Permanent Stat Boosting Items in Turn-Based RPGs

Am I the only one who, for some reason, likes to play through turn-based RPGs, such as Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, with natural stats (HP, MP, etc.) and therefore not use items that permanently increase stats, such as health points? For example, Jessica from Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King at level 30 naturally has 187 health points.

 

I can't stand not using stat boosts in games
It's like OCD or something. I try to go without sometimes but I can't stop myself

 

Uhhh probably?

It's a tool given to you by the game and a large essence of an RPG is controlling your character's growth.

 

I've never had any qualms with using them. Buying them for use is one thing; I never splurge for Proteins & the like in Pokemon since it feels kinda cheap (imo), but like SJ said, if the game is giving them to you for free, I figure it wants you to use them at some point.

I feel the same way. I tried to do this in KH2 a while back, but they just felt like bloatware after a while and I wanted to be rid of them.

 

I'm talking about RPGs here. I don't consider Kingdom Hearts an RPG game because it isn't turn-based like the games I mentioned in my OP.

 

I don't see why it's such a bad thing to use. Whether or not you consider it a RPG, which really doesn't matter if it's actually labeled as an RPG, and if it's turn based, than wouldn't it just be a different form of RPG?

Either way, I use them if they're given to me, because sometimes you might need them to actually make a difference in a fight. I find it a waste to not use what's available and leave it around for no reason.

 

Only thing I'll say about this is that permanent stat boosts can get out of hand really quickly. Growlanser II and III, bless them, have serious issues with snowballing permanent stat growth that can trivialize the entire second half of the game if you know what you're doing. It's definitely a tool in the toolbox, but I can see why some people would do without, depending on the game.

I myself don't avoid them, because I like to tinker and there's only so much you can do to resist dominant strategy. I give all my stat boost items to Sora in KH tho, none for Donald and Goofy. They don't need the AP their skill lists are like a third the size of mine :|

 

PROBABLY GETTING SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC BUT

RPG is an all encompassing term for games where the player takes the role of a character in some setting. Since you meant turn based RPG's specifically, then the same bloatware thing I mentioned above applied when I played through Child of Light (tho I gave all of mine to Aurora).

 

I'll update the OP and thread title to be more clear.

 

It depends on how available they are. In most games they are limited and most take some work to get (exploring, side-quests, etc.) so I'll use them immediately. It's my reward for the task and the game is balanced for it, if even just that I preform less grinding and get somewhere at a lower actual level.

If the game has an unlimited amount I might hold off more based on how hard they are to get. Like KH (I know you are saying turnbased but the mechanics in question here don't change much), I still use them immediately because I can't make more with any frequency until late into the game. In some other games where you might steal them from basic enemies or even buy them, then I would hold off more. Though even then I don't think I would be likely to go without entirely.

 

In all honesty, I can't even think of any RPGs that I play that give perm stat boosts besides KH or the Tales of series. I use them anyway, though it never feels like it makes a difference in the Tales games so. :/

 

Yeah I do actually play them on occasion. Forgot all about it. :X In my experience I've never come across vitamins that often in the games, or if I have they just usually sit in my items unused. I prefer just training Pokes naturally rather than use stat boosts or rare candies.