Let's Play FFT v1.3.06e "Ramza the Incompetent" pt. 0

Horray longass titles! So this is the start of my written Let's Play of Final Fantasy Tactics. A romhack known as "Vesion 1.3" produced by Insane Difficulty. The hack does a LOT of rebalancing and fixing of classes, eliminating some broken aspects and adding a few more, like changing Archers and their useless "Charge +x" skill to Marksmen and giving them status-afflicting arrows. As well as generally improving the enemy AI and making the whole of the game harder.

This particular version of the game is 1.3.06, so it's not the most up-to-date, but it's also a particular mod that changes one of the biggest things about 1.3, which is enemy scaling. Players of FFT know that only random encounters scale with you, keeping at about your level, where story battles were fixed in level. 1.3 has all encounters scale with you! However, this version of 1.3.06 removes the scaling, so that you can grind (mostly for JP!) and be a little over-prepared for story fights while randos are harder. All the fights are harder.

http://www.insanedifficulty.com/idwiki/index.php?title=Final_Fantasy_Tactics_1.3 Here you'll find a whole detailed list of things. So let's move on to the perspective.

While there are a bajillion and one LPs on YouTube for the game, including Romhacks and War of the Lions (and it's Romhack 1.3), this LP is written from a character perspective! As per the story of FFT, Orran Durai somehow wrote and documented Ramza's adventure. Fuckall if we know how he did that as he never joins the party. But that said, nobody actually documents the adventures of the people who were with Ramza; the Gariland Academy recruits. So from that this LP will be written, more or less, from the perspective of one of those characters.

Jacqueline (or Jacky as the random generator gave me) will be tasked by a combination of Darlavon and another scholar who all had a strange coinciding dream that something very important was to happen to one of the academy's recruits; Ramza Beoulve. Now we all know what happens, but in the sense of historical preservation, Jacqueline decides to try and tag along with Ramza and his travels, as well as convincing a few of her fellow recruits that something will happen and she needs their help to see things through.

That said, most of the LP will be from her eyes, some chapters may be seen from the eyes of others, or interviews with the characters. Jokes and mockery of Ramza behind his back will be had. This LP isn't about Ramza, it's about those generics that supported him that never gained position or fame afterward. After all, who cares about a buncha random heretics (clearly guilty by association)

So let us rock on! And always remember. Surrender or die in obscurity!

Let's Play FFT v1.3.06e "Ramza the Incompetent" pt. 1

-December 28

I went to Instructor Darlavon to discuss a dream I had. However one of the other instructors he was with was there, and as I began to explain, describing one of our classmates Ramza, they all found my dream more interesting. I thought it concerning since, dreams often seen as a sign of the future and this one was awfully vivid, the feeling of the air, the magic flying around me, seeing Princess Ovelia kidnapped.

They, too, had the same dream, and though many of the other faces were unclear, they all saw Ramza there. So it was decided that I should try to stay near him, since we are in the same squadron here at Gariland Akademy. Something great and important may be happening, if three unrelated people are having visions of his future.

I do not know how well I could help him in a real battle but, at the least I can watch, and record. This is all I need to do, is it not?

-December 30

I've convinced some of my squadron to stick with me, should something truly happen. It's good to know I have this support. But for now, we celebrate the incoming new year.

-January 1

With the new year, our squad, Ramza and his friend included, were to be assigned defense of Igros Castle. However, shortly into the announcement, we received word thieves sneaked into the city, and we were tasked with defending it before anything else.

Though our groups were split up to cover the city, we, along with Ramza, were the lucky... no... the unlucky ones to find the thieves.


Myself, a purveyor of healing arts, though I do like to dabble around. ((And our scribe we're reading from.))


Gwynn. He's rather good with a bow.


Olive. Also good with a bow, but she seems reluctant about it.


Celine. She was fairly quick on her feet, and observant.


Neilson. He's always try to help others in other squad study. Smart for sure, but not the most... dexterous.


McGyle. He was always scheming something, but I never really spoke with him much.

I make mention of everyone to remember them as... not all of us made it through that day. And not all of us were quite privy to my intentions either. I daresay that I'm at fault for Celine's passing. Had she known my intentions, perhaps she'd not reacted the way she had and taken an arrow in my stead. Neilson was lost to us as well, hoping that nobody had to die that day, even the thieves. One of them took a knife to his back while he was tending to one of their friend's wounds. McGyle... curiously vanished during the confusion. I don't know if he fled or was captured but he neither reported in, nor was his body found afterward.

Ramza and his friend Delita held their own for a while, but managed the get themselves both knocked out. I tended to him quickly, and he soon saw to his friend rather than continue subduing the thieves afterward.

After the matter, we were joined by two other cadets from other squads, or... so they say at least.


Zappa, or so he says his name is. He seems eager and capable. ((Why yes, this is a self-insert!))


Lilly. She's rather... erm... mature, but she seems quite experienced. ((And yes, my OC. I only have the one really.))

Ramza went off to have a talk with his family, so in the meantime I had a talk with our new ranks, bringing everyone up to speed. Olive and Gwynn were aware of my objective, but at least now I've brought the rest up to speed, with good responses as well. I'm very fortunate that even strangers would support me in such a curious endeavor.