Gabranth's accent is really weird. I don't know what his VA was going for (a lie: I sort of do), but whatever it is, it's weird.
The party was level 10 at the Mimic Queen, and that fight went easily as well. I was still running about for leaked EXP here and there, but not really hardcore because levelling bores me and it would've taken FOREVER to get anywhere.
In past games, getting out the Barheim Passage (one of my favourite places in the game) seems to have taken forever, but it didn't this time. The save file at the time said it had taken 6hrs 11mins and 2secs, but it didn't feel that long? Again, I think it's down to having done it in chunks.
When Basch finally joined the party, he had 326 LP available, and was level 12. I have never accrued that much LP before. I got an insane amount the first time I played, but I don't think it was anywhere NEAR that many. I know I've never managed as many since.
I love how the PCs/NPCs mention gameplay mechanics (thinking Burrough/that kid from the Nomad Village) and nobody bats an eyelid even though they're referring to something only the player can see. I find it hilarious. I also find it hilarious how they refer to gambits, too. It is THE BEST.
I love how everyone in Rabanastre susses that Balthier's a Sky Pirate just because of how he's dressed (because I don't think he spoke to anyone? All the NPCs I spoke to only saw him and Fran pass by).
Today I learnt that you cannot pause or skip the scene where the Strahl is introduced.
And now I am at Bhujerba.
<--- intro post | Bhujerba to Raithwall's Tomb --->
OK so before I start, let me tell you that I am two episodes behind everyone else on Kill la Kill (no spoilers, thanks!) and I got SO DISTRACTED by FFXII, that I actually forgot to catch up today. I also have no interest in catching up tomorrow, either (I'll do it while I'm working instead :D )
(I love being self-employed. I can watch TV while I work and no-one tells me not to because I'M THE FREAKING BOSS).
*ahem*
Preliminary notes:
- this is the game that got me into Akihiko Yoshida's artwork and Hitoshi Sakimoto's music. Not a surprise, I know. I think both of them are equally awesome. I am sad that I wasn't more Yoshida's art at the time I was doing my HND because damn it would've been hilarious to see what my tutors made of his stuff (especially the one who had Opinions about what was and wasn't art and frankly as far as I am still concerned six years later, can go fuck himself).
SO THAT SAID, on with other stuff that may be spoilers! (From the start to arrival at Bhujerba - though there are spoilers for later game things, due to stuff I've been reading, so be warned).
Twin thought vomit in that: I find it interesting that both brothers ended up serving/protecting royalty or other equivalent. I presume that this is deliberately done from a storytelling point of view to show and contrast the differences between them, and show up the similarities. But it is essentially a What If...? in that we don't have to imagine what if Basch had served the Empire? What if Gabranth hadn't? I know that it's not exactly the same, because obviously they have different characters, but it's just a thought I had.
Presumably the Archadians have been conquering other countries for decades by the time the game begins (which is borne out by Landis having been conquered nearly two decades ago, and that we don't even know where it was on on the map, if it was even on the map we're shown in game). Also the Rozzarians, but nobody cares about them ;)
Does Reddas not find Basch even the slightest bit familiar looking when they meet? I mean ALL THE JUDGES HANG OUT, RIGHT. He will have been around Gabranth at some point in the past. As pointed out by my flailing in earlier posts showed, they don't actually look too different.
A random thought I had that I felt must be addressed: Cid was 36 when Balthier was born.
Oh then I wrote half a fic in second person in the middle of my notes. Heh.
Ashe and Larsa both have similar collars on their clothes, which I think is a nice detail. Even if it does make me think of sailor clothes. Did wonder if it meant Ashe was wearing Archadian clothes, but then I thought naaaaaaaaaah.
Also would Larsa not recognise Basch when they first meet? (I mean because he looks like his brother, not that he's the Kingslayer). Given what he says later on
*I get confused because Ghis is on both ships and also how long is it since I've played this part of the game (must be at least three years). Also I forgot entirely that Vaan goes shooting his mouth off practically the moment they've met Larsa. Which is one of his traits that doesn't endear him to me.
Notes on familial relationships (which I find interesting, given I am the youngest child myself):
- Balthier has/had 2(?) older brothers.
- Ashe had 8 older brothers, but they all died; she was never intended to be queen, and I find that really fucking interesting.
- Penelo had an unspecified amount of older brothers.
- Vaan had an older brother (Reks).
- Fran is the middle child of three.
- Basch is the older twin. (this is obvious in the Japanese version, due to there being specific words for older/younger brother, but was never apparent in the English dub until it was confirmed in Dissidia, of all places).
I spent time running around Giza for leaked EXP/LP, and I noticed things I hadn't seen before, such as a whole bunch of Slavens, and my first instance of surprise!snake. But then again, I have never run around for leaked EXP/LP before. If I've ended up with good levels previously, it's been from getting hopelessly lost (hai giruvegan i am looking at you).
I encountered a Razorfin in the Garamsythe Waterway on the way to the palace, and I beat the shit out of it! It turns out that it was a five star Rare Game, so I have little to no idea what I did to trigger its appearance.
Everything seemed to go faster than usual, but I think that was because I played it in small chunks of an hour to an hour and a half. Balthier's gambit tutorial (particularly "vitality before violence, if you will") reminds me that I don't play this game enough, or am hopelessly unfamiliar with it. (A script would be nice). Bear in mind I've played the Mass Effect games A LOT in the past three years, versus five times in seven years here.
Hearing the Final Fantasy theme makes me want to stand up and salute (unlike, say, my actual national anthem). (Link is XII's version, but it's true across all versions).
I swapped Fran and Balthier on weapons because the fact that they're slow on their defaults annoys me. They're also sort of slow swapped, but eh. I was in the middle of a sewer what the hell could I do??? Balthier's victory pose with a bow is the most showy offy thing I've ever seen him do. THAT SAID: Balthier crits a lot with a bow, and that's kind of awesome.
I love and I hate the fact that the enemies have gang mentality, particularly the imp-types. It's not so bad in Garamsythe, but it really shows itself in Sochen, where I repeatedly am killed by groups of 5+ imps *sighs*
The party was level 8 for the Firemane fight, and he went down SO EASILY. I think that was the quickest I've done that fight, but I think that's partially down to knowing what the hell I am doing with the fights and so on. Being a level above the boss probably didn't hurt anyway.
Also Ashe never died in that fight and usually she does. Colour me surprised.
Weapons:
- Balthier has a sword right now. He and Basch fight pretty similarly, although Balthier tends to fight with a bit more of a flourish, obviously.
- Fran is staying on guns until I can think of something else. I think she's better with a ranged weapon.
- Vaan is on staves because WHY NOT. Although I will not be using him, so it doesn't really matter.
- Basch is on bows because DANG. Usually I stick to swords for him, but NOT THIS TIME.
- Penelo IDK right now
- ditto Ashe
I think Gabranth's accent is really weird. I don't know what his VA was going for (a lie: I sort of do), but whatever it is, it's weird.
The party was level 10 at the Mimic Queen, and that fight went easily as well. I was still running about for leaked EXP here and there, but not really hardcore because levelling bores me and it would've taken FOREVER to get anywhere.
In past games, getting out the Barheim Passage (one of my favourite places in the game) seems to have taken forever, but it didn't this time. The save file at the time said it had taken 6hrs 11mins and 2secs, but it didn't feel that long? Again, I think it's down to having done it in chunks.
When Basch finally joined the party, he had 326 LP available, and was level 12. I have never accrued that much LP before. I got an insane amount the first time I played, but I don't think it was anywhere NEAR that many. I know I've never managed as many since.
I love how the PCs/NPCs mention gameplay mechanics (thinking Burrough/that kid from the Nomad Village) and nobody bats an eyelid even though they're referring to something only the player can see. I find it hilarious. I also find it hilarious how they refer to gambits, too. It is THE BEST.
I love how everyone in Rabanastre susses that Balthier's a Sky Pirate just because of how he's dressed (because I don't think he spoke to anyone? All the NPCs I spoke to only saw him and Fran pass by).
Today I learnt that you cannot pause or skip the scene where the Strahl is introduced.
And now I am at Bhujerba.
<--- intro post | Bhujerba to Raithwall's Tomb --->