Leveling up vs. Remaining at low levels

Rantz and I played through FFVIII once and he insisted on remaining at a low level throughout the first part of the game by turning enemies into cards as often as he could. I could not understand for the life of me why! He explained that remaining at a lower level caused the monsters to also remain at a lower level and were easier to beat that way. I had never thought of doing that before.

I prefer to level up as quickly as I possibly can reaching my party to level 100 as soon as possibly and trading in the secondary characters to level up when I have the time. The monsters get harder, but you also get stronger!

What about you? What's your strategy for getting through this game?

I just play through the game normally, junction the best stuff endgame, lvl to 100 etc.

The only advantage I can see to leveling up is the monsters will have better magic to draw, otherwise the growth you gain from levels is nowhere near strong enough to match the enemy's level boost

I kill everything I meet and turn a blind eye to the implications with regards to the levels of either myself or my enemies. At least having the enemies at higher levels makes the game more challenging when you otherwise utterly break it with the Junction system :P

I would agree. It's difficult until a point, but when you've mastered at junctioning and have some badass weapons and some good magic, everything turns pretty simple.

Except Malboros. I can never beat them no matter what smurfing level I'm at.

The only time I ever level anything is with the few GFs you have after the Dollet sequence, and that's only to unlock a few abilities from them. From there, I just trek through the game not really paying attention to character levels while junctioning with the best magic available that doesn't take up too much time to acquire. I spend the most time playing Triple Triad to get the kick ass cards for mod purposes too.

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Originally Posted by Sephex

The only time I ever level anything is with the few GFs you have after the Dollet sequence, and that's only to unlock a few abilities from them. From there, I just trek through the game not really paying attention to character levels while junctioning with the best magic available that doesn't take up too much time to acquire. I spend the most time playing Triple Triad to get the kick ass cards for mod purposes too.

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God yes. 180 Triples between everyone and three Hyper Wrists before you even go to Timber is incredibly sexy. Auto-Haste by the end of disc 1 is also incredibly sexy. Kind of essential too if you've done the run I just did which entailed having no magic stock whatsoever.

I hated the idea that enemies level up with you in this game. It just didn't make any sense. One time I did spend a lot of time in the training room grinding to level 30 or something until I realized there was no point since the game is about as easy as it would be at low levels.

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Originally Posted by Del Murder

I hated the idea that enemies level up with you in this game. It just didn't make any sense. One time I did spend a lot of time in the training room grinding to level 30 or something until I realized there was no point since the game is about as easy as it would be at low levels.

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I don't know, i kinda like it because it expand enemies' movesets and abilities.

As soon as I leave Balamb for the Fire Cavern, I grind until I have Card Mod. Then I card the Fasticholan-Fs until I get a few Status-Js for both Quetzacotl and Shiva. Then I card one of every enemy on Balamb island and then I basically stop carding for the rest of the game. I finished the game at something like Level 80 because of some level grinding somewhere or other but generally it doesn't matter. Junctioning is the most important thing and Rantz is a lameoid for trying to make the game easier.

Yeah, level grinding for this game is a bad idea. I learned that the hard way.

Level grinding is pointless, but if you want a somewhat challenging battle with Omega, you should lvl to 100.

The battle with Omega was one of the reasons I was glad that I got to level 100 to fight him.

During my first playthru, I mostly played at low levels, and only grind when I'm near any bosses.

I generally grind a fair amount in games, and started to do so on my first playthrough of FFVIII... until it was pointed out to me that leveling is utterly pointless, and even arguably counter-productive if the point is to make the game easier. This is one of the many issues which really bugged me about this game.

If you junction right you can blow through FFVIII without keeping low leveled. Omega is always level 100 if I remember correctly, so being low leveled hurts you in that one instance.

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Originally Posted by Raistlin

I generally grind a fair amount in games, and started to do so on my first playthrough of FFVIII... until it was pointed out to me that leveling is utterly pointless, and even arguably counter-productive if the point is to make the game easier. This is one of the many issues which really bugged me about this game.

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I like it when games discourage grinding. Of course in FFVIII it didn't really work because once you figured everything out you go from grinding battles to grinding Triple Triad games.

I may be stupid, but how does it really affect anything. If they enemies level with you, they also stay the same level with you, correct? So why does it matter if you level?

Also, you aren't actually beating an enemy if you card them. That's a pansy way out. You fail.

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Originally Posted by Tifa's Boobs

I may be stupid, but how does it really affect anything. If they enemies level with you, they also stay the same level with you, correct? So why does it matter if you level?

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Because Junctioning!

I always saw the purpose for leveling was to beat bosses. The enemies level up with you based on the average of your party, but boss levels remain the same, right?

They level up in increments of ten I think.

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Originally Posted by Shorty

Except Malboros. I can never beat them no matter what smurfing level I'm at.

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The trick there is to use Pain in your status defense. Pain and Silence basically immunes you to the worst of the elements and you can ensuna the rest off.

In my opinion it's best to junction 2 non-conflicting GF's to each character and stick with it this way all characters are equipped even those not in battle. This allows for the full 1000 compatibility with every GF. Because not every GF learns everything you need you use Gyshal Greens to wipe some of the base abilities out. For example, why would you need Status Def-J when you can have Status Def-J x3. Also if I remember correctly, Sum Mag+10% and Sum Mag+20% ect don't stack even if they do there's a card item what gives Sum Mag+80% or something ridiculous.

I don't stay on low levels to make the game easier, that's a side-effect I could take or leave. I stay on low levels when I do a completionist playthrough so I can max out my stats with the Bonus abilities later. :p The game is easy as hell as long as you know how to junction, no matter what level you are!

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Originally Posted by Rantz

I don't stay on low levels to make the game easier, that's a side-effect I could take or leave. I stay on low levels when I do a completionist playthrough so I can max out my stats with the Bonus abilities later. :p The game is easy as hell as long as you know how to junction, no matter what level you are!

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A likely story...

I only leveled up and progressed with the story when I wasn't able to get any decent Triple Triad cards from the NPCs.

I usually try to keep at low levels until I have attribute bonus abilities so I can bolster my stats. Other than that I carry on as usual.

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Originally Posted by Rocket Edge

I usually try to keep at low levels until I have attribute bonus abilities so I can bolster my stats. Other than that I carry on as usual.

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I do this too. I just use the Card command the whole way through the game until I get those stat bonus abilities then just grind at the end so I can use as much magic as possible without reducing the stats they are junctioned to.

ffs ok so I know it's slower but Devour can pop any stat to 255 or whatever eventually just takes longer.

My big problem is, since you can't Card enemies at full health, you have to take longer in fights to avoid killing them until you can Card them.

Which, to be frank, isn't worth it. Junctioning gets your stats high enough that you can just ignore levels forever, which is a much nicer way to get through the game than either grinding or Carding/Breaking everything.

I simply proceed through the game as normal without taking any breaks to gain levels. It actually provides a pretty streamlined path through the game as there is never a need to grind or train for a specific boss battle of some kind.

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Originally Posted by Shorty

I would agree. It's difficult until a point, but when you've mastered at junctioning and have some badass weapons and some good magic, everything turns pretty simple.

Except Malboros. I can never beat them no matter what smurfing level I'm at.

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Only time I can beat those are when Odin is summoned.

Only time I don't hate Odin is up against the Malboros.

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Originally Posted by Jiro

Only time I don't hate Odin is up against the Malboros.

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He's such a random ass. When I'm trying to draw magic or mug from monsters he shows up, or he'll show up at battles against easy monster.

Anytime I could ACTUALLY use his help, he's not there :mad:

Gilgamesh almost never shows up. :(

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Originally Posted by Shorty

Rantz and I played through FFVIII once and he insisted on remaining at a low level throughout the first part of the game by turning enemies into cards as often as he could. I could not understand for the life of me why! He explained that remaining at a lower level caused the monsters to also remain at a lower level and were easier to beat that way. I had never thought of doing that before.

I prefer to level up as quickly as I possibly can reaching my party to level 100 as soon as possibly and trading in the secondary characters to level up when I have the time. The monsters get harder, but you also get stronger!

What about you? What's your strategy for getting through this game?

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Powerful GFs have ability which add additional stats to your character when they level up. So if you remain at low level and attain the GF, you can gain additional benefits to your stats when you level up. Of course, if you are at a high level, your benefits will be lesser. :bigsmile:

I cannot really remember so I might be wrong, think you need some time to power up the GF.