Sphere Grid

Prometheus

Ghost of Christmas Past
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Did anyone enjoy the sphere grid and having to get your sphere level up instead of actually leveling? This was almost the only thing i didn't like about this game, SE mixed it up a little and it kinda payed off, but things like the sphere locks on the grid were most annoying, especially when you use one of your limited amounts of locks on a sphere that you didn't mean to get! Or you look over the grid after you had already used all your locks, without the chance of getting them back and then realize OMFG there is Ultima! <== ya that happened to me.
 
(we do already have a thread on which you prefer the grid or levelling, but Il leave this for now and see how the topic goes)

I love the sphere grid, although the standard grid pecked m y head, not being able to move becuase I had no lock spheres sucked. I was just completely s tuck at one point, and I couldnt find anything that would drop any damn locks. I still have issues finding level 3 locks aswel ¬.¬

I ended up giving up on that file and starting anew on the expert grid, it allowed for much more freedom adn there seemed to be less locks, either that, or it was just spaced out more

But yeah, I had one or 2 moments where Id use a lock in one place, then try to get something like Ultima/full life, and realise oSHIT I HAS NONE LEFT :gonk:

But I enjoyed it anyway, i liek how your stat building was interactive rather tahn just levelling up
 
Don't read this you'll be wasting your time

I liked the sphere grid and in truth its how you level up. I have a hard time finding level 3 and 4 key spheres and everyone says just fight in Omega Ruins. Well that don't work for me, and trust me I fought enough there. I got enough money there to bribe Marlboro for 50+ wings of discovery.
 
I absolutely loved the sphere Grid, it gave you the ability to custmise your characters how you saw them, like if you saw Kimahri as a Black mage you could have him as one. also, in one of my playthroughs [started it due to extreme bordum over summer break] i had Tidus as a black mage, Yuna as a high hitter, and Wakka as a white mage, it was hysterical as i had everyone mixed up, i swapped Lulu and Tidus, Yuna and Auron, Wakka and Yuna and rikku and Kimahri found it hilarious as my brother tried playing my game and got hammered cos he didn't know what everyone was good at.
 
You can get unlimited key spheres. Here's just one way for each type:

Level 1: Beat Master Coeurl for 1 (2 for overkill), unless you get a rare drop. You could also equip Master Theif and steal from Earth Eater.
Level 2: Beat Defender Z in Zanarkand for 1 (2 for overkill), unless you get a rare drop. You could also equip Master Theif and steal from Catastrophe.
Level 3: You can get these as a RARE drop from Defender Z, alternatively, bribe Demonolith. You could also equip Master Theif and steal from Ultima Buster.
Level 4: Bribe Chimera Brain. You could also steal from Nemesis - do NOT use Master Theif or you'll only get Warp Spheres.
 
Thanks

You can get unlimited key spheres. Here's just one way for each type:

Level 1: Beat Master Coeurl for 1 (2 for overkill), unless you get a rare drop. You could also equip Master Theif and steal from Earth Eater.
Level 2: Beat Defender Z in Zanarkand for 1 (2 for overkill), unless you get a rare drop. You could also equip Master Theif and steal from Catastrophe.
Level 3: You can get these as a RARE drop from Defender Z, alternatively, bribe Demonolith. You could also equip Master Theif and steal from Ultima Buster.
Level 4: Bribe Chimera Brain. You could also steal from Nemesis - do NOT use Master Theif or you'll only get Warp Spheres.

Thanks I'll keep this in mind next time I want to level up my characters.
 
The only problem I had with the sphere grid is that it eventually made many of the characters useless.

For example: Once you've taught Tidus all of Lulu's spells, why would you keep using Lulu? Just pump Tidus' magic stats up a bit and you've the perfect spell casting fighter. The only way she would be useful is if you made her just as good of a fighter as Tidus so they'd be equals, but that's pretty tough compared to giving Tidus Lulu's spells.

The only thing Tidus can't take from Lulu is her overdrive, which isn't all that fantastic for an overdrive to begin with. D:


But overall I will say it was a nice change from the usual leveling systems the franchise uses.
 
Haha, ye, I hated using a key to unlock the next high level magic/ ability by accident.

But I loved the sphere grid. It really helped make my characters more useful early on. Especially when building up Rikku.
 
Thanks I'll keep this in mind next time I want to level up my characters.

One last piece of advice - when using the Steal route, beware of counterattacks.

Earth Eater counters Mug for sure, and I'm pretty sure he counters Steal too. When standing, he uses Megaton Punch, when fallen, he uses Flare.

Nemesis counters Steal, but not Mug, with Ultima.

Catastrophe and Ultima Buster do not have counterattacks.

Master Theif will 100% guarantee the correct steals from Earth Eater, Catastrophe and Ultima Buster. With Pickpocket, you have a 50% chance, with nothing, 25%.

Nemesis, on the other hand, Master Theif means you will NEVER get Lv4 Key Spheres, only Warp Spheres. With Pickpocket it's 50/50, with nothing you have a 75% chance of Lv4 Key Spheres and 25% of Warp Spheres. Nothing you can do about this, sadly, but 75% chance is good enough. Besides, Warp Spheres are pretty good things to have in themself.
 
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Yeah I freakin loved the sphere grid, to be honest. I never liked just "leveling up." The prospect of oh look! I can use these options! is much better than +4Max MP, +2 Str, etc at a level up. Psht. I really really really really hope FFXIII has something similar to the sphere grid, if not a great knockoff with less keys or different unlocking methods... I can't believe how HUGE the sphere grid was after I filled it! And that took for EVAR! :gasp: About those lv. 3 keyspheres: It pissed me off no end when I found out about the Defender Z's constantly pumping them out. I was like "Pfft. I don't even have anymore locks... Ugh.." I didn't really like what Ultima looked like in FFX. By the way, I hate FFX-2's Garment Grid system. It's like dressup barbie, but for FF fans. I say unto you all about that: minus, underscore, underscore, minus
 
If you look beyond the focus on dress (ie: the visual/story side of it) and look at the actual mechanics it provides, Garment Grid is actually a great system.
 
If you look beyond the focus on dress (ie: the visual/story side of it) and look at the actual mechanics it provides, Garment Grid is actually a great system.

Ye, I liked the garment grid too. I didn't really like the story of X-2, but the game was just so damn fun to PLAY. I mean the actual gameplay, and to me the garment grid was a good reason too. I loved being able to change classes on teh fly.
 
That, and how they combined elements of pretty much all existing battle systems (ATB, CTB, Action-based) into one system. I loved that (even though plain CTB is my favourite).
 
Personally, FFX's system represents the perfect balance between fixed character classes (FFIV, FFIX) and completely free and customizable character classes (FFVII, FFVIII).

The problem with the "open" character classes like in FFVII or FFVIII is that characters have no individuality. Pretty much anyone can do any job, and the only reason you'd pick one character over another is for their limit break. FFX represents the best of both worlds; characters start of in clear, pre-defined classes, which by the end of the game you can develop into nice hybrid classes, and you can actually finish the game before all the characters converge towards all being identical, thus rendering certain characters redundant.

If you want to do all the extra-curricular activities (which, face it, is possibly the best bit of FFX), the Sphere Grid system falls apart. Kimahri and Lulu are usually the first to be kicked to the side, even Auron can follow for some people. Like Vladislak says, all the characters become identical, and the only reason you'd pick one character over another is based only on their Overdrive or their Celestial weapon.
 
Kimahri and Lulu do have very limited use, all else being equal.

Auron is useful for Banishing Blade, and the fact that he's the sole person who does massive damage with his celestial at low HP.

Tidus and Wakka have great damaging overdrives, Rikku has great defensive overdrives (but isn't very special for damage), and Yuna has aeons (which is the one non-overdrive, non-celestial-weapon trait that distinguishes fully completed sphere grid characters).

So yeah, it does come down to those. But there's also the fact that some celestials are easier to get than others - which is yet another blow to Kimahri and Lulu, who have the hardest and most tedious respectively.
 
I think with the Sphere Grid, it makes it more personal. As you are building your character, you grow with them. You get more attached to them imho, cause you're selecting how they get powered up and don't you just love that when you collect loads of sphere moves? Possibilities are endless!

Of course, on completed SGs, it's broken but still, getting there is all the more fun.
 
About off grid energy

If you would like to make good use of the sun, it is very doable without costing a lots amount of money. See this Solar Panels and System. Hardy Solar Home Stezader 4 kW off grid energy generator system.1,500 Watt off grid Solar Panel System.
 
Honestly, with the Sphere Grid...I don't see why they gave you the option of if you wanted to use the Sphere or not. I mean...I am pretty sure everyone acquired every one they ran into, no? I just realized that.

It's great to chose your path and have every character learn their own skills as well as others. The sphere grid was probably one the best level up systems they've used so far.
 
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