Gambits

Template:Sideicon

Gambits setting in Final Fantasy XII.

Oh, one more thing! If you don't want me to fight on my own, you can always turn my Gambits off. With my Gambits turned off, I won't do anything until you give the word. You should really think about using Gambits for yourself, you know. They can make managing a battle a lot easier.

Penelo

Gambits (ガンビット, Ganbitto?) are functionality of the Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings battle systems. Combat can be controlled manually and programmed via the use of gambits; manually entered commands take precedence and their immediate execution will interrupt gambit programming. The gambit system is similar to the Macro system found in Final Fantasy XI.

Profile

Like simple computers, the player can create a list of commands and dependencies to be carried out automatically by the characters to simplify the combat system. All commands relate to (are targeted on) the character, the character's allies, or the enemies on-screen.

Gambits are a targeted "if A, then X" conditional statement/expression; each gambit on the list is evaluated and the first gambit that has a true, actionable condition, will be executed. Each time the character gets a new turn the list is reevaluated, starting with the first gambit.

Gambits are available once Penelo joins the party, though the player has to wait until Balthier and Fran join to be able to customize gambits.

Functionality

The golden G next to a party member's name indicates that the character's Gambits are active.

Gambits are composed of a target, a condition and an action to be performed on the target, only if the condition is true. If the condition is not true, the next gambit in the list is checked, and so on. The list is not in order of which action is taken; for example, a gambit with the "Foe:Flying" condition at the top of the gambit list will only activate when the party encounters a flying enemy. Actions can be either the use of items or the casting of magick and Technicks. There is no action for Quickenings and summons, which must be activated manually.

In or out of battle, each character can have have each individual gambit in their list turned on or off at the gambit screen. At the gambit screen or in the manual control menu, the current state of the gambit list as a whole can be turned off and back on. Gambits can be changed at any moment during a battle, and gambits can always be interrupted by manual input.

The characters start with no list of gambits, gain two automatically through the early game, and can buy licenses for an additional ten gambit slots in the Augments section of the License Board(s).

Action: No redundant actions

Gambits contain certain hidden conditions to be intuitive and functional. Enemies cease to be targets once they die, and the gambit mechanism will not revive a character who is not KO'd or recast a status buffer if the character still has it, e.g. a gambit for Haste will not be activated if the character already has the Haste status. The gambit mechanism will not have two characters simultaneously cast a status buffer or revive a KO'd character twice; i.e. if two characters have a gambit set-up to revive a fallen party member, either with a Phoenix Down or Raise spell, and a party member is KO'd, only one of the characters will have their gambit to revive them executed.

The exceptions to the above rules are: Steal, Poach, Drain and Syphon, which will re-activate at every turn, even if the foe is immune, or has no more items/MP to steal. Foe: HP = 100% attached to Steal, and one blow from a manually controlled character, or another party member with a Foe: HP = 100% attacked to Attack at the top of their gambit list, will ensure that the stealer will look further down the list for something to do after their first steal attempt. Enemy immunity requires the offending gambits be turned off or commands be issued to the characters to override their gambits with manual control.

Action: Constraints

A gambit will not be executed if its action cannot be performed because of the normal game rules. For example, a gambit with the action to cast the spell Haste will only be done if the character has enough MP to cast it and is not under a restrictive status, such as Silence, Disable, or other that prohibits the use of magick.

A similar constraint applies to the use of items, i.e. a gambit calling for the use of a Hi-Potion will only be performed if there is at least one in the party's inventory.

Steal, Poach, Drain and Syphon are not exempt from this condition as they are from the other.

Condition: Self, Ally or Foe

Conditions for gambits need to be purchased at Gambit Shops and are for Self, Ally or Foe. They can also occasionally be found in treasure urns in the original version. In the Zodiac versions, all gambits are available at the shop after the player returns to Rabanastre from Nalbina Dungeons.

Canceling

A character may cancel an action enacted by a gambit if a higher-priority gambit's conditions are fulfilled. For example, the character has a gambit, high on the list, to Attack the nearest foe, and one below that to poach foes with < 10% HP. If the party is attempting to poach a foe, and a higher HP foe comes near, the character will abandon their poaching, and rush off to Attack the new foe. This is also a good example of the difference between order of execution and order of listing (and therefore priority).

If the order of these gambits is reversed, canceling will not happen; characters will attack when enemies are first sighted, even though Attack is second on the list, the "Foe: HP < 10% - Poach" gambit cannot get in the way, because of its condition, and Poach will be activated instead of Attack as soon as and for as long as there is an appropriate target in range.

The exceptions to canceling an action due to priority are all commands the player inputs manually. Any command the player gives to the character will be executed if possible, regardless of gambits.

Character movement is not considered a command for the purposes of interrupting actions; spell casting in particular will root characters in place, and the only way to avoid characters beginning a spellcast is to turn off their gambits temporarily or to hold down to escape. This does not halt spellcasting already in progress.

List of gambits

There are several gambits. Initially, the party starts with few to work with, but as the game progresses, the party can find or buy more.

In the original release, new gambits are available for purchase after the following events:

Event	Details
A	After getting trapped in the Nalbina Dungeons.
B	After escaping from Barheim Passage.
C	After obtaining the Dawn Shard.
D	After defeating Judge Bergan.
E	After visiting the Draklor Laboratory.
F	After obtaining the Treaty-Blade.

In the Zodiac versions, all gambits are available for purchase after the player gets trapped in the Nalbina Dungeons. Also, players can no longer find gambits in treasure chests. However, gambits are only sold at Yamoora's Gambits, Jajim Bazaar, Bashketi's Gambits, Lebleu's Gambits, and Waterfront Gambits. Additionally, Burrough's shop inside Barheim Passage - The Lightworks carries a limited number of Gambits marked with an asterisk(*) in the tables below.

Ally Gambits

These gambits are under the blue tab of the gambit menu. All conditions require a party member to be under a certain condition.

Original

Gambit	Cost	When
Ally: any	50	B
Ally: party leader	50	B
Ally: Vaan	―	―
Ally: Ashe	―	―
Ally: Fran	―	―
Ally: Balthier	―	―
Ally: Penelo	―	―
Ally: Basch	―	―
Ally: lowest HP	50	D
Ally: strongest weapon	50	D
Ally: lowest defense	50	D
Ally: lowest magick resist	50	D
Ally: HP < 100%	50	C
Ally: HP < 90%	50	B
Ally: HP < 80%	50	B
Ally: HP < 70%	50	B
Ally: HP < 60%	50	B
Ally: HP < 50%	50	A
Ally: HP < 40%	50	B
Ally: HP < 30%	50	A
Ally: HP < 20%	50	B
Ally: HP < 10%	50	C
Ally: MP < 100%	50	C
Ally: MP < 90%	50	C
Ally: MP < 80%	50	B
Ally: MP < 70%	50	B
Ally: MP < 60%	50	B
Ally: MP < 50%	50	B
Ally: MP < 40%	50	B
Ally: MP < 30%	50	B
Ally: MP < 20%	50	B
Ally: MP < 10%	50	C
Ally: status = KO	50	E
Ally: status = Stone	50	E
Ally: status = Petrify	50	E
Ally: status = Stop	50	C
Ally: status = Sleep	50	B
Ally: status = Confuse	50	B
Ally: status = Doom	50	E
Ally: status = Blind	50	E
Ally: status = Poison	50	E
Ally: status = Silence	50	E
Ally: status = Sap	50	E
Ally: status = Oil	50	E
Ally: status = Reverse	50	C
Ally: status = Disable	50	E
Ally: status = Immobilize	50	E
Ally: status = Slow	50	C
Ally: status = Disease	50	E
Ally: status = Lure	50	C
Ally: status = Protect	50	E
Ally: status = Shell	50	E
Ally: status = Haste	50	E
Ally: status = Bravery	50	E
Ally: status = Faith	50	E
Ally: status = Reflect	50	C
Ally: status = Invisible	50	E
Ally: status = Regen	50	E
Ally: status = Float	50	E
Ally: status = Berserk	50	C
Ally: status = Bubble	50	E
Ally: status = HP Critical	50	B
Ally: item AMT ≧ 10	100	C

Zodiac

Gambit	Cost
Ally: any	50*
Ally: party leader	50*
Ally: Vaan	―
Ally: Ashe	―
Ally: Fran	―
Ally: Balthier	―
Ally: Penelo	―
Ally: Basch	―
Ally: lowest HP	70
Ally: strongest weapon	70
Ally: lowest defense	70
Ally: lowest magick resist	70
Ally: HP < 100%	50*
Ally: HP < 90%	70
Ally: HP < 80%	70
Ally: HP < 70%	50*
Ally: HP < 60%	50*
Ally: HP < 50%	50*
Ally: HP < 40%	50*
Ally: HP < 30%	50*
Ally: HP < 20%	70
Ally: HP < 10%	70
Ally: MP < 100%	50*
Ally: MP < 90%	70
Ally: MP < 80%	70
Ally: MP < 70%	50*
Ally: MP < 60%	50*
Ally: MP < 50%	50*
Ally: MP < 40%	50*
Ally: MP < 30%	50*
Ally: MP < 20%	70
Ally: MP < 10%	70
Ally: status = KO	70
Ally: status = Stone	70
Ally: status = Petrify	70
Ally: status = Stop	70
Ally: status = Sleep	70
Ally: status = Confuse	70
Ally: status = Doom	70
Ally: status = Blind	70
Ally: status = Poison	70
Ally: status = Silence	70
Ally: status = Sap	70
Ally: status = Oil	70
Ally: status = Reverse	70
Ally: status = Disable	70
Ally: status = Immobilize	70
Ally: status = Slow	70
Ally: status = Disease	70
Ally: status = Lure	70
Ally: status = Protect	70
Ally: status = Shell	70
Ally: status = Haste	70
Ally: status = Bravery	70
Ally: status = Faith	70
Ally: status = Reflect	70
Ally: status = Invisible	70
Ally: status = Regen	70
Ally: status = Float	70
Ally: status = Berserk	70
Ally: status = Bubble	70
Ally: status = HP Critical	50*
Ally: 2+ foes present	300
Ally: 3+ foes present	300
Ally: 4+ foes present	300
Ally: 5+ foes present	300
Ally: item AMT ≧ 10	300

Foe Gambits

These gambits are under the red tab of the gambit menu. All conditions require an enemy to be under a certain condition.

Original

Gambit	Cost	When
Foe: party leader's target	―	―
Foe: nearest visible	―	―
Foe: any	50	B
Foe: targeting leader	100	B
Foe: targeting self	100	B
Foe: targeting ally	100	B
Foe: furthest	50	C
Foe: nearest	50	C
Foe: highest HP	50	D
Foe: lowest HP	50	D
Foe: highest max HP	50	D
Foe: lowest max HP	50	D
Foe: highest MP	50	D
Foe: lowest MP	50	D
Foe: highest max MP	50	D
Foe: lowest max MP	50	D
Foe: highest level	50	D
Foe: lowest level	50	D
Foe: highest strength	50	D
Foe: lowest strength	50	D
Foe: highest magick power	50	D
Foe: lowest magick power	50	D
Foe: highest speed	50	D
Foe: lowest speed	50	D
Foe: highest defense	50	D
Foe: highest magick resist	50	D
Foe: HP ≧ 100,000	50	F
Foe: HP ≧ 50,000	50	F
Foe: HP ≧ 10,000	50	E
Foe: HP ≧ 5,000	50	E
Foe: HP ≧ 3,000	50	D
Foe: HP ≧ 2,000	50	D
Foe: HP ≧ 1,000	50	C
Foe: HP ≧ 500	50	C
Foe: HP < 100,000	50	F
Foe: HP < 50,000	50	F
Foe: HP < 10,000	50	E
Foe: HP < 5,000	50	E
Foe: HP < 3,000	50	D
Foe: HP < 2,000	50	D
Foe: HP < 1,000	50	C
Foe: HP < 500	50	C
Foe: HP = 100%	50	B
Foe: HP ≧ 70%	50	B
Foe: HP ≧ 50%	50	B
Foe: HP ≧ 30%	50	B
Foe: status = Petrify	50	E
Foe: status = Stop	50	E
Foe: status = Sleep	50	B
Foe: status = Confuse	50	E
Foe: status = Doom	50	E
Foe: status = Blind	50	C
Foe: status = Poison	50	E
Foe: status = Silence	50	C
Foe: status = Sap	50	E
Foe: status = Oil	50	B
Foe: status = Reverse	50	C
Foe: status = Disable	50	B
Foe: status = Immobilize	50	B
Foe: status = Slow	50	E
Foe: status = Disease	50	E
Foe: status = Protect	50	D
Foe: status = Shell	50	D
Foe: status = Haste	50	D
Foe: status = Bravery	50	D
Foe: status = Faith	50	D
Foe: status = Reflect	50	B
Foe: status = Regen	50	E
Foe: status = Berserk	50	E
Foe: status = HP Critical	50	B
Foe: fire-weak	500	F
Foe: lightning-weak	500	F
Foe: ice-weak	500	F
Foe: earth-weak	500	F
Foe: water-weak	500	F
Foe: wind-weak	500	F
Foe: holy-weak	500	F
Foe: dark-weak	500	F
Foe: fire-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: lightning-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: ice-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: earth-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: water-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: wind-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: holy-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: dark-vulnerable	250	F
Foe: undead	100	C
Foe: flying	100	B
Foe: character HP = 100%	100	C
Foe: item AMT ≧ 10	100	C
Foe: character status = Blind	100	D
Foe: character status = Silence	100	D
Foe: character status = Bravery	100	E
Foe: character status = Faith	100	E
Foe: character status = HP Critical	100	D
Foe: character MP ≧ 90%	100	D
Foe: character MP ≧ 70%	100	D
Foe: character MP ≧ 50%	100	D
Foe: character MP ≧ 30%	100	D
Foe: character MP ≧ 10%	100	D
Foe: character MP < 90%	100	D
Foe: character MP < 70%	100	D
Foe: character MP < 50%	100	D
Foe: character MP < 30%	100	D
Foe: character MP < 10%	100	D
Foe: character HP ≧ 90%	100	D
Foe: character HP ≧ 70%	100	D
Foe: character HP ≧ 50%	100	D
Foe: character HP ≧ 30%	100	D
Foe: character HP ≧ 10%	100	D
Foe: character HP < 90%	100	D
Foe: character HP < 70%	100	D
Foe: character HP < 50%	100	D
Foe: character HP < 30%	100	D
Foe: character HP < 10%	100	D

Zodiac

Gambit	Cost
Foe: party leader's target	―
Foe: nearest visible	50
Foe: any	50
Foe: targeted by ally	100
Foe: not targeted by ally	100
Foe: targeting leader	50*
Foe: targeting self	50*
Foe: targeting ally	50*
Foe: targeting Vaan	―
Foe: targeting Ashe	―
Foe: targeting Fran	―
Foe: targeting Balthier	―
Foe: targeting Basch	―
Foe: targeting Penelo	―
Foe: furthest	70
Foe: nearest	70
Foe: highest HP	50*
Foe: lowest HP	50*
Foe: highest max HP	50*
Foe: lowest max HP	50*
Foe: highest MP	70
Foe: lowest MP	70
Foe: highest max MP	70
Foe: lowest max MP	70
Foe: highest level	50*
Foe: lowest level	50*
Foe: highest strength	70
Foe: lowest strength	70
Foe: highest magick power	70
Foe: lowest magick power	70
Foe: highest speed	70
Foe: lowest speed	70
Foe: highest defense	70
Foe: highest magick resist	70
Foe: HP ≧ 100,000	300
Foe: HP ≧ 50,000	300
Foe: HP ≧ 10,000	300
Foe: HP ≧ 5,000	70
Foe: HP ≧ 3,000	70
Foe: HP ≧ 2,000	70
Foe: HP ≧ 1,000	70
Foe: HP ≧ 500	70
Foe: HP < 100,000	300
Foe: HP < 50,000	300
Foe: HP < 10,000	300
Foe: HP < 5,000	70
Foe: HP < 3,000	70
Foe: HP < 2,000	70
Foe: HP < 1,000	70
Foe: HP < 500	70
Foe: HP = 100%	50*
Foe: HP ≧ 90%	70
Foe: HP ≧ 70%	50*
Foe: HP ≧ 50%	50*
Foe: HP ≧ 30%	50*
Foe: HP ≧ 10%	70
Foe: status = Petrify	70
Foe: status = Stop	70
Foe: status = Sleep	70
Foe: status = Confuse	70
Foe: status = Doom	70
Foe: status = Blind	70
Foe: status = Poison	70
Foe: status = Silence	70
Foe: status = Sap	70
Foe: status = Oil	70
Foe: status = Reverse	70
Foe: status = Disable	70
Foe: status = Immobilize	70
Foe: status = Slow	70
Foe: status = Disease	70
Foe: status = Protect	70
Foe: status = Shell	70
Foe: status = Haste	70
Foe: status = Bravery	70
Foe: status = Faith	70
Foe: status = Reflect	70
Foe: status = Regen	70
Foe: status = Berserk	70
Foe: status = HP Critical	70
Foe: fire-weak	70
Foe: lightning-weak	70
Foe: ice-weak	70
Foe: earth-weak	70
Foe: water-weak	70
Foe: wind-weak	70
Foe: holy-weak	70
Foe: dark-weak	70
Foe: fire-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: lightning-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: ice-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: earth-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: water-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: wind-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: holy-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: dark-vulnerable*(triggers to enemies that do not absorb the element, even those that are immune)	70
Foe: undead	70
Foe: flying	70
Foe: character status = Blind	300
Foe: character status = Silence	300
Foe: character status = Bravery	300
Foe: character status = Faith	300
Foe: character status = HP Critical	300
Foe: character HP = 100%	300
Foe: character MP ≧ 90%	300
Foe: character MP ≧ 70%	300
Foe: character MP ≧ 50%	300
Foe: character MP ≧ 30%	300
Foe: character MP ≧ 10%	300
Foe: character MP < 90%	300
Foe: character MP < 70%	300
Foe: character MP < 50%	300
Foe: character MP < 30%	300
Foe: character MP < 10%	300
Foe: character HP ≧ 90%	300
Foe: character HP ≧ 70%	300
Foe: character HP ≧ 50%	300
Foe: character HP ≧ 30%	300
Foe: character HP ≧ 10%	300
Foe: character HP < 90%	300
Foe: character HP < 70%	300
Foe: character HP < 50%	300
Foe: character HP < 30%	300
Foe: character HP < 10%	300
Foe: 2+ foes present	300
Foe: 3+ foes present	300
Foe: 4+ foes present	300
Foe: 5+ foes present	300
Foe: 2+ allies present	300
Foe: 3+ allies present	300
Foe: item AMT ≧ 10	300

Self Gambits

These gambits are under the yellow tab of the gambit menu. All conditions require the user to be under a certain condition.

Original

Gambit	Cost	When
Self	50	B
Self: HP < 100%	50	E
Self: HP < 90%	50	E
Self: HP < 80%	50	E
Self: HP < 70%	50	E
Self: HP < 60%	50	E
Self: HP < 50%	50	E
Self: HP < 40%	50	E
Self: HP < 30%	50	E
Self: HP < 20%	50	E
Self: HP < 10%	50	E
Self: MP < 100%	50	E
Self: MP < 90%	50	E
Self: MP < 80%	50	E
Self: MP < 70%	50	E
Self: MP < 60%	50	E
Self: MP < 50%	50	E
Self: MP < 40%	50	E
Self: MP < 30%	50	E
Self: MP < 20%	50	E
Self: MP < 10%	50	E
Self: status = Petrify	50	E
Self: status = Doom	50	E
Self: status = Blind	50	E
Self: status = Poison	50	E
Self: status = Silence	50	E
Self: status = Sap	50	E
Self: status = Oil	50	E
Self: status = Reverse	50	E
Self: status = Immobilize	50	E
Self: status = Slow	50	E
Self: status = Disease	50	E
Self: status = Lure	50	E
Self: status = Protect	50	E
Self: status = Shell	50	E
Self: status = Haste	50	E
Self: status = Bravery	50	E
Self: status = Faith	50	E
Self: status = Reflect	50	E
Self: status = Invisible	50	E
Self: status = Regen	50	E
Self: status = Float	50	E
Self: status = Bubble	50	E
Self: status = HP Critical	50	E

Zodiac

Gambit	Cost
Self	50*
Self: HP < 100%	50*
Self: HP < 90%	70
Self: HP < 80%	70
Self: HP < 70%	50*
Self: HP < 60%	50*
Self: HP < 50%	50*
Self: HP < 40%	50*
Self: HP < 30%	50*
Self: HP < 20%	70
Self: HP < 10%	70
Self: MP < 100%	50*
Self: MP < 90%	70
Self: MP < 80%	70
Self: MP < 70%	50*
Self: MP < 60%	50*
Self: MP < 50%	50*
Self: MP < 40%	50*
Self: MP < 30%	50*
Self: MP < 20%	70
Self: MP < 10%	70
Self: status = Petrify	70
Self: status = Doom	70
Self: status = Blind	70
Self: status = Poison	70
Self: status = Silence	70
Self: status = Sap	70
Self: status = Oil	50
Self: status = Reverse	70
Self: status = Immobilize	70
Self: status = Slow	70
Self: status = Disease	70
Self: status = Lure	70
Self: status = Protect	70
Self: status = Shell	70
Self: status = Haste	70
Self: status = Bravery	70
Self: status = Faith	70
Self: status = Reflect	70
Self: status = Invisible	70
Self: status = Regen	70
Self: status = Float	70
Self: status = Bubble	70
Self: status = HP Critical	50*
Self: 2+ foes present	300
Self: 3+ foes present	300
Self: 4+ foes present	300
Self: 5+ foes present	300
Self: targeted by foe	300
Self: targeted by ally	300
Self: item AMT ≧ 10	300

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Gambits menu.

Gambits return, but the system is heavily simplified. The player can set one gambit per group leader, and once this is done the character will keep using the skill unless they are being directly controlled by the player. Gambits can be set in the Equip screen any time during battle.

Creation and development

Hiroyuki Ito was in charge of creating the battle system and his motivation for the gambit system was to create a "single-player online game" where the player would have independently acting party members who would still act the way the player wanted them to. The gambit system works on the same basic programming algorithms used for the monsters in the SNES Final Fantasy games. In RPGs with command-based systems players would just press one button to grind through, and thus Ito thought that it might be more fun to provide a seamless, semi-automated battle system instead. The developers thus carried over the old Final Fantasy IV gambit prototype, made it more complex, and made it so users configure it with their characters. The reason the developers chose to use it for Final Fantasy XII in particular was because of the seamlessness they wanted to achieve with the game. Though purely command-based battle systems are simple on the development side, for a "single-player MMO" the player had to be able to move around while also performing an action.

Producer Hiroaki Kato has lamented that the gambit system is complex, and thus difficult to implement in other titles. Regardless, he would want to use the mechanics somehow, maybe in a different form, even if the system is difficult to develop around.

Automating stealing via the gambit system is something players strive to do, but the stealer will keep stealing even when the target has nothing to steal. Thus, many players opt to use Foe HP 100% gambit to only steal from newly met enemies. The developers have commented that they didn't want to make stealing too convenient, and wanted to keep that element of trial-and-error and the "healthy player frustration" that "makes the game fun." Thus, the imperfect stealing with gambits has been left in the International and HD versions.

Gallery

Gambits menu in The Zodiac Age.

Etymology

[view · edit · purge]A gambit is a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage.