Board 8 > azuarc plays Trails of Cold Steel II (progressive spoilers)

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azuarc 05/01/21 3:56:51 PM #1:	Last year, finishing in August, I played the first Trails of Cold Steel game. I had a thread for it, which a few people were following, but I didn't move on to the second game. Partially I was exhausted in terms of playing a game with a really long narrative. Partially I had stuff in my backlog. ~~Partially I had no interest in playing a game with giant robot combat shoehorned in.~~ And partially I'm a cheap bastard who refuses to buy anything on Steam unless it's at peak discount. TOCS2 finally went on sale for maybe the first time with the winter sale, but I had enough else to play that I didn't pick it up at the time. Now things have kind of stagnated for me, and TOCS2 hit another sale, so I figured eh, wth. Reminder that it has been 9 months since I finished the first game, so not everything is completely fresh in my mind. Also, I have played virtually none of the other Kiseki games, other than a large chunk (probably more than half) of TitS FC. References to Sora, Ao, or Zero are going to fly over my head at best, and be obnoxious spoilers at worst. While I don't like missing things, I am definitely not a completionist. If I'm at risk of missing something potentially valuable, a gentle suggestion might be appreciated, remember that this is a blind playthrough and that a vast chunk of the enjoyment from these games is discovering the story, the characters, and the world. I'm assuming I'll be importing my 82-hour save from TOCS1 somehow. I chose Laura at the end, who is best girl. If you were interested in the old thread, or would be interested in this one, drop a tag or tell me what kind of commentary you enjoy the most. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953445515] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Last year, finishing in August, I played the first Trails of Cold Steel game. I had a thread for it, which a few people were following, but I didn't move on to the second game. Partially I was exhausted in terms of playing a game with a really long narrative. Partially I had stuff in my backlog. Partially I had no interest in playing a game with giant robot combat shoehorned in. And partially I'm a cheap bastard who refuses to buy anything on Steam unless it's at peak discount. TOCS2 finally went on sale for maybe the first time with the winter sale, but I had enough else to play that I didn't pick it up at the time. Now things have kind of stagnated for me, and TOCS2 hit another sale, so I figured eh, wth. Reminder that it has been 9 months since I finished the first game, so not everything is completely fresh in my mind. Also, I have played virtually none of the other Kiseki games, other than a large chunk (probably more than half) of TitS FC. References to Sora, Ao, or Zero are going to fly over my head at best, and be obnoxious spoilers at worst. While I don't like missing things, I am definitely not a completionist. If I'm at risk of missing something potentially valuable, a gentle suggestion might be appreciated, remember that this is a blind playthrough and that a vast chunk of the enjoyment from these games is discovering the story, the characters, and the world. I'm assuming I'll be importing my 82-hour save from TOCS1 somehow. I chose Laura at the end, who is best girl. If you were interested in the old thread, or would be interested in this one, drop a tag or tell me what kind of commentary you enjoy the most. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
pyresword 05/01/21 4:01:33 PM #2:	tag Honestly have forgotten a lot of this game so I'm not sure how much I'll have to say. --- I didn't do guru this year but azuarc can be in my sig anyways. <cite>pyresword posted [p:953445643] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>tag Honestly have forgotten a lot of this game so I'm not sure how much I'll have to say.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/01/21 5:10:39 PM #3:	I WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS BELOW THIS LINE. Wow, I love the options menu on the launcher, which is not a sentence I thought I would ever write. But in letting you choose all the different graphical settings, finally a game shows me WTF everything means with a picture depicting the differences. Nice job, Falcom or NISA or whomever was responsible for that. Intro sequence feels similar to the original, except that it doesn't put anyone's names. That's okay, I know who these people are by now. But the scenes shown do feel a little like a slideshow presentation of the first game...including some people who are already dead. (Hi, Chancellor!) And omg, I'm a freaking idiot. I am looking at the first game. I brought it up to check my playtime, and didn't notice I hadn't switched Steam back. Well, we're off to a great start already! Same options menu in the launcher. Whew, we're saved. Too much in the REAL intro sequence for me to comment on individually, but very little that stands out. Tons of characters, but only two (in the same shot) that I don't recognize. Mostly, the biggest takeaway is that everyone's got new clothes except Rean. Lots of shots that probably foreshadow important moments later in the game, but right now they just look like generic "this is a thing in Erebonia" moment....er, I did say the right kingdom, right? Oh god, I need to remember all the lore again. Was worried about the lack of an obvious means to import my save, but I hit new game and there it was. Gee, game. Thanks for the big bonuses. Also a silver emblem for reaching rank A1. Fade to black while Rean gives a voiceover. Weird choices for some of the lines representing the classmates. Then flashbacks to the ending, and Rean waxing melancholy about how, "Back then I didn't know what it meant to truly love someone." No follow-up there, though. Lots of "back then" and "all that time ago" implying that we're not going to be just a couple days past the end of game one. And then "Black-haired boy" wakes up lying on a random cliffside. Like, c'mon, game. You don't need to play coy with the character names. Seriously? Okay, the cat is here, too. And my megazord is damaged. Date is November 29th. I think the last game ended in October? Aww man, I missed Halloween AND Thanksgiving. Amnesia Rean is amnesia. Angry, remembering Rean remembers angrily. Apparently I don't get to keep my old stuff. My quartz only has one orbment, the Attack 1 that I got awarded before. Fun. Starting from scratch, it is, then. Rean is ignoring the cat about as much as I'm ignoring all these stupid tutorial pop-ups. My second battle is with a round lump of rock literally just called Rolling Stone. I don't get no satisfaction fighting them. Was the vertical element of the camera this hard to control in the last game? I can't look up or down without it hard pivoting right back to where it was almost immediately. Patronizing cat is patronizing. I have to use S-breaks really quickly in this game, it seems. Also, game is not letting me go zoom-zoom. I assume that's because tutorials, but it's still annoying. Rean on map: I need to calm down and figure out-- Rean, now in battle: GET OUT OF MY WAY!!! Celine: It's a magic knight! Quick, run! Rean: Nope, I'mma die trying. RAAAAAGE! Then just when I'm doing fine, the game decides "nope, you're actually getting wrecked" and executes the getting-your-butt-whooped cutscene. And those...are absolutely not the people I was expecting to show up and save me. And out go the lights. G'night, everyone. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953447766] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>I WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS BELOW THIS LINE. Wow, I love the options menu on the launcher, which is not a sentence I thought I would ever write. But in letting you choose all the different graphical settings, finally a game shows me WTF everything means with a picture depicting the differences. Nice job, Falcom or NISA or whomever was responsible for that. Intro sequence feels similar to the original, except that it doesn't put anyone's names. That's okay, I know who these people are by now. But the scenes shown do feel a little like a slideshow presentation of the first game...including some people who are already dead. (Hi, Chancellor!) And omg, I'm a freaking idiot. I am looking at the first game. I brought it up to check my playtime, and didn't notice I hadn't switched Steam back. Well, we're off to a great start already! Same options menu in the launcher. Whew, we're saved. Too much in the REAL intro sequence for me to comment on individually, but very little that stands out. Tons of characters, but only two (in the same shot) that I don't recognize. Mostly, the biggest takeaway is that everyone's got new clothes except Rean. Lots of shots that probably foreshadow important moments later in the game, but right now they just look like generic "this is a thing in Erebonia" moment....er, I did say the right kingdom, right? Oh god, I need to remember all the lore again. Was worried about the lack of an obvious means to import my save, but I hit new game and there it was. Gee, game. Thanks for the big bonuses. Also a silver emblem for reaching rank A1. Fade to black while Rean gives a voiceover. Weird choices for some of the lines representing the classmates. Then flashbacks to the ending, and Rean waxing melancholy about how, "Back then I didn't know what it meant to truly love someone." No follow-up there, though. Lots of "back then" and "all that time ago" implying that we're not going to be just a couple days past the end of game one. And then "Black-haired boy" wakes up lying on a random cliffside. Like, c'mon, game. You don't need to play coy with the character names. Seriously? Okay, the cat is here, too. And my megazord is damaged. Date is November 29th. I think the last game ended in October? Aww man, I missed Halloween AND Thanksgiving. Amnesia Rean is amnesia. Angry, remembering Rean remembers angrily. Apparently I don't get to keep my old stuff. My quartz only has one orbment, the Attack 1 that I got awarded before. Fun. Starting from scratch, it is, then. Rean is ignoring the cat about as much as I'm ignoring all these stupid tutorial pop-ups. My second battle is with a round lump of rock literally just called Rolling Stone. I don't get no satisfaction fighting them. Was the vertical element of the camera this hard to control in the last game? I can't look up or down without it hard pivoting right back to where it was almost immediately. Patronizing cat is patronizing. I have to use S-breaks really quickly in this game, it seems. Also, game is not letting me go zoom-zoom. I assume that's because tutorials, but it's still annoying. Rean on map: I need to calm down and figure out-- Rean, now in battle: GET OUT OF MY WAY!!! Celine: It's a magic knight! Quick, run! Rean: Nope, I'mma die trying. RAAAAAGE! Then just when I'm doing fine, the game decides "nope, you're actually getting wrecked" and executes the getting-your-butt-whooped cutscene. And those...are absolutely not the people I was expecting to show up and save me. And out go the lights. G'night, everyone. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
catesdb 05/01/21 5:46:20 PM #4:	tag <cite>catesdb posted [p:953448768] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>tag </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/01/21 5:55:13 PM #5:	Second intro sequence plays. Yay, I get to learn the names of everyone I already know. Except when they get to the bad guy montage, there's a dude named Leonidas. And I'm thinking to myself, "Wow, they literally named a guy Leonidas," to which the game snickers at me and presents...McBurn. I feel like I've stepped into the sequel to Superbad. Dude shows his fake ID to the people selling the fire magic, and they question that his name is just McBurn until the railway police show up. Rean wakes up in a typical 90's era T-shirt. You know, the kind with the sleeves a different color from the body? Rean's reaction: "This looks just like my room." Well, yeah, dummy! You did say you were only a couple hours from Ymir when you were miraculously discovered by your sister. Elise walks in and is so thrilled to see me that she decides to check if my right pec is still under my shirt. Aww, sibling love... Apparently nobody seems the least bit perturbed at a talking cat any more. Also, hi mom and dad! Everything's all calm and peaceful at the table until Toval says he has info on Thor's. Rean stands up and looms over the table, demanding him to dish. Like, chill, man. He was gonna get to it. No need for demands. After an hour of play, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to inform you all that...I HAVE REACHED THE PROLOGUE! We're making progress here, folks. Real progress. Still no zoom-zoom R2 button. Oh wait, what? They remapped it to L3. That's awful. Rean finds Alfin in the temple and literally rubs the top of her head to comfort her. I think the only individual that trick might work on is Celine, dude. But instead, she decides to inspect my right pec, too. I love how the game makes a point of explaining why my recipes all got reset to zero. Like, c'mon, game, I never wasted time cooking to begin with. Ymir's a sweet town...that has exactly one house. And then a big tavern, a lord's manor, a grand hotel...I know it's a tourist town, but that's weird. Oh, and they apparently have snowboarding slopes. Fishing lady is back. And look at me, I caught 5 guppies! Yup, clearly states its R2. But the options launcher, dearest of my love, is letting me configure it back to R2 like it belongs! --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953449011] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Second intro sequence plays. Yay, I get to learn the names of everyone I already know. Except when they get to the bad guy montage, there's a dude named Leonidas. And I'm thinking to myself, "Wow, they literally named a guy Leonidas," to which the game snickers at me and presents...McBurn. I feel like I've stepped into the sequel to Superbad. Dude shows his fake ID to the people selling the fire magic, and they question that his name is just McBurn until the railway police show up. Rean wakes up in a typical 90's era T-shirt. You know, the kind with the sleeves a different color from the body? Rean's reaction: "This looks just like my room." Well, yeah, dummy! You did say you were only a couple hours from Ymir when you were miraculously discovered by your sister. Elise walks in and is so thrilled to see me that she decides to check if my right pec is still under my shirt. Aww, sibling love... Apparently nobody seems the least bit perturbed at a talking cat any more. Also, hi mom and dad! Everything's all calm and peaceful at the table until Toval says he has info on Thor's. Rean stands up and looms over the table, demanding him to dish. Like, chill, man. He was gonna get to it. No need for demands. After an hour of play, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to inform you all that...I HAVE REACHED THE PROLOGUE! We're making progress here, folks. Real progress. Still no zoom-zoom R2 button. Oh wait, what? They remapped it to L3. That's awful. Rean finds Alfin in the temple and literally rubs the top of her head to comfort her. I think the only individual that trick might work on is Celine, dude. But instead, she decides to inspect my right pec, too. I love how the game makes a point of explaining why my recipes all got reset to zero. Like, c'mon, game, I never wasted time cooking to begin with. Ymir's a sweet town...that has exactly one house. And then a big tavern, a lord's manor, a grand hotel...I know it's a tourist town, but that's weird. Oh, and they apparently have snowboarding slopes. Fishing lady is back. And look at me, I caught 5 guppies! Yup, clearly states its R2. But the options launcher, dearest of my love, is letting me configure it back to R2 like it belongs! </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Hbthebattle 05/01/21 5:57:43 PM #6:	azuarc posted... Rean finds Alfin in the temple and literally rubs the top of her head to comfort her. I think the only individual that trick might work on is Celine, dude. But instead, she decides to inspect my right pec, too. the power of Rean "headpats" Schwarzer knows no bounds --- Congrats to azuarc for winning the GotD Guru! <cite>Hbthebattle posted [p:953449082] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Rean finds Alfin in the temple and literally rubs the top of her head to comfort her. I think the only individual that trick might work on is Celine, dude. But instead, she decides to inspect my right pec, too.</quote>the power of Rean "headpats" Schwarzer knows no bounds </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/01/21 6:14:37 PM #7:	azuarc posted... If you were interested in the old thread, or would be interested in this one, drop a tag tag- azuarc posted... I chose Laura at the end, who is best girl. -and dropped azuarc posted... Wow, I love the options menu on the launcher, which is not a sentence I thought I would ever write. But in letting you choose all the different graphical settings, finally a game shows me WTF everything means with a picture depicting the differences. Nice job, Falcom or NISA or whomever was responsible for that. Durante. At least that's the name I'm familiar with for him. (I think he's since formed a company so he (they?) probably have a more official name but idk it off the top of my head) XSEED contracted the PC ports of Cold Steel I and II to him. And when NISA took over the series for Cold Steel III and IV they also contracted the PC ports to him so there's some continuity there. azuarc posted... Fade to black while Rean gives a voiceover. Weird choices for some of the lines representing the classmates. In the original Japanese all the classmate voice lines were just "Rean..." over and over again. XSEED decided "Yeah, that doesn't really work in English" and chose alternate lines instead. azuarc posted... Rean finds Alfin in the temple and literally rubs the top of her head to comfort her. I think the only individual that trick might work on is Celine, dude. headpats are rean's superpower --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953449673] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>If you were interested in the old thread, or would be interested in this one, drop a tag</quote>tag- azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>I chose Laura at the end, who is best girl.</quote>-and dropped azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Wow, I love the options menu on the launcher, which is not a sentence I thought I would ever write. But in letting you choose all the different graphical settings, finally a game shows me WTF everything means with a picture depicting the differences. Nice job, Falcom or NISA or whomever was responsible for that.</quote>Durante. At least that's the name I'm familiar with for him. (I think he's since formed a company so he (they?) probably have a more official name but idk it off the top of my head) XSEED contracted the PC ports of Cold Steel I and II to him. And when NISA took over the series for Cold Steel III and IV they also contracted the PC ports to him so there's some continuity there. azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Fade to black while Rean gives a voiceover. Weird choices for some of the lines representing the classmates.</quote>In the original Japanese all the classmate voice lines were just "Rean..." over and over again. XSEED decided "Yeah, that doesn't really work in English" and chose alternate lines instead. azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Rean finds Alfin in the temple and literally rubs the top of her head to comfort her. I think the only individual that trick might work on is Celine, dude.</quote>headpats are rean's superpower </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Fiop 05/01/21 7:51:51 PM #8:	Tag. Playing through Cold Steel 3 now so itll be good to remember this. --- "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude." - 1 Cor 13:4-5 <cite>Fiop posted [p:953452527] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Tag. Playing through Cold Steel 3 now so itll be good to remember this. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Mega Mana 05/01/21 7:59:58 PM #9:	Tag! I need to play again and do all the romances before ToCS III, because I've done that for all the games so far -_- --- "In my headcanon, some staffer saw Trump pull out his phone and start typing so they just Terry Tate Office Linebacker'd him out of his shoes." - FFD <cite>Mega Mana posted [p:953452817] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Tag! I need to play again and do all the romances before ToCS III, because I've done that for all the games so far -_- </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/02/21 1:54:13 AM #10:	xp1337 posted... -and dropped It never occurred to me to not pick someone outside class VII. Fie has her moments, but not in this venue. Alisa is Miss Mood Swing, and has spent the whole first game telling you to get your hands off her, you gross pig. Emma's a viable option, but she's easily the party member we see the least of throughout the game, so she suffers from underrepresentation. (And I don't know if she's pickable, but I wasn't even entertaining Tiny Tina as an option.) --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953461996] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>xp1337 posted... </cite> <quote>-and dropped</quote> It never occurred to me to not pick someone outside class VII. Fie has her moments, but not in this venue. Alisa is Miss Mood Swing, and has spent the whole first game telling you to get your hands off her, you gross pig. Emma's a viable option, but she's easily the party member we see the least of throughout the game, so she suffers from underrepresentation. (And I don't know if she's pickable, but I wasn't even entertaining Tiny Tina as an option.) </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Murphiroth 05/02/21 1:59:49 AM #11:	Fie > Towa > Laura > everyone else. Just finished and plat Cold Steel IV myself after hopping into Trails for the first time around six months ago. Good stuff! Unfortunately for you I feel like the second game is the worst of the four. One day I'll get around to the Sky games. <cite>Murphiroth posted [p:953462096] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Fie > Towa > Laura > everyone else. Just finished and plat Cold Steel IV myself after hopping into Trails for the first time around six months ago. Good stuff! Unfortunately for you I feel like the second game is the worst of the four. One day I'll get around to the Sky games. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
BK_Sheikah00 05/02/21 6:52:12 PM #12:	Tag --- Congrats to azuarc for winning GOTD2 https://imgur.com/v58wdlU <cite>BK_Sheikah00 posted [p:953484391] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Tag </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/03/21 12:06:29 AM #13:	Zoom-zoom button fixed. Everything's gone to hell, but Rean decides it's a good day to hang out in the hot spring. And then he ruminates on how everything's gone to hell. Oh, and throwing a self-pity party on how everything went wrong because he wasn't strong enough. I mean, like, sure, if he could have defeated Crow, maybe that would've accomplished something, but I doubt it. He did go through the other mechs first before Crow showed up, which was just a way of putting Crow "over" so the confrontation will be more epic next time. Then Elise shows up to wash Rean's back. Which has the potential to be awkward, but Rean's too intent on declaring how worthless he is. Not the way I remember Rean from CS1, but after what he's been through I can see how these emotions might come out. Just hope this doesn't become too big of a theme. Thankfully Elise smacks his ass (not literally) about his claim to not have the "right to be treated kindly." Incoming headpat #2. And torture from Alfin. Then Celine apologizes and gets a headpat, too. A Magic Knight draws near! Command? >FIGHT Elise: What a splendid chest! Didn't think you swung that way. Or, were you still hugging Rean's pecs? Apparently there's something about running into this monument in the mountains that seemingly the class was supposed to have run into before thanks to Bleublanc? I have no idea what they're talking about. Fight with the magic knight, NBD. He heals twice for big health gain, but I go pewpewpew and then...IT'S MORPHIN' TIME! But wait, wasn't Valimar supposed to have a damaged core or something? Celine handwaves it, but seriously? After a month of directing energy into Rean, dude was not going anywhere and now he's flying all over. No matter. Rita's monster is defeated. I'm sure she's shouting angrily from the moon somewhere. Oh hi, birdie. You know we have a cat with us, now? Get 'em, Celine!...or not. Linked with Elise, we do a team attack to finish the battle, and there's headpat #4. Ymir is on fire, bad guys are doing bad guy things, Mom and Dad are down when Rean arrives, and predictably he goes into super mega ultra demon-man mode. Then anti-Millia shows up and captures Alfin and Elise. In other words, bad guys doing bad guy things. Not how I expected that to end, but we've sufficiently set the stage for enough future strife in this opening act. And we're rewarded with a bad guy convention aboard Rufus's airship. This guy literally has abs printed into his shirt. I wonder if that's sheer material, or if he's just so incredibly diesel that the material is stretched so thin against his rock-hard body. I assume the latter, tbh. With that, the opening FMV plays again. Does that mean I'm at the end of the prologue now? Oh. Guess so. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953493399] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Zoom-zoom button fixed. Everything's gone to hell, but Rean decides it's a good day to hang out in the hot spring. And then he ruminates on how everything's gone to hell. Oh, and throwing a self-pity party on how everything went wrong because he wasn't strong enough. I mean, like, sure, if he could have defeated Crow, maybe that would've accomplished something, but I doubt it. He did go through the other mechs first before Crow showed up, which was just a way of putting Crow "over" so the confrontation will be more epic next time. Then Elise shows up to wash Rean's back. Which has the potential to be awkward, but Rean's too intent on declaring how worthless he is. Not the way I remember Rean from CS1, but after what he's been through I can see how these emotions might come out. Just hope this doesn't become too big of a theme. Thankfully Elise smacks his ass (not literally) about his claim to not have the "right to be treated kindly." Incoming headpat #2. And torture from Alfin. Then Celine apologizes and gets a headpat, too. A Magic Knight draws near! Command? >FIGHT Elise: What a splendid chest! Didn't think you swung that way. Or, were you still hugging Rean's pecs? Apparently there's something about running into this monument in the mountains that seemingly the class was supposed to have run into before thanks to Bleublanc? I have no idea what they're talking about. Fight with the magic knight, NBD. He heals twice for big health gain, but I go pewpewpew and then...IT'S MORPHIN' TIME! But wait, wasn't Valimar supposed to have a damaged core or something? Celine handwaves it, but seriously? After a month of directing energy into Rean, dude was not going anywhere and now he's flying all over. No matter. Rita's monster is defeated. I'm sure she's shouting angrily from the moon somewhere. Oh hi, birdie. You know we have a cat with us, now? Get 'em, Celine!...or not. Linked with Elise, we do a team attack to finish the battle, and there's headpat #4. Ymir is on fire, bad guys are doing bad guy things, Mom and Dad are down when Rean arrives, and predictably he goes into super mega ultra demon-man mode. Then anti-Millia shows up and captures Alfin and Elise. In other words, bad guys doing bad guy things. Not how I expected that to end, but we've sufficiently set the stage for enough future strife in this opening act. And we're rewarded with a bad guy convention aboard Rufus's airship. This guy literally has abs printed into his shirt. I wonder if that's sheer material, or if he's just so incredibly diesel that the material is stretched so thin against his rock-hard body. I assume the latter, tbh. With that, the opening FMV plays again. Does that mean I'm at the end of the prologue now? Oh. Guess so. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Arti 05/03/21 12:20:12 AM #14:	tag I'm currently going through Cold Steel II myself so it will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the game too! --- http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif azuarc may not know the strength of songs in VGMC, but he conquered the guru in Game of the Decade 2! Congrats! <cite>Arti posted [p:953493781] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>tag I'm currently going through Cold Steel II myself so it will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the game too! </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/03/21 1:59:02 AM #15:	Valimar can magically track the other members of Class VII because they were there during the trial. I notice that curiously omits Crow, though... Also, Toval gives Rean a head-pat. Story suggests I'm getting a choice between Celdic, Highlands, and Legram, and I'm all like Legram please, but Rean's all like "mehh, we should go to Celdic. It's closerrr." Whatever. You're using some kind of mystical travel where distance has no importance, but sure, pick the closest one. Rean and Toval float through the spirit path like Superman, but Celine just looks like pop-tart cat. Or Rudolph. And with that, hi, title card. I've apparently begun Act 1. Thank god we're out of that gray limbo between prologue and act 1. I wouldn't have had a word for that! Hi national park. Hi angry baboon boss. Hi new attack mode that I'm being forced to use on turn 1 instead of WHEN I ACTUALLY NEEDED IT! Stupid boss keeps wiping away speed down, and kicking my freaking ass. I have no actual healer, so Rean gets KO'ed, and then with him having no CP, I turn him into a healbot casting Tear for Toval...which isn't exactly effective, but it gets the job done. All of this could have been simplified if I could have used Overdrive a couple turns into the battle instead of immediately. It's kind of fun how the game designers can just reuse all the first game's area assets, and this is actually seen as positive instead of lazy. Like, the one thing sets Trails games apart from other RPGs is how much care they put into designing real people with a complete life, so that when you get to the church in Celdic, you go "aww, there's those kids, including the girl with the cat!" And I was thinking we'd maybe find a Class VII student in this first house but no, it's Becky. Enemies on this highway really kinda hurt. Thankfully I crafted a Breath earlier, but I'd be bleeding out of my gums otherwise. I think I need to figure out some better tactics pretty soon. Proof Rean can do more than give head-pats: Monkey-ass joins the party! And Eliot and Fie are here somewhere. I wonder if I'll start calling Eliot 'Craig' again. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953495592] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Valimar can magically track the other members of Class VII because they were there during the trial. I notice that curiously omits Crow, though... Also, Toval gives Rean a head-pat. Story suggests I'm getting a choice between Celdic, Highlands, and Legram, and I'm all like Legram please, but Rean's all like "mehh, we should go to Celdic. It's closerrr." Whatever. You're using some kind of mystical travel where distance has no importance, but sure, pick the closest one. Rean and Toval float through the spirit path like Superman, but Celine just looks like pop-tart cat. Or Rudolph. And with that, hi, title card. I've apparently begun Act 1. Thank god we're out of that gray limbo between prologue and act 1. I wouldn't have had a word for that! Hi national park. Hi angry baboon boss. Hi new attack mode that I'm being forced to use on turn 1 instead of WHEN I ACTUALLY NEEDED IT! Stupid boss keeps wiping away speed down, and kicking my freaking ass. I have no actual healer, so Rean gets KO'ed, and then with him having no CP, I turn him into a healbot casting Tear for Toval...which isn't exactly effective, but it gets the job done. All of this could have been simplified if I could have used Overdrive a couple turns into the battle instead of immediately. It's kind of fun how the game designers can just reuse all the first game's area assets, and this is actually seen as positive instead of lazy. Like, the one thing sets Trails games apart from other RPGs is how much care they put into designing real people with a complete life, so that when you get to the church in Celdic, you go "aww, there's those kids, including the girl with the cat!" And I was thinking we'd maybe find a Class VII student in this first house but no, it's Becky. Enemies on this highway really kinda hurt. Thankfully I crafted a Breath earlier, but I'd be bleeding out of my gums otherwise. I think I need to figure out some better tactics pretty soon. Proof Rean can do more than give head-pats: Monkey-ass joins the party! And Eliot and Fie are here somewhere. I wonder if I'll start calling Eliot 'Craig' again. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
RikkuAlmighty 05/03/21 3:47:56 AM #16:	Emma top tier, Laura fans are BORING! --- https://backloggery.com/cwistofu https://letterboxd.com/cwistofu/ <cite>RikkuAlmighty posted [p:953497067] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Emma top tier, Laura fans are BORING! </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/03/21 2:21:13 PM #17:	azuarc posted... Apparently there's something about running into this monument in the mountains that seemingly the class was supposed to have run into before thanks to Bleublanc? I have no idea what they're talking about. Oh. Okay, this is one of the most annoying things about CS2. The events Rean is referring to there happened in a Drama CD for CS1. That is canon. And also surprisingly important. XSEED did the best they could here and translated the transcript for it along with the release of CS2 so you can read it here. www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2/memoirs1.html FWIW, you're also directed to it if you use the title screen's synopsis/backstory option to review CS1 events. There's also a Drama CD for CS2 but it's far less important plotwise. It does comeback in CS4 but only in regards to some interactions with a few minor NPCs and you mostly get the gist of it from reading the dialogue. It is also translated by XSEED and accessible through the same link (by clicking on the "Story II" button there as above but I'd steer clear of it for now because it's set after Act 1 and so refers to things that have not happened for you yet. azuarc posted... Valimar can magically track the other members of Class VII because they were there during the trial. I notice that curiously omits Crow, though... Actually, I'm not sure it does. I think Valimar prefaces his sitrep with "Excluding the Azure Awakener" but it's a bit unclear if that status exempts him from Valimar's radar or if Valimar can track him but kept him out of his report because he's on the other side now. --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953510457] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Apparently there's something about running into this monument in the mountains that seemingly the class was supposed to have run into before thanks to Bleublanc? I have no idea what they're talking about.</quote>Oh. Okay, this is one of the most annoying things about CS2. The events Rean is referring to there happened in a Drama CD for CS1. That is canon. And also surprisingly important. XSEED did the best they could here and translated the transcript for it along with the release of CS2 so you can read it here. www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2/memoirs1.html FWIW, you're also directed to it if you use the title screen's synopsis/backstory option to review CS1 events. There's also a Drama CD for CS2 but it's far less important plotwise. It does comeback in CS4 but only in regards to some interactions with a few minor NPCs and you mostly get the gist of it from reading the dialogue. It is also translated by XSEED and accessible through the same link (by clicking on the "Story II" button there as above but I'd steer clear of it for now because it's set after Act 1 and so refers to things that have not happened for you yet. azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Valimar can magically track the other members of Class VII because they were there during the trial. I notice that curiously omits Crow, though...</quote>Actually, I'm not sure it does. I think Valimar prefaces his sitrep with "Excluding the Azure Awakener" but it's a bit unclear if that status exempts him from Valimar's radar or if Valimar can track him but kept him out of his report because he's on the other side now. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/03/21 2:22:54 PM #18:	Can I say how cool it is that somebody made a game where the launcher asks if you want to resume from last save and literally just kicks you right into it? This launcher is a better product that some complete games! Anyway, student rank reset to B7. Apparently we're going to keep getting academic points, even though we literally have Toval over our shoulder and they could have just implied we were part of the bracer guild. It's not like school will be back in session any time soon or anything. Two random pointless missions later, Fie and Elliot are happy to hear from us via orbal radio. Has a very French resistance vibe to it. Fie's showing a lot more skin than her old outfit, including showing off her abs. She also tells Elliot to go on without her while she checks something. Normally at story points like this, I would be worried something's going to happen to her while she's alone and the four dudebros will have to stage a rescue mission...but this is Fie we're talking about. She can sneak into anything undetected. Freaking hell, flying enemies are evasive in CS2. I just want to hold the turbo button and mash attack when there's a single enemy that I snuck up on, but these are the results. On second thought, I stand corrected. Wolves are freaking evasive, too. Guess I need to actually try during single chump encounters, too. Literally just fought a monster named Scary Dinosaur. And yup, Fie is fine. And apparently very happy to see me. I wouldn't have picked Fie at the end of the first game, but based on how this moment plays out, I can see how someone who had would be happy with the reunion. And apparently rather than playing Mass Effect 2 and collecting the rest of our party, Rean's decided it's time for a story mission, woo! Let's go infiltrate the enemy lines for no reason other than because Rean's out of the loop and wants to see things for himself. The others go along with it, as though they know nothing about the war, but, I mean, there are radios in this world, and they did read a freaking newspaper in Celdic. I would think Fie, Machias, and Elliot would know a little better, but nope, we need an excuse for an adventure! Apparently Celine, the lone dissenter, is the only voice of reason in this party. Blue treasure chest wipes out my party because I'm stuck using Eliot and Machias. GG. Sure, let's just cross on the train tracks. Nothing bad ever happens in movies when the people cross on the train tracks... Strange hooded man looks suspiciously like Jusis. Or maybe Bleublanc. Sounds more like him. But no, he's some mysterious purple-haired dude, and I feel like I should know who that is, but I can't place him. Fie senses we are being watched... --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953510522] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Can I say how cool it is that somebody made a game where the launcher asks if you want to resume from last save and literally just kicks you right into it? This launcher is a better product that some complete games! Anyway, student rank reset to B7. Apparently we're going to keep getting academic points, even though we literally have Toval over our shoulder and they could have just implied we were part of the bracer guild. It's not like school will be back in session any time soon or anything. Two random pointless missions later, Fie and Elliot are happy to hear from us via orbal radio. Has a very French resistance vibe to it. Fie's showing a lot more skin than her old outfit, including showing off her abs. She also tells Elliot to go on without her while she checks something. Normally at story points like this, I would be worried something's going to happen to her while she's alone and the four dudebros will have to stage a rescue mission...but this is Fie we're talking about. She can sneak into anything undetected. Freaking hell, flying enemies are evasive in CS2. I just want to hold the turbo button and mash attack when there's a single enemy that I snuck up on, but these are the results. On second thought, I stand corrected. Wolves are freaking evasive, too. Guess I need to actually try during single chump encounters, too. Literally just fought a monster named Scary Dinosaur. And yup, Fie is fine. And apparently very happy to see me. I wouldn't have picked Fie at the end of the first game, but based on how this moment plays out, I can see how someone who had would be happy with the reunion. And apparently rather than playing Mass Effect 2 and collecting the rest of our party, Rean's decided it's time for a story mission, woo! Let's go infiltrate the enemy lines for no reason other than because Rean's out of the loop and wants to see things for himself. The others go along with it, as though they know nothing about the war, but, I mean, there are radios in this world, and they did read a freaking newspaper in Celdic. I would think Fie, Machias, and Elliot would know a little better, but nope, we need an excuse for an adventure! Apparently Celine, the lone dissenter, is the only voice of reason in this party. Blue treasure chest wipes out my party because I'm stuck using Eliot and Machias. GG. Sure, let's just cross on the train tracks. Nothing bad ever happens in movies when the people cross on the train tracks... Strange hooded man looks suspiciously like Jusis. Or maybe Bleublanc. Sounds more like him. But no, he's some mysterious purple-haired dude, and I feel like I should know who that is, but I can't place him. Fie senses we are being watched... </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/03/21 2:28:19 PM #19:	Oh, another weird thing about CS2 is that for the reunion scenes, the game has two versions: The basic one for everyone, and a like... extended, more intimate... one for anyone who you had as an option to take to the CS1 dance... regardless of if you actually selected them. I suspect but can't confirm that Fie's thing there is the extended one but she's Fie she 100% could have done the same either way. The game does keep track of who you actually selected for a few scenes, primarily the flashbacks in the Prologue but the fact that it does the reunion scenes the way it does means it's entirely possible for Rean to have some mutually exclusive flashbacks later. Not sure if you'll run into that issue because I forget who you were able to pick in CS1 but it can be a bit jarring/funny if it happens. --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953510697] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Oh, another weird thing about CS2 is that for the reunion scenes, the game has two versions: The basic one for everyone, and a like... extended, more intimate... one for anyone who you had as an option to take to the CS1 dance... regardless of if you actually selected them. I suspect but can't confirm that Fie's thing there is the extended one but she's Fie she 100% could have done the same either way. The game does keep track of who you actually selected for a few scenes, primarily the flashbacks in the Prologue but the fact that it does the reunion scenes the way it does means it's entirely possible for Rean to have some mutually exclusive flashbacks later. Not sure if you'll run into that issue because I forget who you were able to pick in CS1 but it can be a bit jarring/funny if it happens. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/03/21 2:30:46 PM #20:	I don't think Fie was an option. I didn't know what was coming and made a point to spend time with a bunch of different people during the festival. I don't think I doubled up on anyone. IIRC I had three choices total? One was probably the student council prez. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953510783] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>I don't think Fie was an option. I didn't know what was coming and made a point to spend time with a bunch of different people during the festival. I don't think I doubled up on anyone. IIRC I had three choices total? One was probably the student council prez. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
BK_Sheikah00 05/03/21 2:34:06 PM #21:	Towa is best --- Congrats to azuarc for winning GOTD2 https://imgur.com/v58wdlU <cite>BK_Sheikah00 posted [p:953510908] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Towa is best </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Murphiroth 05/03/21 2:35:25 PM #22:	azuarc posted... But no, he's some mysterious purple-haired dude, and I feel like I should know who that is, but I can't place him. I will just say that you should know, yes, but it's not surprising you wouldn't pick up on it immediately. <cite>Murphiroth posted [p:953510945] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>But no, he's some mysterious purple-haired dude, and I feel like I should know who that is, but I can't place him.</quote> I will just say that you should know, yes, but it's not surprising you wouldn't pick up on it immediately. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Arti 05/03/21 3:21:29 PM #23:	Fie jumped on Rean as well in my play through, and she wasn't an option for the CS1 dance because I had already gotten her bond trophy in the first run through the game, so I didn't have her doing any of the requirements for it. Unless it also looks at past playthroughs of CS1 as well. --- http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif azuarc may not know the strength of songs in VGMC, but he conquered the guru in Game of the Decade 2! Congrats! <cite>Arti posted [p:953512580] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Fie jumped on Rean as well in my play through, and she wasn't an option for the CS1 dance because I had already gotten her bond trophy in the first run through the game, so I didn't have her doing any of the requirements for it. Unless it also looks at past playthroughs of CS1 as well. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/03/21 5:36:36 PM #24:	Ah, I was wrong then. I don't think it looks at past playthroughs. --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953517358] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Ah, I was wrong then. I don't think it looks at past playthroughs. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/07/21 9:49:24 PM #25:	Finally decided to resume after several days of VGMC bracket and new Hearthstone content. And my first battle is with a bunch of bees that dodge like crazy. My second battle is with a bunch of bees that hit Rean for 7k and one-shot him from full health. Uhhh...wtf? You know what else would be fantastic? If there were a recharging station anywhere. Or if I had the art to resurrect people, which I thought I had in duplicate before, but now isn't anywhere in my group. I find some creepy optional dungeon -- still no station -- and clear the entire area, subbing in Machias, up to what I presume will be a boss, and finally I can revive Rean. But he didn't gain a scrap of xp for all that. Boss turns out to be pretty easy, though. Just three stand-still dudes who I have a strong suspicion will get stronger if I focus one of them down, and they're easy enough to deal with, so I split my damage until I can kill them at once. Easy stuff. I get 3 AP and a flashback to some event with a king or prince of yore upset over civilian casualties in war. I warp up top and NOW there's a freaking charging station at the beginning like I was expecting. Garrelia Fortress go boom. Or as Fie puts it, "It's like someone took a giant ice cream scoop to it." According to Toval, Crossbell has some big ultimate power thing that is powering a giant bubble over the city, and let them do whatever happened to the fortress. I wasn't aware Crossbell was involved in the attacks with the Noble Faction. Somehow I have my doubts. But I haven't played Ao/Zero, either. Celine says it's Ouroboros. Time to fight Fie's old squadmates....who absolutely wreck me the moment one of them uses his S-craft. Two people go down, one's at a couple hundred, and I'm thinking this must be a story loss, but no. It's game over. Well, then. Also, they're immune to being slowed, so I've got no clue how to approach this. Second time: Javelins are placed around Elliot and detonate before he gets an action. He dies. Revive. Genocide Rain hits and wipes the party, except for Toval, who apparently has some kind of status effect that means he's basically dead, anyway. I got one of them to 90%. Third try: The other guy uses his S-craft, knocks two people out after I blow all my S-crafts. I recover a little, and I'm trying to not fall behind, when they punch out two people again. And then the battle suddenly ends? Oh, and it's megazord time. Dude is like an entire province away, but sure, those soldats can just stand there and wait for him to fly here from the national park, across the town, past the blockade, all the way to Garrelia Fortress. No big. Never mind that he's had basically no time to recharge or anything. And they'll just wait for Rean to get inside to pilot, too. Okay, so punch one dude out, grab a sword, and magically Fie can now support me in battle. Kay, whatever. Then we slash apart two more bots, and the other five are just standing back waiting their turn. Rean taunts then, the commander's like um uh we can still do this guys...guys? And then Elliot's dad shows up with the cavalry...er...armory...whatever you call a platoon of tanks. Oh, hi, Captain Claire! Still, seriously, wtf was with that battle with Zephyr? --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953676359] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Finally decided to resume after several days of VGMC bracket and new Hearthstone content. And my first battle is with a bunch of bees that dodge like crazy. My second battle is with a bunch of bees that hit Rean for 7k and one-shot him from full health. Uhhh...wtf? You know what else would be fantastic? If there were a recharging station anywhere. Or if I had the art to resurrect people, which I thought I had in duplicate before, but now isn't anywhere in my group. I find some creepy optional dungeon -- still no station -- and clear the entire area, subbing in Machias, up to what I presume will be a boss, and finally I can revive Rean. But he didn't gain a scrap of xp for all that. Boss turns out to be pretty easy, though. Just three stand-still dudes who I have a strong suspicion will get stronger if I focus one of them down, and they're easy enough to deal with, so I split my damage until I can kill them at once. Easy stuff. I get 3 AP and a flashback to some event with a king or prince of yore upset over civilian casualties in war. I warp up top and NOW there's a freaking charging station at the beginning like I was expecting. Garrelia Fortress go boom. Or as Fie puts it, "It's like someone took a giant ice cream scoop to it." According to Toval, Crossbell has some big ultimate power thing that is powering a giant bubble over the city, and let them do whatever happened to the fortress. I wasn't aware Crossbell was involved in the attacks with the Noble Faction. Somehow I have my doubts. But I haven't played Ao/Zero, either. Celine says it's Ouroboros. Time to fight Fie's old squadmates....who absolutely wreck me the moment one of them uses his S-craft. Two people go down, one's at a couple hundred, and I'm thinking this must be a story loss, but no. It's game over. Well, then. Also, they're immune to being slowed, so I've got no clue how to approach this. Second time: Javelins are placed around Elliot and detonate before he gets an action. He dies. Revive. Genocide Rain hits and wipes the party, except for Toval, who apparently has some kind of status effect that means he's basically dead, anyway. I got one of them to 90%. Third try: The other guy uses his S-craft, knocks two people out after I blow all my S-crafts. I recover a little, and I'm trying to not fall behind, when they punch out two people again. And then the battle suddenly ends? Oh, and it's megazord time. Dude is like an entire province away, but sure, those soldats can just stand there and wait for him to fly here from the national park, across the town, past the blockade, all the way to Garrelia Fortress. No big. Never mind that he's had basically no time to recharge or anything. And they'll just wait for Rean to get inside to pilot, too. Okay, so punch one dude out, grab a sword, and magically Fie can now support me in battle. Kay, whatever. Then we slash apart two more bots, and the other five are just standing back waiting their turn. Rean taunts then, the commander's like um uh we can still do this guys...guys? And then Elliot's dad shows up with the cavalry...er...armory...whatever you call a platoon of tanks. Oh, hi, Captain Claire! Still, seriously, wtf was with that battle with Zephyr? </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sceptilesolar 05/07/21 10:38:04 PM #26:	azuarc posted... Still, seriously, wtf was with that battle with Zephyr? It ends automatically after a while (40 turns?), but you get bonus AP if you reduce one of them to low health. Really bad system since the mechanics aren't very clear, but fortunately they do improve it in future games. --- Just killing time until the world ends. <cite>Sceptilesolar posted [p:953677804] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Still, seriously, wtf was with that battle with Zephyr?</quote> It ends automatically after a while (40 turns?), but you get bonus AP if you reduce one of them to low health. Really bad system since the mechanics aren't very clear, but fortunately they do improve it in future games. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/07/21 10:50:05 PM #27:	Sceptilesolar posted... you get bonus AP if you reduce one of them to low health. ahahahaha that was never happening. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953678177] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Sceptilesolar posted... </cite> <quote>you get bonus AP if you reduce one of them to low health.</quote> ahahahaha that was never happening. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/07/21 11:04:09 PM #28:	Military pow-wow. RMP and 4th divison are together, discussing the status, and they ask Rean: So, uh, buddy ol' pal, whaddya plan to do next huh huh? And Rean says, "Nope! Sorry, gonna go finish my recruiting drive. MASS EFFECT 2 FOREVAHHH!!!" The general doesn't even try to persuade them. He's just like, k. Cya. And Claire's like, hey, cool. Can I come with? Munk and Monica are here. We're just going to find Thor's students everywhere, aren't we? Oh, fun fact. Apparently I had revive items. I just didn't know that was what Celestial Balms did. Thought I needed Reviving Balms. Maybe I should actually do some cooking now that I'm in a base....actually, tbh, I don't remember how to cook. Doesn't seem to be in the menus anywhere. Tutorials for everything ELSE... =x Claire changes into another outfit, and the boys are suddenly tripping over her. Rean, you did see her in a cocktail dress before, remember? Well, Fie...that might be because you are. Diddlaloop! Diddlaloop! Diddlaloop! Diddlaloop! Back in Ymir, Dad's still recovering, but apparently nobody can use orbal arts to heal him? No, of course not. That would trivialize the story. Kind of like using a Phoenix Down to revive story-killed characters in FF. Damn you, plot convenience! Mom says take a day of rest, and the calendar advances 3 days. Whoops. Make that a long weekend, then. Oh hey, free time events! I agree to help Fie cook, and suddenly battle music starts playing? In the end, though, we make Neapolitan astronaut ice cream field rations!...or with those colors, maybe more like Congo Squares. Get it? Get it? Because they're green, yellow, and red like the fl...never mind. Claire's event sees us surrounded by monsters, and she's just all like lol s-craft. Snowboarding time! First track was painfully easy, but it had a fork I could take to save like 5 seconds at the expense of failing the run. Cool story, bro. Anyway, other than that you get absolutely zero hang time on jumps compared to other snowboarding-esque minigames, pretty easy stuff. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953678572] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Military pow-wow. RMP and 4th divison are together, discussing the status, and they ask Rean: So, uh, buddy ol' pal, whaddya plan to do next huh huh? And Rean says, "Nope! Sorry, gonna go finish my recruiting drive. MASS EFFECT 2 FOREVAHHH!!!" The general doesn't even try to persuade them. He's just like, k. Cya. And Claire's like, hey, cool. Can I come with? Munk and Monica are here. We're just going to find Thor's students everywhere, aren't we? Oh, fun fact. Apparently I had revive items. I just didn't know that was what Celestial Balms did. Thought I needed Reviving Balms. Maybe I should actually do some cooking now that I'm in a base....actually, tbh, I don't remember how to cook. Doesn't seem to be in the menus anywhere. Tutorials for everything ELSE... =x Claire changes into another outfit, and the boys are suddenly tripping over her. Rean, you did see her in a cocktail dress before, remember? Well, Fie...that might be because you are. Diddlaloop! Diddlaloop! Diddlaloop! Diddlaloop! Back in Ymir, Dad's still recovering, but apparently nobody can use orbal arts to heal him? No, of course not. That would trivialize the story. Kind of like using a Phoenix Down to revive story-killed characters in FF. Damn you, plot convenience! Mom says take a day of rest, and the calendar advances 3 days. Whoops. Make that a long weekend, then. Oh hey, free time events! I agree to help Fie cook, and suddenly battle music starts playing? In the end, though, we make Neapolitan astronaut ice cream field rations!...or with those colors, maybe more like Congo Squares. Get it? Get it? Because they're green, yellow, and red like the fl...never mind. Claire's event sees us surrounded by monsters, and she's just all like lol s-craft. Snowboarding time! First track was painfully easy, but it had a fork I could take to save like 5 seconds at the expense of failing the run. Cool story, bro. Anyway, other than that you get absolutely zero hang time on jumps compared to other snowboarding-esque minigames, pretty easy stuff. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/08/21 2:19:15 AM #29:	azuarc posted... According to Toval, Crossbell has some big ultimate power thing that is powering a giant bubble over the city, and let them do whatever happened to the fortress. I wasn't aware Crossbell was involved in the attacks with the Noble Faction. Somehow I have my doubts. But I haven't played Ao/Zero, either. Celine says it's Ouroboros. The Garrelia Fortress stuff happened towards the very end of Cold Steel 1. Crossbell declared independence, Erebonia and Calvard were like "lol no," so Crossbell was like "what a shame we're the financial capital of the continent" and freezed everyone's assets and then Garrelia Fortress got annihilated, with the news of it crashing the dance festival in CS1. That bit had nothing to do with the Noble Faction. They, through Crow's ILF, had attacked it about a month earlier to all this happening with the intent of firing its massive cannons at Crossbell because Osborne was there at a conference but Class VII forced them out before anything significant happened and "officially" the attack never happened but that was unrelated. Obviously Zero and Ao, taking place in Crossbell concurrently show you the events from the Crossbell side and provide the answers to "what the heck is happening in Crossbell?" azuarc posted... Oh, fun fact. Apparently I had revive items. I just didn't know that was what Celestial Balms did. Thought I needed Reviving Balms. Maybe I should actually do some cooking now that I'm in a base....actually, tbh, I don't remember how to cook. Doesn't seem to be in the menus anywhere. Tutorials for everything ELSE... =x Open the Thors Notebook or whatever it's called. There's a tab in there for Cooking, that's where you cook from. --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953683042] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote> According to Toval, Crossbell has some big ultimate power thing that is powering a giant bubble over the city, and let them do whatever happened to the fortress. I wasn't aware Crossbell was involved in the attacks with the Noble Faction. Somehow I have my doubts. But I haven't played Ao/Zero, either. Celine says it's Ouroboros.</quote>The Garrelia Fortress stuff happened towards the very end of Cold Steel 1. Crossbell declared independence, Erebonia and Calvard were like "lol no," so Crossbell was like "what a shame we're the financial capital of the continent" and freezed everyone's assets and then Garrelia Fortress got annihilated, with the news of it crashing the dance festival in CS1. That bit had nothing to do with the Noble Faction. They, through Crow's ILF, had attacked it about a month earlier to all this happening with the intent of firing its massive cannons at Crossbell because Osborne was there at a conference but Class VII forced them out before anything significant happened and "officially" the attack never happened but that was unrelated. Obviously Zero and Ao, taking place in Crossbell concurrently show you the events from the Crossbell side and provide the answers to "what the heck is happening in Crossbell?" azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Oh, fun fact. Apparently I had revive items. I just didn't know that was what Celestial Balms did. Thought I needed Reviving Balms. Maybe I should actually do some cooking now that I'm in a base....actually, tbh, I don't remember how to cook. Doesn't seem to be in the menus anywhere. Tutorials for everything ELSE... =x</quote>Open the Thors Notebook or whatever it's called. There's a tab in there for Cooking, that's where you cook from. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/08/21 8:24:38 AM #30:	xp1337 posted... The Garrelia Fortress stuff happened towards the very end of Cold Steel 1. Crossbell declared independence, Erebonia and Calvard were like "lol no," so Crossbell was like "what a shame we're the financial capital of the continent" and freezed everyone's assets and then Garrelia Fortress got annihilated, with the news of it crashing the dance festival in CS1. That bit had nothing to do with the Noble Faction. They, through Crow's ILF, had attacked it about a month earlier to all this happening with the intent of firing its massive cannons at Crossbell because Osborne was there at a conference but Class VII forced them out before anything significant happened and "officially" the attack never happened but that was unrelated. Right, okay, and maybe I'm getting my sequencing mixed up, but my memory of Garrelia Fortress getting annihilated didn't have as much to do with the Crossbell incident as the noble attack because it was basically concurrent. The game opens with a flash-forward to the cannon thing, which happens considerably before the festival. While there's still some talk about tensions with Crossbell after their declarations for independence, I thought Garrelia went boom at almost the same time that Crow shot the chancellor and the soldats took the capital. So if Crossbell was behind the attack on Garrelia, that's remarkable timing (or planning.) --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953687460] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>xp1337 posted... </cite> <quote>The Garrelia Fortress stuff happened towards the very end of Cold Steel 1. Crossbell declared independence, Erebonia and Calvard were like "lol no," so Crossbell was like "what a shame we're the financial capital of the continent" and freezed everyone's assets and then Garrelia Fortress got annihilated, with the news of it crashing the dance festival in CS1. That bit had nothing to do with the Noble Faction. They, through Crow's ILF, had attacked it about a month earlier to all this happening with the intent of firing its massive cannons at Crossbell because Osborne was there at a conference but Class VII forced them out before anything significant happened and "officially" the attack never happened but that was unrelated.</quote> Right, okay, and maybe I'm getting my sequencing mixed up, but my memory of Garrelia Fortress getting annihilated didn't have as much to do with the Crossbell incident as the noble attack because it was basically concurrent. The game opens with a flash-forward to the cannon thing, which happens considerably before the festival. While there's still some talk about tensions with Crossbell after their declarations for independence, I thought Garrelia went boom at almost the same time that Crow shot the chancellor and the soldats took the capital. So if Crossbell was behind the attack on Garrelia, that's remarkable timing (or planning.) </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/08/21 12:45:20 PM #31:	Yeah, your memory is a bit off, but understandably so. Those events happen pretty quickly from the viewpoint of CS1 because the festival ends with the news of Garrelia getting annihilated followed by Rean doing a quick narration of how damn tense the following week was before setting you up for endgame. Brief Summary. October 24 - Last Day of Thors' Festival. Garrelia Fortress is annihilated. -Rean narrates the fallout of that event and how Erebonia is understandably super tense, especially when newspaper photos get out of how it got ice-cream scooped- October 30 - Last day of CS1. Osborne announces a speech where, had he been able to complete his sentence without getting shot by Crow, was about to declare war on Crossbell. Noble Faction attacks pretty much concurrently with him getting shot and takes Heimdallr. --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953693101] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Yeah, your memory is a bit off, but understandably so. Those events happen pretty quickly from the viewpoint of CS1 because the festival ends with the news of Garrelia getting annihilated followed by Rean doing a quick narration of how damn tense the following week was before setting you up for endgame. Brief Summary. October 24 - Last Day of Thors' Festival. Garrelia Fortress is annihilated. -Rean narrates the fallout of that event and how Erebonia is understandably super tense, especially when newspaper photos get out of how it got ice-cream scooped- October 30 - Last day of CS1. Osborne announces a speech where, had he been able to complete his sentence without getting shot by Crow, was about to declare war on Crossbell. Noble Faction attacks pretty much concurrently with him getting shot and takes Heimdallr. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/08/21 4:22:53 PM #32:	xp1337 posted... Noble Faction attacks pretty much concurrently with him getting shot and takes Heimdallr. At least this part absolutely happened concurrently because it was coordinated. But okay, yeah, I wouldn't have remembered a time gap with Garrelia's attack ending the festival and what followed. It's been 9 months since I finished the last game, and there's so many details to track. I remember the broader strokes, but it's like reading book 2 of an epic fantasy series where the first book is 800 incredibly dense pages. So thank you for setting me straight. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953698817] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>xp1337 posted... </cite> <quote>Noble Faction attacks pretty much concurrently with him getting shot and takes Heimdallr.</quote> At least this part absolutely happened concurrently because it was coordinated. But okay, yeah, I wouldn't have remembered a time gap with Garrelia's attack ending the festival and what followed. It's been 9 months since I finished the last game, and there's so many details to track. I remember the broader strokes, but it's like reading book 2 of an epic fantasy series where the first book is 800 incredibly dense pages. So thank you for setting me straight. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Arti 05/10/21 12:23:04 PM #33:	azuarc posted... ahahahaha that was never happening. basically for the future of any of these battles, the best way to do it is have Rean use Motivate and then fire all 4 s-crafts at 200% CP at someone works for pretty much any bonus AP check --- http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif azuarc may not know the strength of songs in VGMC, but he conquered the guru in Game of the Decade 2! Congrats! <cite>Arti posted [p:953756060] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>ahahahaha that was never happening.</quote> basically for the future of any of these battles, the best way to do it is have Rean use Motivate and then fire all 4 s-crafts at 200% CP at someone works for pretty much any bonus AP check </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/15/21 1:19:09 AM #34:	So I come back after a few days, and apparently I've finished the chapter...or sub-chapter, or whatever. 100%! ~~Inb4 hidden quests.~~ As everyone else is standing around ready to leave, Toval and Claire went off to "check on Ymir's defenses." Mm-hmm, is that what they're calling it these days?...Actually, those two might make a cute couple. Okay, I'm on board this ship. And we're going to Nord over Legram. Dammit. I'm not surprised. It follows the order of the first game. And I liked the Highlands. I bring Elliot, Fie, and Claire. Claire and Fie finish a battle and Fie's response to Claire telling her she really knows how to handle herself is "Yay!" Uhh...what? Fie would never say "Yay!" And certainly not to that. Anyway, Noble Alliance is out here. Soldats fighting imperial tanks. Looks like they're having just as much fun here as everywhere else. I'm barred from approaching the nomadic settlement, and I got stuck in a loop for several cycles being told I can't approach the watchtower...which apparently is an invisible wall slashing across one whole side of the highlands that I kept getting repulsed into it. I've noticed the hit-circle-hit strategy on the map with Rean doesn't work any more. His hit recovery's too long. And I don't have Laura to club them over the head instead. The Noble Alliance is working with Calvard. Joy. Not that the general wants our help. He's all like, I don't expect you to bring the divine knight into this. It's our fight...and you're totally about to go down in flames on that ship, buddy. But yay, horses. Wait a sec. I don't want horses! I wanna fight everything in my path! The one thing the Highlands is good for is grinding the crap out of everything in the way. I think it's hilarious how the anteater enemies are called brutal infants. Also, I'm totally slaughtering them from horseback. Pro tip: Don't enter any story location, even one that's supposed to be friendly -- ESPECIALLY one that's supposed to be friendly -- without full health. Just got wiped by a group of jaegers in Gaius's town because they got to ambush me and one-shot me. Easy fight, too. Holy shit, Gaius just charged in here like fucking Lu Bu....or Guan Yu, anyway. But the bad guys get to leave, because of course they do. And Gaius is acting like them being there is no big deal and like he's seen them for hours. "It's just settling in that it's really you." :bruh: Gaius's mom is really good-looking. I remember everyone here having tan skin and brilliant blue eyes, but it's funny to see everyone at New Yurtville when everybody else in Erebonia so white. Off to explore the great northern beyond. Funny how all the enemies are the same, including the creepy sheep, but they're now much tougher. Who told the devs the world should level with the party? Didn't they learn that was annoying in Oblivion? Also, I now have two characters over 10k hp. Apparently the art team decided they wanted to make a mole look as scary as possible. They did a good job. Predictably, we find Millium and Alisa just as they're being attacked by a horrible monster. Uhh...Gaius, I appreciate the save and all, but how come you didn't go with them earlier? Also, I love how it completely changes my party so the only person in this fight that I had before was Rean. Tough fight, too. Might have been nice if you hadn't taken my actual healer and two other people who were just standing around because game mechanics dictated it! Millium's super happy to see Claire, and they have almost the same shade of blue hair. Hmm...I don't think Claire's old enough to have a teenage kid, but we know literally nothing about Millium, so I'm not ruling it out. Oh, man, Claire's getting all kinds of headcanon today. Also, apparently Alisa is "blond-haired girl" after the game already revealed her name. And I guess she's no longer worried Rean has cooties, because she is literally wrapped around his mid-section like a kid who doesn't want Mom to leave. And things are getting a little awkward, but at least Rean doesn't give her the headpat treatment. Whoa, whoa, what's this about a promise? Game, you can't force the canon romance on me when I didn't pick it earlier. I even saw this scene before with the correct girl in the frame. Predictably, as soon as she brings it up, though, Alisa instantly takes it back. Also, apparently she's permanently blushing throughout this sequence. And leave it to grandpa to make it (more) awkward. Ack, Millium to the face! --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953922192] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>So I come back after a few days, and apparently I've finished the chapter...or sub-chapter, or whatever. 100%! Inb4 hidden quests. As everyone else is standing around ready to leave, Toval and Claire went off to "check on Ymir's defenses." Mm-hmm, is that what they're calling it these days?...Actually, those two might make a cute couple. Okay, I'm on board this ship. And we're going to Nord over Legram. Dammit. I'm not surprised. It follows the order of the first game. And I liked the Highlands. I bring Elliot, Fie, and Claire. Claire and Fie finish a battle and Fie's response to Claire telling her she really knows how to handle herself is "Yay!" Uhh...what? Fie would never say "Yay!" And certainly not to that. Anyway, Noble Alliance is out here. Soldats fighting imperial tanks. Looks like they're having just as much fun here as everywhere else. I'm barred from approaching the nomadic settlement, and I got stuck in a loop for several cycles being told I can't approach the watchtower...which apparently is an invisible wall slashing across one whole side of the highlands that I kept getting repulsed into it. I've noticed the hit-circle-hit strategy on the map with Rean doesn't work any more. His hit recovery's too long. And I don't have Laura to club them over the head instead. The Noble Alliance is working with Calvard. Joy. Not that the general wants our help. He's all like, I don't expect you to bring the divine knight into this. It's our fight...and you're totally about to go down in flames on that ship, buddy. But yay, horses. Wait a sec. I don't want horses! I wanna fight everything in my path! The one thing the Highlands is good for is grinding the crap out of everything in the way. I think it's hilarious how the anteater enemies are called brutal infants. Also, I'm totally slaughtering them from horseback. Pro tip: Don't enter any story location, even one that's supposed to be friendly -- ESPECIALLY one that's supposed to be friendly -- without full health. Just got wiped by a group of jaegers in Gaius's town because they got to ambush me and one-shot me. Easy fight, too. Holy shit, Gaius just charged in here like fucking Lu Bu....or Guan Yu, anyway. But the bad guys get to leave, because of course they do. And Gaius is acting like them being there is no big deal and like he's seen them for hours. "It's just settling in that it's really you." :bruh: Gaius's mom is really good-looking. I remember everyone here having tan skin and brilliant blue eyes, but it's funny to see everyone at New Yurtville when everybody else in Erebonia so white. Off to explore the great northern beyond. Funny how all the enemies are the same, including the creepy sheep, but they're now much tougher. Who told the devs the world should level with the party? Didn't they learn that was annoying in Oblivion? Also, I now have two characters over 10k hp. Apparently the art team decided they wanted to make a mole look as scary as possible. They did a good job. Predictably, we find Millium and Alisa just as they're being attacked by a horrible monster. Uhh...Gaius, I appreciate the save and all, but how come you didn't go with them earlier? Also, I love how it completely changes my party so the only person in this fight that I had before was Rean. Tough fight, too. Might have been nice if you hadn't taken my actual healer and two other people who were just standing around because game mechanics dictated it! Millium's super happy to see Claire, and they have almost the same shade of blue hair. Hmm...I don't think Claire's old enough to have a teenage kid, but we know literally nothing about Millium, so I'm not ruling it out. Oh, man, Claire's getting all kinds of headcanon today. Also, apparently Alisa is "blond-haired girl" after the game already revealed her name. And I guess she's no longer worried Rean has cooties, because she is literally wrapped around his mid-section like a kid who doesn't want Mom to leave. And things are getting a little awkward, but at least Rean doesn't give her the headpat treatment. Whoa, whoa, what's this about a promise? Game, you can't force the canon romance on me when I didn't pick it earlier. I even saw this scene before with the correct girl in the frame. Predictably, as soon as she brings it up, though, Alisa instantly takes it back. Also, apparently she's permanently blushing throughout this sequence. And leave it to grandpa to make it (more) awkward. Ack, Millium to the face! </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/15/21 1:48:32 AM #35:	azuarc posted... So I come back after a few days, and apparently I've finished the chapter...or sub-chapter, or whatever. 100% If it gave you an S-Rank, you did everything (and everything right.) Max AP for Act 1 Part 1 was 35. You missed 3 AP for the bonus requirement in the Xeno/Leno fight as well as a Hidden Quest. When you were at Twin Dragons Bridge there should have been a merchant and soldier arguing about something. I forget the exact dialogue but it heavily suggests that there's something going on on the highway you entered from. If you backtrack that way you'll eventually hit a cutscene that triggers the quest which at that point is just beat some monsters. azuarc posted... I bring Elliot, Fie, and Claire. Claire and Fie finish a battle and Fie's response to Claire telling her she really knows how to handle herself is "Yay!" Uhh...what? Fie would never say "Yay!" And certainly not to that. Rean has unique linked victory dialogue with everyone, and the Class VII combos have their own, outside some specific cases, most of the rest are generic so Claire probably says that with almost all of Class VII and that's Fie's generic non-specific response. it's unfortunate azuarc posted... I've noticed the hit-circle-hit strategy on the map with Rean doesn't work any more. His hit recovery's too long. And I don't have Laura to club them over the head instead. No, but hit-hit-circle-hit-hit-circle works with Rean instead now. azuarc posted... Game, you can't force the canon romance on me when I didn't pick it earlier. I even saw this scene before with the correct girl in the frame. as i told you before the way the game handles reunion scenes means it leads to some impossible situations like this it's actually even funnier if millium qualified for the dance because hers is similarly impossible unless you actually picked her for the dance so on a max bond point carryover file you're straight-up guaranteed to have rean recall two mutually exclusive scenes back-to-back there. my headcanon is that rean is suffering brain damage --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:953922732] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>So I come back after a few days, and apparently I've finished the chapter...or sub-chapter, or whatever. 100%</quote>If it gave you an S-Rank, you did everything (and everything right.) Max AP for Act 1 Part 1 was 35. You missed 3 AP for the bonus requirement in the Xeno/Leno fight as well as a Hidden Quest. When you were at Twin Dragons Bridge there should have been a merchant and soldier arguing about something. I forget the exact dialogue but it heavily suggests that there's something going on on the highway you entered from. If you backtrack that way you'll eventually hit a cutscene that triggers the quest which at that point is just beat some monsters. azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>I bring Elliot, Fie, and Claire. Claire and Fie finish a battle and Fie's response to Claire telling her she really knows how to handle herself is "Yay!" Uhh...what? Fie would never say "Yay!" And certainly not to that.</quote>Rean has unique linked victory dialogue with everyone, and the Class VII combos have their own, outside some specific cases, most of the rest are generic so Claire probably says that with almost all of Class VII and that's Fie's generic non-specific response. it's unfortunate azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>I've noticed the hit-circle-hit strategy on the map with Rean doesn't work any more. His hit recovery's too long. And I don't have Laura to club them over the head instead.</quote>No, but hit-hit-circle-hit-hit-circle works with Rean instead now. azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Game, you can't force the canon romance on me when I didn't pick it earlier. I even saw this scene before with the correct girl in the frame.</quote>as i told you before the way the game handles reunion scenes means it leads to some impossible situations like this it's actually even funnier if millium qualified for the dance because hers is similarly impossible unless you actually picked her for the dance so on a max bond point carryover file you're straight-up guaranteed to have rean recall two mutually exclusive scenes back-to-back there. my headcanon is that rean is suffering brain damage </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/15/21 2:39:31 AM #36:	xp1337 posted... If it gave you an S-Rank, you did everything (and everything right.) Max AP for Act 1 Part 1 was 35. Shh, I got 100%. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953923477] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>xp1337 posted... </cite> <quote>If it gave you an S-Rank, you did everything (and everything right.) Max AP for Act 1 Part 1 was 35.</quote> Shh, I got 100%. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/15/21 8:04:37 PM #37:	Highlands farming, part 1: Northern highland is a little more annoying to work through because of the enemies involved, but I killed three military monsters for a quest, then moved on to the next map segment, where I got mocked by a horse. Also stumbled upon some ruins that the game prevented me from reaching last time. Looks like a Spanish mission to me. Find out next time, on Kisekiball C. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:953946561] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Highlands farming, part 1: Northern highland is a little more annoying to work through because of the enemies involved, but I killed three military monsters for a quest, then moved on to the next map segment, where I got mocked by a horse. Also stumbled upon some ruins that the game prevented me from reaching last time. Looks like a Spanish mission to me. Find out next time, on Kisekiball C. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/20/21 7:35:38 PM #38:	Does every blue chest have recommended levels above where I'm at? Or do I just not grind enough for the game? Rean just got to 63 and it's telling me it wants Alisa and Gaius at 65 for this one. And is there a dumber mechanic in the game than Deathblow? I see the deathblow coming, but I don't have delay tech to use, but it's okay because the enemy has only a couple hundred HP and my last attack will easily k---miss. And now I'm dead. Fuck. Then the first enemy in the next battle one-shots Rean from full health for 12k. WTF? That wasn't a deathblow. The hell happened? Got a quartz named criminal for my trouble, though. lol? And then I'm a dumbass and don't save before a boss fight, and go in ill-prepared and get basically slaughtered in one round, and I'm thinking aww crap. I really screwed up. I've got two characters with no CP, I just got mauled by status effects, and I can't go back out and get set up. So I hit weaken-and-retry rather than just retry, and I kick the freaking tar out of them on the next attempt. I'm thinking maybe I didn't need to weaken them? And Aria Shrine complete, along with some random vision where Rean sees Nord dudes of the past follow some guy away from the Highlands. I manage to get back without being an abject embarrassment, and also discover that I can't enter the Ancient Quarry...yet. I'm assuming I'm okay passing on these blue chests because I'm coming back everywhere again later. Climb up the watchtower was easy, but predictably I lost the boss fight. Did not want to (weaken and) retry. Will hit it again later when I'm better prepared. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:954128322] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Does every blue chest have recommended levels above where I'm at? Or do I just not grind enough for the game? Rean just got to 63 and it's telling me it wants Alisa and Gaius at 65 for this one. And is there a dumber mechanic in the game than Deathblow? I see the deathblow coming, but I don't have delay tech to use, but it's okay because the enemy has only a couple hundred HP and my last attack will easily k---miss. And now I'm dead. Fuck. Then the first enemy in the next battle one-shots Rean from full health for 12k. WTF? That wasn't a deathblow. The hell happened? Got a quartz named criminal for my trouble, though. lol? And then I'm a dumbass and don't save before a boss fight, and go in ill-prepared and get basically slaughtered in one round, and I'm thinking aww crap. I really screwed up. I've got two characters with no CP, I just got mauled by status effects, and I can't go back out and get set up. So I hit weaken-and-retry rather than just retry, and I kick the freaking tar out of them on the next attempt. I'm thinking maybe I didn't need to weaken them? And Aria Shrine complete, along with some random vision where Rean sees Nord dudes of the past follow some guy away from the Highlands. I manage to get back without being an abject embarrassment, and also discover that I can't enter the Ancient Quarry...yet. I'm assuming I'm okay passing on these blue chests because I'm coming back everywhere again later. Climb up the watchtower was easy, but predictably I lost the boss fight. Did not want to (weaken and) retry. Will hit it again later when I'm better prepared. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Murphiroth 05/20/21 7:40:59 PM #39:	I found that I could do the blue chests even when I was a few levels below the recommended. <cite>Murphiroth posted [p:954128499] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>I found that I could do the blue chests even when I was a few levels below the recommended. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/20/21 8:50:05 PM #40:	Eh, okay. The first one was some party comp I did not care for, and got fried really badly, so I've just been skipping them. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:954130591] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Eh, okay. The first one was some party comp I did not care for, and got fried really badly, so I've just been skipping them. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Hbthebattle 05/20/21 8:52:05 PM #41:	azuarc posted... Eh, okay. The first one was some party comp I did not care for, and got fried really badly, so I've just been skipping them. you're going to want to do them when you can, because oftentimes it'll be a long while before you get access to those areas again. --- Congrats to azuarc for winning the GotD Guru! <cite>Hbthebattle posted [p:954130659] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Eh, okay. The first one was some party comp I did not care for, and got fried really badly, so I've just been skipping them.</quote>you're going to want to do them when you can, because oftentimes it'll be a long while before you get access to those areas again. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/21/21 1:57:10 AM #42:	azuarc posted... And is there a dumber mechanic in the game than Deathblow? I see the deathblow coming, but I don't have delay tech to use, but it's okay because the enemy has only a couple hundred HP and my last attack will easily k---miss. And now I'm dead. Fuck. I make sure to equip Deathblow/Petrify protection as soon as possible so that this is not part of my life. Dark + Red Pendulum once economically feasible. Usually solves 95% of status effect related issues. The rare case where it doesn't is usually covered by Green Pendulum. pendulums (and their upgrades but those cost tons of U-Material/Mira) best accessories --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:954138244] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>And is there a dumber mechanic in the game than Deathblow? I see the deathblow coming, but I don't have delay tech to use, but it's okay because the enemy has only a couple hundred HP and my last attack will easily k---miss. And now I'm dead. Fuck.</quote>I make sure to equip Deathblow/Petrify protection as soon as possible so that this is not part of my life. Dark + Red Pendulum once economically feasible. Usually solves 95% of status effect related issues. The rare case where it doesn't is usually covered by Green Pendulum. pendulums (and their upgrades but those cost tons of U-Material/Mira) best accessories </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/21/21 11:08:14 AM #43:	Yeah, but there's like absolutely nothing for sale at this point in the game. I could equip the chintzy stuff that addresses a single status effect and nothing else, but I'm waiting for there to be equipment that can at least protect and have stats, or protect against more than one thing. Also waiting for some better orbs. Tier 1 orbs only are pretty hard to pretty hard to do much with, especially when I'm a stats whore. Being able to upgrade from a basic Tear to a level 2 Tear would be really swell. I'm hoping after the current saga, things will finally start opening up. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:954146982] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Yeah, but there's like absolutely nothing for sale at this point in the game. I could equip the chintzy stuff that addresses a single status effect and nothing else, but I'm waiting for there to be equipment that can at least protect and have stats, or protect against more than one thing. Also waiting for some better orbs. Tier 1 orbs only are pretty hard to pretty hard to do much with, especially when I'm a stats whore. Being able to upgrade from a basic Tear to a level 2 Tear would be really swell. I'm hoping after the current saga, things will finally start opening up. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
xp1337 05/21/21 11:19:37 AM #44:	I forget when Pendulum-like equipment shows up in shops but you should be able to craft them with Exchange shops. Might not be one where you are now, but there's definitely one in Ymir. Basic pendulums you can craft by trading in one of each accessory that covers the status effect the pendulum itself covers (So if a Pendulum prevents Faint, Petrify, and Confuse you can craft it by trading in one Faint, one Petrify, and one Confuse accessory.) From there you can upgrade them to stats versions but the U-Material cost will probably be your primary limiting factor. --- xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out? <cite>xp1337 posted [p:954147314] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>I forget when Pendulum-like equipment shows up in shops but you should be able to craft them with Exchange shops. Might not be one where you are now, but there's definitely one in Ymir. Basic pendulums you can craft by trading in one of each accessory that covers the status effect the pendulum itself covers (So if a Pendulum prevents Faint, Petrify, and Confuse you can craft it by trading in one Faint, one Petrify, and one Confuse accessory.) From there you can upgrade them to stats versions but the U-Material cost will probably be your primary limiting factor. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Fiop 05/21/21 12:05:26 PM #45:	I remember the blue chests being some of the toughest fights, though it should generally be possible to do them right away even if youre underlevelled. It helps to at least have full CP for both characters. Sometimes one max S craft will take out the generic enemies, just leaving the main boss. Do this right away with one character and then use your other character to keep both alive until the first one starts getting turns. Protect against status effects if you can, but if you cant you can just restart until they dont hit. I didnt do too much with crafting accessories myself, but U Materials are way easier to get than the first game, so pendulums may be a good investment. --- "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude." - 1 Cor 13:4-5 <cite>Fiop posted [p:954148736] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>I remember the blue chests being some of the toughest fights, though it should generally be possible to do them right away even if youre underlevelled. It helps to at least have full CP for both characters. Sometimes one max S craft will take out the generic enemies, just leaving the main boss. Do this right away with one character and then use your other character to keep both alive until the first one starts getting turns. Protect against status effects if you can, but if you cant you can just restart until they dont hit. I didnt do too much with crafting accessories myself, but U Materials are way easier to get than the first game, so pendulums may be a good investment. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/21/21 1:59:34 PM #46:	Fiop posted... U Materials are way easier to get than the first game Helpful to know. I was prepared to write off xp's suggestion to craft things because I did that exactly zero times in the first game beyond exploring the interface. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:954152556] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Fiop posted... </cite> <quote>U Materials are way easier to get than the first game</quote> Helpful to know. I was prepared to write off xp's suggestion to craft things because I did that exactly zero times in the first game beyond exploring the interface. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Fiop 05/21/21 3:34:03 PM #47:	Maybe I should clarify that. I don't know that U-Materials are necessarily easy to farm in this game, but you tend to have a lot more extras than the first game. In the first game, I remember spending most of them on upgrading weapons; in the second game, you don't need as many for that purpose. Personally, I spent more U-Materials on orbment upgrades than on accessories (I can't remember making a single accessory). --- "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude." - 1 Cor 13:4-5 <cite>Fiop posted [p:954155650] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Maybe I should clarify that. I don't know that U-Materials are necessarily easy to farm in this game, but you tend to have a lot more extras than the first game. In the first game, I remember spending most of them on upgrading weapons; in the second game, you don't need as many for that purpose. Personally, I spent more U-Materials on orbment upgrades than on accessories (I can't remember making a single accessory). </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 05/26/21 12:49:39 AM #48:	Kill the bad guys this time. No need for a retry. Just playing it smart. Just when Blueblanc tries to turn the upper hand, Sharon swoops in and counters. And then reveals she's a member of Ouroboros. And then something something path of Joshua and Renne. Err...that Joshua? Neko (my black cat) decides to hop up on my desk just as Rean and Celine are jumping out to Valimar. How cute. And after Gobot Battles, apparently everyone lives happily ever after. And the bad guys get away, naturally. But that seems really strange to me since (a) the watchtower was undefended while their troops mounted an assault to hammer the 4th, (b) there was the implication that the entire Highlands was about to burn as what I perceived as some kind of scorched earth offensive, and (c) attacks were supposed to be coming in from across the border. By being delayed by Bleublanc and the Black Rabbit, we stopped none of those things. Dealing with the orbal jammer only happened after the fact. Everyone should have been boned. Once again, everyone's talking like they're familiar with Ymir. I must have really forgotten that part of the first game? That wasn't just where one of the other class trips went or something, was it? Going to Rean's home, I think I would have remembered that. Anyway, snowboarding, check. Bonding events, forthcoming. Kitten making a nuisance of himself, absolutely. Guess that's all for now. --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:954307023] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Kill the bad guys this time. No need for a retry. Just playing it smart. Just when Blueblanc tries to turn the upper hand, Sharon swoops in and counters. And then reveals she's a member of Ouroboros. And then something something path of Joshua and Renne. Err...that Joshua? Neko (my black cat) decides to hop up on my desk just as Rean and Celine are jumping out to Valimar. How cute. And after Gobot Battles, apparently everyone lives happily ever after. And the bad guys get away, naturally. But that seems really strange to me since (a) the watchtower was undefended while their troops mounted an assault to hammer the 4th, (b) there was the implication that the entire Highlands was about to burn as what I perceived as some kind of scorched earth offensive, and (c) attacks were supposed to be coming in from across the border. By being delayed by Bleublanc and the Black Rabbit, we stopped none of those things. Dealing with the orbal jammer only happened after the fact. Everyone should have been boned. Once again, everyone's talking like they're familiar with Ymir. I must have really forgotten that part of the first game? That wasn't just where one of the other class trips went or something, was it? Going to Rean's home, I think I would have remembered that. Anyway, snowboarding, check. Bonding events, forthcoming. Kitten making a nuisance of himself, absolutely. Guess that's all for now. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Arti 05/26/21 12:56:40 AM #49:	azuarc posted... Once again, everyone's talking like they're familiar with Ymir. I must have really forgotten that part of the first game? That wasn't just where one of the other class trips went or something, was it? Going to Rean's home, I think I would have remembered that. It was in a drama CD only released in Japan. XSEED translated it and released it in script form on their website. http://www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2/memoirs1.html --- http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif azuarc may not know the strength of songs in VGMC, but he conquered the guru in Game of the Decade 2! Congrats! <cite>Arti posted [p:954307172] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>azuarc posted... </cite> <quote>Once again, everyone's talking like they're familiar with Ymir. I must have really forgotten that part of the first game? That wasn't just where one of the other class trips went or something, was it? Going to Rean's home, I think I would have remembered that.</quote>It was in a drama CD only released in Japan. XSEED translated it and released it in script form on their website. http://www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2/memoirs1.html </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
azuarc 06/01/21 9:53:47 PM #50:	Finally back to playing. Bonding time. Started with Toval, who has something he wants to pray about that Rean wonders internally. Toval x Claire incoming. Oh, no, he's just praying for Sarah being okay. Also, HE gives REAN a headpat. More manly bro time with Gaius, who I swear is even taller than Rean compared to before. We're gonna shovel driveways! Followed by a foot bath. I don't think Gaius is enjoying himself given the way he's got his arms folded, staring straight ahead. And finally, after asking Sharon about Ouroboros, she decides instead to fight Rean and show him how to not die instantly if he gets attacked by them. Obtained 24 AP for a B rank. Bleh. Guess I missed some stuff. But hey, we're finally off to Legram!...where one person is missing. Better be Useless. (Actually, I know it is, based on the screenshots in the Steam store.) Celine immediately betrays that she came along with the group to Legram. Put on rails to Legram where the bracer guild is up and running. And what a surprise, we just missed Emma and Laura. They ran off into danger all by themselves. #RPGtropes A quick circuit around town and all the girls accuse me of coming to steal Lady Laura away from them. It's like they can see right through me. One thing I can not see through, though, is this GD fog. It better clear after the castle because this is annoying to look at. We show up afraid Lauremma are in battle and in danger, and pff, they make a grand ol' entrance and beat the crap out of some dragon thing like a boss. Either they've powered up a bunch or that was a hell of a performance. And then a boss shows up, and we ride in like we're the uber NPCs bailing the party out when the bad guys up their game -- a la Sharon at the tower. And Laura's like, pff yeah~ Rean is reunited with Laura. Rean is reunited with Emma. But the happiest reunion of all: uwu Oh, wow, and not even a dungeon crawl to follow. Just straight back to town. Well, okay then~ --- Only the exceptions can be exceptional. <cite>azuarc posted [p:954543677] in azuarc pla... [t:79435776]...</cite> <quote>Finally back to playing. Bonding time. Started with Toval, who has something he wants to pray about that Rean wonders internally. Toval x Claire incoming. Oh, no, he's just praying for Sarah being okay. Also, HE gives REAN a headpat. More manly bro time with Gaius, who I swear is even taller than Rean compared to before. We're gonna shovel driveways! Followed by a foot bath. I don't think Gaius is enjoying himself given the way he's got his arms folded, staring straight ahead. And finally, after asking Sharon about Ouroboros, she decides instead to fight Rean and show him how to not die instantly if he gets attacked by them. Obtained 24 AP for a B rank. Bleh. Guess I missed some stuff. But hey, we're finally off to Legram!...where one person is missing. Better be Useless. (Actually, I know it is, based on the screenshots in the Steam store.) Celine immediately betrays that she came along with the group to Legram. Put on rails to Legram where the bracer guild is up and running. And what a surprise, we just missed Emma and Laura. They ran off into danger all by themselves. #RPGtropes A quick circuit around town and all the girls accuse me of coming to steal Lady Laura away from them. It's like they can see right through me. One thing I can not see through, though, is this GD fog. It better clear after the castle because this is annoying to look at. We show up afraid Lauremma are in battle and in danger, and pff, they make a grand ol' entrance and beat the crap out of some dragon thing like a boss. Either they've powered up a bunch or that was a hell of a performance. And then a boss shows up, and we ride in like we're the uber NPCs bailing the party out when the bad guys up their game -- a la Sharon at the tower. And Laura's like, pff yeah~ Rean is reunited with Laura. Rean is reunited with Emma. But the happiest reunion of all: uwu Oh, wow, and not even a dungeon crawl to follow. Just straight back to town. Well, okay then~ </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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Board 8 > azuarc plays Trails of Cold Steel II (progressive spoilers)