Perfecting ABackdatedFuture's Walkthrough

[ABackdatedFuture]

In the spirit of the topic that was created on the Suikoden I Gameplay Questions board, I've decided to create the same topic on this board regarding to my Suikoden II FAQ/Walkthrough.

This is quoted from the first post in the other topic, giving you an idea of what things could be made better:

http://www.suikosource.com/phpBB3/viewt ... =8&t=12117

Have you ever noticed things that rhyxx might not mention, but would make the game immeasurably easier, or wish that something was explained in a little more depth?

I've noticed 2 things in all my replays of Suikoden 1 that I think are definitely worth putting into the walkthrough.

The first thing is the Dwarf Vault, the battle against the monster Gigantes. If you would have put the Wind Rune on Kirkis before entering, that battle becomes a 3 turn battle. Gigantes is weak to Wind, and Kirkis at the recommended level would have 2 uses of Shredding, and does about 890 for each one (especially if you equip two magic-upping Emblems).

The second thing is the Pirate's Fortress, when you recruit Anji/Leonardo/Kanak. We all know Tai Ho and Yam Koo have an insane combo together, but what the walkthrough doesn't mention is the fact that you can BUY TURTLE RUNES before this phase of the game, and thus you can equip them on Tai Ho/Yam Koo. No more unbalanced healers! Instead you have an every-turn combo to use.

Have you ever noticed an omission of something like this that you think is worth putting into the walkthrough? This isn't so much a "I used completely different characters and still did it!" kind of thing as it is, "you can tweak what you HAVE to use to make it easier!" thing. Wind Rune/Emblems on Kirkis and Turtle Runes on the fishermen make those respective battles much smoother. Anything else?

The guide in question is located at the following places:

http://www.suikosource.com/games/gs2/walkthrough.txt
http://aa-zy.com/suikoden_2
http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/198844-suiko ... faqs/58432

I'm always looking to make the guides better. Feel free to let me know if you have any ideas!

[RPG Seeker]

In your Suikoden 1 walkthrough, Rubi can be recruited when Kirkis is at level 35.

[ABackdatedFuture]

I see that I have level 40 there... I'll have to verify it and include it in the next update, thanks!

If you do have any more Suikoden I tips, please post them in the same topic on the other board so I can track them easier and so they can help others looking on that board; the link is in my post above.

[veeshadow]

Do you still active? I just finish the game and I think I can help you to give update so that you can create even so better guide ^__^ your guide just awesome, in fact 70% of my video is the result for looking your guide. But if you see my videos you can notice some differences there...

here is few examples the parts guide that can be expanded:

- Add Matilda Glitch section. This trick is not only apply to recruit Futch and Humphrey early...
- Better strategies for major battle/field war
- Killey and Annallee can recruited before Luca Blight battles !!
- Faster way to recruit Squirrels
- Some missed scenes (I can show you videos related to them)
- Gordon's trading (there are few items that can used for sell and high price, making he can recruited immediately)
- Clive's quest. It's actually possible to get Clive's quest by follow your walkthrough. You just need to do anything fast. I clear the game on 19:40, maybe on few sections you can add Clive's timer deadline. I can help you to add this from some of my videos...

I also contacted you via FB/email, but since I more actively in this forum we can discuss better here...

[ABackdatedFuture]

I am indeed! I do have a list of things to revisit when I return to both Suikoden I & II, so I have this topic marked and will be sure to include what you have posted!

In the meantime (since it will be a while before I can get to it; I'm currently working on both Ys Origin and Suikoden III at the moment), could you go into more detail with each of your tips?

[veeshadow]

Well, I can't explain all of them in one go. I need to re-read few sections first and watch my own video to notice what can be added. Meanwhile, this post will reserved and updated for some time so be sure to check this thread whenever you can. Some your guide will be quoted and some just be shown from my video.

Okay, I'm gonna post these. But remember it's not completed yet. Check this thread periodically..

RECRUITMENT SECTION

- Adlai's recruitment glitch. I posted this on bug section but just to tell you. Adlai still accept your item but NOT taken if you equip all items he requested. By this, you can just bring Gengen/Freed Y, Bolgan/Clive, and Luc since their initial equipments/runes when they join are the ones Adlai requested. Just make sure you don't modify their equipments until the time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Komv01GLs0Y

- Early recruit for Killey and Annallee, quoted from your guide you can do this after this point:

--after clear Toran section and prepare for battle Luca (when you have to save ambushed ridley)----

At night, you can talk to one of many sets of people to
continue on; Nanami and Pilika in your room, Shu in his room, or Rina, Eilie,
and Bolgan on the first floor; all of them relate to you fighting against
Jowy. There's even a scene between Flik and Nina on the roof if you care to
see. After you're done talking, head back up to your room and go to bed.

In Highland, Leon recommends taking the surrounding cities in our area, but
Luca just wants to go straight at our hearts at HQ. You'll also see Sasarai
from Harmonia (who looks a LOT like Luc...); he's leading the soldiers from
Harmonia. The next morning after you wake up, make your way to the Great Hall
again, where you'll learn that the Highland Army has appeared in Radat, so Shu
sent Ridley to check out the enemy's numbers. You'll then be notified that he
has been ambushed, so Shu asks you to send reinforcements right away.

o--------------------------------o
Choose option 2 to head into your eighth | [1] Wait a minute. |
Major Battle! | [2] I understand. Let's hurry. |
o--------------------------------o


Don't go to the great hall first !!! Instead, talk to Viki and teleport to South Window. Go to inn, you'll see Annallee. Go to trade shop, Killey as well there. The recruit process are same. This is optional but to me it's great help on both major battles after this point !! you can also bring Killey to 3 parties Luca fight !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cQBTmgRUI0 recruiting them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQCOscw3Y4Q see how Annallee's unit help saving Ridley !!

- It seems you have a little error regarding Mondo and Sasuke if you choose Valeria. You listed the recruits after Tessai as 101st SoD but you actually has 99 Stars at this point so you need to recruit 2 more people (Pico and Jude)

- Suikosource actually cover this already but in case you want add this to your own: extra scene if you bring Killey for recruit Lorelai and Sierra + one extra girl on Siegfried's recruitment....

- Squirrel faster recruitments. This forum actually already covered the faster way on the thread: http://suikosource.com/phpBB3/viewtopic ... &start=195. I tried to make this easier to understand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCOfIl8LBpc

- Bring only Stallion on party.
- Run from the cities to other cities or going back as fast as possible. Try to run around the area on maps mentioned.
- If you run for a while and not getting squirrel quickly go to city and retry. RNG (random bumber generator) will reset at this condition. So why you can waste hours to recruit them? because you wandering on world map too long. Just move on city and retry. This way will be faster.
- How do you know you get Squirrels? Look at screen when the game lagging/almost freeze for a bit. If you play on PS1 console, there will be a noise that like the console try to reading the game. When this happens open menu and see it ^__^
- Highly recommended : save whenever you got a squirrel, this way you can get fastest time that you can recruit one of them less than 3 minutes. Assuming 2 minutes that only 8 minutes total. Huge bonus time for Clive's timer... I simply try this on one save so I don't edit video too much...

OTHER/GENERAL TIPS

- Not actually important but I tell this now. Same as Gregminster on Suikoden 1, the shop list on Ryube, Toto, and Muse are all missable. If you don't check them, it will be gone. I notice this when recruit Hans then decided to re-do the sections when Jowy still on the party to check their shops. Well maybe just add warning, when I play Suikoden 1 and 2 this thing is my most forgotten thing whenever I'm going to new towns (checking shops to add them on castle shops)

- After Toto got burnt then Pilika and Apple join convoy, go to North Sparrow Pass. Talk to npc there for a funny scene (only if you bring Nanami and not leave her and Mukumuku on Kyaro) There is also a glitch involved with this. After the event, use an escape talisman here. Now try to pass the guard and you can just go through them illegally lol (farm double beat rune !! ) You can only do this when Jowy still on party (the point when Muse not fall to highland)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFvNk13H3U

- not important but yeah let's say this. First time you want to sneak to Greenhill, name your "fake name" with real ones (your hero name then "Nanami") for the lulz dialogue then you forced to pick fake name again

- Karen's minigame tips for lv 3 onwards, I'm not sure how I'll explain this in words since it's better to show on 4:30 on the video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7R2Hvo0NLo. Hope the video description can be improved with your own words >__<

BOSS BATTLES SECTION

- Mist Shade. I don't do this on my video but I can tell the improvements. Give Eilie Fire Wall and Flaming Arrow Scroll (found on the treasure chest in this area) and Jowy Angry Blow Scroll. They both have good affinity to matching elements so they will deal more than 100 damage. I can beat this boss less than 3 turns this way, even without leveling up !! (your only problem if you don't level up first is anyone can instant KO but that's only if your HP is not fully healed before the battle and not use medicine to heal your people). Mist Shade also can only target characters on front row on first form, so place person that has better armor on front row and prioritize to heal anyone on front row first...

- Harpy. If you lazy, read my bold words. For this battle we have 4 forced members (Hero, Nanami, Futch, Humphrey). For 2 rest members I'm using a mage (Luc with Lightning/Blue Gate rune or Jowy with BS rune if you use Matilda glitch for some reason) and a physical attack+tank (I'm using Gengen for example). Hero and Nanami needs Earth Rune then physical attacker (Gengen) using Skunk Rune (if you don't have it, Fury Rune is best IMO). Actually you should have Skunk Rune since it's missable and you can get this at this section. For equipments, just using any best equips available BUT Nanami need Blue Ribbon !! Equip this and place Nanami, Humphrey, and your physical atk/gengen on front row then rest back row.

Now for the battle, have Hero/Nanami cast Revenge Earth on Humphrey then the other one Canopy Defense. Luc/Jowy use their best magic, everyone else attack normally. Let's take a look for Harpy's attack now:

- Single attack A. Counter-able with Revenge Earth. Front Row only. Ignore anyone with Skunk/Blue Ribbon
- Single attack B. Can't counter, can cause unbalance, but low damage. Front Row only. Ignore anyone with Skunk/Blue Ribbon
- AoE attack A. Blocked by canopy defense.
- AoE attack B. Not tested yet.

You can guess how easy this battle after this right? Harpy will only attack Humphrey on single attack but one of them can countered by Humphrey. AoE attack will blocked by Canopy Defense. Now just do your best for beating Harpy. If you ran out MP for Canopy Defense, prepare for Hero's duty for Great Blessing spam. Have 1 MP for lv 3 spell on Hero also help for Battle Oath (I have 2 MP lv 3 spell on my Hero, so he can use canopy defense and battle oath once)

I don't have the video with this strategy yet since I just tried it on my new playthrough (with Clive's timer and perfect game goal). Same as Mist Shade strategy.

- Stone Golem. To make this battle cheap but also not spend your MP, we need to make Bolt Of Wrath Scroll (Lightning Rune) to Raura. Before going into Tinto Mine just go back to your castle and make this scrolls. Sell extra scrolls beside BoW. Equip this to everyone then the boss just boom. I made this because on your guide, you already recruit Raura. Optional, bring Sierra to party not to convoy. She has A affinity to lightning, so with scrolls you even can win stone golem in 1 turn o___o

MAJOR BATTLES/FIELD WAR SECTION

Not much added for now. The earlier battles remain same. My improvements will start on Kiba's battle

Edit: I think I'll start on Muse when you recruit Gilbert. Move Hero's unit to upper side actually will make him come faster to Gilbert when you want to heal him, rather than keep Hero's unit idle on few first turns...

Ridley's betrayal. Since this battle is scripted, we want to avoid to clash with any enemy's unit. Just move entire unit to left side until Ridley run away and you'll be fine. Even if you want to hurt some enemies, use only archer/magic unit against infantry unit

Kiba's battle/Ridley's coming back. It's actually possible to defeat Kiba's unit but you need luck from any magical skill like fire Spear, Jeane's Thunder, and Luc's Wind. I'm not sure how mechanic in these skills but they seem just depend on % chance and ignoring our stat and enemy's stat as well (atk and def). Also I've tried this few times, Kiba has 3 HP (3 sword to defeat him) and you can hurt him until he has 1 HP left but then no matter now hard I try it seems he can't damaged until Ridley comes back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Vg-n7q ... 597A4ACEFE

Saving Ridley. While the result from this battle doesn't matter there is easier way to save Ridley. Your key units :Viktor, Chaco, Camus/Miklotov/Klaus (basically anyone with cavalry) then Ayda and Annallee (you must recruit them obviously since they are optional recruits). You can also place Hero's unit with anyone with Cavalry and Flik's unit with Huan (I call these two with "healer"). Now all you need is luck so that Ridley doesn't die until other units spawned. After they spawn, move Viktor's unit next to Ayda then use Annallee's Encourage. Then move Viktor's unit as far as possible. Move both healer unit as well. If you do this right, Viktor's unit only need 1 extra turn to reach Ridley if you also move Ridley at right spot. If you can save Ridley, in next battle against Luca his unit will be near him so you can place Jeane/Tsai for a cheap lucky strike Thunder/Fire Spear. I'll explain below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQCOscw3Y4Q

Luca's battle. Do your best to damage Luca with magical skills and archer units. Infrantry is not effective IMO. For those who saved Ridley, you can try your luck for Thunder/Fire Spear on Luca since his unit is nearest against Luca. I even got lucky that I end the battle before Sasarai appears this way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJS7i7XjrYE

Greenhill Liberation vs Jowy. Here's the deal. Jowy defeated = instant win and he's nearest unit after all. So attack him with everything you got ^^. Even if you fail this battle also scripted after few turns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWQDVg2di-g

Greenhill Liberation vs Yuber. This is harder since you need to defeat Yuber's unit. I don't have specific tactic but make advantage for Ayda's forest walk since 50% area here is forest. Also you can place Luc's unit with Chaco so he can walk in forest as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLb63097-XQ

Muse's War (Before Forgiver Sign). No special tactics, but try defeat Lucia's unit for faster result.

Matilda Liberation. While this battle actually scripted. You need to defeat as much enemy before Shu call Leona and others. There are 3 side of enemies: Jowy, Culgan, and Gorudo. For me the best way is defeat units on Jowy side as much as possible. You don't need to defeat Jowy, just any highland unit around him. Mazus also can use fire magic as AoE attack, so this also advantage (you just need heal any ally damaged by fire magic with Hero/Huan). For other sides, just leave Culgan's side (move all units to Jowy's side so Culgan will just waste his turn to move) and for Gorudo's side you just need to endure their move. Ayda and Gilbert are nearest units to Gorudo's side. Move Ayda to forest are on left side and just fire her arrow to matilda knights and stay away from them. Just hope that matilda knights bother to chase her or Gilbert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xi3smeg5MU&feature=plcp

L'Renouille (easiest/cheapest battle in the game with Templton). Spoiler alert. I won't spoil your fun for making this battle too easy !!!! Hint : Templton's Shortcut ability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIm63SHQ_o8&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2JhQ93zyZk&feature=plcp

MATILDA GLITCH EXPANSION

This actually need own section so anyone that interested will try separately. For now I'm just give the link source: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/198844-suiko ... ory-points

summary: characters recruited with glitch are not only Futch and Humphrey. Also included Hans, Taki, Tetsu, Oulan, Templton, L.C.Chan. Also some glitched scenes too...

CLIVE'S TIMER TIMELINE

TBA

[BadPotato]

What would be nice is somekind of annexe that show which item are avalaible at all the accessible shop as you keep progressing. (some item might only being avalaible if you reach a particuliar point in the story)
At some point I tried to do it here, but the information isn't complete and I think this should be in the Walkthrough annexe or elsewhere.

[veeshadow]

Well I can't suggest any improvements based on storyline. I only post anything that I recalled to improve, this can be end game then suddenly early game etc a.k.a not sorted yet. Might as well to make my own version guide if I want do that. For shops, I take that as the result I'm looking armor list in this website and notice that earlier items like Robe or Fire Rune doesn't sold elsewhere even on rare finds.

and might as well I reserve this post too in case characters limitation in a post...

[KFCrispy]

a lot of cool finds!

[ABackdatedFuture]

Still haven't forgotten about this. Slowly working through I & II again...

[laclongquan]

About Apple's rearrange of troops in castle for major fight.

Apple can only rearrange subunits, right? Because I dont know how to rearrange the leader of each unit.

If possible, I'd like to know how.

[wataru14]

Unit leaders are set. You cannot change them.

[laclongquan]

Although MP guide said 175 is enough for 2 level4 spell, it doesnt seem true because my Rina got 190 at lv45. Or does it mean base point, without bonus from items?

[wataru14]

2 Level 4 spells happens at 160 Magic

[gildedtalon]

Yes, without bonus from items