EO 2 Build Thread- No gameplay, just builds!

[GilloD]

I was going to pop this into the EO2 thread, but it kind of deserves it's own talk space given that a bad build can wreck a party.

My party: Ronin/Protector Gunner/Alchemist/Medic

I'm looking for tips of building a Ronin. I never used one in EO1, so I'm kind of lost now. Tips? I'm just sort of going for the second stance for pure power.

Protector I'm building like I did in EO1: Shields/HP BGuard is the best skill in the whole game

Not sure about the gunner. Trying to divvy up my elemental skills, so I'm working Fire with the gunner. He's a stand in for the useless EO1 Woodsman

Alchemist is running Volt since I used Volt in EO1 and it rocked pretty much 99% of the time. Then I'll run up his TP.

Medic is TP up/Cure skills as needed until I start getting into Raise Dead and Elemntal Protections.

Thoughts/Concerns? I really need tips for the Ronin

[GilloD]

Thread hijack: Gillo why Volt and not Fire in EO1?

My second priority was fire. I just picked Volt first and it worked so well I never really saw a reason to stop pushing points in it. Once it got to the point where it dominated almost everything, I put points into TP Up and Fire. Fire definitely has it's uses, especially against plant life. But Volt probably had about a 1/3rd more points than Fire at any given time.

Also, not really a hijack. Pretty on topic

[Vizzys]

hmm well I used ronin in EO1 but I haven't in the sequel so i couldn't help you there. I heard they changed quite a bit however.

protector wise Im going provoke/parry combo at first then anti-whatever skills
b/fguard are good too, but I dunno, not worried yet. anyway I read provoke works 70% of the time at level 5 and 90% at 10/max. but it sucks pretty much at first (10% with one point)

as for gunner i suggest upping guns all the way obviously, then ricochet and wildshot for crowd control
there's the elemental skills if you want too, thats up to you

alchemist all im trying to do is get megido, all else is secondary, although Im focusing on fire so far

medic wise they seem the easiest, im focusing on unlocking salve skills so the basic prereqs for those being cure
then refresh/purify will come it handy

resting only takes 5 levels in this game so its a lot less punishing if you mess up IMO.

[GilloD]

Why Provoke? I always assumed it was useless in everything that wasn't an FOE encounter because by the time I Provoked someone the battle is almost over. I never used it in EO1, I'd rather F/B Guard, although working up to AGuard in lieu of either of those is probably a better idea.

[Vizzys]

when provoke/parry works, its great

actually Im kinda at a loss protector wise, they seem kinda useless in this game compared to the first

I DO kinda like the skill En Garde though, it seems whenever it activates it protects from a lot of damage, none of which harms the protector, go with that.

Smite is also a standard skill to learn ALTHOUGH the protector in my party is the third strongest right behind gunner and beast, doing mediocre damage at best

[MrAngryFace]

I love protectors ffff offf

[demi]

How do you use ANTIVOLT/ICE/FIRE in EO1? I used AntiIce (Level 5) on a Shelltor cause it casts Blizzard but for some reason it didnt null for anyone.

[The Sceneman]

I believe those skills exist solely for the 3 super dragons in the postgame content

[demi]

Ok, but how do they WORK

[The Sceneman]

I dunno I havent even bothered trying to use them yet

[GilloD]

when provoke/parry works, its great

actually Im kinda at a loss protector wise, they seem kinda useless in this game compared to the first

I DO kinda like the skill En Garde though, it seems whenever it activates it protects from a lot of damage, none of which harms the protector, go with that.

Smite is also a standard skill to learn ALTHOUGH the protector in my party is the third strongest right behind gunner and beast, doing mediocre damage at best

Protectors definitley got a downgrade in EO2. They hit for next to nill and they don't take that much less damage than everyone else. My Ronin and Gunner do more damage. I may cycle him out for a Beast when I get one.

Ronin is tricky. I'm not quite sure what to do with him. His skills are pretty "Eh", but basic melee damage is way out there, doing as much as an alchemist at this point.

[GilloD]

Anyone know what Luck is for?

As for Ronin, I'm just gonna crank HP/STR and then look at skills.

[Vizzys]

luck is for critical hits probably

[Vizzys]

hmm ok well i found terence's gamefaqs topic on protectors:

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=943642&topic=41952205

terence is a god pretty much, he helped identify some bugs which were fixed in the us version (like the one mentioned in the link above should be fixed, for example)

if you guys want anymore I'll try finding them, i think he did every class

[GilloD]

hmm ok well i found terence's gamefaqs topic on protectors:

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=943642&topic=41952205

terence is a god pretty much, he helped identify some bugs which were fixed in the us version (like the one mentioned in the link above should be fixed, for example)

if you guys want anymore I'll try finding them, i think he did every class

Even on Floor 3 at Level 7 my Protector is really showing signs of not cutting it. I think I'm gonna sub in a LandSknecht until I can get a beast in there. His damage is just abysmal and I don't feel like he's taking that much less damage. F/B Guard were hugely helpful in the past, but at the moment it's not cutting it. I can always PL him if I get to a point where I need him.

So now it's
Ronin/LandSkenecht
Gunner/Alchemist/Medic

Alchemists seem slightly less useful than they did in EO1, Medics morso, but wheres Immunize? Gunner is great, there's no reason to have a Woodsman. I could go for a Hexer or a Dark Hunter in the LS spot. Thoughts?

[GilloD]

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=943642&topic=41876704

It almost certainly seems like Beast is a great replacement for Protectors. I'm a still a little skitched on Ronins- They have some bugged skills and no single skill is useful. Their base damage is great, but they can go down easy

[GilloD]

Gillo...your alch won't seem so weak when you get Medigo (sp?).  I use his ability to deal 1000+ damage and I haven't hit the 4th stratum yet.  It's the only way I've found to kill those pumpkinheads so far as well.

I'll keep that in mind. I should start working towards that, then? Also, what's this boss trick?

[GilloD]

I popped out my Protector and Popped in a Dark Hunter. Good call, yo. Way more useful

[tiesto]

So I hear this game is like 10x harder than the first one?

[GilloD]

So I hear this game is like 10x harder than the first one?

Yes and No. It's definitley harder from a gameplay perspective- A lot of characters got Nerfed or their skills got juggled. I got killed in the first battle the first time I turned on the game and 3 floors in I still can't touch an FoE. But it's also more friendly- Suspended saves, Geomag "Poles" that allow you to enter (but not exit) the field. On the whole it is more difficult, but also a little more fair. Know your skills, go in prepared and play cautiously and you'll be fine.

[GilloD]

Gillo - bosses respawn every 14 days.  What you do is make a dummy lvl 1 character and have him rest for 14 days @ 5 en a piece, and then take your original party out to kill the bosses.  Rinse, repeat.  I was just spamming the first and second stratum bosses and I got my beast up really quick.  Now that I'm on the 4th stratum, I'll be sure to spam the third boss as well. 

That's a good one. How's the Bear working out? I'm really hinging my party of swapping him in as a Protector that doesn't blow.

[GilloD]

well, I made thie mistake of maxing out loyalty at level 10.  I did it to unlock one of his abilities that attacks multiple enemies, but it severely backfired.  My lvl 10 bear ended up guarding my lvl 45 teammates and basically died every battle

I respecced him and focused on strength, HP, claw, bodyslam, and Vit.  Honestly...either I need a respec to make him more like a protector or I need to figure out a different offensive ability to use, because claw sucks and bodyslam isn't doing as much damage as I expected.  Granted, I've only played the beast for about 3 hours and most of that was grinding bosses, but my initial feeling isn't that great.  That opinion may change when I compare his survivability to the rest of my teammates. 

Also...the agility stats are just plain fucked.  I don't know what formulas they're using, but my beast has higher agility than everyone and he still hardly ever attacks first.  My protector had agility of like 15 (compared to others with 30+) and he almost always swung first.

Why can't Atlus get the shit right?  I love love love love love this game, but the random skill/status bugs in each are annoying without the assistance of a faq (which I refuse to use until post game).

AGI is busted. It doesn't affect attack order. There were a TON of shitty bugs in the Japanese version, simple shit where like instead of reducing the enemies defense, it'd reduce your defense. There are entire skill sets that get WORSE as you put more points into them. I don't know if they fixed them all, but it looks like some of them made their way over.

Loyalty is awesome, but like you said, you have to level your bear first. Max out VIT and HP first

[Vizzys]

loyalty is a terrible skill to max

shit at lvl 1 im finding my beast take waaay too many hits for the team

not good when hes underleveled

[Vizzys]

sexist, no

everyone sane choose the medi-loli: http://kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/06/etrianfig.jpg

oh and I also choose the female gunner with jack frost on her hat

[GilloD]

The way skills are done it rarely pays to drop more than a point in. Like En Garde has a 20% activation at 1 point, but only 30% at 10 points. Is it worth 9 points for another 10%? A lot of other skills work like this, also