Chocobo Knight (Final Fantasy) Discussion: The mascots of Final Fantasy join as one!

Moogles and Chocobos are a recurring set of species throughout the FF series, both have gained extreme fame and popularity and have become mascots of the series.  Even on our own forum there was recently a debate about which of the two is more mascot than the other, with no clear winner.  But why limit ourselves to just one, when we can have both?

This is not a cheap way out to try and make up a character combination for extra representation; the moogle riding a chocobo is actually canonical and recurring!  This combination is it's own class called the "Chocobo Knight" and has even been playable before!


Why them for all of FF?

Well, for starters they are extremely recognizable, even outside fans of the series.  They are also extremely popular among the fans.  They have a light-hearted style to them that fits smash well.  Chocobos and Moogles have appeared in every FF game since their debuts in FF2 and FF4 respectively, and Chocobos even have their own spin-off series (where Moogles also made an appearance).

Playstyle?

One complaint against the Chocobos and Moogles as separated characters have been their playstyle.  Chocobos can't do much other than run fast, jump high, kick hard, and dig for buried treasure.  Mog is basically a support mage, with little offensive abilities.  But combined as one, they cover each other's flaws to create one heck of a character concept.  The chocobo has a ton of mobility and some physical prowess, as well as the dig ability which could function something like Peach's Down B but with FF items, and the Moogle can cast support spells from his back!

You can read more in their smashboards thread here, including a moveset though I think the one I provide here is much more representative of what the characters can do.

Moveset!

Weight: Heavy, similar to Wario
Walk Speed: Around Yoshi-speed
Run Speed: Fast, around Sheik/Greninja speed
Jump Height: Medium-High, like ZSS
Air Speed: Medium-High, again like ZSS
Fall Speed: Medium, Yoshi
They are quite tall - Chocobo is around the height of Donkey Kong, while Moogle measures about Pikachu's size. Moogle rides on Chocobo's back during the fight.
They are capable of floating, though the float is extremely short in duration.

Taunt: Moogle says "Kupo?" to which Chocobo smiles and nods with an assuring "Kweh!"

Jab Combo: Moogle casts Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder.  The first is a fireball that travels slowly diagonally down to the ground, traveling a short distance.  Following behind that is a quick ice shard, which freezes the opponent in place.  And finally, a powerful (in jab terms) lightning bolt to blast the opponent out of the ice.

Side Tilt: Kweh!
Chocobo loudly makes it's signature sound, which has a sonic hitbox
Down Tilt: Chocobo sharply pecks the ground. Quick and spammable.
Up Tilt: Moogle smacks upward with his staff. When it connects, there is a magical sparkle effect.

Dash Attack: Chocobo leaps in the air, headfirst, delivering a powerful peck.

Forward Smash: Chocobo rears its head back, and then thrusts forward with a flaming beak attack.
Up Smash: Stop Rumba
Moogle dances on Chocobo's back and a semi-transparent clock image appears over the duo with a wide radius.  The clock does the usual "Stop" spell effect from FF, the hands spinning around quickly at first slow to a halt.  When the hands stop moving, anyone inside get frozen in place for a short time.
If the opponent is not attacked during the stun, at the end of it they will rocket upwards like a normal Up smash
Down Smash: Chocobo Stomp
Chocobo leaps into the air and crashes back to the ground, shaking the earth and damaging anyone nearby

Neutral Air: Wind Slash
Moogle dances, surrounding the duo in a flurry of wind and leaves.  Multi-hit, similar to what surrounds Snivy's Up B but not so much a tornado, and has an ending hit like a normal Nair.
Forward Air: Chocobo pecks forward
Back Air: Chocobo kicks backward
Up Air: Dia
Moogle lifts his staff into the air and a ball of light energy appears at the tip, damaging opponents
Down Air: Chocobuckle
Chocobo takes on a sitting position and falls rapidly.  This is similar to Wario's down air, and is extremely strong

Grab: Moogle casts Stop, freezing the opponent in place with an image of a clock over them.
Pummel: Chocobo repeatedly pecks the opponent with its beak.
Forward throw: Chocobo kicks the opponent forward.
Back throw: Chocobo swings the opponent backward with its beak.
Up throw: Moogle grabs the opponent with both hands and flies them upward, and then drops them on the ground.
Down throw: Chocobo scrapes at the ground with its feet, and then buries the opponent.


Neutral Special: Support Cast
Moogle raises his staff into the air, and an aura is created around the duo.  A random buff and debuff is chosen, with the buff automatically applying to the duo, while the debuff only applies to enemies caught in the field.
Buffs
- Protect/Shell : Halve all incoming damage for a short while
- Haste : Increase movement speed for a short while
- Regen : Gain a heal over time effect
- Boost : Increase damage dealt for a short while
Debuffs
- Slow : Decrease movement speed
- Armor Break : Increase incoming damage
- Power Break : Decrease damage output
- Confuse : Inflict Dizzy state
- Sap : Inflict a damage over time effect

If Support cast is used again, the previous buff is erased.  The previous debuff will also be replaced, but only if the opponent is within the circle.
This special is extremely slow, making it difficult to use repeatedly, and the only use of that anyway would be to try for a different support, not an additional.
However, the buffs are extremely useful and can change the dynamic of the battle, especially when combined with a debuff!

Side Special: Hasted Chocobo Kick
Mog quickly casts Haste on Chocobo, then Chocobo dashes forward at crazy speeds, with Moogle clinging on for dear life.
Then, Chocobo jumps into the air, feet first, delivering a strong kick to the opponent. The kick deals notably high knockback (it can kill from 100-90%).

Down Special: Dig
Chocobo pecks at the ground (a small attack hitbox appears), and then begins to dig. Digging takes a moment, and allows Chocobo to procure an item to use.
50% of the time, the item will simply be a rock which Chocobo passes to Moogle. When thrown the rock deals damage to any opponent it hits. Like Peach's turnips, the opponent receives more damage if they are hit at a closer range - they receive 12% at it's closest, while only 5% from a farther distance.
20% of the time, the item will be an empty bottle. The empty bottle shatters upon contact, dealing damage and stunning opponents temporarily. This deals 15% when it is kicked close-ranged, and 8% from a distance.
15% of the time, Chocobo will dig up a Gysahl Green. Chocobo eats this up right away, healing 5%.
The final 15% of the time, Chocobo will dig up an item such as a Bob-omb or Mr. Saturn. Chocobo will pick it up with his beak and pass it to Moogle, who can then throw it.

Up Special: Escape / Choco Dash
Moogle uses the Escape summon spell to surround the duo in a glowing aura, halting gravity's effect on them.  Chocobo then winds up before dashing at high speed in the chosen direction.  Can be controlled similarly to Lucario's Extremespeed.


Final Smash:  Moogle Dance / Fat Chocobo

Moogle moves back (away from screen) and a song begins playing (Chocobo theme song?).  The Moogle dances throughout the final smash.
While this is going on, the Chocobo jumps into the air and calls for the Fat Chocobo.  Moments later, the Fat Chocobo falls from the sky, landing in an area about half the size of FD and dealing massive damamge and knockback.
When the Fat Chocobo has gone away, Moogle concludes his song, ending in a massive buff!  This is equivalent to all of the possible neutral special supports in one!
This final smash is a bit easier to avoid than most, but it also provides a massive boost to their abilities coupled with heal-over-time for a short while after the Final Smash is over.

Conclusion

PixelPasta (smashboards) wrote:

Ultimately, Chocobo & Moogle are the most well-known characters in the Final Fantasy franchise: they have had lots of merchandise, and continue to play prominent roles in each new instalment. They have a very marketable appearance, which fits in well with the rest of the Smash cast. By all means, they are all-star characters. Moogle has even appeared in a couple of Mario games - he has been in both Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Mario Sports Mix. Evidently, Square Enix is willing to allow the use of these characters in Nintendo games, so surely they'd be a welcomed addition to Smash!​

Supporters

Spoiler:

Support

Support, definately

That is one amazing idea, right there.

Complete support.
(also this may be the first time ive seen a mod besides puft post an unofficial chara thread!)

Support.

Lego Shaq wrote:

(also this may be the first time ive seen a mod besides puft post an unofficial chara thread!)

Pretty sure this is my second thread.   Black Shadow?

edit.. I also have an Isaac thread. There are also multiple threads from other devs, Sliss/Hype/SP/KingTremolo, etc.

Perfect Hell wrote:

Lego Shaq wrote:

(also this may be the first time ive seen a mod besides puft post an unofficial chara thread!)

Pretty sure this is my second thread.   Black Shadow?

edit.. I also have an Isaac thread.  There are also multiple threads from other devs, Sliss/Hype/SP/KingTremolo, etc.

Don't recall Black Shadow.

Oh, yeah, you're correct. Not sure what I was thinking.

PH suggesting a character? Actually, this makes sense - the devs want certain characters in the game, but if the other devs disagree, they might try to pursuade the masses like so.

At first I thought this was a strange idea - sure, both of them are the mascots, but together? But apparently they have been together in games before. This is a great idea no matter how many FF reps we get, though I'm iffy on the moveset. I assume that will be fixed in time.

Still, definite support.

Roy wrote:

PH suggesting a character? Actually, this makes sense - the devs want certain characters in the game, but if the other devs disagree, they might try to pursuade the masses like so.

Devs post topics for a variety of reasons. Of course I can't tell you which is the case for this thread or any other, but here's other examples;

- Like you said, gain support
- Rather than gain support, test support (iffy on character, is it a good idea?)
- Compare support between 2 threads
- OR same reason as anyone else, create a thread simply because you want to and are saddened no one has yet
- You came up with a good moveset and/or idea for a character and want to share it via support thread

There are a bunch of dev-made threads on here if you go back through the pages, they dont all have ulterior motives. Often times a dev makes a thread just for the sake of making it or because they love the character, having no relation to the actual Crusade roster. We're fans too, sometimes we do things as a fan rather than a dev.

Remember when I said I'd make a moveset? Check that OP!

Love it! Enjoy how you made them a bit of a risk-and-reward character with the randomizing.

These two seem like a way better choice than any of the other FF characters.

I was going to say support, then I realized that I already have lol

Supporter list added to OP

PH, the conclusion is a bit misleading; it doesn't give a conclusion on why they should be in Crusade. Maybe write up your own specifically for Crusade?

I went with it because it was extremely well written, and all of the points in it do apply to Crusade directly, and anything else needed was already covered further up in the post.

I'm just slightly salty about this

How salty I am:

How ever if it means that Moogle will be in the game (or has a chance) then I'll happily support

Support! CK seems pretty cool!

yes so much support

I always have disliked randomized stuff. Turns the character inconsistent and makes even their player to be wary of using it at all.
If Neutral Special has them raise the staff to show a light that cicles colors kind of like Pac-man's Fruit, that would be great.

Regardless off I've always seen Crusade as the fangame that could potentially bring new and fresh ideas so I'm all for supporting this dynamic Duo!

Bumping for some people who've might have not seen it yet.

Thanks Steve, I'm supporting now

This sounds interesting... I'll support.

Support! But I'd like to mirror the earlier idea of having the nspec cycle buffs, instead of doing one at random. RNG should only be for moves strongly themed towards unpredictability.

They have my Support

I have a question for the Buff/Debuffs. Will allies gain buffs or debuffs when they are in the radius of effect?

Support! This sounds like a good character idea.

i support and the chocobo's design could be from chocobo's dungeon?