Ok, working off the mag faq.. digging deep.

[DCKaz]

I'm assuming you've had a chance to grab the excellent english faq floating around and/or taken a look at the japenese site translated through alta vista. If so you should be in a good position to get where I'm coming from.

If you hadn't noticed, you can build 'holes' in your mag upgrades to 'save' photon blasts. Now I'm not sure all special mags or converted mags have any.. but I'm right now in the odd (and in fact basically accidental) position of having a mag nearing level 100 with no third photon blast yet. As a matter of fact, I'd go further to say it MIGHT be possible to leave yourself 2 photon slots open.. though this might not serve a purpose. Heck I'm still wondering if I'm in good or bad shape.. lol.

What am I talking about? Well lets take a Force which fits into the 'B' category (that's me). Well at level 10 I got Vritora - you can't avoid a photon charge at level 10 AFAIK, as it doesn't rely on stats. It's probably just as well.. you might as well have a choice when running around to do something. As such I got the Reira photon charge (complete heal).

Now my deceased Terra was a section A, and by level 20 had a level 50+ mag, which had gone through 3 changes and had 3 photons. I can't say the exact path anymore, but she did end on Naaga. Given my new name Terra Prime, I was denied the path to Naaga being in another section id. Resigned to that, I thought I'd see what fun stuff was to be had in the 'B' range. My first notice was to get the bird I'd have to have some odd stat breakdown.. so I decided to go for utility.

So back to Terra Prime.. she didn't get a level 35 change at all oddly enough! Mind being the highest, didn't exceed Power + Dex till later. By then I was already an Iraa. As such I never had Namuchi to yield a photon charge of Maira. I'm kind of surprised that didn't happen looking back, but I wasn't really focused wholly on the mind till later, and I did like adding some to dex early (ata for guns). With some defense, a bit of dex, and a little less power, I must have gotten through the levels before mind took over.

Well now I have 2 slots free, and using the faq I see the following-

If I push defense a lot (which isn't trivial believe me, I've tried upping defense without levelling all over the place and it's like trying to roll uphill even with a lot of spending and patience) I can reach Baana, which will yield Estlla as a photon charge. This would be a lot of work - mind now easily exceeds dex+pow, but that defense is about 25-30 points away. The largest items jump defense a whopping 5pts, while requiring me to get other items counteracting other bigger gains.

Mag defense, atleast for some Mags.. is NOT trivial.

My other option is run to the Opa Opa. Now the faq doesn't mention a Photon Charge. Here however is my thought.. these special mags may have a photon charge. Even possibly more interesting.. the converted mags with a mag cell might have a photon charge. Where most people have used up their slots.. wouldn't it make sense for every named mag to be able to be associated with a charge.. and if room, plop it in?

Yeah ok, I'll admit it, I'm even maybe thinking there is a sonic spin dash or something

Ok to make this clear - this is *all* supposition. But lets say I don't bump my defense.. I'll hit Opa Opa without my third charge. Will I get an Opa Opa associated photon charge or be SOL? I don't know. What if I don't go defense, nor hit Opa Opa before I 'mag cell' my mag? Normally by level 100 most of you have 3 charges easily.

What if you managed to still have 2?

Oddly enough I'm in that position, almost easily. I can't even raise any stat enough before level 100 to change my mag. I can either head to Baana and then aim for Opa Opa (I'm guessing the reverse order would not work, though it's hard to say when two criteria would work and they're both special evolutions.. Opa seems 'more' special though), aim directly for Opa, or make sure I never hit either and wait for a mag cell to change it's form.. allowing me to test the cell theory.

So I'm asking my fellow Mag enthusiasts to relay any findings/oddities they have found. I also want a post which mentions all the different mag powers for the photon charge.. c'mon you mag farmers, lets get it together! I got 6 mags in the bank.. I want to make some fun combos I'll start the latter in a second post, but I'd like to hear if anyone has gotten a photon charge from any mag not named in the faq as to having one.. including the mag cells. Of course if you had all 3 slots filled.. which most would.. not getting one doesn't mean there isn't one.. of course the danger is leaving it open and then going to final forms or cell'd forms.. but I think it's worth a try

I'll keep you posted as to what I do with my 2 photon'd mag, and as well, if I find a way to slide in a single photon'd mag.. can you picture a level 200 mag with 2 unknown cell'd photon charges?

Ok maybe a [tele]pipe dream, but you gotta dream big.

Cheers,
DCKaz
Terra Prime FOmarl 39

[ilian]

Getting 100 mst, does not guarantee Opa Opa. You also have to be above level 100 and use Opa's Heart. My mag has 132 magic, and still has only 2 photon blasts. Im looking for an Opa's Heart desperately, and when i find on i'll let you know if it comes with a photon blast.. I honestly doubt it though, as nothing like this has ever been reported or hinted at.. If not though, whats the point of having a "special" mag? Just for looks?

[Sloth]

my mag is a level 100 and i only have 2 pb's so when i find a meag cell/heart (hopefully soon i found one tody but somone grabbed it before me) and use it ill let u know.

[DCKaz]

Very cool, let me know..

I guess I'd be surprised if none of them had their own blast or atleast mapped to a known one, but hey who knows.

Hmm.. bummer on the opa opa needing a heart.. I wish defense wasn't such a pain to raise for my Mag.

Might be time to start another Mag.. I figure my FOmarl won't need all that mind in the end anyways, and it'll make a really nice technique twinker mag as I custom make Terra something else..

cheers,
DCKaz

[Guardian]

Nice analysis and discussion.

I have a mag cell 502 FOR TRADE. I'm asking for at least two things:

1) Twin Brand
2) either a Victor Axe or Delsaber's LEFT arm/shield

If you have these and are interested, please icq me at 5896613.

-Guardian

[Sloth]

i gave my mag cell 502 and no new photon blast but a cool new mag soniti

[SilentMetronome]

I'm really bad at knowing what things like AFAIK (as seen in when DCKaz said, "you can't avoid a photon charge at level 10 AFAIK," and SOL (seen in, "Will I get an Opa Opa associated photon charge or be SOL?")

So can someone explain what AFAIK and SOL mean? Sorry bout this, I've just never heard those before... Thx!

[DCKaz]

np (no problem! heh) I'm a master at shortened speech.. 'cause I type so much I need to limit it somehow..

AFAIK - as far as I know
SOL - shit out of luck
FYI - for your information
BTW - by the way

guess that's good for now

I'm megga bummed no Sonic photon charge for ya Sloth, wanted to hear of a Sonic HyperSpin charge or something.. lol..

Oh well, guess I better beef defense or my mag is going to pass me by..

And ouch if defense isn't hell to raise :b

DCKaz