Initial levels of all characters

[Celes]

Recently I'm trying to figure out the initial levels of all characters.

- Like in other games, it seems characters join either based on a fixed lv or it depends on <Hero>'s current lv (for example Ted)
- The official staretegy guide and the walkthrough we host right now have obviously false information about these. The book lists all lv as fixed and gives wrong values. For example it lists Katarina as 10 and Chiepoo as 5. They both joined at 11 and 6 in my last game. The walkthrough lists fixed levels for all chars as well.

While I'm doing a complete list, maybe someone has already some answers:
- Whos initial level depends on hero's lv for sure?
- What happens if a char joins at a lower lv while hero is at lv 1?
- What happens if a char joins at a higher lv while hero is at lv 99?

Any help is appreciated. If you happen to play the game right now, you could write down the characters starting lv as well as hero's lv by the time of recruitment.

[Celes]

Had to do it on my own, hm?

http://www.suikosource.com/games/gs4/guides/initial.php

Apparently, all starting levels are fixed.

Weapon levels are mostly set to 1, which is pretty annoying for the majority of characters.

Equipment is never fixed in this game.

[Antimatzist]

Thanks :-*

Yes, the weapon level thing annoyed me, too. I think they kept it for Suikoden V, which was even more annoying since they forced characters into your party.

What do you mean, equipment is never fixed?

[Celes]

You can remove any piece of equipment on every character. In other games, some of them have pieces attached permanently.

[gildedtalon]

You should rephrase into no one has a fixed equipment. Your statement causes confusion....

[Hirathien]

If you wanna be really clear:

"No one has LOCKED equipment."

[Celes]

Thanks