magic is 100% a side thing in XV that can be really strong, but also Jesus Fucking Christ

I'm reminded of that one FFX challenge run that similarly has a metric fuckton of limitations

...yes. the answer to "only magic" in XV is VERY the fuck yes.

shit is beyond overpowered

the full restrictions list obviously adds a lot of grinding and careful planning to it, but...

ah are you talking about final fantasy ten and the NSGNSNCNONENNENBB runs

yeah that's the one

(for context at that keysmash-esque clusterfuck)

(no: sphere grid, summoning, weapon customizing, overdrives, escaping battle, no-encounter, or blitzball)

(most sane fanbases would just call that a 'living off the land' challenge at its most extreme, but ffx is not a sane fanbase, it is a fanbase with daddy issues)

so...flat-out level 1, only equipment you can buy?

without random encounter avoidance, yes

I don't remember what all the strategies for it are, but I know Rikku's Mix is basically mandatory

nah, steal is

mix is an overdrive and thus verboten

Ah, you're right

but yeah it mostly turns into "equip weapons for their passives, chuck items forever"

yeah, but the items like flame cores etc are probably the only significant source of damage in the whole game at that point

rikku steals the ammunition and everyone else throws it around

yep

see I feel like that'd be more fun if you used the international grid and everyone gets steal, but only steal

yeah see that's the thing about challenge runs: unless they're built into the game engine itself, you can do whatever you're most comfortable with!