Poll of the Day > What is the point of Black Belt's Boost in FF3?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel like I don't understand something. You can Boost 2 times and attack on the 3rd turn for x3 damage. How's that different than just attacking 3 times? Reminds me of the Charge move in Pokemon (Gen3).

The only thing I can think of is rushing through the damage percent on bosses that causes them to enter their next attack phase (Odin's Zantetsuken).

NeoSioType posted...

The only thing I can think of is rushing through the damage percent on bosses that causes them to enter their next attack phase

It's underutilized in FF3 cuz, well, game design - but here are some situations in OTHER games where it works

• Enemy has a counter mechanic, so it's better to do damage in as few instances as possible
• Enemy has a defense stat which disproportionately negates weaker hits
• Black Belt is faster than an ally who can armour break, setting up better timing
• You somehow intentionally want to get to half health by overcharging

I usually don't use that or other similar skills.

Yeah a lot of the job system special skills just aren't worth it over fight or magic

It makes you know martial arts

Lokarin posted...

It's underutilized in FF3 cuz, well, game design - but here are some situations in OTHER games where it works

* Enemy has a counter mechanic, so it's better to do damage in as few instances as possible
* Enemy has a defense stat which disproportionately negates weaker hits
* Black Belt is faster than an ally who can armour break, setting up better timing
* You somehow intentionally want to get to half health by overcharging

Agreed with these use cases. Is this not the case in FF3?

FellWolf posted...

Agreed with these use cases. Is this not the case in FF3?

I think the only case that is in FF3 is if your character gets blinded you can boost while someone eyedrops them, that's about it

Higher burst damage gives fewer opportunities to heal, if that's relevant.

oh! here's one, the splitting enemies... if you OHKO them they don't split

but why ain't you Dark Knight?

It makes a big number for those who like big numbers (and don't think overly much).

Sigh, because there is one defense check. You hit 3 x with 10 attack but enemy has 5 defense. Total damage 15

You boost twice to do 3x damage, now 1 hit for 30, defense still 5. Total damage 25.

Final damage is now 66% more than without boosting over the 3 turns.

Darth_CiD posted...

Sigh, because there is one defense check. You hit 3 x with 10 attack but enemy has 5 defense. Total damage 15

You boost twice to do 3x damage, now 1 hit for 30, defense still 5. Total damage 25.

Final damage is now 66% more than without boosting over the 3 turns.

unfortunately that's not the case in Famicom FF3... Boost (BuildUP) is a multiplier to "Final Damage" which is after defense has already been calculated.

Also, found out that while using boost you are hit with the vulnerable status and take double base damage as well (but not double healing :B)

Also, the bonus Final Damage from Dragoon's jump is also x3, so jumping is as much damage as a double Boost assuming you have the same base attack

Lokarin posted...

unfortunately that's not the case in Famicom FF3... Boost (BuildUP) is a multiplier to "Final Damage" which is after defense has already been calculated.

Also, found out that while using boost you are hit with the vulnerable status and take double base damage as well (but not double healing :B)

Also, the bonus Final Damage from Dragoon's jump is also x3, so jumping is as much damage as a double Boost assuming you have the same base attack

Oh. Well thats just stupid.

About half of the FF skills back in the NES days were broken or otherwise pointless.

This is why Paper Mario 1 and 2 are some of the best RPGs ever. No messing around, keep the numbers simple in single digits you always know exactly how much damage you are going to do.

Darth_CiD posted...

This is why Paper Mario 1 and 2 are some of the best RPGs ever. No messing around, keep the numbers simple in single digits you always know exactly how much damage you are going to do.

And there's something just plain fun about being able to say "I can do 8 damage" and having that be some insane figure.