Why were techniques in PSIII mostly useless?

enigmaopoeia wrote:

Aside from that, I stopped using Techniques once I was able to purchase or find a ForceEmel or ForceShld to cast Res, and a Force Clw or ForceVest to cast Rever. Basically, I heavily rely on items to cast the Techniques for me.

Ah you can use some items to cast spells even in Phantasy Star III ?? I didn't know it ! I swear it ! I know it in Phantasy Star II but not in the fourth one...like I said before : we know new things everyday ! I'm happy to learn it because I never tried it...

And to continue...I think we all agree on the fact that except for healing techniques, all the melee one are pretty inneficient and..more trhan that, PSIII has got "heavy" menus : it's more efficient and more quick to send normal blows to the ennemies thant to go into the menu and chose a technique that will be less efficient than more of the normal blows !!

myau56 wrote:

enigmaopoeia wrote:

Aside from that, I stopped using Techniques once I was able to purchase or find a ForceEmel or ForceShld to cast Res, and a Force Clw or ForceVest to cast Rever. Basically, I heavily rely on items to cast the Techniques for me.

Ah you can use some items to cast spells even in Phantasy Star III ?? I didn't know it ! I swear it ! I know it in Phantasy Star II but not in the fourth one...like I said before : we know new things everyday ! I'm happy to learn it because I never tried it...

I used items to cast techs in PSII and PSIV, but never thought to do it in PSIII. The items sound vaguely familiar, and I haven't played through the game in a number of years, but it's possible I didn't know it worked at the time!

augmentedfourth wrote:

myau56 wrote:

enigmaopoeia wrote:

Aside from that, I stopped using Techniques once I was able to purchase or find a ForceEmel or ForceShld to cast Res, and a Force Clw or ForceVest to cast Rever. Basically, I heavily rely on items to cast the Techniques for me.

Ah you can use some items to cast spells even in Phantasy Star III ?? I didn't know it ! I swear it ! I know it in Phantasy Star II but not in the fourth one...like I said before : we know new things everyday ! I'm happy to learn it because I never tried it...

I used items to cast techs in PSII and PSIV, but never thought to do it in PSIII. The items sound vaguely familiar, and I haven't played through the game in a number of years, but it's possible I didn't know it worked at the time!

AUGMENTEDFOURTH : I see we are in teh same case (and I think that many other persons are !!) : we continue to discover new facts in Phantasy Star after so many years. But the best in it is the fact that it's a "recent" phan that teach us it ! I'm amazed and thanks a lot

I relied so much on the items in Phantasy Star II and III, that I believe I would still be stuck in Phantasy Star II to this day without them!

So there are items that allow you to cast Techs in Phantasy Star IV? Is there a page about it because I can't seem to find anything anywhere.

The PSIV walkthrough by TheStarbird on GameFAQs includes the techs cast by items, but it's sorted into the great big item chart. That's the best list I can find off hand.

Never really played with the items, only with PSII because I thought that it was the only one to allow us to play items and can launch magical spells with it....
About PSIV I can't remeber special weapons which you can launch spell in USING the item : only weapons that can launch some spells when you HIT with them but..my memories on PSIV are from a very long time so....I'm playing the game fdor the second time those last days (started 3 months ago) but I haven't tried to use the items but I'll try !!! (sorry about the mistakes : I'm a bit tired this evening...)

EDIT : ah Thoul posted a message just before I submit mine : I suggest you, Enigmaopoeia, to be careful because the different FAQS about PSIV (and all other PS) are full of spoilers so..try to use the items in your game first ! Sure It'll be a very good experience

I thought a spell casting items were common knowledge in PS4. There is a whole shop on Dezo where the items all have special effects, and it says it in their description. Unfortunately you can't use them to form combo attacks. Here a few notable ones.

Wood Cane - Runes starting weapon casts res. In the beginning when tp is still limited, and hahn sucks, you can just have him use this most of the time.

Guard Rod - Similar to the Woodcane except it casts Sar

Thunder Claw - You can buy this in the shop on Dezolis, if you buy a few it makes any all robot area much easier.

Eclipse Torch - Free St. Fire

Swift Helm - Free Saner

Power Shield - Shifta for everyone

I usually use 2 Shield on Raja, and the Thunder Claw and Eclipse Torch help out with his lack of attack techs.

Thoul wrote:

The PSIV walkthrough by TheStarbird on GameFAQs includes the techs cast by items, but it's sorted into the great big item chart. That's the best list I can find off hand.

Goldenguys's FAQ has a better organized and more complete list. Here is a cut and paste.

Some of the items in Phantasy Star IV have some mysterious/weird
effects when used. Any of these are noted below, along with their
condition. If the condition says "Item," you have to go into your items
and use it. If the condition says "Attack," you have to attack an enemy
with it to get the effect. These effects can only be used in battle.

Wooden Cane Effect: Res Condition: Item
Guard Rod Effect: Sar Condition: Item
Laconia Rod Effect: Efess Condition: Item
Dream Rod Effect: Bindwa Condition: Attack/Item
Psycho Wand Effect: Cancelling Condition: Item
Thunder Claw Effect: Tandle Condition: Item
Flame Sword Effect: Flaeli Condition: Item
Elsydeon Effect: Holyword Condition: Attack
Shadow Blade Effect: Deathspell Condition: Attack
Genocyber Claw Effect: Deathspell Condition: Attack
Tornado Dagger Effect: Hewn Condition: Item
Power Shield Effect: Shift Condition: Item
Moon Slasher Effect: Moonshade Condition: Item
Defeat Axe Effect: Bindwa Condition: Attack
Stun Shot Effect: Bindwa Condition: Attack
Mahlay Dagger Effect: Nafoi Condition: Item
Mahlay Shield Effect: (De)Ban Condition: Item
Eclipse Torch Effect: St. Fire Condition: Item
Swift Helmet Effect: (Sa)Ner Condition: Item
Ceramic Shield Effect: Special* Condition: Equip*

Wooden Cane
-----------
The Res effect generated by the Wooden Cane is painfully basic, as it
only heals about 30HP.

Guard Rod
---------
The Guard Rod has a pretty good Sar effect, healing about 60HP to all
characters. Almost worthy to be called Gisar.

Laconia Rod
-----------
The Laconia Rod has a nice Efess effect. It's pretty weak, though.

Dream Rod
---------
This rod sometimes casts Bindwa when used for attacking.

Psycho Wand
-----------
The Psycho Wand cancels any shields that an enemy may have.

Thunder Claw
------------
The Thunder Claw casts a somewhat-weak form of Tandle. Still nice though.

Flame Sword
-----------
The Flame Sword casts a near-worthless version of Flaeli at the enemy.

Elsydeon
--------
If used to attack dark type enemies, the Elsydeon may cause a Holyword
effect, killing the enemy instantaneously.

Shadow Blade
------------
This weapon drains a lot of your characteristics, but adds the bonus of a
Deathspell possibility. Kills instantly, but rarely.

Genocyber Claw
--------------
The Genocyber Claw generates a Deathspell effect sometimes, when used to
attack enemies.

Tornado Dagger
--------------
The Tornado Dagger casts a weak version of Hewn when used as an item.

Power Shield
------------
The Power Shield can cast Shift when used. It isn't very helpful since you
don't need Shift most of the time.

Moon Slasher
------------
Sometimes, if used against enemies as an item, it can put an enemy to
sleep.

Defeat Axe
----------
In battle, the Defeat Axe sometimes has the Bindwa effect. This causes the
attacked enemy to go to sleep, if not killed.

Stun Shot
---------
Sometimes, when attacking with the Stun Shot, it will cast a Bindwa effect
on the enemy (thus the name, "Stun Shot).

Mahlay Dagger
-------------
When used as an item, the Mahlay Dagger can cast a Nafoi effect.

Mahlay Shield
-------------
When you use the Mahlay Shield as an item, it gives you a Deban effect.
This only affects one character though, so it is really just Ban.

Eclipse Torch
-------------
When you use the Eclipse Torch as an item, it casts St. Fire. It's a very
nice item to have, while you have it.

Swift Helmet
------------
If you use this as an item during battle, it will act like Saner, except
that it will only affect one character..therefore, acting as Ner.

Ceramic Shield
--------------
I haven't tried this out myself, but I have been told that if you equip a
Ceramic Shield and a Claw/Dagger/Slasher, and you use this on an enemy
that is weak against fire-based attacks (such as a Snow Mole on Dezolis),
it will cause more damage. An example I have been given is:

Rika equips two Plasma Claws and attacks a Snow Mole for around 110
damage. Then if Ceramic Shield and Plasma Claw are equipped, I am told she
still causes around 110 damage. Try it for yourself!

Thank you, Thoul, for confirming it and thanks also to Wanderer From Ys for this list!

Yeah, that's one of the... unusual bugs in PSIV. Shields transfer their protective property to the other weapon you're using (so a Ceramic Shield makes every knife or claw you use Fire-elemental.) A guide I found says the Psy Barrier protects against Earth damage (making all of your attacks Earth-elemental) and the Plasma Shield is the same for Flare-elemental damage (whatever that is.)

Also, another glitch involving one of Wren's armors I saw in the Let's Play of PSIV: Elastic Headgear and Elastic Armor is supposed to halve all Physical damage inflicted on Wren, but thanks to a bug, this halving is only in effect during surprise rounds.