---CHAPTER III-----------------------------------------------------------------* GOOD IDEA: When Alma joins the party, it's a good idea de-equip her Healing

Staff and Barette (as well as her Red Shoes) before you go to the Orbonne Monastery. This is not *required* as both these items can be poached later: the Healing Staff is a rare poach from Dryads and the Barette is a rare poach from Red Chocobos. * NOT IMPORTANT: During a story event, you will be asked whether or not you have read the Scriptures of Germonique. Your response here has no bearing on anything, so don't worry about it :) * GOOD IDEA: The story battle at Zeklaus Desert features behemoths. All three types of behemoth yield rare items you may want to poach them, or recruit one or more onto your Tame) to breed more behemoths for poaching. However, it poach/recruit them here as there are plenty of behemoths later in the game. all three types of when poached. So, team (with Entice or is not necessary to in random battles

* ESSENTIAL: After the battle at Zeklaus Desert, you will be able to add Luso to your roster. This is your only opportunity to get this unique character on your team, so add him. (Luso is not needed to unlock any other events, though.) * ESSENTIAL: At the very end of Chapter III, you will be given a chance to add Rapha and Marach to your roster. Both are unique story characters and each has different abilities, so sign them up. (They are not, however, very useful :P.) ---CHAPTER IV------------------------------------------------------------------The Gollund Colliery sidequest is available at the beginning of this chapter. Assuming you still have Mustadio, Agrias, Alicia, and Lavian on your roster, the Agrias's Birthday sidequest is also available at this time. Both of these sidequests are available until completed and never disappear. (See Walkthrough - Sidequests for the full walkthroughs for these quests.) * GOOD IDEA: As a general note, the maximum roster size of 24 is just big enough to keep the 18 story characters (including Boco and Ladd) plus the 6 generic characters you start Chapter I with. So, if you want to keep all those characters, finish breeding monsters to poach BEFORE you fill up the last two slots on your roster. On the other hand, Boco, Ladd, and the initial 6 generics have no special characteristics and you don't miss anything if you delete them. ---Agrias's Birthday--* ESSENTIAL: After completing the Agrias's Birthday sidequest, you will receive the Tynar Rouge accessory. This is a one-of-a-kind item and cannot be replaced, so don't throw it away, or let it get broken or stolen by an enemy. After completing the Agrias's Birthday event, Alicia and Lavian are not strictly needed for any other events, although they will appear in Disorder in

the Order if you still have them along. ---Gollund Colliery--* ESSENTIAL: Near the beginning of this quest (at the Tavern in Lesalia), Beowulf will ask you to team up. Choose the second option to agree to this. Otherwise, Beowulf will leave and the quest cannot be completed. * GOOD IDEA: In the third battle in this quest (Gollund Colliery Ridge), you will encounter an enemy Pig. Entice or Tame the Pig so you can start breeding monsters from the pig family. Some rare items can only be obtained by poaching pig-family monsters -- including those from the Wild Boar monster, which can ONLY be obtained by breeding! If you do miss the Pig here, though, you can get others later. * ESSENTIAL: After completing the last battle of this quest, Beowulf and Holy Dragon Reis will offer to join your team. Both are unique story characters and both are needed for later quests, so sign them up. * ESSENTIAL: Upon return to the Clockwork City of Goug, Construct 8 will also be offered as another character. Construct 8 is another unique character, so recruit it. ---Chapter IV Main Quest - Up to Bervenia Free City--* GOOD IDEA: During the story battle at Bervenia Free City, you may want to steal the Defender and Chantage from Meliadoul, especially since both are good items. However, these can also be poached/stolen/caught later if you miss them. After completing the story battle at the Free City of Bervenia, the Recruiting Balthier sidequest is now available. It does not depend on any missable factors. ---Recruiting Balthier Quest--* ESSENTIAL: After you complete this quest, Balthier will offer to join. Again, he is a unique story character, so sign him up. He is not needed for any other quests. * ESSENTIAL: Balthier's initial equipment includes the Ras Algethi gun and the Mirage Vest body armor. Both of these are unique items in single-player, so, again, don't throw them away or let them get broken. (Note that you must sign up Balthier to get them.) It is possible to get additional guns and vests in the multiplayer modes. ---Chapter IV Main Quest - Finnath Creek to Sal Ghidos--* GOOD IDEA: During the story battle at Finnath Creek (NOT during the random battles), there's a random chance of encountering one more enemy Pigs. If you don't already have one, Entice or Tame a Pig so you can start breeding monsters from the pig family. Some rare items can only be obtained by poaching pig-family monsters -- including those from the Wild Boar monster, which can ONLY be obtained by breeding! If you don't get any Pigs here, you can get others later. * GOOD IDEA: In the story battle at Beddha Sandwaste, you can steal a Glacial

Gun from Barich. This is a rare item that can't be bought in stores, but it's not unique and you can get an infinite supply from random battles later. * NOT IMPORTANT: At Fort Besselat, you'll have a choice of attacking either the south wall or north wall. These are different battles, but neither has any special items and you'll end up in the same place eventually, so it doesn't matter which you choose. * ESSENTIAL: After completing the battles at Fort Besselat, Orlandeau will offer to join. Sign him up as he is another unique story character. * GOOD IDEA: Orlandeau's initial equipment includes the Excalibur knight's sword. The Excalibur isn't unique (an infinite supply can be caught from highlevel enemy Ninjas), but Excaliburs are hard to get, so hang on to it! * ESSENTIAL: When you first visit the Trade City of Sal Ghidos, you will see a cutscene in which Aerith offers you a flower. Choose the SECOND option to buy the flower. If you do not buy the flower, you will NOT be able to complete the Nelveska Temple & Recruiting Cloud subquests, and there is only ONE chance to get it!! Once you have the flower, you can complete the Nelveska Temple sidequest if you also finished the Gollund Colliery quest and still have Beowulf and Reis on your team. ---Nelveska Temple Quest--* ESSENTIAL: Using the Treasure Hunter ability, move atop the left pillar to find the Escutcheon (II) shield. You will need to use a large monster (such as Reis or Construct 8) as a stepping-stone to get up on top of the pillar. You may instead receive a crummy regular Escutcheon; the chance of getting this BAD Escutcheon is equal to your Bravery. So, a lower Bravery is better! This is the ONLY chance to get the Escutcheon II in the game and you CANNOT come back to this map afterwards, so you must pick it up here to get every item. * GOOD IDEA: The Javelin II, Sasuke's Blade, and Nagnarok weapons can also be found with Treasure Hunter and low Bravery here. These, however, are not unique; Sasuke's Blade and the Javelin II can be caught from enemy Ninjas and the Nagnarok can be poached from Swine. * ESSENTIAL: After completing the events in this quest, Reis's new version will offer to rejoin your party. She is another unique story character and needed for the Lionel's New Liege Lord quest, so sign her up. ---Chapter IV Main Quest - Mount Germinas to Limberry--* ESSENTIAL: The Mount Germinas map contains an item, the Invisibility Cloak, that's one-of-a-kind in single-player. It's found using Treasure Hunter atop the mountain; see Battle 42 Tactics and Secrets for a map to its location.) Again, the lower your Bravery, the better chance of getting the Invisibility Cloak instead of just an Ether. You only get to pick up ONE of these items, so if you end up with the Ether, the Invisibility Cloak is gone for good! Unlike with the Nelveska Temple items, however, there's absolutely no need to get this

during the story battle here -- you can come back and get it in a random battle at any time. It's also possible to win Invisibility Cloaks in Rendezvous Mode. * GOOD IDEA: You may encounter another Pig in the story battle at Finnath Creek. (It's random whether or not you'll see it.) If you missed the Pig in the Gollund Colliery, try to recruit this one. If you don't get one here, you can still find an infinite supply in Dorvauldar Marsh or the last floor of Midlight's Deep. * GOOD IDEA: At Limberry, you'll face a series of four battles. In the first three battles, you'll want to learn Ultima by having one of the Assassins or Ultima Demons cast it on either Ramza in his Squire job, or Luso in his Game Hunter job. It is easiest by far to learn it in the first battle (at the gate). * NOT IMPORTANT: You can't steal Elmdore's equipment in this version of the game, so don't even try. * ESSENTIAL: After winning all the battles at Limberry, Meliadoul will offer to join you. Sign her up; she is a unique character and is needed for another couple story events. * GOOD IDEA: Meliadoul comes with a Save The Queen sword. Again, the supply of these is actually unlimited (since they can be caught from enemy Ninjas), but keeping this one as a good idea! The Recruiting Cloud quest is now available. ---Recruiting Cloud Quest--* ESSENTIAL: When given the chance to sign up Cloud, add him. needed for anything else, but IS a unique story character. He isn't

* GOOD IDEA: Cloud's Materia Blade is found atop Mount Bervenia using Treasure Hunter. Bravery is NOT important. Try to hang onto it since Cloud needs it for his Limit command, but if you lose it, you CAN get more from enemy Ninjas. ---Chapter IV Main Quest - Eagrose to End--* ESSENTIAL: After Limberry, you will be directed back to Eagrose. On your way back to Eagrose, enter Dorter Trade City for an optional battle. (This battle will only trigger if you have Meliadoul on your roster.) If you visit Eagrose before activated this battle, it will disappear. * GOOD IDEA: In the aforementioned Dorter battle, you can steal a Dragon Rod from Cletienne. This weapon can also be found as a rare poach from Blue Dragons, but it's easiest to steal. * GOOD IDEA: The boss at Eagrose has a Defender sword you can steal, if you missed the one at Bervenia or want a second one. Again, there's actually an unlimited supply of Defenders (from poaching Elder Treants), so you don't *have* to get this one. * GOOD IDEA: Once you get to Mullonde, you'll face a series of three battles. In the first battle, the enemy Summoner has another Dragon Rod if you missed

the prior one. * ESSENTIAL: For the second battle at Mullonde, deploy Meliadoul for some additional mid-battle dialogue. (This is not needed to unlock anything else, however.) * ESSENTIAL: If you have not yet learned the Ultima spell, the third battle at Mullonde is your last chance in the single-player mode to learn and keep it. You'll get the magick if Ultima Demons cast it on either Ramza in his Squire job, or Luso in his Game Hunter job. Once you complete the battles at Mullonde, you will be able to complete the last set of sidequests, as well as the last set of story battles. You must still have Beowulf, Reis, and Agrias to complete this final set of sidequests. * ESSENTIAL: After entering Orbonne Monastery for the final sequence of battles, SAVE YOUR GAME IN A DIFFERENT SLOT. You will NOT be able to get out to the world map again. So, if you want to be able to roam the map at all, you must keep a separate save from BEFORE you went into the Monastery. ---Lionel's New Liege Lord Quest--* NOT IMPORANT: Aliste has Safeguard, so you can't steal any of his Genji gear. Sorry. * ESSENTIAL: After completing the first battle of this quest, you will receive the Genji Armor as a battle trophy. This is a unique item, so do not let get it stolen or broken. * GOOD IDEA: You can steal the Masamune from one of the enemy samurai in the second battle of this quest. The Masamune can only be otherwise obtained by catching it from enemy Ninjas (or winning it in Rendezvous Mode), so it's good to get here. (Be careful using the Masamune for Iaido; if it breaks, you'll need Sticky Fingers to get a replacement!) * GOOD IDEA: You can also steal a Cachusha and Barette from the enemy Mystics in the same battle. These are also available from poaching. * ESSENTIAL: You will receive a Zeus Mace as a battle trophy after the second battle. Keep it; this is one of only two in the game. ---Disorder in the Order Quest--* GOOD IDEA: If you still have Alicia and Lavian in your roster, the story event at Zeltennia Castle will include them in the background. However, having them here doesn't affect the actual event, nor your ability to do anything else later. Note that once you've completed this event, Alicia and Lavian aren't used for anything else, so you could dismiss them if you want since they're otherwise just generic characters. * ESSENTIAL: If you bring Orlandeau to the battle in this quest, you can see a little extra dialogue. But, it's not needed for anything else. * ESSENTIAL: In the battle in this quest, you can steal Venetian and Kaiser Shields from the two Knights, and Ninja Gear from the enemy Monk. There is only other one copy of each of these items in the single-player mode, so be sure to snag them. (However, you can get an infinite supply in multiplayer.)

* GOOD IDEA: You can also steal a Sasuke's Blade, Barette, Blaze Gun, and Glacial Gun in the same battle, although none of these are strictly necessary. ---Midlight's Deep--All the floors of Midlight's Deep have items you can find with Treasure Hunter. Again, a lower Bravery increases your chance is needed to get these items; otherwise, you just get a Phoenix Down. If you get the Phoenix Down, the "good" item disappears, even if you leave the battle and re-enter. * GOOD IDEA: Good Treasure Hunter pickups on The Crevasse: Glacial Gun and Blaze Gun. (Both also obtainable in random battles, however.) * GOOD IDEA: Good Treasure Hunter pickups on The Stair: Save The Queen and Blood Sword. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Hollow: Zeus Mace. There are only two of these available in the game; the other comes from the Lionel's New Liege Lord quest. * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Hollow: Yoichi Bow. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The available here. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The only two in single-player; the other comes * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Catacombs: Rod of Faith. Only

Catacombs: Kaiser Shield. One of from Disorder in the Order. Catacombs: Faerie Harp.

* ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Oubliette: Iga Blade (the only one in the single-player game) * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Oubliette: Excalibur. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Palings: Cursed Ring. This is the only one in the game, and also pretty much essential for completing one of the Rendezvous Mode missions. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Palings: Ninja Gear (1 of 2 in the single-player game; the other from Disorder in the Order). * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Palings: Blaster gun. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Crossing: Staff of the Magi (only one in the game). * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Crossing: Koga Blade. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickups on The Switchback: Perseus Bow and Lordly Robe (both only available here in single-player, but can be found in Rendezvous). * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickup on The Switchback: Excalibur. * ESSENTIAL: Treasure Hunter pickups on The Interstice: Maximillian and Grand Helm (both unique), and Venetian Shield (1 of 2 in the single-player game; the other is from Disorder in the Order) * ESSENTIAL: The first time you enter floor 10 (Terminus), you'll fight a story battle. This is your only chance to obtain the Zodiark summon in the singleplayer game, by having it the boss cast it on a character using the Summoner job. Use Mana Shield to survive the spell.

* ESSENTIAL: After defeating Elidibus, you will be able to sign up the Byblos. This is a unique monster/character, so add it. * GOOD IDEA: Treasure Hunter pickups on Terminus: Chaos Blade and Chirijiraden. (Be careful using the Chirijiraden for Iaido; if it breaks, you'll have to catch a replacement!)