================ VAGRANT STORY Introduction FAQ ================ by Henry H. Jerng on March 14th, 2000 at hjerng@leland.stanford.edu CONTENTS I. Personal Notes II. Vagrant Story A. Story Introduction B. Charaction Introduction C. Script to the Introduction III. Gameplay A. Screen Display B. Controls C. Battles I. PERSONAL NOTES To begin, Vagrant Story (SCPS 45486) was created by Square Co., Ltd. Most of the information contained within this FAQ were translated from respective sources, which retain the original copyright to the material. The story translations came from the manual and the game itself, the screen display and controls sections came from the manual, and the Battle section was translated from the Vagrant Story Guide for the Beginners, which is published by DigiCube. The information provided here is mostly meant to introduce Vagrant Story to all the brave souls who have valiently imported this game (Brave indeed. This game has an enormous amount of Japanese text.) I hope you will learn something from reading this and allow it to enrich your enjoyment of the game. The strategy portion of this introduction was included to aid anyone, playing either the import or domestic versions of this game, in learning how to improve his/her game. Enjoy. Vagrant Story is, in my opinion, the best Squaresoft strategy game since Final Fantasy Tactics. Henry IA: STORY INTRODUCTION One day, the manor belonging to Duke Bardorba, senior statesman of the Valendia kingdom, was seized by a cult group known as Mullencamp. While some fell victim to violence, this incident was brought to a close in less than a night. However, the whereabouts of Sydney Losstarot, the leader of Mullencamp and its purported ringleader, became unknown, and the true motive behind the manor's occupation remained unexplained. Then, another incident occurred one week later. Duke Bardorba, who had escaped from harm in the previous take-over incident because he happened to be at his second residence, was murdered by someone. Ashley Riot, a Riskbreaker posted at the Valendia Knights of Peace (VKP), had participated in the resolution of the occupation incident. It was decided by the government that Ashley would be pursued as the suspect in the Duke's murder, but Ashley had disappeared and left no tracks. The only clue is the place where he visited in the interim between the occupation incident and the Duke's murder. That was the sealed evil city of Lea Monde... During its most prosperous period, more than 5000 people lived in this city. However, about 20 or so years ago, an earthquake had forever sealed its history, one that lasted more than 2000 years. Moreover, the crevices and whirling tides created by the earthquake had severed the city completely from the outside world. The surface became a mess from the earthquake. The underground, where once monks made a living carving out stones, was broadened without turning it into a cave. The city completely became a gigantic maze. You will become Ashley at that critical time and experience the one week period from the occupation incident until the Duke's murder. Did he really murder the Duke as the government charged? And, what happened in the evil city of Lea Monde? Only you, as Ashley, can discover the truth. IB: CHARACTER INTRODUCTIONS Real Name: Ashley Riot Age: Late 20's Height: 181 cm Job: Felony Division of the Valendia Knights of Peace (VKP) Ashley is the hero of this story. After graduating from the VKP academy at the top of his class, Ashley worked actively as someone borned into society's elite. After his wife and son were murdered by desperados, he transferred to the Felony Division (aka Riskbreaker) which deals with the most dangerous assignments inside VKP. For Riskbreakers, dealing with danger regularly is the norm. Therefore, it is actually said the chances of returning alive from a mission is about 30%, but Ashley never loses his cool in any situation and had success in many missions. Occupation of Duke Bardorba's manor by the religious cult Mullencamp turns Grayland into the backdrop for our story, and then the murder of the Duke a week later... It is thought that Ashley alone holds the key to solving the mystery behind these related events. Moreover, at the same time he is an important suspect in the Duke's murder. Why would Ashley, a man who continued his life as a Riskbreaker in order to avenge his lovely wife and son, stain his hands in crime? The truth is expected to become clearer as you progress further in the game. Alias: Sydney Losstarot Age: Unknown (Late 20's?) Height: 178 cm Job: Mullencamp religious order Sydney is the organizer of Mullencamp religious cult, which worships the ancient sorcerer Mullencamp. A self-styled prophet, Sydney speaks of the depravity of man and eschatology. He is said to possess mysterious powers to correctly guess the pasts of people he just met, and to bring others under his will. However, people who obey him and mesmorized by his fiercely powerful charisma seems endless. Sydney unexpectedly seized Duke Bardorba's manor in Grayland and demanded the Pope's dismissal and the release of his jailed comrades, in exchange for the Duke's family and his servants. However, his real objective seemed to be something else. Through this occupation incident, Riskbreaker Ashley encounters Sydney, and that was just an encounter of fate...... Real Name: Romeo Guildenstern Age: 34 Height: 179 cm Job: Holy Knight Romeo is the leader of the Crimson Blade, a group of knights under the Pope's direct control. His demeanor shows a knight polished with the utmost refinement, and apparently for the sake of justice there is no too little a sacrifice. The reason why he intervened in the Duke's case is not certain. And the Crimson Blade, under his command, followed Sydney and infiltrated the city of Lea Monde. The overwhelming military force is more than sufficient to subjugate Lea Monde in one swoop. If that is the case, what is the Pope's intentions...? And what is Guildenstern's own true motive...? IC: INTRODUCTION SCRIPT VKP Headquarter Valnain, 0:24 AM (Two men and a woman sit at a conference table in a darkened room. Ashley stands in the dark, leaning against the wall.) Man, on the left: ... It was about 6 hours ago when Duke Bardorba's manor was seized. The ringleader of the group responsible is Sydney Losstarot, the organizer and founder of a religious group called Mullencamp. As we speak, they are continuing their occupation and holding the Duke's family and his servants hostage. Woman, on the right: ... Their aim behind the seizure? Man, on the left: They have two demands. The release of their jailed comrades, and the resignation of Pope Badouizm. Ashley: VKP doesn't feel like freeing their friends? Man, in the middle: Of course. Although we only caught their tail, it took many agents----- Man, on the left: It's all because we recognize the freedom of religion. God doesn't come in the form of one person. Because we let these people who believe in heresies like this run wild, incidents like this will happen. That utterly incompetent government assembly...... Man, in the middle: ......Strike that from the record. Voice from behind him: Yes, sir. Ashley: ...Whatever the cause, this case is caused by a cult group. What's the reason for us to be involved? Man, in the middle: ...... Woman, on the right: ...Based on research done by our analysis team, we suspect that Mullencamp's source of funding is Duke Bardorba himself. Man, in the middle: The Duke is one of the heroes that brought Valendia's civel war to an end, but at the same time he is a fixer who leads a dark history. He retired for the reason of health, but even now the Duke's influence over the assembly cannot be fathomed. (Lightening strikes, revealing a group of men cloaked in darkness.) Man in shodow: ...Up to now, he was overlooked. We want to put an end to that now. Man, in the middle: ...Furthermore, the Pope's office had sent a squad of knights and intervened unannounced against us in this matter. I want to know why. Analyst Hatred, explain. Woman, on the right: Please go to Grayland at once. In your coach you will find a map of the Duke's manor. Incidentally, a member from the intelligence analysis office is already on her way to the scene. Please get the details from her. Ashley: Her? Woman, on the right: Agent Melrose. (SCENE CHANGE) Duke Bardorba's Manor Graylands, 1:58 AM (A woman observes the towering manor from a distance among a cluster of trees. Ashley approaches.) Melrose: Are you agent Riot? I'm your partner, Callo Melrose. You can call me Callo. Nice to meet you. Ashley: (walking past her, without making a friendly gesture) How many people? Melrose: We confirmed 12. Of course, since we haven't seen Sydney yet, I suppose there is many more terrorists inside the residence. Ashley: The hostages? Melrose: The Duke's family and his servants. A total of 34. The lucky Duke himself is away and thus unharmed. Ashley: The Duke is not caught? Melrose: No. Ashley: Our knights squad's plan? Melrose: For now, they're just watching and waiting. Other than saving the hostages, it's still too dangerous to take any direct action. While continuing negotiations with Sydney, they're just investigating a solution strategy by gathering every little information about the inside...... (The manor is on fire.) Melrose: What's going on!? Ashley: It looks like they started the assault... Those armors and helmets aren't VKP's... Must be the Pope's knight squad...... Melrose: We are not giving out such an order! This is our operation! They are disregarding orders. Ashley: ...There's probably something that just can't wait. (walkding off.) Melrose: Wait. Where do you think you're going? Ashley: I'm riding this chaos and infiltrating the manor. Melrose: That is too dangerous! You should wait until back-up arrives! Ashley: Back-up? I AM the back-up... (AFTER STARTING THE GAME...) Duke Bardorba's Manor Graylands, 2:32 AM Romeo: Did you find Sydney? Knight: Not yet. Romeo: (after walking to the window) ...Put out the fire. Or else the entire building will burn to the ground. There's no meaning in that. Divide up the knight squad in two. Have one crush the resistance and the other put out the fire. Knight: Yes, sir. At once. Romeo: .........Sydney, where are you? (Ashley gets in and brings down the gate which crashes with a loud thump.) Man in black: ...Yes! Set the room on fire! Kill the hostages to set an example. Understood? Hooded man: Yes, sir! (Man in black walks into the cathedral. Ashley can be seen hiding behind some draped boxes.) Bearded man: ...There's no time. We've got to it before the company of knights get here. Hooded man: Yeah. Soon all the scores will be settled... (Ashley moves, and the box drops. The two men turn to look.) Who's there!! (The men head toward Ashley.) Ashley: ...It's unavoidable. (An easy fight ensues. This is the perfect opportunity to practice fighting for the first time.) (Ashley walks inside the cathedral and stands next to the door, listening.) Voice: ...So? Did you find it? Another voice: No. I don't know. I can't find such a thing anywhere. Voice: All right. Keep looking! Another voice: That's unreasonable, Sydney! The company of knights is coming! Voice: Are you complaining now!? If we don't have IT, then all this would have been for nothing! ...Find it quickly! (Three men rush out the door...) Sydney: Damn you Duke! Where in hell did you hide it!! Man in black: Does the Duke really have it? On second thought, does such a thing really exist...? Sydney: Do you doubt me, Hardin!? Do you doubt my powers?! Hardin: So, sorry. That's not what I meant... B, but, Sydney, if this keeps up, we won't be able to escape. Sydney: ...Tse, understood. Bring the kid hostage! (Hardin walks away. Ashley sneaks in the room.) Ashley: Don't move, Sydney! My bowgun is aimed right at your heart! (Sydney raises his hands. Ashley slowly walks toward him, pointing his bowgun.) Ashley: Turn slowly toward me. Sydney: (after turning around) ......You're not a knight? (Ashley tosses out a set of ropes.) Ashley: Tie your feet with that rope. Sydney: (backing up) Riskbreaker...... Royal watchdog. Ashley: Didn't you hear me? Well, tie them quickly! (pointing his bowgun.) Sydney: Oh, the Duke will regret this......! (He turns around and grabs his sword... Making his attack.) Ashley: Stop!! (He fires an arrow, shooting Sydney through the heart. Sydney falls to the ground. Ashley stoops over Sydney's body, leaning over to check his pulse. Hardin walks in, holding a child.) Hardin: Sydney! (Running toward Ashley... Ashley turns and is knocked to the ground by Sydney.) Sydney: You're... mine...... Hardin,... you... go... to Lea Monde... quickly...... (Hardin turns and walks away.) Ashley: Wait!! (Sydney attacks. Ashley retreats and pulls out his sword.) Ashley: ...How is it possible? I am sure you were dead. Resurrection is only a fairytale... (Sydney pulls out the arrow that pierced his heart and kneels...) Sydney: ...I can't... The wound... is too deep...... (looking at Ashley) I wonder... even as you witness this... if you still... think it's a fairytale...? (Screaming) Deeto!! (A dragon crashes through the stained glass ceiling and lands between Sydney and Ashley. Sydney turns and walks away. The dragon has been struck by several arrows, including one through its right eye.) Sydney: ...It's too bad that... I don't have the time... to fight you... right now...... (Sydney jumps through the stained glass window) (A few chops at the dragon's head, and it is history. Ashley walks to the window and looks out.) Ashley: Lea Monde...... (The sun rises. Its rays penetrate the broken window. Display title: Vagrant Story) (Text) The body is but a vessel for the soul, a puppet which bends to the soul's tyranny. And lo, the body is not eternal, for it must feed on the flesh of others, lest it return to the dust whence it came. Therefore must the soul deceive, despise, and murder men------A. J. Durai (CHANGE SCENE) Duke: ......So, I hear that the men who subjugated the terrorists were from the Pope's office, not the Royal Knight squad. Knight: (kneeling) It was the Holy Knight squad, led by Guildenstern. Duke Bardorba's Second Residence Graylands, 5:38 AM Advisor: The squad under the Pope's direct control, the one called Crimson Blade. Knight: I am here to report that Guildenstern has headed toward Lea Monde, following Sydney. Duke: ...... Hmm.... I ordered someone to slip on a suit of Holy Knight armor and try to set the residence on fire. Advisor: Fire... Sir? Duke: It was done so we can make good use of someone who saw that. Advisor: But, your wife and others were taken hostage...... Duke: Don't meddle. Set the fire! Turn everything into ashes! ......Any action from the assembly? Knight: The VKP (Valendia Knights of Peace) has assigned its felony management team. Duke: Riskbreaker...... Now that troublesome group is involved. Knight: What shall be done about this? Duke: ......I'll leave Lea Monde to you. Don't let them come out of Lea Monde. Dispose of Sydney and Crimson Blade. Knight: And the assembly? Duke: As for those watchdogs, I'll try to manage somehow. Other than this, don't let them trouble us. Knight: What about Joshua? Duke: ......That's my soul. Why I must not die...... Knight: As you wish. (He gets up and leaves.) Duke: ......Is it my fate to rot while alive? (CHANGE SCENE) 11:42 AM (Melrose sees two bodies.) (Text) Lea Monde is an old town, with a history of over 2,000 years. Its walls have seen many battles- they are stronger than the mightiest forts of Valendia, and as the sun wheels through the sky, the beauty of their shifting colors surpasses that of any palace. The grand cathedral that towers over the town center is a symbol of Lea Monde's indomitable spirit, and is the holy ground of the devout Iocus priesthood. At its height, Lea Monde was a thriving community of more than 5,000 people strong. 25 years ago, a great earthquake brought that chapter in Lea Monde's history to a close. Lea Monde Ashley: (walking out of an entrance) ...What did you find? Melrose: Two men from the surveillance team were killed. Ashley: ...Is that so... (thinking about the undergound passage way...) Is this the only way? Melrose: To say the least, it's unreasonable from the surface. There is a huge crevice, and you can't approach the city this way. Ashley: From the sea? Melrose: The reefs born out of the earthquake seems to have changed the ocean current. There are now whirlpools everywhere, and infiltrating the town this way is impossible. In fact, we have sent agents to that town to enter Mullencamp's hideout. However, no one returned...... Ashley: It wasn't the whirlpool's fault that no one came back, was it...... Melrose: Nope. In short, what killed them were people. How was it inside? Ashley: We'll know if we try going in...... (Both walk down and enter.) (Text) According to the survivors, our comrades Agent Riot headed out for Lea Monde before noon. Of course, the reports are vague and we cannot deny the possibility of inaccuracies. Yet, given that there is only one path to infiltrate Lea Monde, this office believes the reports to be valid. (Ashley and Melrose find two dead bodies. Melrose turns to look at Ashley.) Melrose: ...What happened here? Ashley: It's my job to investigate that... You're making too much of this, even if it's just a wine cellar. Melrose: Hey, wine from Lea Monde could match those from Valendia. In fact, because they are not made now, premium wines are sold at high prices. (Ashley opens the gate.) Ashley: ...If I find any, I promise to get you one as a souvenir. Melrose: You intend to go alone? Ashley: An agent without actual combat experience will only be in the way. Melrose: ...... Ashley: Tell me what you know about Mullencamp and Sydney. Melrose: ...Sydney Losstarot. Organizer of the religious group known as Mullencamp. Real name and age, unknown. A self-styled prophet preaching eschatology among other things. Ashley: Why would the missionary of a cult group commit this kind of crime? Melrose: I don't know what the Pope's office thinks, but in short the VKP cannot arrest him as a prophet. His dark existence teaches us the darkside of Duke Bardorba, who controls the assembly in the shadows...... The cult is a magic coat that makes the Duke invisible. I wonder if this case is where they part ways? Ashley: ...The reason for the Pope's office to act is just a "witch hunt"? Melrose: ......There are many self-styled prophets these days, but Sydney is special. This man preaches gospels filled with prophecy and God's revelations and speaks of the Revelations like popular music. Believers mesmorized by him all say the same thing: "He is a miracle". Ashley: ...... Melrose: ...Whatever they may say, it does seem as if he has mysterious powers. Correctly guessing the pasts of people in first meetings, and reading their hearts...... In addition, it seems people who faced his fierce charisma are willing to give him their body and soul. Ashley: ...It sounds like something I've said about my lover once. (He heads in.) Melrose: Agent Riot!! Ashley: Wait for 24 hours. If I don't come back, contact headquarters. (The gate closes.) Melrose: Be careful. (Melrose steps up the stairs and finds Sydney stairing down at her, smiling.) (Text) ...We sent men to monitor the abandoned mineshaft that leads to Lea Monde. All were found dead. At the entrance another body wass found, a knight of the Pope's Crimson Blade squad. Our men were murdered with swords, but the knight's wounds show he died by his own hands. At present, we have taken the bodies in our custody, and our specialists are continuing the examination.------Except from Graylands, Incident Investigation Report [Section 3.14] (Inside the mineshaft) Ashley: Vintage wines?...... (The earth shakes, bringing down debris...) No burying alive, please. (Moans coming from the darkness...) Is this the "mysterious power"......? THE END OF VAGRANT STORY'S INTRODUCTION AND THE BEGINNING OF ACTUAL GAMEPLAY. II. VAGRANT STORY GAMEPLAY A. SCREEN DISPLAY (Upper-left corner) HP: Hit Point. You die when HP = 0; game over. MP: Magic Point. Points needed for casting magic. DP: Damage Point. If it becomes 0, the item's ability decreases dramatically. PP: Phantom Point. It accumulates as you continue to use a weapon or shield. When its value increase beyond some level, weapon's attack and shield's defense abilities increase, respectively. However, if you continue to equip that weapon or shield when not in battle, it will gradually decrease. Risk: Low risk results in higher hit rate. High risk causes lower hit rate, but when successful hits cause more damage. (Lower-left corner) Limb Status Indicator Excellent: Best condition. No need to recover. Good: Good condition. However, you had better be careful. Average: Average condition. Not in danger yet, but you'll want to avoid fights. Bad: Bad condition. You're receiving terrible/serious damage. Dying: Worst condition. You had better not move. When limbs are dying, the following penalty applies. Right arm: "Attack 50%" (damage from average attack and Break Arts is 1/2) Left arm: "Perry 50%" (avoidance rate drops) Head: "Silence" (cannot cast magic) Body: "Risk 200%" (Risk's calculation increases 2X; target dome gradually increase) legs: "Move 50%" (movement speed 1/2) (Lower-right corner) Simplified map B. CONTROLS For some unknown reason, Square was kind enough to enclose a folded quick guide to the controls written in both English and Chinese. Nevertheless, just in case you find this handy: Relax Mode (when not wielding weapons) -------------------------------------- (Directional Pad/Left Stick) Movement; hold/climb; move view during change view. (Right Stick) Change view. (Start Button) Change view; skip demo. (Select Button) Zoom in; zoom out. (Circle Button) Decide; change to battle mode. (X Button) Cancel; open door and chests; move cube; end view change. (Square Button) Jump. (Triangle Button) Bring up command. (L1 Button) Rotate map (left turn). (L2 Button) Quick command display. (R1 Button) Rotate map (right turn). (R2 Button) While pressed, walk with directional pad or left stick. Battle Mode (when wielding weapons) ----------------------------------- (Directional Pad/Left Stick) Movement; selection of target when target dome is up; move view during change view. (Right Stick) Change view. (Start Button) Change view; skip demo. (Select Button) Zoom in; zoom out. (Circle Button) Decide; close target dome; battle ability. (X Button) Cancel; close target dome; end view change; change to relax mode; open door and chests. (Square Button) Jump; battle ability. (Triangle Button) Bring up command; battle ability. (L1 Button) Rotate map (leftward). (L2 Button) Quick command display; change target during target selection. (R1 Button) Rotate map (rightward). (R2 Button) While pressed, walk with directional pad or left stick. C. BATTLES 1. Battle System Analysis ------------------------- In preparing to fight with monsters, remember that weapon attack is the basis of battle. You must fight many monsters and the Holy Knight sqad in Lea Monde. To fight these enemies, first try to remember the weapon attack, the basics of battle. First, learn the flow of combat. For ways to fight monsters, there are 2 types of attack: weapon attack and magic attack. I'll first show you the flow of battle by using a most basic weapon attack scenario as an example. When in relax mode, you can enter the battle mode by pressing the circle button. The basic controls in the battle mode are not that different from those in the relax mode. Exceptions: circle button = open target dome; X Button = return to relax mode. Step 1: Discover enemy. Go to battle mode. When not in battle mode, you cannot attck with weapons. However, because recovery (such as health) is slow in battle mode, to stay in the battle mode is an invitation to danger. Special features of battle mode include: recovery of HP, MP, and Rick is slow, and Phantom Point decreases. Step 2: Open target dome. The size of target dome changes depending on the weapon. The target dome is a dome that displays the limit of your weapon's reach. The bigger the weapon's range value, the bigger the dome becomes. If the dome is big, you can attack your enemy from a distance, and naturally the chances of receiving damage will decrease. Step 3: Select a limb to attack. The damage value and hit rate differ from limb to limb. When you have the enemy within the target dome, now you will select a limb (body part) to attack. Because the damage value and hit rate differ from limb to limb, you should try to attack a limb with the highest hit rate and the biggest damage value you can find. Step 4: After selecting a limb, begin attack. Whenever you attack, Risk goes up. When you decide on a limb to attack, you'll naturally move to attack. No matter if you hit or miss, the Risk value goes up. Because Risk will exert various effects on the battle when it gets high, you'll want to defeat the enemy quickly. (When the Rick value gets high, your hit rate will drop and the damage value inflicted will increase. It will be easier to dish out a critical hit.) Step 5: The battle ends when you defeat the enemy. Maybe the enemy will drop an item. If you defeat the enemy, the battle will end. The expended HP, MP, and Risk will automatically recover. If there is no other enemy around, try to change quickly back to relax mode because the recovery speed is faster. And, when the battle has ended, the enemy may drop an item or two. 2. Kick Monster's Ass with a Powerful Force ------------------------------------------- (Acquire magic by reading "Grimoa") Magic is said to have ordinarily existed long ago, more than 2000 years ago. That power exists in Lea Monde. If you can use them, there's no need to be afraid of monsters. - Acquire magic by reading "Grimoa" You can obtain the power of magic by reading spell books called "Grimoa", which you get from chests inside the dungeons or monsters as war spoils. Magic that you've remembered can be used infinitely, although it will consume MP. There are 4 types of magic: Sorcery, Theology, Warlock, and Enchant. They each have different roles as introduced below. You can use magic by selecting from menu options, or you can operate it speedily by using shortcut command (using the L2 button). a. Sorcery- assistance type (L2 button + square button) Sorcery has an important assistance role. It can cause status changes such as poison or paralysis on the enemy, or it can increase your own ability. When a long battle (such as a boss fight) is foreseen, these magics are helpful. Examples: Miserable Body (Cause enemy's strength to decrease for a fixed time; its attack and defense abilities both drop; try to use this on monsters with high attack ability), Protect (increases weapon and armor status temporarily; a magic useful on a boss fight), and Unlock (open chests and key-requiring doors with magic). b. Theology- recovery type (L2 button + triangle button) Theology has the role of recovering your health and curing abnormal statuses. The magic "heal", which recovers HP, also has the effect of giving damage to undead monsters. Examples: Heal (Recover HP by healing wounds; can give damage to undead monsters), Antedote (Recover from poison; has the same effect as the item "Spiritual Prayer"), and Generous Heal (HP will steadily heal for a fix time; useful in a long fight). c. Warlock- attack type (L2 button + circle button) This type has the role of giving damage to the enemy. If you are using it with the same essentials as a weapon attack, it is possible to give big damage to multiple limbs. As for these magic, you can give bigger damage as your intelligence increases. Examples: Fireball (attack magic with fire property; red-hot fireballs launched to inflict damage on enemy; effective against water- type monsters), Spirit Surge (attack magic with spiritual property; spirit of light released to cause damage; effective against the undead with high darkness properties), and Explosion (attack magic with physical property; explosion ignited at enemy's location and causes damage to multiple limbs). d. Enchant- attribute type (L2 button + X button) This magic causes various attributes to be added to your weapons and armor. When attacking a monster with the attribute of fire, water, wind, or earth, you can turn the battle to your advantage by using protective magic to resist weapon-based or powerful attribute attacks. Examples: Frost Attach (water-type attribute magic; changes weapon's attribute to "water attribute" temporarily; effective against fire-type monsters), Spark Guard (fire-type attribute magic; changes the armor's attribute to "fire attribute" temporarily; resistance against fire increases), and Soil Guard (earth-type attribute magic; changes the armor's attribute to "earth attribute" temporarily; resistance against earth increases. -Magic collectively puts enemy to rout by attacking multiple limbs. There are magic that has a wide range of attack. If used correctly, you can obliterate the enemy in one hit, but you cannot use too much because they use up too much MP. These magic have levels, and if its level becomes high its effective limit becomes larger. And if your too close, you'll get hurt too. -Magical power changes depending on your equipment. Intelligence values greatly affect the power of attack magic. If you equip a weapon that causes INT to increase and enter battle mode, the weapon's intelligence value is added and damage is increased. In case of recovery magic, pay attention to the armor's "magic defense power (INT/DEFENCE)". The more this "decrease", the more the recovery value gets bigger. For using recovery magic in the middle of battle, you can consider taking off the shield. 3. The Various Abilities Useful in Battle ------------------------------------------ There are deadly fighting techniques sealed in your memory. As the game unrolls monsters and fierce battles, battle abilities will bring various support effects to your fighting. If you reach eventual levels, will you even need weapons and armor?! There are two techniques: attack and defense techniques, also known as Chain Ability and Defense Ability, respectively. Chain Ability enhances your attack, and Defense Ability enhances your defense. You can activate them by pressing buttons at proper timing. There are many supplemental attacks, damage reduction, and beneficial things, but everytime you use them the Risk gradually increases. a. Chain Ability This will allow you to defeat the enemy without giving it a chance to counterattack. For Chain Ability, you can link up attacks by pressing buttons at the right timing (by synchronizing with the "!" mark displayed on the screen). To get a knack for Chain attack, get acquainted with every ability's "motion" and "!'s timing". The motion is divided into 3 types. I want you to remember their movement and timing and make them useful in battle. (Weapon Motion) Additional Damage Type (A-type) On top of being relatively easy to perform, they have a rather highly useful value. Just disburse this type alternatively with another, you will connect many hits. Examples: Heavy Shot, Mind Assault, Raging Ache, Insane Ache, and Crimson Blade. Recovery Type (B-type) An operation to quietly dispose of the enemy by thrusting the sword. Timing is critical, and try to remember it precisely to handle to Gain Phantom. Examples: Gain Life, Gain Magic, Gain Damage, and Gain Phantom. Abnormal Status Type (C-type) It gives abnormal status such as silent, poison, and paralysis. It is relatively easy to perform, but it is highly difficult to get the timing of the rightward motion. Examples: Paralysis Pulse, Numbing Claw, Dullness Bind, and Snake Venom. b. Defense Ability They work similar to the Attack Abilities; you must assign the abilities to square, triangle, or circle buttons and press one at the proper time. 4. Break Arts Exist in Your Weapons. ------------------------------------- Break Arts attack by consuming your HP, unlike magic that uses MP. It's a powerful technique that can pulverize the enemy in one blow if certain criteria are met. a. It's possible to defeat the enemy in one hit. You can use Break Arts by expending your HP. Their attack powers are things that can't be estimated. If you use it with considerations for attributes and type, it's possible to bury the enemy in one hit. Break Arts is different from magic, and you cannot use it if you're not in battle mode. Because it will consume HP, it is the same thing as if you had actually fought. It's good that it gives big damage, but you should try to be careful because if they are used too much, you may lose quickly. If you use it often, you need to recover HP very often. b. The number of defeated enemies will become experience points. You can remember Break Arts by defeating a set number of enemies. If you look at menus, you will know how many you still need to kill until the next Break Arts. A point is the same as one enemy you must kill, so if the point for swords is 10, then you can remember the next sword Break Arts if you kill 10 more enemies with a sword-type weapon. c. There is Break Arts even for bare hands. You may mostly consider Break Arts as a "powerful weapon attack" simply hidden in every weapon type, but actually that is not what they are. Break Arts has "attack attribute" and "attack type" in techniques, and there are cases where if they depended on the weapon type, they would be completely different. For example, sword's "Dark Slayer" has the attack type of "cut", but this does not change even when you use Rapier (a pierce-type weapon). This applies to attributes too. Because Break Arts exist even for bare hands, the breadth of fighting will probably become wider if you let yourself have the attribute to fight bare handed. 5. Advanced Battle Techniques ------------------------------ Fight freely with all the techniques! Colorful magic, numerous Battle Abilities, whole-body Break Arts... I'll introduce a battle technique for livening up these attacks. a. Fight without receiving damage by getting a headstart with long- distance attacks. As a way to kill enemies without getting damaged, headstart attacks can be joined with distance attacks. Equip a weapon with wide range and wait for the enemy to get near. If you open and shut the dome quickly, you will know when it is in battle range at any time. After you've made your first attack, you can run away before the enemy attacks. Attack again when it gets near again, and you can defeat it without getting attacked by the enemy. Get a knack for making its movement slowed by attacking the legs first. Monsters attack when there is a "!" in their overhead balloon. If you can attack quickly before that happens, it's possible to get a headstart even with a weapon like a dagger. b. Continuous attack using abbreviated commands. After attacking with weapon, attack with magic or Break Arts by quickly pressing the L2 button. If you press the circle button at the same time as you let go of the L2 button, you'll be back in the weapon battle, and there will be some time remaining. Progress in battle while verifying the abbreviated commands often by pressing the L2 button. c. Check enemy attribute and attack its weak point. If you do not match the weapon you're carrying with the enemy's race, attribute, and type, then you cannot give as much damage as you think possible. The magic "Analysis" is useful at that time. You can see the enemy's status by using this magic and pressing the L-R button to open the status screen. Try to attack with a weapon that correctly suits the enemy. d. Battle techniques that use Battle Ability When you can't find the enemy's weakness, or you don't have the weapon that works, try to attack with Battle Ability. Battle Ability has things that can give damage with no connection with attack ability, is different from normal attack, and has success rate that does not deteriorate depending on the rise in Risk. There are times when they work on bosses, and its appeal is to give damage without regard to anything. If you use practically the ability, even if Risk is 100, you can defeat any enemy. 6. Introduction to Customization -------------------------------- You can get your hands on high-quality equipment by grasping the systems for how various weapons and defensive items grow and how they can be combined and assembled. a. The set up of weapons and defensive items (Disassembling and assembling weapons and defensive items) Weapons are divieded into "Blade" and "Grip", and they can be replaced with various other parts. A weapon's performance is decided with the grip's performance as the core, and that is combined with the blade's. The blade can be strengthened by the mixing, but you'll use grips as you get them. It's a good idea to destroy one's that you won't use. Shields can be equipped and un-equipped with mystery stones. There are shields that can equip multiple stones, and it's important how they are combined. b. Development system for weapons and defensive items. Weapons and defensive items develop thru use. Parameters that conform to certain criteria will change depending on the race and attributes of monsters you encounter. Even equipments basically low in attack and defensive abilities can have their performance raised to some degree by having their race and attribute parameters developed. Furthermore, if you utilize combination and development together, you can create very high performance equipment. c. Values change by making attacks and receiving attacks. Weapon's parameters change by attacking and defensive item's parameters change by receiving enemy attacks. Pay attention because parameters can increase by this mutual relationship, but there are also things that can decrease them. (If you turn on "display the equipment development value", the value change in parameters will be shown.) d. Effects of DP, PP, and equipment repair. DP and PP increase or decrease depending on combat. If DP is zero, equipment performance reduces by half. If PP reaches maximum, attributes are increased. In short, if both DP and PP are at their maximum, you can realize the full performance of that equipment. You can recover lost DP by repairing equipment in the factory. Because PP decreases gradually in battle mode, it's better to operate in relax mode. 7. Changes in Attribute/Race Parameters ---------------------------------------- Developing and enhancing weapons and defensive items may be better called increasing parameters. Basic attacks and defense abilities are established on various weapons and defensive items, but you can conduct battles with a good deal of strategy by grasping contents of parameters and increasing them. I'll explain about attributes and race that have effects on them and their properties. a. Attribute's relations and its rise Attributes have connections that have "natural laws" that exclusively antagonize each other. This shows that attributes are mutual weak points. If you attack an enemy with some attribute, then the attribute that antagonizes that enemy's equipment rises. In short, this is how youw weapon can automatically adapt to that enemy's weakness. For defensive items, because they receive attacks, the attribute that is the same as the enemy's rises. This shows endurance toward that attribute. b. Attribute's relations and increase/decrease of their values Race parameters also changes attribute values through attacks and defenses, and the enemy's race is a influence. However, the relationship between races is like in the table below (not shown); for example, if you attack a human, that weapon's beast and undead values decrease. Naturally, your basic consideration is to understand how to use weapons depending on race, because weapons are effective against races that you have highest values against. You should develop three types of weapons: Type 1 = human / phantom; Type 2 = beast / dragon ; Type 3 = undead / evil. - About combining weapons and defensive items You can combine weapons and defensive items in factories, but it's hard to get a high performance weapon by simply combining haphazardly. You need to consider the points from combining weapons, shield, and defensive items, while investigating trends in parameter changes. If you roughly understand the main points on combing weapons, then you know that the three important factors are material quality, types, and parameters. 8. How to Fight in Order to Forge Your Equipment ------------------------------------------------- Your equipment are enriched only when you understand how to fight. Your weapons and defensive items develop after repeated battles. Here, I'll introduce some practical battle strategies in case you want to intentionally develop your equipments. a. It's important what attribute your weapons are made of In enriching weapons, there are ways to increase race and attribute parameters. Race affects amount of direct damage, and damage gradually increases only when race value rises. Meanwhile, the numerical value of various attributes determines the weapon's special attribute- which is the one with the highest number. By increasing both the race parameter and attribute parameter, you can give huge damage by developing weapons directed at the enemy's weakness. b. One attribute per weapon One thing to watch out for when developing weapons is to have one attribute per weapon. The weapon's attribute is the one with the highest numerical value, and other attributes are ignored. You should efficiently raise your capability by attacking enemies with different attributes with different weapons. When attacking enemy with same attribute, you can more efficiently increase attribute and race parameters by using a different weapon, but when considering all the types, attributes, and races, it may be insufficient no matter how many weapons are available. c. Seriously consider the hit rate and increase the frequency of attacks There's no reason why parameters would change by attacking just once, but it certainly is easier for them to change if you increase the frequency of attacks. Furthermore, if an attack is not successfully made, parameters do not increase. So, your weapon's enhancement probably progress more if you select limbs with higher hit rate and lower damage. d. Combination is basic to enrichment of defense items In the case of enriching defensive items, it's basically enough to just combine them. You can gradually combine war trophies from monsters and create high grade defense items by paying attention to defensive values against every type of attack. Then direct attacks won't be much of a problem. Against attacks such as magic and special attacks, try to defend by equipping special stones on shields. If you can increase all the parameters and not stick to just one attribute, then no attack will be able to touch you. For example: This is how you make defensive items against the fire attribute, such as a fire attack like dragon's breath. First, find monsters that attack with that attribute and receive their attacks while minimizing damage with defense ability. In the case of enriching shields, you must be in battle mode. To suppress reduction of PP, the weapons need to be drawn. d. Finally, your efforts will be rewarded Your equipment are appreciably fortified by fighting with careful thought. You'll allow your equipment to inherit attributes by combining them with things obtained from monsters, and they will evolve into powerful weapons and defensive items. From this slow but sure effort as well as research on monsters and weapon/defense items, the strongest equipment will be born. THE END