DBZ - Attack of the Saiyans (by Fionordequester)

LEVEL UP PATHS (note that Defense is just about worthless, while Tech SIGNIFICANTLY improves your offense):

Goku & Gohan: Raise Atk and Tech equally (maybe put a bit more into Tech in Gohan's case; he missed quite a few of his Masenko strikes on the Pinballs.  Also consider dumping Goku's points into Tech near the endgame; Vegeta's a dodgy guy, and make no mistake about it).

Krillin: Raise Tech until after Korin's Land.  Then raise Speed.

Everyone Else: Put everything into Tech

ENDGAME LEVELS:

Goku, Gohan & Piccolo: Level 32

Krillin & Tien: Level 26

Yamcha: Level 23

TREASURE CHEST COLLECTION:

(Not optimized; but I ended up with far more healing items than I needed at the end of the game, so keep that in mind.  These notes assume that you're collecting almost every treasure chest in the game)

RUN FROM ALL RANDOM ENCOUNTERS, EXCEPT FOR...:

-Prologue to Chapter 4 (characters need the levels)

-1st Trip to Mount Five Element (before Annin)

-50% of Chapter 11, while Gohan & Piccolo are separated (Flee odds are unusually bad when you've only one character, and said character is not Goku)

-The occasional fight here and there where one of your characters will want to reach an AP benchmark.  Speaking of which...

PROLOGUE:

Don't get any items except Phoenix Feather (when Krillin's talking about destroying rocks), just go to the end.  Kikoho and Wolf Fang Fist are not too accurate even with all Tech boosts, so do the following...

Krillin: Spam Kamehameha

Tien: Use one Fierce Attack, and DO NOT BLOCK UNTIL RAGE GAUGE IS FULL

Yamcha: Spam Wolf Fang Fist

CHAPTER 1:

Get LVL1 Ki for upcoming boss.  Get Fruits before dungeon, get HP Fruit in dungeon, restore at save point, then get to Level 6 while getting the other item.  Beat up Pao Pao (should require only two normal attacks, but may need a Small Bean if you failed to block enough of her attacks)

CHAPTER 2:

Get all items except Small Bean, and get LVL1 Ki before Boss Rabbit.  Also use Kamehamehas on regular enemies. (5 seconds per animation compared to Wolf Fang Fist's 10, and still OHKOes everything WFF would).  Spam Wolf Fang Fist during the boss fight itself.

CHAPTER 3:

Get all items, get LVL1 Ki, and be sure to get to Level 6 before the boss fight, because it's a rough one.  Use 3x Kikohos and 2x Multi-forms before finishing the fight with 4x regular attacks (or you could use a Ki Drink.  However, I prefer to save that).

CHAPTER 4:

Use all Fruits, get to Level 5, 3x Kamehamehas on Piccolo Phase 1, then the rest on Phase 2

CHAPTER 5:
Buy 3 Skill Rings, Get Empty Capsule, use Finisher Bean on Goku
Equip Skill Ring (replace with Full Ring later) and Fighter's Mark on Goku, use all Fruit on him (Gohan doesn't do nearly as much heavy lifting as Goku, so he needs the Fruits more than Gohan does).  And of course, get free 5000z

Mount Five Element - START RUNNING FROM ALL FIGHTS TILL TOLD OTHERWISE.  Use Meteor Mash on Gogyo Majin, and Kamehameha on everyone else.  Get all the items, and get to Level 10 if it's convenient.  Level 9 is fine, however.

Kiwi Volcano - Goku, Yamcha, and Tien party (we want Krillin to get EXP instead of Yamcha, but Yamcha does more damage to Shu).  Equip Energy Ring + Tech on Tien, equip 2 Techs on Yamcha.  Get Cold Boots, and get LVL1 HP for both Krillin and Yamcha.  Have Tien use Multi-Form (more accurate and doesn't do damage) while everyone else uses their strongest attacks.  Replace Tien with Krillin once Tien runs out, then replace Yamcha with Tien once Goku is down to 64 Ki (that is, if Yamcha's still alive.  It's no big deal if he isn't).

Ice Mountain - Get LVL1 All Abilities for Goku (grind a battle if you have to; seriously, this is actually really good.  All Abilities seems to boost both Tech and Power, meaning that one upgrade in it is worth about 1.5x Attack upgrades.  Plus, this seems to allow Goku to always go first against Raditz).  Get Silver Fur.   Use the same strategy you did for Shu, and don't worry if Yamcha dies.

Inferno - Krillin's already passed Yamcha up, so give him 2 Skill Rings, replace Yamcha, get Krillin LVL1 Kienzan, and beat up Green Flame.  Use Finisher on Goku, have him get LVL2 All Abilities and LVL2 Meteor Mash (one upgrade to Meteor Mash seems to be worth two upgrades to Attack), and beat up Blue Flame (Tien can use Kikoho, since this guy's much weaker).

CHAPTER 6:
Get LVL2 Destructive Wave for Piccolo, and LVL1 Attack for Goku.  Equip Tech Ring + Detect Ring to Piccolo (I don't find Energy Ring to be that helpful, and Piccolo can miss), use Power Fruit on Goku, and...kill Raditz?  It gets Piccolo 2 levels, and Goku 1, but it also takes longer than to do it with the Makankasappo.  Plus, it also took me 4x Medium Beans, 1x HP Capsule 50, 1x Ki Capsule 50, 1x Ki Drink 30, and 1x Double Drink 50.

However, it might still be worth it.  Piccolo gets just enough AP to get Light Grenade, and Goku has to go through Chapter 9; a chapter that is basically one long string of one-on-one battles.

CHAPTER 7:
Gohan runs from all.

CHAPTER 8:
Be sure you have 4 HP Capsule 50s, 4 Ki Drink 50s, 4 Ki Capsule 50s, and 10 Phoenix Downs, then get Evasion Mark and Precision Circuit from Bulma's.  Go to Spinach Wastes.

Spinach Wastes - Get Bushido Spirit and Tension Up (both sell for a LOT of gold!) as well as the Finisher Bean.  Head to Holly Field.

Holly Field - Equip Full Ring + Fighter's Mark on Tien and 2 Skill Rings on Krillin.  Get all the items and grind to Level 15 as you go through the area.  Get LVL2 HP for Krillin, walk into the boss fight with Darkness Card on (Dongiras is actually VULNERABLE to the Darkness stat!), and beat up Dongiras.

East Mt. Paozu - Get only the two chests on the screen right before Yamcha's house.  Get Yamcha's stuff, and THEN SAVE!  Have the Darkness Card, and go fetch the Full Necklace from Dragon's Rock!  Not sure if it's worth it, but, 6 to all stats man...

Hermit Spring - Make sure you have 4 Phoenix Downs and 4 Ki Drink Z's before progressing.  Equip Full Necklace + Full Ring to Krillin, Energy Ring + Detect Ring to Yamcha, and 2x Skill Ring to Tien, and pound the heck out of the guys.  You'll probably need to use about two Large Beans and two Ki Capsule 50's, but try to avoid using any HP Capsule 50s.  Instead, try to use Phoenix Feathers, since those cost less than 50% of what an HP Capsule 50 costs.

(START LEVELING UP KRILLIN'S SPEED NOW!  HE'LL BE RELYING MAINLY ON GIANT MISSILES FROM HERE, SO HIS ABILITY TO OUTSPEED HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT)

Break Wasteland - Equip Gohan with Full gear, then use Finisher on him.  Grind till Gohan gets Burst Rush, beat T-Rex.  Give Piccolo LVL1 Light Grenade, give him the Full rings, and equip Bushido Spirit + Energy Ring to Gohan.  Have him defend while Uncle Piccolo solos the boss with Light Grenade.

CHAPTER 9 (NOTE: This is where All Abilities really starts earning it's keep.  Goku seems to be FAR better at running away with it than without it):

Use all the Fruits on Goku, equip the Full Rings on him, and steamroll everyone up to King Kai's planet.  Buy two Energy Bracelets, use Finisher on Goku, get him LVL3 ATK, LVL2 HP, and equip Full Necklace + Meditation Belt to him.  If you have done EVERYTHING listed in these notes (feeding Goku Fruits, giving him Finishers and killing 1st Raditz), Goku will just BARELY have enough Ki and attack power to put Raditz down without the need of any items.  You still have to be careful though.

CHAPTER 10:

Fetch Gohan's Lunch from Chi-Chi (useful recovery item before bosses).  Get 12 EXP Boosts and restock on other items.  Equip Meditation + Full Necklace to Goku, 2 Energy Bracelets to Gohan, and Detection Ring + Energy Bracelet to Piccolo

Yunzabit Heights (1st Visit) - Get LVL1 HP for Piccolo and Gohan.  Activate sequence trigger while getting all the items.

Desert - Get Ninja Sandals (you'll use them from now on). Equip Goku with Full Necklace + Double-Edged Seal.  Use the following strats...

    1st Round - Piccolo uses EXP Boost, Gohan Defends, Goku Meteor Mashes
     Most Rounds - Piccolo and Gohan Defends whle Goku Meteor Mashes
     If Goku Gets Blinded - Have him use After-Image while someone uses D. Recovery
     If One Character besides Goku is close to death - Have said character use Large Bean on themself.  DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT!  Just use Phoenix Feather if said character dies (for it only costs 800G).
     If Goku is close to death - HEAL HIM OF COURSE!!
     If Two Characters are close to death - Have Goku use HP Capsule 50 while the relevant characters either Defend or use Bean (try to avoid this though; these cost 2000G, so try to stick to Large Beans and Phoenix Feathers)

Muscle Tower - Grind one battle for Piccolo's LVL2 HP if he doesn't already have it.  Put Energy Necklace over Gohan's Energy Bracelet, and give said Bracelet to Piccolo.  Beat up the twin bosses.

Yunzabit Heights (2nd Visit) - Get LVL3 HP for Goku and LVL2 HP for Gohan.  Equip Popo's Turban over Gohan's Energy Bracelet!

West City - Restock on items as needed and get the Submarine.

Pirate Cove - Get LVL3 HP for Piccolo and Gohan when you can.  Give Piccolo some combat gear and have him spam Light Grenade along with Goku; he's gotten to where he's strong enough to contribute.

Devil's Cesspool - Get LVL4 HP for Goku.  Equip Piccolo with Shenron's Nail + Full Bracelet, and have him spam Light Grenade against Ladies.  Against Gentlemen, however, you'll want to have him Defend; the bosses's thing IS massive damage, after all.

West City (Revisited) - Get about 28 Giant Missiles.

Pilaf's Fortress (1st Half) - Get LVL4 HP for Piccolo and Gohan (grind if you must), get LVL1 Accuracy for Piccolo, LVL4 HP for Tien, and LVL3 HP + LVL1 Speed for Krillin.  Give Piccolo Full equipment, give two Energy Bracelets to Krillin, Double-Edged Seal + Energy Bracelet to Tien, and Shenron's Nail on Yamcha (he's the emergency healer).  Use the following strategy against the pinballs...

Gohan: Anger + Masenko + Burst Rush
Piccolo: Light Grenade
Krillin: Use EXP Boost and items when needed, switch to Tien if not (GETS EXP IN THIRD FIGHT)
Tien: Multi-Form Attack (LET HIM GET EXP IN FIRST TWO FIGHTS)

Pilaf's Fortress (2nd Half) - Equip Double-Edged Seal on Gohan over Popo's Turban, and get LVL1 ATK for Gohan (Pilaf Machine needs to die as fast as possible, or you'll be trolled by it's healing ability).  Have Krillin stay in this time while spamming Giant Missiles, because his Y-Yajirobe move is extremely helpful here.

CHAPTER 11:

Get LVL3 Masenko for Gohan, and equip him with Energy Necklace + Full Bracelet.  Have him fight everyone he comes across while skipping everything but the Max Bean.

Equip Double Edged Seal + Full Necklace to Piccolo, sprint to Gohan, equip Energy Necklace + Full Bracelet to him, and start running from battles again (and collect items if you see fit).

CHAPTER 12:

Get LVL4 HP for Krillin and Yamcha, restock on items, and get as many Giant Missiles as you can (I managed to get 60...I'm starting to suspect I went out of my way for too many treasures).  Equip Tien and Krillin with Energy Necklace + Energy Bracelet, and Yamcha with Perfume + Full Necklace.  Skip all the treasures at Mutaito's Grounds and beat up TPP-Ex with Wolf Fang Fist and Giant Missiles.

CHAPTER 13:

Equip Detect Ring + Shenron's Nail to Goku.  Death Sentences are dangerous, so use After-Image + Kamehamehas against them.  Equip Double-Edged Seal + Full Necklace when you get to Raditz, and kill him with 4x Meteor Mashes + 1x Kaioken + 2x Kaioken Meteor Mashes.

CHAPTER 14:

Get Head-Cha-La, then sell EVERY ONE of your accessories except...

1x HEAD-CHA-LA
1x Meditation Belt
2x Energy Necklaces
2x Energy Bracelets
1x Full Necklace

Then get as many Giant Missiles as you can (I ended up with 55, but the final fights only took 32).  This here, by the way, is my item inventory...

5x Giant Beans
4x MAX Beans
8x HP Capsule 50s
1x HP Capsule Z
4x Ki Drink Z's
7x Ki Capsule 50's
1x Ki Capsule Z
1x Double Drink 50
1x Double Drink Z
1x Double Capsule 50
1x Double Capsule Z
2x Hermit Medicines
2x Hermit Waters
3x Senzu Beans
1x Super Senzu Bean
10x Phoenix Feathers
2x Phoenix Tail Feathers
2x Shenron Scales
1x Super Sacred Water
1x Demon Bravery
55x Giant Missiles
1x Burn Capsule
1x Thunder Capsule
1x Kami's Judgement

Get all the items on the way, and equip Full Necklace to Krillin.  Then...

1st Saibaman: Spam Multi-Form Attack
2nd Saibaman: Spam Single target attack items (I had two besides the Missiles)
Saibamen Group: Krillin Kienzans, someone uses Kami's Judgement, and Piccolo tries to kill one of them with Light Grenade.

Afterwards, get LVL2 Accuracy for Piccolo, LVL2 Multi-Form Attack for Tien, LVL2 Rage Gauge for Gohan, and LVL1 Rage Gauge for Krillin.  Set the gang up like so...

Piccolo: Energy Necklace + Full Necklace
Gohan: Model Full Moon + HEAD-CHA-LA
Krillin: 2x Energy Bracelet
Tien: Energy Necklace + Meditation Belt

Have Krillin use Giant Missiles on Nappa throughout the whole time.  Once Goku arrives, have him use the After-Image Technique as he's going through his fight with Nappa.  You'll probably have to use a Double Drink 50, but that's ok; Goku's faster than Nappa is, so he's probably safe.

CHAPTER 15:

Here are my items right before Vegeta...

1x Giant Beans
5x MAX Beans
5x HP Capsule 50s
1x HP Capsule Z
4x Ki Drink Z's
5x Ki Capsule 50's
1x Ki Capsule Z
1x Double Drink 50
1x Double Drink Z
1x Double Capsule 50
1x Double Capsule Z
2x Hermit Medicines
2x Hermit Waters
4x Senzu Beans
1x Super Senzu Bean
9x Phoenix Feathers
2x Phoenix Tail Feathers
3x Shenron Scales
2x Super Sacred Water
1x Demon Bravery
38x Giant Missiles

Equip Full Necklace + Energy Necklace to Gohan and all Energy stuff to Krillin.  Use Finisher on Goku, give him LVL2 Ki and LVL3 All Abilities (absolutely VITAL for outspeeding Vegeta), and run from all fights.  For Vegeta, use this strat to end him rightly...

Step 1: After-Image
Step 2: Meteor Mash to Sparkling
Step 3: 2x Kaioken Meteor Mashes
Step 4: Shenron's Scale
Step 5: 2x Kaioken Meteor Mashes
Step 6: Hermit Medicine
Step 7: Repeat Steps 1-2
Step 8: Spam Max Beans till "I Am Vegeta!" runs out (Vegeta usually outspeeds Goku)
Step 9: After-Image (do not proceed with Step 10 until Goku's near full health)
Step 10: Kaioken Meteor Mashes
Step 11: Use Shenron's Scale while repeating steps 8-9 as necessary
Step 12: Repeat Step 10
Step 13: Demon's Bravery, then use either Double Drink Z or Ki Drink Z.  Don't defend first attack.
Step 14: Repeat Steps 9-10, and hopefully that finishes him off!
Step 13: Kaioken Meteor Mashes
Step 14: Finish Vegeta off (should take two Meteor Mashes)

Then came the Gohan and Krillin fight and...it was easy.  Like, supremely easy, to the point where I could have gotten rid of most of my healing items and STILL come out on top. Krillin always outspeeds Vegeta with the Stat and AP layout I had for him, and Y-Yajirobe and Phoenix Feathers all but trivialize the challenge of this fight.  Plus, it only took about 15 Giant Missiles (Gohan does a heck-ton of Damage with Burst Rush + Anger).  So if you're worried about this fight; don't.  It's basically one long victory dance, even with how underleveled our guys are.

Anyways, hope this helps!