Breath of Fire III - Ivory Dice

The Ivory Dice is an item in Breath of Fire III, which, when used on an enemy, doubles the amount of experience and zenny earned.

For example, using it on a Vulcan results in the following increases;

• 1 dice = 600 exp, 900 zenny.
  
• 2 dice = 1200 exp, 3600 zenny.
  
• 3 dice = 2400 exp, 7200 zenny.
  
• 4 dice = 4800 exp, 14400 zenny.
  
• 5 dice = 9600 exp, 28800 zenny.
  
• 6 dice = 19200 exp, 57600 zenny.
  
• 7 dice = 21845 exp, and a little over 57k zenny.

As you can see, the experience caps at 21845, while the zenny caps around 57k. Therefore, it is more profitable, when using a Vulcan (one of the most exp and ap rich random enemies of the game) to use six dice at a time, rather than seven. Because Vulcans are fairly easy to defeat and give extremely high exp and zenny in comparison to this, you will almost certainly be using Ivory Dice to level against them rather than anything else. They can be found in Mt. Zublo, near Deis. Remember to cast 'burn' on them at least once; if you don't, the given exp will begin at 60 per character instead of the 300 you're aiming for. Try to remember to steal a protein while you're doing this, too.

Ivory Dice can only be found in a few places. However, you can use the Faerie Copy Shop to create more. A fairy with a full Sky Blue bar has a better chance of success. Save before entering the village, as success or failure is not determined until you enter.

It takes the fairies exactly fourteen battles to copy one Ivory Dice. This means that it is possible to set up a production line - have fourteen fairies working to copy Ivory Dice at once. Simply set one, fight one random battle, then set the second. After the last one is told to start copying, the first one will finish. This is the most efficient way, since you can guarantee success by saving just outside of the village each time.

You can continue this production line for as long as you wish. Should you have more than one fairy completing their copying at once, there is a higher chance that at least one will fail.

You can use the copying production line to copy an expensive item too, and sell it if it's money you want more than levels.

Breath of Fire II - Unlimited Cash

To get unlimited cash in Breath of Fire II, you need to get the basic Carpenter into your Township. That is, when sent to fetch a carpenter from Capitan (as part of the main storyline) pick the one in the eastern house, the house that has a relatively "normal" design (judging by the game's other cities). He'll open a kitchen, where you can cook up items into new items. This sometimes fails, so you'll probably want to save at the Dragon Statue first.

Later in the game, when you have five houses (after the first three are built, pay the carpenter another thousand zenny, then walk in and out of town a few times until they're finished), invite Hanz to live in the fifth house. He lives in the house next door to Ryu and Bow's room in Hometown, and he'll open an item shop.

Hanz sells Cond.Ups for 1000 zenny each. The Carpenter will transform three of these into a G.Bar, which sells for 6000 zenny, doubling your money.

I didn't really have a problem with running out of money in the game, but it's nice to have options.

Breath of Fire II - Fishing for Fun and Profit

A quick way of getting enough money early on to properly outfit your characters in Breath of Fire II.

In Gate, grab the Treepole from the dresser in the church. When you reach Hometown, fight a few battles, then buy eighteen worms, for 72 zenny.

Outside of Hometown, fight a battle or two until the fishing spot to the west appears. Use your worms and the treepole rod to catch as many fish as possible (keep the line as short as possible to reduce the risk of it breaking. I'd also recommend watching these videos). When you have enough zenny, buy the Stickrod,which will make the process much easier. It shouldn't take you long to amass a few thousand zenny, enough to get you through the first part of the game.

Final Fantasy IX: Cotton Robes for Fun and Profit

Cotton Robes can be synthesised in several places, including Lindblum and Treno. They cost 1000 gil to synth, and are made up of a Wrist and a Steepled Hat. Wrists are available in Dali, and cost 130 gil. Steepled Hats are first sold in Lindblum, and cost 230 gil. Cotton Robes sell for 2000 gil.

Now, let's do a bit of arithmetic. It costs 130 + 260 + 1000 = 1390 gil to make a Cotton Robe. Selling them at 2000 a pop means a profit of 2000 - 1390 = 610 gil.

Later in the game, this is very easy to take advantage of, since you can easily access these shops. However, early in the game, it requires a bit of forward planning.

The first thing you need to do is get a 100% approval rating for the duel during I Want To Be Your Canary. This will result in a reward of 10,000 gil, and a moonstone from Brahne (not relevant, but still nice to have). In Dali, pick up 99 Wrists. The game will let you purchase more than 99 Wrists if you have one or two equipped, but the equipped wrists will magically disappear when you unequip them, as they won't fit into your inventory. Don't let the magical gremlins steal your Wrists - take equipped items into account when buying the maximum amount.

Now, when you reach Lindblum, buy as many Steepled Hats as you can, while leaving at least 1000 gil in your inventory. Make a Cotton Robe. Sell the Cotton Robe. Rinse and repeat until you're nearly out of Wrists.

Leave at least one Wrist in your inventory, if you're not done learning abilities from it (or if you're as anal as I am, and refuse to sell the last one of anything). Keep two Cotton Robes, buy any equipment you desire, then buy 99 Steepled Hats. You should still have around 18000 gil to spare on equipment in Gizamaluke's Grotto.

Now, when you take control of Dagger and Steiner in Treno, take a field trip to Dali. Buy more Wrists. Make more Cotton Robes in Treno.

Go crazy at the Auction House.

Fun!

Later in the game, you'll be able to move freely between Lindblum and Dali, which will make this a lot easier.