Final Fantasy 12 is an expansive game with tons to offer JRPG fans. From the unique gambit-based battle system to the Star Wars-like species that populate Ivalice, FF12’s unique aesthetic makes it one of the highest-rated JRPGs of the millennium. But, as with most long games, it’s the relatable characters that make it so enjoyable to while away the hours in Ivalice.
The characters of FF12 are a diverse bunch. Most video game characters tend to be on the young side unless they are villains. Evil only takes hold with age, of course. But FF12 offers characters with a wide variety of ages, aesthetics, and even species. Here are some of the basics — age, height, and birth year in the Old Valendian calendar — on these beloved JRPG personalities.
Vaan
Vaan is a plucky young street kid living in Rabanastre who dreams of becoming a sky pirate and escaping his occupied homeland. He is only 17 in the game, which might excuse his terrible fashion sense.
Born in 689, Vaan spent his formative years living in a free Dalmasca, before the war between Rozarria and Archadia came to Rabanastre in the early 700s. Vaan is an orphan, having lost his parents to the plague in 701.
Age: 17 years old
Height: 5'7"
Birth year: 689 Old Valendian
Penelo
Penelo is a thoughtful and hardworking war orphan who lives in Rabanastre. At 16, she works for a Bangaa shopkeeper name Migelo and stands only 5'3" tall.
Penelo is like a sister to Vaan, as her family took him and his older brother Reks in when their parents died of the plague in 1701. Only a few short years later, Penelo’s parents were also killed in the Archadian-Rozarrian conflict.
Age: 16 years old
Height: 5'3"
Birth year: 690 Old Valendian
Balthier
Balthier was born Ffamran mied Bunansa, an Archadian noble and the son of Dr. Cid. At 22, this 6’ tall “leading man” has already achieved and abandoned the rank of Archadian Judge, preferring to make his way as a sky pirate in Ivalice.
Balthier left Archadia in 700, after witnessing the apparent mental deterioration of his father, and losing faith in the Archadian leadership.
Age: 22 years old
Height: 6'
Birth year: 684 Old Valendian
Fran
Fran is a Viera, a mystical race of humanoids that confine themselves to Eruyt Village and the Golmore Jungle. Viera are tall and strong warriors, and Fran stands at an impressive 6'2" (7'1" including her ears).
Viera are also known to have extreme longevity. Fran’s age and birth year are unknown, despite Vaan’s “surprisingly rude” questioning, but she left Eruyt Village 50 years prior to the events of the game.
Age: Don’t ask
Height: 6'2"
Birth year: Unknown
Basch Fon Ronsenburg
Basch is a dutiful protector of the Kingdom of Dalmasca and its royalty, despite the lies told about him. Born in 670 in the former Republic of Landis, Basch is a powerful soldier who stands 5'11" tall.
Basch grew up in Landis with his Archadian mother and twin brother. In 687, a teenage Basch left Landis for Dalmasca, after his homeland was attacked and overtaken by Archadia.
Age: 36 years old
Height: 5'11"
Birth year: 670 Old Valendian
Ashelia B’nargin Dalmasca
Technically, the first time players see the Princess of Dalmasca, she is 17 years old, and getting married to Prince Rasler of Nabradia. The second time players meet her, she goes by the alias Amalia, but the party quickly realizes that this somber 19-year-old is actually Princess Ashe.
Ashe is the youngest of nine children, but she becomes heir to the Dalmascan throne after her eight older brothers either fall in battle, or die in the plague. She then loses both her husband, and her father, but somehow finds the strength to avenge her homeland, all before exiting her teens.
Age: 19 years old
Height: 5'5"
Birth year: 687 Old Valendian
Larsa Ferrinas Solidor
The youngest, but also wisest, of Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor’s children, Larsa is a strong political ally, but not exactly the strongest party member. He is only twelve years old during the events of the game but acts much older than his age.
He is kind-hearted, in sharp contrast with the rest of his family. Larsa had three older brothers, two of whom were murdered by his older brother Vayne, under their father’s orders.
Age: 12 years old
Height: Short
Birth year: 694 Old Valendian
Vossler York Azelas
Vossler is a strong soldier, loyal to Dalmasca. He was formerly a friend and ally with Basch until witnessing the other’s apparent treason against King Raminas of Dalmasca.
Vossler was formerly the captain of the Order of Knights of Dalmasca. After its occupation, he goes into hiding and forms a Resistance against Archadia with Princess Ashe.
Age: 38 years old
Height: Unknown
Birth year: 668 Old Valendian
Reddas
Reddas is the leader of the pirate locale known as the Port at Balfonheim. He is a solidly built man in the prime of his life who won’t hesitate to engage others in battle.
Reddas was formerly named Foris Zecht and was Judge Magister of the Archadian forces in his early life. After leading a mission that destroyed the land of Nabudis and turned it into the Necrohol that players visit in the game, Reddas left the Archadian army, disgusted with its tactics.
Age: 33 years old
Birth year: 673 Old Valendian
Vayne Carudas Solidor
Vayne Solidor is the charismatic heir to the Empire of Archadia. At 27, he has already ascended to the role of Consul of Rabanastre, effectively making him the leader of the occupied Dalmasca.
Vayne is one of the strongest leaders of the Archadian forces, but he is also a cruel man. He formerly had two older brothers, whom he murdered when his father suspected them of planning a coup.
Age: 27 years old
Birth year: 679 Old Valendian
Cidolfus Demen Bunansa
Carrying on a grand tradition of Final Fantasy names, Dr. Cid is a scientist of the highest order in the employ of the Archadian Empire. He is also Balthier’s father, and although his height is unknown, he is likely tall, as he is said to have very much resembled his son in his youth.
Dr. Cid, while brilliant, appeared to have lost his mind after returning from Giruvegan in the year 700. But he had actually stumbled across an often-invisible being called Venat in the lost holy city, whom he spoke to without anyone knowing.
Age: 58 years old
Birth year: 648 Old Valendian
Gabranth
Gabranth is a Judge of the Archadian Empire, the highest rank achievable in the Imperial Army. He is also Basch’s twin brother, and so it stands to reason that he shares an age, height, and birth year with Basch.
Gabranth was born Noah fon Ronsenburg in the Republic of Landis. When Archadian forces invaded, he chose to move to Archadia with his Archadian mother, and adopted her surname, Gabranth, as his own.
Judge Ghis
As Judge Magister, Ghis is the leader of the Archadian military forces. He is a cold and cruel man and a powerful enemy in combat.
Judge Ghis single-mindedly pursues his duty with callous disregard for anyone else’s wellbeing. He meets his end in perfect poetic justice when he is unable to control the power of the Dawn Shard that he spends so long seeking.
Age: 41 years old
Birth year: 665 Old Valendian
Al-Cid Margrace
Al-Cid appears only late in the events of Final Fantasy 12, but his country is a constant presence in discussions of the war. Al-Cid is a young prince, potentially one of many, of Rozarria, the country that poses the largest military threat to Archadia.
Al-Cid has a roguish charm and an easy manner that belies the seriousness of his mission. Although he is quick to mention that he is not a high-ranking leader in his home country, he is able to broker peace with Larsa and Ashe as a representative of Rozarria.
Halim Ondore IV
The Marquis Halim Ondore IV is a diplomatic and dignified man and the ruler of the sky city of Bhujerba. His exact height is unknown, but he cuts an imposing figure and seems younger than his 61 years.
Halim is Ashe’s uncle and ally, although he outwardly maintains Bhujerba’s neutrality and works with Archadian forces. He eventually retires as Marquis of Bhujerba to lead a Resistance force against Archadia.
Age: 61 years old
Birth year: 645 Old Valendian
NEXT: Final Fantasy XII: The Best And Worst Things About The Zodiac Age
