Materia to characters not in your party...

[Rednikcam]

I read somewhere in the game that if materia is given to characters who aren't in your party will gain AP over time... true? If it is how much AP do they gain and is it worth giving them materia while not in my party?

[oddler]

This is untrue as far as I'm aware. I've never noticed any materia gain AP that's not equipped to characters used in battle.

I know Experience is gained but I don't think AP is. I could be wrong, though.

[f f freak]

AP is not gained. Only materia that is equipped on the people in your party gain AP for their materia.

[Brennan]

People that aren't in the party don't get AP...

However,

I noticed that they get 1/2 the experience that your party members get.

[Mirage]

Yes, they only gain 50% of the main party's exp, nothing else. A good idea, I think, it makes lesser used characters not lag so far behind, making it more attractive to try them out later.

[Rednikcam]

I swear that in the Beginners Hall someone told me that giving others who aren't in your battle party materia means that its AP will increase...

[Mirage]

Never heard of.

[d£v!l'$ ph0£n!x]

nope it doesn't, i accidentally left manipulate on cait sith then wondered why i didn't have it when i came round to mastering command materia. found it on him with next to no AP! motherf . . .

[Kanshisha]

untrue... i've tried, and failed.. heh, don't try it.. waste of time..

[grim07]

Yes, they only gain 50% of the main party's exp, nothing else. A good idea, I think, it makes lesser used characters not lag so far behind, making it more attractive to try them out later.

I switch them out everytime someone levels up. That way there all pretty much on the same level. Except when Im trying to get limit breaks.

[Necronopticous]

I swear that in the Beginners Hall someone told me that giving others who aren't in your battle party materia means that its AP will increase...

I think he just tells you that equipping materia on active characters will increase the AP after battles.