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[Meier]

Since I have no TV at all right now, I picked this up about a week ago and have been enjoying myself. About 12 hours in, just getting to the Abbey where I can change my class although I have to find the first Fygg before that I guess.

Priests seem pretty useless early on although I imagine she will be helpful later. Is there a way to change the appearance of party members you didn't create?

 

[Princess Skittles]

not really

If you beat the main story boss the grotto bosses should not be a big deal

So basically they're still mostly for post-game content then?

 

[levious]

Priests seem pretty useless early on although I imagine she will be helpful later.

try setting the priest to "focus on healing" instead of "follow orders" and they seem to adapt rather well to who needs healing, even responding to damage occurring within a round.

 

[zigg]

So basically they're still mostly for post-game content then?

Seems to be. I got my ass handed to me by the boss in the level 1 grotto at ~level 20.

 

[botticus]

Disco Stew is now my favorite attack in the game. 3 Moai Minstrels down, 7 to go, and no moai suicides yet!

So basically they're still mostly for post-game content then?

Yeah, even after beating the game anything past the first three grotto bosses (which aren't necessarily presented in order) can be tough.

 

[Meier]

try setting the priest to "focus on healing" instead of "follow orders" and they seem to adapt rather well to who needs healing, even responding to damage occurring within a round.

I honestly didn't know you could change that (Follow Orders). Will the computer automate moves by changing some sort of setting?

 

[levious]

yeah, you can set everyone but the main character to auto battle (Show No Mercy, Mix it Up, etc.) but I only do that for the priest myself as auto commands makes it difficult to coordinate attack strategy. It's under tactics in the battle menu.

Although setting everyone to auto is a good way to really speed up battles if you're just running through an area or trying to get a certain item drop.

 

[Princess Skittles]

Yup, the set strategies have the benefit of acting at the situation at that character's turn as opposed to at the beginning of the round. So, if a fully healed character gets a nasty critical hit, they're likely to get healed by the next character with a healing spell/item as opposed to having to waiting to the next set of turns to roll around.

 

[Woo-Fu]

Shame the orders don't have the granularity of something like FF12.

I'm grotto grinding now and each boss fight goes exactly the same unless I'm fighting one who spams disruptive wave. Would be nice to be able to set that up as a strategy instead of redoing all the button work over and over again.

Then again, we don't even get an instant text speed option, repeat order, or full cursor memory so wanting a gambit system is a bit much.

I find the auto battle settings to not work very well so I only use them when wading through trash mobs.

 

[turnbuckle]

Shame the orders don't have the granularity of something like FF12.

I'm grotto grinding now and each boss fight goes exactly the same unless I'm fighting one who spams disruptive wave. Would be nice to be able to set that up as a strategy instead of redoing all the button work over and over again.

Then again, we don't even get an instant text speed option, repeat order, or full cursor memory so wanting a gambit system is a bit much.

I find the auto battle settings to not work very well so I only use them when wading through trash mobs.

Yup. That's pretty much the main reason why I built my party to be effective just using attack attack attack. Two gladiators with the agility and deftness bonuses from other classes, a martial artist, and a sage (who I use mostly for the spear quest special ability, healing, and support). I wish there was an option to hide some special abilities, or to at least organize how your spells and skills appear in the menu. I pretty much only use 4-5 skills per character throughout the entire game and navigating to half-inch back to metal killing abilities to other situational skills is needlessly cumbersome. Dragon Quest has always been a bit cumbersome with their menus and I generally always liked it, but IX revamped the game so much that much of the design choices are an anachronism for a series that traditionally was considered to be one itself.

Still, with all the shortcomings that are admittedly nitpicking this is easily my handheld game of the year. Probably my favorite handheld RPG...Until VI comes out

 

[Princess Skittles]

VI won't beat out IX, there's too many good changes to the class system in IX that aren't in VI.

Unless you're in it for the story and all that, then it becomes purely subjective.

 

[turnbuckle]

VI won't beat out IX, there's too many good changes to the class system in IX that aren't in VI.

Unless you're in it for the story and all that, then it becomes purely subjective.

I liked the class system in VI. It's been awhile since I played through it, but I'm not certain I like IX's better. I definitely prefer the main game of VI to IX and will enjoy not having to do quest and grotto grinding to satisfy my inner aspergers Dragon Quest games tend to expose.

Also look forward to having a casino again. And I imagine full camera rotation with the L&R buttons (especially important to me since the L button on my DSi is malfunctioning now, much like the DSLite did before it...except blowing in it doesn't fix it). Oh, and I really prefer the soundtrack and having real characters.

Aesthetically IX is probably better and Stella is awesome. I also like the battle records information. I also like the monsters popping up on screen as a way of engaging them, though I'm not sure I like it better...but I hate that there's no way to repel them completely.

There's a chance I find VI on the DS to be worse than IX, but I liked VI SNES more than IX. The only Dragon Quest games that I was really let down by was VII (which I believe could be the best DQ if remade for the DS/3DS) and VIII (which was beautiful, but always seemed to be more relaxing and sedating than fun).

 

[Forkball]

Should I really buy the sharp shades, even if my current gear is better? I know it's a DLC only item, but I don't have a lot of money. Do I need it for a future quest or alchemy?

 

[levious]

you need it to look badass

 

[Raw64life]

I'm a little confused as to how you get legacy boss maps. Going to these events can't be the only way right?

 

[Princess Skittles]

I'm a little confused as to how you get legacy boss maps? Going to these events can't be the only way right?

That's how you get them early, apparently.

They'll be on DQVC eventually, from what I hear.

 

[Man God]

Everyone's DQVC can be different, since there is a random element to it. But all this week there's been a summer fayre (fair?) theme to the updates, so the pool of items that has a chance to show is much smaller than a vanilla update. I would imagine that at least some of the summer-themed updates might be exclusive to this (and perhaps other) event(s).

Last week's updates were also themed. They were all alchemy-specific goodies. Pay attention to what Sellma has to say immediately after connecting and before she pulls up the day's new list of goodies. She'll also mention any special guests (such as Alena).

And yes, her goods update once a day around 8am GMT, IIRC. I forget the timezone. I know it isn't my timezone (EST).

4 AM EST. Which is good because that's near the end of my shift when I work nights.

 

[flyinpiranha]

So I just picked up this game and I have to say it's probably one of the best looking games on the system. I've only put in about an hour or so but I was really "wowed" by it.

I can't wait to dig into it more.

Also, getting this bookmarked in my threads so I can drum it up when I need advice :lol

 

[Lindsay]

So the graphics are so bad they had ta resort to animated sequences. The FFing of DQ has begun!

I started my journey at long last and have beaten up a white knight with my personally made bots.... um, team mates. Remember when party members had character >.>? Why oh why has co-op infected a handheld rpg why??

Grinding is good, grinding is ALWAYS good. So is saving up skill points until late into the game like I did in DQVIII! I'm doing it right, right? Oh and when the people in-game said I was a minstrel I was okay haha they're teasing me but when I load up my game even that says I'm a minstrel! doh! That's lame I wanna use spears and whips, how do I get me some of that action??

 

[Man God]

Quit complaining and play more.

 

[Lindsay]

Oh oh and the battle theme sounds like a "serious business" version of the VIII battle theme. Not bad. Musics quite nice so far!

Quit complaining and play more.

Play more RE4? Why certainly! That has priority over every other game until I can beat it just as I promised the GAF. DQIX is relegated to playing abit here an there when I'm not at home to play RE4! But at least I've started it!

 

[Koomaster]

The only time I don't like the AI is when I forget to turn it off before facing a LMS or a boss battle and waste the first turn.

Me: Alright hero, you will do the falcon slash. And... hey wait, why iz you guys attacking?! NOES! Why can I not haz mah buffs? :'(

The way I have it set up is that I'll have full Kabuff/Magic Barrier/Gritty Ditty on the whole party within the first two rounds. THEN I unleash holy hell upon the boss.

 

[MarkMclovin]

Not having played any DQ games, is there any point in getting this?

 

[turnbuckle]

Not having played any DQ games, is there any point in getting this?

Absolutely. The games really don't have anything to do with each other in the series outside of the initial trilogy. There's a few nostalgic treats but those mostly come in the post game - and would still be fun and challenging for newcomers.

It's kind of like playing Mario 64 without playing Mario 3. Or Final Fantasy VII without playing I-VI.

 

[turnbuckle]

So the graphics are so bad they had ta resort to animated sequences. The FFing of DQ has begun!

Hey, it's hardly the first Dragon Quest to do this .

I started my journey at long last and have beaten up a white knight with my personally made bots.... um, team mates. Remember when party members had character >.>?

Hey, it's hardly the first Dragon quest to do this .

Why oh why has co-op infected a handheld rpg why??

Hardly infected. It's supposedly fun for those who want to do it, but far from necessary or even really important outside of trying to be a 100% completionist. You can still be a 99.9987% completionist without it.

 

[rpmurphy]

Damn, how long does it take to get molten magma? D:

 

[Ysiadmihi]

This game really makes me hope DQ10 comes out on 3DS as well. I love DQ on the DS.

 

[turnbuckle]

This game really makes me hope DQ10 comes out on 3DS as well. I love DQ on the DS.

Amen. But I also wish they'd put DQIX on the 3DS too. I'd double-dip on that in an instant.

 

[jaxword]

This game really makes me hope DQ10 comes out on 3DS as well. I love DQ on the DS.

Given that the Dq9 semi-mmorpg was a success, it's a reasonable conclusion to make that DQX will continue that engine. Multiplayer portable seems to sell in Japan.

 

[MarkMclovin]

Absolutely. The games really don't have anything to do with each other in the series outside of the initial trilogy. There's a few nostalgic treats but those mostly come in the post game - and would still be fun and challenging for newcomers.

It's kind of like playing Mario 64 without playing Mario 3. Or Final Fantasy VII without playing I-VI.

Cheers man.

 

[kyo_daikun]

Im highly intrigued by this game, will definetly buy when my PS3 game backlog dies down.

 

[Salsa]

but.. DQX is confirmed to come out on the Wii.

 

[jaxword]

but.. DQX is confirmed to come out on the Wii.

Very likely using the Wii's online capabilities, too. Dq9 seemed to work fine with zero chatting ability.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

but.. DQX is confirmed to come out on the Wii.

Well that's why I said also. I don't think I could go back to playing a game like this on anything but a handheld

Spoiler

well unless it was for PC but that's not gonna happen.

 

[Oxx]

Romping through main-quest stuff today.

Upover related spoilers:

Spoiler

Just got rid of my party (sob) and put on the Dragon Warrior armour. Shame it's inferior to what I was wearing, but at least I look the part.

Is it just me or is the Black Dragon not actually black?

 

[Salsa]

Well that's why I said also. I don't think I could go back to playing a game like this on anything but a handheld

Spoiler

well unless it was for PC but that's not gonna happen.

Yeah, i kinda agree.

I fear loading times.

 

[Mejilan]

4 AM EST. Which is good because that's near the end of my shift when I work nights.

Hey, that's good to know. Thank you!

 

[Forkball]

I'm also curious to see if DQX will follow the multiplayer emphasis that DQIX started. The Wii is known for its multiplayer, so it makes sense. But I think this formula works really well on handhelds. Maybe DQX will be a more "traditional" DQ title, and DQXI will be on the 3DS and more in the vein of DQIX.

 

[turnbuckle]

Yeah, i kinda agree.

I fear loading times.

Same. I also love being able to go wherever I want and play it. I can chill out on my couch, or in bed, or at a friend's, or in the bathroom of course. I've put about 120 hours in my game in the past 2 weeks, but there's no way I'd want to sit on my couch staring at my tv for 120 hours in the same time frame.

 

[Oxx]

I'd love it if they kept the DQ series on portables.

DQX is such an enigma. Until they say otherwise we have to assume it's a Wii game, but Square Enix must have taken stock of how well IX and the remakes have sold on the DS.

 

[jaxword]

I'd love it if they kept the DQ series on portables.

DQX is such an enigma. Until they say otherwise we have to assume it's a Wii game, but Square Enix must have taken stock of how well IX and the remakes have sold on the DS.

Don't forget DQ9 was like 3 years delayed and went through massive changes from its original inception.

Hori's game design ideas seem to change with the trends (and his taste in mistresses, haha).

So who knows what the "official" announcement will be in a few years.

 

[Link Man]

Well, I haven't posted my characters for a while, so I thought I'd post them now. However, some might consider the picture a spoiler, so I will leave it as a link:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m179/link-amn/DQParty5.jpg

Training my main as a Martial Artist for the agility boosts, will probably go back to being a warrior afterwards. Armamentalist was fun, but now that I have all the Fource buffs, there's no reason to keep him there. He's my main damage dealer, and I don't like using him to buff everybody else. But then, I'm not using buffs that much anyway right now.

I know what you're thinking, but Dragona actually has the highest resilience out of all of my characters right now, even with the bikini. Plus, it has resistance to fire and lightning, so it's all good in my book. As a paladin, even the first four or five grotto bosses have a hard time scratching her. With Forbearance, my party will not fall as long as she is standing, and with Magic Mirror/Reverse Cycle, they often end up hurting themselves even more than she could. The only grotto boss to really hurt her is the Trauminator, and even then, a Moreheal is more than enough to make up for that; even then, the rest of my party has enough resilience that I can leave Forbearance of for that fight (even Gigaslash is pretty much useless).

I really like the look that Sykalios has going for her, could be her final outfit (except I'll get her Highness Heels, Monarch's Mittens and a Spellward Circlet, once I find some Reckless Necklaces). With Krilin out of the picture for now, I needed somebody with Needle Shot, so I've trained her up with bows. I must say, with Hallowed Arrow, I don't even miss the MP absorption of Wands; however, in boss battles, she's my healer/Kazam caster (here's a hint: Kazam causes Nemean and Shogum to DIE).

And finally,

Spoiler

Patty.

She's going to be a Ranger once she masters Acquisitiveness, but she might end up as an Armamentalist ultimately. She's also my first whip/knife user in this game, and I must say, Assassin's Stab is much less useful than Needle Shot. I'd advise against using knives in this game.

Just finishing up random quests right now and doing some grottoes. I feel compelled to do every grotto I get, and to do them in order, so right now I'm only in the level 20's. I'm quite glad to be getting to the second round of monsters in each grotto, I only wish they started to get stronger (I'm still fighting Magmaroo enemies). Also, I've noticed that treasure chests don't show up until the third floor, so I've just been rushing through the first two floors of each grotto. Also, I'm over 100 hours now, and I still don't see myself putting this down for a while.

 

[Trojita]

I'd want DQX on the PS3 or 3DS. I at least want all equipment changes displayed like DQIX.

 

[Stencil]

What do I have to do for the quest (I think I found it in a book?) where I have to find a dancer (adorned with jewels, it says) in the Illugazar Plains? I thought it might have had to do with Goodybags...

And also: Where do I find a mirrorstone?

 

[rpmurphy]

What do I have to do for the quest (I think I found it in a book?) where I have to find a dancer (adorned with jewels, it says) in the Illugazar Plains? I thought it might have had to do with Goodybags...

And also: Where do I find a mirrorstone?

Yeah kill Goodybags until you meet the right one. There are two spawns for mirrorstones: one west of Swinedimples over the mountain (3), and one on the west coast of the western continent you get there by boat (5?).

 

[Stencil]

mountain (3), and one on the west coast of the western continent you get there by boat (5?).

I'm sorry, what do these numbers refer to?
(Thanks for the quick response!)

 

[ConradCervantes]

So the store I work at won a contest in our region involving Dragon Quest sales. I'm getting a free copy of the game sometime next week.

I've never played a Dragon Quest game before, and I haven't really delved that far into JRPGs as a whole, actually. Would one call this game accessible to a newcomer? I've been curious about it since it came out.

 

[Gin]

im really loving this game so far. haven't been addicted to a game in quite some time.

quick question - is there any casino or tnt boards in it?

edit: 2nd question - any sales figures on this game so far? would love to see this game do well

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

I'd love it if they kept the DQ series on portables.

DQX is such an enigma. Until they say otherwise we have to assume it's a Wii game, but Square Enix must have taken stock of how well IX and the remakes have sold on the DS.

They reconfirmed it for the Wii a couple weeks ago. And frankly, it's not Square-Enix's decision at all.

I would rather it stay on portables, too, simply because when L5 (if L5 are the developers again) starts pushing the Wii, I fear it will result in another slow awful mess like DQ8. But it is what it is. Horii wants it on the Wii, it will be on the Wii.

 

[Koomaster]

So the store I work at won a contest in our region involving Dragon Quest sales. I'm getting a free copy of the game sometime next week.

I've never played a Dragon Quest game before, and I haven't really delved that far into JRPGs as a whole, actually. Would one call this game accessible to a newcomer? I've been curious about it since it came out.

It's not difficult to understand most of the time if that's what you mean by accessible. You will be able to figure stuff out relatively quickly, and death doesn't really penalize you - just takes half of your gold. You can at some point start storing your gold in a bank, so it ends up not being that big of a deal.

Just remember to talk to everyone in a town. If you aren't sure where to go or what to do, someone should clue you in about what's going on.

Also the inn in Stornway is where you recruit (create) your other party members. Everyone seems to bypass this part and go off to fight the next boss solo and get killed over and over and wondering what's going on. :lol

Anyway, good luck with the game, come back and post how it goes and if you have questions while playing, this thread seems a good spot to get answers, everyone is helpful.