gameplay translations ~ sphere board instructions
last update: 24 jul 2001 @ 05:52 CST

This is how the Sphere Board works:

Characters can advance their stats by placing spheres on the Sphere Board. First select [Sphere Board] from the menu screen. The cursor will display the chosen character's position. Now you can move the cursor with the [Left, Up, Down, Right Buttons]. At the top of the screen, you can see what each space grants or raises. By activating Growth Spheres, your character can gain abilities or raise stats. To activate a Growth Sphere, move the character next to the Growth Sphere. To move, push circle button and the cursor centers on the character's position and these commands Move and Use appear. The area where your character can move lights up. The available area is the same as your character's [S.Lv (Sphere Level)]. Your S.Lv raises by earning AP (Ability Points) in battle. When your character accumulates AP and raises his S.Lv, use his S.Lv to move him on the Sphere Board. If your character does not fight battles and get AP, he will never be able to grow. However, if you are move along too quickly, you may miss the Growth Spheres in the middle and stunt your growth. You do not need to go to the farthest Sphere Board space just because you CAN move there. Your character's S.Lv will decrease as you move.
When you're done moving, check for any mistakes before you confirm your selection. Once you have moved to a space, you cannot take it back. If you want to go back to the Growth Spheres that you passed over, you will need to spend your S.Lv again to move. Spending 1 S.Lv will let you go back up to 4 previous spaces. But you shouldn't waste your S.Lvs moving back and forth like that. Always think carefully when moving. So as you complete your movements, you will move to more and more Growth Spheres.

When you move to a Growth Sphere, you can make use of [Spheres]. Found in places like battles, Spheres are items that enhance your abilities in a variety of ways. There is a Sphere for all kinds of stats.
For example, a [Power Sphere] is used on a Growth Sphere for raising Attack, Defense, and HP. The [Ability Sphere] can be used on an Ability Growth Sphere. Both your character's current space and the adjacent spaces are usable Growth Spheres. This means the Growth Spheres both before and after your current position. Select the Sphere you want to use, and the appropriate Growth Sphere for the Sphere you selected lights up. The Growth Sphere activates, and your character will learn new Abilities. But it costs one Ability Sphere. Attack, your max HP and MP, all your stats can be raised in the same manner. Using Power Spheres, Magic Spheres, Speed Spheres, etc., you can raise every single stat. But with the Growth Spheres on the Sphere Board, you raise each stat individually. Other characters have their own Growth Spheres and places to move, and you will need to use more Spheres to advance them as well. But you cannot advance past the [Sphere Locks] on the Sphere Board.

There are a few useful more useful things to know.
You can press the Triangle Button to see the character's current status. Be sure to look at your character's current status often to better plan your growth choices. Also, with L1 and R1, you can switch between your characters' Sphere Boards. This is very useful to compare and contrast their stats. In addition, pressing the Select button to view the entire Sphere Board.