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Dragon Quest 9 |OT| Last chance* to shine
- Thread starter Aeana
- Start date
God fucking dammit.
So I'm hauling my ass through this huge ass tower in the Realm of the Almighty, fighting a shitload of enemies and past bosses. Well I get to the jaguar guy, and he immediately critical hits my priest, who is my only way to revive characters. Well, maybe I can power through. I hit him for a few hundred HP, but then he keeps making my martial artist inactive, and critical hits my mage and kills her. Ok, but I still have my two attackers, including my nearly invincible gladiator. The gladiator has an uber miracle sword and heals a lot of HP each turn so there's no way tha-OHSHIT CRITICAL AND THEN ANOTHER ATTACK TO FINISH OFF MY GLADIATOR. And then my martial artist got knocked off her feet, and the fucking jaguar asshole attacks three times and wipes me. Fucking shit, I was up in that tower for like a goddamn hour.
You can use Psyche Up (self) or Egg On (others) to boost your tension to various levels.
From neutral to tension 5, uh... 20 (I think), 50, and then 100. Hitting 100 can be a bit tough, since Psyche Up and Egg On both have a much higher chance of failing when tensing from 50 to 100. Hitting a tension level of 100 results in your character going Super Saiyan. When tensed up, damage outputs rise exponentially. An attack that does 400 damage when at tension 0 can pass 2000 or 2500 at tension 100. Attacking will drop tension back to 0, and some enemies and bosses have an annoying tension de-buff attack.
But obviously, it'll take a number of turns to hit max tension.
It's basically this game's version of focusing/charging attacks, but the implementation is better than in most other JRPGs, IMHO.
From neutral to tension 5, uh... 20 (I think), 50, and then 100. Hitting 100 can be a bit tough, since Psyche Up and Egg On both have a much higher chance of failing when tensing from 50 to 100. Hitting a tension level of 100 results in your character going Super Saiyan. When tensed up, damage outputs rise exponentially. An attack that does 400 damage when at tension 0 can pass 2000 or 2500 at tension 100. Attacking will drop tension back to 0, and some enemies and bosses have an annoying tension de-buff attack.
But obviously, it'll take a number of turns to hit max tension.
It's basically this game's version of focusing/charging attacks, but the implementation is better than in most other JRPGs, IMHO.
Aeana said:
I do talk to NPCs and explore enough to find these things, but it is hard not to think something is wrong when people ask the same questions over and over. I just think it is bad design to make really important gameplay features so easy to skip accidentally. All I'm doing is telling the people that get lost that it is extremely common in the series, and I don't think it is a particularly glaring oversight on their part.
And people missing DQ8's monsters wasn't really an issue of not talking to NPCs.
I find that a lot of times the payout on Psyching Up isn't that big compared to just attacking constantly. What works best for me (barring a Disruptive Wave) is to just use Feel the Burn and commence attacking.
Speaking of which, is there any skill/accessory/any other equipment that can protect you from Disruptive Wave? It's not quite as annoying now that I got the level 40 Arma ability, but I still have to recast Twocus Pocus, Right as Rain, and sometimes other buffs.
Speaking of which, is there any skill/accessory/any other equipment that can protect you from Disruptive Wave? It's not quite as annoying now that I got the level 40 Arma ability, but I still have to recast Twocus Pocus, Right as Rain, and sometimes other buffs.
BooJoh said:
Yeah, I almost never bothered tensing up in DQVIII, and given how much easier DQIX has been so far, I doubt I'll ever use it here either... barring some silly quest necessities.
I don't think there's anything that'll outright protect you from Disruptive Wave, but DQVIII did have a late-ish game item called the Timbrel of Tension that allowed one character to boost the entire party's tension levels when used in combat. I'd assume that DQIX has an equivalent, but I suppose they might have eliminated it. It could be a bit unbalancing.
Fantastical
Death Prophet
I feel stupid... how do you get into Tag Mode again? I'm staying at a hotel and I'm going to try to get someone here. Doubt it will work but it's worth a shot.
Also, I'm kind of confused about changing vocations. When it is ideal to change vocations? What exactly do you get out of it? Am I missing a lot if I don't change vocations? I'm new to the series, and really RPGs in general, so I'm a bit confused about what to do now that I have made it to Alltrades Abbey.
Also, I'm kind of confused about changing vocations. When it is ideal to change vocations? What exactly do you get out of it? Am I missing a lot if I don't change vocations? I'm new to the series, and really RPGs in general, so I'm a bit confused about what to do now that I have made it to Alltrades Abbey.
To enter Tag Mode go to the Quester's Rest in Stornway and talk to Erinn, select Canvass For Guests.
You could probably get by without changing vocations, but it does have its benefits.
Your current vocation determines your base stats and your Spells (not to be confused with Skills.) So a character will always have more strength as a Warrior than he would have if he changed to a Priest, for example, but as a Priest he would have higher MP and would gain some healing spells.
Skill trees, on the other hand, carry over. So if you switched a character over to a Warrior and got the Strength +10 skill, then that character would keep that extra 10 strength, even if he changed to another vocation.
Weapon skills carry over too, but you can only use weapon types that your current vocation has the trees for, unless you put 100 points into a weapon (or shields) at which point you can use it regardless of vocation.
As for where you need to be going from Alltrades, if you've already completed the part of the story that unlocks the ability to change jobs, you basically just have to explore a bit. There's really only one new place to go next.
You could probably get by without changing vocations, but it does have its benefits.
Your current vocation determines your base stats and your Spells (not to be confused with Skills.) So a character will always have more strength as a Warrior than he would have if he changed to a Priest, for example, but as a Priest he would have higher MP and would gain some healing spells.
Skill trees, on the other hand, carry over. So if you switched a character over to a Warrior and got the Strength +10 skill, then that character would keep that extra 10 strength, even if he changed to another vocation.
Weapon skills carry over too, but you can only use weapon types that your current vocation has the trees for, unless you put 100 points into a weapon (or shields) at which point you can use it regardless of vocation.
As for where you need to be going from Alltrades, if you've already completed the part of the story that unlocks the ability to change jobs, you basically just have to explore a bit. There's really only one new place to go next.
Fantastical
Death Prophet
Thank you! That does clear some stuff up. I was actually asking what to do with vocations after getting to Alltrades, like if it was too early to change vocations.BooJoh said:
Final Boss design spoilers:
Anyone else think his zombie-Angelic form was creepier than his generic demon form? I mean, yeah yeah unsubtle symbolism and all, but that last form was incredibly plain. Other than the tattoos, he could've been a recurring enemy. A Belmont could fight 5 of him in a screen.
It would've been more fitting to fight him in an actual angel form, then degrade to the zombie form. The demon wasn't nearly as distinctive.
It would've been more fitting to fight him in an actual angel form, then degrade to the zombie form. The demon wasn't nearly as distinctive.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
I figured out how to use the lava pools around Upover to fulfill the lvl 40 Paladin quest. Take that, stupid quest!
Except that now I got nothing else to do besides going to the final dungeon. Sure, I could do some other quests... but almost all of the ones I haven't done yet require alchemising something and I don't feel like half-inching til there's no tomorrow. Or I could go do some treasure maps!
Yes, I think I'll treasure map some more.
Except that now I got nothing else to do besides going to the final dungeon. Sure, I could do some other quests... but almost all of the ones I haven't done yet require alchemising something and I don't feel like half-inching til there's no tomorrow. Or I could go do some treasure maps!
Yes, I think I'll treasure map some more.
So a few questions I looked online but could never get a straight answer.
1.Can you access the Tower of Nod
2.King Metal Slimes in grottos does anyone know generally on what map levels they show up on? by level I mean like a lvl 17 map or so
ha as if you couldn't guess Im trying to grind right now it's just way to slow i need the KMS to do it abit quicker.
1.Can you access the Tower of Nod
before completing the game and getting the ability to fly there?
2.King Metal Slimes in grottos does anyone know generally on what map levels they show up on? by level I mean like a lvl 17 map or so
ha as if you couldn't guess Im trying to grind right now it's just way to slow i need the KMS to do it abit quicker.
Don't think I'll be changing my vocations until I'm done with the main story. I was careful to pick my team members so I think I should be okay. Minstrel (Me), Marital Artist, Mage, and Priest. I do wish they had given you an option at the start to pick your starting vocation.
Segata Sanshiro
Member
I was a naughty little minx and tagged myself tonight. And if I can't find any people to tag in Tokyo, I'll tag myself again and again and again.
unf
unf
One thing to bear in mind as you go is that leveling will be extremely slow once you hit the 40s, and only gets slower from there. While those levels are generally enough to beat the game, you'd find that it would be quicker to get your Martial Artist stronger or faster by training for a dozen levels in Warrior or Thief than waiting for another 2-3 levels, for example. But how you play is up to you!Effect said:
Easystride
Member
Animation-Imp
Member
Bought it, like it and have a question.
Since there's only one save-game, I am tempted to buy a second copy for my gf,
but it all depends on how the multiplayer is structured.
If I buy a second game, can we play the entire story together, or does she have to play her sp and I mine...
Is the mutiplayer like an mmo, diablo or more like monster hunter with specific multiplayer quests.
Could someone who plays a bit of DQ multiplayer elaborate?
Since there's only one save-game, I am tempted to buy a second copy for my gf,
but it all depends on how the multiplayer is structured.
If I buy a second game, can we play the entire story together, or does she have to play her sp and I mine...
Is the mutiplayer like an mmo, diablo or more like monster hunter with specific multiplayer quests.
Could someone who plays a bit of DQ multiplayer elaborate?
Segata Sanshiro
Member
Well, you can play the entire story together, but it's only going to count for one of you. There's no multi-specific content.Animation-Imp said:
BitchTits said:
Oxx said:
My problem isn't with penalizing people for not talking to NPCs. My problem is with the huge swing in difficulty level and game depth that can happen to a player if they make a single oversight. I can't think of any other RPG series that makes such significant elements of the game so easy to miss.
Easystride
Member
The main story of Dragon Quest IX is like your typical DQ game; there are no little monster hunter-like quest required. As for multiplayer, once you reach a certain point in the game, you can invite other players into your world, and they can invite you to their world. It's fairly early in the game, maybe 2-3 hours. So you could progress the story in one of your copies of Dragon Quest IX, the copy of the person who host the game, once you reach that point. Also, the levels and items earned by guests are kept.Animation-Imp said:
Hope that makes sense, it's a little early in the morning for me.
Segata Sanshiro
Member
I don't think the Monster Party in DQ8 is really that crucial. In DQ5, I'm not sure what there is to explain, monsters'll join you randomly no matter what you do.Yaweee said:
It *is* unfortunate that a lot of people are heading to the Wight Knight without a party, though. They probably should have had an event that led you back into the Inn after talking to the King.
On the other hand, five year old Japanese kids can figure this shit out, so I don't really know what to think.
Death in DQ isn't as penalizing as in most JRPGs. Out of curiosity, what do you do if you/your party gets wiped out? Do you resort to grinding? If you do, it's probably out of (bad) JRPG habit. Do you give up? I can understand that, but DQ is like that, and a lot of people like it. Do you go back and look around for alternative stuff you could do before resuming, side quests you might have missed, treasure that might be easier to get? That's what I suppose the designers expect most players to do. Do you try again with a revised survival and battle strategy? You're hardcore.Yaweee said:
That's exactly what I think they should have done. Most people seem to be finding party members okay, but it is common enough of a misunderstanding that results in such a different game experience that it could be turning people off from the game or even the series as a whole. I don't really like excessive hand-holding in RPGs, but there should at least be a reasonably clear indicator when an important gameplay element becomes available, not just a "talk to me later" message.
In DQ5, was it possible to recruit monsters beyond filling up your original party if you didn't trigger the caravan or monstercare? I thought they'd just turn away if you would have been able to recruit them.
Segata Sanshiro
Member
Beyond filling up the party? No, I don't think so. I didn't use the monsters very much once I had enough people for the People Party, though, so I don't know for sure.Yaweee said:
Finished the second Fygg event. I'm really loving the game since I cranked up the text speed with AR. Thanks again, Mejilan; this has made the game so much more enjoyable.
My Martial Artist isn't really pulling his weight. My Gladiator (formerly a Mage) at half the level is doing ~60% more damage per hit, and has a far more useful Coup De Grace. MA feels awesome at regular battles, but just bad at boss fights. I will probably be changing him to a thief soon? Having three party members makes class decisions a lot harder!
My Martial Artist isn't really pulling his weight. My Gladiator (formerly a Mage) at half the level is doing ~60% more damage per hit, and has a far more useful Coup De Grace. MA feels awesome at regular battles, but just bad at boss fights. I will probably be changing him to a thief soon? Having three party members makes class decisions a lot harder!
Animation-Imp
Member
Easystride said:
Thanks for the reply,
doesn't one player get shafted when playing together.
I mean all the red chests are for the main player right,
well in thet case isn't it impossible for the second player to get good gear unless he/she plays his/her single player campaign also? But that would imply playing teh game twice, and would probably be boring as hell.
I know that switching my thief to a ranger is a possibility, but I'm a little reluctant to completely abandon that 60-odd skill points invested in knife skills.
Is Warrior an option? If only to get some quick skill points to try and max-out knives?
I'll admit that I'm not really sure if my current team is particularly balanced and I'm not really sure where I want to end up.
Is Warrior an option? If only to get some quick skill points to try and max-out knives?
I'll admit that I'm not really sure if my current team is particularly balanced and I'm not really sure where I want to end up.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Guys I'm pretty sure either Stella or the King of Stornway makes a comment about forming a party in one of the cutscenes.
I blame FFXIII.
You could say we are facing a paradigm shift of expectations in RPGs.BitchTits said:
I blame FFXIII.
Oxx said:
It didn't take too long to max out swords for a sword-based ranger for me. If you're already at 60, I'd just hunt silver slimes on all the classes that are at level 1 with your hero, stock up their points, and dump 'em all into your thief in the knife skill.
I didn't know this until a post yesterday, but your skill points carry over so long as you don't spend 'em.
Never having played a DQ before there are some real oddities for me.
I thought the add players to party thing was the online option and even though I'd found it ignored it the first time! :lol Didn't go to fight the knight without it though.
The game is really religious! Are all DQ games this god damn preachy? Also the stereotypes mean you can see pretty much everything coming so far (only about 8 hours in though) but that's a JRPG thing in general.
Coming from Deathspank the whole item & shopping things are so cumbersome. I couldn't cope with masses of games in this genre and am happy to visit once a generation or so.
Are those metal slimes a special event thing? I was in the dungeon of the broken pot and happened to get distracted by the entrance and found one. The thing only had 4HP and yet gave 1,000XP per party member. As you can just sit in the menu and watch the monsters wander around I fought a good few more before retrying the boss monster - much easier once I'd earned a few more skills. I've seen mention of them on here but never really thought I'd fund them when I was at level 12 or so. I mean the boss only gave half the XP they did?!
Anyway - glad I skipped 8 and the older portable remakes, I really will only have the patience and time for one of these every couple of years.
I thought the add players to party thing was the online option and even though I'd found it ignored it the first time! :lol Didn't go to fight the knight without it though.
The game is really religious! Are all DQ games this god damn preachy? Also the stereotypes mean you can see pretty much everything coming so far (only about 8 hours in though) but that's a JRPG thing in general.
Coming from Deathspank the whole item & shopping things are so cumbersome. I couldn't cope with masses of games in this genre and am happy to visit once a generation or so.
Are those metal slimes a special event thing? I was in the dungeon of the broken pot and happened to get distracted by the entrance and found one. The thing only had 4HP and yet gave 1,000XP per party member. As you can just sit in the menu and watch the monsters wander around I fought a good few more before retrying the boss monster - much easier once I'd earned a few more skills. I've seen mention of them on here but never really thought I'd fund them when I was at level 12 or so. I mean the boss only gave half the XP they did?!
Anyway - glad I skipped 8 and the older portable remakes, I really will only have the patience and time for one of these every couple of years.