So I was starting to farm Dustia last night (I can detail the method if anyone would like know how [it's from the 'power walkthrough' guide on Gamefaqs]) and it's been forever since I played this game so I was a little off on the timing.

I go to throw my phoenix down, and I targeted Vaan without switching to Dustia, so I go 'Oh, well I'll just throw another" and as I'm still waiting to que for the next item (which I forgot about) BAM Dark hits me for 320 damage. Since I had to be under 10% health to spawn him I got shredded.

After the beautifully red Game Over screen I reloaded and went back. The trick to the method as most people would know, is to leave before the EXP and LP pop on the screen, well I saw a flashy little item drop and went to get it. Not being fully used to the controls I slipped off the right side and before I could exit I saw the EXP and LP totals.

Finally I got into the groove of it, and skipped about 15 levels in an hour, good times.

Just wanted to share my story of dominating myself. Anyone else care to share?

I got somethin' to share ;) You kick ass Seru_Kai! Keep it up! I'm not terribly far into the game yet; I haven't really given myself much time to play lately :( I'm always busy with my own creative writing and other things but I'm gonna make a little more time for this game as it's had me intrigued from the day I got it!

I usually use the Wild Saurian to level at the beginning of the game. Once you've got the quickenings for Vaan and Penelo it isn't super hard to consistently down him, if you know how to work the system.

I'm not opposed to chaining Dustia for Books of Orgain and exp, but Phoenix Downs aren't for sale right at the beginning of the game.

I got somethin' to share ;) You kick ass Seru_Kai!

I have a fan?! Awesome! ;)


I usually use the Wild Saurian to level at the beginning of the game. Once you've got the quickenings for Vaan and Penelo it isn't super hard to consistently down him, if you know how to work the system.

I'm not opposed to chaining Dustia for Books of Orgain and exp, but Phoenix Downs aren't for sale right at the beginning of the game.

Nalbina has Phoenix Downs, as well as the village in the Estersand with Datto's wife (sidequest to cross the river). You just have to sit through Vaynes acceptance speech and then you can get to Nalbina.

Haven't tried the Wild Saurian yet, I'm right at level 21, going to chain Dustia 30 more times (current number of phoenix downs) and then hit the Limbur Wolf for a gladius. Then werewolves for the Kotetsu (sp) and THEN I may continue with the story.

I'm also doing all this with Vaan only, I know Penelo doesn't 'officially' join the party until Basch and the others do after Barheim, but the exp is faster solo.

I have a fan?! Awesome! ;)

Hell yea!! :D

You can get Phoenix Downs from the trader that borders the Sandsea and the Westersand first off. Just sayin...

I swear to you I checked with every merchant when I was last playing.

And while it is true that experience does come quicker with just Vaan and that translates into higher starting levels when everyone joins permanently, there's no way I can spend 20-30 with just Vaan. It's bad enough Penelo leaves for ages, as it is ;;

Oh Penelo~

I started a "flawed-perfect" game like, April...I got Vaan to level 47 and called it quits and actually moved on...though it's interesting to be able to kill enemies with your bare-hands for the first leg of the game...

I just revisited Dustia today...got from level 3-15 in half an hour but the stupid screen kept turning off so I kept panicking and forgetting to pick up the loot

I just revisited Dustia today...got from level 3-15 in half an hour but the stupid screen kept turning off so I kept panicking and forgetting to pick up the loot

Hahaha, yea panicking on Dustia when you initially start the chain can end roughly.

I spent about an hour last night just chaining werewolves.....it was a slow process. Got a Quickening for desperation, but my gladius and leather shield with a shield block accessory makes it semi-easy to kill them. I started to grind them and I died a couple times, and realized I had around 400 LP to spend....good times.

Personally I found Dustia relatively easy the first time I started using the method. I was following a walkthrough on how to get rare items as early as possible and it required me to lvl up at least to lvl 50. Which surprisingly didn't take too long. After that the fun started. haha

Hahah yea, my goal is 40 before I break into the Palace, but if I'm bringing in a ton of gil I may have to grind til I get all the monographs, and keep collecting the levels. ;)

Only takes about 25 hours to raise money for the monographs, if you start right away ;)

I don't know about that long, I've gotten 2 of them so far and I've grinded Dustia for about 2 hours or so. 99 phoenix downs turns into 100k exp, and usually 99 book of orgains (500+ gil) and sometimes a few flame staffs(1200gil) as well. ;)

Hit a few more snags on Dustia though, once my thumb slipped off the analog stick and I saw the EXP LP numbers.....god damnit. And then once I actually combo'd myself into oblivion....I shouted a few words then.

But now I'm 32 and just going to continue through Barheim, and after that I'll do more hunts and probably head back to Dustia for the rest of the monographs.

Well yeah, if you're using Dustia. I already said I didn't~

Gotta exploit my gil somehow! :D

I haven't gone up to the Wild Saurian yet, I probably can take it down easily now, but zoning (either through Rab or through the small village) would kill that chain right? IMO it just takes too long to kill it over and over again. Not sure how the loot would drop/sell though.

Oh you can't chain it.

Yeah whenever you kill one you have to exit the area and re-enter it to make it reappear and that destroys your chain. Not that there is much sense in chaining that guy. The best item he can drop is a Bone Armor. (I'm not entirely sure if it's the armor, but definitely something with Bone in it's name).

Bone Mail

Wow, I just realized how much further Seru_Kai is than I am :O Keep up the good work!

Hahahaha, it's easy to do when I'm about 16 levels higher than the mobs in the area.

Got a good setup up so far I think:

Basch - Tank with Buckler and Francisca
Vaan - Damage with Osufang(sp) [random drop in one of the Sandseas)
Ashe - Healer/Damage with Kotetsu
Penelo - Back-up healer with Gladius and Leather Shield
Balthier - Back-up damage/support with Flame Staff (I want him to use a gun when I find a good one)
Fran - Back-up damage with Killer Bow (she's going to remain bow the entire game most likely)


Right now I'm getting close to Raithwall and that series of events, main party is Basch/Vaan/Fran right now, with Vossler as a guest.

After the Dawn Shard I'm going to do a lot more hunt grinding and LP spending. Right now, everyone is just kind of thrown around the augments section (everyone has 2200 + health, but can only cast Cura for 500). I plan on advancing gear/magicks next.

Centercore.....catch up damnit! ;)

Vaan's stomach muscles bug me.

They're drawn on with a Sharpee :smrt:

they must be. chiseled bastard..

He talks like he's jamming tacos in his mouth. Annoying at the start, but it's okay right now. As for the abs, they almost look like a tatoo, until I looked at the cover and saw nothing.

Pencil abs ftw!

Im going to have to try this

lol. i kind of like Vaan's voice.

It just sounds too stuffy to me, but it's better than Tidus and Yuna in X I think. I rather like the voice acting in XII for the most part, the occasional line sounding slightly off though.

Can't wait to get home and grind out some Demonsbanes!

lol true.

Thought I'd put this here instead of creating a whole new thread.

Just got to the Henne Mines, and I absolutely LOVE the music here. Thought I'd share.

I'll try and update with gear/levels soon...maybe ;)

'tis pretty cool music.