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lhusu mines madness
From Bhujerba to just outside Raithwall's Tomb!
Caveat lector: there's a lot of swearing in this post. Sorry.
I remember getting horribly lost in Bhujerba the first time I ever played. And then I got horribly lost this time and ended up going round and round that triangle near the pub, wondering where the hell the mines had got to. I blame that fork on the map and that the mini-map/big map confuses me in general.
I also didn't know the first time that you had to run from Ba'Gamnan instead of fight him, so I spent ages in the mines killing everything until I could kill it with ease. I've never yet tried to kill him outright apart from that first time. I hate this bit because a) I hate chases in games anyway (see: Ultimate Chimera, that dude in DDS2, etc) and b) I swear the computer cheats - I had good headway on Ba'Gamnan, and he caught me up on the second bridge. But eh, it's done now.
I think Larsa gives Basch a very pointed look when he says, "I might ask the same of you", which to me says he recognises Basch, or at least finds him familiar-looking (FOR OBVIOUS REASONS). And then, of course, I forgot that Vaan goes shooting his mouth off, doesn't he? I honestly hate that bit because all the adults are like, right, we need to be covert, okay? and Vaan is all, fuck that noise, I do what I want! and NO. I find that sort of behaviour irritating (although at least I guess it's inline with his character, because he pretty much ignores Penelo when she calls him out earlier in the game and tells him he needs to be more responsible.
I've said it before, I'll say it again: HOW THE HELL IS BALTHIER ONLY 22. I DO NOT COMPREHEND.
(if only because his story doesn't fit into the timeline given for it. Well, OK I DON'T THINK IT DOES).
Balthier questioning Larsa is REALLY FUCKING SCARY and all the kudos to Larsa for holding it together, to be honest. I mean, it's three years since I saw that cutscene (I checked my save file dates and YUP the last time I played seriously was THREE MOTHERFUCKING YEARS AGO) and I honestly forgot how horrible Balthier is. I've had it pointed out to me that he's not really that nice of a person, especially when he's upset and...yeah. Getting that loud and clear.
More sibling relationships: Larsa is the youngest Solidor, Vayne was the second youngest (now the eldest). I wish I had a clever thing to note about the relationships and how it affects the characters, but I really don't. What I do find interesting, however, is that how many of the main characters are younger children.
"Your franternity is moving." OMFG VAYNE.
Also OMFG GABRANTH YOU ASS.
Vossler was level 15 when he appeared on the Leviathan. Ashe was 13 (same as Basch) and had 467 LP to use. Penelo was also 13 and had 591 LP, which I think is a record for her (I blame getting lost on the ship, tbh, because that is totally what happened).
I used the access key to switch off the alarm! In all three places! Multiple times! (This is an actual first for me. Usually I get pasted by the enemies, but I didn't have a hard time here at all. Until I got to Ghis, that is, but more on that in a minute).
OH YES GHIS. So I forgot how Quickenings worked, right? And so I had to chip off his HP and then I was like, FUCK! GIVE PENELO A QUICKENING! and I did, and I chained, and that killed him but honestly WHAT. I have not had that much trouble on that fight for YEARS (and after the judge fight just before finding Ashe went so well, too!) (I guess I could've reset and redone, but I really didn't want to do the second half of Leviathan again. I've been up since 8:30am, and I get impatient when I get tired).
Love Balthier complaining about the Atomos and then Vaan - who's presumably NEVER FLOWN AN AIRSHIP BEFORE IN HIS LIFE - asking if he can fly it instead.
I noticed that Gabranth has not answering questions down to an art (Gramis asks him something personal, and he's like, nope, and doesn't exactly give the expected answer). Also he says he's allied with the Empire and I think he's liar, because he only is as long as it suits his purposes to get back at Basch. Or that's how that comes across to me, anyway.
Then I wrote a whole spiel about ex-Judges that isn't appropriate for right now.
The intro to the Sandsea is THE BEST. Also loving Basch explaining their course to Penelo because these two don't interact enough (I think the next time is inGIRUVEGAN no it isn't, it's ARCHADES. But that's still AGES away) and whoops I think my OTP is showing.
*gives zero fucks*
Oh: main party is now Basch, Penelo, and switching Fran and Balthier as needs be.
Weapons: Basch on bows still - I love watching the animation for it, but I honestly think he needs a better weapon. *ponders*
Balthier has a dagger, for now.
Fran is still on guns. Again, I think she needs a better weapon, maybe bombs, but they're not available yet.
Penelo has a spear, though I'm going to put her on katana once I get them because I can?
OMG VOSSLER SHUT YOUR FACE I HATE YOU.
Let me tell you why: it's not just because he's a double-crossing traitor. It's because he's often downright condescending to others (I don't know if that includes Ashe, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised). He's terse and impatient with Basch which I suppose is understandable, but I'm pretty sure Vossler made out like there were no issues now. Also I just think he's a colossal dick and I don't like looking at him. THE END.
Also his ready stance bugs me because it looks out of place next to everyone else. I think it's because he's got a two-handed sword (which I have never knowingly used, so am unfamiliar with the stance anyway), and because the only other dudes I've seen standing like that are Imperial Swordsmen.
I got completely lost, saw an OMG WTF ENTITE and promptly ran away. I ended up helping the Urutan-Yensa before Dyce had even told me that I might need a way to take down Garuda.
Accidentally speccing Penelo as a white mage. It might have something to do with her exceptional magic stats, IDK. Also because I always do it (apart from the last game where I chose deliberate jobs for everyone and mostly stuck to it - for that, Penelo was my tank (she works REALLY well), and BASCH was the white mage).
Levels at Garuda: Basch 18, Penelo 17, Fran 15 (Balthier 16, but he wasn't in this fight).
I think I took Garuda down in, like, A MINUTE. That fight was so easy, I don't even know any more. I'm not expecting Belias to go as easily.
Raithwall's Tomb shenanigans next!
~*~
Theories that I like about this game:
# that the characters are doing what they feel is right. Which doesn't excuse some people's behaviour, but it's an interesting theory to apply and look at.
# there's also a theory about rebellion - Fran rebels, so does Ashe, so does Venat and in a minor case, so does the rogue Urutan-Yensa. (I'm sure there are other examples, but I can't think of them right now).
# that the game is Ashe's Start of Darkness (don't take my word for it; listen to her theme tune*) but it's curtailed.
*I have always loved that track, but had no idea it was her theme tune, or that she even HAD a theme tune. I AM THE WORST FAN OF EVERYTHING EVER.
<---- Start to Bhujerba | Raithwall's Tomb to the Elder Wyrm --->
Caveat lector: there's a lot of swearing in this post. Sorry.
I remember getting horribly lost in Bhujerba the first time I ever played. And then I got horribly lost this time and ended up going round and round that triangle near the pub, wondering where the hell the mines had got to. I blame that fork on the map and that the mini-map/big map confuses me in general.
I also didn't know the first time that you had to run from Ba'Gamnan instead of fight him, so I spent ages in the mines killing everything until I could kill it with ease. I've never yet tried to kill him outright apart from that first time. I hate this bit because a) I hate chases in games anyway (see: Ultimate Chimera, that dude in DDS2, etc) and b) I swear the computer cheats - I had good headway on Ba'Gamnan, and he caught me up on the second bridge. But eh, it's done now.
I think Larsa gives Basch a very pointed look when he says, "I might ask the same of you", which to me says he recognises Basch, or at least finds him familiar-looking (FOR OBVIOUS REASONS). And then, of course, I forgot that Vaan goes shooting his mouth off, doesn't he? I honestly hate that bit because all the adults are like, right, we need to be covert, okay? and Vaan is all, fuck that noise, I do what I want! and NO. I find that sort of behaviour irritating (although at least I guess it's inline with his character, because he pretty much ignores Penelo when she calls him out earlier in the game and tells him he needs to be more responsible.
I've said it before, I'll say it again: HOW THE HELL IS BALTHIER ONLY 22. I DO NOT COMPREHEND.
(if only because his story doesn't fit into the timeline given for it. Well, OK I DON'T THINK IT DOES).
Balthier questioning Larsa is REALLY FUCKING SCARY and all the kudos to Larsa for holding it together, to be honest. I mean, it's three years since I saw that cutscene (I checked my save file dates and YUP the last time I played seriously was THREE MOTHERFUCKING YEARS AGO) and I honestly forgot how horrible Balthier is. I've had it pointed out to me that he's not really that nice of a person, especially when he's upset and...yeah. Getting that loud and clear.
More sibling relationships: Larsa is the youngest Solidor, Vayne was the second youngest (now the eldest). I wish I had a clever thing to note about the relationships and how it affects the characters, but I really don't. What I do find interesting, however, is that how many of the main characters are younger children.
"Your franternity is moving." OMFG VAYNE.
Also OMFG GABRANTH YOU ASS.
Vossler was level 15 when he appeared on the Leviathan. Ashe was 13 (same as Basch) and had 467 LP to use. Penelo was also 13 and had 591 LP, which I think is a record for her (I blame getting lost on the ship, tbh, because that is totally what happened).
I used the access key to switch off the alarm! In all three places! Multiple times! (This is an actual first for me. Usually I get pasted by the enemies, but I didn't have a hard time here at all. Until I got to Ghis, that is, but more on that in a minute).
OH YES GHIS. So I forgot how Quickenings worked, right? And so I had to chip off his HP and then I was like, FUCK! GIVE PENELO A QUICKENING! and I did, and I chained, and that killed him but honestly WHAT. I have not had that much trouble on that fight for YEARS (and after the judge fight just before finding Ashe went so well, too!) (I guess I could've reset and redone, but I really didn't want to do the second half of Leviathan again. I've been up since 8:30am, and I get impatient when I get tired).
Love Balthier complaining about the Atomos and then Vaan - who's presumably NEVER FLOWN AN AIRSHIP BEFORE IN HIS LIFE - asking if he can fly it instead.
I noticed that Gabranth has not answering questions down to an art (Gramis asks him something personal, and he's like, nope, and doesn't exactly give the expected answer). Also he says he's allied with the Empire and I think he's liar, because he only is as long as it suits his purposes to get back at Basch. Or that's how that comes across to me, anyway.
Then I wrote a whole spiel about ex-Judges that isn't appropriate for right now.
The intro to the Sandsea is THE BEST. Also loving Basch explaining their course to Penelo because these two don't interact enough (I think the next time is in
*gives zero fucks*
Oh: main party is now Basch, Penelo, and switching Fran and Balthier as needs be.
Weapons: Basch on bows still - I love watching the animation for it, but I honestly think he needs a better weapon. *ponders*
Balthier has a dagger, for now.
Fran is still on guns. Again, I think she needs a better weapon, maybe bombs, but they're not available yet.
Penelo has a spear, though I'm going to put her on katana once I get them because I can?
OMG VOSSLER SHUT YOUR FACE I HATE YOU.
Let me tell you why: it's not just because he's a double-crossing traitor. It's because he's often downright condescending to others (I don't know if that includes Ashe, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised). He's terse and impatient with Basch which I suppose is understandable, but I'm pretty sure Vossler made out like there were no issues now. Also I just think he's a colossal dick and I don't like looking at him. THE END.
Also his ready stance bugs me because it looks out of place next to everyone else. I think it's because he's got a two-handed sword (which I have never knowingly used, so am unfamiliar with the stance anyway), and because the only other dudes I've seen standing like that are Imperial Swordsmen.
I got completely lost, saw an OMG WTF ENTITE and promptly ran away. I ended up helping the Urutan-Yensa before Dyce had even told me that I might need a way to take down Garuda.
Accidentally speccing Penelo as a white mage. It might have something to do with her exceptional magic stats, IDK. Also because I always do it (apart from the last game where I chose deliberate jobs for everyone and mostly stuck to it - for that, Penelo was my tank (she works REALLY well), and BASCH was the white mage).
Levels at Garuda: Basch 18, Penelo 17, Fran 15 (Balthier 16, but he wasn't in this fight).
I think I took Garuda down in, like, A MINUTE. That fight was so easy, I don't even know any more. I'm not expecting Belias to go as easily.
Raithwall's Tomb shenanigans next!
~*~
Theories that I like about this game:
# that the characters are doing what they feel is right. Which doesn't excuse some people's behaviour, but it's an interesting theory to apply and look at.
# there's also a theory about rebellion - Fran rebels, so does Ashe, so does Venat and in a minor case, so does the rogue Urutan-Yensa. (I'm sure there are other examples, but I can't think of them right now).
# that the game is Ashe's Start of Darkness (don't take my word for it; listen to her theme tune*) but it's curtailed.
*I have always loved that track, but had no idea it was her theme tune, or that she even HAD a theme tune. I AM THE WORST FAN OF EVERYTHING EVER.
<---- Start to Bhujerba | Raithwall's Tomb to the Elder Wyrm --->
no subject
Vossler's voice always sounds odd to me. I think it should be deeper, more gravelly.
no subject