 |
Rules of the Run
- Allowed only 3 resets for character deaths
- Allowed only 2 grinds on 1 battle per chapter
- If Max dies, I must reset to my last save point (losing experience in the process)
Shining Force Permadeath Journal – Chapter 1 Recap
Welcome to the first installment of my Shining Force permadeath run journal! As someone who’s played this game numerous times over the years, I figured it was time to raise the stakes and test my strategic chops under the looming threat of permanent character loss. Here's how Chapter 1 went down...
Battle 1 – Foundations
I decided to burn both of my allotted grind sessions right out of the gate on Battle 1. The logic? Build a rock-solid foundation around my core trio: Tao, Luke, and Max. After a few repeat fights, the enemy patterns and positioning were completely mapped out in my head. The formation and timing were predictable, so I faced almost no pushback during either the grind attempts or the final, “official” clear. It’s crucial to get early levels on Tao's magic and Luke's survivability, and Max - well, Max needs to live, so he’s always a priority! Haha.
Battle 2 – Setting the Pace
From Battle 2 onward, patience became my mantra. I made sure everyone was stocked with healing items, healed when necessary (no greed here), and never charged in recklessly. Letting the enemies come to me, or waiting for a stationary group, became standard operating procedure. While I still wanted the full team gaining XP, I kept the focus on Tao, Luke, and Max, making sure they were consistently growing stronger.
The biggest annoyance here was the terrain. This will be a recurring theme. Slow, boggy, and just enough to test my patience. But strategically, Battle 2 was a breeze. The final enemy group stays put across the bridge, perfect for softening up with ranged attacks before swooping in for the physical cleanup. No surprises, no close calls, more progress.
Battle 3 – Bat Country
Ah, the Giant Bats. This is where things started to feel a bit dicier. Their evasion rate makes non-magic attacks a gamble, so I stuck to my slow-and-steady strategy: progress methodically, maximize XP distribution, and push northeast toward the goal.
Gort and Mae joined the fray and proved themselves to be rock-solid additions - likely mainstays going forward. The Rune Knight group guarding the end of the map felt like the first real “uh-oh” moment of the run. Knowing one wrong move could mean a permadeath, I made sure to build a frontline wall with Gort, Luke, and Max soaking the blows, while Tao, Hans, and Ken chipped in from the backline. Thankfully, it worked. No casualites. But you can definitely feel the difficulty starting to ramp up.
Battle 4 – The First Real Test
Battle 4 is the first time I went into a fight thinking: I might lose someone here. Gaining Khris as a third healer was a huge bonus, but the danger level was still high. I moved my entire force right and up as my path to victory. The Dark Dwarves weren’t much of a threat, and the Giant Bats were as annoying as ever, but manageable.
The real heat came during the final push. I got a little reckless with Max, charging in too fast and nearly paid the price when a group of Rune Knights got multiple turns in a row. With some good RNG (no double attacks!) and clutch heals, Max barely made it out alive. The final group - the Dark Mage and two Snipers - were thankfully stationary and easily picked off with a combo of ranged and melee attacks.
Another clean sweep, but that Max close call was a reminder: this is permadeath. One mistake, and it's reset city or mourning the loss of a fallen comrade.
In Summation
That wraps up Chapter 1 of the run. No deaths so far, a few scary moments, and a strong foundation going into Chapter 2. I’ll keep pushing forward - cautiously, methodically, and with plenty of healing items in tow. Stay tuned!Shining Force after Chapter 1
Comments