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Post by Sarge on Aug 1, 2019 12:24:02 GMT -5
I am genuinely concerned for some of the end-game stuff in The 7th Saga. I've done a lot of reading on the game over the years, how its systems work, how apprentices level up, all that good stuff. Well, my biggest worry is when it comes time to try to get the Sky Rune. See, if I'm maining Lux, I just have to pray that it doesn't end up being someone like Esuna, who will wreck you with her magic. I think I'm going to set up a safety save so that I can change who the apprentice is that you need to fight, in the event it all goes to crap.
I've also been doing some slight min-maxing, in that I save in town right before a level up, then shoot for an average or above-average level up. Stat ups are random within a range, and if I get garbage on one, I try again. For instance, Lux's growth rates look like this:
HP: 6-8 MP: 1-3 STR: 3-5 GRD: 4-6 MAG: 2-4 AGL: 2-4
So if I get the middle number or better on most stats, I roll with it. I've occasionally compromised on, say, a MAG growth of 2 if I got 5 and 6 for STR and GRD. Also, make darn sure that when you use the stat-boosting seeds, you're at an inn, and get the biggest boost possible, or near to it.
I am going to try to swap apprentices right before the point of no return to take advantage of the Elnard stats. Assuming I make it that far! The game is a lot of work: to some degree, I almost feel like I'm playing the original Dragon Quest in how much I need to level up... but not too much so the other apprentices don't own me.
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Post by toei on Aug 1, 2019 13:32:14 GMT -5
Sarge All that sounds exaggerated. I used Lux, grinded maybe 2-3 times, and never had that much of an issue.
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Post by Sarge on Aug 1, 2019 13:40:31 GMT -5
Welp, we shall see. At the very least, I'm able to tank hits a lot better swapping from Olvan to Lux. Should have done that to start with; I need to give myself the best chance to succeed! I will probably pair off with either Valsu or Esuna, making sure to swap out before getting the last rune. Having freer finances certainly helps while using Lux. I can stock up on healing items, as opposed to having to dump it all into equipment. So, just out of curiosity, toei, where do you think the game stacks up in terms of difficulty? I assume some of it has to do with character choices, but since I'm using Lux... insanely hard, or just 8-bit Dragon Quest hard?
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Post by toei on Aug 1, 2019 14:55:27 GMT -5
Welp, we shall see. At the very least, I'm able to tank hits a lot better swapping from Olvan to Lux. Should have done that to start with; I need to give myself the best chance to succeed! I will probably pair off with either Valsu or Esuna, making sure to swap out before getting the last rune. Having freer finances certainly helps while using Lux. I can stock up on healing items, as opposed to having to dump it all into equipment. So, just out of curiosity, toei , where do you think the game stacks up in terms of difficulty? I assume some of it has to do with character choices, but since I'm using Lux... insanely hard, or just 8-bit Dragon Quest hard? DQ hard, probably. It's way easier than Phantasy Star 2, for example, since it doesn't have the enormous maze dungeons. I don't remember who I used as a second character, though. Definitely not Esuna. Valsu maybe? I tend to think a team always needs a dedicated healer, so I think that's it. But yeah, I remember grinding mostly in the beginning and later when I made it to a new continent, I believe. I don't think a turn-based RPG can really be all that hard. The range of strategic possibilities is pretty limited, the rest is just grinding. At the time I was still in the habit of level grinding more than necessary, so it didn't seem particularly intense in that sense.
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Post by Sarge on Aug 1, 2019 15:03:43 GMT -5
I bet SMT: Nocturne might beg to differ, but that's more strategy than anything, and mostly finding ways to avoid instant death and taking advantage of weaknesses to utilize that "Press Turn" system. I can't really speak as to how bad that game gets, but I figure Ex can.
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Post by Ex on Aug 1, 2019 21:13:02 GMT -5
I can't really speak as to how bad that game gets, but I figure Ex can. People who say Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is easy, are people who used strategy guides and walkthroughs to beat it.
I beat SMT3 using nothing but my own grit, and it was definitely challenging. Not as challenging as beating Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl on Expert with no guide/walkthrough, but close.
As for the The 7th Saga, I made it about halfway through before losing my verve. I chose the wrong starting character, and was punished mightily for it. If we're being honest, The 7th Saga is terribly unbalanced insofar as making certain starting characters simply not plausible. I'd be willing to bet that Elnard didn't have that issue.
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Post by Sarge on Aug 1, 2019 23:41:49 GMT -5
Speaking of that game, I'm up to Patrof. I'm supremely underleveled right now, but I'm going to try to make it to the apprentice there without bumping up much more.
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Post by Sarge on Aug 3, 2019 23:38:35 GMT -5
I've gotten to a few more towns, but haven't really made a huge dent in progress. I took down the apprentice at Patrof (Wilme), took the boat to a new continent, and now I think I'm supposed to track down a princess? I need to find the town north of where I'm at first, though.
I may stop for a bit and grind, though. I've actually wanted to swap partners for a while now (preferably Esuna), but dang if I can barely find any right now, and the last one I found wanted to challenge me to a friendly duel. Umm, no thanks, bud. Don't feel like getting wrecked. Protip: Always save before talking to any apprentice. You never know if they'll want to join you, say something meaningless, give you a chance to fight, or force you to fight, and take your runes in the process.
Anyway, I found an area with S.Brains, who give a ton of EXP for relatively minimal effort. I've still got Valsu tagging along, so he uses Power on Lux, who then proceeds to melee it to death. I've also stumbled across some enemies that have absolutely, positively crushed me beneath their various appendages within a turn or two. It doesn't help when escaping has such a low success rate, either.
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Post by Ex on Aug 4, 2019 1:21:46 GMT -5
Kudos for sticking with it Sarge. I recall how grindy The 7th Saga can be, with its irksome statistic/RNG modifications versus the original incarnation. I do plan to participate in this theme, but it's gonna be a few days yet.
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Post by Xeogred on Aug 4, 2019 15:19:03 GMT -5
Gradius V should be in the same conversation as Shattered Soldier.
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