Mathematical Optimization of the FFXIII-2 Crystarium, Explained

TwoPlusTwo

Sooo...for those folks (only me? ) enamored by the intensely mathematical nature of Final Fantasy XIII-2 gameplay...I finally fucking figured out the "Crystarium Optimization" on p. 217 and 218 in the CE guide.

In XIII-2, the Crystarium has small nodes and large nodes. Small nodes are "regular" level-ups, and large nodes are "Role Bonus" level-ups that give an extra bonus based on role.

It suggests that you never use an HP bonus if you can help it (duh), and that to force all of Serah's upgrades to just use her Magic. I agree.

(For Noel it says to focus on Strength, but give him some Magic too...this works itself out in what I am about to explain).

For Crystarium stages 1 and 2 their optimizations work out easy, you just do obvious shit for both characters.

At Crystarium stage 3, I thought the CE guide made a math and my dumb ass spent the last, I dunno 6 hours or so, trying to correct it...but it's not a math error at all.

It says for Serah Crystarium stage 3, Unlock SAB then level up COM 6 times, RAV 4 times, SEN 0 times, and SAB 10 times. Total levels = COM/26, RAV/23, SEN/3, and SAB/18. That adds up. Except it says your "ROLE BONUS" should equal "5 RAV, 4 SAB (+18 Magic). And I thought that was

It's not.

RAV role bonus always give +2 magic, but SAB role bonus gives +2 Strength for even levels OR +2 magic for odd levels. So what you do is:

Every odd SAB level, use a large node. Next small node, which will be even, use SAB. Then spam RAV or COM small nodes until you get an odd-numbered SAB large node. So you just get +Magic bonuses for large odd SAB nodes.

Basically, in their optimization table, just count the large nodes and divide them amongst even and odd levels. Only spend the large SAB nodes at odd levels.

If you do this correctly, you DO get ROLE BONUS = 5 RAV, 4 SAB (+18 Magic)!

And every "stupid" level up they suggest, just accounts for the even/odd bonuses. For Noel's table, you only want odd SYN large nodes.

If you do alternate even/odd, every number on their optimization table works out!

It only took me several hours to figure this out, and apparently I teach math or something.

ALSO IN THE CE GUIDE:

* The "Chain Bonus" equation on page 194 is correct.

* The "Stagger Duration" equation on page 194 is questionable but it might as well be correct. You get "at least" 8 seconds...and then on page 201 they tell you to account for animation speed...how many fps does FFXIII-2 run on PS3??? Yeah, it doesn't matter, if "8+WTF_number" doesn't work then restart the battle.

* The "cut/keep" multipliers on page 199 are correct AFAIK.

* ATB-refreshing still works, in fact now the CE even acknowledges it as a feature for the "avid player" or some such bullshit. I don't know if you can double/triple dip with cross/wide paradigms, though. I'm not that far...but don't worry, one day I'll be bored enough to see what Relentless Assault -> Relentless Assault -> Relentless Assault-X -> Relentless Assault-X ->Relentless Assault-W -> Cerberberous does. Gimme some time, I'll get bored enough to try it.

And remember, hitting the "PS home" button to pause is not cheating, it's smart!

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Game Room: Pioneer Kuro Elite PRO-101FD, Onkyo HT-S9100 w/ Onkyo TX-SR608 receiver, Gaming PC, Playstation 3, XBOX 360. Harmony One Remote.

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railven

Pretty much where I stopped reading

I still haven't played FFXIII and was caught off gaurd when I saw FFXIII-2 on the shelf. Where the fuck is the other one who's name I now forgot where the main character looks classy?

TwoPlusTwo

Lightning? Her name is Lightning. That's the "main character who looks classy" in Final Fantasy XIII.

She now's the goddess of infinite time-travel in FFXIII-2, but this time you play as her less-sexy sister Serah...

Gameplay-wise, FFXIII was a math game, and FFXIII-2 is a math+ game.

But the "other one, (Lightning)" she's not a playable character except in the opening cutscene. You just get to play as her little sister Serah.

The math is better though.

__________________
Game Room: Pioneer Kuro Elite PRO-101FD, Onkyo HT-S9100 w/ Onkyo TX-SR608 receiver, Gaming PC, Playstation 3, XBOX 360. Harmony One Remote.

Currently Playing: The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition (PC), Binary Domain (PC) , Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (PC)

Steam ID = NonTensorial

railven

No, the other FFXIII that looked infinitely cooler than what they've released thus far. It is more "Japanese" and the main character is a male who represents dark and his love interest (from what I gather) is also his main rival that represents light.

WIsh I remember the name, and I'm far not interested enough to Google it haha.

railven

Versus pops into my head, is FFXIII Versus a working title of the Crystalis arc?

Someone google it, my shift is over. LATER!

Pinoy

I stopped reading right about there

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awol

It is part of the same universe yes. When it's coming out?? Who knows. Honestly, I think it's the only reason I'm holding onto my PS3 at this point.

railven

Yeah, the Crystalis Arc/Verse - kind of like a handful of games are under the Ivalice Arc/Verse (probably the best one thus far until they ruined it with gameplay flaws - in my opinion of course.)