@---+----^----+----^----+----^----+----^----+----^----+----^----+----^----+--@ | _____ _ _ _ _ _ | | / ____| | | | | | | | | | | | | (___ | |__ __ _ __| | _____ _| |__| | ___ __ _ _ __| |_ ___ | | \___ \| '_ \ / _` |/ _` |/ _ \ \ /\ / / __ |/ _ \/ _` | '__| __/ __| | | ____) | | | | (_| | (_| | (_) \ V V /| | | | __/ (_| | | | |_\__ \ | | |_____/|_| |_|\__,_|\__,_|\___/ \_/\_/ |_| |_|\___|\__,_|_| \__|___/ | | _____ _ _ | | |_ _|(_) _ __ ___ ___ __ _ _ __ __| | | | | | | || '_ ` _ \ / _ \ / _` || '_ \ / _` | | | | | | || | | | | || __/ | (_| || | | || (_| | | | |_| |_||_| |_| |_| \___| \__,_||_| |_| \__,_| | | ____ _____ _ ___ | | / ___| ___ ___ _ __ ___ | ___|/ \ / _ \ | | \___ \ / __|/ _ \ | '__|/ _ \ | |_ / _ \ | | | | | | ___) || (__| (_) || | | __/ | _|/ ___ \| |_| | | | |____/ \___|\___/ |_| \___| |_| /_/ \_\\__\_\ | | | @------------------------@---------------------------------------------------@ | Version: 1.1 | Game Developer/Publisher: Sacnoth/Midway & Azure | | Updated: 10-Dec-2003 | Guide Author: APL | @------------------------@---------------------------------------------------@ Shadow Hearts Time and Score FAQ CONTENTS -------- This FAQ answers two main questions: 1. How long does it take to play the game? 2. What affects my score and rank, and how can I improve these? The answers will be given in stages: 3. Guidelines for gameplay 4. Goals for a Zero Evade, 100% Ring Success (ZE-100RS) Game 5. Q&A about factors that affect score and rank 6. Time and Score Log for each part of the game 7. Names of the Top 20 Ranks 8. When to Upgrade Weapons & Armor ============================================================================== 3. Guidelines for gameplay ============================================================================== Since the time it takes depends on how you play, some goals for gameplay need to be defined. If you look at the menu screen that shows your score and rank, you'll see counters for several other statistics. These are the factors that affect your score and rank. I decided to track the time needed to play a complete first game (not a second game with cleared data), which includes all side quests and gives the good ending. I also acquired all fusion souls, all ultimate weapons and armor, played all the lotteries, and collected 98% of the treasures. (The missing treasures were found later; see the Treasure FAQ for a complete list.) I also decided to try for a "Zero evade, 100% ring success game" by defining the following goals: ============================================================================== 4. Goals for a Zero Evade, 100% Ring Success Game ============================================================================== * Evade: Never escape a battle (keep Evade = 0). * Berserk: Minimum. Use only as needed to acquire new fusion souls. * Unconsc: Minimum. Never let any character get knocked out (except for the mandatory 3 times which are part of the story). * Ring Success: Keep at 100%. * Ring Perfect: Try for about 1 in 4 (25%) in Europe, then 1 in 3 (33%) in Asia, using accessories and items to improve the ring. * Price - Buy: Buy nothing until have 1 card. Then, with 1 card, always at least 10% off. Then, with 2 cards and for the rest of the game, always at least 20% off. Try for 30% off, occasionally try for 40 or 50%. * Price - Sell: Sell nothing until have 2 cards. Then, for the rest of the game, always at least 10% up. Try for 15%, occasionally 20%. I did get 25% up twice, but usually didn't even try this. ============================================================================== 5. Q&A about factors that affect score and rank ============================================================================== Q-1: What about the other factors that might affect the score and rank? A-1: I did not take any special efforts to affect the other statistics on the score page. In particular, the number of battles and distance walked were recorded, but I did not fight extra battles (except for 3-4 times when 1 more battle increased a character's level so a new skill could be learned, and for about one hour near the end of the game so everyone could use their top skill in Sharon's Pit Fights) and I did not walk around just to accumulate distance (for pedometer steps) since these two things would increase the time used for gameplay. Q-2: How did you keep the Ring Success at 100% and increase the % Perfect Rings? A-2: Mastering the ring was one of the most challenging aspects of the game for me. I saved often, and would reload whenever I missed a ring. I often equipped the Coral or Jade Lariets (usually one or the other, but rarely both) on each character whenever I could. In the first half of the game, I found the Coral Lariet helped get perfect rings more than the Jade Lariet since the lower-level skills usually have reasonably wide areas. From the middle to the end of the game, I found that Jade Lariet was more helpful since the higher-level skills had narrower ring areas. I also kept a plentiful stock of Bronze Daggers (to double all allie's ring areas) and Gold Hourglasses (to half all allie's sweep speeds) and used them often to make everyone's rings easier. Q-3: Does using ring-enhancing items or accessories hurt your score? A-3: I did not find any downside (no penalty to score or rank) when using ring-enhancing items and accessories other than the extra turns it took to use the items in battle. I did find a benefit to getting more perfect hits... Both physical and special attacks gave 20% more damage, and this helped to shorten many battles! Q-4: Which factors seem to have the greatest affect on score and rank? A-4: The % markup and markdown when you buy and sell have a surprisingly large impact on your score and rank. You'll get a higher score faster if you delay buying and selling anything until you have at least one, or preferably 2 or more guild cards. The longer you wait, the greater impact this will have on increasing your score. Why? The % markup and markdown are averages of ALL prices paid and received. Consider what happens if you buy just one item with zero markdown and later buy your second item with a 10% markdown. If these items are about the same price, your average markdown will be 5%. But, if you had waited until you had your first guild card before you bought something, then your lowest %markdown would be 10%. You can easily wait until you have your first guild card before you buy something, and you can probably wait until you have 2 or even 3 cards before you start selling. Q-5: Is there anything special about the order of doing the side quests? A-5: The order of exploring different areas will change the timing of when you collect more powerful weapons, armor, and accessories (like the highly desirable crucifix). This is important with a game style such as ZE-100RS since you won't need to consume a lot of time leveling up. While I often played this game in the same order as in my TG (Walkthrough & Trigger Guide), I sometimes used a different order to collect a desirable item earlier. (Actually, I used a different order quite a bit near the end of the game.) I'll mention this in the corresponding sections of the Time and Score Log. Also see Section 8 "When to Upgrade Weapons & Armor" to determine the earliest opportunity to upgrade your weapons and armor. This section can help you decide the order of doing the side quests. Q-6: Can you give a quick answer to how long it takes to play the game? A-6: It took me 34 hours, 2 minutes to play the ZE-100RS game. I think most people can finish this game in 25 to 40 hours. I earned Rank 1 at Nemeton Monastery (by selling high!) before entering the underground Sanctuary Ruins. Now that you know how important it is to sell high, you can probably reach Rank 1 much earlier (possibly before Calios Mental Hospital). ============================================================================== 6. Time and Score Log for each part of the game ============================================================================== The tables here will show the the counters from the score and rank menu at the completion of each game section. Column Heading Explanation ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- 01. TG# Trigger Guide section # 02. Time Arriv Time arrived at location 03. Elap Time Elapsed time at location 04. Level Y/A Levels for Yuri and Alice 05. # Bat # Battles fought with monsters and bosses 06. Ev/B/Un # of times Evaded/Berserked/Unconscous 07. Ring Success Ratio of # successful rings to total # rings 08. Ring Perfect Ratio of # perfect rings to total possible perfects 09. Perf Rate Percent of perfect rings 10. Rank The Shadow Hearts Rank 11. Price Off/Up Percent that price was marked off (buying) or up (selling) 12. Mi # miles walked Note that the last 2 columns are shown only when I bought or sold something. ****************************************************************************** * Part I. Northern Asia: A One-Way Journey * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part I: 5-6 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 1 Trans-Siberian Express 2 Plains 3 Zhaoyang Village 4 Fengtian 5 Dalian Port 6 Smuggler's Boat ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 1 0:00 0:10 3/.. 2 0 0 1 5/5 0/5 0.00% 97 2 0:10 0:28 4/3 11 0 0 2 35/35 2/35 5.71% 88 3 0:38 1:05 8/8 29 0 0 2 95/95 23/95 24.21% 70 4 1:43 1:23 11/11 49 0 0 2 153/153 37/152 24.34% 50 5 3:06 1:23 12/11 57 0 0 2 187/187 49/186 26.34% 42 10.0/0.0 33 6 4:29 1:03 15/14 69 0 0 2 247/247 63/244 25.82% 30 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 7 5:32 total elapsed time ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= *** At TG# 1 (Trans-Siberian Express) the arrival time was 0:00 (beginning of the game) and the elapsed time was 0 hours and 10 minutes. At the end of TG# 1, Yuri was at level 3 (Alice had not been met yet, so her level is undefined). There were 2 battles (1 with a WindShear and 1 with Roger Bacon). No battles were evaded, in no battles did Yuri go berserk, but he was knocked unconscious 1 time (in the must-loose battle with Roger Bacon). 5 of 5 rings were done successfully, but 0 of 5 (0.00%) were perfect hits. The rank was 97. *** TG# 2 (Plains) took 28 minutes, Yuri ended at level 4 and Alice at level 3. There were 9 more battles for a total of 11. The # evades and Berserks were 0, but Yuri was knocked unconscious 1 more time (in the must-loose battle with Fox Face). A total of 35 out of 35 rings were done successfully since the beginning of the game, and 2 of these 35 (5.71%) were perfect hits. The rank improved to 88. *** TG# 3 (Zhaoyang Village) started focusing on perfect rings. 23 of the next 60 rings were perfect which brought the overall percentage to 24.21%. *** TG# 4 (Fengtian) noticed that the total rings counted for perfect rings (152) is one less than the total counted for ring successes (153). I believe this occurs when a ring is done that does not offer the possibility of perfect bonus. (For example, when Margarete uses SCOUT or when Alice uses WISH, there is a single solid green region.) *** TG# 5 (Dalian Port) bought a few items using the discount from one guild card. *** TG# 6 (Smuggler's Boat) ended Part I with 25% Perfect Rings! ****************************************************************************** * Part II. Southern Asia: Some Forks in the Journey * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part II: 5-7 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 7 Shanghai - Huayuan 8 Temple Ruins 9 Shanghai - Huayuan 11 Kowloon Fortress 12 Kuihai Tower 13 Zhen's Pit Fights ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 7 5:32 0:48 15/14 74 0 0 3 258/258 67/255 26.27% 25 10.0/0.0 51 8 6:20 1:24 18/15 91 0 0 3 354/354 75/350 21.43% 17 9 7:44 0:19 18/15 95 0 0 3 363/363 81/359 22.56% 16 10 8:03 0:07 18/15 95 0 0 3 363/363 81/359 22.56% 16 11 8:10 1:11 18/15 95 0 0 3 363/363 81/359 22.56% 16 12 9:21 0:27 20/15 107 0 0 3 437/437 101/431 23.43% 15 14:5/10.0 97 13* 9:48 0:35 22/22 123 0 0 3 522/522 132/516 25.58% 14 12 10:23 0:53 24/22 129 0 0 3 596/596 165/581 28.40% 12 16.3/10.0 110 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 5:44 elapsed time for Part II 11:16 total elapsed time for Parts I and II ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= TG# 8 (Temple Ruins) was able to hit only 8 perfects in the next 95 rings because skills and/or items were sealed. TG# 12 (Kuihai Tower) I worked my way through Kuihai Tower until I fought Badger Devil, then I returned to Shanghai for the pit fights. TG #13 (Zhen's Pit Fights) the * shows the time Yuri started Zhen's Pit Fights. I completed the fights at 10:23 (0:35 minutes). I then returned to Kuihai Tower, fought Dehuai, and reached the save point after the destruction of Shanghai at 11:16. The total time at Kuihai Tower was 1:20 (0:27 before the pit fights, and 0:53 after). ****************************************************************************** * Part III. Europe: The Beginning of The End * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part III: 3.5 to 5 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 14 Prague 15 Bistritz 16 Blue Castle 17 Bistritz 18 Blue Castle - Dark 19 Prague 20 Rouen ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 14 11:16 0:15 24/22 130 0 0 3 598/598 167/583 28.64% 12 15 11:31 0:30 ../24 137 0 0 3 614/614 178/599 29.72% 9 16 12:01 0:22 ../24 143 0 0 3 621/621 182/606 30.03% 9 18.2/11.9 118 17 12:23 0:19 ../25 145 0 0 3 644/644 191/629 30.37% 9 18 12:42 0:55 28/26 154 0 0 3 683/683 206/668 30.84% 9 13:37 0:22 >30< 13:59 0:23 30/28 170 0 0 3 721/721 221/706 31.30% 8 19 14:22 0:12 30/29 171 0 0 3 728/728 224/713 31.42% 8 20 14:34 0:32 31/30 175 0 0 3 752/752 235/736 31.93% 7 19.6/11.9 153 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 21 3:50 elapsed time for Part III 15:06 total elapsed time for Parts I - III ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= Note that TG# 30 (Fork to Blue Castle) was done immediately after Section 18 to collect the Dark Gravestone ASAP. ****************************************************************************** * Part IV. Britain: The Party is Complete * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part IV: 3-5 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 21 London - Old Castle St & Rats Hideout 22 London - Orphanage 23 Calios Mental Hospital 24 London - Rats Hideout ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 21 15:06 0:35 31/30 175 0 0 3 752/752 235/736 31.93% 6 20.3/11.9 158 22* 15:41 1:05 34/30 184 0 0 3 825/825 269/806 33.37% 5 168 23 16:46 1:35 38/35 209 0 0 3 915/915 335/891 37.60% 2 24 18:21 0:15 38/35 209 0 0 3 915/915 335/891 37.60% 2 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 3:30 elapsed time for Part IV 18:36 total elapsed time for Parts I - IV ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= TG# 22* (London - Orphanage) includes a few minutes to return to complete TG# 26. ****************************************************************************** * V. Some Forks before the "Final" Battle with Albert * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part V: about one-half hour TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 25 Fork to Calios 26 Fork to Orphanage 27 Fork to Prague 28 Fork to Rouen 29 Fork to Bistritz 30 Fork to Blue Castle ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 25 18:36 0:15 38/36 214 0 1 3 921/921 340/897 37.90% 2 27 18:51 0:02 38/36 214 0 1 3 921/921 340/897 37.90% 2 28 18:53 0:04 38/36 214 0 1 3 921/921 340/897 37.90% 2 29 18:57 0:03 38/36 214 0 1 3 921/921 340/897 37.90% 2 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 0:24 elapsed time for Part V. 19:00 total elapsed time for Parts I - V ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= All score statistics didn't change while collecting the items in these areas. TG# 26 was done at the end of TH# 22. ****************************************************************************** * VI. Wales ... The "Final" Battle with Albert * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part VI: 2 to 4 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 31 Nemeton Monastery 32 Sanctuary Ruins 33 Stairs beyond Nemeton Basement 34 London - Old Castle St ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 31 19:00 0:09 38/36 214 0 1 3 921/921 340/897 37.90% 2 19:09 0:49 39/36 221 0 3 3 931/931 348/907 38.37% 1 22.0/15.4 222 32 19:58 0:56 39/36 221 0 3 3 931/931 348/907 38.37% 1 22.6/15.4 225 <32 includes: +defeat 3 masks, earn 1 lvl-3 + ???> 33 20:54 0:25 44/43 238 0 4 3 1009/1009 392/971 40.37% 1 244 34 21:19 0:05 44/43 238 0 4 3 1009/1009 392/971 40.37% 1 253 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 2:24 elapsed time for Part VI 21:24 total elapsed time for Parts I - VI ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= In between TG# 31 and 32, I bought and sold a few items in London, earned two level-3 souls, and went berserk two times to learn their ??? skills. These actions took 49 minutes. ****************************************************************************** * VII. Will Alice's Soul be Saved? * ****************************************************************************** 3 masks (strong form) were defeated in TG# 32. I delayed fighting the 4th strong mask until TG# 44 so I could try to collect additional seals as prizes in the graveyard. ****************************************************************************** * VIII. Prepare to meet God * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part VIII: 4 to 8 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 35 Revisit Graveyard after Atman 36 Revisit Rouen 38 Revisit Bistritz Again 40 Dollhouse 41 London - Orphanage 42 Britain - Cave Temple 43 Nemeton Monastery 44 Europe - Ancient Ruins 45 Nemeton Monastery 46 Europe - Ancient Ruins 47 Visit Graveyard 48 Stairs beyond basement 49 Nemeton Monastery 50 Sharon's Pit Fights ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 36 21:24 0:15 44/43 238 0 4 3 1009/1009 392/971 40.37% 1 253 38 21:39 0:14 45/43 241 0 4 3 1017/1017 394/979 40.25% 1 253 39 21:53 0:02 45/43 241 0 4 3 1017/1017 394/979 40.25% 1 253 40 21:55 0:46 46/45 251 0 5 3 1058/1058 415/1011 41.05% 1 260 41 22:41 0:05 46/45 251 0 5 3 1058/1058 415/1011 41.05% 1 262 22:46 0:27 46/45 253 0 6 3 1060/1060 417/1013 41.16% 1 23.7/16.4 269 42 23:13 0:31 48/46 261 0 6 3 1091/1091 427/1040 41.06% 1 275 43 23:44 0:07 48/46 261 0 6 3 1091/1091 427/1040 41.06% 1 276 >48< 23:51 0:11 49/47 266 0 6 3 1096/1096 432/1045 41.54% 1 282 44 24:02 0:35 51/49 275 0 6 3 1129/1129 443/1073 41.29% 1 292 24:37 0:12 52/50 276 0 6 3 1144/1144 448/1084 41.33% 1 293 >35< 24:49 0:02 52/50 276 0 6 3 1144/1144 448/1084 41.33% 1 294 45 24:51 0:02 52/50 276 0 6 3 1144/1144 448/1084 41.33% 1 295 46 24:53 0:08 52/51 278 0 6 3 1148/1148 450/1088 41.36% 1 298 25:01 0:42 52/51 281 0 7 3 1156/1156 455/1095 41.55% 1 25.1/17.4 311 >43< 25:43 0:03 52/51 281 0 7 3 1156/1156 455/1095 41.55% 1 313 49 25:46 0:03 52/51 281 0 7 3 1156/1156 455/1095 41.55% 1 315 >47< 25:49 0:23 53/51 282 0 7 3 1201/1201 466/1134 41.09% 1 315 50 Delay Sharon's Pit Fights --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 4:48 elapsed time for Part VIII 26:12 total elapsed time for Parts I - VIII ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= The order of doing these events sometimes did not follow the order shown in the TG FAQ. TG# 37 (collecting the Earth Gravestone) isn't listed here because it was done as part of TG# 29. I collected other valuables and items in TG# 48, 35, 43, and 47 when I was ready to use them. I should mention that the order used in the TG FAQ was selected to determine which actions triggered which events. In this FAQ, the objective was to complete the game more efficiently. TG# 44 (Ancient Ruins) is where I finished fighting the masks. While walking through the maze, I encountered one of the weak masks and defeated it, but decided to continue with the game without walking around for the remaining weak forms of the masks. This meant I skipped fighting 3 weak (dead) masks. ****************************************************************************** * IX. The Float to GOD * ****************************************************************************** Typical time needed to complete Part IX: 2 to 3 hours TG# Name of Trigger Guide Location ==== ============================== 52 Neamato - entry to 1st FL 53 Neamato - 1st FL to 2nd FL 54 Neamato - 2nd FL to 3rd FL ==== ============================== Time Elap Level # Ring Ring Perf Price TG# Arriv Time Y/A Bat Ev/B/Un Success Perfect Rate Rank Off/Up Mi --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 51 26:12 0:12 53/51 282 0 7 3 1201/1201 466/1134 41.09% 1 317 52 26:24 0:30 54/51 290 0 8 3 1234/1234 480/1161 41.34% 1 25.3/17.4 322 53 26:54 0:35 56/51 305 0 8 3 1271/1271 503/1195 42.09% 1 330 54 27:29 0:35 57/51 316 0 8 3 1320/1320 523/1236 42.31% 1 337 28:04 1:12 61/51 342 0 8 3 1401/1401 553/1316 42.02% 1 352 >50< 29:16 0:12 61/51 342 0 8 3 1401/1401 553/1316 42.02% 1 25.6/17.6 363 50Y 29:28 0:20 61/51 352 0 8 3 50Z 29:48 0:33 61/51 362 0 8 3 50M 30:21 0:43 61/51 372 0 8 3 31:04 0:24 61/51 372 0 8 3 1581/1581 597/1480 40.34% 1 26.8/17.9 363 50K 31:28 0:38 61/51 382 0 8 3 1652/1652 640/1541 41.53% 1 363 50H 32:06 0:40 61/51 392 0 8 3 1741/1741 672/1602 41.95% 1 363 50A 32:46 0:38 61/52 402 0 8 3 1813/1813 697/1641 42.47% 1 365 52 33:24 0:03 61/52 403 0 8 3 1814/1814 698/1642 42.51% 1 368 53 33:27 0:03 61/52 404 0 8 3 1817/1817 700/1644 42.58% 1 369 54 33:30 0:08 61/52 407 0 8 3 1830/1830 703/1654 42.50% 1 370 55 33:38 0:24 61/53 409 0 8 3 1848/1847 704/1656 42.51% 1 371 --- ------ ---- ----- --- ------- -------- -------- ------ ---- ------- --- 7:50 elapsed time for Part IX 34:02 total elapsed time for Parts I - IX (complete 1st game) ========================= Some Detailed Discussion: ========================= Sharon's pit fights were delayed as long as possible so I could level up the characters as part of normal gameplay rather than in a separate activity. After defeating the BOSS at the end of Nemeato 3F, however, I still needed about an hour to raise everyone'e level just enough so they could use their strongest skills in the pit fights. The letters Y, Z, M, K, H, A show the score counters for each character. After the 3rd character completed fighting I noticed that I had been neglecting the perfect rings, so I started recording the counters after each of the remaining fights. ============================================================================== 7. Names of the Top 20 Ranks ============================================================================== 1 Seraphic Radiance 2 Meta-God 3 Messiah 4 Atman 5 Sword Mask 6 Staff Msk 7 Gold Mask 8 Grail Mask 9 Orb Chaos 10 Hate 11 Seraphim 12 Cherubim 13 Amon 14 Mammon 15 Yamaraja: Calamity 16 Olga 17 Rausan 18 Cockatrice 19 Keeper 20 Enigma ============================================================================== 8. When to Upgrade Weapons and Armor ============================================================================== In the second half of the game, particularly after Yuri rejoins the party in Europe, the game becomes less linear. You will have more choices about where to go next, and the order you choose will affect the time/length of the game as well as the difficulty of fighting monsters and bosses. Everyone has 8 levels of weapons and armor (except Keith, who only has 7 weapons). In Rouen and Nemeton, you'll be able to buy W&A at levels 4-6, but you can often find better W&A if you know where to look. The following list shows the TG section number and the location of all W&A after Yuri rejoins the party in Blue Castle. This list will help you decide which location to explore next and which W&A you should buy. There's no sense in buying a level 6 weapon if you can find level 7 weapon soon! For example, when you're in Rouen (TG# 20) you should buy at most 1 Jasper Cape since you can find another inside the church. In the second list, P-A, S-A, P-D, and S-D show the boost in Physical Attack, Special Attack, Physical Defense, and Special Defense for each W&A. TG# Location --- ---------------------------------- 18 fight with Fox Face in Blue Castle 20 Shop: Rouen, Tight Lipped Merchant 20* Shop + find 1 in church 24 Joshua 25 Mental hospital 26 Find in Orphanage 31 Shop: Continental Zero 31* Nemeton Hilltop 32 Sancutary Ruins 34 after 10,000 steps 36 Rouen - Lottery #2 36* Qinhua in Rouen 38 Gold Bat in Blue Castle 40 Orb Chaos in Dollhouse 42 Cave Temple 42* Cherubim in Cave Temple 44 Ancient Ruins 44* Seraphim in Ancient Ruins 47 Graveyard, after gaining Ser. Rad. 49 Roger Bacon 50 London Rats Pit Fight 52 Neameto - 0 to 1st FL 53 Neameto - 1st to 2nd FL 54 Neameto - 2nd to 3rd FL TG# W/A Who Level Name P-A S-A P-D S-D Status ---- --- ------ ----- ----------------------- --- --- --- --- ---------- 18 W Y 5 Brass Knuckles +60 +54 20 W A 5 Ever-Bible +53 +64 20* A Female 5 Jasper Cape +56 +57 20 A Male 5 Red Leather Jacket +58 +55 20 W Z 5 Oracle's Staff +52 +61 20 W K 4 Silver Cresant Sword +40 +20 24 W H 6 Improved Slingshot +16 +15 Petrify 25 W K 5 Deathblade, Jiru -15 +35 Inst Death 26 W M 5 Draze +55 +47 31 W H 4 Steel Slingshot +8 +15 Paralysis 31 W H 5 High Alloy Slingshot +15 +15 31 W K 6 Executioner Sword +55 +26 31 W A 6 Grand Bible +65 +77 31 A Female 6 Snow-white Robe +69 +71 31 W Y 6 Silver Talon +74 +67 31 W M 6 12 Gauge +60 +60 31 A Male 6 Stygian Robe +71 +69 31 W Z 6 Four Gods' Staff +67 +77 31* A K 7 Mantle Of Nobility +78 +72 Half Earth 32 W A 7 Holy Book of Martyrs +72 +84 32 W Y 7 Silver Wolf Fang +76 +65 32 W M 7 Mauser Prototype +70 +70 32 A Z 7 Coat of the Sage +71 +79 Half Fire 32 A H 7 Punk Jacket +73 +77 Half Wind 34 A M 8 Leather Suit +81 +79 Half W/F 36 W M 8 10 Gauge +79 +75 36* A Z 8 Coat of the Adept +76 +84 Half F/W 38 W K 8 Demon Sword Tyrving +62 +48 40 W A 8 Holy Book of Flesh +85 +89 42 A K 8 Mantle of Shivering +87 +73 Half E/W 42* W Z 8 Holy Peak Staff +86 +88 44 A A 8 Gold Thread Coat +74 +86 Half L/D 44* W H 8 Volt Snipe +33 +28 47 A Y 8 Father's Coat +83 +77 Half D/L 49 W Y 8 Nightbird Claw +80 +78 50 A H 8 Metal Jacket +78 +82 Half Earth 52 W H 7 Crank Slingshot +24 +20 53 A A 7 Silver Thread Coat +72 +78 Half Light 53 A M 7 Rubber Suit +75 +75 Half Water 53 W Z 7 Sage Staff +75 +83 54 W K 7 V-Blade Blodauth +57 +40 54 A Y 7 Heretic's Coat +76 +74 Half Dark ---- --- ------ ----- ----------------------- --- --- --- --- ---------- ******************** * Revision History * ******************** Ver 1.0 04-Dec-2003 Initial version of FAQ. The time and score tables are complete, but detailed discussion is provided only for Parts I and II, sections 1-13. Ver 1.1 10-Dec-2003 Added some detailed discussion to the time and score tables for Parts III to IX. Also added section on When to Upgrade Weapons and Armor.