LogFAQs > #963260350

Yeah, Tales has always been about the gameplay - it was something no other JRPG series did so well for ages. Star Ocean was the only other one trying, but it had a lot of issues. Abyss is my favorite Tales because it nails the story, too - there are no pacing issues until the endgame, but the sidequests are all over the place but are thankfully less critical to the story as some of the ones I've seen here. They do help with the world-building, which is something Tales is very hit-or-miss with.

Anyway, I challenged Phoenix and got him down to half health, so I figure that equipment management is the key. I do that and lose the next one more decisively because Eleanor swapped out for Rokurou early on and it wouldn't let me change that back. WTF.

Looks like I won't be killing Artorius before my vacation (if I go on it - American Airlines is being awful again, so...)

The third time, I adjust by cooking something different and subbing Magilou for Laphicet, but I lose because the game keeps glitching Velvet's therionization, so I decide everyone's gonna have to be level 70 before I try again. That may mean post-game.

In Loegres, I find out that Majelu ran away because Valta wouldn't let her catch a break even though he says he's been hearing her out. YTA, dude. You're exhausting her. And rumor is she went to the last unexplored dungeon on the map: Zavahl Grotto. Because our Exorcist friend Eleanor demands we rescue her from a dangerous daemon nest, I warp to Stonebury straight away. She just beat me there and was just attacked by a huge daemon witch that I dispatch - it's not an easy fight, mind you, but it's no Phoenix. Magilou and Majelu bond over having bossy teachers who don't understand that they have one mouth and two ears for a reason.

Majelu is distraught about her own abilities as a dancer, and before she can tell us why she wanted to come to this grotto, an injured Valta stumbles in here. Did the man not get himself an escort? Geez, he's as stubborn as his Lulu. And then she says she came here to find herbs to heal his injury. Obvious why: She wanted to free herself from his bossiness. That would either alleviate his anger issues or get him to go back into dancing and feel like he didn't need her. Smart girl. But he doesn't care about that: He thinks that, by coming to a dangerous place unescorted, she could get herself killed and throw away her talent, and all he cares about is for her to gain a title that was once his: Greatest dancer in the world. He knows it's not coming back.

Magilou decides this is the perfect time to troll, and it's hilarious even though her joke doesn't land. Majelu is FIRED UP about winning a popularity contest against a witch that can summon a flock of doves with her bare hands. And now they see each other as rivals. Nothing a dozen eggs couldn't accomplish!

I dive into the dungeon for a bit but quickly get tired since it's been a long day of dealing with airline bullshit, finishing taxes, horror movie watchalongs, exercising, and packing shit (yeah that's a LOT), so I back out and end for the night. Unless American Air's shit costs me my trip (long story), I'll have to wait two weeks before I can come back and finish. I am so, so sorry to keep you guys waiting. I didn't intend for it to be like this, I swear.