Etrian Odyssey - DS GOTY?

[Error2k4]

how many levels per stratum, and how many levels total?

5 floors per stratum, 30 floors in total

[tiesto]

'bout how long does this game take to finish? I'm gonna pick it up when I'm done with Gurumin.

[MrAngryFace]

Money is not a problem, things to buy is a problem

Troubs are badass.

[Error2k4]

'bout how long does this game take to finish? I'm gonna pick it up when I'm done with Gurumin.

I'll give a rough estimate, I say 50 hours or maybe more depending on your playing style.

this is the kind of game where you cant and probably wont be able to rush through it. you just take it slowly and explore every inch and corner, do every quest etc.. etc..

[Vizzys]

hmm

Ive played this almost inhuman amounts of hours the past two days...

boost points, I believe are obtained from defeating FOE's, not sure but they are pretty helpful.

I switched out my dark hunter for a landschnekt and have leveled him up to 14ish. Most of my characters are near 17 I believe, too lazy to check atm

My current party is

Protector - Landsknecht - Survivalist
         Alchemist -Medic

My protector does well, the protecting. F.Shield and B.Shield are really handy, as is the provoke/parry combo when it works.

Landsknecht is the power guy, does more damage at a lower level then all my other people when it comes to physical damage. Tornado is pretty handy move.

Survivalist has that move that lowers enemy accuracy which has kept him around so far. Multihit and Trueshot are pretty powerful as well.

Alchemist - well Ive made him center around fire, he has fire/flare/inferno as well as basic ice/volt in case they are needed. Probably my most powerful character.

My medic has cure 1/2/3 and salve, which is soo much better then cure considering it cost only one more tp to use atm and heals everyone. pretty much a given to have a medic around. Still need revive however, working on that

So far I have gotten to Fenrirs lair and got my ass kicked pretty hard. Probably because after a while the other wolves (skolls? i noticed they are harder then regular wolves, if only enough to be more annoying) join in and fuck me up. I need to kill those fucks off first.

A cheap way to get money I read somewhere  is to make five survivalists and use all their skill points on chop, go to that wood area on bf1 (through that secret passage way if you have found it) and chop to your hearts content. Sell all the stuff you get and you will make roughty 500-800 a day. it costs 8en to sleep at the inn for all your low level survivialists and you make a huge fucking profit.

very handy. maybe even game breaking.

I have done all the quests so far but the lvl 20 landschnekt one.

[Vizzys]

anyway about boost points since I didnt elaborate, they seem to add damage to your attacks, both physical and elemental

also attacks with a percentage of doing something extra seem greatly increased

I believe an alchemist using boost can poison anything 100% of the time, and thats just one usage of boost.

[MrAngryFace]

There's potions for boost points.

My groups level 16 across the board, only things I cant beat on level 3 are two slashers whatever at a time. I ALSO have too much money. 3000 right now and nothing to buy. I did get a new charm from the scythe item but other than that..

I grind a lot tho, going to run through the 4th floor tonight maybe, but .Hack is calling me.

[Beezy]

I haven't had time to play as much as you guys yet. My 5 main party members are all level 7-8 and the last thing that I did was kill the first FOE that you encounter. His confusion move pissed me off, but I still kept everyone still survived.

The game is extremely addictive though. I dropped everything else that I've been playing for this.

[MrAngryFace]

2nd FOE type is easier, he just hits hard. 3rd FOE type required my party be at level 15, but I cant take two of them on at once. the FOE on level 4 are easy but also travel in packs.

[Error2k4]

A cheap way to get money I read somewhere  is to make five survivalists and use all their skill points on chop, go to that wood area on bf1 (through that secret passage way if you have found it) and chop to your hearts content. Sell all the stuff you get and you will make roughty 500-800 a day. it costs 8en to sleep at the inn for all your low level survivialists and you make a huge fucking profit.

very handy. maybe even game breaking.

not at all, actually the game encourages you to have a party for dungeon clearing and another for item gathering.

[MrAngryFace]

Some games actually want you to min/max

[Vizzys]

I suppose its not game breaking since you must obtain the materials to get the better items to buy. So you are still forced to venture out there.

I dont play many games like this so whateva

[The Sceneman]

Man this game sounds cool. I'll have to track down a copy

[MrAngryFace]

I dont see why you need to, I never run out of money these days.

[Beezy]

This game owns my soul. I really need to get to the next stratum though. I'm getting tired of seeing the same green background over and over.

Can someone tell me where to find Pyroxene? I found it once earlier on in the game and sold it, but now that I need it for a quest, I can't find it anywhere. I can't get enough gum hides either.

[Vizzys]

you have to mine for it on the 5th floor i believe.

gum hides are from those armadillo lookin things

[Beezy]

Hmm, I could've sworn that I got pyroxene before. I guess I was mistaking something else for it. Oh well. I'm up ot the 5th floor anyway. I finally got enough gum hides too from fighting war bulls. My party is level 17 now.

[disgruntled_jojo]

'THE BEAST FALLS, but alas poor Franc missed out on the MEGA experience. Maybe nex time Franc -- maybe next time ...'

pwnt

Actually your description makes me want to try this game...

[MrAngryFace]

Its a fun game! If it wasnt for my .HACK CHALLENGE id be playing it more. I FOLLOW THROUGH ON MY PROMISES!

[bluemax]

So I got this from Gamefly on Saturday. Seems pretty fun and addicting in that old school sort of way. I'm tempted to buy it so I can give it to my dad, he loves this sort of game (he used to play Bard's Tale on C64 all the time).

[MrAngryFace]

Buy it before its hard to find lol.

[Vizzys]

Played some more. LOTS more.

beat fenrir, second stratum was waaaay easier, even the boss. On the third now. And I have an itching suspicion my party will be fighting that ronin and hexer down the line some time. I'm 99% sure of it.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

100% now that i checked.

[close]

Anyway I fucking hate the third stratum.

goddamn ants. fuck them.

I went into their lair and probably killed 16 of them FOEs (bloodants who call for deathant support)  more FOE's kept joining in again and again until I ran like a bitch after a few good hours of holding them off.)

My party is around level 34 each. Got the scroll to allow ronin making but I wont bother until I can use 6 people. If or when that ever happens. does it?

[The Sceneman]

Sweet my copy of this arrived today. Seems like a really great game so far (Im about 1/2 an hour in) Loving the music, rockin' 16-bit style tunes are always sweet. Was cruising around the first stratum grinding those rattata lookalikes and bugs and shit filling out out the map for the first mission, then the game asks me if I want to relax in the flowers so I say yes, then 3 badass venom bugs bust out and waste my whole party. This is the kind of shit you want in games

edit: lol Viz my party is identical to yours

And from the gaf thread:

Although, I think mostly it has to do with the fact I wasted all my money on buying weapons and stuff without even checking to see if I already had them. Also I didn't realize putting people in the back lessened their ATK and upped their DEF.

Is this the first rpg he's played or something?   :sp0rsk1

[MrAngryFace]

Sporks am special total lol

[The Sceneman]

well he clearly doesnt know shit about gaming, and is a loser. The sporks show is a testament to that.

Well Im at work now and Im dying for my lunch break so I get an hour in on this... only played for about 45 mins since I got it and Im already pretty addicted.

Should I swap out my Survivalist for a Troub? If their attacks have the same power it seems like a pretty good idea. My party isnt actually 100% like Viz's, instead of a Protector I have one of thise Dark attackers or what ever they are called. I read earlier on that these guys you have to build them specifically or else they are kinda useless... should I swap this guy for a protector? Tips would be appreciated

[Beezy]

My Protector has saved my crew from dying in FOE and boss battles countless times. I can't imagine trying to play through the game without one.

[Vizzys]

survivalist become really handy, not sure about troubs but I wouldnt switch them out personally

keep a protector for sure

[The Sceneman]

Sweet as I'll keep my Survivalist, mines called 'Big Ray' so I want to keep him lol. My dark dude 'Steve' can get the chop I think, I'll replace him with a protector. My crew is only level 3-4 so its no biggie

[Vizzys]

I remember a time when getting jumped by three moles meant death.

That time has long since passed.

Now I can take on multiple F.O.E.'s (youll see what I mean)

[The Sceneman]

Okay Ive pretty much mapped out the 2nd floor now, killed all the stupid Jackalope FOE characters roaming around. This game has got me by the balls for real. Soooo damn addictive. And good!

[Vizzys]

if you encounter a stalker on b3, best run away, they will rape you

[The Sceneman]

yeah the game even warned me about those fuckers with some text and some evil music and shit. What level do you have to be at to take them down?

[Vizzys]

I would not suggest it till you reach a few more levels down

i dont know the exact level they become easy honestly, but they are tougher then most of the FOE's in the first stratum

[Error2k4]

picked this up again couldnt play for almost a month because of work. almost done with the 3rd stratum, I like how the game still throws some new stuff at different floors.

b14f is pretty fucking tricky btw. if the battle last for more than 2 turns a FOE will join the battle automatically making a normal battle go from easy to 'omg Im going to die here'

still my goty so far.

[The Sceneman]

I mananged to beat a stalker fairly comfortably at lvl 17. Fenrir is giving me a hard time though, Ive manged to drop him in battle but then his cronies rape me   Oh well, back for another go

[Vizzys]

yeah, kill all the skolls (wolves) you can before fenrir, some are behind him and are unreachable however

[The Sceneman]

sweet Im up to the 2nd stratum now, this game owns my soul, I played for about 7 hours yesterday, this shit is soooo damn good. Any of you guys finished it yet? Is there a play time counter?

[Error2k4]

ditching my alchemist and probably the dark hunter too but Im not sure yet. really need a bard now, the alchemist is awesome for clearing dungeons floors and stuff but for actual boss fights, the alchemists sucks because you really need a character that can provide support to the whole party like a bard.

grinding in this game is not that tedious specially when you can fight bosses again for some sweet exp. my ronin went from level 15 to level 25 when I fought the 3rd stratum boss again but this time with 3 party members only (a hell of a fight too)

4th stratum has kicks ass music and a new battle theme.

[The Sceneman]

Didnt play this for a week and picked it up agian today. AAAAArrgghHH gotta remember to not take on unfamiliar FOEs when I havent saved in 40 minutes... got my party up two levels, got a heap more of the map uncovered and got to B9F. Then this Red snuffleupagus elephant motherfucker jumps my party, just aobut killed him, then he raped my medic so I was like oh fuck better run... but my 8 escape attempts failed and he totals my party  :'(   explorers guild 'Hang On' got PWNED

[hyp]

fuck this game.  i ended up sleeping at 4am after a crazy grind session.

man, that fucker in B3F is pissing me off.  so many times i accidentally ran into him after a load of progress.  is there any way to warp back to town besides the warp wire (which i used already).  i'd create a new character for that spell alone.

[Error2k4]

I think the bard has a move that transports you to the previous floor or something. you should always have a warp wire, they are cheap anyway.

[Beezy]

besides the warp wire (which i used already).

So buy more. They're cheap enough.

[Error2k4]

you only need one actually, more than 1 would just take space in an already limited inventory.

[The Sceneman]

I find my main problem is forgetting to pack a warp wire lol. Ive had a few times where Ive pretty much run my party ragged and opened up the item screen to warp, then helloooooo I forgot to buy one last time I was in town. And I didnt have enough TP or items to survive the trip back on foot  :'(

[The Sceneman]

I wasted that Elephant motherfucker last night, for revenge

[hyp]

besides the warp wire (which i used already).

So buy more. They're cheap enough.

glad they'll be available to buy.   that's been my main gripe w/ the game so far, backtracking is a bitch

[The Sceneman]

?? They should be available to buy, providing you reported your success of the 1st mission (mapping to 1st floor) to Radha Hall. the guy gives you a letter to hand to Shilleka, who in turn will start selling you warp wires for 100en. They are under the Items menu in her shop.

[Error2k4]

the other side of b7f is ridiculous. there was a shortcut there and when I was going to open it, I got killed arghhhhhhhhhhh

now I have to go to b11f and keep going up till I reach b7f again

[Error2k4]

I like how the shortcuts are in the places where they make the most sense.

[The Sceneman]

FUCK THIS SHIT whatever you do dont do the other half of B5, 4, and 3  Spend about an hour grinding and mapping out all the extra shit then BAM this Golem mutherfucker turns up and rapes me and I cant fucking escape! Im not playing this for a while 

[Error2k4]

dude it's a black sphere, of course it's going to be one tough motherfucker. tho I'm not sure if he jumps on you and attacks right away or if he lets you go.

pretty sure it's the latter tho, since I saw it once then went back healed my party and fought him later got my ass kicked of course.

there are three types of FOEs in the game

orange - these are most of the time pretty easy and you can beat them without much trouble if you are careful

red - these ones are tough tho, they can kill you if you are not well prepared to face one. they usually guard a specific area.

black - toughest of all, the boss-level baddies in the game.

[The Sceneman]

Hey I didnt know about the colours of FOE... thanks for the tip.

But yeah I might 'rest' this game for a few days to get back to the other carts marinating in my backlog. Age of Empires is pretty damn attractive right now. I completed 60% of the campaign missions, might go back and try and complete the game. Cooking Mama can go to hell. Ouendan 2 is only coming out once Ive been puffing some serious green shit

[The Sceneman]

FOE, FOE, All I want for christmas is an FOE

[Beezy]

Age of Empires is pretty damn attractive right now. I completed 60% of the campaign missions, might go back and try and complete the game.

I told you it was great.

[hyp]

?? They should be available to buy, providing you reported your success of the 1st mission (mapping to 1st floor) to Radha Hall. the guy gives you a letter to hand to Shilleka, who in turn will start selling you warp wires for 100en. They are under the Items menu in her shop.

hmmm, don't think they're available yet and i'm way past that part.  i'll have to check again, maybe my eyes are tweakin' out.

[Error2k4]

4th section of the Labyrinth is very confusing and awesome. totally makes you adjust because the floors here are not as straightfoward as the previous ones.

this section remind me of Nocturne's dungeons.

[The Sceneman]

?? They should be available to buy, providing you reported your success of the 1st mission (mapping to 1st floor) to Radha Hall. the guy gives you a letter to hand to Shilleka, who in turn will start selling you warp wires for 100en. They are under the Items menu in her shop.

hmmm, don't think they're available yet and i'm way past that part.  i'll have to check again, maybe my eyes are tweakin' out.

Please do, Im really concerned about this, hyp. Let me know how you get on

[The Sceneman]

Age of Empires is pretty damn attractive right now. I completed 60% of the campaign missions, might go back and try and complete the game.

I told you it was great.

Damn skippy. Im up to the Saladin campaign now which Im finding to be pretty enjoyable. Only gripe with this game is the Music, too damn repetitive. They should have had a playlist of like 15 tracks or something like the PC game, I dont see why they didnt do it, it sucks having the same muisc play over and over and over

[Beezy]

True. The music is good, but it gets boring when you have to hear the same song for 5-6 missions straight. Especially since some of the missions can take hours to complete.

[The Sceneman]

Time to bump this thread, bitches.

This game honestly keeps getting better and better. B14F is amazing! Basically Im desperate to get to the 5th stratum as Error says the music rocks and theres a new battle theme.