Scott seems to have dropped this, but over vacation, I picked it up and ran with it. I am playing the GBA version though. I'll continue from where he left off. I'm not sure if he did. But I made sure to strip people of their equips, right before they leave. Even if I have a boss fight coming up. I can give them to other chars, and sell them later.
Also, until I reach endgame (moon second time), in towns I will only purchase Weapons, and Armor. I will not buy Helmets, gloves, shields, etc. That way, when I reach teh end of the game I will have enough gil to purchase the best stuff.
Calcobrena was the hardest boss fight thus far. I'm taking lots of damage from multiple enemies. Cecil attacks a Brina with his firebrand, and Yang attacks the same one it dies. Kain targets a Calco. Rosa uses Cura on all. Cecil and Yang defeat a second Brina. Kain keeps focusing on the same Calco. Cecil, Yang, and Kain go all out on the Calcos, leaving the final Brina untouched. That way, I don't have to fight the big one.
Lugae and Barnabas were pie. I focused on Lugae. The second Lugae fight was cake too.
Rubicante was easy to defeat. It was just very time consuming. Cecil and Kain attack with Ice Brand, and Ice Lance. Edge uses flood. Rydia uses Blizzara. Rosa is still using Cura all. Just kept wailing away till he died.
Sealed cave was tough. I just saved outside, and kept resetting whenever I killed a non-required door. It was hard not to break down the door and get the sword for Cecil. Demon Wall, easy. Everbody has problems with him. I never do. I just had everybody go all out. Using a Baccus Cider on Cecil and Edge (who is god in this challenge). Rosa revives whoever needs it. Rydia attacked too, since magic is innefective on him.
Right after this, I went and got Excalibur, so Cecil can stop sucking ass.
The four Elemental Lords were almost unbearable. It was some massive endurance test, that took me three tries. Edge attacked (he does 400 more damage than Cecil), Rydia used the appropriate -ara spell, Rosa healed, FuSoYa used his -aga spells. Cecil fed Ethers to my party, and acted as a secondary healer. FuSoYa was the last one standing. I love my moon-man.
CPU, and nodes.
Round 1: Edge, Rydia, Cecil, and Rosa defended. FuSoYa used Herme's shoes to haste himself.
Round 2: Edge, Rydia, Cecil, and Rosa defended. FuSoYa cast reflect on himself.
Round 3: Edge and Cecil attack CPU. Rydia casts Thundara on FuSoYa (hits CPU), FuSoYa casts Flare on Defense Node. Defense Node dies.
For the rest of the fight, Edge and Cecil beat down CPU, FuSoYa keeps using flare on it, Rosa heals, and Rydia gives FuSoYa ethers or uses Thundara.
I went to the Land of summons, purchased the best equips I could, and gave Cecil the Genji set since he does more damage than Kain (which makes him more valuable).
I'm about to enter crystal palace. My setup follows: