Weapons in GF-less Final Fantasy VIII!

I never realized it, but weapons can be leveled up in the Junk Shops without having the referring magazines. One simply need visit the Junk Shop wherever you are and check for available upgrades.

What this means for the GF-less player is: do not toss or sell anything before you check for possible upgrades. Upgrade and then check to see what will be possible soon. You should do this as regularly as you check items for Quistis' Blue Magic.

I am currently around Deling City, and on my way to the Tomb of the Unknown King. Remember: I don't need the GF's, although I would be inclined to battle them to test my limits now.

Lucretia's Legacy is essentially finished: Josephine gets stupid while battling her boss.

Fighting with the Owls of Timber

Not much challenge here. Fight the GeroGero anyway you like, it is rather a faked battle. A setup to change the direction of the story. The nonsense with the trains is more challenging than the battle. Enjoy the story and mind your manners at the Resistance leaders house: She knows how to handle unruly kids.

Another chapter to Lucretia's Legacy:

Zen and the Madwoman.

And now I've reached an inevitable juncture. Fini's back story is coming to its scheduled close, with the battle at the Sister Ray with Professor Hojo.

Off the web, we will be consumed with the details of a family wedding, at the end of October 2006. I cannot predict what I have time to do or otherwise over the next few weeks.

Writing Lucretia's Legacy has been a pleasure, but a writer needs readers. Mentally there is enough material to take Fini all the way into Advent Children and beyond, but it has not been put into writing. Old woman, you keep a lot of secrets in that head of yours...

Do I continue the story to its end? patbakerATstnyDOTrrDOTcom

FF8, Dollet: No GF's yet

Biggs, Wedge, Elvoret, The Black Widow.

Once your party's levels reach 10 or more, you can probably move on to the Dollet SeeD exam. Don't count on much leveling before the tower. Many of the points will be wasted on Seifer. Let him have them; soon Selphie will join. Then you can save at the tower, exit it and move around for some random battles.

By the way, this will play havoc with the distribution of your battle meter. But you've already blown that all to hell by not equipping the GF's.

If you're still with me, you can level up to the teens and then climb the tower. You will get no further chance to save, or even restore your party until you defeat Biggs, Wedge, and even the Elvoret.

Your best bet is to dedicate Sephie's limit break to spinning for full cure. It comes up surprisingly often. Squall and Zell can use theirs for the humans and the Elvoret. The battles are long but not especially difficult.

Now for the Black Widow. The thirty minutes allotted you are plenty. Run like hell whenever you can. Wait until Zell says "Let's get the hell out of here!" before you hit L1/L2 to escape. Be sparing with your keystrokes. You will fight some five or so times and then the FMV takes over and Quistis rescues your group.

So far so good. No GF's needed yet. Go to your graduation party and meet Squall's love interest. Don't cry for Quistis, she's plenty messed up just yet, but she'll get over it. Just be sure to fill her up on each blue magic as it presents itself and she'll be fine.

Do not forget to return to Cloud's room and look for the Weapon's Monthly issue there. I missed my opportunity and have been paying in spades: I've had to raise levels significantly to make up for it.

The mission in Timber should go quickly. We're not playing cards nor seeking drawpoints. Concentrate on moving the story forward, and collecting the various magazines that aid your weaponry and limit breaks.

So far, GF's are for wimps and wussies.