I'm working hard right now to finish this game with (nearly) 100% sidequests

I'm 118 hours or so into the game. I had stopped playing for three months for various reasons but I returned in the past two weeks. I plan to not just beat this game in 80 hours with no sidequests but instead do almost all the sidequests, secrets, and levelling to finish it in like 160 hours. The only thing I think I might skip is beating Omega Mark XII since it's Level 99 and that's very high up in levels.

I'm at level 53 and am getting secret Esper Exodus for Basch next. I see myself levelling up to maybe about level 70 or 75 considering Yiazmat is at level 73 isn't it? I am not sure if I will do the club hunts and beat Omega Mark XII but I think I might do everything else.

I still got to beat Rogue Galaxy and then start playing Alundra 1. I want to get all three of these games out of the way before the fall season starts up(officially on August 28th when Blue Dragon and Wild Arms 5 come out).

The summer off season has Final Fantasy I for PSP out tomorrow and 28 days later is Final Fantasy II for PSP and Shin Megamei Tensei: Persona 3 for PS 2. On August 14th comes out Heroes of Mana for Nintendo DS but I am not sure yet if we will consider that to be part of the summer off-season or the fall season. The only game I'm definetely getting in the fall is Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings but I want to get a bunch more like Blue Dragon, Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey, and others.

Me putting so much time into this game is a double edged sword. On one hand it's taking a long time and delaying me playing other games but on the other hand it gives me a full completion of the game. I would only do something this complete for a top rpg like Final Fantasy XII. Who else is in this current situation? :)

If you exclude hunts and completing the bestiary cards, XII has very little in terms of sidequests. You may want to add the Legendary Weapons to your to do list. I'm told getting the Tournesol is very challenging.

I'm also trying to get the most out of it but i don't think that i'll get a 100% because i hate using a guide in my first playthrough...

Oh good luck!

I did my first playthrough without a guide (and without internet hints too) and I can say that the main story is easy to do, the bestiary and hunts are not. I gave up after having to cheat (looked at Youtube for Fafnir) but got 32 hunts. I got 10 Espers but Cuchulaiinn is just about impossible to get without a guide, and so is the Fishing Quest

I usually try to do everything in FF games before I fight the final boss. That's not the case for FF12 though. I didn't do any of the sidequests and just went straight to the Bahamut (ahaha, they pronounce it so terrible).

Final Fantasy XII has tons of sidequests! Cuchulainn seemed very complicated to get. Who figures out how to get it without using the strategy guide?

I'm excited about getting Exodus!

Yeah good luck it's gotta be alot of hours but you're most of the way there.

I think i might try it, knowing it's going to consume so much time :(

If you take out hunts and hidden espers, then there are few quests.

This is pretty exciting. I'm gonna be busy with school for a few days so I am not sure if I can play this right now. I still need to restart Rogue Galaxy, I'm 10 hours into it or 20. I'm gonna beat that game without any sidequests because even though it's good it's not FF XII and I need to get on with my next rpg after these two, Alundra 1!

I need to get this done before Blue Dragon, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, and Lost Odyssey come out! :)

I was about level 40 odd when i fought Exodus and it was really tough! I died quite a bit. I find him the most cryptic of Espers.. pretty cool fight as well. You should be fine. :)

im doing this too and i have a question.
is there a set period to take the earth tyrant i know when you can start the quest but i can never find the wind globe i did it before on a previous playthrough and got slaughtered. this time through im damn stronger (zodiac spear, save the queen, 6 espers, avereage level over 50) and i cant find the damn globe!!!! what are the conditions for it to appear?

I found defeating espers and elite marks much easier when X-Potions became widely available and I could set an Ally: HP < 60% = X-Potions gambit. I change it to Curga when dealing with regular foes.

For the Windvane you have to speak with:

1) Rimzat (Westgate in Rabanastre)

2) Cotze (South Plaza in Rabanastre)

3) Northon (Lowtown, near Storehouse 5)

You have to check out the Giant Dynast Cacti in the small side area in the Windtruce Dunes in Dalmasca Westersand. Then go back to the Westgate in Rabanatre.

yeah done all that but it doesn't show up and the pic in the guide sucks
im at the level that i could kill the tyrant easily

Are you in the right place? Going from Giza it's west, then northwest to a tiny side area of the map. You'll pass the entrance to a cave on the way.

so your saying to circle back through giza?
does it have to be raining? during a sand storm? does party selection matter?
i just want to kill it because im getting bored. and in the past it has killed me.