Gjoerulv Hardcore mod difficulty problem

[pz1481]

This could just be me, but I'm finding the game difficulty to be INSANE right away...the first triggered battles force me to use a couple potions, and any random fights where I encounter the mechs I have to SPAM SPAM SPAM lightning just to kill it. This doesn't seem right...I don't even come CLOSE to closing out the first boss fight, whereas on my laptop (un-modded) it's cake like it always was.

For some actual information to compare, Cloud/Barret are at around 230hp, and I obviously can't level grind with no recovery items/materia. They get hit hard (30-40hp / normal attack, around 100hp for special attacks - this is on trash mobs btw) and the mobs have 300-800hp. This seems insane to me...either this is a patch bug or I'm missing something very very fundamental, because this is 10x harder than the unmodded version I have on my laptop.

Any ideas anyone? And is there a way for me to patch over with another difficulty mod? Cuz I can't even play it this way...I've died 3 or 4 times already just fighting trash, it sucks. Thanks in advance for your help.

EDIT: Sorry I did not include the possibly useful info that I down loaded EQ2Alyza's mod zip file, loaded her settings, and went with that without changing anything. I downloaded and installed the SquareSoft online version, patched with Game Converter, then ran BFE.exe to bootleg. Had all mods green/yellow. Went through this whole process twice, same problem

[Squall_1904]

That's what the "hardcore" is about lol. If you don't want the game that way just don't install it. xD
I personally find it the best mod of all here, because it really pushes out your thinking most of the times. As for the first boss you refereed well that's the intention, to gather some Potions and Ethers around the area while going up some levels meanwhile. The harder it is, the more interesting it gets. Besides, we all know the game by memory so why not going up for a pro challenge, right?
Anyway, in case you're really stuck at some point because of the mod here's a playlist that should help you. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB3794695EC5A2382

[EQ2Alyza]

I think for that playlist, I start the Hardcore mod at video 28, which is right after Wutai. You're able to get Magic Hammer and Death Force at that point, which is where the elements of creativity start to kick in...for me at least  Here's a complete playlist of all the bosses. Grinding and gear/materia setup is pretty much on your own for those though. In my videos, I at least try to show what I'm running before I go into the battle.

Some strategies are talked about here.

If you think the beginning of the game is tough then you haven't even began to shed your tears

[Sega Chief]

I didn't know you had a playlist for the Hardcore mod, Alyza (very efficient solution to the Omega fight, by the way). Yeah, I probably should've shown equipment and set-ups a little more; I think I only showed the party setup once in the entire run. Maybe not so helpful for people :/

The first challenge of the Hardcore mod is getting out of old habits with the game. Like Squall said, you have to stretch your thinking and try new things. In the first area you can 'recover' by fighting MPs and Mono-Eyes on the catwalks where Wedge is as they drop Potions, Ethers, and Grenades. Sweepers are tough but they can drop Bolt Plumes which really help with your fight against Guard Scorpion. I think by the time you get a stable collection of potions (ten or so, you'll be using less of them to heal as you fight and level up) you'll be roughly Lv7 and ready to go.

Give it another chance, once you get a few levels you'll start getting into it.

[gjoerulv]

You should probably go for the reasonable hard mod. There should be a link on the wiki.

[Vgr]

I also found the game insanely hard. My trick is to kill grunts (I think it's grunts. There's an enemy that gives potion in drops) to get potions, use Lightning to kill a lone Sweeper and get a Bolt Plume (whatever it's called), then kill groups of a Sweeper and grunts with that plume. You'll get another, and even potions. When you face another lone Sweeper, use the slow method to kill it so you have a second Bolt Plume. Repeat. Monodrives drop Ethers.

I used that strategy and after something like an hour or two (I had 12 Bolt Plumes to face the boss, 3 after. There are Sweepers in Sector 7's graveyard that you can kill for more Plumes) I managed to kill the boss. The boss has a damn high HP boost (can't remember how much more, but I think it's somewhere between 4000 and 8000) so use Plumes to your heart's content.

I'm stuck in the Shin-Ra Building because I can't beat the darn trio. I suggest grinding a bit before entering the building so you don't have to come back all the way down like me.

[Luceid]

As much as I like the idea of the hardcore mod besides the "simply more difficult"-matter (new mechanics, more strategy involved, new encounters, etc.), as much I hate certain points in the game with this mod enabled.
The very beginning is a prime example. One does not have all the fancy tools for countering the enemies properly.
And there are some spots of this kind in the game. F.e. enemies one-hitting your characters (even in back-row with protect cast on them) or battles taking forever since one is always in need for healing with two characters and the enemies have a ridiculous amount of health (1st Jenova-encounter is a good example, vanilla = 4.000 HP, modded = 20.000).
But still: It's satisfying to survive these encounters without power-leveling. On the other hand: Always felt like work.
And that's what people need to remind themselves. With this mod one is'nt simply "enjoying the game" - one needs to work for progress.

I guess it was asked for a slightly tuned down version of the mod for a hundred times.
He always said, that there won't be such a watered down version.

PS: The three SOLDIERs are simply unbeatable without the use of the Loco Weed item you get in the tower from random battles.

[EQ2Alyza]

PS: The three SOLDIERs are simply unbeatable without the use of the Loco Weed item you get in the tower from random battles.

They can be beaten without Loco Weed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIzdwA-9d4c&list=PLHycnnWEuVLzv55BKJ88g3h75qmuyU_gJ&index=6

[Squall_1904]

Well simply put this is for pros only. I only started searching for video help when I was fighting Jenova-Death and after that continued on without video help. There were other boss moments when I had to use video help but those moments were rare. I'm now near Sephiroth inside Northern Cave, waiting for the proper time to try and defeat him, and I have 150 hours of gameplay. x)
Also, I recently found out some secret bosses were not appearing for me so after I'm done with this save I'm gonna start a New Game once again to prove myself once more. :p
If I can do it you people can do it too. So don't give up and devote yourselfs to your efforts. Take this as a challenge.

[Paranoidtie]

Suggests eating more weetabix.

[EQ2Alyza]

You need to grind various items from random encounters before fighting the Guard Scorpion. Some of the random encounters should be avoided until you get a stock of items from the others. Work with that information to figure the rest out. Many have beaten this mod successfully, and so can you

[gjoerulv]

The beginning have a bit more scaled up difficulty compared to most levels of the game. iOne of the only places you would want to grind, would be in the beginning.

Get Barret as fast as possible, put cloud in back row and grind a bit outside the reactor. Lvl 7 should be more than enough.

[pz1481]

Good god you are all badass. Thanks for the info, all, I didn't realize I had had the mod installed incorrectly; based on descriptions I had read I was just expecting minor AI tweaks and fixes. This mod is definitely hardcore, I'm blown away that anyone can get through the game with that difficulty, and I'm a pretty experienced RPGer...

I appreciate your kind words Alyza, but I'm going to try on a more moderate difficulty before I tackle this one =D

Thanks again all for your hard work - the fully modded FF7 is a sight to see.