DRAGON QUEST IX

[magus]

i finaly reached the job changing temple and unlocked one of the extra bonus class,the gladiator... the gladiator skillset comes with HP and strenght bonus so i guess i finaly found where i'm spending all my skill points,the extra side quest in the job changing temple are a pain in the ass,three of them require you to be at level 15 in a specific class,and after i finished one of them i got another one for when i reach level 40 in that class! one of them asked me to use the cheer command a shitload of time which was very boring but at least the reward was very good for once! one of them ask me to defeat metal slimes while affected by a skill which mean that i have to waste at least a turn triggering this skill,that's a really crappy request!

anyway for those wondering the plot is more akin to DQ7 where there are tons of subplots but i'm a little disappointed,every subplot so far as been like this

spoiler (click to show/hide)

NPC A: OH NPC B! WHY YOU ARE DEAD! WOE IS ME!
NPC B IN GHOST FORM: no! npc A! you must go on!
NPC A: yes NPC B you are right!

[close]

[AdmiralViscen]

I like 3 more than 8. I couldn't get far in 8 because everything was soooo slowwwwww. Videos make this look brisk enough.

[magus]

there are achievements trough the game,i just got an achievement for getting 10 achievements

[demi]

The alchemy is sooooooooooo much better than DQ8. You can now learn recipies by reading those bookshelves you always avoided in all the other DQ games. There's also an Alchemonicon (book) that keeps tabs on your Alchemy recipies and even shows you what you need, how many you have, etc.

Only problem is you can't seem to take the alchemy pot with you, it's at the 2nd town. Maybe you get a portable one later on.

[magus]

recipe were found in bookshelf in DQ8 too!
if anything it is now impossible to guess anything since there are like 20 different ingredients and you might have guessed the ingredient correctly but not how many you need

anyway,i just discovered it's a good idea to wander around the world map,you find tons of alchemic ingredient if you explore a bit

i've got the ship and enix can never seems to get this right,suddenly battle are now random again and enemies party go up to 5 ,seriously guys why you are so fixated that battle's on sea need tons of monster? they don't! it just makes those battle boring,especialy since you move slower on sea!

UPDATE: i spent the last 2 hours gathering material so i could finaly clear some entry in the alchemicon,the steal rate are ridiculous low and in some case you need a shitload of item (for example there is a whip that require's 3 of an item for the first upgrade,5 for the second and 6 for the last upgrade that's 14 item you need to fully upgrade it!) but to be fair it's not like the game is forcing me too so i can't really complain! anyway i also unlocked another job,the ranger who apparently use long range weapon and has a bunch of useless skills! meh

i also got my first treasure map,the enemy in there were the same weaksauce that was around normal dungeon but the boss completely obliterated me which is good because so far this game has been piss easy and there haven't been many reason to spend my skill points or upgrade my equipment

[AdmiralViscen]

What are the best intro classes? Warrior Monk Mage Cleric?

[Himu]

That sounds about right to me, admiral

[Himu]

Acquired.

[Himu]

omfgggg this game is <3 already

Has 8's personality on a tiny screen <3 <3 <3 <3

[Ninja]

Played for a bit, killed 2 metal slimes, then it crashed. Might not play this again for a while.

It's pretty awesome though.

[AdmiralViscen]

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-dragon-quest-ix-sentinels-of-the-starry-skies/17-2883/

seems closer to the 2D games in speed

[demi]

I'm up to the bit where you have to get your boat. I made my sexy bear character a Gladiator so he can use axes.

Abilities still suck shit. HOWEVER, Clerics can now cast Diviniation to see how much everyone needs for EXP. No more having to run to the Church!

Equipment is still uber expensive. Holy shit. Alchemy requires too much work.

Treasure Maps and Loot Dungeons are shit. I got my first one and tried it out. I got ZERO treasures and the boss promptly railed me with its thick nigra dick. I will never try another one again.

I still prefer DQ8

[Himu]

Oh my GOOOOOOOOOOOD this game is everything I wanted.

It takes the additions from DQ8 and enhances them while at the same time giving it a more oldschool DQ feel due to the inclusion of the bar/inn player recruitment system.

Right now I've got my main character as a minstrel because it's different for a DQ lead. I've got me a mage, a priest, and a warrior in my party. I think it covers most bases. And I'll be switching to thief later on.

As for my skill allocation, I don't know what I want to concentrate on. I put points into swords so I could learn Dragon Slayer or whatever, because I figured I need a sword skill asap, but as this point, I'm considering making my main only use fans and whips witch emphasis on minstrel skills. No swords for this minstrel! Right now I'm getting my party up to speed and I'm going to buy them some new equipment.

Only meh things so far:

- The boss battle theme. Kinda lacking for a DQ boss theme especially.
- The fact that monsters move while you've got the menu open wtf
- Also, sprites being mixed with real time sprites is totally weird.

[demi]

The only things that are unique across skills are the Limit Break (i forgot the term offhand but, thats what they are) and the fourth skill tree (the ones that arent weapons). All knife skills are the same across jobs, etc.

As an example I cant find any difference between the Warrior and the Gladiator aside from the Gladiator allowing to use Axes, Hammers etc. and maybe a huge buff in strength.

Plus I'm so far into my current jobs theres no way I will bother changing any future jobs I get (which btw require distinguished mentally-challenged quests to earn. Like casting "Wizard Ward" before defeating a Metal Slime - WITH the person who casts Wizard Ward. REALLY?)

I have upwards to 30+ skill points because none of the skills are remotely appealing.

Also this game is littered with typos. "Acceleratle" - this isnt real is it?

And the bit with Lleviathan <- is that really 2 Ls? where they keep saying "youer" IT WAS SO AGGRIVATING

[Lucretius]

my sexy bear character

How do you make a bear?  I was disappointed with the character customization options.

[demi]

He's a bear when you pretend he is based off someone you know 

[Lucretius]

and who is your character based on?

[demi]

Someone I know~

[Lucretius]

when/how do I get to change my job?

[Bebpo]

The only things that are unique across skills are the Limit Break (i forgot the term offhand but, thats what they are) and the fourth skill tree (the ones that arent weapons). All knife skills are the same across jobs, etc.

As an example I cant find any difference between the Warrior and the Gladiator aside from the Gladiator allowing to use Axes, Hammers etc. and maybe a huge buff in strength.

Plus I'm so far into my current jobs theres no way I will bother changing any future jobs I get (which btw require distinguished mentally-challenged quests to earn. Like casting "Wizard Ward" before defeating a Metal Slime - WITH the person who casts Wizard Ward. REALLY?)

I have upwards to 30+ skill points because none of the skills are remotely appealing.

Also this game is littered with typos. "Acceleratle" - this isnt real is it?

And the bit with Lleviathan <- is that really 2 Ls? where they keep saying "youer" IT WAS SO AGGRIVATING

Sounds about my experience minus the typos.

[Mr. Gundam]

I guess you get a $15 gift card with this at Toy R Us, I'll get it there tomorrow.

[magus]

Alchemy requires too much work.

don't tell me,i'm OCD so i have like to alchemize everything,i think i've spent more time stealing ingredient from monsters than actualy playing the game

i think a thief is absolutely necessary if you are going to bother with alchemy,75% of the thing you need for alchemy are drop which the monster won't drop so you have to steal them,some item are found around if you explore to map but then you have to wait for them to respawn,but if you have a thief you can just steal them without having to wait! i guess you could just switch to thief,learn steal and then switch back to your class of preference but it already takes a huuuuuuuuuuge amount of try trying to steal stuff as a high level thief,i can imagine it being only more painfull for other class if your stealing rate depends on your stat! sometime's you can even steal some nice equipment!

some alchemy item tough are pretty good,i just got a bo stick with 90 attack power and as soon as i get this rock something i can upgrade it to 100! i also made a similiar fire sword!

i also defeated the treasure map boss but all i got was another treasure map... that was lame!

(which btw require distinguished mentally-challenged quests to earn. Like casting "Wizard Ward" before defeating a Metal Slime - WITH the person who casts Wizard Ward. REALLY?)

have everyone cast wizard ward,problem solved!
i have been hunting metal slime and if you simply don't bother fighting the other chump enemy they aren't that hard to find

I have upwards to 30+ skill points because none of the skills are remotely appealing.

i'm keeping my point for strenght/defense/HP buff,so basicaly i only got the HP+30 strenght+10 from the gladiator... i found a bunch of quest that require me to have a proficency of 30 in a weapon so i'm almost tempted to aim at those

i'm really liking this one,since you get to keep your skill point,you do have an incentive to switch to other job but at the same time,there isn't a job which horribly outclass every other,it feels very balanced

also there was finaly a subplot that was different from the other! allelujah!

[demi]

I guess you get a $15 gift card with this at Toy R Us, I'll get it there tomorrow.

I got this + last copy of DQV that was clearanced @ ~@22, and had a $10 off $50 coupon which made it about $40.xx

I plan on selling DQV for upwards to $60 on eBay, or I might just hang onto it.

[demi]

Another thing that pisses me off is the bosses and how they ALL get 2 turns, AND some annoying multi hit attack. I need a fuckin multiheal goddammit. I only just learned Midheal!

I got my boat, levels about 18-19 or so. Dunno where to go now, this is where my interest tapers. I need direction!

[magus]

regarding multiheal

spoiler (click to show/hide)

apparently it takes a level 38 cleric!

[close]

also if you really need direction

spoiler (click to show/hide)

your first stop should be the desert island

[close]

[demi]

I figured since thats what someone at the lighthouse said. But I still hate when they just throw you on your way.

Just give me a giant red arrow saying GO HERE (but feel free to explore other areas at your leisure)

[magus]

i've decided to teach steal to all my character,it probably isn't a wise skill point investment in term of fighting but it is in term of keeping my sanity! i just found an enemy which drop an item which let me synthetize around 4-5 new item... problem is i need 3 of it for every item!

anyway the other character don't suck as much as i would have tought,especialy the main hero who's a ministrel so if you don't want a thief,i guess teaching steal to your MC isn't a bad idea
 

[Himu]

Can someone tell me when I can change the job of my hero? I want em to have thief abilities.

[demi]

Shortly after you power up the Starlight Express.

After some story (you gain Zoom here), you go back down and wind up at the Dharma Temple (it's called like, Alltrades Abbey or something distinguished mentally-challenged). Then you do MORE story (boss fight, etc.) THEN you can change classes.

[magus]

after stealing stuff for like an hour,i finaly did a meteorite bracer trough alchemy,i gave it to my cleric and now she goes 1st 100% of the times

[Sho Nuff]

How's the translation on it, is it as good as DQ8

[tiesto]

How's the translation on it, is it as good as DQ8

It's pretty typical of the DS ones. Alliteration heavy, but thankfully the accents have been toned down compared to 4.

[demi]

How's the translation on it, is it as good as DQ8

Worse than DQ8, and the other DS games. Who translated this pap? I wish I could get paid $$$ to come up with names like "Sacksquatch" and "Purrsonifcator" - it's really getting worse over the games.

[Van Cruncheon]

mmmm, sacksquatch

[Akala]

I think I'm gonna be stuck in Baton Rouge next weekend, and may get this...the wife will be furious.

[Himu]

How do you steal?

[Himu]

Wait that's a skill? You don't learn it normally?

[Himu]

I just changed classes for the first time, Mr. Hawke. I made my Minstrel a thief because I want steal and stuff. I'm now level 5 (got to that level in like 5 minutes). I think I remember where metal slimes are. I fought some in the dungeon near Coffinwell. All I need is for my warrior to level up and get skill points because I need one point to get Metal Slash.

I'm also considering deleting my priest and mage because I don't like the way they look. I want a 100% dark skinned party. Yeah I said it.

edit: steal is probably "half-inch" in this? Can anyone confirm this?

[Himu]

game is seriously headin' in best portable rpg ever territory

best traditional rpg i've played since...lol suikoden 5 or dragon quest 8. Naw, Mother 3 was great too. Either way, it's been a while.

[Sho Nuff]

How's the translation on it, is it as good as DQ8

Worse than DQ8, and the other DS games. Who translated this pap? I wish I could get paid $$$ to come up with names like "Sacksquatch" and "Purrsonifcator" - it's really getting worse over the games.

This man

Well, at least he was the one who did DQ8

[magus]

i like the lame puns

[Himu]

you will love this, borys. it's not perfect, because of some silly additions, like making you go on distinguished mentally-challenged quests to unlock new classes but other than that, you probably won't find a better traditional rpg across ds, psp, 360, wii, or ps3 that's not a remake of some sort.

[Himu]

i like the lame puns

Ditto!

[demi]

How's the translation on it, is it as good as DQ8

Worse than DQ8, and the other DS games. Who translated this pap? I wish I could get paid $$$ to come up with names like "Sacksquatch" and "Purrsonifcator" - it's really getting worse over the games.

(Image removed from quote.)

This man

Well, at least he was the one who did DQ8

Well someone must have replaced him cause this translation is pooplog*.

* Translator's Note: Pooplog is the name of an enemy later in in the game

[magus]

i think i'm getting somewhere near the end because the game has stopped feeding me subplot's and has instead decide to go with a single ultra-generic plot

my party is around level 35,i FINALY found a piece of armor that's stronger that the john lennon garb i got from the ministrel quest so FINALY my hero doesn't look ridiculous! and uh... what else,i've fused tons of shit and it gets harder and harder to get ingredient,i've also tried the online shop and i bought a dangerous garment,it seems useless but i guess that was the only way to get it (the shop also sells alchemy ingredient so it can save you some work) i've also discovered there is a limit to quest you can take,so now i'm forced to solve some quest if i want to get new one in

[Himu]

lmao

bebpo and whoever else crying about metalslimes and level 1 recruits am babby

made my minstrel a thief for thief skills, made a new priest and mage because i wanted dark skinned lasses.

Got to past level 10 + in just a few minutes

[Sho Nuff]

pooplog wtf

[magus]

lmao

bebpo and whoever else crying about metalslimes and level 1 recruits am babby

made my minstrel a thief for thief skills, made a new priest and mage because i wanted dark skinned lasses.

Got to past level 10 + in just a few minutes

well to be fair,as i said i soloed the first bit of the game so i had a level 15 MC with a bunch of level 1... it took forever before everyone evened out at level 30!

[Himu]

I'm still curious how the fuck you missed that you get new characters from the inn.

Anyways, getting new classes blows. Hit a *metal slime* with a spell? Are you shitting me?

[demi]

You dont hit it with a spell. You have to do this:

* Cast Wizard Ward (waste a turn)
* Kill Metal Slime with person who casted Wizard Ward

[Himu]

wait, i got the quests wrong. You can use any move to make the final blow right?

edit: gotcha

[Himu]

I'm hopelessly addicted to this game.

ditto

[Himu]

oh my god this quest is beyond annoying. I have to HOPE that my warrior does 3 damage to the metal slime so that my mage can kill it with the final blow. Last fight, my warrior hit it for 3 hp and winded up KILLING IT. wtf 4 hp please, wtf.

this quest is so shitty that I know it was level 5's idea

[magus]

I'm still curious how the fuck you missed that you get new characters from the inn.

Anyways, getting new classes blows. Hit a *metal slime* with a spell? Are you shitting me?

well i would have gotten a hint if i wasn't still wrecking everything

oh my god this quest is beyond annoying. I have to HOPE that my warrior does 3 damage to the metal slime so that my mage can kill it with the final blow. Last fight, my warrior hit it for 3 hp and winded up KILLING IT. wtf 4 hp please, wtf.

this quest is so shitty that I know it was level 5's idea

himu i told it to demi too,give wizard ward to everyone so it doesn't matter who give the final blow
being of a decent level also helps a lot since you can scare the other enemy away and also have higher chance to go before the metal slime

anyway i'm pretty sure this is the last story dungeon which is cool since i really really want to get to the juicy post game,tough maybe i'm just being a prick but i think there is a huge plot hole in this one

[Himu]

I'll look into it since I made a Steel Spear, but right now Metal Slash is working for me.

[magus]

i've cleared several treasure map and it's always the same
a dungeon with no decent loot,the same horse boss at the end,which give me another treasure map upon defeat of the boss
wtf is with that?

[Ninja]

I killed two metal slimes in a row at around level 15. They don't seem that hard.

[magus]

The drop rates for the other items are pretty low, unfortunately. Typically 15% or 5% for the even rarer ones.
As you get higher level treasure maps, they get harder, you find some unique enemies that are not in any other areas, and you can get better items. Plus they have different bosses.

yea but how do i get better maps?
anyway one of my map has metal medley on them,so maybe i should abuse it so i can reach level 40 and solve the other job quest before tackling the final boss
oh by the way i couldn't find anyone giving me a warrior related quest,anyone know where it is?

[magus]

if this youtube japanese playtrough is to be believed nazam village is wormwood creek here,but the only job related quest i could find there was priest and not warrior!

[magus]

i've found the warrior quest but at this point i would be happier if i didn't
the quest require me to score a critical hit on an enraged monster two times
this would be already an incredibly huge pain in the ass,if it asked to just score two critical hit but the monsters have to be enraged? i don't have the slighest clue how to make that happen! it usualy happens when another monster die because of a critical hit! is the game really asking me to do two critical hit in a row in the same battle twice?