Why Ramza's power is Limited

[Zalge]

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It is often said, Ramza Beoulve, of Final Fantasy Tactics fame, is the weakest main character of all Final Fantasies. There is little dispute to this argument. Ramza's abilities peak at learning Ultima via 'Blue Mage Style,' after successfully learning a few glorified Talk Skills. Just imagine if you were casting for heroes in a movie and you are studying the following resumes.


Cecil Harvey

Job History: Formerly a Dark Knight, I am currently the only living Paladin in existence.

Experience: After running the Red Wings for Baron Castle, I went on a quest of personal exploration and saving princesses. That ultimately led to a quest to saving the world while discovering a lost world underneath the earth and walking the face of the moon.

Abilities: Knight skills, with a strong background in White Magic

References: Edward "Edge" Geraldine; King of Eblan, Cid Pollendia; Founder of the Red Wings, Tellah; Master of White and Black magic


Cloud Strife

Job History: Soldier/Mercenary

Experience: I accomplished saving the earth in a famous quest that touched thousands of lives. I assisted in the destruction of the evil conglomerate Shinra Inc, defeated the strongest set of monsters ever created, and killed the most feared and awed villain of all time.

References: Nanaki: Mayor and Protector of Cosmo Canyon; Cid Highwind: Mayor of Rocket Town and accomplished rocket scientist. First man in space; Reeve: Former Head of Urban Development for Midgar


Fighter

Job History: Formerly Fighter, now a Knight after proving myself to Bahamut by finding a skuzzy rat tail. Some experience in white and black magic

Experience: Saved Princess Sara. Saved Elf Prince guy. Defeated WarMech. Killed Chaos-twice (technically)

References: Bahamut: King of all Dragons (pre-summon state) White Mage ('cause she said so): Smartest one in Party.


Ramza Beoulve

Job History: Squire with talk skill bonuses and Ultima Lite

Experience: Former Hokuten soldier pre-AWOL status. Some mercenary experience. Argued anarchist.

References: Most of my references are dead (Ask during interview).


Obviously compared to the famous powerhouses preceding him, Ramza lacks in the strength department compared to most heroes (I would have included killing Jesus Christ in my resume if it occurred, but that's just me). While this leads many players to frustration at Ramza's mediocrity, I believe that his lack in strength speaks mountains for Ramza's character and his place in the Zodiac Brave Story. By making Ramza a weaker hero, he is a much stronger of a character in Final Fantasy Tactics because he is more relatable to his audience.

The first impairment Ramza has is one from birth: He is obviously the runt of the Beoulve litter. If it weren't enough that he was a bastard born unto a different mother than Dycedarg and Zalbag, he also struggles from his brothers overprotection as dictated by his late father Balbanes. If his natural disadvantages weren't enough, he cuts himself from his noble recourses by attack the Hokuten with Delita after Algus killed Teta. All these circumstances show that Ramza is working at a disadvantage at every angle, and doesn't have the opportunity to earn the powerful ranks that every other knights of nobility learn, proving that he is equal to the every man, he has no chance of learning any superpowers whatsoever.

Ramza's character and personality are both detrimental to his hero status. Immediately after Teta's death and attacking the Hokuten, instead of returning to his brothers and face discipline, he runs away. This is not the typical action of your "chase the villain, save the world" kind of hero. When someone kills your may-as-well-be sister and best friend (unbeknownst Delita is still alive) most heroes would go to the source and take immediate revenge. However, because Ramza runs away, he connects with the audience, because if you were in the same situation, and you wanted to live-the best way to do that would be to run away. Ramza knew he did not have the power to revenge his friends, and he went on the lamb to save himself. If any person were in the same situation-and provided they weren't insane, that is the only real choice Ramza had to make without facing death for treason.

Next, Ramza's job in the game is a reflection of how he was intended to connect with the audience-Ramza is and remains until the end, a simple squire. There has been much disappointment in the game because Ramza never evolved into something stronger. Indeed, the most popular hacks in this game are to make Ramza a knight with swordskills. However, there is very good and justified reason that Ramza never received a higher rank. He is not noble, or has been knighted with gifts as such. Agrias, Orlandu, Meliadoul, and many others received swordskills because they pledged their allegiance to a higher organization; The Glabados church, the king or queen, or any other higher power. They did not get those abilities because they felt like using them one day. They were gifts given with their titles. Ramza has no title, and therefore is more relatable to the player because without awesome sword skills, he has to rely on more realistic talents, i.e. his communication skills and pure physical strength. Ramza's job and abilities reflect the fact that Ramza is not a great person-he is a normal man.

Lastly, Ramza's motives for fighting versus other characters are very different. Meliadoul fought because she believed in the ideals of the Glabados Church. Agrias fought to protect Ovelia and the royal family. Beowulf fought for his love, Reis. All the Knights went into the game with a definite reason to fight. Ramza however did not. He never had a constant or dependable reason to fight. In Chapter One, he fought to honor the Beoulve name. In Chapter Two, he fought to save Princess Ovelia. In Chapter Three he fought to stop an impending war on Ivalice over the throne. And in Chapter Four, he fought to save Earth from being consumed by Lucavi. And even though he had goals, he didn't achieve all of them. He failed to gain honor to the Beoulve name, and he failed to save Princess Ovelia. Unlike heroes in other Final Fantasies, who knew their enemy near the beginning, or were fooled at the very end as to who the true evil was, Ramza's goals in life changed, just as a true three dimensional person's does. And just as a real person experiences failure, as did Ramza.

Ramza was not a typical hero. He expressed feelings and characteristics that were not regular to a leader. He was a coward, he wasn't a special fighter, and he wasn't focused. And although all of these characteristics sound like it deters from Ramza's reputation and character, in reality it adds to it. He won some, he lost some, and in the end, although his existence seems to have little seen effects on the world, he did change it-whether the world knew it or not. I do not disdain Ramza's character and abilities. Because Ramza failed to be the walking tank that most heroes become, I appreciate the fact that this isn't the accomplishments of a super human, but of the struggle of a common man, which could very well have been you or me.

[Archael]

I agree.

Ramza being just a "Squire" yet kicking ass anyway is what makes him great.

He doesn't need a special job or uber extra special skills to own his enemies.

[kinneas123]

Ramza's a great character because you actually get to watch him mature in the storyline and become worthy of the "hero" title.  Chapter 1 represents youth, Chapter 2 and 3 the adolescent rebellious phase, and Chapter 4 is full maturity.

[DarthPaul]

Ramza's a great character because you actually get to watch him mature in the storyline and become worthy of the "hero" title.  Chapter 1 represents youth, Chapter 2 and 3 the adolescent rebellious phase, and Chapter 4 is full maturity.

Couldn't say it better myself

[Dominic NY18]

Next, Ramza's job in the game is a reflection of how he was intended to connect with the audience-Ramza is and remains until the end, a simple squire. There has been much disappointment in the game because Ramza never evolved into something stronger. Indeed, the most popular hacks in this game are to make Ramza a knight with swordskills. However, there is very good and justified reason that Ramza never received a higher rank. He is not noble, or has been knighted with gifts as such. Agrias, Orlandu, Meliadoul, and many others received swordskills because they pledged their allegiance to a higher organization; The Glabados church, the king or queen, or any other higher power. They did not get those abilities because they felt like using them one day. They were gifts given with their titles. Ramza has no title, and therefore is more relatable to the player because without awesome sword skills, he has to rely on more realistic talents, i.e. his communication skills and pure physical strength. Ramza's job and abilities reflect the fact that Ramza is not a great person-he is a normal man.

This is the section I disagree with. Why? Take a look at the White Knight job description:

A pious knight clad in pure white armor. His untarnished
soul enables him to wield a Holy Sword to smite enemies.

Sword skills have nothing to do with titles.

[DarthPaul]

This is the section I disagree with. Why?

Sword skills have nothing to do with titles at all. Take a look at Wiegraf's job description...

I see what you are saying but I think in Wiegraf's case he pledged his life to the higher cause of raising the proletariot (yes I know it's a Marxist term sue me) from the doldrums of life and as such is a more holy figure than regulars like Gustav and Golagros who only wanted to make their own lifes better.

[AuraDragon]

Sword skills are cool.  Ramza should have Lightning Stab!

[DarthPaul]

Sword skills are cool.  Ramza should have Lightning Stab!

wow PUNT!

[Dominic NY18]

I made a quick edit to my post putting in the job description of the White Knight. In any case, my point is that the thought that Ramza didn't get sword skills because he was never given those skills by a social institution of some sort is erroneous.

I used Wiegraf since his job description fits my point perfectly and that he was never given an official title by any social institution before joining the Church. Being the leader of the Corpse Brigade didn't earn him any titles at all and therefore, by what's being said in that section, he shouldn't have had any sword skills.

But we were all on the receiving end of Judgment Blades and Northswain's Strikes at the Windmill Shed.

[DarthPaul]

Now I agree with your post Dom, I think the way it goes more or less is you earn the swordskill and with that get your title.

[Archael]

I don't think they have anything to do with SOCIAL rank or titles

but perhaps it has to do with military rank reached

they definitely were never taught to him

[DarthPaul]

Possibly cause he was the leader of the dead men.

[Dominic NY18]

I would guess that they were taught to him or he learned them somehow. I just don't think they were given to him, like one would give a gift to someone.

[DarthPaul]

He could have picked them up from watching one of the hakuten or nantens holy knights in action.

[kinneas123]

Wiegraf fought for the Hokuten in the previous war--right?  Isn't the whole reason the Death Corps. was formed because a bunch of soldiers didn't get their pay after the 50 Years War?  If so, it's possible he was a commoner who fought bravely in the war and was able to master the skills of a Royal knight?  I dunno.

[DarthPaul]

He fought alongside the Hokuten not for them.

[dwib]

Wiegraf fought for the Hokuten in the previous war--right?  Isn't the whole reason the Death Corps. was formed because a bunch of soldiers didn't get their pay after the 50 Years War?

exactly, he was the leader of the "Death Knights" which were with the Hokuten. they then became known as the Death Corps afterwards when they became unhappy with the nobility

[Zozma]

didnt he have some sort of general rank or something while he was with them? if so then i can see why he would have the sword skills...

[DarthPaul]

Yes as the leader of the Death Knights he would have had a general status but as a commoner after the war the nobles didn't give 2 shits.

[Archael]

WELL HE NEVER GETS HOLY EXPLOSION ANYWAY SO WHO CARES