deadairis said:
So, you can prove that with the most hit points and the highest magic point expenditure in those fights, you'll lose? Because that's actually the direct contradiction of the point. You're mentioning "button mashing," "no Aqua spell," and other things that aren't part of the statement in your examples.
I'm curious -- if you're spending tons of magic points (as pointed out in my statment) what implies that you can't spend them on, say, an Aqua spell (as mentioned explicitly in your counter-examples)? Other than your desire to defend Lost Odyssey?
This is painfully simple for anyone who knows what I'm talking about. Aqua Spell is only first available at Ipsilon Mountain - Mining Site. But it is near the end. When the player starts out at Ipsilon Mountain - Mining Site, Mad Sarbella spawns. His element is Fire, in which only Aqua can inflict additional bonus damage. But what's so frustrating about Mad Sarbella the first time you face him? He has 2 powerful abilities: Counter and Roar (Attack Up). Without Aqua, how can you win against him? The answer isn't in the party's HP or MP - but in getting the ingredients to direct an attack against his TYPE: Beast Rings.
Ouch, strategy 1, level grinding zero.
deadairis said:
You've read my statement to mean "don't cast spells," apparantly, which is charming -- but grievously inaccurate. What exactly do you think I was suggesting you spend magic points on? Gumdrops, candycanes, or both? No, you're probably spending them on hitting the guy weak against water with water, and the guy weak against fire with fire, and healing your casters, and wow, by the end of it "...this is, fundamentally, the combat system from Final Fantasy." Which is the summation of my review of the combat, and stands up nicely to all the examples you brought up.
Excuse me, I find it distasteful to put words in my mouth. Go ahead, try MP based attacks on Dark Sorcerers, and watch them counter hit your party back with the exact same spell. That's right, they have an innate Reflect and when your party meets them the first time, there is no dispel or any other way to remove this buff.
Solution? Use Physical attacks with Magic Rings, since Dark Sorcercers have no weakness to elemental attacks. Again, the player is forced to use Ring synthesis and gain the advantage. No matter how much HP/MP you have, you are just wasting resources in slugging it out with him.
This is given full exponential lectures when you face off against Disc 3's bosses. Ask anyone who has fought them, how helpful MP is against high magic resistance bosses who hits hard with Freeze attacks against an all mage party - that is low on HP in LO.
Seriously, did you play beyond disc 1 to make such bold, ignorant sweeping statements? How can anyone come to the conclusion HP and MP are all you need in LO if you take the time to understand the enemies' defenses?
Last but not least, diminishing marginal returns on exp. I'd be generous and grant you the notion level grinding is a possible way to triumph in LO. But as I've asked, how long did you take to level grind? What smart players can do in 20 minutes by strategy, you took 2 hours to accomplish by grinding?
deadairis said:
<i>Edit: And to stave off a potential response: "Well, what else can you spend them on?" Changes to encouter rates. Abilities that sway an encounter but aren't the only way to win it. Improvements to your rings. Long term-spells that consume a set amount of mana per turn but don't simply pull a character from the fight. Gaining abilities you don't have. Press-turn style gains. A ring system that isn't a dumbed-down version of Shadow Hearts...any of the numerous adjustments we've seen since FF1 to make RPGs more than just pretty spreadsheets.</i>
I'd tackle the above points made 1 by 1.
Improvements to your rings - You can do it via synthesis, why use MP to further enhance it? Y'know, high level rings? lv 1,2 and 3 bonuses? You ever made even one of these? If you have no idea how to sync one, I'd be happy to teach you.
Gaining abilities you don't have. This is rich. Most skill-linked abilities from mortals and accessories does exactly what you ask for from MP usage. Surely you will agree to trimming the fats on redundancy if you're a pro gamer who advocates for efficiency?
Press-turn style gains. And what's next? Criticising Mistwalker and LO for directly copying Atlus' Persona? Surely you cannot be suggesting that Mistwalker opens itself up to potential IP infringment lawsuits in such a reckless manner?
A ring system that isn't a dumbed-down version of Shadow Hearts - this is probably the only point I'd agree with. Sure, let's wait for LO 2. Meanwhile, I'd take the intricate Ring synthesis system while the iron is still hot.
