Ramza Beoulve

Ramza Beoulve, also known as Ramza Lugria, is the main protagonist in Final Fantasy Tactics. He is a member of the respected House Beoulve. Ramza's father, Barbaneth Beoulve, was a Knight Gallant of the Fifty Years' War. Ramza has one sister, Alma, whom he loves dearly and is close to. Ramza also has two half-brothers, General Zalbaag of the Order of the Northern Sky, and Dycedarg, who serves directly under Duke Larg.

Appearance
Ramza has long blond hair tied in a low ponytail and brown eyes. As an Order of the Northern Sky squire he wears a set of armor over a blue long-sleeved tunic meant to signify his nobility as a Beoulve, and a white cape (though this is not shown on his in-game sprite).

After becoming a mercenary he cuts his hair and wears a dark purple, heavy armor plating on his torso, elbows and shoulders with two spikes on each shoulder protector. Underneath he wears a black leather turtle-neck that covers the wrists of his leather gloves over white gauntlets. He wears white, plated, long boots with two spikes on each knee protector over leather trousers. In the CGI cell-shaded scenes, he is depicted based on his official art.

In the final chapter Ramza's shoulders, elbows, forearms, hands, legs, and feet are plated in a cyan armor. The shoulder protectors have an oval hole on the inside of a thick, black fabric. His elbow protectors are worn outside of the black garment, along with his arm and hand protectors worn over leather gloves. The black fabric has an appliqué of a white bull's head on the chest. The legs are supported by a leather strapped girdle with a gold buckle holding groin and thigh suspenders, worn over white leather pants. The lower leg and feet protectors are worn over brown boots. This outfit is not seen in the end of the Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions remake where he retains his mercenary outfit from chapters 2 and 3.

Personality
Initially Ramza's motivation to fight and protect others is mainly to uphold his family name. His character profile states that "he turned out worst of the four siblings and is aware of it", and wishes to prove himself worthy of the house name.

After deciding to leave House Beoulve, Ramza becomes a mercenary working under Goffard Gaffgarion wishing to protect people from injustice, even claiming "he had no wish of changing the world for just a select few while others suffer". Ramza learns a name means nothing if injustice is used to uphold it, a belief he maintains even when the Church of Glabados brands him a heretic. In the second battle against Barich in Necrohol of Mullonde, Ramza proclaims a man without pride can never be free, becoming a hero who fights more for others than for himself.

The point of Ramza's character is to show the true reasons behind virtue; people who do "good" by manipulation of others are not really virtuous, and the true "good", expressed through justice, is shown by Ramza; false "good", expressed through manipulation with good intentions, is expressed by his childhood friend Delita Heiral. True heroic actions are rarely recognized, but are necessary regardless of the lack of rewards.

Fighting the Corpse Brigade
Ramza desires to be a hero and uphold the name of his family, the House Beoulve. He is enrolled at the Academy in the Magick City of Gariland, along with his best friend, Delita Heiral, a commoner who enrolled into the Academy at Ramza's father Barbaneth's request. Delita and his sister Tietra's family was killed by the plague, and Barbaneth had taken care of them despite their status as commoners, and Ramza and Delita have been best friends ever since.

While still a squire, Ramza is caught up in a struggle with the Corpse Brigade, a group of former knights who were abandoned at the conclusion of the Fifty Years' War who now right to usurp the nobility. Ramza saves Argath Thadalfus, a servant of Marquis Elmdore, from a Brigade attack.

At Argath's request, Ramza defies his brother's orders and sets out to rescue Elmdore from the Brigade. Ramza, Delita and Argath go to Merchant City of Dorter to search for information, and discover the Marquis is in the Sand Rat Sietch of Zeklaus Desert. The three apprentices go to the desert to rescue the Marquis, and while Dycedarg is furious at Ramza for disobeying his orders, Duke Larg commends him.

Ramza is assigned to attack a band of Corpse Brigade members led by Milleuda Folles in one of the Corpse Brigade's hideouts. During the battle, Ramza comes to realize the reasons behind their actions. This, as well as the response of the Knights of the Order of the Northern Sky, leads both Ramza and Delita to doubt the morality of their country's actions. Ramza defies Argath by sparing Milleuda's life creating a rift between them.

Tragedy at Ziekden Fortress
Ramza and Delita return to Eagrose Castle only to learn Delita's sister, Tietra, has been kidnapped by the Corpse Brigade under assumption she is a noble. A frontal assault on the Brigade positions is planned, but Delita wants to sneak around behind to rescue Tietra. Argath's contempt for the lower classes leads to a quarrel between him and Delita, which Ramza breaks up by kicking Argath out of his squad. Ramza and Delita launch an attempt to rescue Tietra, but kill Milleuda and invoke the rage of her brother, Wiegraf Folles, the leader of the Corpse Brigade. Wiegraf wants to avenge his sister, but is defeated by Ramza and Delita and escapes.

At the Battle of Ziekden Fortress Delita's sister is killed by the very people who were supposed to rescue her. Ramza realizes the treatment of commoners by the Northern Sky and the Beoulves is unacceptable, and joins Delita in his retaliatory attack on Argath, who was leading the Northern Sky force's attack on Ziekden Fortress and who killed Tietra. The fort detonates and Ramza flees, deserting the Order and his family, thinking Delita died in the explosion along with Tietra.

The kidnapping of Ovelia
Ramza changes his appearance and adopts his mother's last name, Lugria (Ruglia in the original PlayStation release), to avoid association with the Beoulves, and joins a group of mercenaries led by the Fell Knight Goffard Gaffgarion. The group is hired by Agrias Oaks to guard Princess Ovelia Atkascha who is kidnapped by Delita, sent by the Knights Templar of the church to keep her away from both Larg and Druksmald Goltanna who both pursue the throne of Ivalice via relations to the royal family's children.

Ramza, Agrias, and Gaffgarion catch Delita at Zeirchele Falls where Gaffgarion betrays Ramza and Agrias, as he had been hired by Dycedarg to get rid of Ovelia. Gaffgarion offers Ramza to join him in his mission, but he refuses and fights Gaffgarion for the sake of the princess. Ramza and the Holy Knights rescue Ovelia and Delita leaves her in Ramza's care for the time being.

The Lucavi plot
By the suggestion of Agrias, Ramza visits Cardinal Alphonse Delacroix in Lionel. The church being an impartial party to the conflict over the heir to the throne, Agrias believes the princess would be safe with the cardinal. On the way, they rescue Mustadio Bunansa, a man being hunted by a group of mercenaries of the Baert Trading Company who want the auracite he holds. Mustadio joins Ramza's party without telling him or Ovelia about the auracite. They reach Lionel Castle, and Delacroix tells them more about the auracite, also known as the Holy Stones, and the Zodiac Braves. According to legend, the Zodiac Braves once saved Ivalice, each wielding a powerful artefact with magickal powers.

Leaving Ovelia and Agrias at Lionel, Ramza accompanies Mustadio to his home in Clockwork City of Goug where they discover Baert Trading Company is working for the Cardinal to obtain the auracites. Realizing Agrias and Ovelia are in danger, they make their way back toward Lionel by an alternate route. They rescue Agrias after she escapes, but they are tricked into thinking Ovelia is to be executed, only to find it a trap set by Gaffgarion. Ramza learns the truth about the Holy Stones: they are connected to the Lucavi demons, one of which, Cúchulainn, possesses Delacroix.

Ramza defeats Cúchulainn and ventures to the Royal City of Lesalia to warn his elder brother Zalbaag to stop the war. On the way to Lesalia, Ramza rescues Orran Durai, the stepson of the legendary war hero Cidolfus Orlandeau. At Lesalia, Ramza is confronted by Zalmour Lucianada, a Heresy Examiner for the Church of Glabados, and branded a heretic for his murder of the Cardinal, as him having been possessed by a demon is covered up by the church. With the help of his sister Alma, Ramza thwarts Zalmour's attempt to detain him.

Alma's capture
Ramza and Alma return to the Orbonne Monastery, as Alma remembers the Virgo Stone is there, but the Knights Templar reach the stone first and capture Alma. Wiegraf, now a Knight Templar, becomes possessed by the Lucavi demon Belias. Desperate not to let Alma suffer the same fate as Tietra, Ramza sets out for Riovanes Castle after learning she is being held there. En route, he helps Rapha Galthena, a Skyseer in the service of Grand Duke Gerrith Barrington of Riovanes, escape from his service.

Ramza launches his attack on Riovanes Castle, and although he destroys Belias and drives away a now possessed Marquis Elmdore, Alma ends up in the hands of Folmarv Tengille, the leader of the Knights Templar and the host of Hashmal, the second-in-command of the Lucavi demons.

Further trouble
Ramza attempts to warn Cidolfus Orlandeau of what the Lucavi are up to, and gains a new enemy, Folmarv's daughter, Meliadoul Tengille, who is unaware of the Lucavi plot. He helps Delita rid of Zalmour and reaches the Fort Besselat right after Mossfungus poison has been dispersed among the Order of the Northern Sky and opens the Besselat sluice, preventing a large-scale battle. Ramza recruits Orlandeau to his cause, and sets out for Limberry Castle, the stronghold of Marquis Elmdore, in the belief Alma is there.

Ramza only finds a battle with Zalera, the Lucavi that possesses Elmdore. Meliadoul defects to his cause, helping him defeat Zalera, and she reveals Dycedarg has also received a Holy Stone from the templars. Ramza races home to discover Zalbaag and Dycedarg fighting, as Zalbaag has learned Dycedarg killed their father to become the head of the house. Zalbaag defeats Dycedarg, but when Dycedarg transforms into Adrammelech, he overwhelms Zalbaag and attacks Ramza, but is defeated.

The battle with Ultima
Ramza journeys to the St. Mullonde Temple where he runs into Folmarv who escapes by forcing Ramza to fight an undead Zalbaag. Ramza learns from the dying High Confessor Marcel Funebris that Folmarv is taking Alma to the Orbonne Monastery where a portal to the Necrohol of Mullonde is located, where he plans to resurrect Ultima, the leader of the Lucavi, using Alma's body as a vessel. Ramza battles his way past Folmarv's minions, intercepting him at the Airship Graveyard just before he can perform the ceremony.

Folmarv transforms into Hashmal, but Ramza defeats him. Hashmal sacrifices himself to revive Ultima, but Alma resists it, and reappears in her original body. It is revealed Ramza is a descendant of the man who defeated the High Seraph in the past and sealed the Lucavi. Ramza defeats the High Seraph, and the airship explodes. Ramza absconds Ivalice with his sister, but to the public, they are given (bodiless) funerals, although the church refuses to hold a ceremony for Ramza as he was branded a heretic.

Orran shows his appreciation for Ramza's memory by passing down the written history of the War of the Lions to various descendants that would later be called the Durai Papers. The official records fail to even mention Ramza's name; his identity and the truth behind the War of the Lions are only discovered hundreds of years later when Arazlam Durai discovers Orran's writings, which the church had tried to conceal from the people.

Gameplay
Ramza's basic job class is a Squire. Ramza is effective as a Monk due to his high Brave level. Unlike other Squires, Ramza can equip most of the weapons, and armor used by Knights enabling him to have the HP of a Knight, but the mobility and class abilities of a Squire, and Mettle instead of Fundaments. Ramza's Squire job class cannot use the equipment and weapons of a Knight in Chapter 1; the player must wait until Chapter 2 to have that option. Additionally, as a Squire, Ramza cannot equip axes, unlike the other generic Squires.

Ramza has unique moves under the Mettle command, such as Chant, Shout, Steel, and Ultima. Ultima must be learned by Ramza being hit by the spell, which is similar to how a Blue Mage would learn an ability, and to make things more complicated, he cannot learn Ultima before the start of Chapter 4 because his special Squire job class gains new abilities as he progresses.

Three different sprites are used for Ramza throughout the game; when his sprite changes, he gains access to new Squire abilities. Acquiring Ultima is usually accomplished during the two battles preceding Zalera, in which Ramza must face two Ultima Demons disguised as humans: Celia and Lettie. It can also be learned from the Ultima Demon present while fighting Zalbaag.

Stats and equipment
Ramza begins the game with an even Bravery and Faith value of 70, and comes equipped with the Broadsword, Leather Cap, Clothing, and Battle Boots. Ramza has the normal bonus to HP and Physical Attack given to male units, but he also has the same bonuses to MP and Magic Attack as a female unit. Since Ramza is the lead protagonist and a permanent, essential party member, he won't leave the party if his Faith exceeds 90. Hence, the player can raise his Faith to 100 and make him an exceptionally effective spellcaster.

Rendezvous
When fought in the eleventh Rendezvous battle: All-Star Melee, he is two levels higher than the highest level deployed unit. He starts with 70 Bravery and Faith, and is a Knight. He comes equipped with the Ragnarok, Venetian Shield, Crystal Helm, Crystal Mail, and Guardian Bracelet. He has access to the Arts of War and Item command, as well as the abilities First Strike, Safeguard, and Move +3.

Voice
Ramza is voiced by Phil LaMarr in the English version, who also voiced Reddas, another character from the Ivalice Alliance. In the upcoming Dissidia Final Fantasy for arcades he will be voiced by Shinnosuke Tachibana.

Other appearances
Ramza has appeared in the following games throughout the Final Fantasy series:
 * Final Fantasy Tactics S as a playable character.
 * Dissidia Final Fantasy (2015) as a playable character.
 * Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia as a playable character.
 * Theatrhythm Final Fantasy as a playable character.
 * Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call as a playable character.
 * Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character.
 * Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade as a Legend and a playable character.
 * Final Fantasy Artniks as a series of cards.
 * Final Fantasy Record Keeper as a playable character.
 * Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision.
 * Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as a series of cards.
 * Triple Triad as a series of cards.

Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances
Ramza has made key guest appearances in the following non-Final Fantasy media:
 * Lord of Vermilion series as a card.
 * Rise of Mana series as an enemy boss.
 * Heavenstrike Rivals series as a playable character.
 * Little Noah series as a playable character.
 * Knights of the Crystals series as a series of cards.

Trivia

 * Ramza's character has many things in common with Basch fon Ronsenburg from Final Fantasy XII, as both are branded traitors throughout Ivalice, yet still do what they think is right.
 * Additionally, Marche Radiuju, the main protagonist from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, has a strong physical resemblance to Ramza.
 * The three colors represented on the art of Ramza in his initial outfit are the same set of colors that make up Luso Clemens's outfit in Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
 * Ramza only draws his sword once in a cutscene when facing Wiegraf Folles outside Orbonne Monastery. Otherwise Ramza tries to use negotiation, even on people bent on attacking him.
 * Although it is possible to rename Ramza in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, due to the game's use of prerendered cutscenes, other characters will still mention him by the name "Ramza".
 * Although the game's ending may have seemed ambiguous, Yasumi Matsuno has confirmed Ramza is alive and went on to have another adventure in a different country. However, he also added that it's up to the player's interpretation a short time after.
 * Although Ramza's armor changes in Chapter 4, he's still seen with his Chapter 2 armor in the FMV events in Chapter 4 (such as in Balthier's recruiting).
 * Ramza's artwork for his Chapter 1 appearance shows him holding a rapier. This weapon type is not within the game. This weapon is named Broadsword in Dissidia Final Fantasy, and is wielded by Ramza in other appearances outside of his main game.