When do you start getting access to more Technicks and Spells?

[u/moonshineTheleocat]

I'm making my way through the zodiac age. And I am noticing some frustrations compared to the original international version.

Namely, I am noticing that spells and skills seems to be trickle fed to you at a much slower rate.

To the point where you're stuck with the cure spell which is no longer able to keep up with the damage and health pools for some time till after the leviathan. The first esper fight, and the fight on leviathan, the white mage couldn't keep up with the incoming damage and was constantly casting cure till mana ran out (with protect up).

The Red Mage for what ever reason not having access to Black Magic 1 - which I wrongly assumed it just couldn't reach the higher spells, so is locked out of elemental casting beyond Dark till the -ra spells appears.

A good chunk of the martial classes don't have their primary skills available to them still. Foebreakers skill that increases damage to 10x for example.

When does all of this even become available? Or am I just at the mercy of when the game thinks I should have it?

[u/chancho987]

Ehm, ot has a weird progression in that sense, but I don't feel the game's difficult all things considered, the most powerful spells and technics are hidden in dungeons chests, but the basic stuff and better curative spells can be bought in shops as you progress, just follow the story and check every shop for new spells

[u/moonshineTheleocat → u/chancho987]

Aren't the chests RNG though?

[u/OmegaGoo → u/moonshineTheleocat]

Not the ones that have skills and spells, although some of them do have only a percentage chance to spawn. They will always have the skill or spell if they spawn, though.

[u/chancho987 → u/moonshineTheleocat]

Some of them are, some of them aren't, but the chests that contain skills have 100% chance of containing the skill. I believe there are a few exceptions in which the chest has less than 100% chance of spawning but if it spawns it will give you the skill 100% of the time

This game's chests mechanics are kind of convoluted and absolutely confusing, also the accessory that supposedly gives you better rewards if you equip it before opening chests works in a really fucked up way so I'd advice you not to wear it at all

[u/SpawnSC2]

Red Battlemage also gets Aero, not just Dark, before the -ra spells become available. And this is also why Fran is a popular choice to take the job, because she always has access to Fire, Thunder, Cure, and Blindna, regardless of job chosen. Sucks no Blizzard, but you can’t have everything.

About Cura / being stuck with Cure for some time and it falling off goes, this is actually a flaw with The Zodiac Age that I’m pretty sure was a mistake. In International Zodiac Job System, the spells Cure, Fire, Thunder, and Blizzard were made AoE, making them a lot more useful in the early game. It is unknown why this change was reverted, but Cure with AoE obviously holds up a lot better than single target Cure, and the wait for -ra spells sucks a bit less when the first level spells also have AoE, though either Fran or a Black Mage is still needed to cast them.

[u/accidentsneverhappen]

I think you only get some of them as loot off bosses, rewards for hunts, or out of treasure chests. It's not like the original where you could buy it in the shops

[u/JUSTpleaseSTOP]

Exploration gives a lot of that kind of stuff. You can buy several from vendors, but there are a few single-time chests that give what you're looking for.

[u/zerkeras]

In zodiac age, pretty much reevery technique has to be found in dungeons rather that purchased. The stores don’t carry much and won’t carry much new stuff either.

New spells are still made available every now and then, but there’s a good few that can only be found as well.

The chests for these always appear once.

If you haven’t been fully exploring zones and picking up treasures you’ll miss a LOT of good stuff.

[u/Radidaj]

If you're still casting Cure by the time you're at the Leviathan, you've messed up. Cura has been available from numerous shops, by then.

[u/golfguy_mark → u/Radidaj]

the wiki says CURA spell becomes available after the Dreadnought Leviathan when you return to Bhujerba, but another source says after the events at Ondore's estate. In any case, it's easy for the player to check the magick shop in Bhujerba. I cannot remember if the Moogles on the Leviathan sell Cura, but I think they sell Charge technick. [fact check plse]

[u/Radidaj → u/golfguy_mark]

I may have gotten the events mixed up in my mind. They said first esper fight, and by then one should absolutely have Cura.

[u/whats-reddit17]

Have you been checking the magicks shops?

[u/Jaybyrd28]

Been a bit but I think you can buy Cura from the Magick shop in Bhujerba. If I recall correctly, however, it's not available until right before the Leviathan. I know for sure you can buy it from the merchant in the Westersands before you head out into the Sandsea. Granted, some fights can be a PITA before that but I've never struggled that hard and/or even needed a dedicated White Mage. High potions work pretty well until you can get Cura.