Star Ocean FIrst Departure R - Character Recruitment Guide 

TIMESTAMPS CYUSS - 0:48 ASHLAY - 1:12 PHIA - 2:50 IOSHUA - 5:42 MILLIE SPECIFICS - 7:08 MAVELLE - 8:13 T'NIQUE - 8:54 PERICCI - 12:00 WELCH - 13:35 ERYS - 14:22 I was slightly off for the Millie section, she will still be in Eckdart if you recruit Ashlay but refuse Ioshua. But if you have Ashlay and Ioshua or Phia and Ioshua, she will go to Silvalent. Hope this helps.

Star Ocean 1 (all versions of it) had the most convoluted character recruiting requirements. Star Ocean 2 simplified things: Claude and Rena are the only 100% required characters. Ashton and Opera are mutually exclusive, Precis and Bowman are mutually exclusive, Leon joins Claude, Dias joins Rena, Ernest requires Opera, everyone else just requires a free character slot. Star Ocean 3 got a little more complicated, but nowhere near as bad as 1: Fayt, Cliff, Sophia, Maria, Mirage, and Adray are required characters. Character Slots 7 and 8 are for two of Nel, Albel, Roger, and Peppita. Nel automatically fills up Slot 7 if you don't do the Albel or Roger Private Actions, otherwise Albel or Roger takes up Slot 7 depending on which Private Action you do LAST. Peppita fills up Slot 8 if you recruit her later on, otherwise there are options for having Nel, Albel, or Peppita fill that slot later (or you can leave that slot empty if you want). Star Ocean 4 pretty much said "f*** it" and you ended up with every recruitable character at some point (although Aramat will always replace Faize in a first playthrough, and you can choose to keep Faize in a New Game+ (the story will proceed as if you have Aramat, though)). Star Ocean 5 took "f*** it" to a whole new level: not only do you get every recruitable character: they can all fight at the same time in battle!

I played this when i was 10, unlocking every character is engraved in my brain

Nice work fuzzball! Both Ioshua and T'nique are cute IMO. Very detailed guide. I loved how you showed us a playthrough of specific locations of where to go. Easy to follow so you don't get lost! I will be using this guide as I recruit my team! Thanks! Again, nice work!!

Oh jeez, I just bought the game cause I admittedly REALLY loved Star Ocean 5. This seems super in depth, I’m glad I watched this!

To give you an idea of who these characters fit in with your party CYUSS: Big sword, huge damage attacks. Easy to use with no frills. Hilarious private actions. Get him if you don't want Erys. ASHLAY: Spellblade character. His strength is that he can do more damage then Cyuss if you arm him with the right skills, and he can teach Roddick some great moves. PHIA: Has technical skills that can pull enemies toward her or fire projectiles. Suffers a little bit because one of her equipment slots is locked, but having her team up with another fighter can make short work of enemies either as an AI or player. IOSHUA: Your black mage. He can spam lots of combat spells and he does a lot of damage and healing from way in the back, important since later enemies can one shot party members. MAVELLE: A mid-range attacker who's skills cause her to step back out of the enemy's range. Lower damage, but played right nothing can touch her. T'NIQUE: Absolutely fucking busted offense, extremely fast with multi hitting attacks, very high tier character, but mostly short range. Secret and a weird recruit for a reason, he can honestly break the game in half. PERRICI: Think T'Nique, but with multiple ranged moves. Pair these two together and the game's over, but starts weak. WELCH: The funny character. Starts out average as a fighter, but gains two extremely busted skills at the very end of her list, one of which is a massive explosion that covers a lot of distance. I honestly recommend getting her if you're new because she's also easy to use, but get her last. ERYS: Replaces Mavelle as a Ioshua clone with better healing, but this means you have TWO IOSHUAS. One Ioshua is already very powerful. A party consisting of Roddick, Ashlay, Ioshua and Erys can take down the entire game.

This guide is dope first time playing this version and imma definitely do 3 or 4 play through

Great guide always been tough decision to choose between cyuss and ashlay both characters are great in their own way. Cyuss is probably the funniest character in the game and fit the storyline better. He has better relations with the other party members especially Roddick really enjoyed the big bro/rivalry connection they had throught the story you can even challenge him one last time before the end of the game if his affection rate towards you is high enough. Ashlay is a mentor/ father figure to roddick and will teach him the wyrm king sft near the end of the game if his affection rate is high enough giving you access to three powerful special arts. You also need ashlay if you want to convert mavelle into erys the most powerful mage in the game. The way I see things if you want an entertaining character that will get deeper development throught the storyline pick cyuss if you want a character that will allow you to make your party stronger and the game easier pick ashlay.

Thank you for making this list

I just started playing this game n I'm really enjoying it so far, looking forward to Star Ocean the divine force this year

Just bought the game. This is super helpful. Thank you!

That's a very great video guide. I would like to add just some comments to it. Firstly, if you decide to recruit Phie in the early game she will NOT have her Gods of War SFT locking you from having her most powerful powers (Sylvan Shot, Unholy Terror and Victory Terror). Secondly if you decide to take Millie in the late game you will not be able to make a "Good Luck Charm" into the Silvalant PA afterwards.

Dang! Thanks for all your hard work

There's a Good reason for some players to actually Want PERICCI in the party, and no, its not because she's a cat-girl. but its the fact that she can use a Giant PINK rabbit as a mount (kinda like a Chocobo), and yes, she's the only one to access this mount. It allows you to speed along the overworld much quicker w/o Random encounters. That, and do be careful with adding some of these characters. At later points, they are WEAK, so you will have to level them up in your party!

Thank so much for this guide. I bought the game on the switch eshop.

Didn't know the Millie had that many ways of recruiting her lul

Great guide

So Erys is impossible for me to get, since I cant get Ashlay. At least now I know why you told me, why training Roddick is so damn important

as someone who once owned both the PSP ports of this game and it's 2nd 1 with a near 80% roster completion & 2 clear save files on both games seperate, getting the full lineup is a hassle to do & most are *locked out* behind choosing *which characters to not let u join you* in the main story plot. keep in mind Welch is considered to be the *hardest* of the 2 characters to recruit just from the hassle of keeping a party of 7 or less with u. 😐

Great 📹 🎥

I just download this and I didnt expect it to be like. Oh my god

I recruited Cyrus and then phia, not sure how I didn't even knee you could refuse recruitments. Lol interesting concept.

Thank you.

Thanks!

I would've never found Welch by myself. I'm a guy who checks out every inch of the map, that includes the forest. But never would've checked it the second time. Thanks dude you're awesome, how did you find out and how long did it take you?

I f up so bad trying to recruit phia without watching a guide, now I regret it. 😢

Dorne : Am I a joke to you? Lmaoooo poor guy

Thanks so much for making this video, very useful 👍 quick question though, what is the max number of characters you can recruit? Your party can be 8 but can you have more on the side?

Cuando llego donde tengo que reclutar a millie ,no sale la escena donde ella sale corriendo me alta hacer algo o que , abance mas y reclute a la de pelo azul no se que hacer no me sale millie ayuda u.u

Thanks

7:08 if you recruit Ashlay Millie will stay in the Silvalant Continent and meet a boy from that inn.

Spoiler about Mavelle. She's... *Censored*

When you do the Purgatorium quest do you absolutely have to go through the back and encounter Ioshua? For my first playthrough I've recruited Cyuss, Ioshua, Mavelle and Welch. For my second playthrough I was wanting to pick up Phia, Pericci, T'nique and Welch. Just because if you don't let Ioshua join then Phia leaves or can she be picked up when you return for the Astral Emblem? Sorry if that sounds confusing. Also great video! I used it to get the characters I wanted for my first playthrough!

ive always hated not having both erys and mavelle together, but obviously thats impossible lol theyre my two favorites and it sucks having to give up mavelle, one of the coolest fighters skill wise imo, for erys who has a completely different play style but theres always welch even though shes the most one dimensional character skill-wise shdhhddhdh

Is it bad that out of all the characters to recruit, T'nique is the only one I really want to have in my party because he's a werewolf?

No idea who I want to recruit, so you CANNOT have Mavelle and Erys together? Can you accept the quest from Phia and not recruit her? Are there any particularly amazing characters you'd prioritise recruiting?

Is it possible to get Phia without meeting Ioshua later on so that she doesn't leave if I refuse Ioshua, or he's a mandatory encounter? Also are these teams possible Pericci, Phia, Welch, and Mavelle, or since Phia will leave if Ioshua is a mandatory encounter is Pericci, T'nique, Welch, and Mavelle a possible team? Loved the video, just bought the game so I'm investigating who my party will be and found your video in doing so.

Am I able to get this party? Roddick, Millie, Ronyx, Ilia, Ioshua, Mavelle, Pericci, Welch? When will Millie join if I do it this way? (I don't want to miss out on the charms during PA). I want to be sure I can get Pericci but am unsure. Can I even get Ioshua if I do not get Cyuss, Phia or Ashlay? Great helpful video, thanks.

This video is amazing. Phia Ioshua Mavelle Pericci and Erys can all be used together?

I know you said hit the action button to play the ocarina when recruiting Pericci, but what button is that?

why does this game look all spritey on my TV while it looks smoother in this video?

it always sucks that the ability to recruit everyone in one playthrough is impossible at least for players like me who like to have all the characters together for the final confrontation

Can you get Ioshua at Purgatorium without Ashlay, Cyuss, or Phia. Only Roddick and Ilia there?

Thanks dude

Thanks Reddit brah.

So, what I'm hearing is... this'll be a tough decision. XD Well, hmmm... what are the strengths and weaknesses, if i may ask? As I'm tempted to buy the game, and despite my track record of playing JRPGs, I've never touched a Star Ocean game before. So, i may need help. XD

Why is it whenever you recruit someone new to the party they're either 10 levels above or below the other members?

This is a good RPG and also easy to play without a guide

I think the true story path would be cyus, isohua, phia and mavelle(I heard it can remove her from dungeon permanently with just isohau) I heard cyuss with roddick fight isohua.

Erys is best girl, just wanna put that out

I didn't even refuse Ashlay. I just never went to the arena.

so, if i want T'nique, i cant go past rank D before trying to recruit him? PS thanks for the awesome video!!

Is it possible to get Phia, Millie Specifics, Mavelle, Periccl, Welch and Erys in one playthrough?

Mmm somehow Phia leaved then Ioshua too saying something about lonely hurts. Now...my question is : Did I lose them? As an extra when Phia leaves I picked the "We had a promise"

Which characters do you recommend getting? I AM not impressed with Cyuss

i have a question when does ERYS join your party after you're done with the ruins she in ?

So if I want erys I cant get pericci cuz there wont be enough character slots right? Dammit

So I can’t get Erys, if I don’t have Ashlay?

So can i taket Cyuss,Phia, perccia and welch in One game?

If it possible to get Cyuss, Ioshua, and T'nique together..?

Can you get Ioshua without, Phia, Cyuss or Ashlay?

You can go to the purgatorium even if you don’t say “To the Purgatorium!” To Phia. But I was under the impression that, as long as you had a Highlander, Ioshua would appear at that point in the game. I have Ashlay and He’s not there? Haven’t gone through the Purgatorium yet, but I assume I missed my chance. Frowny face.

you can do this withe star ocean second evolution characters?

SO ERYS BLUW UP BECAUSE I HAD NO ASHLEY DAMM

Can i get welch, perrici, and erys at the same time?

Does it means that I cant get Erys if I have take Cyuss T-T

Isn't MILLIE SPECIFICS one of the main characters at the beginning of the game?

Any benefit to getting Phia early?

So, combat wise, which ones are the best optional companions? I tried Phia alredy but she sucks. First, she have only one acc slot, hindering her combat capabilities A LOT, considering how powerfull some acc in this game are. Second, her special arts set are not top notch, with fewer and weaker hits. Although she is one of the coolest characters in this game. Ashley and Cyuss seems to be top choices, but, sadly, you cannot have both. What about Tnik and Welch? Which one is better in combat?

damm it why wont he play the ocarina to get me some cast girl power

Are any other games similar to Star Ocean series where you can recruit characters and is a AJRPG!

I want all waifus

So does accepting this offer to escort you the first time you meet change anything?

I fought werewolf in arena, but he didnt offer to join me

I'm just going to assume that it's not possible to recruit everyone every playthrough.

You forgot someone I don’t see ronyx

How do you switch the onscreen character

I don’t understand

i've failed most of them lmao, only got 2

This guide is the same if im playin the psp version??

Is any one character better than others?

I just wanna recruit all the female hotties woo hoo!

The in game text is horrible