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SHINING FORCE III GUIDE
written by Hahn (peterson.b@mankato.msus.edu)
Last edited 10.MAY.99

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This isn't meant so much as a FAQ or a Walkthrough as it is a collection of useful
information while playing Shining Force 3. There are a few pieces of missing
information, but overall I believe that there is much to be gotten from it.
If any readers of this FAQ have information that could help it out, feel free
to e-mail me at the address above.

This FAQ may be posted anywhere so long as it is left unchanged.
I'd like to thank Snarf's weapon FAQ on RPGFan for supplementing my
weapon information. I would also like the thank "The Shining Force Homepage"
at http://www.seh.de/private/wl/sf-web/index.shtml for supplying the wonderful
character portraits.

NOTE: This document is best read in WordPad with wrapping disabled.

-PARALLEL STORY LINES-
Shining Force 3 is a very special story in that it can be played through three
different sets of eyes via the three different scenarios available. Each scenario
consists of six chapters of gameplay, and Scenario 3 has a final conclusion
chapter at the end that uses the characters from all three scenarios. The
diagram below shows roughly how the actual plot timeline of the three
adventures relate to each other, with the numbers indiciating points in the
story where the three main characters meet each other. Note that the length
of the chapters indicates plot time passed, not actual gameplay. All chapters
consist of 4 or 5 battle scenarios.

Disc 1: Shining Force of Aspinia Republic
Leader: Synbios

|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|---------|--------------|--------|
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 NPC Control Final

*1* *2* *3* *4**5* *8* *9*

Disc 2: Shining Force of Destonia Empire
Leader: Medion

|------------------|---------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------------|--------|
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chap.3 Chap.4 Chap.5 Chap.6 NPC Control Final

*6* *7* *8* *9*

Disc 3: Shining Force of Enrich Kingdom
Leader: Julian

|-----------------|------|-----------|----|----|----|----|----|----|--------|
Aspinia Gone Destonia Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Final

Events:
*1*: Synbios and Medion meet for the first time in the floating city of Saraband.
*2*: Synbios and Julian meet in Railhead and Julian joins Shining Force of Aspinia.
*3*: Synbios and Medion meet when Imperial refugees are attacked on the train tracks.
*4*: Julian leaves Shining Force of Aspinia after battle against Galm.
*5*: Synbios and Medion meet at Barrand Waterfall after battling Edmund and Garzel's armies.
*6*: Medion and Julian meet near Barrand and Julian joins Shining Force of Destonia.
*7*: Julian leaves the Shining Force of Destonia and sails for Imperial Capitol with Gracia.
*8*: Synbios, Medion, and Julian meet in the Aspia after fighting Arrawnt, Tybalt, and Kudan.
*9*: Synbios, Medion, and Julian joins forces at Remotest for final chapter.

-WEAPONS-
Most of your soldiers will have a choice between 3 or 4 weapon types during the game.
Some weapons are stronger than others, while others have more impressive special
techniques available. When selecting a weapon for a character, don't necessarily
just upgrade what the character comes with, but pick one weapon that you would
like to develop and *stick with it*. As you take actions with a weapon equipped
(even using herbs, breaking barrels, etc.), your skill level with the weapon
type will increase. The higher your skill level with a weapon, the more special
techniques will be available and the higher the Attack bonus will be of equipping
the weapon. Although limiting yourself to one weapon type will allow you to
gain skills faster, do not ignore the possibility of using more than one type.
For example, Soldiers can keep a Dagger in inventory to attack enemies beyond
the range of the heavier swords. Characters who can use weapons from different
classes (David, Spiriel, etc.) can keep several different weapons in inventory
in order to fully take advantage of the enemy's weaknesses based on their
equipped weapons. Ultimately, it is up to you to select how to build your
characters' weapon skills. Also don't neglect your spellcasting characters.
Even though they rarely strike the enemy directly with weapons, the skill
of their weapon affects their magic strength as well as the maximum casting
level for the spell granted by their weapon. Usually, this level matches
the skill level or one-half the level for 2-level spells. (ie. having a
Wand skill of Lv.2 with an Angel Wand allows you to cast Blaze Lv.2).
Even though the Ankh weapons seem to be fitting for priests, try giving
your priest a Wand or Rod instead. Ankhs tend to enable helpful spells
like Support and Aura which Priests learn anyway, so they would benefit
more from an offensive spell. Likewise, try giving your Magicians and
Shamans Ankhs for a change of pace. Having another spellcaster with
the Aura spell is generally more helpful than having just another
attack spell.

DAGGER
Range: 1-2
Equip by: Soldier, Ranger, Commander(see below)
Class: Cutting - Strong vs. Bashing class weapons, Weak vs. Thrusting class weapons
Techniques:
SOLDIER/RANGER/COMMANDER:
Lv.1 Shadow Edge - The dagger smothers an enemy's vision with black energy, causing blindness
Lv.2 Twin Slash - Throws two daggers quickly to stab the enemy from a distance
Lv.3 Laser Edge - Transforms the dagger into a ray of pure light to penetrate the enemy
SPECIAL:
Spc. Silent Kill - Transforms the dagger into a ray of green light that dispatches the opponent
Spc. Rainbow Edge - The knife explodes into a ring of light that blinds the opponent's vision
Spc. Blood Sucker - The dagger breaks the opponent's flesh and transfers HP to the attacker
=
DAGGER ATK Lv1 Lv2 Lv3 Special
Bronze Knife 3 6 9 12 -
Steel Knife 7 10 13 16 -
Hunter Knife 12 16 19 23 -
Mithril Dirk 12 17 21 27 Critical% UP
Killer Knife 13 18 22 28 Luck +2; adds technique "Silent
Kill"
Butterfly Knife 14 19 23 29 Agility +3; adds technique "Rainbow
Edge"
Ripper Knife 19 24 28 34 Shadow Res +10; adds technique "Blood
Sucker"

SWORD
Range: 1
Equip by: Soldier, Birdsoldier, Commander(see below)
Class: Cutting - Strong vs. Bashing class weapons, weak vs. Thrusting class weapons
Techniques:
SOLDIER/COMMANDER:
Lv.1 Sonic Wave - A quick slash that projects a beam of energy through the opponent
Lv.2 Twin Wave - Two swift strokes cause a pair of energy waves to slice through the enemy
Lv.3 Mirage Dance - A devastating combination of seven fast sword slashes cuts up the enemy
BIRDSOLDIER:
Lv.1 Power Slash - A quick attack that slashes the enemy twice with the sword
Lv.2 Sky High - Performs a diving slash before stabbing and slashing the enemy again
Lv.3 Eagle Dive - A graceful four-hit combination of diving slashes and lunges at the enemy
SPECIAL:
Spc. Heat Wave - A sword swing causes two trails of fire to rush past the opponent
Spc. Thunder Shock - The sword trails lightning bolts to strike and paralyze the opponent
Spc. Dazzle Edge - Throws two multi-colored waves of energy at the opponent for severe damage
Spc. Soul Eater - Slashes the opponent and absorbs health energy into the attacker
Spc. Gold Rush - The sword transforms the enemy into gold and shatters them to pieces
Spc. Mirage Round - Traps the opponent in a dimension of gold light and strikes repeatedly
=
SWORD ATK Lv1 Lv2 Lv3 Special
Steel Sword 5 8 11 14 -
Broad Sword 9 12 15 18 -
Bastard Sword 14 17 20 23 -
Great Sword 23 27 30 34 -
Counter Sword 23 28 32 38 Counter% UP
Leviathan 25 30 34 40 Fire Resist +30; adds technique
"Heat Wave"
Shiva Sword 25 30 34 40 Thunder Resist +30; adds technique
"Thunder Shock"
Phoenix Sword 25 30 34 40 Fire/Thunder/Wind Resist +30; adds magic
"Phoenix"
Justice Sword 26 31 35 41 Light/Shadow Resist +20; adds technique
"Dazzle Edge"
Dark Sword 31 36 40 46 Shadow Resist +20; adds technique
"Soul Eater";
CURSED
Sword of Blood 32 37 41 47 Ice Resist +20; adds technique "Gold
Rush"
Shining Sword 44 49 53 59 Light/Shadow Res +20; adds technique
"Mirage Round"

RAPIER
Range: 1
Equip by: Soldier, Birdsoldier, Commander(see below)
Class: Cutting - Strong vs. Bashing class weapons, Weak vs. Thrusting class weapons
Techniques:
SOLDIER/COMMANDER:
Lv.1 Triangle - A three-stroke maneuver that lunges at the enemy at three different points
Lv.2 Pentagram - A five-stroke maneuver that repeatedly jabs and thrusts at the enemy
Lv.3 Centurion - Divides the attacker's image into two forms that pierce the enemy to death
BIRDSOLDIER:
Lv.1 Power Feint - A swift maneuver that jabs the enemy twice with the rapier
Lv.2 Double Feint - Strikes the enemy three times quickly with the rapier
Lv.3 Danse Macabre - A powerful attack that strikes four times and is potentially fatal
SPECIAL:
Spc. Mist Feint - Jabs at the opponent with colored energy that impairs vision
Spc. Rune Magic - Surrounds the opponent with a cage of light, sealing off magical ability
Spc. Alchemy - Repeatedly jabs at the opponent, transforming them into gold and paralyzing
Spc. Das End - Thrusts intense light rays through the enemy that inflict sudden death
Spc. Helicar Spin - Swiftly dances circles around the enemy making repeated jabs
Spc. Absolute Zero - Surrounds the opponent with cold and attacks repeatedy to break into pieces
=
RAPIER ATK Lv1 Lv2 Lv3 Special
Epee 6 9 12 15 Agility +2; Critical% UP
Foil 12 15 18 21 Agility +3; Critical% UP
Rapier 19 23 26 30 Agility +4; Critical% UP
Magic Rapier 20 25 29 35 Agility +5; Critical% UP; adds technique
"Rune Magic"
Mist Rapier 21 26 30 36 Agility +8; Critical% UP; adds
technique "Mist
Feint"
Shiny Rapier 23 28 32 38 Agility +5; Crit% UP; adds tech
"Alchemy"; Regen HP3
God Rapier 27 32 36 42 Crit% UP; Lght/Shdow Resist +20; adds
magic
"Thanatos"
Final Rapier 28 33 37 43 Agility +5; Crit% UP; adds tech "Das
End"; Regen HP2
Nebula Rapier 30 35 39 45 Agility +5; adds tech "Helicar
Spin"; Regen HP3
Arc Rapier 44 49 53 59 Agility +5; adds tech "Absolute
Zero"; Regen MP3

BLADE
Range: 1
Equip by: Soldier
Class: Cutting - Strong vs. Bashing class weapons, Weak vs. Thrusting class weapons
Techniques:
SOLDIER:
Lv.1 After Burner - A blade swing causes a path of flames to rush past the enemy
Lv.2 Ice Breaker - A blade slash that throws a wave of ice at the enemy, stopping all mobility
Lv.3 Dimension - The blade projects a searing ray of energy through the opponent, killing them
SPECIAL:
Spc. Poison Blade - Cuts the opponent and floods the enemy's body with a powerful venom
Spc. Melt Armor - Cuts the opponent and impairs the enemy's Defense and Agility levels
Spc. Light Cross - Generates a brilliant sphere of flashing light to harm the opponent
Spc. Light Fire - Causes four powerful light rays to surround and paralyze the opponent
Spc. Element Flare - Divides the attacker's image and surrounds the enemy with green flame
Spc. Force Edge - Traps the opponent in spectral light and strikes with a shining beam of energy
=
BLADE ATK Lv1 Lv2 Lv3 Special
Iron Blade 7 10 13 16 -
Battle Blade 13 16 19 22 -
Steel Blade 22 26 29 33 -
Venom Blade 24 28 31 35 adds technique "Poison
Blade"
Luster Blade 25 30 34 40 adds technique "Melt Armor"
Rune Blade 25 30 34 40 adds technique "Light Cross"
Photon Blade 27 32 36 42 adds technique "Light Fire"
Chaos Blade 28 33 37 43 LightRes-20;ShadowRes+20;adds
magic"Chaos Gate";CURSED
Varion Blade 33 38 42 48 Thunder Res +20; adds technique "Element
Flare"
Force Blade 45 50 54 60 Light/Shadow Res +30; adds technique
"Force Edge"

KATANA
Range: 1
Equip by: Assassin, Samurai
Class: Cutting - Strong vs. Bashing class weapons, Weak vs. Thrusting class weapons
Techniques:
ASSASSIN:
Lv.1 Cocoon Dance - Surrounds the enemy with butterflies that put them to sleep
Lv.2 Izuna Drop - A fierce move that impales and drops the enemy, inflicting confusion
Lv.3 Fine Mist - Throws a veil of fog before sneaking up to the opponent to deliver a clean cut
SAMURAI:
Lv.1 Crescent Moon - A single powerful blade swipe to cut deep into the opponent
Lv.2 Full Moon - Executes two circular slashes that surround the opponent with illusions
Lv.3 Sudden Kill - A fierce rushing attack that dashes past the enemy, cutting them to ribbons
SPECIAL:
Spc. Kamaitachi - Summons a vortex of wind around the opponent before slashing them
Spc. OniHyakusoku - Summons a wreath of fire to surround the katana and poison the enemy's
body
Spc. Umi Zato - Summons a tidal wave of water and slashes quickly, sealing off the enemy's
magic
Spc. Ice Sword - Strikes the opponent as a storm of ice fragments falls from above
Spc. Yellow Road - Divides the attacker's image before converging on the enemy with flames
Spc. Ruin Kill - A swift katana attack leaves the opponent broken into pieces
=
KATANA ATK Lv1 Lv2 Lv3 Special
Shoto 6 9 12 15 -
Shinobi 12 15 18 21 -
Steel Ninjato 21 25 28 32 -
Wind Cutter 22 27 31 37 use effect "Tornado Lv.2";
adds technique
"Kamaitachi"
Bone Eater 23 28 32 38 adds technique "OniHyakusoku"
Rumbling Sea 24 29 33 39 adds technique "Umi Zato"
Masamune 31 36 40 46 adds technique "Ice Sword"
Muramasa 32 37 41 47 adds technique "Yellow Road";
CURSED
Murasame 34 39 43 49 adds magic "Summon Demonking";
CURSED
Kusanagi 37 42 46 52 adds technique "Ruin Kill";
CURSED