What is the best party for a Low Level Class Change?

[Garland]

If you can exploit the ship game for elemental items, and if you're planning on maximizing your characters through the stat boosting items in the bonus dungeons, the Red Mage pulls ahead of Black. They can both cast nuke with the use of a particular staff. The Red Mage can also wear armor and use weapons. In a perfected game of FF1 in its newest incarnations, being PSP and iOS, the Black Mage has nothing to offer by game's end.

Fighter, Thief, Red, White would be my team for any game where I'm pulling out all the stops in terms of practically cheating to class change by level 11, and maximize my characters' potentials in every way. How far are you willing to go to exploit mechanics?

In a game of traditional FF1 mechanics, be it NES or Origins-traditional, I'd say go with two fighters, a red mage and a white mage. The black belt is the friend of the over-leveller, and that won't be you. The thief has nothing going for him at all. Black Mage is just a 1hp dealing knife swinger until boss fights, where, in a low level challenge, he'll have as few casts of spells as possible, rest assured. The Fighter and Red Mage were overpowered in FF1 in its original status - might as well use it. You'll need a Whm for healing.

I'm playing the game boy advance one...dawn of souls...which party is best for low level class change for it?

I can tell you first hand that the default War/Thf/Whm/Blm can class change at the earliest possible level, by only fighting mandatory boss battles, at level 11. I've done it. It'll be easier for you if you play the number game on the ship and get a boatload of elemental defense and elemental attack items - mostly for Lich (the end-all of the low level class change).

Here's how it'll go. You'll beat Garland no problem, and the pirates. If you got yourself a few lightning casting items, the piscodemons will be no sweat. Note- save before them, and make sure you fight as few as possible. Their quantity is random. Then Astos will be the same luck of the draw he always is. When you finally get to Lich, you'll find yourself emasculated. Your damage will suck to an extent it's never sucked before. His won't. He can one shot your mages when he feels like it. Use barblizzara items. Casting items will be your best friend. After a lot of resets, you'll eventually win. After that, it's smooth sailing. Make sure you don't fight more than one zombie dragon in the citadel.

EDIT: If you really want to maximize the ship game, the first time you beat it, even if you're about to win in 30 seconds, wait. Beat the necessary score by a split second - only win by the smallest amount necessary to get an item reward. Wait to move that last tile. Then repeat. If your first win is in 30 seconds, you've killed your longterm potential for item winning. Win by as little as possible, and you can get tons more items. It gets boring, but that's what min-maxing is all about - taking fun games and making them work.