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Shining Force
II Character List now under way: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~miapd/shining2/shining2.htm
[maybe one day...]
This page is written by Fil Brown - e-mail here: 
miapdb@admin.warwick.ac.uk
Visit my Homepage: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~miapd/home.htm
This document is intended to list all of the characters available to join the Shining Force where to find them and my HO of their usefulness. (I have tried not to be too biased in this as I am not a fan of spellcasters.)
Other people have responded with their views and I have incorporated these into the text.
I have included a brief description which will help you distinguish each character - the descriptions are based on the square close-ups of their faces which appear as they speak.
Remember that you visit Pao twice in this game so don't expect to find everyone the first time.
A Note on Promotion.
There are two schools of thought on when to promote characters - the most popular (and mine) being to promote your characters the instant you reach L10 thus getting to see all those new combat pictures (yay!) - the other (which is suggested in the manual) is to promote your Hero and the spellcasters (so that they can get L4 spells) and to leave the fighters until later on. ps3g+@andrew.cmu.edu recently posted references to a Shining Force strategy guide which says that Arthur has the highest possible maximum stats but only if you promote him _after_ L20. Reference to character's maximum stats _may_ need the second promotion method but I'll look into it...
All characters start with EX of 0 this resets at 100 when the gain a new level. The abbreviations used are:
LV - Level (+ for promtd) AT - Attack (with weapon equipped)
HP - Hit Points DF - Defence
MP - Magic Points MV - Movement
CLASS - Class (abb.) AG - Agility
Magic Spells:
EG - Egress BZ - Blaze FZ - Freeze HL - Heal DX - Detox
SP - Sleep MD - Muddle DS - Desoul +++++++
I have included some characters more than once so you can compare two characters of the same class as if they were the same level. (For instance I showed Mae and Ken at Level 4 to compare them with Arthur who is Level 4 when he joins). They are listed in approximate order of joining. Compare Guntz to the other L8 knights' stats listed before him.
Name CLASS LV HP MP AT DF MV AG Magic Item You SWMN 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Hans ARCR 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Ken KNT 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Lowe HEAL 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Luke WARR 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Tao MAGE 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Gong MONK 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Gort WARR 1 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Mae KNT 2 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Khris HEAL 2 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Anri MAGE 3 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Arthur KNT 4 10 0 15 6 7 7 none Bronze Lance (Ken) KNT 4 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance (Mae) KNT 4 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance Amon BDMN 5 15 0 16 8 7 10 none Middle Sword Balbaroy BDMN 5 15 0 18 11 7 11 none Middle Sword Diane ARCR 6 14 0 22 7 5 11 none Steel Arrow (Hans) ARCR 6 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Steel Arrow Zylo WRWF 9 23 0 27 15 7 15 none none Pelle KNT 8 18 0 24 21 7 15 none Bronze Lance (Arthur) KNT 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance (Ken) KNT 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance (Mae) KNT 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance Jogurt YGRT 1 1 0 1 1 7 1 none none Kokichi WKNT 7 14 0 21 10 6 11 none Bronze Lance (Arthur) KNT 7 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance (Ken) KNT 7 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance (Mae) KNT 7 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance Vankar KNT 8 30 0 21 10 7 12 none Bronze Lance (Kokichi)WKNT 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ none Bronze Lance Domingo MGCR(+)1 15 15 10 15 5 18 FZ(1) none Guntz SKNT 8 14 0 24 20 4 12 none Bronze Lance Earnest KNT 8 20 0 21 12 7 13 none Bronze Lance Lyle ASKN 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ (Diane) ARCR 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ (Hans) ARCR 8 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Bleu DRGN 9 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Mushasi SMR 10 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Alef WIZD 15 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Torasu VICR 16 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Adam ROBT 10 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________ Hanzou NINJ 10 __ __ __ __ __ __ ___________________ __________________
YOU 
Human Swordsman/Hero (L1) Stats
Battle
Brown hair with blue sweat-band and blue & white clothing. You are you. If no name is entered the default is Max. Pretty essential although can end up being very weak if you don't build him up early on. Needs promotion to use the heavy duty swords later on.
ADAM 
Robot Robot/Cyborg (L?)
Adam is a robot he is made of metal.
Adam meets you just before the fight with the Chaos Robot in the underground castle of Prompt. He joins after you win.
Adam at first has trouble hitting opponents but builds a high defense rating.
ALEF 
? Mage/ (L?)
Alef looks like a female fox with blue clothing.
Alef joins you as you leave Prompt in search of the Tower of the Ancients. She is a good spellcaster with limited combat abilities.
AMON 
Half-Falcon Birdwoman/Sky Warrior (L5)
A cross between bird and woman Amon is the grey one.
She meets you as you approach Shade Abbey and joins when you save Balbaroy. When she and Balbaroy join it is time to start choosing which characters you wish to leave behind.
A reasonable Knight her flight makes her useful against the Chimera later on if you have made her strong enough.
ANRI 
Elf Mage/Wizardress (L3)
White haired female with green clothing.
Find her in the mage school at Manarina and tell her of her father's death. Then find her upstairs (right & up). Anri's 'alternative' clothing can be found at the Laser Eye battle on Bustoke bridge. Stand one square to the left and one square down from the left-most Dark Elf sniper face up and search. You will find a 'Haute Couture' which Anri's combat icon only will wear whenever it is in her possession. This must be found _during_ the fight as there is no opportunity once the Silver Knight is dead.
A good spellcaster who needs to gain experience quickly. Very powerful when strong enough to cast Freeze L3.
ARTHUR 
Centaur Knight/Paladin (L4)
Blond-haired male centaur in suit of armour.
He is in Manarina castle find him upstairs then after your battle under Manarina he will join when you speak to him again.
An average knight who can cast spells later on. He has the highest maximum stats of the knights all of which only go up significantly at the very highest levels.
BALBAROY 
Half-Falcon Birdman/Sky Warrior (L5)
A cross between bird and man Balbaroy is the brown one.
Balbaroy first appears as a stone statue in Shade Abbey after the fight where you are ambushed by undead he joins. When he and Amon join it is time to start choosing which characters you wish to leave behind. Useful flying knight better than Amon. When promoted can be used to wield the Sword of Darkness.
BLEU 
Dragon Dragon/? (L?)
A dragon. Shouldn't be too hard to recognise.
Bleu you meet in Dragonia at the top left. Be nice to him he's only a baby. Useless at first but breathes electricity more often when promoted. Must be advanced quickly or he will become a hindrance. His flight is useful.
DIANE 
Elf Archer/Bowmistress (L6)
Female with pink hair pointy ears green clothing and hat. Diane is with the Queen of Bustoke at the top of the village go to her after talking to the Queen.
Diane is a good archer with same-level stats better than that of Hans but if Hans is of a much higher level already he may be the better prospect. She has the lowest maximum stats of the Archers. Her speed increases quickly at first then levels out with a sharp rise at the highest levels.
DOMINGO 
Domingo Mage/Wizard (L1)
Domingo is fairly distinctive as he looks like a blue hermit crab. Get the Domingo egg from the top right-but-one room in Manarina mage school and use the incubating device in the item shop at the mid-bottom of the second Pao. Talk to the right-most guy once in the shop. Give the Domingo Egg to someone who doesn't have much to carry but is likely to stay in the Forward Team. (such as Gong)
He is fairly useful because his spells are powerful he always seems to get killed first though. As he is newly hatched he starts at L1 which is a bit low for this point in the game but he cannot be promoted when he reaches L10 indicating that he already has been - even though he only starts out with Freeze L1. His defense improves later on and his spells are devastating - especially Freeze L3.
EARNEST 
Centaur Knight/Paladin (L8)
White haired male centaur in suit of armour.
Earnest first crops up in the pub in the first Pao (second wagon from left) but only joins later on inside Balbazak's castle.
He's good if you let him fight but not as good as Pelle.
GONG 
Half-Giant Monk/Master Monk (L1)
Gong is a bald male with a blue headband brown clothing and blue rucksack. To the right of the City of Ancients (your first battle) is Gong's hut. He is outside talk to him.
An excellent bare-handed fighter who becomes great when promoted and is a good candidate for wearing the power ring. He is also a useful healer.
GORT 
Dwarf Warrior/Gladiator (L1)
Dwarf male with white beard armour and helmet with a green tassel on top. Gort is in the pub in the mid-right of Guardiana talk to him then go and fight. When you return (after 2 battles) return to him and he will join. Don't miss out on this one give him the best axes you can get and he'll kill most enemies with one hit. Especially good at scoring hits and taking next to no damage from mechanical enemies. It's more luck than anything else as to whether Gort or Luke becomes your main berserker.
GUNTZ 
? Steam Knight/? (L6)
Guntz looks like a grey rat in a suit of armour.
You first see Guntz at the top right of Rindo and he joins when you find him in the sheep pen at the bottom right of the second Pao.
Slow but powerful. Needs working on.
HANS 
Elf Archer/Bowmaster (L1)
Male with white hair pointy ears green clothing and hat. Hans joins you when you leave Guardiana castle for the first time after talking to the king.
Hans is very useful in the early stages although at L6 Diane out-stats him look to Lyle for real power later on. Hans has higher maximum stats than Diane but not as high as Lyle.
HANZOU 
Human X/Ninja (L+?)
Male with black head-dress and veil with blue clothing.
Immediately upon entering Runefaust at the bottom right there is a clump of bushes. On the bottom right one there is a yellow mark - this is a note from Hanzou who joins when you search it. Go to Headquarters to include him in the battle force.
Hanzou at first seems not to be able to hit anything but he soon becomes very powerful. His magic spell Desoul kills Blue Dragons instantly and it also works well on Darksol!
JOGURT 
Hamster Yogurt/X (L1)
Jogurt has the appearance of a hamster with a helmet which is too large. Just below and to the right of Gong's hut is where you first happen upon this strange apparition talk to him. Later in the first Pao when you enter the temple he appears prone in the top left of your screen. Approach the bed in the corner and he stands up and promptly falls down again. He has now joined the Shining Force!
Jogurt has all the fighting skills of a real hamster. He can never advance past L1 is always _available_ for promotion but can never actually _be_ promoted. You can raise his attack and HP total with Power items or the Bread of Life if you wish. When he kills he gains/loses a Yogurt Ring which will enable anyone to take on Yogurt's appearance (in their square speech portrait) when worn and (on their combat icon) when used on them. How useful.
KEN 
Centaur Knight/Paladin (L1)
Brown-haired male centaur in suit of armour.
Ken joins you when you leave Guardiana castle for the first time after talking to the king.
Ken builds up well at the same rate that the monsters get harder until the bridge at Bustoke when he seems to lose it for a few fights later recovering. This is about where he's available for promotion which weakens him at first. He has the second-highest maximum stats of the knights making big gains at the highest levels.
KHRIS 
Elf Healer/Vicar (L2)
Blond dog-like female with green head clothing and head-dress. In Alterone castle talk to Khris before you see the King. (She's in the top right corner of the courtyard below the throne room) When you are thrown into prison search the door and Khris will come and save you. An average healer who quickly becomes weak if not given work to do.
KOKICHI 
Human Wing Knight/? (L7)
Male with white hair and moustache khaki clothing hat and goggles. Speak to Kokichi at the top left of Bustoke and get him to demonstrate his invention. Later he crash-lands under the wagon-tracks of the first Pao when it has left.
Kokichi is a fair knight whose flight makes him useful. Becomes pretty strong after he is promoted and his promoted pictures you _have_ to see :-).
LOWE 
Halfling Healer/Vicar (L1)
Blue-haired human male with light brown clothing.
Lowe joins you when you leave Guardiana castle for the first time after talking to the king.
Good healer learns fast. Can't fight to save his life :-). If you're really hard of course you won't need _any_ healers :-). Except maybe Gong... He has higher maximum stats than Khris.
LUKE 
Dwarf Warrior/Gladiator (L1)
Black-haired male dwarf with circular red nose and blue and white clothing. Luke joins you with the others in Guardiana when the Shining Force is first established.
Luke is a very useful fighter makes a good partnership with Gort and is very useful with an axe against the mechanoids. He has higher maximum stats than Gort.
LYLE 
Centaur Assault Knight/Strike Knight (L?)
Blond-haired male with a large bazooka on his shoulder blue headband and clothing.
Lyle is in Rudo on top of a building to the left - in the oldies part of it. Lyle if better than Hans or Diane at the time you get him makes a good replacement. When promoted get him Buster Shots as soon as you can and protect his flank in battle. He has the highest maximum stats of the Archers.
MAE 
Centaur Knight/Paladin (L2)
Blond-haired female centaur with pink sweatband and suit of armour. Varios's daughter. Mae joins in when the king dies just after the second battle and you return to Guardiana.
Mae is one of the best of the knights and always fights well, get her a Power Spear and then later on a Valkrie.
MUSHASI 
Human X/Samurai (L+?)
Male with white moustache with ornate red and silver helmet and armour. In Prompt there is a semi-detached building to the left. Between the doors there is a white square on the wall - searching it will deposit Mushasi at Headquarters where you can add him to the team.
Add him soon he is a force. With a bit of experience he'll wipe out most with a single swipe.
PELLE 
Centaur Knight/Paladin (L8)
Black-haired male centaur in suit of armour.
Pelle is a mercenary originally working for the other side he appears before the Battle of the Laser Eye at Bustoke Bridge and he joins afterwards.
He is a very strong knight and promoted will soon catch up with Ken and Mae. Makes big gains in HP early on but then quietens down.
TAO 
Elf Mage/Wizardress (L1)
Pink-haired female with pointy ears green clothing and hair-band with a pony. Tao joins you when you leave Guardiana castle for the first time after talking to the king. Tao's line in underclothing is discovered _after_ the fight in Bustoke Quarry. Enter the cave where you will find the Moonstone in the chest but on the way out why not search the bottom left wall (facing down) of this little cave. Chances are you'll find a Bikini that Tao will wear whenever she carries it.
Tao is a useful spellcaster but leave her behind even on one fight and she'll soon fall behind. She has higher maximum stats than Anri.
TORASU 
Human Healer/Vicar (L?)
Male human with white eyebrows and beard green clothing and tall hat. Torasu joins you with Alef as you leave Prompt in search of the Tower of the Ancients.
A fair healer but Gong and Lowe should be better by now.
VANKAR 
Centaur Knight/Paladin (L8)
Brown-haired male centaur with brown moustache armour and large red nose. Vankar is found between the wagon tracks after the first Pao has moved on. A fairly useful knight becomes good if trained enough but still somewhat lacking in the defense department. A few comments from an old bloke in both Paos do nothing to inspire confidence :-).
ZYLO 
Werewolf Werewolf/Wolf-baron? (L9)
In fact Zylo is not a werewolf as such but a cross between a man and a wolf. In Bustoke Zylo must be cured - go to the quarry (middle right) to get the Moonstone then take it to the old man who makes Lunar Dew (in the last building en-route to the quarry). Give this to Zylo (top left) by going inside his cage and using it on him. He will join the Shining Force. Zylo needs training to do any real damage I found that he had difficulty hitting many opponents at first - but his movement rate (especially in the forest) was excellent.
OTHER CHARACTERS (A magazine I read listed Nova and the Priest as members of the Shining Force but _I_ could not find out how to make them join.) You can't name either of them but neither can you name Jogurt...
NOVA 
? (L?)
Old male with blue face hat large white eyebrows and moustache with glasses. The guy who gives you advice at Headquarters's front desk. The magazine states that Nova is weak and not worth looking for and I must agree that he doesn't _look_ very hard.
THE PRIEST 
Healer/Vicar? (L?)
Bald-headed male with brown beard and black cape. The guy in all the temples who heals/raises/promotes you.
The magazine states that the Priest never uses weapons is weak and not worth looking for although someone with his repertoire of healing spells could only be an asset IMHO.
A few replies I had said they had got the priest to join but couldn't remember how...
BOKEN - Tourist
He can't join the party (although he thinks about it for a while) look out him wherever you go he's got orange hair and walks around with a rucksack. No use just a bit of fun.
OLD BLOKE IN BUSTOKE - Tease
In a mid-front house in Bustoke after the Quarry fight and old man asks you if he can join the Shining Force. Whatever you say he will not join - what a tease :-).
But before you do - please read this
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~miapd/home.htm
