Final Fantasy IX Speedrun

2012-07-12 12:00:35 pm

SUCCESS!

Segment 2: 0:33:02

Not very good TBH, but I did do it 2 seconds faster than Essentia (26 seconds ahead now), so I'll accept it. The King Leo battle was just barely within my acceptable limit (final blow 4:40 after loading). Obviously got the five blind buttons right, then the rest of the sword fight felt really slow (I was just focusing on not screwing up), so I was actually a little bit surprised that I got a 100. Also, when/if I upload this video, you'll see that I didn't exactly skip through the dialogue box that says "100 nobles impressed" quite as fast as Essentia did. I had to make sure I was actually seeing that right. =P

The rest of the segment was so-so. I hadn't practiced the segment after the sword fight in so long, that I had forgotten a few details. For example, I talked to one of the musicians on the Prima Vista (just one dialogue box), because I wasn't sure if Zidane would say something after he got back up (after getting knocked down by Dagger), so I was tapping square and X just in case. I also talked to Ruby one extra time (again, just one dialogue box) after the mandatory dialogue boxes had been skipped. I stole a Leather Hat from Steiner. Not what I wanted, but whatever.

So overall, not so happy with the time, but very happy to be done with that segment, especially that horrible, horrible sword fight. However, I think I'm gonna start taking this choice reaction test (a test I found when I was practicing the sword fight, before I gave up doing it the proper way) once a day from now on and note the scores to see if I can actually improve my choice reaction time, so that one day I might actually be able to consistently get a 100 on the sword fight the proper way.

SUCCESS!

Segment 2: 0:33:02

Not very good TBH, but I did do it 2 seconds faster than Essentia (26 seconds ahead now), so I'll accept it. The King Leo battle was just barely within my acceptable limit (final blow 4:40 after loading). Obviously got the five blind buttons right, then the rest of the sword fight felt really slow (I was just focusing on not screwing up), so I was actually a little bit surprised that I got a 100. Also, when/if I upload this video, you'll see that I didn't exactly skip through the dialogue box that says "100 nobles impressed" quite as fast as Essentia did. I had to make sure I was actually seeing that right. =P

The rest of the segment was so-so. I hadn't practiced the segment after the sword fight in so long, that I had forgotten a few details. For example, I talked to one of the musicians on the Prima Vista (just one dialogue box), because I wasn't sure if Zidane would say something after he got back up (after getting knocked down by Dagger), so I was tapping square and X just in case. I also talked to Ruby one extra time (again, just one dialogue box) after the mandatory dialogue boxes had been skipped. I stole a Leather Hat from Steiner. Not what I wanted, but whatever.

So overall, not so happy with the time, but very happy to be done with that segment, especially that horrible, horrible sword fight. However, I think I'm gonna start taking [url="http://cognitivelabs.com/test4.htm"]this choice reaction test[/url] (a test I found when I was practicing the sword fight, before I gave up doing it the proper way) once a day from now on and note the scores to see if I can actually improve my choice reaction time, so that one day I might actually be able to consistently get a 100 on the sword fight the proper way.

Alko

2012-07-12 12:30:19 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

CONGRATULATIONS! ^___^
Every second counts Wink

Reverse in that test screws my brain o.o' As does soccer ball/football o.o'''

BZero

2012-07-13 03:08:29 pm

Thanks.

Segment 3: 0:42:09

79 attempts to get that time. I got 0:42:12 on attempt 18, so I spent a lot of time shaving off three measly seconds. Still, totally worth it. 15 seconds faster than Essentia, 41 seconds ahead. Baku only attacked me twice, though, so my Trance bar isn't as filled up as Essentia's was. I guess I'll just have to make sure the Plant Spiders attack Zidane once or twice...

spikevegeta

2012-07-13 03:49:27 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

From watching the new SS WR strats, I would debate that saving the Trance for Black Waltz No. 2 and forgetting about stealing the Mythril Dagger would be a faster overall strategy. I haven't timed this stuff compared to Essentia's time, but the Mythril Dagger literally saves 1 turn on Black Waltz No. 2, and you have to waste a turn stealing one from the Sealion. Besides, the turn on Balck Waltz No. 2 wouldn't matter if you got your Trance with Zidane in that battle instead.

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-13 05:38:00 pm

BZero: 2012-07-13 05:05:59 pm

2012-07-13 05:01:38 pm

The BW1/Sealion battle is exactly one minute faster in the SS WR than in Essentia's run, but the SS guy's Zidane is 2 levels higher. The BW2 battle is 14 seconds faster in the SS run. The BW3 fight was 5 seconds slower with Zidane's Trance (one Free Energy). I think you're right; I think it would be faster to use the Trance against BW2, especially if you get the Trance right at the beginning of the battle and get to use Free Energy more than once.

I'm not sure it's possible to fight the Sealion like that at level 2, though. I'll do some experimentation later.

Essentia: I assume the Yellow Scarf you synthesize in Lindblum and later give to Quina is just for Millionaire? Is that ability really necessary to have?

Essentia

Edit history:

Essentia: 2012-07-13 08:06:00 pm

2012-07-13 08:05:50 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

As far as I can remember, I only used the Yellow Scarf for millionaire. I really don't know whether it's necessary or not.

spikevegeta

2012-07-14 09:26:06 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Just wanted to post that I'm starting my next SS attempt at this today at Noon Central Time. I'm actually going to start some pre-game and practice stuff now, so feel free to come on by, have fun, bounce strats off each other, and err.. have fun! I hope to post a 9:45 today.

BZero

2012-07-14 10:30:30 am

Quote from Essentia:

As far as I can remember, I only used the Yellow Scarf for millionaire. I really don't know whether it's necessary or not.

Ok, thanks. It's 50% more money for each battle (right?), so I guess it might come in handy. Meh, I guess I'll try stealing a Steepled Hat from one of the Waltzes, but if I don't get one... I don't know. >_>

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-14 10:26:08 pm

BZero: 2012-07-14 09:56:28 pm

BZero: 2012-07-14 09:54:08 pm

BZero: 2012-07-14 09:48:53 pm

BZero: 2012-07-14 09:40:21 pm

BZero: 2012-07-14 09:39:57 pm

2012-07-14 08:21:48 pm

Ok, so I've done some testing (while watching spikevegeta's run): It is possible to defeat the Sealion without Trance on level 2 in roughly the same amount of time Essentia took with the Trance strategy in her run (I did it 7 seconds slower), but it takes a pretty crazy amount of luck to survive the Tsunami combo (you need to survive one attack before and after the Tsunami as well). If you level up to level 3 (kill one Goblin when Zidane is alone and kill off Blank before you kill the Plant Spiders), you need to use two fewer (Hi-)Potions during the battle, but you need the same amount of luck for the Tsunami combo, because that way, you need to survive one more attack before the Tsunami. I did this battle 31 seconds faster on level 3 than I did on level 2, and 24 seconds faster than Essentia did with Trance. However, that Goblin fight will, at best, take the exact same amount of time I saved in the Sealion battle (31 seconds), plus the Trance gauge won't fill up enough that way, so fighting him at level 2 seems to be the right choice.

So yeah, I think I'll try that, but it's gonna be a pain in the ass. Especially if I'm gonna do the entire Ice Cavern in one segment, and not get any encounters...

Edit: It took seven attempts to get through the Ice Cavern without encounters. That's including the part after the boss. I'd estimate it took about 100 attempts to beat the boss without Trance at level 2 in the most efficient way. So that should be about 700 attempts for the Ice Cavern segment.

Edit 2: The most efficient way being...

Attack (Must get this attack in before BW1; Sealion always gets the first attack, it seems)
Attack
Potion
Attack (BW1 dies)
Attack
Potion
Attack
(Sealion uses Blizzara combo)
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
(Sealion uses Tsunami combo)
Potion
Attack
Attack

On level 3, you'd only use (Hi-)Potions right after BW1 dies, right after Blizzarra, and right after Tsunami.

Ok, so I've done some testing (while watching spikevegeta's run): It is possible to defeat the Sealion without Trance on level 2 in roughly the same amount of time Essentia took with the Trance strategy in her run (I did it 7 seconds slower), but it takes a pretty crazy amount of luck to survive the Tsunami combo (you need to survive one attack before and after the Tsunami as well). If you level up to level 3 (kill one Goblin when Zidane is alone and kill off Blank before you kill the Plant Spiders), you need to use two fewer (Hi-)Potions during the battle, but you need the same amount of luck for the Tsunami combo, because that way, you need to survive one more attack before the Tsunami. I did this battle 31 seconds faster on level 3 than I did on level 2, and 24 seconds faster than Essentia did with Trance. However, that Goblin fight will, at best, take the exact same amount of time I saved in the Sealion battle (31 seconds), plus the Trance gauge won't fill up enough that way, so fighting him at level 2 seems to be the right choice.

So yeah, I think I'll try that, but it's gonna be a pain in the ass. Especially if I'm gonna do the entire Ice Cavern in one segment, and not get any encounters...

Edit: It took seven attempts to get through the Ice Cavern without encounters. That's including the part after the boss. I'd estimate it took about 100 attempts to beat the boss without Trance at level 2 in the most efficient way. So that should be about 700 attempts for the Ice Cavern segment.

Edit 2: The most efficient way being...

Attack (Must get this attack in before BW1; Sealion always gets the first attack, it seems)
Attack
Potion
Attack (BW1 dies)
Attack
Potion
Attack
(Sealion uses Blizzara combo)
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
(Sealion uses Tsunami combo)
Potion
Attack
Attack

On level 3, you'd only use (Hi-)Potions right after BW1 dies, right after Blizzarra, and right after Tsunami.

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-16 08:07:42 pm

BZero: 2012-07-16 07:45:51 pm

2012-07-16 07:39:46 pm

Ok, so I've done a lot more testing, with all the Black Waltzes, and I've come to the conclusion that the old BW1/Sealion strategy is the fastest. Probably.

The BW1/Sealion battle is gonna be slightly longer with the new strategy, BW2 is really just gonna be the same (if you don't try to steal), and BW3 is gonna be slightly longer as you're going to need the second Fire in Vivi's second double Fire combo when you don't have the Mythril Dagger (if you steal a Steepled Hat, like Essentia did and like I'm planning on doing). BTW, Steepled Hats are apparently guaranteed steals for both Waltzes.

So now I'm thinking that I should redo segment 3 to make sure the Trance gauge fills up as much as possible on the attacks from Prison Cage and Baku, as the amount it fills up apparently is completely random and doesn't actually have anything to do with the amount of damage an attack does. >_<

Edit: I could maybe push the Sealion into the yellow stage, though, to maybe fill up the Trance quicker (one extra attack from the Blizzarra) instead of having to change rows and worrying that the Tidal Flame might not do enough damage.

Ok, so I've done a lot more testing, with all the Black Waltzes, and I've come to the conclusion that the old BW1/Sealion strategy is the fastest. Probably.

The BW1/Sealion battle is gonna be slightly longer with the new strategy, BW2 is really just gonna be the same (if you don't try to steal), and BW3 is gonna be slightly longer as you're going to need the second Fire in Vivi's second double Fire combo when you don't have the Mythril Dagger (if you steal a Steepled Hat, like Essentia did and like I'm planning on doing). BTW, Steepled Hats are apparently guaranteed steals for both Waltzes.

So now I'm thinking that I should redo segment 3 to make sure the Trance gauge fills up as much as possible on the attacks from Prison Cage and Baku, as the amount it fills up apparently is completely random and doesn't actually have anything to do with the amount of damage an attack does. >_<

Edit: I could maybe push the Sealion into the yellow stage, though, to maybe fill up the Trance quicker (one extra attack from the Blizzarra) instead of having to change rows and worrying that the Tidal Flame might not do enough damage.

spikevegeta

2012-07-16 10:37:17 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Alright, since Garnet2525 has now outdated Semieru's run, I'm back to translating runs. yay.....

So here's Disc 1. Mostly small battle strat differences, and the runner buys only x3 Glass Armlet's instead of x4, but other than that, most things are just switched around a little for Disc 1. I'll post these Disc-by-disc as I finish them. These should be much better guides than the last one I posted for Semieru.

Attachment:

FF9 937 Disc 1 Guide.rtf

CrystalBeauty

2012-07-17 01:35:40 am

Roses of May

Spike, Garnet told me in my chat, Since Beatrix attacks pretty rapidly, you don't steal in vain, only steal when it's safe.

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-21 11:26:49 pm

BZero: 2012-07-21 11:26:26 pm

BZero: 2012-07-21 11:25:23 pm

BZero: 2012-07-21 11:24:30 pm

BZero: 2012-07-20 12:40:01 am

BZero: 2012-07-19 10:56:41 pm

BZero: 2012-07-19 10:33:07 pm

BZero: 2012-07-19 08:21:27 pm

BZero: 2012-07-19 08:21:04 pm

BZero: 2012-07-19 08:20:37 pm

2012-07-19 05:53:09 pm

So after ~170 attempts, I've finally redone segment 3 with a much better Trance bar. I had to take three hits from Baku, but all three hits from him and the one from Prison Cage all filled up the Trance bar pretty decently, and I only did the segment six seconds slower (0:42:15), so I'm happy with this.

0:42:09 run:

0:42:15 run:

I think I'll make up the time lost in the Sealion battle.

I'll now go test the old Trance strategy against Sealion with this Trance bar, as I don't plan on getting hit by the Plant Spiders.

Edit: I've fought the Sealion ten times with this strategy...

(Let both enemies attack before you)
Steal
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
Attack (BW1 dies)
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
(Blizzarra combo)
Free Energy

...and three out of those ten times I got Trance on the attack that comes after Blizzarra (in the same round as Blizzarra is used), which is the goal. And I never got it any earlier than that. So I guess I need one or two hits from the Plant Spiders after all, because 3/10 isn't all that good when I have to combine it with stealing the Mythril Dagger (stole that 2/10 times) and getting no encounters.

Oh, and I timed one of the successful battles, and I did it 14 seconds faster than Essentia's battle. That's 46 seconds slower than the 9:39 SS run where Zidane was at level 4.

Edit 2: On second thought, if we say the chance of no encounters is 1/10 (I'll have to test that more), my total chance of success is 0.6%, which equals 167 attempts. Actually, that isn't all that bad...

Edit 3: With this strategy...

(Let both enemies attack before you)
Steal
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack (BW1 dies)
*Trance*
Trance attack
Free Energy

...I let BW1 live for one more round, and was able to do the battle 44 seconds faster than Essentia. That's only 16 seconds slower than the level 4 SS battle.

It requires a lot of luck, though, to get Trance that early, so yeah, I definitely need some help from the Plant Spiders.

Also, I tried running through the entire Ice Cavern ten times, and two times I didn't get any encounters, so that's not so bad. If I don't save in the Ice Cavern, and I can pull off the above strategy, AND I don't get any encounters, I'm gonna save more than 1 minute 30 seconds on Essentia in this segment. Smiley

So after ~170 attempts, I've finally redone segment 3 with a much better Trance bar. I had to take three hits from Baku, but all three hits from him and the one from Prison Cage all filled up the Trance bar pretty decently, and I only did the segment six seconds slower (0:42:15), so I'm happy with this.

0:42:09 run: [img]http://bildr.no/image/1232811.jpeg[/img]
0:42:15 run: [img]http://bildr.no/image/1232812.jpeg[/img]

I think I'll make up the time lost in the Sealion battle.

I'll now go test the old Trance strategy against Sealion with this Trance bar, as I don't plan on getting hit by the Plant Spiders.

Edit: I've fought the Sealion ten times with this strategy...

(Let both enemies attack before you)
Steal
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
Attack (BW1 dies)
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
(Blizzarra combo)
Free Energy

...and three out of those ten times I got Trance on the attack that comes after Blizzarra (in the same round as Blizzarra is used), which is the goal. And I never got it any earlier than that. So I guess I need one or two hits from the Plant Spiders after all, because 3/10 isn't all that good when I have to combine it with stealing the Mythril Dagger (stole that 2/10 times) and getting no encounters.

Oh, and I timed one of the successful battles, and I did it 14 seconds faster than Essentia's battle. That's 46 seconds slower than the 9:39 SS run where Zidane was at level 4.

Edit 2: On second thought, if we say the chance of no encounters is 1/10 (I'll have to test that more), my total chance of success is 0.6%, which equals 167 attempts. Actually, that isn't all that bad...

Edit 3: With this strategy...

(Let both enemies attack before you)
Steal
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack
Potion
Attack (BW1 dies)
*Trance*
Trance attack
Free Energy

...I let BW1 live for one more round, and was able to do the battle 44 seconds faster than Essentia. That's only 16 seconds slower than the level 4 SS battle.

It requires a lot of luck, though, to get Trance that early, so yeah, I definitely need some help from the Plant Spiders.

Also, I tried running through the entire Ice Cavern ten times, and two times I didn't get any encounters, so that's not so bad. If I don't save in the Ice Cavern, and I can pull off the above strategy, AND I don't get any encounters, I'm gonna save more than 1 minute 30 seconds on Essentia in this segment. :)

Rakuen

2012-07-21 11:27:47 pm

Weegee Time

You are insane, my friend.

But I like it. thumbsup

Alko

2012-07-23 06:08:59 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

Quote from Rakuen:

You are insane, my friend.

But I like it. thumbsup

This ^___^

Quote from "BZero:

167 attempts. Actually, that isn't all that bad...

And you seem to have too much time on your hands.

But I like that, too thumbsup

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-24 08:04:55 am

2012-07-24 03:26:25 am

Thanks. I guess. Tongue

And yes, I do have way too much time on my hands right now, due to vacation. And I meant 167 attempts isn't "all that bad" compared to how bad I thought it would be at first... and compared to segment 2, which I'm pretty sure took me more than 1000 attempts, not counting all the sword fight practicing.

Anyway, I just did segment 4 now. Time: 0:43:22. Two seconds faster than Essentia, 37 seconds ahead. Took 60 attempts to not get any encounters in those three screens.

At first, I was considering combining segment 4 and 5 into one segment, but that was before I actually got to the Evil Forest. It would probably take about 500 attempts for every attempt at the Plant Brain/Plant Spiders.

Also, I guess I should mention that I have actually done a speedrun of this game before, when I got the Excalibur II. That was on the PAL version (getting to the Excalibur II in 12 hours on PAL = getting there in 10 hours on NTSC) on a fat PS2 on standard settings, but I did skip FMVs. That's probably about 10 years ago now, though.

Edit: Actually, I believe it was on a PSX.

Thanks. I guess. :P

And yes, I do have way too much time on my hands right now, due to vacation. And I meant 167 attempts isn't "all that bad" compared to how bad I thought it would be at first... and compared to segment 2, which I'm pretty sure took me more than 1000 attempts, not counting all the sword fight practicing.

Anyway, I just did segment 4 now. Time: 0:43:22. Two seconds faster than Essentia, 37 seconds ahead. Took 60 attempts to not get any encounters in those three screens.

At first, I was considering combining segment 4 and 5 into one segment, but that was before I actually got to the Evil Forest. It would probably take about 500 attempts for every attempt at the Plant Brain/Plant Spiders.

Also, I guess I should mention that I have actually done a speedrun of this game before, when I got the Excalibur II. That was on the PAL version (getting to the Excalibur II in 12 hours on PAL = getting there in 10 hours on NTSC) on a fat PS2 on standard settings, but I did skip FMVs. That's probably about 10 years ago now, though.

Edit: Actually, I believe it was on a PSX.

Alko

2012-07-24 05:30:18 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

Bugger, I didn't know the PAL timing worked that way … whey, I'ld never have enough time to play myself to Excalibur II then xD

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-24 07:22:11 pm

2012-07-24 07:14:52 pm

Yeah, the PAL game runs at 50 FPS, while the NTSC game runs at 60 FPS, which means the game runs 1/6 slower in PAL. This, of course, wouldn't have been a problem if it weren't for the fact that they adjusted the menu clock to run at the correct speed. So the timer runs at NTSC speed, while the rest of the game runs at PAL speed. <edit>Well, the FMVs run at NTSC speed, I think, but that doesn't really matter when you skip them anyway. >_></edit>

Anyway, I have now just made myself a new YouTube account. I will obviously post the segments here when I eventually upload them, but if for whatever reason you want to subscribe anyway, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/user/BZeromus (BZero was taken.)

Alko

2012-07-24 09:05:35 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

Does watching the FMVs count towards the time? Haven't checked that one (like so many other things, I haven't checked …)
Pls do post here, ’cause I don't have no Youtube account nor do I plan on getting one in the near future Wink

BZero

2012-07-25 04:13:07 am

Yes, FMVs do count, which is why it's a popular trick to skip them in Excalibur II runs, but it's not allowed by SDA rules.

Caracarn

2012-07-25 03:31:10 pm

Tomato Rice just got a 9:38:42 RTA today, which is still a minute off of garnet's record, although I'm not even sure he knows about garnet's run tbh. I will still record and upload it eventually so you can see if there are any strategy improvements to be made.

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-28 04:48:14 pm

BZero: 2012-07-27 10:43:18 am

BZero: 2012-07-27 10:41:42 am

BZero: 2012-07-27 07:28:48 am

BZero: 2012-07-27 07:28:24 am

2012-07-26 08:01:22 am

Welp, my PS2 just decided it didn't want to load FMVs anymore. It works maybe 1/10 times, but when the FMV actually starts, it runs flawlessly, so I assumed it was the console, not the disc. I confirmed this with another modded (but unusable for different reasons) PS2 I have. So I've just gone ahead and ordered a proper NTSC console. So yeah, the run is on hold for a few days.

Edit: Also just bought a PS2 S-Video cable for better video quality... So I guess that means I'm restarting the run... Damn, I really don't want to do segment 2 again! I think maybe I'll do a practice run and see whether I actually need those 10,000 gil from the sword fight, and also whether I need Gillionaire...

Edit 2: And now I just bought a proper DVD recorder (and of course an S-Video-to-SCART adapter since I live in Europe and I could only find a DVD recorder that has S-Video input via SCART). This run is getting expensive... But it'll be nice to not have to deal with that shitty Dazzle. They should rename it 'hassle' because that's what it is. :haw:

Edit 3: Well, Millionaire (I was sure it was called Gillionaire, but apparently not...) is definitely necessary. Not sure about the sword fight money yet...

Welp, my PS2 just decided it didn't want to load FMVs anymore. It works maybe 1/10 times, but when the FMV actually starts, it runs flawlessly, so I assumed it was the console, not the disc. I confirmed this with another modded (but unusable for different reasons) PS2 I have. So I've just gone ahead and ordered a proper NTSC console. So yeah, the run is on hold for a few days.

Edit: Also just bought a PS2 S-Video cable for better video quality... So I guess that means I'm restarting the run... Damn, I really don't want to do segment 2 again! I think maybe I'll do a practice run and see whether I actually need those 10,000 gil from the sword fight, and also whether I need Gillionaire...

Edit 2: And now I just bought a proper DVD recorder (and of course an S-Video-to-SCART adapter since I live in Europe and I could only find a DVD recorder that has S-Video input via SCART). This run is getting expensive... But it'll be nice to not have to deal with that shitty Dazzle. They should rename it 'hassle' because that's what it is. :haw:

Edit 3: Well, Millionaire (I was sure it was called Gillionaire, but apparently not...) is definitely necessary. Not sure about the sword fight money yet...

puwexil

2012-07-28 04:52:41 pm

Professional Second Banana

Even if you don't explicitly need the sword fight money for your segmented route, wouldn't it still let you save some time by letting you skip picking up other items to sell for gil later on?

Essentia

2012-07-28 04:58:35 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

BZero, I was just wondering, do you happen to be playing on an HDTV? I noticed that when I played on an HDTV, there was a tiny big of lag - enough that I tried over and over and couldn't get 100 nobles in the swordfight, when usually I can get it in two or three tries.

BZero

Edit history:

BZero: 2012-07-28 05:28:38 pm

2012-07-28 05:19:30 pm

puwexil: Well, that's what I intend to find out; how much time I'll lose by not getting the 10,000 gil. But if I can allow myself to fail at the sword fight, I can get a much better Baku battle, and possibly do segment 2 20 seconds faster than what I accepted last time. If I didn't have to get 100 nobles, I'd never accept the time I got in that segment, so it would have to cost me at least 20 seconds later in the run for the sword fight to be worth it for me. And if it's just a case of selling some Ethers and Phoenix Pinions and old equipment whenever I run out of money, I think that's acceptable...

Essentia: Yes, I am, and yeah, I've seen some people say that, but I tried to do it on an old TV back when I was practicing, and I didn't notice it being much easier. The one and only time I got 100 the legit way was on that TV, but still, that was one time out of hundreds of attempts, and I don't think I did any better on that TV overall...