Gods be good...I often wonder if I have the stomach for this.

Ladd, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Ladd,^[1][2] also known as Rad,^[3] is a minor playable character in Final Fantasy Tactics. He is a mercenary apprentice accompanying Goffard Gaffgarion and Ramza Beoulve on a mission to "guard" Princess Ovelia.

He can be recruited to Ramza's company at the start of chapter 2, "The Manipulative & the Subservient", alongside the Lionsguard knights Alicia and Lavian.

Conversing with Ladd in The Ivalice Chronicles offers a meager look into his character, where he states he often wonders if he has the stomach to handle his war driven lifestyle.

History

Ladd is an apprentice to Goffard Gaffgarion, coming to Orbonne Monastery with Ramza Beoulve as an escort for Princess Ovelia. They, along with Agrias Oaks and her vassal knights Alicia and Lavian, are trapped in the chapel during an attack by the Order of the Southern Sky, and must defend the princess. The attack is repelled, but Delita Heiral kidnaps the princess while the knights are distracted. Lady Agrias resolves to give chase, and at Ramza's fervent request, the mercenaries grudgingly agree to follow. In doing so, Ladd becomes a member of Ramza's entourage.^[4][5]

When Gaffgarion later turns on Ramza in Zeirchele Falls, Ladd elects to stay with the young Beoulve rather than betray him as well.^[6]

Gameplay

The higher your Bravery, the higher the chances a reaction ability will be triggered!

Ladd, Final Fantasy Tactics

Though technically a named character, Ladd has no native abilities beyond that of any other generic unit, including those recruited from the Warrior's Guild. He may be sent on errands along with other generic units.

Stats and equipment

Ladd joins at Ramza's party in level 8 with 63 bravery, 60 faith, and equipped with the iron sword, red hood, and ringmail. Occasionally, random ability generation will (rarely) present him with some chemist or even black magicks abilities at the very start as well. Regarding his attributes, like any generic squire, due to his below-average growth statistics, Ladd is best utilized if the player focuses on using him as a support unit, since the versatility of his abilities makes him useful for assisting offensive parties. In any case, Ladd will become dispensable to the player if his job class is not changed to better develop him in later stages of the game, where much stronger enemies will appear.

Other appearances

Final Fantasy XIV

Ladd's spirit makes a cameo appearance in the ending cutscene at the Return to Ivalice storyline from Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood patch 4.5. He appears in front of a female Black Mage and Zalbaag Beoulve, along with most of the members of Ramza's company after Ultima's defeat at the hands of the Warrior of Light. After thanking them for the feat, they all return to the lifestream.

Etymology

"Ladd" name has several origins, primarily Old English word 'hlæd', meaning 'hill' or 'slope'. It also derives from the word 'ladde', which meant "servant" or "attendant". It is also linked to the Middle English word "ladde," meaning "young boy" or "attendant," and the topographical term for a mill stream.

Citations