O. Opening
The Beginning
“I am Alazam…” blah blah blah. This Alazam guy really gets on my nerves. After he explains what the game is about (the gist of it is, everyone thinks Delita Hyral saved the world but really some other guy did and this is the real story) you get to name your main character. The default name for him is Ramza, but for all I care, you can name him Sparky. After this you’ll be asked to choose a birthday. The specific date of the birthday has no effect on the game, but it will determine his Zodiac Sign, something that affects damage and such depending on other Zodiac Signs. The basic explanation is that some Zodiac Signs have “good” compatibility with each other, increasing damage, while others have “bad” compatibility. Pick a birthday and continue.
FFnut’s Notes: Capricorn is a good choice for this game. Most of the tougher bosses in this game are Virgos, which has “good” compatibility with Capricorn, meaning increased damage both ways. Pick a birthday in early January/late December to get this.
The game then picks up in Orbonne Monastery. Princess Ovelia is praying there. Some knights come in (including Sparky… uh, Ramza) and a bunch of talking ensues. Then a wounded knight comes in and the knights go outside to fight a bunch of people trying to kidnap the princess. Then the battle begins.
FFnut’s Notes: If you lose this battle without TRYING to lose it, you should just turn the game off and leave the room. Preferably through a window if you’re on the second floor of a building or higher.
Battle One: The Beginning
Objective: Defeat All Enemies!
Enemies: Knight x 1, Chemist x 1, Archer x 3
Guests: Agrias (Holy Knight), Gafgarion (Dark Knight), Rad (Squire), Alicia (Knight), Lavian (Knight)
This battle, I believe, is impossible to lose unless you TRY to lose, and even then it’s very hard to. You’ll only have control of Ramza during this battle. Let your Guests walk all over the enemies, and you should be fine.
After the battle, Delita will show up, grab Ovelia, and escape on a chocobo. Then Ramza will reminisce about when he first met Delita, one year previously…
I. Chapter One: The Meager
The Flashback
Ramza will flashback to when he first met Delita. You’ll learn the Marquis Elmdor of Limberry is coming to visit Prince Larg and you’ll get news of thieves outside. Then the battle will start.
FFnut’s Notes: The words “little money” take FOREVER to come onto the screen when it explains what life was like, so don’t worry, your game isn’t slowing down.
Battle Two: Gariland Academy
Objective: Defeat All Enemies!
Enemies: Squire x 4, Chemist x 1
Guests: Delita (Squire)
FFnut’s Notes: When choosing characters other than Ramza to put into battle, choose the two squires with the highest Brave values, and both of the chemists. This should set you up for a good long-term party.
This battle is rather difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing, and even then it’s not exactly a cakewalk. Just try to overwhelm the opposition with your characters and have your chemists heal anyone who really gets hurt. Watch for the enemy chemist – he’ll try to heal his allies too.
After the battle you get a Mythril Knife – equip it on one of your chemists. Then go to Mandalia Plains. You will get a cutscene before you leave Gariland, but then just go to Mandalia to continue your adventure.
FFnut’s Notes: Try to teach Ramza Yell as soon as possible. It helps out with every boss you’ll meet until Chapter Four, when you get to learn a better ability. Try to teach him Accumulate as well, but that’s not as important as Yell is.
Battle Three: Meeting Algus Of The Aegis
Objective: Defeat All Enemies! or Save Algus!
Enemies: Thief x 1, Squire x 3, Red Panther x 1
Guests: Delita, Algus (Squire)
As this battle begins, you’ll have the choice to make your priority taking out the Death Corps or saving Algus. It’s your choice, it just changes the battle a tad.
FFnut’s Notes: Pick the first choice. The second choice requires Algus to stay alive, whereas the first choice means you just have to bash the enemies. The first choice also adds Brave to your characters, which may come in handy.
Fight this battle like you fought the last one – with reckless abandon. If you chose to save Algus, move a chemist in to heal him if he gets hurt badly.
After this happens, Algus will explain that Marquis Elmdor was kidnapped by the Death Corps. When Ramza mentions his older brothers, Dycedarg and Zalbag, Algus joins you to ask their assistance in saving the Marquis.
Head to Igros. You’ll meet Dycedarg, Alma, Teta, and Zalbag. Zalbag will suggest that you head for Dorter Trade City. Do so.
Battle Four: Monsters In The Woods
Objective: Defeat All Enemies!
Enemies: Bomb x 2, Red Panther, Goblin x 2, Black Goblin
Guests: Delita, Algus
Your first story battle with monsters! These things aren’t too hard to take on, so just try your hardest. Remember not to use fire magic on the bombs, they’ll only heal from it. You can also try using ice magic on the goblins, I’m pretty sure they’re weak against it.
Battle Five: Slumming With Death
Objective: Defeat All Enemies!
Enemies: Wizard x 2, Knight, Archer x 3
Guests: Delita, Algus
This is a nasty battle. The knight and wizards can blast your characters into oblivion while the archers pick you off from a distance. You need a bit of strategy for each type:
Archers: Don’t worry about the archer on the tall building, Delita and Algus will take care of it (this is also the most dangerous archer in this battle). Ignore the bow-less archer as well, as he can only deal about 5 damage with his fist. The last archer shouldn’t be too bad either, but try to kill it as you go after the wizards.
Wizards: They have some spells that can really hurt, so just try to take them out as soon as you can. Take out the possibly-threatening archer while going after these guys. If they lock a spell on one of your characters, move that character next to an enemy so they’ll take damage as well.
Knight: This guy has a powerful attack, high HP, and evades like a ninja. Try to overwhelm him when you can.
FFnut’s Notes: Find this battle too hard? Try leveling up with random battles in Sweegy Woods and Mandalia Plains.
After this battle, you get to watch Algus kick the living hell out of some poor Death Corps guy. He’ll tell you that Gustav took the Marquis to Zeklaus Desert and that Wiegraf, the leader of the Death Corps, is going to kill Gustav because kidnapping the Marquis was Gustav’s idea and a really stupid thing to do.
Battle Six: Sand Rat Cellar
Objective: Defeat All Enemies!
Enemies: Knight x 3, Monk x 2, Archer
Guests: Delita, Algus
Put all of your physical fighters in the first group, while your mages go in the second. Have your mages attack everything the back way while your fighters pick off the slowly-exiting knights at the front door. Of course, you could reverse the positions, having the mages blast the tightly-packed knights at the front door while the physical fighters enter from behind. Either way, this is a very easy battle if you use the element of surprise from the back door well.
You’ll find the Marquis after this battle, and you’ll get to see Wiegraf kill Gustav. Go back to Igros to meet up with Dycedarg and Prince Larg. They’ll tell you to go to the Thieves’ Fort to fight some Death Corps guys.
Battle Seven: Miluda Folles
Objective: Defeat Miluda!
Enemies: Miluda (Knight), Thief x 3, Priest x 2
Guests: Delita, Algus
Try to pick off the Priests early on, they have magic and it will only serve to make things very difficult. The thieves can also be rather annoying if you have any female units – these thieves can charm them into fighting against you for a while. Miluda, being a knight, has a huge amount of HP and a high chance of evasion, so this battle can take a while. Make sure none of your units decay.
After this your characters will let Miluda go while the remainder of the Death Corps kidnaps Teta at Igros Castle. Go back to Igros to find out how much of a prick Algus really is and that apparently, to catch the Death Corps at Fort Zeakden, you have to go the back way (you’ll see what I mean after Chapter One) so you’d best be prepared.
Battle Eight: Miluda’s Last Stand
Objective: Defeat Miluda!
Enemies: Miluda (Knight), Knight x 2, Wizard x 2, Time Mage
Guests: Delita
Let Delita do his thing (i. e. get killed) while you take on the enemies. The time mage is going to piss you off to no end in this battle, so try to stop it ASAP. The wizards can also make life difficult, and the knights can make maneuvering a pain, but with a little luck you can pull off a victory.
After Miluda dies, Delita will begin to question himself. Just press on. When you get to Fovoham Plains, you’ll have a short cutscene where Wiegraf tells one of his subordinates, Golagros, to take Teta to Fort Zeakden while he deals with you.
Battle Nine: Wiegraf Wants Revenge
Objective: Defeat Wiegraf!
Enemies: Wiegraf (White Knight), Monk x 2, Knight, Chocobo
Guests: Delita
Uh-oh. Wiegraf knows you killed his sister and now he wants to kill you. Too bad he’s so easy. Slam him with everything you’ve got and pray that he doesn’t pull off a killing Crush Punch on you. After beating on him enough, he’ll teleport out and the battle will end.
FFnut’s Notes: The name of the chocobo in this battle is Boco. How do I know this? You run into him later in the game. I’ll be sure to tell you when.