Final Fantasy Tactics Speed Run 445

Using the almighty powers of the JP Scroll glitch, this is now my fastest recorded speed run, completed in 4 hours and 45 minutes. This run is quite similar to my previous solo-Ramza run, except I utilize Flare instead of Holy when possible, since Flare has a much shorter animation than Holy.

* Chapter 1: Segments 1 to 10

Ramza's Zodiac sign is Cancer (as in the previous run) since it is the most neutral sign in the game. Other signs would still work, however, certain points in the game become more difficult with other signs.

The opening battle features a very mathematically unlikely occurrence...four consecutive critical hits! With a critical hit percentage of approximately 5%, this works out to be a 1 out of 160,000 chance. I'm glad this was the run through Orbonne I kept.

Some early differences between this run and the previous run:
o I only train two generics instead of three.
o I abuse the JP Scroll glitch on Ramza and the generics.
o I raise Ramza's Faith to 80.

For a detailed explanation of the JP Scroll glitch (aka the Page Down glitch) there is an excellent FAQ at GameFAQs that explains it and what classes it works on. The process consists of five steps:
o Select a skill that can be learned
o When it asks for confirmation, hold square and press down, the skill list will shift downward to a skill that cannot be learned
o Select "Yes" to confirm
o Cancel back to the job list screen, it should say that 0000 JP are available
o Cancel back to the unit screen and re-enter the job list screen, it should now say that 9999 JP are available

I use this glitch to teach Ramza Flare, Quick, Demi, Demi 2, and Teleport, and teach the generics Bolt 2, Bolt 3, Frog, and Magic Attack UP, as well as Preach and Mimic Daravon for the Talk Skill generic.

This glitch does not work with all skills, which is why I glitched Wizard by placing Ice as the second skill from the bottom on the screen and then glitching it, any other way does not work properly.

The main problem with using the glitch is that is does NOT raise job levels, so I still need to have Ramza Yell his way up to level 4 Priest, level 4 Wizard, level 3 Oracle, and level 3 Time Mage to open up Calculator. Sadly, Calculator cannot be glitched, so I still have to earn the abundance of Calculator JP the hard way.

* Chapter 2: Segments 11 to 18

This chapter is virtually identical to the previous run, except Flare is used instead of Holy. Also, the viewer may notice that in the previous run, I was able to run through six battles in a row without stopping to save. I could've done it here as well, but the problem is Flare is evadable, while Holy is not. Therefore, I settled on doing battles two or three at a time, as I occasionally hit a battle where a Small Mantle caused a restart when "Guarded" came up.

* Chapter 3: Segments 19 to 24

After a great deal of trial and error, I found a way to win the Goland battle in one spell instead of two (as in the previous run), however it took a number of tries before it happened. As long as Olan hits both Chemists with Galaxy Stop and Ramza doesn't get charmed by the Thieves, then a CT 4 Flare hits everyone and not Olan. Getting him to use Galaxy Stop was another story, though, as he usually prefers to attack the enemy Mediator.

The rest of the chapter is as before, with the only exception being two Demi 2's on Velius instead of two max-MA Holies.

* Chapter 4: Segments 25 to 37

The main time-saver in this chapter is at Bethla Sluice. After all the enemies move, a Teleport/Quick/Teleport combo hits both switches and ends the battle very quickly. Thanks to EnigmaGamer for pointing it out to me.

Some battles in this chapter do require the use of Holy instead of Flare, due to either insufficient damage output (against Elmdor and Zalbag), to bypass significant magic evasion (against Dycedarg's Aegis Shield and innate Magic Defend UP, and the UBS 4 generics, all of whom have mantles), or to cast two spells instead of three (against Rofel and Balk).

Finally, Demi is used against Altima 2 since either Demi or Demi 2 require four uses to kill him (due to the damage cap of 999) and Demi has a higher hit rate and slightly faster animation.

Thanks always to Nate for converting the run, and thanks to everyone for watching!