Whew!

[BG-57]

I just finished mastering every class in Dragon Warrior VII, human and monster, for all five permenant party members. If that sounds underwhelming, then you haven't played this game.

It took me five years off and on because I kept getting frustrated with the annoyingly low drop rate of monster hearts. I'd quit for months at a time and then go back. The thing is, unlike FFVII or FFXII, there is no skill involved with getting 100% completion. You just need a lot of patience.

I used Lucky Panel whenever possible to supplement my monster heart supply. Especially the Big Boss Murrel Casino in the Grand Slum had a great payoff rate. Speaking of which, I was able to create each of the four super towns in sequence, using a second save to trade citizens.

All I haven't done is acquire is about ten weapons/armor/accessories that are only dropped by monsters, along with maximizing the party levels. I may go back to that after DQVIII and Dark Cloud 2.

So anybody else try for mastery of this game?

[Crossblades]

I always wanted to play this game, but after reading the strategy guide that I used to own, I was intimidated because of the the lots of things that can be done in this game. But I don't know, I may give it a chance in the future. How hard is it to master classes in this game?

[Flying Mullet]

You have a lot more patience than I have. I've mastered about a half dozen jobs for each of the characters in the game, and that was plenty. I would have been more inclined to master more jobs if the job mastery bonus would always be applied to the character, and not only when they are holding that specific job.

[BG-57]

I always wanted to play this game, but after reading the strategy guide that I used to own, I was intimidated because of the the lots of things that can be done in this game. But I don't know, I may give it a chance in the future. How hard is it to master classes in this game?

For human classes, you just have to fight enough battles in the appropriate classes to unlock higher level classes. So you can eventually master every human class by fighting enough battles.

Monsters are a different ball of wax: you must have monster hearts to learn the 14 low level monster classes. You can unlock higher level monsters classes by mastering the low level classes (or skip over if it if you happen to have the heart). A lot of monster hearts are in chests or casino prizes. Whenever possible, use them first.

Fighting monsters to make them drop hearts should be used only when there is no other way to get more hearts. Some monsters, like Lizardmen, drop hearts frequently while others, like Dumbira, drop hearts rarely. If you want to get hearts this way, use physical attacks and save the monster that can drop hearts for last.

The game is actually quite fun (the time travel aspects are neat) and you can win the game without all this extra legwork. It's just that mastery is a real hassle. So I recommend it if you're not a compulsive completionist.

You have a lot more patience than I have. I've mastered about a half dozen jobs for each of the characters in the game, and that was plenty. I would have been more inclined to master more jobs if the job mastery bonus would always be applied to the character, and not only when they are holding that specific job.

Can you imagine a Budoo attack and a Platking defense at the same time?

P.S. If you want to see what an all-Platking party looks like or Maribel in the Dream Camisole (yes they change her sprite) let me know.

[,,,]

So anybody else try for mastery of this game?

I wouldn't be surprised if you're the only person in history to complete this task. Well, actually, I guess some people are just insane. But you're one of very, very few insane people. Congratulations, and I am being sincere when I say that you should have some kind of monument or, I don't know, a temple somewhere dedicated to you, because holy crap is that impressive. You should probably also have your own group of disciples. And the makers of the game should send you money or something, because there can't be any way that the satisfaction alone was worth all the effort that would take.

Also, are you autistic? Just wondering.

[Yar]

Are you kidding me? I don't have the patience to sit through the hour at the beginning when you don't fight anything. When I finally got to fight stuff, that's when I put the game down and never played again.

[BG-57]

So anybody else try for mastery of this game?

I wouldn't be surprised if you're the only person in history to complete this task. Well, actually, I guess some people are just insane. But you're one of very, very few insane people. Congratulations, and I am being sincere when I say that you should have some kind of monument or, I don't know, a temple somewhere dedicated to you, because holy crap is that impressive. You should probably also have your own group of disciples. And the makers of the game should send you money or something, because there can't be any way that the satisfaction alone was worth all the effort that would take.

Also, are you autistic? Just wondering.

The first paragraph made me laugh so I won't take offense at the second.

No, I'm not, although I am neurotic and mildly compulsive about some things, although not in an entertaining way.

Are you kidding me? I don't have the patience to sit through the hour at the beginning when you don't fight anything. When I finally got to fight stuff, that's when I put the game down and never played again.

You wouldn't have liked the ending then.