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Tuesday 10 December 2013

Final Fantasy VIII - Weapons

In Final Fantasy VIII you upgrade character's weapons by taking the right items and gil to a tool shop.  Each character has at least three upgrades, and you can skip right to the final one if you like, without passing through the inbetween steps.  Squall's limit breaks are linked to his weapons, but, again, you can skip right to the last weapon and get all the limits inbetween automatically.

Throughout the game, you'll find various Weapon Monthly magazines, which will detail the items needed for the upgrades.  You don't need to have the magazines on hand to upgrade the weapons.

You'll find the magazines in the following locations;


IssueLocation
MarchAutomatically.
AprilSquall's desk, when he has a single room at Balamb Garden.
MayDeling sewers.
Juneautomatically.
JulyTraining centre, disc 3, left side.
AugustFive steps south of Trabia Garden's gargoyle statue.
1stFound by Laguna in the Esthar lab.


The character's best weapons and the items required are as follows;


CharacterWeaponRequires
SquallLionheartAdamantine x 1
Dragon Fang x 4
Pulse Ammo x 12
QuistisSave the QueenMalboro Tentacle x 2
Sharp Spike x 4
Energy Crystal x 4
ZellEhrgeizAdamantine x 1
Dragon Skin x 4
Fury Fragment x1
SelphieStrange VisionAdamantine x 1
Star Fragment x 3
Curse Spike x 2
RinoaShooting StarWindmill x 2
Force Armlet x 1
Energy Crystal x 2
IrvineExeterDino Bone x 2
Moon Stone x 1
Star Fragment x 2
Screw x 18

...which gives you the following shopping list.


ItemWhere?
Adamantine x 3Mug (1) from BGH251F2 (boss) at FH.
Dropped by Adamantoise at level 30 plus (Haspberry Plains beach, near Timber)
Card Mod: Minotaur = 10 Adamantines.
Curse Spike x 2Dropped by high level Creeps (Deling City Sewers).
Card Mod: Tri-Face (Galbadia Garden).
Dino Bone x 2Dropped by low-level T-Rexaurs (Balamb Forests, Training Centre)
Card Mod: 2 T-Rexaurs = 1 Dino Bone
Dragon Fang x 4Dropped by Blue Dragons (Near Trabia, in the Forests)
Dropped by T-Rexaurs (level 20-29).
Dragon Skin x 4Dropped by Anacondaurs at level 30+
Energy Crystal x 4Card Mod: 10 Elnoyle = 1 Energy Crystal, or dropped by Elnyoles over level 30.
Force Armlet x 1Won from Edea on Disc 2, as long as you don't mug.
Can be bought from RinRin's shop in Esthar if you have Tonberries Familiar ability.
Rare drop from high level Ochus.
Fury Fragment x 1Card Mod: 4 Blue Dragon = 1 Fury Fragment
Malboro Tentacle x 2Card Mod: 4 Malboros card = 1 Malboro Tentacle
Moon StoneDropped by Elnoyles, Imps, and Toramas in Esthar.
Pulse Ammo x 12Ammo-RF: 1 Energy Crystal = 10 Pulse Ammo, or 1 Laser Cannon = 5 Pulse Ammo.  Laser Cannons are dropped by Elastoids over level 20, which can be found in Centra, during the Laguna sequence.
Screw x 18Dropped by Geezards (near Timber and Galbadia)
Card Mod: 1 Geezard = 5 screws
Sharp Spike x 4Card Mod: 1 Grand Mantis = 1 Sharp Spike
Star Fragment x 5Card Mod: 3 Iron Giants = 1 Star Fragment
You can find and card Iron Giants in Esthar after the Lunar Cry.
Or, mug from T-Rexaurs at level 30+.
Windmill x 2Card Mod: 1 Abyss Worm = 1 Windmill.  You can find (and Card) Abyss Worms in deserts near Galbadia.


It's fully possibly to have the best weapons on disc one if you level and play cards appropriately. If you're playing a low level game, it's still possible, but you will have to Mod a few rare cards. If you do, you can get them back on disc 4 from the Card Queen and the CC Club aboard the Ragnarok. This is true for all cards except the PuPu card.

If you wait till later, using Tonberry's level up skill will help with some of the items which are most easily obtained from high level drops.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

eMails in .Hack//Quarantine

Balmung
Question
  • Honestly - carries on.
  • As a Friend - carries on.
As a Friend
  • Honestly - carries on.
  • Sorry - ends chain.
Honestly
  • It's Hard - carries on.
  • I'm not good - ends chain.
It's Hard
  • Understand - gets final email.
  • But - ends chain.
Thus, the best chain is As a Friend, Honestly, It's Hard, Understand.


Blackrose
A Thought
  • You Suck! - ends chain.
  • Me Too - carries on.
Newbies
  • Yeah... - ends chain.
  • But - carries on.
But
  • Yeah Really - ends chain.
  • The Incident - gets final email.
Thus the best chain is  Me Too, But, The Incident.

You Know
  • Yeah - gets final email.
  • Me too - gets final email.
Elk
I'm sorry
  • Don't Apologise - carries on.
  • Umm... - ends chain.
Don't Apologise
  • Mia - carries on.
  • You don't have any? - ends chain.
Mia
  • You - carries on
  • Man - ends chain.
You
  • Real World - ends chain.
  • No Reason - carries on.
No Reason
  • You've Changed - gets final email.
  • Long Ways - ends chain.
So the best chain is Don't apologise, Mia, You, No Reason, You've Changed.

Gardenia
No Subject
  • Yeah - carries on.
  • No - ends chain.
Yeah
  • I See - carries on.
  • Imagination - ends chain.
I See
  • I get it - gets final email.
  • I heard - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is Yeah, I See, I get it.

Marlo
Weirdness
  • That's True - carries on.
  • You're Right - ends chain.
That's True
  • Jaded - ends chain.
  • I Know - carries on.
I Know
  • Sorry - gets final email.
  • You!!! - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is That's True, I Know, Sorry.

Mia
Past
  • So - carries on.
  • Don't worry about it. - ends chain.
So
  • Is that... - ends chain.
  • Fate - carries on.
Fate
  • Then... - carries on.
  • Hey!  - ends chain. 
Then...
  • You two - carries on.
  • Me - ends chain. 
You two
  • You - gets final email.
  • Past Life - ends chain.
 Thus the best chain is So, Fate, Then..., You two, You.

Mistral
Work at Home
  • Pretend - carries on.
  • Well - carries on.
Well
  • Pretend - carries on.
  • Yeah - ends chain.
Pretend
  • Hair - carries on.
  • Subway - ends chain.
Hair
  • Age - gets final email.
  • ... - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is Well, Pretend, Hair, Age.

Moonstone
The Pup
  • What is it? - carries on.
  • ? - ends chain. 
What is it?
  • Raining - carries on.
  • Slept in - ends chain.
Raining
  • Don't Worry - gets final email.
  • You ate it? - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is What is it, Raining, Don't Worry.

Natsume
Flexed Arm Hang
  • Beforehand - carries on.
  • :-) - ends chain.
Beforehand
  • Good - carries on.
  • Do you train? - ends chain.
Good
  • Flexed Arm Hang - gets final email.
  • Yeah Right - ends chain.

Thus the best chain is Beforehand, Good, Flexed Arm Hang.

Nuke Usagimaru
Canned Foods
  • Yeah - carries on.
  • That's True - ends chain.
Yeah
  • You're Right - carries on.
  • Yeah - ends chain.
You're Right
  • Uh... - gets final email.
  • Sounds tasty  - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is Yeah, You're Right, Uh....

Piros 
Fair Eyes
  • Time Machine - carries on.
  • Life... - ends chain.
Time Machine
  • Maybe - carries on.
  • Impossible - ends chain.
Maybe
  • Time Machine - gets final mail.
  • If it exists - gets final mail.
Thus the best chain is Time Machine, Maybe, either.

Rachel
Savings
  • B-day Money - carries on.
  • Save Money - ends chain.
B-day Money
  • No Problem - carries on.
  • Really? - ends chain.
No Problem
  • Heh heh - gets final email.
  • Uh-huh - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is B-day money, No Problem, Heh heh.

Sanjuro
Red Beard
  • Yeah - carries on.
  • No - ends chain.
Yeah
  • What kind? - carries on.
  • Beard is Red? - ends chain.
What Kind?
  • Maybe I'll Watch - gets final email.
  • Tell me a little more - gets final email.

Thus the best chain is Yeah, What kind?, and then whichever option you like.

Terajima Ryoko
I'm Sure You Know
  • Picky About Rice - ends chain.
  • Not Bit - carries on.
Not bit
  • Not Right - ends chain.
  • Is he? - carries on.
Is he?
  • Don't worry - gets final email.
  • ... - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is Not Bit, Is he?, Don't worry.

Wiseman
Lima Beans
  • My Friend - carries on.
  • That's Not Good - carries on.
That's Not Good
  • My Friend - carries on.
  • Well - ends chain.
My Friend
  • Food - carries on.
  • Carrots - ends chain.
Food
  • School Lunch - ends chain.
  • Corn - gets final email.
Thus the best chain is  That's Not Good, My Friend, Food, Corn.

Yasuhiko
Hey
  • Don't try too hard. - carries on.
  • Too late. - ends chain.
Don't Try Too Hard
  • I guess - ends chain.
  • I am not! - carries on.
I am not!
  • Really? - carries on.
  • Sorry - ends chain.
Really?
  • Go on! - ends chain.
  • Umm... - carries on.
Um...
  • It'll Pass - gets final email.
  • Hey - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is Don't try too hard, I guess, Really?, Um...., It'll pass.

Saturday 20 July 2013

Completing Dot Hack Part II

Slowly ticking off subquests.

  • Get all party members affection to 1000 and complete email chains.
  • Get ultimate weapons for everyone (and complete the post about it!).
  • Complete Ryu Books of 1000.
  • Complete Item quest.

For the Ryu Books I need to do the following;

  • II: More all field portals opened.
  • III: More trades.
  • III: Trade with every character (missing: Hirami, Mayunosuke, Mutsuki).
  • IV:  Missing 22 monsters. 

For the Item Completion quest, I've completed the Grunty Food, Virus Core, Items, Scrolls, Treasure, Head Armour, and Twin Blade lists.  That leaves;

  • Body
  • Hand
  • Leg
  • Blademaster
  • Heavy Blade
  • Heavy Axeman
  • Long Arm
  • Wavemaster

Thursday 18 July 2013

Completing Dot Hack

I finished the main game a lot quicker than I actually expected to.  Now for the subquests.  What I've got left to do now is;

  • Get all party members affection to 1000 and complete email chains.
  • Complete Goblin subquest (only Martina left).
  • Complete that area that both Blackrose and Terajima have invited me to.
  • Get ultimate weapons for everyone (and complete the post about it!).
  • Complete Ryu Books of 1000.
  • Complete Item quest.

For the Ryu Books I need to do the following;

  • II: More all field portals opened.
  • III: More trades.
  • III: Trade with every character (missing: Neja, Nekoski, Acerola, Borscht, Yuckey, Hirami, Yuji, Cima, Crest, Mayunosuke, Mutsuki, Oborozukiyo).
  • IV:  Missing 22 monsters.  
  • VI: More Gott statues.

For the Item Completion quest, I've completed the Grunty Food, Virus Core, Items, Scrolls, Treasure, and Twin Blade lists.  That leaves;

  • Head
  • Body
  • Hand
  • Leg
  • Blademaster
  • Heavy Blade
  • Heavy Axeman
  • Long Arm
  • Wavemaster

I figure I'll do the item completion first, and that should mop up most of the other stuff.

Saturday 6 July 2013

So, What Am I Up To?

I'm playing .Hack//Quarantine, and I have to say, I'm flagging.  I kind of want to just get on with the subquests already, but I'm not far enough through the game to have access to all the areas, and there's not much I really want to take care of before starting the completion quest, which I am actually kind of looking forward to, even though it seems like a lot of work and backtracking.

I've stopped religiously opening every dungeon portal, since there's no further reward for it beyond increased items/cash/levels.  At Level 95, I'm only getting a handful of exp per portal, I have over 1.5 million gp, and I don't see any point in collecting items which aren't the best weapons until the item completion quest opens.

(Incidentally, I did make a post about the best weapons, but it involves a lot of '&'s, and stupid blogger keeps turning them into '&'.  I'll figure it out later).

I've also been playing Crash Team Racing, which I've completed before.  The ideal goal is to get all the platinum time trials and CTR tokens, as well as write a spoiler-free guide detailing that.  I'm using Dingodile, because he's fast and he's my second favourite after Coco.

My goals for .Hack/Quarantine and the series in general are as follows;

  • Every character with decent armour and the best weapons.
  • All character's affection at 1000.
  • Item Completion list filled in.
  • Everyone at level 99.
  • All Ryu Books filled.
  • Koeji (Kite) has best stats possible.
  • All subquests completed.

Monday 1 July 2013

Subquests and Extras in .Hack//Outbreak

In possibly the most annoying move ever, they switched triangle and circle for this game - menu and cancel - and there doesn't seem to be any way to switch them back.  Why would they do that?

Again, I'm not including anything you can find simply by reading the board.

Areas on the DVD

  • Sigma Barking Hotblooded 500-Lohan (lv 62) - Ladies Gloves (in a chest on B4), Magnolia Miso (Gott Statue, trade to Flare).
  • Sigma Unusual Ghostly Remnant (lv 62) - Ladies Mail (in a chest on B4), Doll Amulet (Gott Statue, trade to Stare).
  • Sigma Noisy Sacred Ringing-Ears (lv 61) - Ladies Cap (in a chest on B4), 3-Floor Tower (trade to Alicia).

Note that the Ladies' Mail contains the Mumyn Lei spell, which you can use to put things to sleep.  Things like Goblins.

More Areas with Trade Items

  • Sigma Entwined Prejudiced Chaos (lv 68) - Rouge Fragment (trade to Cyan), Kokoro.
  • Sigma Greedy Gambler's Drift (lv 67) - Boxed Lunch (Gott Statue, trade to Benoit), Lady Killers (chest on B4).
  • Sigma Ancient Destroyer's Battlefield (lv 65) - Scent of Gero (trade to Fool), Lady Shoes.
  • Sigma Tested Morphean Alchemy (lv 68) - Fields Deed (trade to Waffle), Vampire's Blade.
  • Sigma Abrasive False Tragedy (lv 69) - Maiden's Plot (Gott statue, trade to Teria).

Rare Trades

Alicia - Cat's Hat for 3-Floor Tower.
Benoit - Yoshida for Boxed Lunch.
Cyan - Gimme Life for Rouge Fragment.
Flare - Cat's Gloves for Magnolia Miso. 
Fool - Cat's Boots for Scent of Gero.
Stare - Cat's Armour for Doll Amulet.
Teria - Thunder Dad for Maiden's Plot.
Waffle - Dreams or Yore for Field's Deed.

I found it a lot easier than I expected to track down the people I needed to trade with.  If you've spoken to them before, they'll appear in Ryu Book III and you'll be able to tell if they're online or not.  If so, they're usually in the same server you are.  If they're not online, try logging in and out and check again.  I generally found one or two were online after each dungeon, so I just ran around town for a bit and traded a few things, then went and got the next few items.


.Hack//Sign Scenes

This is a long one, so see the dedicated post.

Areas They Pull You Out of Before You Can Get the Damn Gott Statue

  • Sigma Rising Implacable Sipping Bug - Gott statue has Blazing Robes, and Scarlet Plate x2.  Pretty much everything here will give you Virus Core H.
  • Sigma Sorrowful Sweltering Arena - Gott statue has Oaken Solleret, Silver Scarab, and Ivory Barret.  Bee Commandos on the field will give you Virus Core I, and Undead Voodoos will give you Virus Core G.
  • Sigma Fleeting Fallow Chaos - Gott statue has Owl Crest, Ivory Barette and Scarlet Plate.

eMails in .Hack//Outbreak

Balmung
The World
  • Yeah it might be -carries on.
  • Hmmm -  carries on. 
Hmmm
  • Yeah it might be -carries on.
  • I don't think so - ends chain.
Yeah it might be
  • That's not true -carries on.
  • Really? - ends chain.
That's not true
  • I don't know - gets final email.
  • Yeah - ends chain.
Thus the best responses are Hmmm, Yeah it might be, That's not true.

Blackrose
At School
  • Ah... no - gets final email for this mini-chain, but not until you've completed a specific storyline dungeon.
  • No Comment - ends chain.  
Current Events
  • Really? - carries on.
  • Unusual Weather - carries on, but skips the 'Really?' step.
Really?
  • Unusual Weather - carries on.
  • Yeah - ends chain.
Unusual Weather
  • Like Swarms? - carries on.
  • Movie? - ends chain.
Like Swarms?
  • Adventure Flick - gets final email.
  • Sick... - ends chain.
Thus the best chain is Really?, Unusual Weather, Like Swarms?, Adventure Flick.

Gardenia
Cats
  • Cute - carries on.
  • You don't mean... - ends chain.
Cute
  • Huh? - ends chain.
  • What about them? - carries on.
What about them?
  • Way of life? - ends chain.
  • Don't kiss up? - gets final email.
Thus the best responses are Cute, What about them?, Way of life?.

Marlo
My Life
  • Uh-huh - ends chain.
  • Coolness- carries on.
Coolness
  • Sounds Like - carries on.
  • Drunk -  ends chain.
Sounds Like
  • Wannabe - gets final email.
  • Fake - ends chain.
So the chain is Coolness, Sounds Like, Wannabe.

Moonstone
Pup
  • Dog? - carries on.
  • Please - ends chain.
Dog?
  • Puppies - carries on.
  • It follows you - ends chain.
Puppies
  • You like dogs? - ends chain.
  • 30 minutes!! - gets final email.
Thus, the best chain is Dog?, Puppies, 30 minutes!!.

Natsume
Dinner!
  • Food - carries on.
  • Hamburger  - ends chain.
Food
  • Good enough! - carries on.
  • Only three? - ends chain.
Good enough!
  • Beef Stew - gets final email.
  • Steak  - ends chain.
 Thus the chain is Food, Good enough!, Beef Stew.

Nuke Usagimaru
Books
  • I see - carries on.
  • ... - ends chain.
I see
  • I see - carries on.
  • OK - ends chain.
I see
  • Is that... - ends chain.
  • Man!  - gets final email.
Piros
Fair eyes
  • Friendship - carries on.
  • Tea... - ends chain.
Friendship
  • No... - carries on.
  • Surprising - ends chain.
No...
  • Friends? - gets final email.
  • Piros - ends chain.
Thus, the best chain is Friendship, No..., Friends?

Rachel
High School
  • Badminton? - carries on.
  • Thanks - ends chain.
Badminton?
  • Oh? - ends chain.
  • Too dry - carries on.

Too dry
  • Art - ends chain.
  • Art Class - gets final email.
Thus the best responses are Badminton?, Too dry, Art Class.

Sanjuro
Musashi
  • Yeah - carries on.
  • Not Really - carries on.
Musashi 2
  • Really? - ends chain.
  • Yeah - carries on.
Yeah
  • Ambidextrous - gets final email.
  • Then  - ends chain.


Terajima Ryoko

Greetings
  • Thank You - carries on.
  • Me As Well - ends chain.
Not at All (Thank You)
  • I See - carries on.
  • School Buses  - ends chain.
I See
  • Field Trip - gets final email.
  • ... - ends chain.

Wiseman
Card Games
  • What is it like? - carries on.
  • No - carries on.
No
  • What is it like? - carries on.
  • Not interested - ends chain.
What is it Like?
  • Sounds interesting - carries on.
  • I see - ends chain.
Sounds Interesting
  • Digimon Cards... - gets final email.
  • Strong Cards... - ends chain.

Sunday 30 June 2013

Final Fantasy X Fanfiction - Stone Cold

A short story regarding Yuna and the statue of Braska in Besaid Temple.

Stone Cold

She is seven years old and the whole world is celebrating. Her world isn't very big right now, of course. She's quite sheltered.

Still, today, everyone is celebrating and she cheers along with them, her tiny voice drowned in the crowd. She knows why they're all so happy. Sin is gone because of her daddy, and she's so proud she can barely breathe.

Then she hears someone talking about High Summoner Braska. She knows these words. Braska is her daddy. High Summoners are the people who defeat Sin. She knows that High Summoners don't survive, but she hasn't put these facts together properly before now.

She is seven years old, and she doesn't understand. She starts to cry.

***

She is older now, almost eight. She lives in a village on a small island, a place that already feels more like home than the big city ever did.

There is something going on at the temple. She hangs back at first, shy, and then, later, days later, when everyone has lost interest, she creeps back to see what it is.

It's a statue, a tall grey one that towers over her tiny body. She backs away, and looks into its face.

"Daddy?"

When she places her hands on it, they are warm under her skin.

***

She returns to the statue constantly. She hides there talking quietly about the things she cares about. Her childish words become more serious, and the day to day events change, but the essence of what this means to her stays the same. She tells him that one day, she will visit him on the farplane, not fully understanding what this means. She brings him flowers, and sometimes she has to tell him why she's crying. This doesn't happen often. Her childhood is idyllic. Every time, the statue is warm to her touch, and she knows that her Father isn't really gone.

***

She is fifteen and Sin has returned. She is frightened, but tries not to show it.

Chappu has died fighting Sin, and when she sees the statue she can't hold back the tears.

When she touches the statue, it's cold under her hands. It's never been cold before.

She is confused, a little afraid. Then she realises. She can't rely on her father anymore. His influence has faded. It's time she grew up.

She begins training as a summoner the next day.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Fanfiction - Kali's Caravan

Crystal Chronicles can be played either as a single player or a multiplayer game.  Your hometown is designed for a number of players; it is only populated when you create characters.  For this reason, even single players, like me, will create an entire caravan to take adventuring, purely so that their families will appear in the village as item sellers, alchemists, blacksmiths, and so on.

While playing the game, I began to wonder; if there are seven other characters with me, why is only one visiting towns and working through dungeons?  What are the rest of them doing in there?  I know why this is from a gameplay perspective, but from a story perspective...?

Kali's Caravan

Today is the day the caravan sets out on its yearly journey to gather myrrh and keep the village safe for another year.

The caravan is all packed and ready to go. The others are aboard already, and seem likely to stay there for some time. I return, to pick up supplies.

Money is no longer something I have to worry about.

"Hey, Theia, you're Robbie's friend aren't you?" Says the Silkie merchant, referring to his son. "Why don't you check out what I've got in stock?"

I do, but there is little I want to purchase. Other families around the village greet me, asking for messages from their children, or their brothers or sisters.

"Does Lupe ever say he misses us?"

"Hey, Theia, how's Lilith getting on?"

I remain non-commital.

***

I collect the myrrh alone; the others never leave the caravan. I don't talk to them at all, let alone to ask why, but they talk to me. They ask why.

I've always been one for doing things by myself.

***

The crystal chalice is two-thirds full now. Just one more drop to collect.

The others are silent now, except for that one annoying Selkie, who insists on talking, constantly. I continue to ignore him. He grows quieter day by day, anyway.

***

From a caravan of eight people, there is only one who collects each drop of myrrh. There is only one who enters each town. And there is only one who returns home at the end of one year, to be sent off by Roland, the village elder, at the start of the next.

It is a wonder that no one has noticed until now.  The other caravans stay as far away as possible from ours, and not one interferes.

Good.

***

I return with the myrrh. The other villagers gaze upon me. They look behind me. They wait an extraordinarily long time before realising that no one is going to follow me.

***

I think it is Roland who convinces them not to lynch me, once they have gathered the courage to look inside the caravan. He realises, faster than the others, that I am the caravan – I am the only one who can collect the drops of myrrh each year, and keep the village safe from miasma.

I smile at them, and they draw together, away from me, as one. My own family is not here. I have no seen them in so long. Not since-

Not since that time.

They'll probably find that one of these days, too.

Final Fantasy VIII Fanfic - We All Fall Down.

I started writing this a few years ago, and never finished it, which was odd because I know exactly how it ends.

Final Fantasy VIII was the first RPG I ever played, when I was eleven.  I loved it from the first moment.  At first, Quistis was my favourite character, but over the years, that transferred to Selphie.  I think, as an elder sister myself, and as someone who was seen as academically intelligent, I identified with Quistis at first.  I could - and did sometimes - identify with Rinoa on the grounds that I look like her, or Squall because I'm an introvert.  But, in the end, I like Selphie best.

I wrote this story after watching America's Sweethearts, and hearing Bekka Bramlett's We All Fall Down.  The following lines seemed like the realisation Squall would have come to by the end of the game.


Maybe tomorrow is counting on me
To learn all my lessons today.
I'll start by taking a step at a time
And stop throwing my blessings away.

I then realised that another line, "I can't always keep my feet on the ground" fit Rinoa, and made me picture her struggling not to give in to her Sorcery, and to stay human.  During her Sorcery Limit Break, you lose control of Rinoa entirely, and she literally starts flying.  In many ways, her sorcery is something she allows to take control of her, and I wondered if it was hard for her to come back.

The POV character changes in each section, and I specifically chose not to explicitly reveal who each section focuses on.  I could argue that I'm deferring to the game itself, which never explicitly states that Laguna is Squall's father and instead talks around the subject, but I just really like subtleties.  It also allowed me to play around with characters and highlight the similarities between them.  At the end, I will reveal who they are, because I also hate not knowing the answers.

We All Fall Down

1.

He is a young man. He's handsome, too. Blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight, piercing blue eyes. He's not tall, but he has an energy, an exuberance, and a unique, quirky sense of humour, which some find intriguing, and others simply confusing.

He has so many dreams. He runs everyday, down by the seashore, to keep in shape, and while he does he dreams. There is little else to do, after all. Running time is his time, time that he takes away from the world to just be himself. And to think.

He'd like to think deep, philosophical thoughts, but instead he daydreams. The usual daydreams, about getting the girl and saving the day. Either order would work for him.

He's been in love a few times, but nothing that lasted. Their partings were easy, simple, and didn't leave either party feeling too taxed, or emotional, or regretful. Things had run their course, and there was nothing more to be found there.  He longs for something more.

Sometimes, he comes across monsters when he is running. Small, mostly harmless creatures, with a vicious bite. Mostly, he ignores them. Sometimes he fends them off with a stick, dreaming that it is a sword.

2.

He doesn't want her. 

There's no real reason not to. She's pretty, intelligent. Spoilt and naïve, too. Still insists on protecting her virginity at all costs. He doesn't pressure her too much - he thinks it's kind of romantic that she wants to wait.

He likes these romantic ideals, these stories; he toys with them sometimes. When he walks through the corridors of Garden, dressed in his long coat, he pictures himself in the third person, seeing the authoritative way it swishes behind him. He moves as if his life is a film and he is the eternal director and star.  He places himself front and centre, in the lead role of every story he tells himself.

And he doesn't want this story. He doesn't want her.

There's nothing wrong with her. She just isn't what he dreamed of. She's not special enough.

There might have been some conflict with her father. That would have made a good story.  They could have defied her father, run away together. Had a bittersweet dramatic life, and a happy ending. 

That was the problem. He doesn't want a happy ending at this young age. He doesn't want the stories to be over. He doesn't want happiness with no conflict. He can feel himself suffocating in this small town. 

If there is no conflict, perhaps he will create some.

3.

...Sometimes he fends them off with a stick, dreaming that it is a sword.

He walks through the town, his t-shirt drenched in sweat. He wants to go home immediately, remove the damp, grey clothing he wears for these exercises, and throw himself into a shower. That's his usual routine.

Today, though, something is different. He skipped breakfast that morning, despite knowing that it's a bad idea. He's not an athlete, but he knows his body, knows that if he doesn't eat he will feel this uncomfortable starving hunger before he reaches home.  But he is a dreamer, absent-minded and cheerful. He is often distracted from day to day life, and although he runs regularly he still finds his own plans taking him by surprise, forcing him to run out of the door having forgotten everything he meant to do.

Still, he has done this before. This is something he can handle. There's a cafe on his way home, one where he knows he can get the hot dogs he craves . Probably not the healthiest breakfast but, as he justifies it, he needs the protein and carbs.

He is served by the same smiling girl as always, a cheerful dark-haired girl who greets him by name, and shakes her head when she realises that he's skipped breakfast again.

As he orders, he notices that behind her, the door to the kitchen is left open. He can see someone else.  Not all of her. Long dark hair, and smooth pale arms, working, cooking something. He wonders who she is, and why she hides herself. More than anything, he wants to see her face.
 
4.

She cried, on the first day.  Matron told her that crying didn’t help – if she just kept her spirits up and didn’t dwell on things, she’d be fine.

“There’s no need to cry, baby,” Matron had cooed.  “Smile!  A pretty little girl like you should smile.”

She had smiled, through her tears.  Matron smiled back.

It had been hard not to cry, at first.   She’d been so lonely.  She wondered where her daddy was, why he hadn’t come to take her home yet.  She didn’t know any of the other children yet, and they scared her a bit.  Matron had found her snuffling quietly in a corner one day, and had bribed her with a cupcake to cheer up.  “There’s always a bright side,” Matron had said.  Slowly, she learned not to cry.

When that other little boy came, he cried.  He cried, and they made fun of him.  Slowly, she grew into her role.  She couldn’t be the big sister.  She wasn’t the bully.  She wouldn’t be the crybaby.  She was the cheerful one, the one who smiled and cajoled others into happiness as Matron had done to her.  As she grew older, and her physical form stayed small and cute, she found herself cast into that role of the perky little girl.  So much so that she didn’t know how to cry.  The only way she knew to deal with negative emotions was to bury them, to put on a smile and fake it until it felt real.  She threw herself into the role, organising parties and celebrations, and cheering people up.  It was nice to be cheerful.  It felt good to always be working on something to make people happy.

 “It’ll be like a picnic!  We’re going to have FUN!”

She’d known how ridiculous she’d sounded when she’d said it.    She just didn’t have any other options.  She didn’t know what would happen if she wasn’t cheerful, if there wasn’t a bright side, if she wasn’t okay, and the thought terrified her.

5.

More than anything, he wants to see her face.

He asks the girl on the counter who she is, the dark-haired girl in the back room.

"My sister," she says, and from her manner, it is clear that she considers this quite enough information. Still, he persists. Why does she keep herself hidden like that? Can he see her? What are her hobbies, her likes and dislikes, would she like to go out sometime?  To talk, or to see a movie, or to the library, or for a walk, or something, anything.

From behind the door she listens, but keeps herself hidden. As always, she keeps herself hidden.

6.

He’s wondered, before now, what love is.  In his dalliances.  Is it this, is it this, is it this?

He loves women, as a category, but never before as individuals.  Still he wonders, with each new girl.  Does this dramatic, romantic gesture mean that he really loves her?  Surely he wouldn’t have climbed up the side of Garden in the middle of the night if he didn’t?  Or, with another – surely he wouldn’t have spent days writing poetry for her if he didn’t love if?  If he wasn't in love?

Deep down, he knows.  He isn’t in love with her, or her, or with any of them.  He’s in love with love.  He makes romantic gestures for their own sake, for the pleasure of being romantic and dramatic, for playing at being in love.  

Every time, he fools himself.  He thinks, surely, this is it.  Then it ends, and he realises it wasn’t, and he moves on to the next one.  He hopes he is wrong, that this is really it.

Now, though...

He hasn’t made any romantic gestures.    He hasn’t asked himself if this is it. 

He just knows.  Not because he's being more intense, more full on, more stressed than ever before, but because he isn't.

A quiet realisation.  A sigh.  It’s you. It was always you.

7.

As always, she keeps herself hidden.

It is not through lack of effort on his part. He returns, far more often than he used to. She's afraid.

She is afraid he will keep trying, that he will find her, that he will discover her secret.

She is afraid that he won't.

She is afraid that he will hate her, that he will look at her with disgust, and she doesn't think she could bear that. All she wants is to be surrounded by love; she dreams of a large family, of reading stories to enraptured children, watching them grow up and learn about the world.

Of course, her condition makes this impossible. But she can dream. A dream does not cost anything beyond disappointment.

So, he keeps coming, and she keeps dreaming.

8.

I am alive.

…so cold…

It cannot end here. I cannot die like this.

Bring me back!

I will not be forgotten. How…how dare they? They cannot forget me. They cannot leave me here.

I will go mad in this place.

I will never let you forget about me. You could not even destroy me! You left me trapped here, in this hellish tomb!

Bring me back!
 
9.

She keeps dreaming. 

She gives in. 

She has learnt, from her sister, where it is that he appears from each morning. She's heard his enthusiastic talk before now, even muffled as it was by his desperate inhalation of hot dogs. She knows where she can find him, just as he knows where he can find her. But she is the only one who can take down the barrier between them.

It takes her a while to get up her courage, to sneak out early in the morning. Normally, she leaves her excursions for the darker hours of the night, when she is better able to disguise herself with scarves, and with the natural darkness. She isn't worried about the danger of the darkness, not like any other young woman would be. She knows she is safe from direct attacks.

This morning, the sun seems far too bright. She feels exposed. She thinks this was a stupid idea.

10.

He wakes in the night, crying softly. At first, he is too scared too scream, and he's not even sure why he's afraid.

There was something...he's not sure what. Something coming after him, although he couldn't name the purpose. Being chased is scary enough; he doesn't need any further explanation.

He sobs almost uncontrollably. Still, he cannot call for help, cannot even take his head from underneath the blanket. If he does...it might get him.

It is not a very long time - although, to him, it seems it - before there are footsteps and motion nearby. There is always motion; this room is never still, not with so many warm bodies filling it with their breathy sounds of sleep. Still, this is different; this is purposeful. He tenses, but cannot prevent a small whimper from escaping.

Suddenly, warm arms swoop and encircle him. He cries out softly and is shushed. Realising who it is, he clings and cries again.

"Shhhh, baby, it's okay,"

And she rocks him, as if he were younger. He's big now, he knows, but he still likes to be cuddled and held, especially after nightmares.

"It's okay, it's okay," and she strokes his hair. "Was it a nightmare? It's okay. I won't let anyone hurt you baby. I won't let anyone hurt any of you."

He cannot explain why he is afraid, but it's okay. She understands. He had never known a mother, but if he had one, he would like one just like her. He wishes she had more time for him, but now, at least, he does not have to share. She calls him baby, as she does all her charges, but he doesn't mind. He feels loved. He hopes it never has to end, but he dries his tears and wriggles to be put down.

"I'm not a cry-baby," he whispers, with a kind of fierce pride. "I'm okay Matron. It was just a bad dream, and dreams aren't real, are they?"

"No, no, baby, they're not. Go back to sleep."

11. 

She thinks this was a stupid idea.

She sees him long before he sees her. He is focused on the ground in front of him, sweat dripping from his face, causing his hair to fall in front of his eyes. She can't help but smile at him.

When he sees her, he is stunned. He stops, still breathing hard. Her nervousness increases.

"Hello," she says. Her voice doesn't sound like it usually does. The words come out in a breathless squeak. Still, he gazes at her.

"I - " she begins, thinking this was a mistake. "I brought hot dogs."

He smiles then, a huge grin spreading across his face. Shyly, she smiles back.

12.

 I can't keep my feet on the ground.

The magic fills me, and carries me. The power flows through my veins.

It starts at my fingertips, at my crossed hands. It flows, a wave of a shiver down my spine, down to my feet, then slowly back up, carrying me with it. My mind retreats. I am weightless, and my movement is effortless.

I move as if in a dream. Nothing matters, as long as this power keeps flowing. It sparks from my fingertips, and even in my trance I feel my eyes burn.

I feel like a goddess. And sometimes, it occurs to me, that perhaps that is exactly what this power makes me.

It is only an idea that I toy with sometimes. I've seen how this absolute power corrupts. It's just an idea to play with.

13.

Shyly, she smiles back.

" – war."

That's all she hears. She only catches the last part of the sentence, hidden in the kitchen as she is. She can ask her sister about it later.

She's heard the rumours before now. Of Sorceress Adel in Esthar, that power to the East. It had seemed  that she was merely an ogre to scare children with. Now Adel's presence is an imminent threat. Not only to the world, but to her own well-being.

Her sister confirms it. War has officially been declared.

Later, early the next morning, she throws herself into his arms. He tries to comfort her, but he cannot answer the one question to which she needs a reply.

"What if they find out that I'm the same?"

14.

I don't want a pet.

I'm lonely sometimes, I admit it. I have my friends, we spend time together. I have my students, and my position within Garden. I'm always busy, always surrounded by people. And still, I'm a little lonely.

I don't cry myself to sleep at night, that would be silly. But when I see the dynamics of Rinoa and Squall's relationship, him protesting, while she tries to talk him into something, and then they argue, and make up…or when I see Irvine and Selphie, avoiding each other's gazes, the way they do. She'll look at him, with a thoughtful expression, until he looks up. Then her eyes dart away, pretending to be fascinated by something else. So then he'll gaze at her for a while. And then he'll hit on her, in the joking way he does everyone, and she'll brush him off, as she always does, not knowing that he doesn't do this to everyone, not any more. Oh, he'll still make the odd comment, but it's always her he goes back to. She doesn't realise that, of course. Until the middle of the night, when she's too awake to go to sleep, and needs someone to talk to. She knows she's the only one who has that with him, simply because no one else would fit in that bed with them.  They lie awake and talk all night, and then he slips back to his room early the next morning.

They think I don't know. They think no one knows, when it's obvious to anyone who pays attention. Or anyone who has the room next to hers, has exceptional hearing, and stays up late with paperwork.

I don't know if they'll take it further. I think she's afraid to, since that would make her just like every other girl he's known. She doesn't want that. Nor does he, I think.

I can usually find Zell in the library these days. I caught him buying flowers once.

I have my admirers, of course. Many of whom would be happy to buy me flowers, or, probably, share my bed. If I told them to.

I don't want a pet. I don't want someone who hangs on to my every word, who does whatever I command them to, and never thinks of anything on their own initiative. I don't want someone who agrees with everything I say, no matter what I say. If they always have the same opinion, whatever I say, does it make any difference whether I'm saying something important or just chanting the alphabet over and over? If they act on every one of my ideas and never on their own, then it does it make any difference that they're a separate individual, a real person with their own life, and feelings, and ideas? I don't think so.

I don't want a pet, but I would like a partner. 

15.

 "What if they find out that I'm the same?"

He understands then, something that she's only alluded to before.  He understands why she hides herself, why the veins pulse at her temples in the curious way they do, the way she tries to hide with scarfs.  Maybe he understood before now, but didn't want to admit it to himself.
He takes her hand, the most contact he's been allowed up to this point.

16.

This is all wrong.

She was a calm woman, one who dressed in modest, subdued colours. She looked young, still looks young, but before she was a comforting young woman. He can remember his own small hands touching the veins on her face. They were raised then, slightly, an interest texture to his young self. Now they appear almost painful, purple, dramatic, like her clothing.

This is all wrong. This isn't like her.

Tell yourself it isn't her, he thinks. It might as well not be.

Then, it seems, he has a better plan. This plan is simply to stall and see what else turns up, but hey. Pretty good for less than a seconds thought-time.

"I..." He starts. They look at him, the naive optimist and the stoic young man with the scar marring the face he used to know so well. The face which he knows is only a mask, which slips to show a childish fear he recognises sometimes, when the SeeD isn't even aware of it himself.

"I can't do it."
 
17.

He takes her hand, the most contact he's been allowed up to this point.

She doesn't draw away, though she desperately wants to.  She's afraid to look up, to see that expression on his face.  The one she sees in her nightmares sometimes, when they find out what she is.

He speaks.  He tells her that she isn't like Adel, that she never could be.  He tells her that he loves her, that he will always love her, and she won't be like Adel because she'll always have him.  And there on Balamb Beach, he kneels in front of her and vows fealty, to be her knight.

Then he asks her something else.  "Edea...will you marry me?"

Credits

Cid
Seifer
Cid
Selphie
Cid
Irvine
Edea
Adel
Edea
Squall
Edea
Rinoa
Edea
Quistis
Edea
Irvine
 Cid & Edea

Thursday 27 June 2013

.Hack//Sign Ghosts in .Hack//Outbreak (Spoiler Free)

Throughout .Hack//Outbreak you can see fragments of the anime series .hack//sign (assuming that you've seen all the scenes at Delta Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground in Mutation).  Simply go to these places, in the following order, and talk to the ghosts.  You'll get items for this, but I'm not listing them.  You will get several Golden Grunties (permanently raises HP by 30) as well as several excellent healing items.  All of the places are root towns, so I'll just list the server rather than specifying that every time.

I have to tell you, this is a lot more fun once you've seen .Hack//Sign!

Set 1
  1. Delta.  In the alley by the magic shop where you first met Mia. 
  2. Theta.  Behind the Grunty farm.
  3. Delta.  Under the bridge, near the weapon shop. 
  4. Lambda.  In front of the Grunty farm.
  5. Sigma.  Between Elf Haven and the Grunty Farm.
  6. Theta.  Behind the recorders shop.
Set 2
  1. Lambda.  Near the Snakey Grunty. 
  2. Sigma.  Between the weapons shop and the magic shop.
  3. Theta.  Near the magic shop.
  4. Delta.  Under the bridge near Elf's Haven shop.
  5. Sigma.  Between the item shop and Elf's Haven.
  6. Lambda.  Behind the Grunty Farm.
Set 3
  1. Theta.  Near the item shop. 
  2. Delta.  In the alley by the magic shop where you first met Mia.
  3. Lambda.  Near the Snakey Grunty. 
  4. Sigma.  Between the recorder and Elf's Haven.
  5. Theta.  Near the Grunty Farm.
  6. Lambda.  Near the Noble Grunty.
Set 4
  1. Sigma.  Between the recorder and the Grunty Farm.
  2. Delta.  Under the bridge near Elf's Haven.
  3. Lambda.  Near the Noble Grunty.
  4. Sigma.  Between the Chaos Gate and the magic shop.
  5. Theta.  On the bridge near the Grunty Farm.
  6. Sigma.  Behind the Grunty Farm.
Set 5
  1. Lambda.  Between the Bony Grunty and the Snakey Grunty.
  2. Sigma.  Between the recorder's shop and the weapons shop.
  3. Theta.  Near the recorder.
  4. Delta.  Under the bridge by the magic shop.
  5. Lambda.  Between the Snakey Grunty and the recorder. 
  6. Sigma.  Behind the magic shop.
Set 6
  1. Delta.  In the alley between the weapons shop and the magic shop.
  2. Lamba.  South of the Chaos Gate.
  3. Theta.  By the weapons shop.
  4. Sigma.  Between the Grunty Farm and Elf's Haven.
  5. Theta.  Near the item shop.
  6. Delta.  Near the weapons shop.
Set 7
  1. Theta.  Behind the Grunty Farm.
  2. Delta.  In the alley by the magic shop where you first met Mia. 
  3. Sigma.  Between the Grunty Farm and the weapons shop.
  4. Lambda.  South of the Chaos Gate.
  5. Delta.  Walking between the item shop and Elf's Haven.
  6. Sigma.  Behind the item shop.
Set 8
  1. Sigma.  Behind the Grunty Farm.  You'll need to leave Fort Ouph and come back after seeing the last one before she'll appear.
  2. Delta.  Walking between the magic shop and the weapon shop.
  3. Theta.  Near the item shop.
  4. Sigma.  Walking between the item shop, Elf's Haven, and the recorder.
  5. Lamba.  Between the Snakey Grunty and the recorder.
  6. Delta.  Near the magic shop.
Set 9
  1. Delta.  In the alley by the magic shop where you first met Mia. Again, you must leave the server after seeing the last scene and come back.
  2. Theta.  Behind the Grunty Farm.
  3. Lambda.  South of the Chaos Gate.
  4. Sigma.  Between the Grunty Farm and the weapons shop.
  5. Sigma.  Between Elf's Haven and the Grunty Farm.  Remember to log out and back in or otherwise leave the server between scenes.
  6. Theta.  Behind the Grunty Farm.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Best Weapons in .Hack//Outbreak

When Data Draining (shortened to DD) you are more likely to get virus cores when blue and rare items/weapons when your status is riskier.

Twin Blade
Kite, Natsume, Moonstone
  • Sora's Blades - Return to Lambda Stalking Betrayed Nothingness once it reaches level 70.
  • Golden Yasha - DD Black Death.  Bonus boss, only one available.  Sigma Pulsating Sea of Cloud Whale, unlocked after completing the game.  In my experience, you'll need to strip its magical defence with a beast bane and use spells on it in order to get a Protect Break.
  • Two Together - DD Stare.  Can be found in Sigma Unusual Soul Alchemy.

Heavy Blade
BlackRose, Sanjuro
  • Five Stars - DD Star Viking. Can be found in Sigma Unusual Soul Alchemy and Lambda Stalking Betrayed Nothingness once it reaches level 70.  I had a lot of trouble getting a Protect Break on them.  I found that using darkness spells tended to be the most successful.

Heavy Axeman
Piros, Terajima Ryoko.
  • Tri-Tips - DD Skull Devilgon.  Can be found in Sigma Unusual Soul Alchemy and Lambda Stalking Betrayed Nothingness once it reaches level 70.

Wavemaster
Wiseman.
  • Heh Heh Heh - DD Dark Maiden.  Can be found in Sigma Unusual Soul Alchemy.

Long Arm
Gardenia, Nuke Usagimaru.
  • Minerva - DD Skull Devilgon.  Can be found in Sigma Unusual Soul Alchemy and Lambda Stalking Betrayed Nothingness once it reaches level 70.

Blademaster
Rachel, Marlo, Balmung.
  • Phoenix's Fire - DD Lich.  Can be found in Sigma Unusual Soul Alchemy and Lambda Stalking Betrayed Nothingness once it reaches level 70.

.Hack - Goblins

Infection and Mutation

Throughout the Dot Hack series, Goblins will challenge you, via the board, to play tag with them.  In other words, they are speedy little creatures who run away from you.

To easily defeat the first few goblins, use spells.  For those with Magic Tolerance (Martina) use a Beast Bane first.  Speed Charms are also pretty useful.  Both of those can be bought at the magic shop.  They're all weak against wood spells. 

Outbreak

In Outbreak, the Goblins suddenly become a lot more difficult; it's very hard to hit them with spells, and there are three instead of one per level.  It helped a lot, on the first two, to use Knight's Blood, Warrior Blood, and Speed Charms.  Bring spares, these things take a while.

By the time I got to Jonue T, it was insane.  I found that using a Knight's Blood, Warrior Blood and a Speed Charm (from the item and magic shops respectively) on Kite, and then focusing on one and using a skill whenever I got close enough really helped.  You'll generally only get one hit, but it'll be for about 250 if you're at level 70 with Sora's blades.  Once you've got one of them, that'll only leave one to heal and one to chase, so it will go a little faster.

Albert T was a huge drop in difficulty.  Wear the Ladies Mail from Sigma Unusual Ghostly Remnant, use a Hermit Blood (increases magical accuracy), a Warrior Blood (increases physical attack), and a Hunter Blood (increases physical accuracy) on yourself, cast Mumyn Lei on one of them, run up to it, and get in as many hits as you can before it wakes up.  It will wake up within seconds.  All you do is get it in your sights (use R2) and rinse repeat.  Since the Alberts will cast spells on you, they will sometimes lock you in place for a few seconds.  Just focus on one, and when there are only two left, it's a lot harder for them to do that.  The last one should go down quickly.

Martina T was also quite easy.  Beast Bane, sleep spell, wood spell, repeat.  The healing is a little annoying, but, again, it gets easier as you  whittle them down.

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Elements in .Hack

There are six elements in the .hack games which are opposed in the following pairs;

Thunder <> Darkness
Water <> Fire
Earth <> Wood

Thus, if an enemy has an 'Earth Tolerance' hit them with a wood spell.  Remember you can press square and direct your allies as to exactly which spell to hit which monster with.

(This is mentioned on the board, in the game, but I keep forgetting during battles!).

Monday 24 June 2013

Why There Are So Many Games I've Never Completed

Remember that the tick marks on the list to the right only mark the games I've completed every bit of (or as much as was possible and fun) in order, not all the games that I've completed!

Still, there are quite a few games that I've owned for years and never finished.  Final Fantasy VI, for instance.  Often, I just seem to lose interest when it comes to the subquests section.

Right now, I'm enjoying .hack, and writing down and clarifying  stuff about it.  But I still want to go play Persona 4 again, and do a speed run of Final Fantasy IX, and I know that, if I do, I won't come back to .hack for a while.  And, when I do come back to it, I'll probably want to start over from the beginning, and then I really will never finish.

Ryu Books of 1000

The Ryu Books are key items that you receive when data-draining in the .hack// series.  You will get one for every ten data drains, up to Ryu Book VII.

The Ryu Books track various statistics, and will reward you for hitting specific numbers, ie, for meeting Grandpa five times.  You can get all of them in the fourth game, Quarantine.  Otherwise, a few more rewards unlock each game, as listed below.

The rewards consist of images and music with which to decorate your desktop, and videos of cutscenes, which you can view after gaining the data flag, ie, finishing each installment.  The rewards always unlock in the same order, no matter which achievements you get.

I was originally going to list all the achievements you can unlock, and which game you can first get them in.  But, really, that's boring and it's been done before.  I'm only listing the highest numbers you need to get, so you know what to aim for.  You'll only unlock the final reward in Quarantine, but you won't miss any if you hit these numbers then.


Ryu Book I
Chronicles Areas and Playtime
  • 210 Areas Visited
  • 60 Hours Playtime.
If you struggle with this, just hop in and out of a few areas, then leave the PS2 on overnight.  But, really, you shouldn't struggle.

Ryu Book II
Chronicles Magic Portals

  • 1700 Magic Portals Opened.
  • xx Field Portals Opened.
  • 75 Dungeon Portals Opened.
If you struggle with field portals, just go to a low level area and open a few.  For field portals, Lambda Lonely Ghostly Feeling.  Three.  You're welcome.  For dungeon portals, try Theta Chosen Corrupted Spiral, which has six.


Ryu Book III
Chronicles Players You Have Met

  • All Players Met.
  • xx Trades Made. 
If you just talk to a handful of people as you run around the root towns, you should meet most of them without trying too hard.  Some characters won't appear until the game has been completed.

  
Ryu Book IV
Chronicles Monsters
  •  All Monsters Fought.

There is an excellent bestiary here.  When you reach Quarantine, simply look up any monsters you've yet to meet and go exploring.  Don't bother doing it earlier; you'll probably run into them anyway, and the effort will be redundant.


Ryu Book V
Chronicles About Your Friends
  • 350,000GP in Gifts.
I hit twice that just by making sure everyone had the best weapons in each game.

Ryu Book VI
Chronicles Treasures
  • 1500 Treasure Boxes Opened.
  • 1400 boxes, cask, jars and bones destroyed.
  • 85 Gott Statue Treasure Opened.
If you leave and re-enter a room, boxes and casks will reappear. Try Omega Chosen Solitary White Devil for Gott Statues; a two floor dungeon, with no forced battles.

Ryu Book VII
Chronicles the Spring of Myst and Symbols

  • 55 Encounters with Monsieur.
  • 55 Encounters with Grandpa.
  • 140 Symbols Activated.
For Symbols, try Omega Bigoted Snowflake's Capsule.  There are two immediately to the west of the dungeon entrance. You'll easily meet enough grandpas and monsieurs while completing the item list.


Ryu Book VIII
Chronicles About Grunties

  • All Grunty Foods Collected.
  • All Grunties Raised.
  • 230 Grunty Foods Obtained.

See my post here for where to find the food and the stats for the Grunties.  You should pick up enough Grunty food easily if you just grab a few whenever you go past.

Breath of Fire II Endings - Spoiler Free

Good Ending; use Agni to defeat Tyr.

Bad Ending; don't use Agni.

Sunday 23 June 2013

Best Weapons in .hack//Mutation

You'll be able to pick up most of these early on at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands.  You can pick up the rest at Theta Bitter Fantasy Mirror World, after completing the game.

When Data Draining (shortened to DD) you are more likely to get virus cores when blue and rare items/weapons when your status is riskier.

Twin Blade
Kite, Natsume, Moonstone
  • Crimson Raid (only one available) - DD Anglomore.  Found at Theta Bitter Fantasy Mirror World (bonus dungeon; complete game first).
  • Fishkin - DD Squidbod.  Found at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands or Lambda Lonely Ghostly Feeling.

Heavy Blade
BlackRose, Sanjuro
  • Laevateinn - DD House Golem.  Found at Theta Bitter Fantasy Mirror World (bonus dungeon; complete game first).
  • Blade3000 - DD Easter Rock.  Found at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands.

Heavy Axeman
Piros

Wavemaster
Elk, Mistral
  • Wand of Pattern - DD Wander DemonFound at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands or at Theta Bitter Fantasy Mirror World (bonus dungeon; complete game first).
  • Great Elite - DD Harpy Queen.  Found at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands or Lambda Lonely Ghostly Feeling.

Long Arm
Gardenia, Nuke Usagimaru
  • Jishawen - DD Harpy Queen.  Found at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands.
  • Super Wufei - trade Chinese food to Annri.  Chinese Food can be found at Lambda Capricious Unending Corridor.

Blademaster
Mia, Rachel, Marlo.
  • SWORD - DD Mad Witch.  Found at Lambda Entwined Ghostly Deadlands.
  • Bureido - DD  King Worm.  Found at Theta Bitter Fantasy Mirror World (bonus dungeon; complete game first).

eMails in .Hack//Mutation

Throughout .Hack your friends will send you chatty emails. These emails will boost their affection for you (check Ryu Book V) as well as providing a bit of world-building.

Some responses will cause the email chain to end, while others will get you another response.  Some responses require a certain level of affection, so don't worry if you don't get a response right away.  On that note, I wouldn't bother to spend time purposefully getting your teammates affection up; by the end of the game, if you get all the best weapons and don't overly neglect anyone, they should all be close to the 500 affection mark anyway.

If you do want to raise affection, then try giving them 1 Health Drink or a similar item which nets a mildly positive comment.  Each gift will get you +10 affection.  Unfortunately, you can't just give them 99 items in one go and get a huge affection boost - only +10 per gift.

BlackRose

Yesterday
  • I Heard...  - carries on.
  • Swim? - carries on.
I Heard
  • Swim? - carries on.
  • I'm....  - ends chain.
Swim?
  • Malibu....- ends chain.
  • Every Day... - carries on.
Every Day...
  • Mermaid...- ends chain.
  • Resistance - gets final email.
Thus, the best responses are I Heard,  Swim?, Every Day, Resistance.

Gardenia

Movies
  • Really? - carries on.
  • Okay... -  ends chain.
Really?
  • Recent Ones? - carries on.
  • Artsy Films?  - ends chain.
Recent ones?
  • What is it About? - gets final email.
  • Last Weekend - ends chain.
Thus the best sequence is Really?, Recent ones, What is it about?.

Marlo

Introduction
  • Me too - carries on.
  • Net... -  ends chain.

Me Too
  • Marlo's Character - carries on.
  • Yeah - ends chain.
Marlo's Character
  • Actually - gets final email.
  • Real Marlo - ends chain.
Thus the correct response is Me Too, Marlo's Character, Actually.

Mistral

Chocolate
  • I love it! (Crispy Chocolate) - carries on.
  • I hate it! - carries on.
I Hate It!
  • Sorry - ends chain.
  • I love it! (Jelly Beans) -carries on.
I Love It! (Crispy Chocolate/Jelly Bean)
  • Really? - carries on.
  • ... - ends chain.
 Really?
  • New Flavours - gets final email.
  • Chocolate Flavours - ends chain.
Thus, the best responses are I Hate It, I Love It, Really?, New Flavours.

Moonstone

Hobbies...
  • ??? - ends chain.
  • My Hobbies? - carries on.
My Hobbies?
  • Jogging - carries on.
  • Um... - ends chain.
Jogging
  • Oh, I get it - ends chain.
  • Wow - gets final email.
Thus the best responses are My Hobbies?, Jogging, Wow.

Natsume

Lord of the Rings
  • What is it About? - carries on.
  • Not Interested - ends chain.
What is it About?
  • Fantasy Novels - carries on.
  • Fantasy... - ends chain.
Fantasy Novels
  • Three Books! - gets final email.
  • No Way - ends chain.
Thus the best sequence is What is it about?, Fantasy novels, Three books!.

Nuke Usagimaru

About Me
  • Hey - carries on.
  • Really - ends chain.
Hey
  • Hey - carries on.
  • I see - ends chain.
Hey (2)
  • You're good -ends chain.
  • Huh? - gets final email.
Thus the best responses are Hey, Hey, Huh?.

Piros

Question 2
  • I don't know - carries on.
  • No idea - carries on.
Answer to Love
  • Hate Yakitori - carries on.
  • Don't eat that much  - carries on.
Answer to Yakitori
  • Miso - gets final email.
  • Soy Sauce  - gets final email.
In other words, say whatever you like to Piros.

Rachel

Wassup!
  • Editor of? - carries on.
  • Editor in Chief - ends chain.
Editor Of?
  • Why - carries on.
  • Editor in Chief... - ends chain.
Why?
  • Too bad - gets final email.
  • Impressions - ends chain.
 Thus the best replies are Editor of?, Why, Too bad.

Sanjuro
 
Hidden Fortress
  • Don't Know the Movie - carries on.
  • Might've Heard... - carries on.
Hidden Fortress 2
!! - carries on.
Really? -   ends chain.

!!
  • I'll Watch It! -gets final mail.
  • Summary - ends chain.
Thus, the best sequence is either, !!,  I'll watch it.

...bless them all.  Dear little anti-social weirdos.

Subquests and Extras in .hack//Mutation

I'm only including things that you won't find by just reading the board.

Scenes from .Hack//Sign

Go to Delta Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground at specific points, and you'll see scenes from .Hack//Sign,
  • At the beginning of the game.
  • After Lambda Nameless Seeker's Prairie.
  • After receiving the keywords for Lambda Dying Madness Haunted Land.
  • After Lambda Scattering Fossil's Milestone. 
You receive Golden and Silver Grunties for viewing these, which permanently raise your HP and SP.


Keywords from the DVD

Lambda Capricious Unending Corridor.  You can find the Gemini Soul in one of the treasure chests, a twin blade weapon with negative attack - good for data draining.  Also Chinese Food which you can trade with Annri for the Key Axe.

Areas They Pull You Out Of

Mutation is better at this than Infection, but there are still some areas that you get pulled out of before you can get the Gott Statue treasures.  That annoys me.  A lot.  They don't even have anything good, but they're THERE, and I want them.

Lambda Dolorous Evil-Eyed Widow - Statue has Slayers, Yellow Candy, and Ivory Barette.
Lambda Nameless Seeker's Prairie - Statue has Spirit Armour and Yellow Candy x 2 (I think it was spirit armour.  In fairness, it was very uninteresting, whatever it was).
Blooming Promised Walkway -Segmentart, Mage's Soul, Yellow Candy.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Subquests & Extras in .Hack//Infection

As a general rule, it's pretty hard to miss stuff.  Just keep reading the board and your emails.

Time Trial

Use Delta Chronicling Pagan Sunny Demon.  Use a speed charm and Fairy's Orbs, and you should only run into one or two battles.


Key Words on the DVD

Delta Hideous Organ Market Scaffold - Statue has Ice Bar, Rainbow Card, and Grunt Doll.
Delta Voluptous Her Remnant - Statue contains Kagayuzen, Grunt Doll, and Yellow Candy.  You can also find the Rusty Nails here.  They're useful for data draining low level monsters, since they have negative attack, and can hit without killing.
Delta Dog Dancing Passionate Tri Pansy - Ceramic Helm, Yellow Candy, and Rainbow Card.

Areas to Go Back To

I've made a post on this before, I think.

Sometimes, you'll reach a key area - a boss fight or such like - before reaching the Zeit statue.  And then the game automatically pulls you out.  And then you have to go back into the area and right back down into the dungeon for the items (or, at least, I do, because I hate knowing that they're there, and I haven't got them).

These are the areas that they yank you out of;

Delta Boundless Corrupted Fort Walls - Statue has Fishing Gloves and Rainbow Card x 2.
Delta Closed Oblivious Twin Hills - Statue  has Wyrm Scale, Grunt Doll, and Rainbow Card.
Delta Plenteous Smiling Hypha
Delta Putrid Hot-blooded Scaffold - pulls you out when you pick up the remedy, which is in the south-west corner of the final floor.  Get the statue first, and you won't have to go back for anything; Fireman's Coat, Rainbow Card, Grunt Doll.
Delta Buried Pagan Fiery Sands -  Iron Anklet, Rainbow Card, Grunt Doll.

Grunty Food & Stats

Once you reach Theta, you'll find grunties, little piglet like creatures whom you can feed.  Once you've fed them enough to raise their size enough, they'll turn into a specific kind of grunty.  In Mutation, you can race them, and in Outbreak they will search for either food, portals, or the dungeon entrance on the field when you press circle.

In each new game, go back to earlier servers and check your grunties trade items.  The ones in Carmina Gardelica and Fort Ouph will get another Golden Grunty and a Silver Grunty to trade.

This table shows where you can find Grunty food as well as decoding how the grunty asks for things. These aren't the only places you can get them, just places where I've found them easy to locate.


FoodDescriptionHintLocation
Bearcat EggReally SourIn a very fancy galleryTheta Quiet Eternal White Devil

On the big room on the right, on the 1st floor of the dungeon.  Two more on B2, in the big room and in the t-shaped room just north of it.
Bloody EggLike BloodIn the stomach of a very scary monsterDelta Chronicling Pagan Sunny Demon

There are two in the first two little rooms on B1 of the dungeon.  Just run in and out of the dungeon a couple of times.  Complete the time trial here first.
CordycepsCold and SpicyNear a large statue of BuddhaTheta Quiet Eternal White Devil

From the dungeon, go straight east till you hit one of those fire switch things.  Go south from there and you'll find three.
Golden EggReally ExpensiveInside an important storyDelta Buried Pagan Fiery Sands

In the first room of the dungeon.  Just run in and out a couple of times if you need them.  Really though, they show up in most dungeons.
Grunt MintsMintyNear a very hot square faceDelta Raging Passionate Melody.

There are some just south of the dungeon.
Immature EggReally BitterDeep in a really dark labyrinthTheta Chosen Hopeless Nothingness

In the first room after the entrance.
Invisible EggReally SaltyInside a very deep caveDelta Putrid Hot-blooded Scaffold

There's one in the first room north of the entrance, and two more in the rooms to the east and west, as well as a golden egg in the room to the north.
La PumpkinReally SweetBy a big coccoonTheta Great Distant Fertile Land

You'll find five or six just to the east of the dungeon, and three right in front of the entrance, near a symbol.
MandragoraNoisyBy a pointy towerTheta Beautiful Someone's Treasure Gem

There are three just north of the dungeon entrance.
Mushroom---In the shadow of mushroom boulders.Delta Putrid Hot-blooded Scaffold

There's one just outside the entrance to the dungeon.  Just wander in and out a few times.
Oh No MelonReally Sweet and RoundNear barnaclesDelta Buried Pagan Fiery Sands

There are some just west of the dungeon, and a few more to the south of it.
Piney AppleCrispy and SweetDeep in the green forestTheta Soft Solitary Tri Pansy

There are three in the small areas to the south, and one in the northernmost area.  This is also a very good area for getting all the field portals open.
Root Vegetable White and SpicyBy a wall at the end of a mazeTheta Soft Smiling Fort Walls

You can definitely find some earlier than this, in an area you have to visit.
Snakey CactusJuicyNear ribs that were once an oceanDelta Discovered Primitive Touchstone

You can find two just to the east of the dungeon entrance, in the ribcage.
Twilight OnionRaw and SpicyBy a very old, strange weaponDelta Hideous Destroyer's Far Thunder

There are some to the east of the dungeon.
White CherryCold and SweetBy a very old pillarDelta Detestable Golden Scent.  You have the benefit of no portals here.

You can unlock three grunties per server.  There are easy ways to get them, but I find it more interesting to give it whatever it likes, then adjust the stats when it starts asking for Golden Eggs.  If you want the recipes, look at the wiki.

Types

Iron Grunty (Theta)
  • Size: 30
  • Body Odor: 3 to 17
  • Rebel: -2 to 12
  • Brutality: 13 to 27
  • Intelligence: 8 to 22
  • Purity: -2 to 12 
Your grunty wants to grow up to be an Iron Grunty.  Give it whatever it likes, and that's what you'll get.  Once it has the iron stats, it'll only ask for Golden Eggs.  Your Iron Grunty will take you to the Dungeon Entrance, in the field.


Poison Grunty (Theta)
  • Size: 30
  • Body Odor: 0 to 20
  • Rebel: -5 to 15
  • Brutality: 10 to 30
  • Intelligence: 5 to 25
  • Purity: -5 to 15 
The poison Grunty will take you to magic portals, on the field.

Bony Grunty (Lambda)
  • Size: 40
  • Body Odor: 13 to 27
  • Rebel: 3 to 17
  • Brutality: 8 to 22
  • Intelligence: 8 to 22
  • Purity: -2 to 12 
Grunties in Lambda want to grow into Bony grunties; just give it whatever it asks for.  The Bony Grunty will take you to the dungeon entrance on the field.

Snakey Grunty (Lambda)
  • Size: 40
  • Body Odor: 10 to 30
  • Rebel: 0 to 20
  • Brutality: 5 to 25
  • Intelligence: 5 to 25
  • Purity: -5 to 15 
The Snakey Grunty will search for magic portals in the field.

Aqua Grunty (Lambda)
  • Size: 40
  • Body Odor: 8 to 20
  • Rebel: 8 to 22
  • Brutality: -2 to 12
  • Intelligence: 13 to 27
  • Purity: 3 to 17 
Grunties on Sigma want to become Aqua Grunties.  Give them whatever they ask for.  Aqua Grunties will take you to the dungeon entrance on the field.

 Milky Grunty (Lambda) 
  • Size: 40
  • Body Odor: 5 to 25
  • Rebel: 5 to 25
  • Brutality: -5 to 15
  • Intelligence: 10 to 30
  • Purity: 0 to 20 
Milky Grunties will search for magic portals on the field.

Rocker Grunty (Omega)
  • Size: 40
  • Body Odor: 3 to 7
  • Rebel: 8 to 22
  • Brutality: -2 to 12
  • Intelligence: 8 to 22
  • Purity: 13 to 27
 Grunties in Omega want to become Rocker Grunties.  Give them what they want. Rocker Grunties will take you to the dungeon entrance.

Wooden Grunty (Omega)

I couldn't find any information for the stats on these.  According to the wiki, the stats are identical to the Rocker Grunty, which obviously can't be right.  So, I used 4 Cordyceps, an Immature Egg, and enough Golden Eggs to raise its size to 40.  The one stat that differed from the Rocker Grunty with this method was the Rebel, which can therefore be as low as 7.  Wooden Grunties will take you to magical portals on the field.


Noble Grunty (All)

If your grunty's stats do not fit the requirements for the other two grunties on the server, it will become a Noble Grunty.  Noble Grunties will search for food on the field.

Wednesday 19 June 2013

BoFIV & .Hack//Infection

So, I completed Breath of Fire IV early this morning (ie, 3am).  I've not fully crowned all of my fish, though I do have over 9,500 points.  I defeated every monster in the game, including Rider, and got all of the best weapons and armour, apart from the Goo King Sword and the Linked Pole.

I played around on Dragon Quarter a little today, but since I was playing around on my cleared file, I don't feel a huge amount of pressure to finish it.  I think my D-Ratio was 1/248, and I know I'm missing a handful of skills only available in the centre, on the paths I didn't take last time.

For now, I'm playing .hack//Infection.  This is another game that I've never finished.  Or, rather, it's part of a series that I've never finished; I've gotten as far as the third or fourth game before now.  I like .hack.  It appeals to the orderly part of my brain.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Finally Completing Breath of Fire IV!

I finally completed Breath of Fire IV!  It took the best part of ten years, but I did it.

Theoretically, I should be working on Dragon Quarter next, but considering I've completed it several times before, I think it'd be okay to do something else.

In other news, I've decided to get a Dragon Quarter themed tattoo.

Monday 17 June 2013

Breath of Fire IV - Farming Stamp Cards

In Breath of Fire IV, you are able to trade fish for items at various Manillo stores.  You also earn stamps, 20 of which makes up one stamp cards.  Those stamp cards can, in turn, be traded for more items.

If you wish to get the Manillo's best items, you will need a LOT of stamp cards.


CardsItemDescription
3Magic Shard+1 to max AP.
3Power Food+1 to Attack.
3Swallow Eye+1 to Agility.
3Fish Head+1 to Wisdom.
25CouponsAccessory.  User receives a discount on all purchases.
50Dragon TearAccessory.  Protects wearer from all status changes.
75Linked Pole.Weapon for Cray, with 133 attack.  Damage changes with enemy's power.  One of Cray's best weapons.
99RenderWeapon for Scias.  Attack 50, but changes based on number of battles fought.  2 hits.  If used as an item, casts Frost.  One of Scias' best weapons.

I really do not recommend trying to get everyone Dragon Tears.  You find one in Fou-Lu's tomb, and you really don't need any more than that.  The Cupid's Lyre, if nothing else, is a way more useful accessory.

I also wouldn't farm for the stat-up items.  You need to earn 60 fishing points just to get one, and levelling is so easy that it seems a bit pointless.  It would be quicker to use the Bots to level your characters up to 60 and decimate absolutely everything in the game.  You don't even need to be that high, really.  Coupons, too, aren't really worth it.  By the time you've got enough stamp cards for them, you've probably bought everything you need to, especially if you're selling off the items you're trading fish for..

No, what I'm farming for are the weapons.  Because I'm a completionist.

Method is simple, and is described here.  Go to River Spot 2 or 3, stand on the bridge, face south, use a swisher.  I generally do this while watching TV.  After a while, take your fish to the Checkpoint, where you can trade 1 Salmon, 2 Rainbow Trout, and 4 Browntails for 21 points.  Take any Trout or Sweetfish to Shyde.  My record is 208 points, or ten stamp cards, in one episode of Charmed (40 minutes).  Have fun!