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.

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.

Food	Description	Hint	Location
Bearcat Egg	Really Sour	In a very fancy gallery	Theta 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 Egg	Like Blood	In the stomach of a very scary monster	Delta 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.
Cordyceps	Cold and Spicy	Near a large statue of Buddha	Theta 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 Egg	Really Expensive	Inside an important story	Delta 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 Mints	Minty	Near a very hot square face	Delta Raging Passionate Melody. There are some just south of the dungeon.
Immature Egg	Really Bitter	Deep in a really dark labyrinth	Theta Chosen Hopeless Nothingness In the first room after the entrance.
Invisible Egg	Really Salty	Inside a very deep cave	Delta 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 Pumpkin	Really Sweet	By a big coccoon	Theta 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.
Mandragora	Noisy	By a pointy tower	Theta 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 Melon	Really Sweet and Round	Near barnacles	Delta Buried Pagan Fiery Sands There are some just west of the dungeon, and a few more to the south of it.
Piney Apple	Crispy and Sweet	Deep in the green forest	Theta 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 Spicy	By a wall at the end of a maze	Theta Soft Smiling Fort Walls You can definitely find some earlier than this, in an area you have to visit.
Snakey Cactus	Juicy	Near ribs that were once an ocean	Delta Discovered Primitive Touchstone You can find two just to the east of the dungeon entrance, in the ribcage.
Twilight Onion	Raw and Spicy	By a very old, strange weapon	Delta Hideous Destroyer's Far Thunder There are some to the east of the dungeon.
White Cherry	Cold and Sweet	By a very old pillar	Delta 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.

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.

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.

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.

Cards	Item	Description
3	Magic Shard	+1 to max AP.
3	Power Food	+1 to Attack.
3	Swallow Eye	+1 to Agility.
3	Fish Head	+1 to Wisdom.
25	Coupons	Accessory.  User receives a discount on all purchases.
50	Dragon Tear	Accessory.  Protects wearer from all status changes.
75	Linked Pole.	Weapon for Cray, with 133 attack.  Damage changes with enemy's power.  One of Cray's best weapons.
99	Render	Weapon 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!

Dagger and Eiko

An observation I wanted to make.  Spoilers for FFIX below this point.

In Final Fantasy IX, you have two surviving summoners, Dagger and Eiko.  Eiko is six-years-old and was raised by summoners.  Dagger is sixteen, and had completely forgotten her summoner heritage, since she was raised elsewhere.

They learn broadly similar skills; white magic and summons.  The difference is, Dagger learns twice as many summons, and Eiko learns twice as much white magic.  This discrepancy is reflected in their Trance states, too; Dagger's is focused around making her summons stronger, while Eiko's gives her double white magic.

In short;  Dagger is a much better, stronger summoner, while Eiko is a better white mage, and that's overcoming how they were raised.

Just seemed worth pointing out.

Maybe I'll replay FFIX next.

Breath of Fire IV - Killing Treans

I finally killed a Trean!

I'm using a line-up of Cray, Ursula, and Scias.

Turn 1: Cray casts Charm, Scias uses Megaphone, Ursula uses War Shout.  Scias' HP was at 1, so he also used Rakhasa in this turn.

Turn 2: Cray uses Last Resort, Scias uses Megaphone, Ursula uses War Shout.

Turn 3:  FUCKING NINA'S WILL RUINS SCIAS' 1HP.  Cray uses Backhand on Scias, Scias uses Focus, Ursula guards.

Turn 4: Cray uses Tiger Fist, Ursula uses Triple Blow, Scias uses Reversal.  Fucking Trean dies!

Turn 5: Treans escape.

Alternatively;

Turn 1:  We brutally murder Nina.  Her hp was already at one, so it only took one blow.

Turn 2: Cray casts Charm, Scias uses Megaphone, Ursula uses War Shout.  Scias' HP was at 1, so he also used Rakhasa in this turn.  He'll probably use it at some point, as long as his HP is at 1.  Rakhasa gives you an automatic Last Resort effect, and 1HP means Reversal becomes a lot more powerful.

Turn 3: Cray uses Last Resort, Scias uses Megaphone, Ursula uses War Shout.

Turn 4:  Scias uses Focus, Cray uses Tiger Fist, Ursula uses Reversal.

Turn 5:  Cray uses Tiger Fist, Scias uses Shadowwalk, Ursula uses Reversal.  Repeat for two turns.  My party are far too weak to pull this off, though, luckily, Scias is apprenticed to Kyrik, and finishes one off for me after I've hacked away at it for long enough.

The Treans will run away either on the ninth turn, or on the turn after you kill one of them.  

This second scenario might be worth attempting again later; with Ursula, Reversal hits all of them, for 10-15,000 damage each.  Tiger Fist also hits all, but misses a lot.  I finally got a Nunchaku in this battle (this was the 3rd or 4th Treant I killed, so it doesn't take too long), which raised Cray's power to 474.

Breath of Fire IV - Update

I was in my early teens when I bought Breath of Fire IV.  Maybe as young as eleven, which would make it thirteen years ago.  It was the first Breath of Fire game I ever owned, so it may be surprising that it's the one Breath of Fire game I've never completed.  I don't know why.  I've gotten as far as the end of Chapter III before, but no further.

There comes a point, in a lot of RPGs, where you need to run around and take of a lot of subquests and minigames before you get to the final boss.  That's always the point at which my attention begins to wane.  I think there's a part of me that doesn't actually want to finish games, because that happens quite a lot.  That's the whole reason behind my Completion Project - to challenge me not to give up at that point. Like I'm not going to this time.  I'm going to sit here all weekend and finish this damn game if it's the last thing I do.

I have very little left to complete.  I've completed every master and learned every skill.  I've caught every fish, though I've not crowned all of them yet.  I just need to get all the best weapons for my characters - which will involve more fishing, since I only have 51 stamp cards - defeat Treans and Riders - partly for pride, partly to get another weapon - and get through the final dungeon.

These are the items I've yet to get;

• Mass Driver - For Ershin.  104 attack.  Steal from Chopam in Fou-Lu's tomb.

• Nunchaku - For Cray.  145 Attack.  Dropped by Trean in Abandoned Village.

• Linked Pole - For Cray.  133 power.  Manillo Store.  Trade 75 stamp cards for it.
• Render - For Scias.  2 hits, attack varies with number of battles fought.  Trade 99 stamp cards to any Manillo.

• GooKing Sword - For Ryu.  152 power.  You have a 1/256 chance of winning this sword by defeating a Goo King in the Imperial Castle.
• Ouroboros - For Nina.  96 attack.  Casts Raise Dead if used as an item.  Steal from Beihl in the basement of the Imperial Castle. 
• Slicer - For Scias.  78 attack, 2 hits.  Dropped by Kolpum in Imperial Castle.
• Angel's Vest - For Nina and Ursula.  94 defence.  Dropped by a Warder in the Imperial Castle, or steal from Star Gazer in Imperial Castle.

• Dragon Blade - For Ryu.  128 power.  On B1 of the Imperial Castle.
• Dragon Armour - For Ryu.  96 defence.  1F of the Imperial Castle.

• Royal Sword - For Ryu.  96 power, two hits.  Steal from Astral dragon, a boss near the end of the game.
• Royal Armour - For Ryu.  102 defence.  Steal from Tyrant, a boss near the end of the game.

I've categorised them loosely according to where they are, and/or how you get them.  I think my information on the Angel's Vest is wrong, since the game reckons I've received all the items from the Stargazer and the Angel's Vest isn't on the list.  We'll see.

I'm just doing a bit more levelling, to boost my stats to have another go at Treans.  I want to complete my Manillo shops list with points, so I'll do a bit more fishing for that, then try to figure out the most efficient way to get enough points for 149 stamp cards.  Luckily, levelling and fishing I can do while watching TV, so I'll be catching up on Elementary as well, or reading Carrie.  Wish me luck!

Breath of Fire IV - Manillo Stores

In Breath of Fire IV you can trade your caught fish for items at various Manillo stores, much like in Breath of Fire III.  However, in IV the Manillo are wandering around town rather than swimming with the fishes (not a euphemism).  You get stamps when you purchase items; twenty stamps will fill a stamp card.  You can trade stamp cards as follows;

Cards	Item	Description
3	Magic Shard	+1 to max AP.
3	Power Food	+1 to Attack.
3	Swallow Eye	+1 to Agility.
3	Fish Head	+1 to Wisdom.
25	Coupons	Accessory.  User receives a discount on all purchases.
50	Dragon Tear	Accessory.  Protects wearer from all status changes.
75	Linked Pole.	Weapon for Cray, with 133 attack.  Damage changes with enemy's power.  One of Cray's best weapons.
99	Render	Weapon 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.

Manillo Stores

Shyde

I came here immediately from Ludia, before going to Worent.  I was able to buy Earth Claws, a Ruby Scepter and a Broad Sword; I knew spending an episode of Charmed in each fishing spot was a good idea.

Items	Fish	Stamps
Earth Claws	5 x Sweetfish	7.50
Ruby Scepter	5 x Trout	10.00
Broad Sword	2 x RainbowTrout 2 x Trout 2 x Sweetfish	14.00
Flail	3 x Black Bass 3 x Blue Gill 6 x Piranha	--
Firangi	3 x Black Bass 3 x MartianSquid 6 x Bass	--
Holy Mantle	3 x RainbowTrout 6 x Browntail	25.50
Bell Collar	3 x RainbowTrout 6 x Browntail	25.50
Aurum	5 x Jellyfish	4.00

Wyndia

Lots of new bait here!

Items	Fish	Stamps
Gold Top	1 x Blowfish 2 x Flying Fish	5.00
Warbler	1 x Blowfish 2 x Flying Fish	5.00
Flattop	2 x Blowfish	4.00
Hanger	2 x Blowfish	4.00
Toad	3 x Flying Fish	4.50
Tail	3 x Flying Fish	4.50
Bamboo Rod	2 x Sea Bream	6.00
Aurum	5 x Man-o'-War	4.00

Sarai

Return here after getting the shift spell, and the Manillo store will be open for business.

Items	Fish	Stamps
Icicle	3 x Flatfish	8.40
Napalm	3 x Sea Bream	9.00
Taser	3 x Octopus	10.50
Ginseng	1 x Bonito 1 x Octopus 1 x Sea Bream	10.10
Dragon Scale	1 x Bonito 1 x Octopus 1 x Flatfish	9.90
Headband	1 x Bonito 1 x Sea Bream 1 x Flatfish	9.40
Moon Tears	1 x Spearfish 1 x Angler 1 x Bonito	12.65
Aurum	3 x Sea Bass	8.40

Checkpoint

Items	Fish	Stamps
Barrier Ring	1 x Salmon 2 x Rainbow Trout 4 x Browntail	21.00
Light Ring	2 x MartianSquid 2 x Blue Gill 4 x Piranha	17.40
Diamond Ring	1 x Salmon 2 x Rainbow Trout 4 x Browntail	21.00
Astral Ward	1 x Dorado 4 x Black Bass 6 x Bass	28.00
Body Ward	1 x Dorado 4 x Black Bass 6 x Bass	28.00
Soul Ring	1 x Sturgeon 2 x Salmon 2 x Bullcat	21.90
Topaz Tear	1 x Barandy 2 x Dorado 2 x MartianSquid	22.00
Aurum	3 x Bass	6.00

Lyp

Items	Fish	Stamps
Platinum Top	1 x Browntail 1 x Trout 1 x Sweetfish	6.00
Dancer	1 x Black Bass 1 x Blue Gill 1 x Piranha	6.85
Swisher	1 x Browntail 1 x Trout 1 x Sweetfish	6.00
Deep Diver	1 x Black Bass 1 x Blue Gill 1 x Piranha	6.85
Fat Frog	1 x Browntail 1 x Trout 1 x Sweetfish	6.00
Crab	1 x Black Bass 1 x Blue Gill 1 x Piranha	6.85
Angling Rod	2 x Salmon 2 x Dorado 2 x MartianSquid	20.70
Aurum	3 x Bass	5.00

Chiqua

Items	Fish	Stamps
Skull Staff	10 x Jellyfish 10 x Man-o'-War	16.00
Chopsticks	2 x MartianSquid 2 x Octopus	14.00
Repeater	1 x Spearfish 3 x Bonito	15.80
Giant Club	2 x Black Porgy 6 x Sea Bream	--
Power Glove	2 x Black Porgy 6 x Sea Bream	--
Force Armour	1 x Spearfish 1 x Angler 5 x Flatfish	--
Holy Robe	1 x Spearfish 1 x Angler 5 x Octopus	--
Aurum	3 x Sea Bass	8.40

Astana

Items	Fish	Stamps
Ivory Dice	5 x Angelfish 5 x Moorfish	21.50
Earthbreaker	1 x Whale 1 x Barandy 3 x Dorado	28.99
Culverin	1 x Whale 2 x Sturgeon 2 x Barandy	35.59
Life Armor	1 x Whale 1 x Sturgeon 3 x Bullcat	26.69
Star Dress	3 x Whale 8 x Acheron	51.57
Healing Ring	1 x Spearfish 1 x Angler 2 x Black Porgy	14.65
Cupid's Lyre	1 x Spearfish 1 x Angler 2 x Black Porgy	14.65
Aurum	1 x Angelfish 1 x Moorfish	4.30

Breath of Fire IV - Ultimate Equipment List

Individual Character Lists

• Ryu
• Nina
• Ershin
• Cray
• Scias
• Ursula

Weapons

• GooKing Sword - For Ryu.  152 power.  You have a 1/256 chance of winning this sword by defeating a Goo King in the Imperial Castle.
• Dragon Blade - For Ryu.  128 power.  On B1 of the Imperial Castle.
• Royal Sword - For Ryu.  96 power, two hits.  Steal from Astral dragon, a boss near the end of the game. 
• Ouroboros - For Nina.  96 attack.  Casts Raise Dead if used as an item.  Steal from Beihl in the basement of the Imperial Castle.  
• Electrifier - For Ursula.  110 attack, hits one, low hit rate.  Found in Fou-Lu's tomb.
• Culverin - For Ursula.  108 attack, hits all.  Manillo Store in Astana.  1 x Whale, 2 x Sturgeon, 2 x Barandy.
• Nunchaku - For Cray.  145 Attack.  Dropped by Trean in Abandoned Village.
• Linked Pole - For Cray.  133 power.  Manillo Store.  Trade 75 stamp cards for it.
• Cleaver - For Scias.  119 attack.  Steal from Horseman in Imperial Castle.
• Slicer - For Scias.  78 attack, 2 hits.  Dropped by Kolpum in Imperial Castle.
• Render - For Scias.  2 hits, attack varies with number of battles fought.  Trade 99 stamp cards to any Manillo.
• Mass Driver - For Ershin.  104 attack.  Steal from Chopam in Fou-Lu's tomb.

Armour

• Royal Armour - For Ryu.  102 defence.  Steal from Tyrant, a boss near the end of the game.
• Dragon Armour - For Ryu.  96 defence.  1F of the Imperial Castle.
• Life Armour - For Ryu, Cray, and Scias.  90 defence.  Heals 100hp per turn.  Buy from Manilla in Astana; 1 Whale, 1 Sturgeon, 3 Bullcat.
• Angel's Vest - For Nina and Ursula.  94 defence.  Dropped by a Warder in the Imperial Castle, or steal from Star Gazer in Imperial Castle.
• Star Dress - For Nina.  92 defence.  Manilla Store in Astana near the end of the game.  Whale x 3, Acheron x 8.
• Gideon's Garb - For Cray.  93 defence, +10 to attack.  Dropped by Battle Suit in Astana (Imperial HQ), after it has been infested with the Hex.  It's a rare drop, so it might take a while.
• King's Armour - For Scias.  100 Defence.  Stolen from Rider in Mukto Ruins.
• Chopam Plate - For Ershin.  50 defence.  Dropped by Chopam in Fou-Lu's tomb.
• Mithril Rig - for Ershin.  50 defence, but heavier than Chopam plate.  Forged at the Smithy by  mixing 3 x Iron Scraps.

Breath of Fire IV - Kali's Fishing Record

This one's just for me.  The names of all the fish in Breath of Fire IV, the largest I've caught, and whether or not that was large enough for a crown.  Plus the points!

Fish	Largest	Crown	Points
Jellyfish	31cm	✓	80
Piranha	38cm	--	135
Bass	64cm	✓	200
Blue Gill	54cm	✓	250
Sweetfish	25cm	✓	150
Browntail	70cm	✓	250
Black Bass	70cm	✓	300
Angelfish	31cm	✓	250
Trout	42cm	✓	200
Rainbow Trout	70cm	✓	350
Bullcat	84cm	✓	380
Martian Squid	73cm	✓	350
Dorado	97cm	✓	400
Salmon	145cm	✓	400
Barandy	209cm	✓	700
Sturgeon	216cm	--	630
Man-o'-War	31cm	✓	80
Flying Fish	35cm	✓	150
Blowfish	51cm	✓	200
Moorfish	29cm	--	180
Sea Bass	75cm	✓	280
Flatfish	52cm	✓	280
Sea Bream	71cm	✓	300
Octopus	82cm	✓	350
Bonito	118cm	--	360
Black Porgy	51cm	--	280
Angler	132cm	--	405
Spearfish	191cm	✓	500
Whale	259cm	✓	999
Acheron	41cm	--	240

Breath of Fire IV - Ershin's Best Equipment

Mass Driver - 104 attack.  Steal from Chopam in Fou-Lu's tomb.

Chopam Plate - 50 defence and "resists both physical and magical attacks".  Dropped by Chopam in Fou-Lu's tomb.

OR

Mithril Rig - 50 defence (but is heavier than Chopam Plate).  Forge at the Smithy from Iron Scraps x 3.

As you can see, there is only one enemy with whom you need to be concerned here.

To find Chopam;  he's in Fou-Lu's tomb.  You remember the block which took you down into the depths of the tomb, and then, eventually out in Mukto?  Ride that back all the way up, and Chopam will most commonly appear on the steps right in front of them.  Yes those little 2 x 1 steps.  Stay on them.

Getting the Chopam Plate from the Chopam is relatively easy - as long as you can kill him, you've got a very fair chance of getting it.  I've done a bit of levelling with the Bots, which helped.  Getting the Mass Driver is quite a bit harder.


To defeat Chopam; he will be invulnerable for two turns, so just try to steal or guard.  Maybe cast Charm, though you probably don't need to.  On the third turn, I found that a combo of Nina using Oracle, Ershin using Spray and Cray using Triple Blow worked very well, and did over 10,000 damage.

To steal from Chopam: use characters who are faster than he is - that is, with an agility of 140 or more - in order to steal from him twice on the fourth turn, before he is able to run away.  I used Nina and Ursula, one with Pilfer, one with Steal.  That gives you eight chances per battle, rather than six. 

Staying on the stairs heavily increases your chances of running into him, to the point of roughly every other battle. This makes a huge difference to how much this takes.  Even though you do have to look at the screen more and can't watch TV or read quite as much (trust me, you will want to be doing something else at the time).

I finally managed to steal one off, roughly, the tenth Chopam I faced.  Finally!

Breath of Fire IV - Scias' Best Equipment

Cleaver - 119 attack.  Steal from Horseman in Imperial Castle.

OR

Slicer - 78 attack, 2 hits.  Dropped by Kolpum in Imperial Castle.

OR

Render - 2 hits, attack varies with number of battles fought.  Trade 99 stamp cards to any Manillo.

King's Armour - 100 Defence.  Stolen from Rider in Mukto Ruins.



The King's Armour was surprisingly easy to get.  To find Rider, head to the Mukto Ruins.  See the jump spot behind the block?  Jump onto the path and run round to the left (North).  In the tunnel, look for the weakened wall, and use Ershin to break through it.  Head through the (very short) tunnels.  In the final room, you'll find an obelisk, marking where Fou-Lu was summoned, and a Dragon Tear (excellent accessory; protects from all status effects).  In here, you can run into Rider.

I had Ursula and Nina with Steal and Pilfer, and Scias healing in the third position.  I ran away once I had it.  I'll go back and kill him later.

Breath of Fire IV - Cray's Best Equipment

Nunchaku - 145 Attack.  Dropped by Trean in Abandoned Village.

OR

Linked Pole - 133 power.  Manillo Store.  Trade 75 stamp cards for it.

Gideon's Garb - 93 defence, +10 to attack.  Dropped by Battle Suit in Astana, near the end of the game.

OR

Life Armour - Defence 90.  Heals 100hp each turn.  buy from Manillo Store in Astana.  Costs one Whale, one Sturgeon, and three Bullcats.

It took me about half an hour of fighting to get the Gideon's Garb.  I bought one set of Life Armour when I first caught whales and sturgeons; Scias had it first, until I got his King Armour, then Cray, and now Ryu will wear it until I find him something better.

The Mist Armour you can buy in Chedo also has 93 defence, and is slightly lighter than the Gideon's Garb.  The main difference is that the Gideon's Garb also raises your attack, while the Life Armour constantly heals you, making them bother slightly better options.

Treans have a pretty high chance of dropping Nunchakus.  I got one off the third one that I managed to kill; not that it's much easier to kill one out of a group than the whole group.

You can see more information on the Manillo Stores here.

Breath of Fire IV - Ursula's Best Equipment

Electrifier - 110 attack, hits one, low hit rate.  Found in Fou-Lu's tomb.

OR

Culverin - 108 attack.  Manillo Store in Astana.  1 x Whale, 2 x Sturgeon, 2 x Barandy.

Angel's Vest -Steal from Star Gazer in Imperial Castle.

Breath of Fire IV - Nina's Best Equipment

 Ouroboros - 96 attack.  Casts Raise Dead if used as an item.  Steal from Beihl in the basement of the Imperial Castle.
 
Angel's Vest - 94 defence.  Steal from a Warder in the Imperial Castle.

OR

Star Dress - 92 defence.  Manillo Store in Astana near the end of the game.  Whale x 3, Acheron x 8.

You'll find both Warder and Beihl in the basement of the Imperial Castle.  It shouldn't take more than 20 or so steals to get the desired items.  Star Dress isn't really worth it, since Angel's Vest is so easy to get.  Unless you want to get eight Acherons, in which case, what else are you going to spend them on?

I found Warders appeared most often on B1.

Breath of Fire IV - Ryu's Best Equipment

GooKing Sword - 152 power.  You have a 1/256 chance of winning this sword by defeating a Goo King in the Imperial Castle.

OR

Dragon Blade - 128 power.  On B1 of the Imperial Castle.

OR

Royal Sword - 96 power, two hits.  Steal from Astral dragon, a boss near the end of the game.

Royal Armour - 102 defence.  Steal from Tyrant, a boss near the end of the game.

OR

Dragon Armour - 96 defence.  1F of the Imperial Castle.

OR

Life Armour - 90 defence.  Heals 100hp per turn.  Buy from Manilla in Astana; 1 Whale, 1 Sturgeon, 3 Bullcat.

Breath of Fire IV - Levelling with Bots for Fun and Profit

Full credit for this trick goes to the maker of this video; I'd never heard of it before.

In short, what you need to do is go to Sinchon and find some Bots. You can do this at any point after reaching Sinchon; I waited until I was able to apprentice all my characters to Bunyan. He increases all stats while decreasing the amount that HP and AP rises by each level.  After a couple of levels with him, I'll switch to Marlok to bring the HP and AP back up.  Remember that Masters don't decrease your stats; they just decrease or increase the amount that they rise by upon levelling. 

Anyway, you've found some bots.  Great!  Ideally, you want to be attacked by at least two or three, rather than one.

1. Hit them with a weak wind + water combo.  I gave Eddy to Ershin, and used that and Scias' Frost to create the combo.  Finish by having Nina heal whichever bot you focused the attacks on.
2. Use Nina and Scias to heal the other two Bots.  If you're facing two bots rather than three, just have Nina heal.  3rd character guards.
3. Everyone guards.
4. Rinse & repeat.  The bots will recover at the start of this turn, so your attacks will just break their bodies open again.

Every time you break the Bots open, their exp will double, to a maximum of 65535.  Have fun!