Final Fantasy

[Frasswass]

Hi guys,

I've just started playing FFXIII-2 on Friday and have managed to play for about 8 hours so far and have just started Episode 3.

My question is this - from what people have seen so far, in your playable party, is it just Serah and Noel you can control along with any creature you may tame?

I don't particularly want to know the ins and outs of who you can control or when, just a yes/no answer will suffice. I ask only because I'm struggling to get a paradigm set that I trust seeing as how I have no real control over the creature that's in my party.

You could argue that you have no real control over any of the other party members when choosing Paradigms in FFXIII I guess but there's just something about only having "full control" over 2 players that I can't get my head round yet.

Example would be when I'm fighting a battle and the enemy hits me with a few powerful attacks, I change to the paradigm where the creature is a MED and I carry on with a RAV/COM combo but I never feel I can trust the creature to provide the right spells to the right character. Sometimes it even ends up meaning that my leader dies while the creature heals itself!

I'm enjoying the game so far but just intrigued as to what everyone else thinks of this creature addition and if there are more playable characters to come? (No spoilers please)

[ArsenalMark]

Yes, only Serah, Noel, and 3 creatures at a time, which there is about 160 of.

The healing thing is a bit annoying at times, but I recommend keeping a good stock of Potions to heal yourself now and then. especially in bosses, I'd even consider them to be vital for some bosses.

[Frasswass]

Thanks ArsenalMark,

That's a bit dissapointing then. I suppose I'll just have to find the right blend of creatures to do the things I need.

That is gonna make some of the bosses tougher for sure as in FFXIII I'd always start with a SYN/SAB/RAV combo or even a SYN/SYN/SAB combo to get all the buffs etc. in place before switching back to more attack minded formations.

All I've really done with my party so far (bearing in mind I've barely started levelling up) is RAV/COM + creature (so far I have only got some MED/RAV/COM and 1 SEN types) and haven't experimented with SYN/SAB at all yet.

I wonder if this approach will be as rewarding....?

[ArsenalMark]

Aye, the limit of 3 paradigms for the 3rd slot in your deck is really annoying, and completely broke what I used in XIII

Syn on characters is really bad, they only have defensive buffs, it's dumb, so you'll want a SYN creature in your deck somewhere eventually (Purple Choco is best), Noel is the better of the 2, as he gets to do -ga buffs.

Personally I've been going with a COM, SYN, and SEN creatures with this deck and find it works fairly well:

COM/COM/COM

RAV/RAV/COM

RAV/SAB/COM

SYN/SEN/SYN

MED/MED/SEN

SEN/SEN/SEN

For most encounter it doesn't matter eitherway, as you can kill them really easily without trying, but for bosses it's good, it let's me buff up with defensive and offensive paradigms quickly, then up the stagger while debuffing, MED/MED/SEN allows for quick safe healing too, and SEN/SEN/SEN for any super attacks they have/

[siren25]

Ok what would you say was the best set of monsters to use for when having a party or who can heal pretty good.

I only been playing a few hours each night and I like the paradigms but I  wish they wouldn't change the layout for the crystiam setup. Its highly annoying to a major degree.

[Ikai-Zixie]

You'll be getting better MED monsters along the way. I've started playing on tuesday and I've acquire a better one other than Cait-Sith, although I really adore it. xD

You can always give a chance to Serah and level her MED class. Mine's fully developed, and you can always have a, for instance, COM, MED, MED paradigm to heal whenever you feel like so you can't only rely on the monster.