Current Events > Final Fantasy VIII Remaster playthrough. *progressive spoilers*

(+) Yeah! (+)

My go to strat in the early game was to spread All to Balamb so when I won I got all my opponent's cards and just suck up cards for a couple hours.

ocelot51 posted...

My go to strat in the early game was to spread All to Balamb so when I won I got all my opponent's cards and just suck up cards for a couple hours.

Yup, I do the same.
I'll explain how for TC's benefit. You can influence Trade Rules by using the Queen of Cards. She's an NPC that travels to a different, random town when you beat her. If you haven't played her yet, she's in front of the train station in Balamb.
Basically, challenge her and quit before actually playing until the Trade Rule says All. That allows you to gain 5 cards upon victory each time. Then go back to Balamb Garden and rake in the cards.

Also, you should have the Card Ability, TC. That allows you to turn enemies that are low on HP into cards during battles. You won't get EXP (which serves little purpose in FF8); but you do still get the AP for the GFs along with a ton of nifty cards
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Is every "remaster" just the PC version from that era? Lots of times they don't even optimize for the console and it really shows.
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Spent 20 minutes unlocking Card for Quezacotl, and the first enemy I tried it on -- a Cockatrice -- petrified my whole party and gave me a Game Over.

Hadn't saved this whole time.

Feels good, mang
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Edea commits murder in front of everyone and summons some demon dogs to attack the city, but every time it shows the citizens they're still cheering and dancing for the ceremony? ...Okay.

They were charmed.

Seifer is alive, to the surprise of no one. Apparently he's always wanted to be the sorceress' knight, but I don't remember that being mentioned before? Maybe it was, and I just missed it?

The romantic dream he mentions.

As for losing because of annoying status nonsense, you can junction status magic to resist the important ones 100% of the time. GF Siren you should have obtained back in Dollet can help here, but there are also items that will teach a GF of your choice these sorts of abilities. Not sure how it works in the remaster but you should eventually be able to unlock the Ribbon ability that makes status defense junctions pointless.
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