Conference rusure::nintendo

    I haven't heard a thing about it.
    
    Tell us what you have read...
    
    Joel
    

    Have not heard or seen it.
    
    			Ben
    

    From Nintendo Power March/April 1990 (without permission...)
    
    Final Fantasy
    
    It's going to be the summer of Final Fantasy-The Role Playing Game from
    Nintendo that sets a new standard for adventure!  Final Fantasy is not
    just bigger and better than earlier RPG's, it launches you into a
    universe more absorbing than the Legend of Zelda and more challenging
    than The Adventures of Link.  And it's a blast to play!
    
    There's always a new goal to challenge your party of four Light
    Warriors, which you choose and command.  Made up of fighters, thieves,
    mages or other adventurers, the party must explore endless castles,
    cities, caves and towers while forest, deserts and oceans must be
    braved and crossed in spite of more than 200 types of enemies!
    
    In fact, Final Fantasy is so big that you'll hve to travel by ship,
    canoe and blimp to cover it all.  And it is so involving that it will
    include an 84 page book detailed with maps, strategies and secrets to
    set players well on their way.  This is not a game that can be finished
    in a few hours, or even a few days, but no matter how long it takes,
    every minute is exciting.  Final Fantasy has a lithium battery like
    Zelda and Link to save your game, just in case you want to stop for
    food or water sometime...
    
    
    (following text from magazine accompanied pictures of the game)
    
    
    A VAST WORLD MUST BE CHALLENGED AND CONQUERED BY THE LIGHT WARRIORS ON
    THEIR QUEST!
    
    The party must visit all four corners of the world to complete their
    quest.  Doing so will pit them against a staggering array of enemies
    and terrain.  During an attack, you will see the enemy and the party
    against a background of the terrain in which they meet.
    
    
    TRANSFORM CHARACTERS AT HIGHER LEVELS
    
    Your characters begin the quest with minimum experience and some weak
    attributes.  Defeating enemies increases your experience points and
    strengthens the party.  By performing tasks at later stages of the
    game, your characters become a master of their profession with greatly
    increased powers.
    
    BUILD A STRONG PARTY
    
    Selection of a balanced party is critical, for you will require many
    skills to overcome the enemies.  More than 50 variations are possible,
    but not all are good.  Try the Fighter, Monk, and Black and White
    Mages.
    
    WATCH THE ATTACK SCREEN
    
    In Final Fantasy you will see the actions you command actually carried
    out by the characters.  You will also see the results of those actions,
    both good and bad...
    
    
    (End of Text)
    
    So,  how does it sound!
    
    
    Craig

    From the May/June issue of Nintendo Power 1990 (without permission)
    
    Final Fantasy Treasure Quest!
    
    THREE BIG CHALLENGES: KEEP SEEKING THE SPECIAL CLUES AS YOU DELVE
    DEEPER INTO THE GAME
    
    This is the summer of Final Fantasy and all through the summer you'll
    be able to hunt for treasure in the Final Fantasy Treasure Quest. 
    Three seperate contests will be held, each with its own secrets to
    discover.  Listed below are the questions for the May contest.  Details
    on the second contest will appear in the July/August issue, and for the
    third contest look in the September/October issue.
    
    THE MAY CONTEST:
    
    1.  WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE DANCER?
    
    2.  HOW OLD WAS ERDRICK WHEN HE DIED?
    
    3.  WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE POWER STAFF?
    
    MAY/JUNE PRIZES
    
    Answer the three questions for the May contest and you are guaranteed
    to win an exclusive set of Final Fantasy Power Decals for your
    controllers.  And that's just the beginning;  you may win one of four
    exquisitely designed and crafted Power Staffs of your own!
    
    JULY/AUGUST PRIZES
    
    If you discover the answers for this second contest and send them in,
    yu may win one of 500 Adventure Packs filled with treasure!  And two
    lucky first prize winners will receive genuine, full-sized Suits of
    Armor, perfect for battle or posing for snapshots.
    
    SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER PRIZES
    
    By correctly answering these tough questions you could win one of a
    hundred beautifully crafted, Crystal Orbs.  Or you could become the
    Grand Prize winner!  Imagine you and your best friends involved in a
    real adventure, piecing together clues, hunting through strange lands
    and discovering treasure along the way!  It's the Final Fantasy
    Treasure Quest, as close as you can come to actually being in a fantasy
    adventure game.  The entire quest will be professionally video taped
    (with you and your friends in costumes from Final Fantasy) so you can
    relive the adventure for years to come.  Are you up to it?  Play Final
    Fantasy and find out!
    
    Send answers to the questions for the May contest to:
    
    Nintendo Power
    Final Fantasy
    Treasure Quest
    PO Box 97043
    Redmond, WA 98073-9743
    
    (End of Text)
    
    Now you folks know why I am looking for this one...Looks great on
    paper...
    
    Craig
    

    Well, I have finally found a place which has it.  Called Trysoft (see
    previous note - has a topic of it's own) and they had the game.  It is
    $56.99 (price includes $7.00 for FedX shipping).  They said it leaves
    today and should be here tomorrow!
    
    Look for a review and inpressions  of the game soon!
    
    Craig

    Re: .5
    
    Well Craig, how is it?  Figured we'd have heard from you by now....
    or did you take a day or two off to play? ;')
    
    
    Bob

    
    Well,
    
    I did receive the game and have spent considerably time playing it.  It
    is like a cross between Dragon Warrior and The Adventures of Link.  It
    is a game that once you get started is very difficult to pull your self
    away from.  It is a game for those who prefer strategy and thinking as
    opposed to making the characters do super moves on the screen (a-la
    Super Mario 3).
    
    But it is fun.  The reviews are pretty accurate.  So far the only nit I
    have about the game is that when you go to the supply shops to buy
    goods (ie: healing potions) that you can not select a quanitity.  Once
    some of you get the game you will know what I mean.  It takes
    considerable time and button pushing to get the maximun quantities of
    the various supplies which is necessary at later levels of play.
    
    My progress so far is that I have restored 3 of the 4 orbs.  I am in
    persuit of the last one now.  It is very important to put alot of
    thought into making up your party.  I am afraid that I will be out of
    luck soon because of poor party member selection.  Again, will let you
    know as I progress.
    
    Rating - On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) I give this one an 8.5.
    
    A must for the adventuring types...
    
    Craig

    I am up to level 10 and like Final Fantasy so far.  It seems fairly
    rich with things to do, places to go, and interaction.  I think they
    have done a good job of balancing the processes of gaining experience
    points, accomplishing tasks, and so on.  I haven't yet had to go and
    fight monsters repeatedly just to raise my level -- it comes naturally
    with exploring and going to dangerous places to accomplish necessary
    tasks.
    
    If anybody else is playing, do you know why the Power Staff is listed
    at a price of 12345 when it is comparable in performance to the Silver
    Dagger which is much, much cheaper?  Also, the Were Sword and the Rune
    Sword sell for more than the Silver Sword but aren't as good.  E.g., is
    the Were Sword especially good for Werewolves and the Power Staff
    really good for magicians or something?
    
    
    				-- edp

    
    I have not played Final Fantasy (I want to get it), but based on the
    names of the items, your guess about their uses is correct.  Some of
    those items sound familiar from playing AD&D.   This is particularly
    true for the Power Staff.  
    
    							-Andy
      

    It is a lot like AD&D.
    
    When and if you get such items, try using them as items instead of
    carrying them around as weapons.  I suspect that's how the Power Staff
    works.  The others I don't know about.
    
    (I'm not there yet.  I've only had the game two days - they were at
    Framingham Toys'R'Us for $42.99)
    
    What I don't understand is why they called that booklet that comes with
    the game a rule book!  It should be called "Step by step instructions
    for solving a large portion of the game".
    
    - Chris

    I just picked this one up at lunch and am looking forward to
    going home and checking it out.  Question - and possible spoiler
    follow:
    
    When you create a character does the character, like in Ultima,
    come with a certain amount of gold/money?  And, having created
    a character, can you delete it?  If answer to both is yes, then:
    
    
    [spoiler follows]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    I read this at lunch, re: Ultima (I finished Ultima Friday night,
    wish I'd had this tip at the beginning) for getting money.  When
    you create a character it comes with gold.  You transfer the gold
    to another character, delete the first character, create a new one,
    transfer, etc., etc.  You can build up a ton of gold (limited only
    by your patience for doing this sort of thing) before you even
    set out on the quest.  
    
    According to edp's review, "Final Fantasy" requires less time
    whacking monsters and storing up gold than others of this genre,
    so you might not need to get a lot of dough quickly.  But based
    on the instructions, there are a whole heck of a lot of weapons
    and armor you need, and I suspect they require large amounts of
    cash.  We shall see if this strategy/tip is workable.
    
    Any input from experienced FF players?
    
    Joel
    

    Quick reply, as I dash off for my volleyball practice:

    You start with 400 gold for the party.  Enough for a few 1st level
    spells, and decent armor and weapons to start off with.
    
    As far as I can tell, you get four characters.  Since the legend states
    that there are specifically 4 "Light Warriors", I don't think men can
    swap in and out of the party.
    
    Finally, EDP didn't say that you won't spend lots of time running
    around looking for money - he said that you will spend lots of time
    trying to get from one necessary location to another.  Along the way,
    you tend to accumulate money anyway...

    RE: .12
    
    Thanks for the note.  I'll investigate further tonight...
    
    yeah, that's what I understood edp to mean and I didn't put
    it well.  I don't mind traveling around and whacking monsters.
    I just don't like staying around one place (see "Dragon Warrior"
    for example - do you ever want to see a blue or a red slime
    again?) endlessly killing monsters to get gold and experience.
    
    If "Final Fantasy" starts you with enough strength to travel a
    ways without immediately giving you unbeatable monsters, then
    I'll be a happy guy indeed!
    
    Joel
    

    Re .11:
    
    No, the Ultima trick won't work; you cannot swap characters in and out
    of the game after you have started.
    
    In regard to my previous statements about the balance of the game and
    experience points accumulating well, money also flows in at a good
    rate.  "Good" doesn't mean lots -- I didn't have so much money I could
    buy all the spells I wanted right away.  But a trip off to the cave,
    go down a level and explore some rooms, but have to leave because I'm
    getting hurt (low on hit and magic points), and back to the town.  Then
    I could buy some more spells, recover, and go back to the dungeon to
    explore some more rooms.
    
    I had to return to the Cave of Marsh several times.  Not to fight
    monsters, but to explore a bit more of the cave, because I was only
    strong enough to explore part of it before depleting my points.  I also
    had to go to a Castle, find out what the kind wanted, go to the Cave of
    Marsh to find it, and return to the Castle.  After each trip, I could
    afford to buy a few more things, and my level would go up now and then
    as I was doing this.  In my opinion, I never had too much money or too
    little.  Later, I had to return to the Cave and the Castle with the
    Mystic Key to open some rooms with treasure chests in them.
    
    
    				-- edp

    edp,
    
    Quite right, no character-swapping here.  But I like the game
    anyway, after about four hours play last night.  (family
    is visiting relatives for a couple of weeks so I might finish
    this game over the weekend)
    
    I like the fight scenes and, when you start traveling a bit,
    the variety of monsters.  The boat moves well and there's
    quite a bit to explore.
    
    I agree with the earlier note about the instruction book
    being too much of a guide.  Perhaps Nintendo is trying to
    cut down on the number of calls to game counselors.  In
    either case, there's a handy fold-out guide to armor and
    weapons and magic spells which I keep handy in the even I
    wander into a new town.  I've got the instructions tucked
    away upstairs, lest at a difficult time I get too tempted
    to look.
    
    Good game, pretty easy in its opening stages, but I assume
    it gets tougher as you go along...
    
    Joel
    

What is the goal (or, how do you win) this game? Princess to save or 
final monster to defeat?
/chuck

    RE: .16
    
    Good question.  I _think_ you have to restore four orbs and 
    bring them back to the ruling power.  (I've already rescued
    a princess, but - who knows? - she might have a sister)
    
    But I guess I sort of thought that the goal would become 
    clearer as I go along.  Right now, I'm just exploring and
    building up my levels, saving to buy some killer magic.
    
    Anyone know for sure what the final goal is?
    
    Joel
    

    So, what are the graphics and play like?  What well known 
    game(s) is it similar to?
    
    
    
    Bob

    It's similar to a cross between Ultima and Dragon Warrior.  The
    fight scenes remind me somewhat of Magic of Scheherazade.
    
    Graphics are very good, overall.  There is a `speed' option so
    you can make the messages go by quickly or not so quickly.
    The overland map is very much like Dragon Warrior and Ultima.
    Same kind of deal - you're on a large space until you move
    into a town or castle or a fight, and then the scene changes
    to a close-up.  Like Ultima you have four characters.  Unlike
    Ultima, when you're walking along you only see one character.
    Which I like.  All four appear when you stumble upon a monster.
    
    I've only played it for a few hours and I may be wrong, but it
    seems like it will be a fairly typical quest-thing.  Not a
    rap, because I like that stuff.  But perhaps there will be
    some interesting surprises along the way.  So far, though,
    it's a good game, but nothing radically different.  The same
    old thing, but maybe a little better.
    
    If, like me, you like `the same old thing' you'll like this game.
    
    Joel
    

    About the fold-out guides:  Be careful, there are errors in the charts. 
    For example, ICE does not apply to the entire enemy party.
    
    Re .18:
    
    It is much like Dragon Warrior.  You enter castles and towns in the
    same way, buying things in the towns and interacting in various ways in
    the castles:  getting tasks to perform, bringing objects, getting
    rewards, et cetera.  And you explore the countryside, finding caves
    here and there.  The terrain keeps you from reaching areas that are too
    dangerous at first.  So far, areas have been opened up by building a
    bridge, capturing a ship, and digging a canal.
    
    The combat scenes are a mix between Dragon Warrior and Ultima.  You
    don't fight directly; you select actions from a menu.  The combat works
    in rounds:  You give commands for each of your characters, and then
    your characters and the enemies execute their commands -- in random
    order!  That makes it tricky sometimes; your command to heal a player
    might not get executed in time unless you plan in advance.  The random
    order is confusing at first but adds interest to the game.  It makes
    you think a bit more about what you're doing.
    
    Again, there's a nice balance here.  Your fighters usually fight, but
    the magicians sometimes fight and sometimes use magic -- and they have
    several interesting spells to use on different monsters (and several
    less interesting spells).  The white mage is stronger than the black
    mage and contributes reasonably to a battle even when fighting.  The
    black mage has been almost useless when fighting until their level
    advanced and I acquired the Power Staff.
    
    Sometimes you can wipe out a swarm of undead or sea monsters with Harm
    or Ice2, but sometimes an OddEye or a Creep will stun your characters
    and hold them in place while your party is decimated, and the battle
    then becomes a struggle to run in time.
    
    				-- edp

    Re: last 2
    
    Thanks for the info.  It sounds like a game I'd enjoy....now if I
    can find it somewhere at a reasonable price!!
    
    
    Bob

    re: a few back
    
    If you look on the monster sheet, the description of CHAOS seems quite
    interesting.  I'll bet it is the last monster...  (And I'm not looking
    forward to meeting a warmech, either.)
    
    - Chris

    re: .22
    
    Yeah, there's some tough-looking and just plain tough monsters
    in this game.  I like the variety and I like the graphics.
    
    I even like the complexity of the armors, weapons, and spells.
    Eight different levels each of white and black magic, with
    four (or so) different spells at each level.  It's fun looking
    at the chart trying to see if a particular character can use
    a particular weapon, or armor, or spell, and, if so, in what
    circumstances would it be useful.
    
    So far, the people of the various towns and caves are very
    clear on what you need to do, and in what order.  Quite
    easy in that sense.  But I can't shake the feeling that 
    there is a long preliminary phase to this game, and when
    you get all the levels and such... watch out!...
    
    Joel
    

    
    Spoiler regarding the "quest" of the game follows...
    
    
    
    
    Defeating the four elements (earth, wind, fire, and sky) and restoring
    the four orbs are not enough to win this game.
    
    More details follow...
    
    
    
    After you restore the orbs, the 12 sages meeting at cresent lake
    instruct you to take the orbs to the castle that Garland occupied.
    They also tell that the real problem and threat to the world is 2000
    years in the past.  Once to Garland's Castle, the orbs take you back in
    time to a huge castle with many levels.  I believe the object here is
    to re-defeat the four elements and in all probability, Chaos.  I have
    yet to find a masmume, the most powerful weapon listed in the game.
    This last phase of the game is quite time consumming and will probably
    be the biggest obstical to completing the game (several hours).
    
    It will also be intresting to see if the game, once beaten, will give
    you another quest.
    
    
    Glad to see others have finally got the Final Fantasy Fever!
    
    Craig

    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler question]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Does anyone know how to get multi level 8 magic?  I've found the
    shops that selll one spell each of black and white magic, but
    am absolutely stumped about finding anything else.
    
    I called the Nintendo Hot Line, but there is some contest going
    on and the counselor said he couldn't help, sorry.  (drat that
    dratted Nintendo!)
    
    I've gotten all four orbs and have been roaming the Castle of
    Fiends, at level 37 and counting, but I see no way to get through
    the whole thing without those additional spells.  Help!
    
    BTW - I'm going to be on vacation Monday and Tuesday, home alone,
    but not wasting any more time searching for this magic.  If
    you know, give me a call (collect, if necessary) 206/483-8656.
    
    Joel
    

    I would also appreciate any hints about the other level 8 spells.  I
    have been wandering around forever trying to find them.   I have met
    Chaos and been defeated many times - so hopefully the other spells will
    be my salvation.   

    re: .26
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler on level 8 spells and spoiler on masmune sword]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Level 8 spells are in two locations:
    
    
    1. City of Gaia - go left, and up, towards the potion shop.
    You'll see an opening on the right a few steps up - just go
    right in.  These are the shops I walked right by many, many
    times, with a blind memory spot - thought they were level
    7 shops.  
    
    2. City of Leifin - go up and then all the way right, and then
    up again.  You'll see a break in the bushes - go out (you're
    going right) and you'll find the two shops.  They have one
    spell each.
    
    
    The sword -
    
    
    
    
    
    (from a few back)
    
    
    
    
    I never found it either, but by process of elimination it has to
    be in a chest right near Chaos.  In fact, you get two chances,
    after meeting Chaos (who is Garland in disguise) to back off and
    do some searching.  I didn't and was able to beat him without the
    sword.  But I could have done it at a much lower level (my guys
    were all lever 47 or so) with the swords)
    
    
    Joel
    

    I'm not going to put this behind a spoiler, because I'm not
    talking about anything not contained in the game instructions.
    
    My opinion - do the Ice Cave before the Fire Cave so you can
    get the floater, with which you get the airplane.  With
    the airplane you can do what you need to do to change
    classes.  (e.g., from Fighter to Knight)  When you change
    classes you qualify for the "warp" and "exit" spells, and
    having those spells makes dungeon exploring much easier.
    
    You can go in on the upper levels, collect the treasures in
    the chests, warp out, etc.  
    
    So - my opinion - do the Ice Cave before you do the fire
    cave.
    
    Joel
    

    Well, I didn't want to use the booklet, so information in there was a
    spoiler for me when I started.  The booklet is nothing *but* a spoiler. 
    I read up until the North Bridge, and then skipped to the end.  That
    was when I realized that I didn't want to read the details - I would
    rather figure them out myself.  I was quite surprised to read that I
    had done things in the "wrong" order...
    
    But, I agree with your opinion - even though I didn't use the floater
    right away, since you get better armor and goodies in the cave.
    
    - Chris

    RE: .29
    
    Yeah, I should have mentioned that the people you talk with in
    the game also suggest you do the volcano cave and then the
    ice cave.  
    
    I'm not sure there is a "wrong" order, but when it comes to 
    exploring caves, it's nice to be able to warp right out rather
    than fight your way back out.  And you can't get the "warp"
    and "exit" spells until you change class.  You can't change
    class until you get the floater/airship.  Therefore, in
    my opinion, a more efficient order is: ice cave _then_ 
    volcano cave.
    
    As for the instructions, yes, they're spoilers, and I didn't
    really read them until after they were irrelevant.  But I think
    the people you talk with are so clear on what you need to do
    that the first part of the quest is really pretty easy, at
    least in terms of figuring out where you need to go and what
    you need to do when you get there.  Come to think of it,
    the whole game is really pretty easy in that sense.  And once you
    get the airship you can move around very easily.
    
    One criticism - the monster chart has only limited use.  Aside from
    the fact that the gold and experience point ratings are consistently
    wrong, if you take it at face value re: a monster's weak point,
    you are likely to get burned, quite literally.  It's best to either
    have a good memory or make a little chart for the stronger monsters.
    Some of them are very, very tough unless you know what their weak
    points are.  
    
    Overall - great graphics, and a lot of fun.  But it's not that 
    tough.  Maybe Nintendo is trying to not be overwhelmed with 
    "spoiler" calls.  Who knows?  It's a super game, very large
    in scale, and it takes a lot of time to complete.  But I'm 
    looking forward to "Pools of Radiance" an AD&D slate to come
    out by the end of the summer.
    
    Those AD&D games - well, they can definitely be tough...
    
    Joel
    

    I'm stuck.  I finally got into the Mirage Tower and made it to the
    fifth or sixth floor.  Problem:  No matter whether I walk north,
    south, east, or west, I find nothing and just keep coming back to
    the teleporter which takes me back to where I've been.  It's just
    a big maze.  What am I doing wrong?!
    
    Sandie

    RE: .31
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    There is a way out - a way to the monster - but I can't remember
    exactly the route.  I do remember that I started off going west,
    then (I think) north, west, and then south.
    
    But I believe the maze, if you could make it a physical thing,
    is in the shape of a 3D cube.  This might help with mapping.
    But, for sure, if you just go in one direction, you'll wind
    up back at the start.  You've got to do some zigging and zagging,
    and keep in mind the cube shape.
    
    Joel
    

    Hi Joel !!!
      Want to try a tough game ? Get Friday the 13th !! Real Bu** Kicker !
    
    Jim

	Hi,

	What level were your party members and what classes was your
	party comprised of when you were able to get all the way through
	either the Ice cave or Fire cave ???

	My party members are all at level 17, fighter, thief, white
	mage and black mage... The thief is a huge waste of time if
	you ask me...Each is equipped with good armor and weapons yet
	the monsters in either of the caves wipe me out almost as soon
	as go down a level or two...I mean I've used up 99 heal potions
	in the Fire Cave alone on the first couple of levels...

	Is there something I've missed ? or do I have to keep roaming
	around outside for hours on end hoping to progress several
	more levels ????

	Thanks,

	Joe

    re: .34
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler comments]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    I think my party members were about level 23 or 24.  My party
    consists of: two fighters, white magician, black magician.  
    Haven't used the thief.
    
    Yes, I do think you'll have to build up your party a bit before
    tackling the caves.  Great place to do it is in the instruction
    book.  I think it's the earth cave, not sure of the name.
    But it's in the cave that's southwest of the first town you
    get to when you give the tnt to the dwarf.
    
    There's a place on the first level - it's the sidebar directly
    west of the stairs - that is populated exclusively by giants
    and iguanas.  These are strong monsters and you get them at
    every step.  My method: once you reach the place where they
    strike, don't keep going forward.  Just go up and down, so
    if you get low on potions and etc., you can step right
    out.  You get these monsters with every step.  They're 
    tough, but don't have magic, and at level 17 you should be
    able to whack quite a few before you have to go back to
    an inn.  Lots of gold and experience.
    
    But this is why I say to do the ice cave first.  If you
    get the floater there, you can get the airship.  And if
    you get the airship you can do what you need to do to
    change class.  When you do that, you can get the warp
    and exit spells.  This makes the caves easier.  You
    only have to be strong enough to get in.  You don't
    have to be strong enough to get in and then battle
    your way out.
    
    Tip for ice cave:  on second level, from stairway, go
    down (south) and then east.  You'll avoid some mages,
    who are deadly.
    
    Joel
    

    OK - I finished this game this weekend.
    
    Some spoilers on party construction and picking spells:
    
    Black belts are a waste of time.  They just can't use good enough armor
    or weapons.  True, you don't have to spend a lot on them, but you get
    what you pay for.  And since every cave has weapons and armor aplenty,
    you don't pay anything for fighters, either!  So take black belts only
    if you are intentionally trying to make the game more difficult for
    yourself.
    
    On the other hand, fighters seem grossly out of balance.  Especially so
    when you figure that with the devices available, fighters can get
    access to almost every spell that is generally useful.  The armor that
    they can wear means they hardly ever get hurt, and they seem to have an
    innate resistance to death spells that borders on the incredible. 
    
    I think you could solve this game easily with a party of four fighters.
    I've restarted the game this way just for laughs.  It's kinda neat. 
    For example, you start up, go into town, buy four rapiers and armor for
    everyone, and then walk up to the Castle of Fiends and whack out
    Garland without needing to build up to it.  As the commercials say,
    "Just Do It."
    
    I've cleaned out all the way through the Cave of Marsh, without being
    seriously threatened with the death of anyone in the party.  I've
    never had to run from *any* monster, including the Crawls that gave me
    so much trouble the first time through.  It will be interesting to see
    how this theory holds up in the tougher dungeons.
    
    But, if you are going to take magic users:  When picking white magic
    spells, do not miss *any* of the anti-this or that spells.  I
    mistakenly did not take AICE with my white mage the first time, and
    that made things quite a bit more difficult later on.  (Notice that the
    defensive spells don't help much if the monsters attack by surprise,
    but other than that it can be handy.)
    
    When picking black magic, *always* pick a spell that causes damage over
    a spell that kills the victim outright.  The "kill" spells seem really
    neat - but then you notice that the tough monsters are almost always
    immune.  So against tough monsters they aren't useful, and who needs
    them against wimpy monsters?  Stick with spells that cause damage, and
    use the bane sword or something like that if you need to wipe out large
    numbers of wimpy monsters.
    
    Last tip:  Items can be used in battle even by people that can't wield
    or wear them!  My black belt successfully used the heal helmet, the
    bane sword and the mage staff in battle, even though I cannot "equip"
    him with any of them.

    re: .36
    possible spoiler:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Regarding the Black Belt.....I love this character.  Of course, in the
    beginning, I kept equiping him with a weapon.  He couldn't hit the
    broad side of a barn.  But......as soon as I took all weapons away
    and let him fight with his bare hands (which is the secret) he now
    does between 4 and 6 hits each time with a damage rate of between
    300 and 650 points!
    
    Sandie

      Re: .36

      I've been playing Final Fantasy for a couple of weeks now and I
      have never "used" anything in battle.  How does this work?

      By the way I have not looked at the instruction book much since
      it is too much of a spoiler.  Maybe that's why I missed the part 
      about using items.

                                             - Dave

    re: .37
    
    Hmmm.  Interesting thought!  Mayhap I'll give that a try.
    
    He only became useful with a weapon when I gave him the masmune. 
    (Xcalber did quite nicely with my fighter.)  Then he and the fighter
    were each doing 300 - 500 points a whack against Chaos.  (I *hated* it
    when Chaos did the CUR4 spell on himself!)
    
    Too bad this game takes only one game!  I've wiped out my high level
    party by saving my four fighter game, so it would take a while to get a
    black belt up to useful level again.
    
    Does this improve the black belts ability to defend himself, too?  I
    was constantly repairing him, because he took so much damage...
    
    - Chris

    re: .38
    
    
    When picking your options on the battle menu, one of them is "item". 
    At the beginning of the game, this is useless, as none of your items
    are likely to do anything.  At the end of the game it is very valuable.
    
    Hint:  Try using *everything* in battle.  Even armor can do quite
    surprising things!

    Re:  39
    
    My black belt didn't suffer that much damage without armor.  Somewhere
    along the line I picked up a bracelet or something (I'll check this
    weekend).  He was able to wear it and this cut down on HP's taken.
    
    But try fighting bare handed.  What a kick!!!  He's a tough little
    dude with fists ONLY!
    
    Sandie

	I made a comment in .34 that thieves were a huge waste of time...

	I based that thought on the fact that, like the black belt, the
	thief can only wear wooden or no armor. When you start progressing to
	tougher monsters the wooden armor just isn't enough. The Thief
	gets some serious damage done to him...Most of my heal potions are
	consumed by the thief. My fighter rarely needs one.

	On the other hand, the thief is capable of using a sword. Although
	the thief doesn't get 6 attacks per round like the black belt, I
	regularly get 2 attacks per round at level 17. Multiple attacks
	and the use of a sword make the thief a good offensive character.
	The damage he inflicts is less than the fighter but it is still
	pretty good.

	The two classes seem to be similar except for what type of weapons
	they can use.

	We'll see what happens when I can change the class of the thief.
	At least then he can wear some better armor...

	Anyone else have any thoughts ?

    re: .42
    
    I finished this game once and am almost done with it the second
    time around.
    
    My feeling on forming a party: I think I'd use some combination
    of ninja/fighter for the first three guys, and either a white
    magician or a red magician for the fourth.
    
    You definitely need, as someone pointed out, the `anti' magics.
    I think you also need the warp and/or exit spells, both of which
    are available to red mage and white mage.
    
    The black mage can be helpful at the intermediate stages with
    lit and ice and fir spells.  Helpful, but not essential.
    By the time you get to the final stages, not too many of the
    killer spells are really very tough.  Besides - the white mage
    has the various harm spells and they're very effective against
    gheists and ghosts and skeletons and other "undead" monsters.
    
    Plain old fanny-kicking goes a long way in this game.  And since
    you can pick up certain items that, when used in battle as an
    item, act like fire and/or lightning spells, you can have 
    tough guys who can hit and who can also throw "spells" once
    they get certain items.
    
    Anyway, this is how I'd do it if I were to do it again.  But
    twice is enough for me...
    
    Joel
    

My son and I have been playing FF for a week now and we both think its
everything we were expecting.  After tromping through bushes and fighting
all sorts of monsters, we have two fighters, a white mage and a black mage
all up to at least level 9 with a variety of impressive weapons and spells.

I need to get the answer to some questions, so if anyone has advice please
send in a spoiler:

1.  After getting the TNT, it seems that an Elf took it in one of the caves
    without giving me anything in exchange.  Did I miss something?

2.  How do I get to the ICE cave.  I think I need a canoe or something (where
    do I get it?).

3.  I have several different weapons that don't seem to have different 
    offensive strengths.  How do I know which one is better in battle?
    Falchon, Were Sword, Dragon Sword, etc.  I've looked in the chart and
    many have comparable hit values, is there more to selecting a weapon
    besides its 'value'?

Advice solicited - an avid Final Fanatic

    Re .44:
    
    > 1.  After getting the TNT, it seems that an Elf took it in one of the
    > caves without giving me anything in exchange.  Did I miss something?
    
    Yes -- there has been a change outside the cave.
    
    > 3.  I have several different weapons that don't seem to have different 
    > offensive strengths.  How do I know which one is better in battle?
    
    I equip one of my characters with a weapon and then check their status
    to see how high their offensive power is -- then repeat with different
    weapons.  As far as plain offensive power goes, I think that number is
    it.  A theory has been proposed that some of the weapons have special
    uses, perhaps in battle against certain monsters, but I haven't tested
    that yet.  (E.g., Were Sword might be usable as an item against
    weresolves.)
                
    
    				-- edp

    
    Re .45
    
    > A theory has been proposed that some of the weapons have
    > special uses, perhaps in battle against certain monsters. . . 
    
    This is true.  I have used the fire sword against ice monsters and
    vice versa with the ice sword.  If you use the right weapon, the amount
    of damage you can cause is incredible.  Also try to use weapons as
    items, the light axe has been most useful in this respect.
    
    Now if I can only figure out what to do against 'mechs. . . .
    
    								-Andy
    

    re: .46 and earlier
    
    (Where did you run into mechs?  I never even saw one, and finished the
    game.  I must have missed something.  Is it in the waterfall caverns?)
    
    The theory about special purpose swords seems to be correct for more
    than just the ice and fire swords.  The Giant sword almost always kills
    even Red Giants in one blow...

    re: .47, .47
    
    
    
    
    re: Warmechs
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    The only place I've run into them is in the desert/floating castle,
    the one where you restore the fourth orb.  In fact, the only
    place in this castle I've run into them is on the final runway
    before the monster.
    
    The only way I know of to beat them, since nothing works very
    well, is just keep whacking them and hope for the best.
    
    In my opinion, I'd rather meet Chaos than a warmech.  They
    are rough old boys!
    
    Joel
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    How does a weapon become an "item"?  Is this for those that are
    found only and not for anything purchased?
    
    
    Thx
    Bob

    When in battle, you are given several options for each character.  If I
    remember correctly, they are:
    
    Fight     \
    Magic      \
    Drink       >  Order may be incorrect.
    Run        /
    Item      /
    
    if you pick option 'Item', it shows you what that character possesses. 
    Selecting one of those items means that character will attempt to
    invoke the magic of that item when it is his turn.
    
    Most items don't have magic, and hence don't do anything.  Some of them
    do.  I've found items that damage the entire enemy party, that heal
    your own party, that make your party invisible, and that attempt 'slay'
    spells on each of your enemies.
    
    I've never bought anything that also has an affect when picked as an
    item.  But then, I haven't bought everything, either.
    
    - Chris

    Thanks...  It sounds as if the only things that become items are
    those that are found, not bought.  I haven't found a way to transfer
    something from a character to the item catagory.  
    
    Another question....when the party finds something other than gold,
    does it automatically go to the party's leader?
    
    
    
    Bob

    Items don't need to be found, they can be bought also if I remember
    correctly.
    
    You could buy 3 weapons for your main character.  If you only "Equip"
    one, the other two will show as items during the fight scene.
    
    Sandie

    re: .51
    
    yes, it goes to the leader unless the leader is already `full.'
    Each character can carry four armors and four weapons.  If
    your leader has four of something possession of the item will
    default to the next one, and so on.
    
    Personally, I have tried to make sure that the last couple of
    guys in the party always have a cheap, extra item to facilitate
    trades.  
    
    Joel
    

    Re .53:
    
    > Personally, I have tried to make sure that the last couple of
    > guys in the party always have a cheap, extra item to facilitate
    > trades.  

    I think you can trade objects with blank spots.
    
    
    				-- edp

    Re: last few
    
    Thanks for the info...makes sense now.  Yes, you can trade items
    with blank spots.
    
    
    
    Bob

    Location of Masmune sword and use of a Black Belt:
    
    P.S. I had the sword and still got wiped out with a level 24 team and
    my White Magician dead before I got to Chaos. 
    
    With a team of 2 Fighters, one Black Belt, and a White Magician I
    was able to enter the ICE cave at level 16 and get the floater,
    make the class change, and quickly go through the ICE and FIRE caves
    and get all the goodies.
    
    On the level before Chaos where you enter in the top left corner
    and exit from the top right, there is a path leaving the bottom
    right that goes off to an isolated room. This is where the sword
    is.  I lost track of how may down but this is were the AIR monsters
    are.
    
    Since I lost my only member with the exit spell just after
    finding the sword, I have to go back and get it again.
    

    Note about Black Belt
    
    Don't equip the Black belt with anything (Wepon or armor).  Once he
    reaches level 20 he can out fight a fighter with anything less than the
    MASUME. He can't lead the party since he can't take the hits but when
    you want to get rid of something with one turn, 400-600 damage works
    nicely.
    
    It does help to have a White Magican around just in case he does
    get killed. 

	RE: .55

>    Location of Masmune sword and use of a Black Belt:
    
>    P.S. I had the sword and still got wiped out with a level 24 team and
>    my White Magician dead before I got to Chaos. 
    
>    With a team of 2 Fighters, one Black Belt, and a White Magician I
>    was able to enter the ICE cave at level 16 and get the floater,
>    make the class change, and quickly go through the ICE and FIRE caves
>    and get all the goodies.

	My party:

	Fighter
	Thief
	White Mage
	Black Mage

	I definitely must have chosen the wrong party makeup...I had all of
	my members at level 24 before I *barely* made it through the Ice Cave.
	Those mages and sorcerers wiped me out countless times..with the old
	sorcerer attacks fighter..."slain"...the same thing happened with the
	mages. Is there a trick to beating these things ???

	Anyway, I now have the floater. Without giving too much away, does
	"making the class change" have anything to do with "bringing back
	proof of your courage" ? I don't want an out right spoiler, just a
	hint to point me in the right direction...

	Thanks,

	Joe

    re: .57
    
    
    
    
    [hint]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Yes, you will find something that, when given to the character
    that wants proof of your courage, will result in your class
    change.
    
    
    Joel
    

    My 11-year old son Dan and I finally beat the game this week after
    playing a SINGLE GAME over three weeks.  Wow!  I think Final Fantasy
    gave us a lot of play for the buck, but once beaten it's not the
    same any more.
    
    I don't think this is a game for Nintendo novices, and prior play
    with Zelda or Link would be good preparation.  The only thing I
    missed in FF was some real-time action using agility and dexterity.
    Most of the battles required strategy, luck and a good memory, but
    not what I call SKILLS.
    
    Frank (and Dan)

       
        I must have missed something. I'm in the Temple of Fiends and
    can't get the plate on the floor to open. Mail or spoiler will be
    appreciated.
    
                                                       Phil
    

    re: .60
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler follows]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    I assume you have all four orbs and are now at the place
    right near Castle Coneria?  Just use the lute and
    you'll get in.
    
    But I'm wondering... there's a plate on the floor in
    one of the caves.  Could this be the place to which
    you are referring?
    
    Joel
    

  I'm at a point where I think I'm stuck. I don't really want a spoiler (if
  possible) I just want enough of a hint to get me going again. This is where
  I am :

  [potential spoiler]
   

  
   I have three orbs, the cube and the slab. I haven't figured out how to get
   into Mirage Tower yet. I have been trying to find Professor Unne and I've
   been trying to find a floating city that has been hinted at. Have I missed
   a clue somewhere that would help me figure this out or am I just dense?

        thanks,

             - bob -

    RE: .62
    
    
    
    [semi-spoilers]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    re: Dr. Unne - since you don't want a spoiler I'll just say
    this: he is in one of the towns in the north.  Visit
    every town and talk to everyone and you'll find him.
    
    re: the floating palace
    
    I'm sure you've seen it but not recognized it becuase the entrance
    to the palace and the first few levels are at surface level.
    Again, it's in the north.  Look for topographical features you
    haven't yet investigated.  A further hint - you can't get into
    this place until you find Dr. Unne, visit the town that Unne's
    translations help you in, and talk with everyone in that town.
    
    Joel
    

  I have searched Onrac and Gaia at least 6,784 times each and I still can't
  find Prof. Unne. I'm ready for an outright spoiler so I can finish this game
  and start living a normal life again.

           thanks,

                 - bob -

    Re:  -1
    
    Bob,
    
    Is this DOCTOR Unne? that you're looking for?  If so, he was in a town
    where the hospital burned down.  I can get more specific, if you need
    me to.
    
    Sandie

    RE: .64
    
    
    I believe that the instructions that come with the game are
    very specific on this.  If not, let me know - I can tell you
    exactly where to find the elusive Dr. Unne.
    
    Joel
    

    I am going to by this game and am wondering if a few people could tell
    me what they think the best party is.

    RE: .67
    
    I finished this one three times with three different parties.
    I know for sure that it can be done many ways.  I have no
    doubt that others will disagree, but... I like either
    three fighters and a white magician or two fighters, a
    black belt and a white magician.  Reason: when you get
    towards the very end of the game, plain old-fashioned
    hiney-kicking is what you need.  And fighters and black
    belts have it.  You absolutely need to have the "exit"
    spell, so make sure you have at least one character who
    can use that spell.  I like the white mage/magician
    for his ability to use anit-undead spells, heal spells,
    and (of course) the exit spell.
    
    Whatever you do, I suspect you will enjoy the game, if
    only for its length.
    
    Joel
    

    
    RE .67/68
    
    I liked using a black belt as well as two fighters.  It may not
    be any easier but it does make for fun.  Just don't equip the black
    belt with anything!  By the time you hit the higher levels the black
    belt can out fight a fighter even with the best weapon in the game.
    
    The white magician is needed to help keep the party from going back
    and forth to towns every few moves and without the exit spell the
    game would be a real pain.  A Black magician is fun to play but
    you spend a lot of time trying to get enough money for spells and
    keeping him alive.
    
    Since I like using magic over force in D&D type games I was suprised
    at how much this game has a bias to fighting.  Most games are
    easier at the start with fighters and the magicians pass them in
    the latter stages.  That doesn't happen in Final Fantasy.
    
    Now for anther game as good as this one!
    

    
    
    	Here is a question for those of you who have completed or are 
    	very much into the game.
    
    
    	Can someone tell me 
    
    	What is the gold value of the MASMUNE ?
    
    	How much would you pay for both LIF2 and NUKE ?
    
    
    	Wayne

    re-2
    
    Thanks for the info I am picking up the game today and plan to use 2
    fighters a black belt and a white magition.
    
    mike
    

    TO EVERYBODY, PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN .70.
    
    To the author of .70, play the contest fair and square.  Do your own
    work.
    
    The questions in .70 come from Nintendo's contest, for which real money
    and prizes are at stake.  If you know the answers, enter the contest
    yourself.  I'll provide you with an address and instructions if you
    need them.
    
    
    				-- edp

    re: party selection
    
    	Well, my first time through I used a fighter and red, white,
    and black mages, and beat chaos the first time against him (level
    43 for all 4 characters).  As far as progressing in the game, my
    fighter kept dying early, then my red mage later on.  The only time
    my white mage died was against chaos, and the black mage died about 
    3 times throughout the game.  I found this game very much biased 
    towards magic users early on, but later on it favored fighters/blackbelts.  
                                                                  
    	This time through, I'll be trying it with NO magic users, to
    see how well I do.
                            
    
    
    			      Tony 
    
         

    re: .73
    
    Good luck with no magic users because [spoiler follows] you
    know this but others won't:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler]
    
    You cannot get out of the Castle of Fiends, after having obtained
    all four orbs, without the exit spell of the next level spell.
    Be sure you're strong enough to go all the way through the
    first time around!
    
    Joel
    

    re: No magic
    
    
    I finished the game with four fighters.  It took me 4 or 5 tries to
    kill Chaos - I just was too low a level when I first got there. 
    Finally killed him when I had all fighters up to level 27, I believe.
    
    The rest of the game, up to Chaos, was extremely easy.  Fighters are
    over-balanced in this game.  
    
    - Chris

    re:.74
    
    spoiler info follows:
    
    
    
    	But that's the point, once I'm in, I go all the way, or I die.
     It gives the game more of a challenge that way.  I already know
    I can beat the game using mages, so try it without them!!
    
    
    
    				Tony

    
    
    
    	re. 72
    
    	I don't even have this game. I was asking for my 7 year old nephew
    	
    	He gets the Nintendo mag and asked me if I could check these notes
    	for the answer to those questions
    
    	 
        >insert flame here<
    
    	Its not like there is a million bucks at stake, cut him some slack
    	he's only 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    	Its just a game, didn't know this was a cut throat type of game
    	and contest.
    
    	>end of flame<
    
    	sorry I mentioned it.	
    
    	

    The best mix we've found for the party of Light Warriors is:
    
    			FIGHTER
    			BLACK MAGE
    			WHITE MAGE
    			FIGHTER
    
    This mixture allowed us some good *ss-kicking power, with a balance
    of offensive and defensive magic.  Fighters covered both flanks
    and the cure/heal spells worked well to keep the party going.
    
    At present, we're trying it with four fighters and its real tough
    without some of the more powerful spells missing.
    
    Frank (and 11-year-old Dan)

    I am presently at level 19 with 1 orb restored{the earth one} and my
    party consists of three fighters and a white mage. I have got axes for
    my fighters and the silver hammer for my mage. Silver armor for the
    fighters and silver bracelet for my mage. Here are my questions.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    1- I need a spoiler on all of the following.
    
    
    - Where are the fire,ice,and Sun swords located.
    -Where is the white shirt the gold bracelet the opal and Dragon armor
    and ice and flame.
    -I have gone into a castle {I think it is the castle of ordeal} that
    every column you walk into warps you to another part of the floor.
    - I have bumped into sorcerers at this place with 400 hit points and
    with one attack they kill me poof like that. What am I doing wrong
    fighting them.
    - And what items are used in battle. I have tried many but I have had
    no success with any.
    
    
    
    All help appreciated.
    
    Thanks in advance 
    /mike
    

    re: .79
    
    
    
    
    [spoilers follows]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Unless someone has taken extensive notes you probably won't
    find exact locations to the various swords and so on.
    But they are all in treasure chests in the various caves.
    If I recall, the flame armor/sword are in the volcano,
    close to the main monster.  The ice sword is in the
    ice cave a level up from where you get the floater.  There's
    some good stuff in chests in the castle of ordeal.
    
    But, as I say, you just have to look in every chest in
    every cave.  
    
    As for the castle of ordeal, I don't think you're doing 
    anything wrong.  I just think you need to be a few levels
    stronger to go through it.  Get up to level 24-25 and
    try again.  It's definitely a tough one.
    
    On the use of items, here are a few that you can use
    in battle: zeus helmet, heal helmet and staff, and
    so on.  What I always did when I got a new item was
    to get into a fight with wimpy monsters (so there
    was no danger of being killed) and just try the
    item(s) out.  Most of the stuff you find can't be
    used as an item, but the ones that can are great.
    A couple act like LIT2 or FIR2-type spells, except
    their use is unlimited.  Get two or three of those
    kind of items and parties with multiple monsters
    can disappear fast!
    
    Joel
    

    How many levels are there in this game. In a prebious note someone was
    at level 47. How many hit points do you have.

    re: .81
    
    Highest level is 50.  My lead character (a fighter) had
    about 908 at that point.
    
    Joel
    

    I need help on the combination to get through the mirage maze. Actually
    I need an outright spoiler. I have been trying for days and I have not
    been able to get out of it.
    
    I have read in the instruction booklet that cur4 cures all allies but
    my cur4 only cures one ally. Is this a misprint in the booklet or do I
    have to do some thing to increase my magic power.
    

    
    re:-1
    
    My instruction book has the same misprint but the map/chart sheet
    that came with my game has it right.. It does only cure one ally..
    
    I have completed this game once but never found the Masmune. Anybody
    have any hints to where this might be?
    
    Steve
    
    

    My wife and I just finished playing this game together.  We both loved
    it.  As to the last couple of questions:

    .83>    I need help on the combination to get through the mirage maze.
    .83>    Actually I need an outright spoiler. I have been trying for days
    .83>    and I have not been able to get out of it.
    .83>
    .83>    I have read in the instruction booklet that cur4 cures all allies
    .83>    but my cur4 only cures one ally. Is this a misprint in the booklet
    .83>    or do I have to do some thing to increase my magic power.

    The book and charts are wrong in a couple places.  We had the best luck
    using the charts for hints, but used the "STATUS" command to check which
    armor and weapons were really the best.  As to the mirage maze, instead of
    a spoiler (which I can't give since my maps are at home), I'll give you
    advice:  just make a simple map of where you've been.  It's really not
    very complicated, compared to some of the other caves.  Note:  Sometimes
    you can see places you can't actually get to!

    .84>    I have completed this game once but never found the Masmune.
    .84>    Anybody have any hints to where this might be?

    Sure, all you have to do is:

    Remember just before you get to Chaos, there is a chain of square rooms.
    If you take the top path of the last room, you run into the last Fiend,
    and then go on to Chaos.  Instead of fighting the fiend, go down, and to
    the right.

Doug

    [mirage maze spoiler follows]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Go left two aisles and down.  It'll look like you're back
    at the start, but you're not.  Go in the transport hole
    and good luck!  (you might meet a Warmech in there and
    they're killers!)
    
    Joel
    

My son and I just finished yesterday.  had a great time.

Having completed the game I then dug out his nintendo strategy guide which I
had hidden before we started.  I was shocked!  It lists every treasure chest,
every room, path, etc.  It lists every weakness of every enemy and even tells
how much Masmune is worth!

re: previous note about machs...  it mentioned the odds of encountering one is
1 is 64.

-mark

    Well, I learned a hard lesson last night !! After fighting my way
    through the Earth Cave, defeating the Vampire, getting a much needed
    item, and accruing about 40000 golds, I let my attention wander and
    the next thing I knew, wham !! bam !! no Red magician, bash ! no
    black magician, slash !! no fighter, then the mummies attacked my
    black belt. He put a valiant fight but the last mummy slayed him.
    All my work went up in smoke !! Taught me that you must pay attention
    to hit point levels all the time. I had plenty of heal potions to
    get the party out of the cave even without magic but never got a chance
    to use it because of inattention. Oh well, at least I know that I can
    slay the Vampire at my present level !!!
       I am having a great time playing this game, especially since I quit
    looking at the booklet. My party is made up of fighter, black belt, red
    magician, black magician. I hope this setup will get me to the end but
    I am already wishing I had a White magician because of the spells that
    are available to him.
    
    Jim Cooper

    re: .88
    
    My guess is that any party having at least one fighter and
    one guy who can do the "exit" spell can make it to the end.
    But I found that a party heavy on fighters with only one
    magic guy is easier in the beginning, tougher in the middle,
    and easier at the end, when the monsters just laugh at most
    of your magic spells.
    
    Good luck.  Treat those ugly brute monsters like a Titleist
    and you'll have no trouble at all!
    
    Joel
    

    Hi Joel !!
      Glad to know that my party should be able to make it through.
    I went back to the Earth Cave and whacked the vampire for good.
    Watched my hp levels closely and it was really easy. The only time
    I was in trouble was from 5 wizards that stunned everyone and then 
    beat on them for a while, luckily my fighter and black belt got
    cured in time to take out the wizards before I lost any member.
      I saw Titan and Sarda and tonight I'm primed for the Earth Fiend !!
    That was a good sugestion in one of your previous spoilers about
    fighting the Giants and Iguanas to gain experience and gold. You 
    can really rack up the totals in a hurry.
        How was sleeping in the office the other night ??? Ha-Ha !!!!
    
    Jim Cooper

    re: .90
    
    Well, I'd rather sleep in the office than in the Earth Cave!
    
    But after the holidays I will share the tips contained in a
    little booklet I bought for my 11 1/2 year old daughter.  It
    is an absolutely complete guide to Final Fantasy.
    
    Don't worry, it won't be a "how to."  But there are some
    interesting objects/weapons/armor you find along the way
    that seem to have little or no use.  I finished this game
    three times but was helplessly unaware that some of the
    stuff I had rejected as useless did in fact have very
    specialized uses.  
    
    Thus, I will enter a list of the items and what you can
    use them for.  Hmmm... I seem to recall something special
    to deal with those Wizards...
    
    Joel
    

    Hi Joel-
    
        Forget about those Wizards, they are whimps !!!!! I
    got the four orbs lit and am now back in the Temple of
    Fiends trying to find Chaos. I get killed pretty quickly
    but have managed to explore most of the dungeons. I killed
    the four fiends over again as I went lower but then was so
    low on hp and magic, no heal potion left, etc. that I had
    to use Exit to get out . I feel that I was close to the
    encounter with Chaos but didn,t want to lose all the levels
    I had gained. Now when I go back in it seems that almost
    every attack is by four Frost Dragons. They kick my behind
    pretty quickly. I have everyone in the party at level 37 or
    38 now but I guess I will need to be stronger or maybe luckier
    in my battles to finish this game. I'm not frustrated or
    anything, just have to build my levels a little bit.
    
    Jim

    re: .92
    
    There's a particular item you can use to defend against
    those savage Ice Dragons.  I'll try to remember to bring
    in the Final Fantasy book tomorrow and I'll list the various
    special items/weapons/armor and where you find them.  An
    example:
    
    
    [semi-spoiler follows]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    The rub spell, used by Mages and others, can be neutralized
    by wearing the pro ring.  This ring has little utility against
    being hit, but is a special item to be used against that
    particular spell.
    
    Good luck!
    
    
    Joel
    

    
    	I believe I may have made a serious error.  I recently went to
    	the close out sale in the oasis of the desert in the upper left
    	hand corner of the game map.  I bought a bottle and not knowing 
    	what it was I opened it up and I think it stated a fairy flew 
    	away.  This bottle cost be 50,000 gold pieces.  I went back to
    	the desert to try and buy another bottle after I got together the 
    	necessary cost but the oasis was gone.  Do I need the bottle with
    	the fairy in it?  Will I have to restart the game.
    
    	Also there is one island that I cannot land on with the helicopter
    	due to not enough of flaty ground.  How do I get onto the island.
    	This is the chain of islands on the left hand side of the map.
    
    	One last thing, How do I get the submarine functional?
    
    
    	

    Re .94:
    
    I think releasing the fairy anywhere is okay.  Go to the fairy pond
    that was empty before; the fairy should have flown there.
    
    For the submarine, you need oxygen (oxyale?) and maybe something else
    -- I'll check my notes if oxygen is not enough.
    
    
    				-- edp

    re: .94, .95
    
    .95 is correct.  Go back to the empty pond and you will now find
    a fairy.  Talk to her.  Then go back to the girl by the submarine.
    
    As far as the island, if it has a cave, you can land, though
    a couple take practice.  If it doesn't have a cave/hole, don't
    waste your time.  If it does have a cave, just keep trying
    different little spots.
    
    Joel
    

    I just picked up a copy of FF and I'm already stumped. I'm at
    level 8 on all of my characters. I've tried to go into the
    marsh cave, but everytime I go in, some "VILE" beastie comes
    along and wipes me out!!
    Could someone tell me what level I should be at, and what magic
    spells,armor,etc. I should have before venturing into this cave?
    MAJOR SPOILERS gladly welcomed!!!!!

    RE: .97
    
    What level you need to be at depends upon the makeup of the
    party you have.  I think you are about two or three levels
    short.
    
    I would suggest whacking orgres in the area just east of
    where you dock the ship.  (that is, a little northeast
    of the elftown)  Get all the spells you can and buy the
    best weapons and armor that you can.  It just takes time
    and patience to get those levels up and to acquire the
    money you need to buy all the stuff.  But take heart!
    This won't be the last time you need to take a break
    from exploring to whack monsters, but it's about the
    longest time you will have to take.
    
    After you get the crown from the marsh cave and take it
    up to the northwest castle (no spoiler here, as this
    info is in the instruction booklet) things progress at
    a more rapid pace.
    
    Joel
    

    Hi Joel,
             Can I ask where you bought your hint book? Not that
    I plan on following it to the letter, but it would be nice
    to have it to get out of jams......
    
    Mike
    

    re: .99
    
    Yes, I got it a a Toys 'r Us, near the Nintendo games.  It
    was four or five bucks.  I've also seen them at a few
    other toy stores that carry NES.  Pick one up right away!
    
    Joel
    

    I need one "little" spoiler to set me on my way again! Could
    somebody give a clue as to the whereabouts of the elusive 
    "SLAB"????
    
    Mike
    

    
    
    
    re: 101
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [spoiler follows]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    I believe it is in the underground palace (the one you need
    the oxyale to get to) on the mermaid floor.  It is in
    a chest, and to get to the chest you have to go up and
    to the left.
    
    Joel
    

    So my son says, "Hey Dad I thought I'd take a break from Star Tropics
    and start Final Fantasy. After you left for work and before I left for
    school I put my party together. Wanna see it?"
    
    I'm thinking, "Is this game capable of handling multiple games like
    Zelda and Dragon Warrior does?"
    
    He powers up the NES and the menu comes up. He selects "Continue" and
    it immediately goes into his game instead of giving him yet another
    menu where he would select his game.
    
    He looks at me and says "Oh Dad!!!!" He drops to his knees begging for
    forgiveness. I'm stunned, thinking about the 20 hours or so I've put in
    getting my party up to levels 12 and 13 and about all the gold,
    weapons, armor, and magic spells I had collected. I also thought about
    all the necessary things I had labored through to get to the point I
    was at.
    
    It was tough but I was calm. He felt bad enough so I didn't make it
    worse. He decided he would stick to Star Tropics and I would stick to
    Final Fantasy.
    
    I checked the book, the box, the maps. NOne of them indicate the game
    as being a One-Player game. I guess we should have tried it out early
    on instead of waiting a week or so into a game.
    
    Just thought I'd pass this along.
    
    Mike

    re: .103
    
    You are quite right, it is a one quest at a time game.
    
    The appropriate punishment for your son would be to make
    him whack Ogres and Creeps near the Elf Castle for a
    few hours.  That'll teach him!
    
    Joel
    

    It took me about 4 hours to get back to where I was before he decided
    to play.
    
    Got another scare on Saturday. While studying my weapon screen the
    music stopped on one note...like it was stuck. I hit reset and powered
    off.
    
    Powered on...............blank screen.
    
    Powered off......powered on.....
    
    .....blank screen.
    
    Powered off.....stuck another cartridge in.....powered on....
    
    ...blank screen.
    
    Powered off......unplugged power pack....unhooked then rehooked all
    cables...powered on.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
    
    Put in Final Fantasy....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 
    
    Must have been static electricity.
    
    Mike

    BTW -
    
    If, while you're on the ship, you simultaneously hit `A' and 
    `B' 55 times you'll get a little sub-game, just for fun.
    
    Joel
    

    CHAOS fell this morning. I got him the first time I encountered him.
    It is wise to save your higher level spells as you go deeper and deeper
    into the Temple of Fiends.
    
    Also, you really should have White Wizard in your party and equip him
    with MASMUNE.
    
    I thought Tiamat gave me more trouble than CHAOS.
    
    The game will be fresh in my mind for a few weeks so anyone who needs
    some help can send mail.
    
    I'm off to finish Dragon Warrior II.
    
    Mike

    What was your party made up of Mike ? I have played twice and have
    yet to use a white magician. My girlfriend put one in her first
    party but it seemed that the wizard got killed so much of the time
    that he was actually a detriment. My last party was made up of the
    following:   Fighter,Thief,Blackbelt, and Red Mage. I generally
    slugged my way through all obstacles with not much problem. I have
    a lot of fun with this game and am thinking of playing it again
    using 4 fighters just to see how fast I can slug my way through.
        
    
    Jim C. (who can't decide which game to get now !!)  

    I've done it with four fighters.
    
    Don't.  Take a mage or two.
    
    - Chris

    I don't know what parties work for other people, but
    
    my last party was Fighter, Theif, RedMage, WhiteMage.
    
    Benjamin

    I used a Fighter, Thief, White Magician, and a Black Magician.
    
    If I was to do it over again I'd probably use two Fighters and maybe
    substitute a Red Magician for one of the other two.
    
    Mike_who_is_now_hoping_to_finish_Dragon_Warrior_II_in_the_same_week

    Three fighters and a red mage is my ideal party.  I've beaten
    the game three times.
    
    But I doubt there is an ideal party.  You will definitely benefit
    by having someone who can do the `exit' spell.  A red mage has
    both healing and damaging spells and is in my mind ideal.  Can
    wear somewhat better armor, etc.
    
    When you get to Chaos, the only thing that affects him is 
    brute force.  Three fighters and a red mage can do a pretty
    good job on the old boy.
    
    Joel
    

    Is the exit spell necessary to beat this game ? That level of spell is
    already full, and I can't purchase the exit spell. Or is there a way
    for me to get rid of a spell so I can purchase EXIT ??? I don't want to
    start over again. I've already started over three times, for various
    reasons.
    
    thanks
    Conrad
    

    
    The exit spell is not necessary to finish the game.  But it does make
    life (and death) alot easier to deal with.  More behind FF.
    
    							-Andy
    
    
    
    You need the exit spell to bail out of dungeons.  Particularly the last
    one.  Once you go into it, there is no running away unless you have the
    EXIT spell.  As far as I know, you cannot "unlearn" a spell.

    re: .114
    
    I must echo this note.  It's sort of like: is a motor vehicle
    necessary to travel cross-country?  No, you can walk or
    ride a horse.  The exit spell is like having a jet.
    
    Joel
    

    Hi,
    	I beat this game back in October and now I am playing to see how
    high the levels go. So far I am on level 43 and I have found that your
    party becomes quite strong with damage to powerful enemies going well
    over a thousand. My current party consists of two fighters, a red mage
    and a black mage. You really do not need a white mage because between a
    red mage and the many items you encounter, most of his spells would be
    covered.
    	Also, the exit spell is quite necessary because the chances of you
    getting out of the final dungeon are quite low, despite what level
    you're on. If somebody else out there is going for the highest level,
    post a note...
    							Damon
    

    I found that at level 32 I was able to fight my way through the Castle
    of Fiends and defeat Chaos without having to use the exit spell.
    Below that level it was not uncommon to have my entire party wiped
    out before my Red Wizard could cast the spell.
       I have always restarted the game rather than continuing so I have 
    only reached level 32. I believe that someone in this file had some
    players at level 47 but not sure. How about it Joel ? How high did
    you take your party ?
    
    Jim C.

    I believe that the highest level is 50, with an experience maximum of
    999,999 points.  That is also the gold maximum.
    
    Benjamin

    re: .116-.118
    
    .118 is correct.  50 is the max of the max.  My top fighter
    had well over 800 HP.  My party was three fighters and
    one red mage/wizard.  Chaos went down like a whupped
    dog after I gave the masmune sword to the red wizard.
    
    After all the trials and tribulations of this game, 
    running through some of the caves with a kick-*** party
    like this was sort of like sweet, sweet revenge...
    
    Joel
    

    I've been getting back into this game a little bit because I
    have been helping my 12 year-old daughter.  This made me
    investigate the use of certain special items you find along
    the way.  A few notes follow.  No spoiler, as I will be
    telling you how to use them, but not where to find them.
    
    Items to be equipped:
    
    [note - you can simultaneously equip as many "armor" items as
    you can carry, subject to whether or not your character can
    equip that item, of course]
    
    Pro Ring - protects against the rub spell
    Ribbon - protects against a number of special attacks, most helpfully
    the attack of the gas dragons.  (takes off 30-40 HP versu 200 or so!)
    
    
    Items to use (as an item) in battle
    
    3 different heal items, such as heal helmet and heal staff.  Will
    give each character the HP equivalent of one heal potion or one
    level one heal spell.  A good tactic, especially when you have
    found all three, is to waste all but one of a group of relatively
    innocuous monsters.  Select `item' and the heal implement for the
    three characters who have these items, and select anything but
    `fight' or `run' for the fourth character.  Keep doing this until
    your characters are all at their max.
    
    Light Ax - casts HRM2 spell
    
    Thor's Hammer - casts LIT2 spell
    
    Black Shirt - casts ICE2 spell
    
    White Shirt - casts INVS2 spell.  (this is a level six spell, and
    very helpful, particularly when used in conjunction with strategy
    above for healing)
    
    And there's one more which casts FIR2 spell - I'll try to remember
    to post this one on Monday.
    
    All in all, once you get these items, life is much easier, particularly
    when you get to the Castle of Fiends...
    
    Joel
    

    Bane Sword: casts the spell of BANE
    
    Defence: casts the spell of RUSE
    
    Wizard Staff: casts the spell of CONF
    
    Mage Staff: casts the spell of FIR2
    
    Power Gauntlet: protects against SABR
    
    Benjamin

    
    Anyone know how many times I have to beat the wizards in the
    marsh cave to get the crown? 
    
    I've beaten them 3 times so far, so I guess it's more than 3 ;^).
    
    -Tom

    What do you mean 'how many times?'  On the third floor, in the chest
    2nd from the bottom and 2nd from the right, you enter and get attacked
    by Wizards.  After beating them, press the Up button, followed by the A
    button.  A message will tell you that you have the Crown.  Exit the
    cave as quickly as possible.
    
    Benjamin

re:.-1


	I've finally beaten those wizards and gotten the crown and
have decided that you have to be a certain level (or some other criteria)
to get the crown.  

	The first time I went down to fight them, I would beat the
wizards, attempt to open the chest and be faced with more wizards. Iwas
"only" a level 8 or 9. After developing my characters to level 11, I only had
to beat them once. 

	This appears to be the case with some of the chests in
the castle of fiends as well. 

	Does this make *any* sense?

-T

    I've beaten this game a couple of times, but I've recently started
    another party, because:
    
    My three year old loves this game!  Every day after we pick him up
    from daycare he starts a new game, selects his characters, equips them
    in town, and kills Garland.  He then crosses over the bridge to get the
    credits scenes, and comes up to eat supper.  Next day he does it again!
    He really likes "creating" a party and beating up on Garland!
    
    re: .124
    
    The wizards are hard-wired monsters.  Everytime you walk over the
    section of floor where the wizards are, they'll be there again.  Avoid
    walking over that area multiple times if you want to avoid fighting
    them again.
    
    There are hardwired monsters all over the place.  If a certain path
    always seems to cause you to die, it may not be that you have to go out
    and get more levels in order to advance.  It may be as simple as
    varying your route.
    
    Even if you can't take a different route, note that a "light" party,
    which has a good chance to evade, can often "RUN" from a hard-wired
    monster.  This leaves you in the same square, effectively getting you
    past the obstacle without having to defeat it.
    
    - Chris
    

    If any Final Fantasy Expert would please take the time to help a
    latecomer, I'll be eternally grateful.
    
    Here are my questions:
    
    1) Where is the Ice Cave?
    
    2) I found a castle in the north. In it, I walk into the pillars there
    and am transported to another part of the castle. What is that place,
    when should I go there, and what should I do there?
    
    3) Once I get the floater, who(m) do I give it to so I can change class?
    
    My characters are two fighters, a black wizard and a white wizard.
    Their levels are in the upper teens, I believe. At the moment they have
    just finished restoring the Earth orb and getting the canoe. Outright
    spoilers would be great; I have no shame.
    Thanks in advance.
    
    Adam
    
    

    Spoilers:
    1)The Ice Cave is located in the mountains and is only accessable by
    ship and canoe.  To get there, sail north along the costline from the
    dock near Crescent Lake to the first river you see.  Canoe inland, and
    you will eventually reach the Ice Cave, where the floater may be found.
    
    2)The strange castle is the Castle of Ordeals (probably an inspiration
    for Mount Ordeals in FFII).  On the third floor, you will find the
    Tail, which may be brought to Bahamut, who lives in the Cardia Islands
    to the west.  He will grant class change.
    
    3)The sole purpose of the floater is to raise the airship from the
    sands of the Ryukahn Desert, due south of Crescent Lake.
    
    Benjamin

    
    Does anyone know where I can find the adamant to give to
    the blacksmith?
    
    

    Spoiler:
    You won't find the Adamant until the end of your quest.  However, if
    you have the Chime and the Cube, try looking inthe Floating Castle.
    
    Benjamin