FF4 DS Mandatory Battles Only (MBO) - Part I: Mist Dragon & Baron Soldiers

Channel:

MoogleBoss

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6,590

Published on March 2, 2010 7:04:59 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEh4LHMgguw

Game:

Final Fantasy IV (2007)

Duration: 3:57

2,625 views

19

I've got some recordings left from the previous challenges I've done, which I postponed uploading due to business (and chronic lack of motivation) - I'll upload those eventually, but right now I feel more comfortable describing and talking about what I've been doing recently rather than try to remember what I achieved months ago, so I thought I'd share this baby. It's fresh and fascinates me at this very moment so it's more natural to share this right now.

This is a challenge in the tradition of MBO, which stands for Mandatory Battles Only (replace Battles for something else, like missions or whatever, if necessary). People have been doing these things for years and I didn't invent this variant of playing a game under restrictions, but I've seen the abbreviation picked up by other people after I formulated it, so I might as well keep it for whatever other challenge I start with the same rules.

Now, MBO isn't a regular playthrough with just the mandatory battles shown. Much like in a low level challenge, the restriction rests on how much experience your party gets, however the specifics are different. If you're playing an LLG, there is some kind of 'perfect' experience arrangement. In the case of MBO, there's no correct way of dividing the exp gain, but instead it's stricter in terms of battles fought.

On the one hand, the party will end up at higher levels at the end of the game, compared to those in a lowest level challenge, but there are other limitations that come with the rule. Some sidequests, like the Namingway ones, are unavailable - we can't fight any extra battles even assuming no additional levels will be gained by anybody in the party.

Since in FF4 DS, in contrast to the previous version, characters apparently tend to join and/or rejoin the party at fixed levels (Kain at lv. 53, I believe, which would make 'LLG' sound ironic), one difference is that an LLG usually has one survivor for each battle. This either means that extra effort needs to be put into killing off characters (which I honestly hate), or some units will solo bosses with others dead (which also isn't very fun).

Since I can't farm gil and items by fighting things with characters about to leave the party, money is an issue, as are equipment and inventory poverty. Don't forget that you lose money while you escape from random encounters too (this kinda hurts your pockets in the beginning of the challenge).

Oh, and this is done from scratch, from a new game rather than a NG+. Makes things fair.

Mist Dragon doesn't pose much difficulty. Cecil does the most damage by far attacking with Darkness. Jump isn't half bad either, but I want Cecil to finish the battle solo (so that he's stronger in further battles) so I don't jump deliberately hoping Kain gets killed quicker. He's actually stripped of all equipment already besides the blade for that very reason.

The second mandatory battle is easy. The enemies' attacks can't hurt Cecil at all. After using Darkness, he can eliminate each in one blow, assuming he doesn't run out of the status too early. I should've killed the general for extra experience but I had a different challenge in mind when I was at this point (was considering LL + no augments, but I really doubt that this is possible at all). No big deal anyway.

The next battle against Octomammoth was quite thrilling, I'll try to upload that tomorrow.

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