Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Lets just call this official)

[FuryFox]

I was totally hyped on the Red Mage at first...

But my Red Mage surely hasn't done much to impress me so far. Might just change her to an assasin and say the heck with it.

I don't think Red Mages can earn there keep until you get double-cast. Like most viera classes, they're still decent fighters no matter what, but I just haven't found a reason to keep them in that class yet. Supposedly, you can double-cast a summon and say, a life spell, along with decent attack damage, making them a great all-around.

*shrug*

[Kidnemo]

My only Nu Mou worth anything is a black/white/time mage named Azimov. Nice.

Have you tried the Sage class yet?

One of the most powerfull classes I've used so far.

The white mage/Sage Nu Mou I have is not even right. The sages offensive abilities are just crazy.

[FuryFox]

Have you tried the Sage class yet?

One of the most powerfull classes I've used so far.

The white mage/Sage Nu Mou I have is not even right. The sages offensive abilities are just crazy.

Yeah, my only Nu Mou was a sage for a bit...but like anything, he's only the class I have the best items for So, he'll probably go back to sage when I get some new stuff (he looks cooler, and the movement goes way up), but he had to learn Return Magic and all the -agas (i.e. Thundaga), so back to Black Mage he goes. I didn't notice that the sage skills where that much more powerful than BM stuff, but I haven't had too much opportunity.

The white mage/sage combo you have going sounds interesting though. I wish I knew where the stat gains where for each class, so I'd know whether it was better to be a sage/wm, or a wm/sage. I finally found a curaga staff, so he's going to have to go back to WM at some point anyway (also to learn White Combo, if he can).

On the downside, I haven't seen or used and Illusionists at all, so I have no idea about their uses...and my brief stint in Moogle Gadgeteer proved pointless (only under very stringent conditions could I find this class useful...and then, not very).

[Kidnemo]

I picked up the guide soley for the fact that you can plan out your job progression so much easier.

Being able to compare abilities/stat progression and look at the job trees all in one place (and easier on the eyes than a FAQ) is key.

I haven't tried an illusinionist either, but I want an assasin, and I believe it's on the job tree to getting there (unless I'm thinking summoner, which I want to try also), so we'll see soon enough.

My Montblanc is currently a bm/tm combo, but I've been using his tim abilities more than his bm spells. Could be time to try out the ole Gadgeteer.

*edit*

Just whupped that mission I died on. A quick change to a fighter with Air Render and Bonecrush? (the fighter 1.5x counterattack ability) and the mission was a cakewalk.

[Captain Vegetable]

I've been playing this for the past two days and must say I'm loving it.

As I've been on about Disgaea for a while now, I feel it necessary to mend the disservice I've done to FFTA by comparing the two on key features, so, without further adeau, I give you "Captain Vegetable's 'FFTA Rocks Hard Ass' Review . . . but it's really more of a comparison . . . and not even a full-blooded comparison, as I'm only comparing the key features."

Catchy title, I know.

I'll begin with the job system. FFTA owns Disgaea in every reguard. The job list is robust, unlike Disgaea's five jobs with 75 different names and a pallet swap (Brawler -> Fighter -> Black Belt -> Divine Fist -> etc. They're all the same damned class!!!). Also, the progression to the expert level classes is excellent, as you need a single character to be well trained in the prerequisite job classes in order for that single character to become an expert, and when it's unlocked, it's unlocked for only that particular character (I.E. if I have a Moogle capable of becoming a Juggler, every other Moogle in my army is not ellegable to become a Juggler unless trained as such). It makes job planning a much more integral, strategic part of the game.

Next is the Law system . . . it's a pain in my ass. I don't like it at all. "Sword Restriction?!" What the eff is that all about?! It's disappointing, too, because it could have been so much better. Maybe my mind will change as the game progresses and I get anti-law cards and the like. To be fair, it hasn't gotten in my way that much, most of the restrictions are on things I don't use anyway, like Silence or Dark.

Gaining experience is a sight less irritating than in Disgaea, as you would only get XP for killing an enemy, and not every action, like in FFTA.

There is much, much more to say, but it can all be summed up in a few words: Disgaea is not fit to hold FFTA's jock-strap.

Clan: CuppaKupo
Level: 9

I named my Clan "CuppaKupo" in hopes I'd have a lot of Moogles join my party so I could build a Moogle exclusive regement, but no such luck. I have two Moogles, and one of them is Montblanc. Needless to say, my name wasn't wisely chosen.

I am, however, learning that I like the Viera, quite possibly more than the Moogles, though, again, this is yet to be realized as I'm not to deep into the game.

P.S. Marche looks a lot like Ramza. So much so, that during the first hour or so of game play, I couldn't for the life of me figure out who they were talking about when they mentioned this "Marche" guy.

[Kidnemo]

Nice read 'veg.

I've yet to play through Disgaea, but after totally dominate FFTA, it's next on my hitlist.

Moogles are neat, but so far they seem more like just a "fun" class, or a good support class (time mage).

The HP > MP ability totally rocks though.

I'm at about 34 hours in now and stuff is going pretty smoothly. I should also have my first assasin soon too.

[Andy]

I must say, I'm really loving this game right now. I was really hesitant to pick it up because from reports I'd heard from other people it seemed like it would be more frustration than enjoyment, but wow, I'm extremely glad I decided to take the chance. So far, I'm about 18 hours and 55 missions in, and though I really liked FFT's story, I'm not so much missing it in exchange for FFTA's pick-up-and-play nature.

[Kidnemo]

The story in FFT was better, but the translation was totally busted.

In FFTA the story is much more accessible, but it is progressing a bit to slowly.

I'd like some new part to be unraveled in the story like every couple of missions, not like every five or six which is what it seems to be.

[epmode]

cv, you neglected to mention that disgaea's story is 252448 times better than ffta's. the art direction/character design is better as well, but that's debatable. i agree with you on the job and experience system, though.

[Andy]

Oh, and Kid, since you have the strategy guide, are there any really important advantages exclusive to the snake race? My main party currently has no snake representation, so I should probably consider one. I haven't read the whole thread, so I'm sorry if this has been discussed before, but any help/advice would be appreciated