After dedicating 61 hours to my inaugural playthrough of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, including the final stretch focused on accumulating Job Points and securing top-tier rare weapons, I felt accomplished. While I still have the optional Midlight’s Deep dungeon on my to-do list, I initially intended to take a breather before delving back into the journey of Ramza Beoulve. However, my plans have taken an unexpected turn due to a selection of outstanding mods crafted by the community for the PC version of the game, which are inspiring me to gear up for another complete playthrough.
Exciting Content Restoration: Dark Knight, Onion Knight, Balthier, and Luso
Last month, I detailed how a passionate fan undertook the restoration of content that was originally cut from the War of the Lions version, the foundation for the existing mobile iterations. Modder Dana Crysalis has made significant strides, reintroducing not just Balthier, outfitted with his formidable Barrage skill that can effortlessly breach the 999 damage threshold, but also the versatile Luso. Additionally, they’ve successfully reintegrated the previously excised Jobs of Dark Knight and Onion Knight for generic units.
The execution of these Jobs in Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is notably seamless. An enhanced job menu paging system has also been introduced, allowing players to access more than the previous limit of 19 jobs. However, unlocking these Jobs requires a concerted effort, much like in War of the Lions.
| Job | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dark Knight | Level 8 in Black Mage, Knight, Geomancer, Dragoon, Samurai, and Ninja |
| Onion Knight | Level 6 in Squire and Chemist |
The substantial requirements for unlocking the Dark Knight are justified, given its notorious reputation for being exceedingly powerful. Keeping up with its Darkness Job Command, the Dark Knight can restore HP and MP through Sanguine Sword and Infernal Strike while delivering impressive area damage with Abyssal Blade, albeit at the expense of some HP.
Introducing Exciting New Jobs: Blue Mage and Red Mage
Dana Crysalis has gone beyond mere content restoration, incorporating two new Jobs inspired by the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance titles: Blue Mage and Red Mage. These flexible spellcasters become available starting in Chapter 2 and are assigned to the special generic units Alicia and Lavian. This representation grants previously overlooked characters significance as they can learn monster abilities while utilizing various spells accessible from other spellcasting Jobs. For players who found Alicia and Lavian underwhelming, this mod is an essential addition to enhance gameplay.
Heretic Ramza: A Job Title Reflecting Character Evolution
One of the criticisms leveled at the original game was that Ramza’s unique job, Squire, remained static throughout the storyline, failing to reflect his character’s dynamic growth. Although The Ivalice Chronicles addresses this by promoting him to Gallant Knight in Chapter 4, the Heretic Ramza mod by Serbagz takes this narrative evolution to new heights.
With this modification, Ramza’s Job title evolves to accurately depict his narrative arc:
- Chapter 1: Noble
- Chapters 2 & 3: Mercenary
- Chapter 4: Heretic
Upon attaining the Heretic title, Ramza also acquires abilities such as Fell Knight’s Shadowblade and Duskblade, offering poignant character development. This transition underscores his connection to Gaffgarion, who, despite his cruelty, served as a mentor during Ramza’s darkest moments, making this acquisition of signature abilities resonate strongly. The contrast with Delita, a commoner who ascended to kingship with church support, further enriches the narrative.
Implementing Level Scaling: A Crucial Rebalance
With the addition of formidable new Jobs and abilities, the risk of disrupting game balance rises, particularly as enemy levels in storyline battles traditionally remain static.
Fortunately, the Level Scaling mod, also developed by Dana Crysalis, addresses this concern by implementing enemy level scaling in story battles, ensuring that the game retains its challenging nature even after extensive grinding. This adjustment ensures that finely-tuned character builds have a greater purpose, requiring tactical thinking in every narrative encounter.
Are You Feeling the Pull? I’m Hooked!
With the revelation of these engaging mods, I couldn’t resist diving in to experience how they enhance Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. The improvements are undeniable. What was initially meant to be a brief exploration turned into several hours of excitement, dragging me back once more into the narrative of the War of the Lions. This is indeed a fate worth embracing, as the game remains a hallmark of tactical RPG excellence long after its initial release.
Are you feeling the same pull as I am? Share in the comments which mods you believe will make your next playthrough unforgettable!
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