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 Latest News: Both physical and e-Store versions of EOV now available in both the US and EU regions; Persona Q & Mystery Dungeon sequels coming out "eventually, who knows." holy poo poo y’all, it finally came out! mother. loving.  !Welcome to the new megathread for Etrian Odyssey. For those of you new to the series, it was born from creator Kazuya Niinou’s fond memories of drawing his own dungeon maps back in the heyday of Wizardry & Bard’s Tale. When the DS came along with its handy touchscreen that let you do away with the graph paper, he seized the moment and the series has been steadily chugging along ever since. There are now five mainline EO titles, 3DS remakes of the first two, and multiple spin-offs marrying the gameplay to the Persona and Mystery Dungeon series. (Admittedly with questionable results, but more on that later.) That it survived this long is perhaps less surprising than one might think. ATLUS continues to tinker with the math and systems underlying the core gameplay with each release. Every Etrian game revolves around sending a party of 5 to chart a 1st-person labyrinth filled with challenging battles. However changes in the available classes, and the mechanics backing them, mean each game plays differently.  In addition to the cartography, the series’ other signature is the FOE system. FOEs (either ‘Field-on Enemy’ or ‘Formido Oppagnatura Exsequens,’ depending on whether you’re trying to awkwardly cram meaning into the anagram in Japanese or English) are the elite spawns to the random encounter’s trash mobs. They show up as visible models on the top screen and map icons on the bottom, taking one (or more) steps for each of yours, and each turn spent in battle. Some passively patrol an area, others aggro on spotting you and hunt you down. All are incredibly rude, and will even barge into an ongoing battle if they catch up. They can be killed, and most won’t respawn for 7 in-game days. However assuming you’re strong enough to do so, the hit to your party’s resources makes this spectacularly ill-advised if you want to make progress. Thus, figuring out how to avoid FOEs is a key part of exploring most floors of the labyrinth.  Etrian Odyssey V offers a 'back to basics' approach, when it comes to exploring the labyrinth. Gone are EO III & IV's sailing and airship mechanics, or the Untold games' smaller secondary dungeons. Instead there's you, there's the giant tree what has the labyrinth inside, and you're gonna climb it and probably get wiped out a bunch in the process. Always save your map data when offered. However things have changed a lot when it comes to creating your team of fighting cartographers. In previous games, your class meant everything--your stats, your race, the whole shebang. In EOV there are four playable races, each with their own stat growths, and you can switch them to any class you choose (along with selecting hair/eye/skin color & voice, with no gender restriction on the latter if you want to make Etrian Mike Tyson or something). Not all races will be equally good at any given class, but there are some fun synergies to be gained by occasionally playing against type. The Lineage: Nintendo DS:    Rough around the edges, but they launched the franchise. Of the 3 games, EOIII features major improvements in playability as well as one of the series' most distinctive class list. The first two aren't bad by any means, and many of the posters in this thread owe their addiction to playing them. However, with faithful-but-more-polished remakes of I & II available on the 3DS, there's little to recommend them beyond historical curiosity. Of course you could also scratch that itch by reading some of the thread regulars' many quality LPs! Nintendo 3DS:    The great leap forward. Right off the bat, the series' move to the 3DS allowed for many improvements. Better graphics capabilities resulted in far superior draw distance while exploring the labyrinth, as well as actual enemy models so you can tell a a F.O.E's facing and what it is before you fight it. 'Untold' is the moniker applied to the remakes of the first two games in the original trilogy. In addition to the graphical improvements of EOIV, they also added a Story Mode. Story mode restricts your starting party composition to the 5 specific classes you start with. No additional characters can be created. In exchange, your characters get, well, actual character: voice acted dialogue, plot, etc. Fairly bare-bones by JRPG standards but for some people that's enough. However the general preference is for Classic Mode, allowing you to ditch the added plot and explore the Labyrinth with whatever combination of classes you choose.  The Spin-Offs: there are a couple others, but they're japan-only phone games so i don't give a fuuuuuck Hey! Do you like Persona 3 & 4 or the Mystery Dungeon series? Well what would you say to flaying Etrian Odyssey and draping those series in its skin? No, I kid, I kid... For one thing, Persona Q is an Etrian Odyssey game wearing the flayed skin of Persona 3 & 4 instead!    As you might guess from my description, reaction to these was mixed. Persona Q has some fairly glaring gameplay balance issues, and the mazes gradually become grueling slogs even by EO standards. It is a chance to see the cast of both games bounce off each other, which is kind of fun (if superficially done). I like that it exists, however I wouldn't choose it as the introduction to the Etrian series. Nice opening, tho'. Etrian Mystery Dungeon is... well, a Mystery Dungeon game; you know, a Rogue-like. It's not terrible if you like them, but it tends to be a pain to coordinate a 4-person party through corridors only wide enough for one, among other things. Balance still not great. The Pokemon Mystery Dungeons games are a more polished product, if you can believe it.  HOW IN THE ACTUAL gently caress DOES ALL THIS WORK IN PRACTICE HUH? My friend, why not peruse these nifty LPs (mostly) by thread regulars? COMPLETE:
Real talk: if you're getting started, find it overwhelming and the FAQ isn't cutting it, just ask in the thread. We love these games, probably too much, because there isn't anything else quite like them and consequently filled about 400 pages in the last one doing nothing but chatting about gameplay mechanics, music and If you happen to be capable of reading kanji at a fluent level the absurdly comprehensive wikis maintained by the Japanese fandom are also an option. The rest of you are stuck with us and GameFAQs.  The Beginner's EOV FAQ (so far):
Rangpur fucked around with this message at 18:08 on Nov 23, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 19:26
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| # ? Apr 25, 2024 11:49 |
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By request, links to previous iterations of the megathread:
There are scripted events (or 'Adventure Episodes') that take place as you explore the labyrinth, which frequently includes encounters with other guilds generated by streetpassing other EOV players or scanning their QR codes at Jenetta's Inn. The guild selected (it seems to be randomly chosen out of the registered cards) won't influence these, but you can also add a pre-selected party member from each card so registered to your own guild as a guest. Otherwise you're stuck with Conrad "Here Comes a Special Boy" Freeblade, of Guild Freeblade, a permanently level 5 fencer with no skill points invested. Just FYI, these are apparently region-locked because gently caress you I guess? No EU and US crossovers allowed, so try scanning a couple if they aren't working. If you have a New 3DS and don't want to unscrew the case, you can also upload your microSD card contents wirelessly with this. (Thanks to Strange Quark for the link.) Fortuitous Bumble  Batigh  TheOneAndOnlyT  JimmyHats  Dr. Fetus  The White Dragon  Rangpur  sethimothy   Elfface (EU Guild)  WhalerWren (EU Guild)  nekoxid (EU Guild)  also class write-ups later, I guess? Rangpur fucked around with this message at 18:43 on Dec 2, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 19:29
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Always trust a squirrel, for they are your friends. 
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Nov 3, 2017 19:30
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Ground floor Announce a new game Atlus
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Nov 3, 2017 19:30
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I like this video game series. It is good.  EO3U when
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Nov 3, 2017 19:33
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EO3 had the best OST
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Nov 3, 2017 19:37
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Also seriously Atlus, what the gently caress were you thinking with the EO3 Superboss!?
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Nov 3, 2017 19:37
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Dr. Fetus posted:Also seriously Atlus, what the gently caress were you thinking with the EO3 Superboss!? I read this in your LP thread and I'm still utterly fascinated by it. I never fought Abyssal God and now I'm extremely glad I didn't. Jesus god. Like is the intention that players will find the cheesiest possible cheese strategy?
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Nov 3, 2017 19:39
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PS Rangpur please link the previous 2 threads in the OP, I still like going back to them for reasons
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Nov 3, 2017 19:40
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I decided to start a second playthrough for shiggles. Right now I’m running: Fencer/Masurao Shaman/Herbalist/Necromancer I don’t really have much in the way of defense aside Fierce Shield; my strategy is basically “chain nuke everything down ASAP or die”. It’s worked surprisingly well so far in spite of that, and I’ve successfully dropped both the Toxipede and Owl Bear. I am a big worried about the Iron Crustacean and Amalgolem, but we’ll burn those bridges when we come to them. Any tips for a party comp like this (besides ‘roll a new party’?)
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Nov 3, 2017 19:45
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Dr. Fetus posted:Always trust a squirrel, for they are your friends. then they do the exact opposite thing
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Nov 3, 2017 20:02
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Ground floor. EO5 is good.
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Nov 3, 2017 20:17
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I've only wandered round the first floor a bit, not even done the quest, and it's still the demo, but I was enjoying V. Then other stuff came out and it just sort of got forgotten. Will need to sort that. e: also Team Draw Floor Under the Stairs 4 lyfe McDragon fucked around with this message at 20:29 on Nov 3, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 20:27
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Janetta is the best part of EO5.
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Nov 3, 2017 20:35
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Yay the physical version of EO5 Is out today! Boo I can't afford it just yet!
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Nov 3, 2017 20:50
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Meet the new thread, same as the old thread I should probably actually get back to 5 at some point
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Nov 3, 2017 20:50
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Regy Rusty posted:PS Rangpur please link the previous 2 threads in the OP, I still like going back to them for reasons
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Nov 3, 2017 20:51
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It's not in the archives at all. https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3516418
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Nov 3, 2017 20:55
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My order from Amazon failed to deliver today! Is anyone else in the UK having issues? Is this a good excuse to finish 4 and play through the untolds?
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Nov 3, 2017 20:55
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Jesus Christ, Buster Cannon with Overextertion is bonkers. Except when cursed, gently caress you headless armor
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Nov 3, 2017 21:01
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Huh. I guess threads in games last longer than I thought? Either way, links to the previous 2 megathreads are now available in the 2nd post to anyone who wants to refer back to them. edit: what are the options for inflicting curse? I'm trying to decide whether it's worth burning a formaldehyde on the Undead King's conditional drop.
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Nov 3, 2017 21:03
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Idk how useful the skill sims are at this point, but the atwiki should still be linked in the OP.
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Nov 3, 2017 21:08
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Finally getting around to starting this game. Haven't done much with chaser parties before, so I'm thinking Chain Fencer + Combo Pugilist / Hound Rover + Phys Warlock + Herald Shaman. Does this sound workable? I'm also thinking about dropping the Pugilist for a Dragoon for more safety, though the Pugilist's damage buff seems really strong with a party that ties so much of its damage to one attacker.
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Nov 3, 2017 21:12
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About time we had a new megathread. Etrian Odyssey is one of my all-time favorite game series.
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Nov 3, 2017 21:15
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Rangpur posted:Huh. I guess threads in games last longer than I thought? Either way, links to the previous 2 megathreads are now available in the 2nd post to anyone who wants to refer back to them. Harbinger has a curse skill. That said, trying to kill an enemy with curse damage is astoundingly tedious and annoying even once you inflict curse. That's basically the condition that I save formaldehyde for every time. Reiterpallasch posted:Finally getting around to starting this game. Haven't done much with chaser parties before, so I'm thinking Chain Fencer + Combo Pugilist / Hound Rover + Phys Warlock + Herald Shaman. Does this sound workable? I'm also thinking about dropping the Pugilist for a Dragoon for more safety, though the Pugilist's damage buff seems really strong with a party that ties so much of its damage to one attacker. Extremely workable, yes. It's really close to my own party (I replaced the Rover with a Harbinger) and it's going great. You'll be reliant on your Rover (and items) for healing early on, because Shaman doesn't get much healing until you get master titles at the end of the 2nd stratum, but it's a strong party build overall. Pugilist's Overexertion damage buff is extra awesome on a Chain Fencer because the HP penalty it inflicts only happens once per skill use. That means the Fencer will lose HP when they ready their chain skill, but not every time the chain activates. They can get a ton of mileage out of that damage boost, basically. Harrow fucked around with this message at 21:18 on Nov 3, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 21:16
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Strange Quark posted:Idk how useful the skill sims are at this point, but the atwiki should still be linked in the OP.
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Nov 3, 2017 21:35
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The LP did help me a little with things, which was nice. Especially when quest item names were apparently not translated the same each time.  And I will settle on a party. Eventually. It's gonna happen. Aerofallosov fucked around with this message at 22:14 on Nov 3, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 22:09
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When is jenetta party member dlc??? We know she has voicing done because she joins you for a quest...
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Nov 3, 2017 22:22
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Oh hey ground floor. The second normal battle music for EOV is very pretty and nice, good surprise after beating the Undead King. The EO5 LP made me worry my team was underleveled for him but he was surprisingly easier than I thought, and fun too!
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Nov 3, 2017 22:32
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Jimmy Hats posted:When is jenetta party member dlc??? We know she has voicing done because she joins you for a quest... You can edit your save to give one of your characters Jenetta's voice, if you want. Theoretically you could also set their portrait to Jenetta.
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Nov 3, 2017 22:52
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The funniest part of all that Abyssal God poo poo is the fact that they seem to expect you to fight it at level 80. Uhh, no?
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Nov 3, 2017 22:56
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I wonder if you could finagle Fierce Shield to get more out of Curse? If you can manage to stop the ghost from outright dying, it would take substantially more damage than a party member, and presumably cause more curse damage back at the enemy.
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Nov 3, 2017 23:11
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I just barely started out, but does my current party have enough synergy? Fencer/Dragoon/Pugilist Warlock/Rover
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Nov 3, 2017 23:25
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Violently Car posted:The funniest part of all that Abyssal God poo poo is the fact that they seem to expect you to fight it at level 80. Uhh, no? there's a lot of things that eo3 expects you to do that don't line up at all because design????
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Nov 3, 2017 23:46
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Which is too bad, because 3 still has my favorite theme and classes, and I enjoyed the ocean sailing.
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Nov 3, 2017 23:52
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It's the big reason why I want EO3U so they can actually balance the game. It would become my absolute favorite if it did.
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Nov 4, 2017 00:17
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Yeah EO3U would be great. I started the series with EO3 and loved it but it did have some poo poo design decisions.
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Nov 4, 2017 00:38
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Kibagami in a dress better be the female lead with next-game class
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Nov 4, 2017 00:43
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jenetta and mirina are good and the best part of eo5
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Nov 4, 2017 01:15
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Eo4 still best EO due entirely to tharsis count
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Nov 4, 2017 01:27
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