License Board/Original



The License Board is the ability system used in Final Fantasy XII, and in the original release is identical for all six characters. The system consists of a tiled board with hundreds of squares identical for each character, each square representing an ability, spell, equipment piece or augment. By defeating enemies in battle, characters earn License Points, abbreviated LP. Characters must spend their LP to activate squares on the License Board, granting them access to new abilities and allowing them to equip stronger weapons and armor.

Mechanics
The License Board is a checkered board, with numerous squares each relating to a license. All squares on the board are initially blank, only stating a generic alignment (weapon, technick, augment, etc). Licenses the player already has appear solid, while squares adjacent to already activated squares appear glowing with a number on them indicating the amount of LP needed to activate them, and display what equipment pieces or abilities are connected to that square. When a player takes a new license, it turns solid and the licenses above, below and to the sides of the new license light up. Only licenses lit up in this fashion may be activated, as opposed to being able to activate any square any time.

While most licenses are available to all players, an exception is made for Summons and Quickenings. These squares appear for all characters until activated, at which point the square vanishes from the boards of the other characters. This means only one character may acquire a summon, and each Quickening license may only be taken once. Summon licenses also have to be unlocked, in all cases by beating the respective Esper in battle.

There are eighteen Quickening licenses meaning all players can learn all three of their Quickenings.

License Points are earned towards activating squares by defeating enemies in battle. With the exception of rarer and stronger enemies including bosses, most enemies give a single LP. Enemies killed by Poach or Zalera's Kill do not give LP. Unlike Experience Points, all characters gain LP regardless of if they are in the active party or not.

Unlocking all licenses, including three Quickenings, requires 13,330 LP. This does not include the Esper licenses, which together cost 805 LP. Upon completing every character's License Board, including the Espers and Quickenings, the player earns Rasler's icon in the Sky Pirate's Den.

Board
The License Board is divided into two sections. The top section contains augments in the lower-left, magick in the upper-left, accessories in the upper-right, and Technicks in the lower-right. The bottom section contains armor in the upper-right and weapon licenses around the rest of the board. In the International Zodiac Job System version, some licenses grant different effects.

The two sections are connected only by three optional Esper licenses—Chaos, Zeromus and Exodus. All characters start out in roughly the center of both boards and from there are free to move about the board as they wish.

Etymology
The License Board is part of the Zodiac Job System in the International version.