Fortranm
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Editor, Experienced player (780)
Joined: 10/19/2013
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The fire counter spell isn't really the problem. I was trying to end the run as quickly as possible since it's hopeless. I could keep using fire magic to bait Dalton into using water counter spell all the time so the attack could ether be absorbed or be weakened by the unequip glitch. The real problem is that the team members can't survive Dalton's physical attacks even with full HP and helmets.
ars4326
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Location: Missouri, USA
How often does he use his physical attacks? Are they all single-target? Would you be able to construct a battle plan where you eventually kill off his two henchmen, while one member is assigned to revive as the other chips away Dalton's HP? Also, have you tested whether Dalton is vulnerable to status effects?
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9
Fortranm
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Editor, Experienced player (780)
Joined: 10/19/2013
Posts: 1116
I actually have successfully killed two henchmen earlier by keeping using ICE II. Sadly, the physical attacks become more powerful as Dalton's HP decreases. All three enemies are immune to status effects. The team's speed seems too low for that kind of plan, and even the water counter attack weakened by unequip glitch can deal more than 50HP damage so reviving is almost useless. Here is an encode for the entire run. Link to video The final input file: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/18802063263555770
Editor, Expert player (2013)
Joined: 8/25/2013
Posts: 1199
Heyo. So, I've been messing with this game for the past few days, and I found some uses for existing CT glitches that can be applied to a run. Link to video 1) Stutter-stepping, of course, can be used to skip some triggers. The biggest example of this would be skipping the Heckran fight in 1AD, which would save about 7 minutes. 2) In any round of the arena that isn't the final round, the game allows you to move around and open the menu once you select 'Quit'. This is significant since you can combine this with Save Anywhere to save and reset the game after you close the BP box. Once you reload the save, the area resets. Saves on walking time/battles. On the topic of the arena, the first Hard fight gives 1811 exp if you beat it, which can be easily done with a combination of Glenn's Venom Mist and Lucca's Hypno Wave. It's a far better way to get the exp you need then the 300 exp mobs in the reptile timeline. 3) Fadeout trick to skip the Diablos fight, which saves a minute. I've yet to find other uses for it yet, but hey guess we'll see.
effort on the first draft means less effort on any draft thereafter - some loser
Fortranm
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Editor, Experienced player (780)
Joined: 10/19/2013
Posts: 1116
Another useful trick is duplicating Power Seals at Astur Hill in either Ch.7 or Ch.11. When ever you start a new game after saving and reset, you start the game in a room where you can pick which chapter to go, and NG+ option is always available as well. Since there hasn't been a release for two years and the developers haven't posted anything for a year, it's safe to assume RC7-D is the final release. http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/35435204418443453 Here is a WIP I made some time ago. The general idea is to grind enough BP in coliseum to get Green Dream and glitch one of the alternate final boss(either encounter the final boss from original game in Ch.5, or encounter a Lavos phase one reskin in the NG+ exclusive final battle): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsWMRGYwLxc I will have to redo most of it. I was trying to grind some money for Glenn's weapon in Ch.8, but then I realized money cannot be transferred when I restart the game in NG+ so I have to purchase something before resetting and sell it. It might not even be worth it though. Repeating the first 6 fights of Easy mode in coliseum with Magus solo for 10 times will grant enough BP for Green Dream, but a run like this might be too repetitive to get into Moon tier.
Editor, Expert player (2013)
Joined: 8/25/2013
Posts: 1199
http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/35566506336198317 Here's a testrun I did, which goes up to meeting Ozzie and co. I won't be working on this any further, since I'm....well, doing something else. Feel free to use this as reference if you want. A few notes:
  • The fadeout trick can be used to skip pretty much every boss until Kasmir II from here on out, and heck maybe him too if you do save anywhere over the trigger or something.
  • Ayla is incredibly overpowered, so get her to replace Crono asap.
  • If you CANT skip Kasmir, just toss an elixer at him with Frog.
  • First form of final boss fight can't be elixered, but he might be beatable if I had access to Fire-absorbent armor. No idea if any exists in this game though.
....and notes on optimization
  • I believe the game automatically sets the ATB to Active at the start. Would save a lot of time/attacks to set it to Wait, I would assume.
  • Doing Start + B to GTFO of the menu saves 2-3 frames each time, which I didn't do.
  • The Rainbow is practically worthless, since all you'll really use it for is Yaluk and final boss. Best to reduce farming to just getting enough points for the Green Dream. (Which would mean not farming Naginis for exp and just bum rushing straight to joke Dalton) Might even be worth getting two extras of them, but I'm really not sure.
  • Save the two Speed Tabs I grab for Ayla.
  • whereistheflameabsorbentarmorisweartogod
  • Didn't end up needing the Magic Ring I picked up in Lucca/Robo's section.
  • Holding X (or whatever the menu button is set to) in battle makes your character attack the first available target, even if it's highlighted on Tech or Item. Even better, it leaves the cursor on Tech/Item afterwards. Would save quite a few frames.
effort on the first draft means less effort on any draft thereafter - some loser
Fortranm
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Editor, Experienced player (780)
Joined: 10/19/2013
Posts: 1116
Completing a side quest in Ch.9(1005AG) gives you light-absorbent and light-absorbent armors. I suppose there is no fire-absorbent equipment in this game, and this is why my proof-of-concept died 2 years ago. :(
Fortranm
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Editor, Experienced player (780)
Joined: 10/19/2013
Posts: 1116
DO YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE TROLLED? Link to video http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/38921170581626445 I totally didn't see this coming. There is a hidden final boss fight in Ch.5 in which you fight Mammon Machine and Lavos Cores. I got two Elixir and Greendream for this just to find out... the right bit has an HP of only 3000 so Elixir glitch doesn't work! This is not completely a bad news. The HP of left bit is 4000, and the HP of the humanoid thing is 2000. It should be possible to grind enough exp in a reasonable time to fight this boss without Elixir glitch, but the left bit would still be a pain to deal with since it absorbs magical attacks.