Part 191: Living Off the Land Part 1: The Birth of Bear

So when I did my FF2 LP, I had done a "living off the land" challenge for the GBA version. There was a bit of discussion in the thread if a LOTL challenge would be interesting in other Final Fantasies. So... let's try it with FF5. I honestly don't predict this will be THAT challenging, but maybe I'll be surprised! Also, I'd kinda like to decompress after the fiesta, so something a little more easy-going might be fun.

So let's lay down a couple of ground rules:

A) Of course, I cannot purchase equipment/magic/items. However, I've also decided that I cannot spend money, at all, whatsoever. This means no inns (that aren't free) no Zeninage, and no Kornago Gourd. The game gives you a decent amount of tents, and there are plenty of ways to break the other than Zeninage, so I don't see that as a huge restriction.

B) No grinding. I do reserve the ability to fight what I need to in order to learn Blue Magic, but not much more than that.





I couldn't think of a famous survivalist other than Bear Grylls. Probably not the most inspired place to take the name the from.



On the other hand, naming him "Bear" amuses me.



Free Phoenix Down!

Oh and Galuf is there I guess.

Anyway, there's a cave, some free healing I don't really need right now, and a piece of equipment.



It's probably going to be a while until I get a full set of headgear, much less finally get rid of the last of these caps. Anyway, Faris, forced foreshadowing, you know the drill. Let's just get to the Wind Shrine. (Yes, there is stuff I could get in Tule, but you don't need it in a regular game, so I don't bother here.)



Yes.





Some more equipment to fill in some empty slots.



I didn't bother to record Wind Raptor, because we've all seen this fight, it's nothing special.



But for some reason, this time around he really, really loved Breath Wing. Did it every turn. Hm, should I bother to use up some of my potions?



Nah, it's fine.

I fully expected to lose, so I just mashed the A button on fast-forward. Much to my surprise, Lenna killed the beast on the next turn.



I didn't get the victory shot, sadly. But I did get another Phoenix Down, which is arguably more important.



I've come to really hate the early game of FF5. Too much goddamn talking. Shut your damn mouths and give me my jobs already!



Nice.

So, what party to use? Obviously, Blue Mage is a must. Blue Mage are one of the few mages who don't buy their spells, so they're practically made for this type of run. The fact that Blue Magic is just plain rad is icing on the cake. On the flipside, White Mage and Black Mage are out. I will get a small handful of white and black magic, but none of it is worth using them in battle. I might switch to a white magic for a quick Float or Esuna, but that's it.

As for the physical classes, Monk is probably the best choice, since they don't need weapon AND they do good damage at this part of the game, but I didn't really want to spend too much time gaining AP for a class that's not great past the first world. In retrospect, I should have used it. Oh well. Knight is decent, if unexciting, and I see some uses for !Guard. As for the Thief, I like items.



The party I decide on, for the time being. Honestly, though, I should have used Monk instead of Thief. Next to none of the enemies in the canal have anything to steal.

Anyway, time to grab the stuff from Tule.



I nab two tents, two potions, two phoenix downs, two leather shoes, one ether, and some worthless gil. Not bad!



Oh and I decided that with all this stressful missing dad business, Lenna needed to unwind.



More importantly, piano.



And then more fucking talking.



I don't care.

Anyway, rather than head to the canal immediately, I make a side trip back to the pirate cave.



This is pretty much the only healing I'm going to have early on, other than potions. Not going to be useful during the ship graveyard, though. Ah well.

Other than this fight, I run from everything else. No need to get my levels up too high, ya know? Also gotta start on powering up that Chicken Knife. (Yeah I could use the Brave Blade I guess but why?)



And another Ether! Fantastic. Also another tent, and some more useless money.



The only two characters than can be hit can also heal themselves, so nothing to say about the canal. Although Faris was OHKOed by an Electrocute, but I just reset.


Karlabos

Oh and there's a boss. I really only include the video for completion's sake; it's not an interesting fight. My level is kind of low, and he does have Tailscrew, so if I screwed up or got unlucky he might have taken a character or two out.



But then again, Tailscrew ends up hurting him more than me.



Almost lost Bear, but I managed this without using a potion.

Everyone gains a job level. Lenna and Faris get !Check, Galuf gets Find Passages, and Bear gets Cover. Cover will have some uses, everything else is rubbish.



Anyway, I think I'll leave off here.