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The Ultimate Strategy Battle; If FF8 had PvP
Topic Started: Apr 11 2008, 12:14 PM (748 Views)
Seifer
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Beyond the Azure Blue
*Note: I didn't know whether FF8 Strategy or FF8 Talk was a better place for this, but since it's all about strategy, I figured I'd put it here.

Adel, Ultimecia, even Omega... All fell before our hands. But what if there was a stronger, better enemy? What if your enemy was... another SeeD group?!

What strategy would you use to fight Squall, Quistis, Zell, Selphie, Rinoa, and Irvine?

Challenge:
Create a party using the 6 playable FF8 characters (Squall, Rinoa, Quistis, Zell, Selphie, Irvine) to fight another party of the same characters, though with possibly different setups, such as the one I will post below (in other words: FF8 PVP).

Rules:

  • Similar to the Ultimacia battle, when a character dies they are replaced by another character on "their" next turn, so unless there is a TPK in one turn, all characters will be used.
  • Characters can start with any HP (up to their max).
  • All characters are at whatever level you want (with no stat boosting items used).
  • All GFs are available, all have max level, with all ablities unlocked (but none added via items).
  • All magic is available, each character has 100 of any magic you choose (to the max # of magic they can carry in game, i.e. 32 choices).
  • No AoE attacks, limits, magic, or GFs. (i.e. no Blasting Zone, The End, Ultima, Meteor, Eden, Bahamut, etc)
  • No Invincible Moon.
  • Angel Wing is allowed (but still not Ultima/Meteor/etc).
  • No Items. (and therefore no Pheonix)
  • No Odin/Gilgamesh (not that he's that reliable anyways...)
  • No AoE Slots (e.g., no 2x or 3x Thundaga, etc)
When you have finished with your party, post the actions you would take to win/survive, and we'll vote on the best one... or have a mock battle :D


My Party:
I'm going to focus on Rinoa... Why? Because she has the magical (Angelo) ability to keep other party members alive without even doing anything! Thus...
Rinoa
 
Level 99
Junctions
 
GF:

  • Quetzacoatl

  • Alexander

  • Doomtrain

  • Cactuar (Max compatability)

Magic:

  • HP: Meteor

  • Vit: Meltdown

  • Spr: Full-Life

  • Luck: Ultima

  • Elem-Def: Flare

  • Elem-Def: Life

  • Elem-Def: Shell

  • Elem-Def: Protect

  • Stat-Atk: Death

  • Stat-Def: Pain

  • Stat-Def: Holy

  • Stat-Def: Reflect

  • Stat-Def: Esuna

Ability:

  • GF

  • Revive

  • Defend

  • Spr+40%

  • Luck+50%

  • Initiative

Weapon: Wishing Star
Limits Learned: Angelo Rush, Angelo Canon, Angelo Reverse, Angel Wing
Stats (estimated)
 
HP |Str|Vit|Mag|Spr|Spd|Luck
8751| 94| 111| 63| 173| 36| 123

Squall
 
Level 99
Junctions
 
GF:

  • Siren

  • Diablos

  • Pandemonia

Magic:

  • HP: Full-Life

  • Str: Ultima

  • Mag: Meteor

  • Speed: Triple

  • Elem-Def: Flare

  • Elem-Def: Life

  • Stat-Atk: Break

  • Stat-Def: Pain

  • Stat-Def: Death

Ability:

  • Magic

  • Darkside

  • Str+40%

  • Spd+40%

  • Initiative

Weapon: Lion Heart
Limits not used.
Stats (estimated)
 
HP |Str|Vit|Mag|Spr|Spd|Luck
8957| 246| 40| 96| 35| 148| 21

Quistis
 
Level 99
Junctions
 
GF:

  • Shiva

  • Brothers

Magic:

  • HP: Meteor

  • Str: Ultima

  • Vit: Meltdown

  • Spr: Full-Life

  • Elem-Def: Life

  • Elem-Def: Shell

Ability:

  • Magic

  • Defend

  • HP+80%

  • Cover

Stats (estimated)
 
HP |Str|Vit|Mag|Spr|Spd|Luck
9999| 171| 110| 42| 119| 34| 21

Weapon: Save the Queen
Limits: Degenerator, White Wind, Homing Laser, Mighty Guard

Selphie
 
Level 99
Junctions
 
GF:

  • Leviathan

  • Tonberry (max compatability)

Magic:

  • Spr: Full-Life

  • Elem-Def: Ultima

Ability:

  • GF

  • Recover

  • Magic

  • Spr+40%

  • Initiative

Weapon: Strange Vision
Limits: Full-Life, Wall (The End, Rapture not used)
Stats (estimated)
 
HP |Str|Vit|Mag|Spr|Spd|Luck
3650| 69| 28| 48| 172| 36| 26

Zell
 
Level 99
Junctions
 
GF:

  • Ifrit

  • Carbuncle

  • Eden

Magic:

  • HP: Full-Life

  • Str: Ultima

  • Spd: Triple

  • Eva: Tornado

  • Hit: Aura

  • Elem-Def: Flare

  • Elem-Def: Life

  • Stat-Atk: Break

  • Stat-Def: Pain

  • Stat-Def: Death

Ability:

  • Magic

  • Darkside

  • Str+40%

  • Str+20%

  • Auto-Reflect

Weapon: Ehrgeiz
Limits: Apocalypse Fist ;)
Stats (estimated)
 
HP |Str|Vit|Mag|Spr|Spd|Luck
8788| 255| 33| 41| 27| 105| 20

Irvine
 
Level 99
Junctions
 
GF:

  • Cerberus

  • Bahamut

Magic:

  • Str: Ultima

  • Spr: Full-Life

  • Spd: Triple

  • Hit: Aura

  • Stat-Atk: Death

  • Stat-Def: Pain

  • Stat-Def: Holy

  • Stat-Def: Reflect

  • Stat-Def: Esuna

Ability:

  • Magic

  • GF

  • Str+60%

  • Spd+40%

  • Auto-Protect

  • Auto-Haste

Weapon: Exeter
Limits: All
Stats (estimated)
 
HP |Str|Vit|Mag|Spr|Spd|Luck
3880| 255| 31| 42| 113| 152| 21


As you can probably tell, I junctioned up Selphie last, which unfortunately effectively makes her the weakest-junctioned member of my party. But that's ok!

Strategy:
Starting HP:
Rinoa: Max (8751~)
Squall: Max (8957~)
Quistis: Max (9999)
Selphie: 10% (365~)
Zell: Max (8788~)
Irvine: 10% (388~)

My strategy essentially boils down to each character's individual abilities.
-Rinoa would use Defend all the time, and just let Angelo revive anyone who died. If the situation calls for it, she can summon Cactuar (max compatability = 2.8 second summoning) for 10k damage against 1 enemy, or attack with a death weapon (100% death effect), or even revive party members who Angelo doesn't help. Her SPR makes up for Defend only reducing magic damage by 1/2.
-Squall would use Darkside (3x normal attack damage) or Attack with a petrify weapon (100% petrify effect). He can also cast magic when the need arises (i.e. Triple + Aura, Full-Life, etc).
-Quistis would make use of her cover and defend abilities (along with large HP) until she got low, then use 1 of her limits (Mighty Guard for the party, White Wind, Degenerator, or Homing Laser for pure damage). She can also cast magic (Triple + Haste, for example).
-Selphie would use her limits Full-Life (x3) or Wall immediately, and cast support magic (or recover!).
-Zell is a killing machine, whether through Darkside, Attack (with a petrify-weapon), or his limit, Apocalypse Fist (Booya + Heel Drop only, for 12 seconds).
-Irvine is another killing machine, although he would start out with his limit, auto-hasted to keep using it as many times as possible (against 1 person only, of course, to keep in line with the "No AoE limits" rule).

Squall, Rinoa, and Selphie all have initiative, so they get their turn as soon as they come in, allowing for insta-kills, insta-Full-Life, or whatever (insta-cactuar :lol).

As you can see, all the heavy hitters (Squall, Zell, Irvine) are 1-hit killers, while all the supporters (Rinoa for revival, Quistis and Selphie for survival and support magic) specialize exactly in what they do.
~ A lesson in FF8 strategy to us all ~
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The Frostbound Prince
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If you can read this, you are not illiterate. Congratulations! Have a cookie.
OK, few questions before I reply myself:

First off, are we creating our own character(s) to fight them? If so, how many members, and are they original creations, or like, clones of the FF8 crew (so, say, Squall/Zell/Rinoa = your party vs. All six of them as the enemy party, or like, Bob, Melanie and Devas vs. all six, or....what?


If we get to create our own characters, do we get to create weapons/limits/GFs, or must we use weapons/GFs/Limits already established? Or, can they be limits/GFs/weapons from, say, another FF game? Like, say if I want a Zell-like character, with Sabin limits, Tifa's gloves, and GFs from FF9? etc. :P


Ummmm....yeah, I suppose that's it for now x_XU I am mostly confused as to who we are playing as if we're fighting all six of the main characters from FF8. So...yeah.

It might take me a day or forty to actually make an actual response to this challenge thing, but it seems cool, so as soon as I figure out what exactly you had in mind, I'm in :)
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Seifer
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Beyond the Azure Blue
I better establish that. Check the first post.
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The Frostbound Prince
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If you can read this, you are not illiterate. Congratulations! Have a cookie.
Seifer
Apr 13 2008, 06:02 PM
I better establish that. Check the first post.

OK, so, clarifying then, we have our own party of the same (but different) characters as those we're attacking? So like a "what would happen if clones randomly attacked your party?" style battle?

Works for me xD

As for "party", is this a regular party of 3, or do we also get all 6, and they just shift between who's in as each die? And do we go up against all 6 of the enemy party, each beiing replaced as they die, or is it only 3 of them we go up against? So is it "Ultimecia battle" in the sense of OUR PARTY being cycled through depending on who dies, or is it an anti-Ulti-style battle where the enemy party is replaced as they die, or is it the same for both of us, or what?

...just before I go an mess things up :P


So, for example, would it be:

Option a-

My party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa (only)

vs.

Enemy party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa, Quistis, Irvine, Selphie (3 to start, other three cycle in as their allies die)


OR

Option b-

My party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa (with Quistis, Irvine and Selphie cycling in if/when the others die)

vs.

Enemy party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa (only)


OR

Option c-

My party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa (with Quis, Irvy and Selph cycling in as they die)

vs.

Enemy party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa, with other three cycling in as their allies die


OR

Option d-

My party: Squall, Zell, Rinoa (only)

vs.

Enemy party: either Quistis, Irvine and Selphie only, OR 3 in general ONLY. (so a 3vs.3 battle with no actual removal/revivifying...which I don't think is what you mean anyway :P)



...figuring that out'll help me immensely. Lemme know which way you meant, or if you're open to mix-and-matching options. :)
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Seifer
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Beyond the Azure Blue
Alright, to clarify "Ultimacia battle"

  • You begin with 3 of your 6 characters (chosen at random) on the battlefield. The "at random" requires you to use a bit more strategy than you normally would, unless you don't care if some die (like I did in the Ulti battle :P).
  • The enemy begins with 3 of their 6 characters (chosen at random) on the battlefield.
  • Each side has only 3 characters on it at any given time.
  • When a character dies they are replaced by another character on "their" next turn (as if they were still alive).
  • After killing all 6 enemies, you win. If the enemy kills all 6 of your characters, you lose.
  • The only way to end a battle prematurely is to kill all 3 enemy characters before any of them gets another turn (when they would be replaced).

Edit: The last point is wrong. Stop and Break allow for TPK without switching as well.
~ A lesson in FF8 strategy to us all ~
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Iris
Loopy reincarnated.
Very, very simply, the battle would consist of whoever had higher speed and strength. I'll look back tomorrow to add in more detail.
I'm a joker, but the sig is too big. I'm having a very gay day today.
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Seifer
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Beyond the Azure Blue
Actually, according to the Damage Calculator from this walkthrough, a character with 255 STR doing a physical attack (with no crit) against an opponent with 255 VIT will only deal ~21 damage.

Quote:
 
Physical Damage Formula:
========================

[[[[[Str^2 / 16 + Str] * [265-Vit]]/256] * Power] / 32] * 2

Power = 20 for Physical Attacks, or when a Limit Break is used, a special number which can be found in the Limit Break Section of this Guide {CHR}.

This damage is then randomized in a small range, so damage will very slighly.

Note/Tip: Meltdown will make Vitality and Spirit of the enemy 0. Saves you a lot of time looking up any values, and it's always 100% correct. Meltdown works on any enemy, so use it.


[[[[[255^2 / 16 + 255] * [265-255]]/256] * 20] / 32] * 2 = 21

Although this would mean that against an enemy with 1 VIT, the same attacker would deal ~5378 damage. Is that right? It doesn't seem right.

[[[[[255^2 / 16 + 255] * [265-1]]/256] * 20] / 32] * 2 = 5377.7

And why do I keep getting different answers with this formula?

In any case, it's NOT just about speed and strength :D
~ A lesson in FF8 strategy to us all ~
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Iris
Loopy reincarnated.
Well actually, yes it is. If you're not allowed Magic or GF's then your solely limited to physical attacks. Bumping up your magic stat is then totally pointless, and higher Str and Speed in particular will make you win quicker.
I'm a joker, but the sig is too big. I'm having a very gay day today.
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Seifer
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Beyond the Azure Blue
It doesn't say you can't use magic, just not AoE magic. Same with GFs.
For the rebuttal:
Summon GF: Cactuar
Magic: Flare
Magic: Triple + Full-Life
etc.
~ A lesson in FF8 strategy to us all ~
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Seifer
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Beyond the Azure Blue
*bump*

:lol: Not really a bump, I just wanted to change the "last post date" on this thread.

*PHEW* Finally done with my party, both setup and strategy (with their stats included, for a "mock battle." I can't wait to see what you other guys come up with! Although, I bet the guy that I've linked to in my sig could come up with a pretty good strategy too :D
~ A lesson in FF8 strategy to us all ~
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The Joker
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madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!
FuN!!! (chaos)
everyone will suffer now!!!!!!
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