Japanese fanart sites: Pumpkin head!

http://pumpkin.sakura.ne.jp/

This is a Japanese oekaki board for Final Fantasy Tactics related fanart. I love looking through their giant archives (back to 2000!), there are tons of talented artists and super cute artwork about all of the Ivalice games, plus random stuff. People in Japan are ridiculously talented and goofy.

Errr sorry, I haven't been updating much. I haven't actually succeeded in poaching rare items and I haven't gotten further in the Cloud subquest, which I really need to get cracking on. Right now my brother is stuck in a battle and I am not able to play, heh heh.

Here's a goofy tegaki I did, I never finish these things.

Zeltennia Castle and Delita

Now it's a gorgeous FMV with Delita and Ramza in the church, speaking of important things, of course. I think I would die of happiness to see a movie of Tactics in this form. Although I wonder why they still use Ramza's chapter 3 armor instead of his blue and white butt-pad armor in chapter 4.

My thoughts on the plot so far? Delita is still being vague in his words, but I believe he thinks more of Teta than of Ovelia while contemplating his quest. (Poor Ovelia.) And even though Ramza knows his life is forfeit at Delita's hands, even knowing what lengths Delita would take to bring down the dueling nobility and the corrupted church, he remains so very polite. They seem to trust each other even knowing that they may cross swords in the future, and when Balmafula gives Delita some apple-sass after the battle, I sense that Delita may have some regrets. But not enough for him to give up.

Of course the battle in which we finally kill Zalmour, that was a cinch. Now it's off to save/recruit Orlandeau and all that. Exciting!

Delita + Ovelia

The CG scene with Delita and Ovelia is full of drama. How many times does he use the word "endeavor" anyways? "Try" is a real word as well, you know. But in all seriousness, it was really sweet and just a little chilling for him to speak to Ovelia in such a way, that manipulative bastard. I would fall for it, too. No doubt.

http://www.unowen.net/tegaki/uentries.php?u=13506
Sketch of Ramza in his chapter 2, 3 armor. I like how he's still wearing thigh-high boots, but hey, at least he looks like a male now and less like a trap.

I heard the Japanese version doesn't get voice acting, that is kind of weird, I think. It would be like watching a silent animated movie, I would get the feeling that I was going deaf, hah hah. I mean, why didn't they get Japanese seiyuu to act it?

Chapter 2: The Manipulative and the Subservient (Lionel Castle)

Urgh, I didn't know that there were going to be three battles in a row at Lionel Castle. Finally offed Gaffgarion at the gate, which wasn't too hard if you have auto-potion on Ramza. Stole the Ancient Sword as well! On the other hand, the team outside the gate had some difficulty despite being levels ahead of the enemy. For some reason, the enemy knights had extra-good compatibility with everyone and my darned black chocobo kept getting hit for too much damage. At least it dealt major damage right back. I actually forgot about opening the gate until after Gaffgarion died, hah hah.

The 2nd battle, which I believe is new, had just Delita and Ovelia. Easy enough, plus we get a little insight on to how Ovelia accepted Delita's offer.

Now the third battle with Cuchulainn the Impure was interesting. I always liked the devils, they're so gruesomely designed and Cuchulainn is especially disgusting with his mouth-stomach. I managed to kill him in just a few rounds with Ramza as a ninja and a little help from Agrias, so it wasn't too bad. Of course, I wouldn't have been so annoyed if Ramza's armor hadn't been rent previously and I forgot to re-equip him before the battle. I don't use the knight's rent ability myself, but it is damn irritating when the enemy does it to you! Just that ability has been the reason for many a restarted battle!

Starting Chapter 3 now. The little blurb after Chapter 2, narrated by Ramza, was really quite saddening. You get such a feeling of despair and hopelessness that resulted from the war between Prince Larg and Duke Goltanna. Orlandeau arguing with Goltanna about suing for peace, extremely moving.

Mustadio hates me!

Over spring break, I managed to get into chapter 2, where Ramza is now 17/18 years old and working as a mercenary under Gaffgarion. Man, that extra F in his name is extra gay!

I love the CG cutscene with Delita and Ovelia by Zeirchele Falls, that was gorgeous. Delita is kind of a douche, with his vague and dark comments about everything, but I guess that's how he gets things done, by not letting other people in on his plans. Ramza still looks like a lost little puppy, d'awwww...

Oh man, getting Mustadio is always challenging for some reason. Sometimes Mustadio cooperates and sometimes he doesn't. Because Ramza is an Aries and he is a Libra, we have the absolute worst compatibility ever, hah hah. I'm not too hot with Agrias either, her AI is quite uncooperative and she often hits allies with the sword spells.

My other favorite scene happens soon after this, when Ovelia is confiding in Agrias and Ramza overhears them. Then Mustadio, that rascal, hollers at Ramza and he tries to shush Mustadio up. So cute! It was never clear if Alma taught Ovelia the leaf whistle thing, but Ramza's earnest effort to show her how to whistle properly was made of adorable-ness.

Again with the Delita being vague towards Ramza, his bestest friend! But I like the dialogue of the Warjilis dock CG cut scene, very moving. It makes me wonder if Delita guessed the truth behind the Zodiac Brave stones or if he knew but just didn't care, as long as he could use it for his advantage. Ramza's lack of eloquence never fails to amaze me. Such the innocent!

Chapter 1: The Meager

Finished chapter 1 last night. That battle with Argath was grueling, I still don't understand the utter and shameful weakness of my buffed up characters. But trying to steal items always makes an easy battle much more difficult.

The CG movie afterwards was lovely but rather anticlimactic. I seemed to recall the original explosion at Fort Zeakden having much more impact. But that may have just been a first impression and possibly a sound quality issue on the handheld console.

The dialogue throughout the battle was pretty damn heartbreaking. Argath's reasoning and constant barrage against Ramza and Delita sounded just as cold and callous as it did the first time I played the battle, especially when you consider he is only 16 or 17 years old and not even a knight. But then, he did have a shameful past to compensate for. And alas, Delita's anger with Ramza, TEARS.

Homage to Mileuda Folles, it was especially sad having to kill her.

Leaf Whistle

Those silly leaf whistles will always bring tears to my eyes!

The voice acting of both Delita and Ramza kinda crack me up, since they're trying to pitch their voices so high, but I very much approved of this CG scene. The animation is so eerie and beautiful, with cross-hatching and an antique color scheme. I think one starts noticing Delita's desperate search for the meaning behind the past events, frustrated with the class struggles, while Ramza only sees that his best friend is hurt and confused. I love you Ramza, but you are quite the innocent.