Combat in this game

[Just A Dream]

Not sure if i just misunderstood what i was watching but it felt like the combat in this game is mostly automated and you just hit attack each time the bar got full? reviews i watched may of just missed the mark on what the game is really like but would love some opinions or help on the matter.

thank you

[FuzedBox]

It's basically the old ATB system in real time. Everything is still turn based; it just happens on the fly. Characters can be programmed with many gambit combinations for the automation, and hitting the command button stops the action for manual input.

Personally, I'm biased because the original game is one of my all-time favorites, but yes I enjoy it. It's got flow that the earlier random encounter games didn't have.

[Bunzer]

Depends on how you play. Personally I use the gambit system for my allies, but I play manual with my main character. It's like FF XIII : you don't have to use the automatic system, you create your own experience based on the game's tools.

[Victrola]

This is the period of time when FFXI was competing with World of Warcraft. FFXI had things like 'level down' etc. Your reputation was very important as an online player (and you had such silly relationships like in the "Emily is Away" games).

Warcraft worked on addiction and reward. With the idea that seasons are 'improvements.' In fact, they are simply seasons. Seasons work well for certain identities at different times, compelled to remain in the system.

Similar to the Joker at the hosp scene;

Do you need time, where you click the button, and it doesn't do anything.

[old Charlie]

Its basically the old ATB-system but its so fast, you will want to automate your team with the gambit system. The gambit system is great and has been copied a few times for different games - but not as good imo.

[Hinnyuu]

Gambit is actually a fairly deep system. People are quick to go "it plays the game for you" but that's like saying programming languages suck because they run programs for you - sure they do but you have to, you know, put them together correctly yourself first. And that's not as easy as people like to think, because depending on what you're trying to do where and against which enemy, there's a truckload of options to help optimize things, and adjust them the way YOU prefer to play. Not to mention how complicated it gets once everyone has TWO jobs at their disposal.

People seem to forget that a lot of the other FFs were actually a lot less deep in terms of combat. If you think Gambit is "playing the game for you" but hitting x4 Slash fifty times in a row in FF7 is somehow engaging gameplay, you should probably think again ;)

Mechanically, this is one of the best combat systems there is in main series FF games.

[PocketYoda]

Its garbage system really ruined this game, i hated it and missed the turn based gameplay style of FFVII and VIII greatly.

[Aahzmandias]

Originally posted by Bunzer:

Depends on how you play. Personally I use the gambit system for my allies, but I play manual with my main character. It's like FF XIII : you don't have to use the automatic system, you create your own experience based on the game's tools.

^
!
This.

The combat system is an ATB system, like in all games below FF X. There is no difference, beside the presentation. The additional gambit system is for programming triggers, to lower the manual input during normal fights for your party.

It does not take away your reponsibility for tactical decisions during the fights. You have to alter or deactivate it even for some, if not most of the boss battles.

I do not know why people don't see this. It's so obvious similar to the ancient turnbased ATB systems.

The only thing different is, that you have the tactical advancement to withdraw slightly from a fight, untill your ATB meter is fully charged.

I usually did not use all gambit slots, only the essential function like heal and revive. It's like all things. If you don't like it, don't use it. Or restrict yourself. Or does somebody force you to use this or any cheats they implemented into the game, if they are ruining the fun for you?

People who are complaining about it are basicly saying "Choices are baaaad!" And that's the typical line of any PC or console peasant.

[Hinnyuu]

Don't we all wish we had Gambit in FF13, instead of just relying on the AI not to mess up commands too horribly?

[Dosbilliam, Boring but Practical]

Originally posted by Just A Dream:

Not sure if i just misunderstood what i was watching but it felt like the combat in this game is mostly automated and you just hit attack each time the bar got full?

If you've played Dragon Age Origins, it's essentially the exact same system, except that the character you control is also guided by that system and the flexibility is somewhat more limited at the start since you have to obtain the various commands and statuses, like HP<20% or "Use Hi-Potion."

That being said, like other people have hinted at, if you set things up right you can literally walk away from the game and it'll play itself for a few hours while you're grinding XP/LP; that's really situational, though.

Originally posted by Hinnyuu:

Don't we all wish we had Gambit in FF13, instead of just relying on the AI not to mess up commands too horribly?

The lack of a job system in the original FFXII also made things much simpler, since any character could throw Poison at enemies instead of just the Saboteur.

[Aahzmandias]

Originally posted by Hinnyuu:

Don't we all wish we had Gambit in FF13, instead of just relying on the AI not to mess up commands too horribly?

I so agree. And think about what happened, if the front char dropped dead in FF XIII. I hated the devs for that decision. Dumbest design decision ever. And they never fixed this bug.

[Dosbilliam, Boring but Practical]

Originally posted by Aahzmandias:

And they never fixed this bug.

I assume it wasn't a bug. :P

[D's Journal]

it's possible to play the game with only a few gambits. they added too many of the ♥♥♥♥ imo so you're ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around with that than playing the game.
I hate it.

find a universal gambit list.

[Just A Dream]

Game is starting to sound tempting then, seems the reviews didn't really do the game justice. Gameplay looked really flat but by sounds of it there is alot more to it.

[tanman500]

I'd compare the combat system of final fantasy 12 more to a real time strategy game than an MMO. The combat is much faster paced than all the older final fantasy's, yet gives you the same amount of control over your allies, unlike the more recent ff games. The gambit system is a very innovative player controlled ai system, where you have a 'target: condition' on the left, and a simple action on the right. Although gambits are very powerful, I'm still pausing battle to command my allies all the time. You can turn gambits completely off if you like, there's a large amount of versatality in the combat system. That's why I like ff12 so much, there's literally no other game out there (except dragon age) with as much versatality and control over your parties actions like in ff12. I would love to see a fresh new ff game with a revamped gambit system.

[Inssengrimm]

The brilliance of FFXII system. Is that you can pretty much go full manual mode or full auto and any possible degree in between as you see fit. And change everything radically if needed.

There is certainly a learning curve on how to use the gambit system. But once you get the hang of it, becomes an amazing tool that allows you to play exactly how you want thanks to its incredible depth. Personally i think is the better combat system of the series so far, at least main entries (FFT is better and deeper but is in another completely diferent league)

What you really need is to experiment with gambits. See what works and what doesnt and take the learning curve slowly. Remember you can always pause to change your gambits anytime even in combat, and change both battle speed and between wait and active (turn based or real time).