Is this game hard or have I finally gotten old?

[Shadynasty]

First "boss" after it finally starts introducing the different combats mods. The one that flies in when you're trying to chip crystal girl out of the ice. I keep dying every time. Came close once.... it like the difficult went from brain dead to you're just gonna die in one instant.

Am I missing something?

[talgaby]

Yes, you do. I think you are referring to you first Eidolon battle. Libra her and the info page will tell you how to conquer them. The first actually challenging boss fight won't come until the end of chapter 5, then at chapter 11 and mid chapter 12.

[Shadynasty]

How can I Libra? I dont think the only character I have control of has that ability.

[Shadynasty]

Edit: its worse then that its the Manasvin Warmech thats killing me! lol

[malienvictor2004]

Setting up your Paradigms is crucial to fighting bosses. I usually have #1 COM/COM/RAV, #2 COM/RAV/RAV, #3 COM/MED/RAV or some variant with atleast MED in it. Not necessarily in that order, but you get the idea. Switching paradigms helps increase the stagger on the boss. I start off with #1, let the npcs finish their attacks, then switch to #2 for the next set of attacks. Then switch to #3 if any healing is needed. Here is a setup I use. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=341100159

And for Libra, is in the commands menu, it is under technique. It also requires one TP to use.

Oh, forgot to mention that with the right setup of paradigms, when the enemy is staggered COM's can knock the enemy up in the air, you can keep the enemy in a constant juggle while switching between paradigms.

[talgaby]

Oh, the Warmech? It's supposed to teach you how to stagger iirc. Use COM/RAV/RAV and COM/MED/RAV. I would recommend against COM/COM/RAV, that paradigm isn't a feasible option until mid-late chapter 11. And even then it'll quickly fall off and give room to the RAV×3 and COM×3 paradigms.

[NightDreamer]

FFXIII battle system requires you to have a quick response and focus only to important details such as stagger bar, your team healths, etc.

[Moon Punisher]

Originally posted by BlindWithGun:

How can I Libra? I dont think the only character I have control of has that ability.

It is an ability , your Snow for sure has it , but you need to select it , auto battle wont do it for you.

Anyway the game is pretty easy up to the ending , like most FF games , what comes "after" is opitional and harder.

Also the reason you are losing so much is because to beat any eidolon you need to learn how to make them surrender , you cant kill them in a fight. using libra will tell you what to do in order to get them to surrender.

[PanicButton]

Libra in not an ability, it's a technique. You have 4 buttons in battle:
auto-battle, abilities, techniques, items.
....And you don't have to press LB to see them, LB switches paradigms in battle, and uses shrouds outside of battle.. It will cost 1 TP.

My advice:
Don't forget to use your saboteur role: it can be very useful. I kinda underestimated it, and didn't really start using it until late chapter 11. In some previous FF titles status ailments didn't play that much of a role, but here, it can make or break a battle.

As for the battle at hand:
Like others said. Start in Relentless assault (COM/RAV/RAV) and switch to Diversity (COM/RAV/MED) when someone needs healing.

[Sh1nRa358]

Libra is also used to completely fill the specs in the bestiary if you don't feel like fighting the same monster multiple times.

[bloodraven43]

yeah the game is hard and i am old...lol

[tiornys]

Wow, 10 posts and no one has mentioned Snow's Sentinel role?

If Lightning is the primary target (and she is by default), Crystal Rain can easily kill her from max HP unless you have perfectly timed healing in-between the two hits. There are at least three ways to deal with this, and the easiest is to make Snow a Sentinel every time Manasvin Warmech does its sweeping beam attack. Other options include timing a Potion toss so that it heals you after the first Crystal Rain hit and timing your stagger to happen after Manasvin Warmech begins Crystal Rain but before it hits (this "stagger-cancels" the attack).

[talgaby]

Honestly, I we think we just forgot. It just seems way faster to focus on stagger and occasional healing. I didn't really used SENs until the Snow/Hope part.

[Shadynasty]

I only have like two things to switch between. If I stay on the on that heals I live and hardly do damage. If I swtich to the one that deals damage I can get one shot killed by a big attack.



edit; OOOOOOOOOOH its starting to make sense now.

[DJBPace07]

I think you're fighting Shiva. One Eidolon attacks you while the other one heals. What you need to do is use Sentinel and cover. Once the Gestalt gauge is filled, hit the appropriate button to go into Gestalt mode.

[Shadynasty]

It wasn't even Shiva. And I got it. Went back through the section to get some more CP now that I kinda understand better. Spent more wisely, switched my styles more wisely and cake.

Thanks for the help. It was like a hump I had to overcome to really understand how the game works.