Admin: Please replace uploaded movie file with revised file here.
Greil's Mercenaries and Critical Hits:
This movie is largely based on Vykan12's wonderful strategies in his segmented speedrun here [dead link removed] and described here.
The biggest variation of my run is that I utilize Edward instead of some stronger characters (Sothe, Tauroneo, Black Knight). The reason is that his Wrath skill combined with TAS makes him powerful due to high critical hit rate, yet high avoid to survive. Both these are enhanced after I give him Tauroneo's Resolve scroll, which gives 50% speed and skill boost when health drops below 50% (Below 30% needed for Wrath).
Techniques used:
RNG Manipulation: RNG was manipulated to get good stat increases at level up, and for other gameplay purposes such as surviving a turn, or finishing a battle in one round where a critical hit or special skill attack are necessary.
Up until Chapter 1-5, RNG was manipulated by changing the order of battles, where a certain combination will give better results than others.
During Chapter 1-5 it was discovered that selecting an enemy for attack that is on a diagonal with a 2 range weapon will cycle the RNG.
Two methods were used:
- Alternate between weapon and enemy select screens (slow, approx 10 fr/cycle).
- Alternating between the diagonal enemy and another enemy (fast, approx. 2 fr/cycle).
Difficulty came in that RNG Cycling and cursor movement were not consistent. On some levels dead frames would show up where input was not recognized, making these trial and error processes. When RNG cycling and movement was ideal, the TAS process was much less time consuming.
This movie ends with skipping cutscenes and scrolling text as needed until the credits roll and "Fin" screen appears, after which the game hangs and does not proceed to Records unfortunately.
Suggested Screenshot: VI=736999, Edward vs Ike.
Frame count on submission is incorrect by about a factor of 10.
To play .dtm file: Game version is the original, with errors such as Muarim's profile having Mist's description. Ensure only one Gamecube controller is active (disconnect the wiimote).