Vincent's Valentine for Free

Look, I know that a few of you are reading my little fanfic.

It's a bit of a slog, and remains to this day the longest book I have ever written.

Fun.  It was fun for me.  It was fun when I asked my coworkers who wanted to be characters in Nibelheim.  Well, waddyaknow, they not only knew what I was talking about, but they were rpgers and knew exactly the sort of character they wanted to be.

If you read the latter chapters, those that occur after FFV ends, you will be reading about characters chosen mostly by themselves.  They are actually avatars from other games, and a few from FFV players themselves.

Anyone who is interested in reading Vincent's Valentine can have it free, online.  I also have it compiled into one Word file, if you give me your email.  If you cannot read the version of Word I used, I will be happy to make a pdf instead.

Direct your request to patbaker@stny.rr.com

Playing MMPRPG games on your smart phone.

Despite my clumsiness caused by MS, I play every day.  I play Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.

This is more than one game.  Start out small and just slowly check out the side games.

Keep in mind that FFBE, just like any online game, is really constantly in Beta.  Users can have some really bad experiences.  when I was brand new at it, I honestly thought that their tech team rocked.

when I had a problem complicated by updates, which sometimes occur more than once a week, I learned that their customer service sucked.  In fact, they are no better than any online business, and will run the user/complainant around in circles.  They have two objectives: 1-they want you to do the work for them and 2-they want to convince you that you are the problems.

I still play FFBE, but I absolutely will not pour any money into it, anymore.

On that same note, the players who advance very very fast are those who pour cash into the game.

Finally, just play for yourself, just play to waste time, don't take it as seriously as you might a purchased Final Fantasy.

What do you get when you take a Grammy who still plays video games, mix in her children who still play video games, and finally add in the grandkids, all of whom play video games?

This is my latest birthday haul!

pb

Dad has been gone 2 1/2 years now.  I made myself return to Final Fantasy 13.  In fact, I got the Game Genie to see if I could finish it.


I can't seem to get through the final battle.  Is it because I am 61?  Or because my Mother In Law is taking all my physical and psychic energy?  Will I have to wait her out?


I don't wish her dead, because she is a dear, but it is so hard to be an M.S. patient and still need to foster an aging family member.   She is twice as healthy as I am, but losing it mentally.


If you are reading this, don't feel sorry for me.  Just send up a prayer.


Video games are not important, but they were so much of my life for so many years.


I miss them.

Stick with Internet, you devils!

I have a GameSpot Unofficial Guide for Final Fantasy VII, and I have been  trying some of the "tricks."

Save your money.  Many suggestions are just plain incorrect, and most of them are no better than I can get on the Internet.

Finally, the reason I like this game less than the others is very simple:  I do not wish to connect to other platforms to complete the darned quest.

To say that the Ribbon is available in this game is a lie.  Don't put it in the guide--official or otherwise.

 Add to that the somewhat banal and time-consumer side quests that don't affect the game, and well, you know.

Just the same, I am replaying.  I want to suffer through the game for the high level cards.

Let's see how long I last before I drop the whole thing and move on to FFIX.

Wow!  I just came back to update and found that we've had 666 views on this blog!  Thanks to everyone, you devils, you.

GF Ribbon Ability

Does not exist in Final Fantasy VIII, but instead must be obtained in Chocobo World on the Handheld Playstation, I guess. 

 

No matter.  With all the proper Junctioned Magic, a character can pretty much achieve the same results.  Or at least the player can program various combinations into the different characters to over come the problem statuses.

 

Now, to kill all the challenge in the Final Boss Battle with Ultimecia:

 

Fill everyone's magic completely, all seven pages.  Having some useless magic is okay, because Griever is capable of cleaning out an entire set of Magic at one blow.  The more magic, the more chance of him getting something worthless.

 

When setting up Command abilities, use Magic, Items, and Treatment, Recover.  No GF's except Eden and Diabolos, maybe Cerberus.  Just about anything else is a waste of valuable time.

 

Set up Irvine, Squall and Zell--if you are very, very good with keying in the Attacks--so they have 9999 hit points.  Keep the rest low so they can be eliminated.  Your key characters should have the top GFs for speed, status resistance, strength.

 

Irvine should have at least 50 Pulse, 50 AP and 50 Demo for ammo.  Sell off the rest, so they don't distract you when you go to select.  Demo is best for when Ultimecia junctions.  When using Pulse or AP, watch carefully for the damage:  when it goes to 0, it's time to switch to the junctioner or stop.

 

Squall is a very special case:  during the gameplay, only upgrade 3 or 4 times, making sure to get Lion Heart.  It's really the only one you need for the Final Battle.

 

Everyone should have their ultimate weapon.

 

If you've upgraded all your magic, you won't need Draw.  Keep items to a minimum:  MegaElixirs, Lifes, Aura, Ultima, and phoenix pinions or megaphoenix.  100 of each.

 

That's it.  Use Megaelixirs for everything--restore and status.  This means that as many people as possible should have the Items command.

 

All your magic should be upgraded.  Full-Lifes, Ultimas, Auras, Esunas. 

 

It is best to rely on Aura and Limit Breaks for two characters at all times.  One character is to be the healer and nothing more.  At the same time, your battlers must also use items to heal.  DO NOT allow characters' HP to stay low for even one turn.  The Limit Break is secondary to healing at all times.  Don't let a Miss bother you, just switch gears and try something else.

 

Follow this and the whole thing, Finale and all, should take about one hour. 

 

I was so surprised at how short the game and finales were, I intend to play again to see what I missed, especially with Triple Triad.

 

 

Easy Final Fantasy VIII

Now I know that most people can't stand Final Fantasy 8, but I find the love stories in it quite touching.  So I played the game just to enjoy the story.  I played it quickly, using Draw to pick up as much magic as possible.  And I played very little cards.

This made for a very fast game.  It also made for a very fast final battle.  I set up everyone in a special way, to allow people to be killed off and still keep my major players. 

I sat down at 7:20 to start the battle, and by 8:20, I had viewed the nice finale.

The lesson here is Draw Early, Draw Often, and get all your GFs.

Specifics to come in a day or so.  BTW, has ANYONE every gotten the Ribbon GF ability in this game?  Anyone?

pb