Update:

I didn't get very far, I spent most of my free time tonight finishing off Shining Force. The party is now level 8 with a ton of cash and I'm just about to buy me some goodies before I wreck the Marsh Cave (thank you, Pointy Finger Of Doom).

Crazy, explaining "what he did there"...there's more than one "black belt" rank. The ranks are called "dan", and 9th Dan is the second highest one (10 didn't fit, I guess)

For silly BM names, I've always liked "ZAP!"

And GP, I'll just plug your youtube channel.

GPFontaine wrote:

You mean all those videos where I die as fast as possible?

Ayup

Red Mages also have another very strong disadvantage when they're you're only magic user...they learn their third level spells much later. The "2" spells are essential to low level grinding.

One of my favorite parties so far has been RM/Th/BB/WM. It was my first Fighter-less party...the Red Mage gets tank duties for the first half of the game, then at class change the Ninja takes over.

Status: I didn't get nearly as far as I wanted to because of distractions, tiredness, and soreness. But I'm in good shape to pick up 2 orbs tomorrow. I wanted to do it in a weekend but that's wishful thinking.

Status update:

Well, I got those two orbs, and even managed to both Castle Ordeals and the Ice Cave in one try, despite being delt a complete bastard of an Ice Cave (three Sorcerer/Mage ambushes, a six-Wizard pack on the way out with only 2 members alive, and I think the Undead Room was full both times...it was at least once). I've cleared out the Waterfall and as soon as I snag some cash to pick up two Gold Rings, I'm storming the Water Temple. I don't work tonight, but I do want to get this done. The party is level 15 or so, promoted.

Because I know you're curious about the death toll (not counting the Peninsula attempts)...GISH so far has been an instant-death magnet, having been turned to stone 3 times, hit with 2 RUB spells and one XXXX (the Eye got him)...but so far has not even come close to being beaten down to death. DAN9 is ahead on XP, but has died twice (once to a RUB spell, once to an angry pack of Geists). ABNO has also been an insta-kill magnet, s/he took two RUB spells (one from Astos) and a stoning. KAOS has only died once so far, but it was to Garland, so don't be too proud.

Update (for the 1 1/2 people who care):

Didn't do much, didn't have any time (no work means not so much free time to dither on a laptop). I did get the Slab and loot the Mirage Tower, and the party is level 19 (on the cusp of 20).

SoldierHawk wrote:

Are you waiting until its complete to upload? I'd love to see the first couple parts if you've got time to put 'em up, just to get a taste of where you're going with it.

I usually do, but I also need to process them and edit them a bit. Right now they're still emulator video files. Plus, I need internet access.

I also need to upload 30 Shining Force videos.

Still, maybe I can get something up this evening.

Update:

I got all the orbs. I'm ready to hit the Temple of Fiends. I'm only level 21, so I need to grind a bit before I can storm it, though (I'm not recording the grinding)

DAN9 got stoned, so he's not ahead in the XP anymore. Just saying.

Also, due to the way VirtuaNES converts to AVI, it overwrites my save file. Therefore, I can't really convert any of them until I finish (thank dog I had a savestate).

Rycona wrote:

UsaSatsui wrote: DAN9 got stoned, so he's not ahead in the XP anymore. Just saying. That's pretty poor behavior for a ninja.

He's a monk.

Update: I finished. With flying colors In fact, I had to fight Chaos a second time because in the first fight, he looked like too much of a chump. I had to give him a chance to do some some of his interesting stuff. Final level was 27 all around.

Death toll addition: ABNO and GISH got turned to stone while leveling, and KAOS got the wrong side of a NUKE spell from Lich.

I'll process these and upload them tomorrow if I can, if I can't, it'll be Monday.