Vagrant Story

~B

VAGRANT STORY

Introduction FAQ

================



by Henry H. Jerng

on March 14th, 2000

at hjerng@leland.stanford.edu





CONTENTS

I. Personal Notes

II. Vagrant Story

A. Story Introduction

B. Charaction Introduction

C. Script to the Introduction

III. Gameplay

A. Screen Display

B. Controls

C. Battles





I. PERSONAL NOTES



To begin, Vagrant Story (SCPS 45486) was created by Square Co.,

Ltd. Most of the information contained within this FAQ were translated

from respective sources, which retain the original copyright to the

material. The story translations came from the manual and the game

itself, the screen display and controls sections came from the manual,

and the Battle section was translated from the Vagrant Story Guide for

the Beginners, which is published by DigiCube. The information provided

here is mostly meant to introduce Vagrant Story to all the brave souls

who have valiently imported this game (Brave indeed. This game has an

enormous amount of Japanese text.) I hope you will learn something from

reading this and allow it to enrich your enjoyment of the game.

The strategy portion of this introduction was included to aid

anyone, playing either the import or domestic versions of this game, in

learning how to improve his/her game.

Enjoy. Vagrant Story is, in my opinion, the best Squaresoft

strategy game since Final Fantasy Tactics.



Henry







IA: STORY INTRODUCTION



One day, the manor belonging to Duke Bardorba, senior statesman of

the Valendia kingdom, was seized by a cult group known as Mullencamp.

While some fell victim to violence, this incident was brought to a

close in less than a night. However, the whereabouts of Sydney

Losstarot, the leader of Mullencamp and its purported ringleader, became

unknown, and the true motive behind the manor's occupation remained

unexplained.

Then, another incident occurred one week later. Duke Bardorba, who

had escaped from harm in the previous take-over incident because he

happened to be at his second residence, was murdered by someone.

Ashley Riot, a Riskbreaker posted at the Valendia Knights of Peace

(VKP), had participated in the resolution of the occupation incident.

It was decided by the government that Ashley would be pursued as the

suspect in the Duke's murder, but Ashley had disappeared and left no

tracks. The only clue is the place where he visited in the interim

between the occupation incident and the Duke's murder.

That was the sealed evil city of Lea Monde...

During its most prosperous period, more than 5000 people lived in

this city. However, about 20 or so years ago, an earthquake had forever

sealed its history, one that lasted more than 2000 years. Moreover, the

crevices and whirling tides created by the earthquake had severed the

city completely from the outside world. The surface became a mess from

the earthquake. The underground, where once monks made a living carving

out stones, was broadened without turning it into a cave. The city

completely became a gigantic maze.

You will become Ashley at that critical time and experience the one

week period from the occupation incident until the Duke's murder.

Did he really murder the Duke as the government charged? And, what

happened in the evil city of Lea Monde? Only you, as Ashley, can

discover the truth.





IB: CHARACTER INTRODUCTIONS



Real Name: Ashley Riot

Age: Late 20's

Height: 181 cm

Job: Felony Division of the Valendia Knights of Peace (VKP)

Ashley is the hero of this story. After graduating from the VKP

academy at the top of his class, Ashley worked actively as someone

borned into society's elite. After his wife and son were murdered by

desperados, he transferred to the Felony Division (aka Riskbreaker)

which deals with the most dangerous assignments inside VKP. For

Riskbreakers, dealing with danger regularly is the norm. Therefore, it

is actually said the chances of returning alive from a mission is about

30%, but Ashley never loses his cool in any situation and had success in

many missions.

Occupation of Duke Bardorba's manor by the religious cult

Mullencamp turns Grayland into the backdrop for our story, and then the

murder of the Duke a week later... It is thought that Ashley alone holds

the key to solving the mystery behind these related events. Moreover,

at the same time he is an important suspect in the Duke's murder. Why

would Ashley, a man who continued his life as a Riskbreaker in order to

avenge his lovely wife and son, stain his hands in crime? The truth is

expected to become clearer as you progress further in the game.



Alias: Sydney Losstarot

Age: Unknown (Late 20's?)

Height: 178 cm

Job: Mullencamp religious order

Sydney is the organizer of Mullencamp religious cult, which

worships the ancient sorcerer Mullencamp. A self-styled prophet, Sydney

speaks of the depravity of man and eschatology. He is said to possess

mysterious powers to correctly guess the pasts of people he just met,

and to bring others under his will. However, people who obey him and

mesmorized by his fiercely powerful charisma seems endless.

Sydney unexpectedly seized Duke Bardorba's manor in Grayland and

demanded the Pope's dismissal and the release of his jailed comrades, in

exchange for the Duke's family and his servants. However, his real

objective seemed to be something else. Through this occupation

incident, Riskbreaker Ashley encounters Sydney, and that was just an

encounter of fate......



Real Name: Romeo Guildenstern

Age: 34

Height: 179 cm

Job: Holy Knight

Romeo is the leader of the Crimson Blade, a group of knights under

the Pope's direct control. His demeanor shows a knight polished with

the utmost refinement, and apparently for the sake of justice there is

no too little a sacrifice. The reason why he intervened in the Duke's

case is not certain. And the Crimson Blade, under his command, followed

Sydney and infiltrated the city of Lea Monde. The overwhelming military

force is more than sufficient to subjugate Lea Monde in one swoop. If

that is the case, what is the Pope's intentions...? And what is

Guildenstern's own true motive...?





IC: INTRODUCTION SCRIPT



VKP Headquarter

Valnain, 0:24 AM



(Two men and a woman sit at a conference table in a darkened room.

Ashley stands in the dark, leaning against the wall.)



Man, on the left: ... It was about 6 hours ago when Duke Bardorba's manor

was seized. The ringleader of the group responsible is Sydney

Losstarot, the organizer and founder of a religious group called

Mullencamp. As we speak, they are continuing their occupation and

holding the Duke's family and his servants hostage.



Woman, on the right: ... Their aim behind the seizure?



Man, on the left: They have two demands. The release of their jailed

comrades, and the resignation of Pope Badouizm.



Ashley: VKP doesn't feel like freeing their friends?



Man, in the middle: Of course. Although we only caught their tail, it

took many agents-----



Man, on the left: It's all because we recognize the freedom of

religion. God doesn't come in the form of one person. Because we let

these people who believe in heresies like this run wild, incidents like

this will happen. That utterly incompetent government assembly......



Man, in the middle: ......Strike that from the record.



Voice from behind him: Yes, sir.



Ashley: ...Whatever the cause, this case is caused by a cult group.

What's the reason for us to be involved?



Man, in the middle: ......



Woman, on the right: ...Based on research done by our analysis team, we

suspect that Mullencamp's source of funding is Duke Bardorba himself.



Man, in the middle: The Duke is one of the heroes that brought

Valendia's civel war to an end, but at the same time he is a fixer who

leads a dark history. He retired for the reason of health, but even now

the Duke's influence over the assembly cannot be fathomed. (Lightening

strikes, revealing a group of men cloaked in darkness.)



Man in shodow: ...Up to now, he was overlooked. We want to put an end to

that now.



Man, in the middle: ...Furthermore, the Pope's office had sent a squad of

knights and intervened unannounced against us in this matter. I want to

know why. Analyst Hatred, explain.



Woman, on the right: Please go to Grayland at once. In your coach you

will find a map of the Duke's manor. Incidentally, a member from the

intelligence analysis office is already on her way to the scene. Please

get the details from her.



Ashley: Her?



Woman, on the right: Agent Melrose.



(SCENE CHANGE)

Duke Bardorba's Manor

Graylands, 1:58 AM



(A woman observes the towering manor from a distance among a cluster of

trees. Ashley approaches.)



Melrose: Are you agent Riot? I'm your partner, Callo Melrose. You can

call me Callo. Nice to meet you.



Ashley: (walking past her, without making a friendly gesture) How many

people?



Melrose: We confirmed 12. Of course, since we haven't seen Sydney yet,

I suppose there is many more terrorists inside the residence.



Ashley: The hostages?



Melrose: The Duke's family and his servants. A total of 34. The lucky

Duke himself is away and thus unharmed.



Ashley: The Duke is not caught?



Melrose: No.



Ashley: Our knights squad's plan?



Melrose: For now, they're just watching and waiting. Other than saving

the hostages, it's still too dangerous to take any direct action. While

continuing negotiations with Sydney, they're just investigating a

solution strategy by gathering every little information about the

inside......



(The manor is on fire.)

Melrose: What's going on!?



Ashley: It looks like they started the assault... Those armors and

helmets aren't VKP's... Must be the Pope's knight squad......



Melrose: We are not giving out such an order! This is our operation!

They are disregarding orders.



Ashley: ...There's probably something that just can't wait. (walkding

off.)



Melrose: Wait. Where do you think you're going?



Ashley: I'm riding this chaos and infiltrating the manor.



Melrose: That is too dangerous! You should wait until back-up arrives!



Ashley: Back-up? I AM the back-up...



(AFTER STARTING THE GAME...)

Duke Bardorba's Manor

Graylands, 2:32 AM



Romeo: Did you find Sydney?



Knight: Not yet.



Romeo: (after walking to the window) ...Put out the fire. Or else the

entire building will burn to the ground. There's no meaning in that.

Divide up the knight squad in two. Have one crush the resistance and

the other put out the fire.



Knight: Yes, sir. At once.



Romeo: .........Sydney, where are you?



(Ashley gets in and brings down the gate which crashes with a loud

thump.)



Man in black: ...Yes! Set the room on fire! Kill the hostages to set an

example. Understood?



Hooded man: Yes, sir!



(Man in black walks into the cathedral. Ashley can be seen hiding

behind some draped boxes.)



Bearded man: ...There's no time. We've got to it before the company of

knights get here.



Hooded man: Yeah. Soon all the scores will be settled... (Ashley moves,

and the box drops. The two men turn to look.) Who's there!!



(The men head toward Ashley.)



Ashley: ...It's unavoidable.



(An easy fight ensues. This is the perfect opportunity to practice

fighting for the first time.)



(Ashley walks inside the cathedral and stands next to the door,

listening.)



Voice: ...So? Did you find it?



Another voice: No. I don't know. I can't find such a thing anywhere.



Voice: All right. Keep looking!



Another voice: That's unreasonable, Sydney! The company of knights is

coming!



Voice: Are you complaining now!? If we don't have IT, then all this

would have been for nothing! ...Find it quickly!



(Three men rush out the door...)



Sydney: Damn you Duke! Where in hell did you hide it!!



Man in black: Does the Duke really have it? On second thought, does

such a thing really exist...?



Sydney: Do you doubt me, Hardin!? Do you doubt my powers?!



Hardin: So, sorry. That's not what I meant... B, but, Sydney, if this

keeps up, we won't be able to escape.



Sydney: ...Tse, understood. Bring the kid hostage!



(Hardin walks away. Ashley sneaks in the room.)



Ashley: Don't move, Sydney! My bowgun is aimed right at your heart!



(Sydney raises his hands. Ashley slowly walks toward him, pointing his

bowgun.)



Ashley: Turn slowly toward me.



Sydney: (after turning around) ......You're not a knight?



(Ashley tosses out a set of ropes.)



Ashley: Tie your feet with that rope.



Sydney: (backing up) Riskbreaker...... Royal watchdog.



Ashley: Didn't you hear me? Well, tie them quickly! (pointing his

bowgun.)



Sydney: Oh, the Duke will regret this......! (He turns around and grabs

his sword... Making his attack.)



Ashley: Stop!! (He fires an arrow, shooting Sydney through the heart.

Sydney falls to the ground. Ashley stoops over Sydney's body, leaning

over to check his pulse. Hardin walks in, holding a child.)



Hardin: Sydney! (Running toward Ashley... Ashley turns and is knocked

to the ground by Sydney.)



Sydney: You're... mine...... Hardin,... you... go... to Lea Monde...

quickly......



(Hardin turns and walks away.)



Ashley: Wait!!



(Sydney attacks. Ashley retreats and pulls out his sword.)



Ashley: ...How is it possible? I am sure you were dead. Resurrection is

only a fairytale...



(Sydney pulls out the arrow that pierced his heart and kneels...)



Sydney: ...I can't... The wound... is too deep...... (looking at Ashley) I

wonder... even as you witness this... if you still... think it's a fairytale...?

(Screaming) Deeto!!



(A dragon crashes through the stained glass ceiling and lands between

Sydney and Ashley. Sydney turns and walks away. The dragon has been

struck by several arrows, including one through its right eye.)



Sydney: ...It's too bad that... I don't have the time... to fight you... right

now...... (Sydney jumps through the stained glass window)



(A few chops at the dragon's head, and it is history. Ashley walks to

the window and looks out.)



Ashley: Lea Monde......



(The sun rises. Its rays penetrate the broken window. Display title:

Vagrant Story)



(Text) The body is but a vessel for the soul, a puppet which bends to

the soul's tyranny. And lo, the body is not eternal, for it must feed

on the flesh of others, lest it return to the dust whence it came.

Therefore must the soul deceive, despise, and murder men------A. J.

Durai



(CHANGE SCENE)



Duke: ......So, I hear that the men who subjugated the terrorists were from

the Pope's office, not the Royal Knight squad.



Knight: (kneeling) It was the Holy Knight squad, led by Guildenstern.



Duke Bardorba's Second Residence

Graylands, 5:38 AM



Advisor: The squad under the Pope's direct control, the one called

Crimson Blade.



Knight: I am here to report that Guildenstern has headed toward Lea

Monde, following Sydney.



Duke: ...... Hmm.... I ordered someone to slip on a suit of Holy Knight armor

and try to set the residence on fire.



Advisor: Fire... Sir?



Duke: It was done so we can make good use of someone who saw that.



Advisor: But, your wife and others were taken hostage......



Duke: Don't meddle. Set the fire! Turn everything into ashes! ......Any

action from the assembly?



Knight: The VKP (Valendia Knights of Peace) has assigned its felony

management team.



Duke: Riskbreaker...... Now that troublesome group is involved.



Knight: What shall be done about this?



Duke: ......I'll leave Lea Monde to you. Don't let them come out of Lea

Monde. Dispose of Sydney and Crimson Blade.



Knight: And the assembly?



Duke: As for those watchdogs, I'll try to manage somehow. Other than

this, don't let them trouble us.



Knight: What about Joshua?



Duke: ......That's my soul. Why I must not die......



Knight: As you wish. (He gets up and leaves.)



Duke: ......Is it my fate to rot while alive?



(CHANGE SCENE)



11:42 AM

(Melrose sees two bodies.)



(Text) Lea Monde is an old town, with a history of over 2,000 years.

Its walls have seen many battles- they are stronger than the mightiest

forts of Valendia, and as the sun wheels through the sky, the beauty of

their shifting colors surpasses that of any palace.

The grand cathedral that towers over the town center is a symbol

of Lea Monde's indomitable spirit, and is the holy ground of the devout

Iocus priesthood. At its height, Lea Monde was a thriving community of

more than 5,000 people strong. 25 years ago, a great earthquake brought

that chapter in Lea Monde's history to a close.



Lea Monde



Ashley: (walking out of an entrance) ...What did you find?



Melrose: Two men from the surveillance team were killed.



Ashley: ...Is that so... (thinking about the undergound passage way...) Is

this the only way?



Melrose: To say the least, it's unreasonable from the surface. There

is a huge crevice, and you can't approach the city this way.



Ashley: From the sea?



Melrose: The reefs born out of the earthquake seems to have changed the

ocean current. There are now whirlpools everywhere, and infiltrating

the town this way is impossible. In fact, we have sent agents to that

town to enter Mullencamp's hideout. However, no one returned......



Ashley: It wasn't the whirlpool's fault that no one came back, was it......



Melrose: Nope. In short, what killed them were people. How was it

inside?



Ashley: We'll know if we try going in...... (Both walk down and enter.)



(Text) According to the survivors, our comrades Agent Riot headed out

for Lea Monde before noon. Of course, the reports are vague and we

cannot deny the possibility of inaccuracies. Yet, given that there is

only one path to infiltrate Lea Monde, this office believes the reports

to be valid.



(Ashley and Melrose find two dead bodies. Melrose turns to look at

Ashley.)



Melrose: ...What happened here?



Ashley: It's my job to investigate that... You're making too much of

this, even if it's just a wine cellar.



Melrose: Hey, wine from Lea Monde could match those from Valendia. In

fact, because they are not made now, premium wines are sold at high

prices. (Ashley opens the gate.)



Ashley: ...If I find any, I promise to get you one as a souvenir.



Melrose: You intend to go alone?



Ashley: An agent without actual combat experience will only be in the

way.



Melrose: ......



Ashley: Tell me what you know about Mullencamp and Sydney.



Melrose: ...Sydney Losstarot. Organizer of the religious group known as

Mullencamp. Real name and age, unknown. A self-styled prophet

preaching eschatology among other things.



Ashley: Why would the missionary of a cult group commit this kind of

crime?



Melrose: I don't know what the Pope's office thinks, but in short the

VKP cannot arrest him as a prophet. His dark existence teaches us the

darkside of Duke Bardorba, who controls the assembly in the shadows......

The cult is a magic coat that makes the Duke invisible. I wonder if

this case is where they part ways?



Ashley: ...The reason for the Pope's office to act is just a "witch

hunt"?



Melrose: ......There are many self-styled prophets these days, but Sydney

is special. This man preaches gospels filled with prophecy and God's

revelations and speaks of the Revelations like popular music. Believers

mesmorized by him all say the same thing: "He is a miracle".



Ashley: ......



Melrose: ...Whatever they may say, it does seem as if he has mysterious

powers. Correctly guessing the pasts of people in first meetings, and

reading their hearts...... In addition, it seems people who faced his

fierce charisma are willing to give him their body and soul.



Ashley: ...It sounds like something I've said about my lover once. (He

heads in.)



Melrose: Agent Riot!!



Ashley: Wait for 24 hours. If I don't come back, contact headquarters.



(The gate closes.)



Melrose: Be careful. (Melrose steps up the stairs and finds Sydney

stairing down at her, smiling.)



(Text) ...We sent men to monitor the abandoned mineshaft that leads to

Lea Monde. All were found dead. At the entrance another body wass

found, a knight of the Pope's Crimson Blade squad.

Our men were murdered with swords, but the knight's wounds show he

died by his own hands. At present, we have taken the bodies in our

custody, and our specialists are continuing the examination.------Except

from Graylands, Incident Investigation Report [Section 3.14]



(Inside the mineshaft)



Ashley: Vintage wines?...... (The earth shakes, bringing down debris...) No

burying alive, please. (Moans coming from the darkness...) Is this the

"mysterious power"......?



THE END OF VAGRANT STORY'S INTRODUCTION AND THE BEGINNING OF ACTUAL

GAMEPLAY.





II. VAGRANT STORY GAMEPLAY



A. SCREEN DISPLAY



(Upper-left corner)

HP: Hit Point. You die when HP = 0; game over.

MP: Magic Point. Points needed for casting magic.

DP: Damage Point. If it becomes 0, the item's ability decreases

dramatically.

PP: Phantom Point. It accumulates as you continue to use a weapon or

shield. When its value increase beyond some level, weapon's attack and

shield's defense abilities increase, respectively. However, if you

continue to equip that weapon or shield when not in battle, it will

gradually decrease.

Risk: Low risk results in higher hit rate. High risk causes lower hit

rate, but when successful hits cause more damage.



(Lower-left corner)

Limb Status Indicator

Excellent: Best condition. No need to recover.

Good: Good condition. However, you had better be careful.

Average: Average condition. Not in danger yet, but you'll want to

avoid fights.

Bad: Bad condition. You're receiving terrible/serious damage.

Dying: Worst condition. You had better not move.



When limbs are dying, the following penalty applies.

Right arm: "Attack 50%" (damage from average attack and Break Arts is

1/2)

Left arm: "Perry 50%" (avoidance rate drops)

Head: "Silence" (cannot cast magic)

Body: "Risk 200%" (Risk's calculation increases 2X; target dome

gradually increase)

legs: "Move 50%" (movement speed 1/2)



(Lower-right corner)

Simplified map



B. CONTROLS

For some unknown reason, Square was kind enough to enclose a folded

quick guide to the controls written in both English and Chinese.

Nevertheless, just in case you find this handy:



Relax Mode (when not wielding weapons)

--------------------------------------

(Directional Pad/Left Stick) Movement; hold/climb; move view during

change view.

(Right Stick) Change view.

(Start Button) Change view; skip demo.

(Select Button) Zoom in; zoom out.

(Circle Button) Decide; change to battle mode.

(X Button) Cancel; open door and chests; move cube; end view change.

(Square Button) Jump.

(Triangle Button) Bring up command.

(L1 Button) Rotate map (left turn).

(L2 Button) Quick command display.

(R1 Button) Rotate map (right turn).

(R2 Button) While pressed, walk with directional pad or left stick.



Battle Mode (when wielding weapons)

-----------------------------------

(Directional Pad/Left Stick) Movement; selection of target when target

dome is up; move view during change view.

(Right Stick) Change view.

(Start Button) Change view; skip demo.

(Select Button) Zoom in; zoom out.

(Circle Button) Decide; close target dome; battle ability.

(X Button) Cancel; close target dome; end view change; change to relax

mode; open door and chests.

(Square Button) Jump; battle ability.

(Triangle Button) Bring up command; battle ability.

(L1 Button) Rotate map (leftward).

(L2 Button) Quick command display; change target during target

selection.

(R1 Button) Rotate map (rightward).

(R2 Button) While pressed, walk with directional pad or left stick.



C. BATTLES



1. Battle System Analysis

-------------------------

In preparing to fight with monsters, remember that weapon attack is

the basis of battle. You must fight many monsters and the Holy Knight

sqad in Lea Monde. To fight these enemies, first try to remember the

weapon attack, the basics of battle.

First, learn the flow of combat. For ways to fight monsters, there

are 2 types of attack: weapon attack and magic attack. I'll first show

you the flow of battle by using a most basic weapon attack scenario as

an example. When in relax mode, you can enter the battle mode by

pressing the circle button. The basic controls in the battle mode are

not that different from those in the relax mode. Exceptions: circle

button = open target dome; X Button = return to relax mode.



Step 1: Discover enemy. Go to battle mode.

When not in battle mode, you cannot attck with weapons. However,

because recovery (such as health) is slow in battle mode, to stay in the

battle mode is an invitation to danger.

Special features of battle mode include: recovery of HP, MP, and

Rick is slow, and Phantom Point decreases.



Step 2: Open target dome.

The size of target dome changes depending on the weapon. The

target dome is a dome that displays the limit of your weapon's reach.

The bigger the weapon's range value, the bigger the dome becomes. If

the dome is big, you can attack your enemy from a distance, and

naturally the chances of receiving damage will decrease.



Step 3: Select a limb to attack.

The damage value and hit rate differ from limb to limb. When you

have the enemy within the target dome, now you will select a limb (body

part) to attack. Because the damage value and hit rate differ from limb

to limb, you should try to attack a limb with the highest hit rate and

the biggest damage value you can find.



Step 4: After selecting a limb, begin attack.

Whenever you attack, Risk goes up. When you decide on a limb to

attack, you'll naturally move to attack. No matter if you hit or miss,

the Risk value goes up. Because Risk will exert various effects on the

battle when it gets high, you'll want to defeat the enemy quickly.

(When the Rick value gets high, your hit rate will drop and the damage

value inflicted will increase. It will be easier to dish out a critical

hit.)



Step 5: The battle ends when you defeat the enemy.

Maybe the enemy will drop an item. If you defeat the enemy, the

battle will end. The expended HP, MP, and Risk will automatically

recover. If there is no other enemy around, try to change quickly back

to relax mode because the recovery speed is faster. And, when the

battle has ended, the enemy may drop an item or two.



2. Kick Monster's Ass with a Powerful Force

-------------------------------------------

(Acquire magic by reading "Grimoa") Magic is said to have

ordinarily existed long ago, more than 2000 years ago. That power

exists in Lea Monde. If you can use them, there's no need to be afraid

of monsters.



- Acquire magic by reading "Grimoa"

You can obtain the power of magic by reading spell books called

"Grimoa", which you get from chests inside the dungeons or monsters as

war spoils. Magic that you've remembered can be used infinitely,

although it will consume MP. There are 4 types of magic: Sorcery,

Theology, Warlock, and Enchant. They each have different roles as

introduced below. You can use magic by selecting from menu options, or

you can operate it speedily by using shortcut command (using the L2

button).



a. Sorcery- assistance type (L2 button + square button)

Sorcery has an important assistance role. It can cause status

changes such as poison or paralysis on the enemy, or it can increase

your own ability. When a long battle (such as a boss fight) is

foreseen, these magics are helpful.

Examples: Miserable Body (Cause enemy's strength to decrease for a

fixed time; its attack and defense abilities both drop; try to use this

on monsters with high attack ability), Protect (increases weapon and

armor status temporarily; a magic useful on a boss fight), and Unlock

(open chests and key-requiring doors with magic).



b. Theology- recovery type (L2 button + triangle button)

Theology has the role of recovering your health and curing abnormal

statuses. The magic "heal", which recovers HP, also has the effect of

giving damage to undead monsters.

Examples: Heal (Recover HP by healing wounds; can give damage to

undead monsters), Antedote (Recover from poison; has the same effect as

the item "Spiritual Prayer"), and Generous Heal (HP will steadily heal

for a fix time; useful in a long fight).



c. Warlock- attack type (L2 button + circle button)

This type has the role of giving damage to the enemy. If you are

using it with the same essentials as a weapon attack, it is possible to

give big damage to multiple limbs. As for these magic, you can give

bigger damage as your intelligence increases.

Examples: Fireball (attack magic with fire property; red-hot

fireballs launched to inflict damage on enemy; effective against water-

type monsters), Spirit Surge (attack magic with spiritual property;

spirit of light released to cause damage; effective against the undead

with high darkness properties), and Explosion (attack magic with

physical property; explosion ignited at enemy's location and causes

damage to multiple limbs).



d. Enchant- attribute type (L2 button + X button)

This magic causes various attributes to be added to your weapons

and armor. When attacking a monster with the attribute of fire, water,

wind, or earth, you can turn the battle to your advantage by using

protective magic to resist weapon-based or powerful attribute attacks.

Examples: Frost Attach (water-type attribute magic; changes

weapon's attribute to "water attribute" temporarily; effective against

fire-type monsters), Spark Guard (fire-type attribute magic; changes the

armor's attribute to "fire attribute" temporarily; resistance against

fire increases), and Soil Guard (earth-type attribute magic; changes the

armor's attribute to "earth attribute" temporarily; resistance against

earth increases.



-Magic collectively puts enemy to rout by attacking multiple limbs.

There are magic that has a wide range of attack. If used

correctly, you can obliterate the enemy in one hit, but you cannot use

too much because they use up too much MP. These magic have levels, and

if its level becomes high its effective limit becomes larger. And if

your too close, you'll get hurt too.



-Magical power changes depending on your equipment.

Intelligence values greatly affect the power of attack magic. If

you equip a weapon that causes INT to increase and enter battle mode,

the weapon's intelligence value is added and damage is increased. In

case of recovery magic, pay attention to the armor's "magic defense

power (INT/DEFENCE)". The more this "decrease", the more the recovery

value gets bigger. For using recovery magic in the middle of battle,

you can consider taking off the shield.



3. The Various Abilities Useful in Battle

------------------------------------------

There are deadly fighting techniques sealed in your memory. As the

game unrolls monsters and fierce battles, battle abilities will bring

various support effects to your fighting. If you reach eventual levels,

will you even need weapons and armor?!

There are two techniques: attack and defense techniques, also

known as Chain Ability and Defense Ability, respectively. Chain Ability

enhances your attack, and Defense Ability enhances your defense. You

can activate them by pressing buttons at proper timing. There are many

supplemental attacks, damage reduction, and beneficial things, but

everytime you use them the Risk gradually increases.



a. Chain Ability

This will allow you to defeat the enemy without giving it a chance

to counterattack. For Chain Ability, you can link up attacks by

pressing buttons at the right timing (by synchronizing with the "!" mark

displayed on the screen). To get a knack for Chain attack, get

acquainted with every ability's "motion" and "!'s timing". The motion

is divided into 3 types. I want you to remember their movement and

timing and make them useful in battle.



(Weapon Motion)

Additional Damage Type (A-type)

On top of being relatively easy to perform, they have a rather

highly useful value. Just disburse this type alternatively with

another, you will connect many hits. Examples: Heavy Shot, Mind

Assault, Raging Ache, Insane Ache, and Crimson Blade.



Recovery Type (B-type)

An operation to quietly dispose of the enemy by thrusting the

sword. Timing is critical, and try to remember it precisely to handle

to Gain Phantom. Examples: Gain Life, Gain Magic, Gain Damage, and

Gain Phantom.



Abnormal Status Type (C-type)

It gives abnormal status such as silent, poison, and paralysis. It

is relatively easy to perform, but it is highly difficult to get the

timing of the rightward motion. Examples: Paralysis Pulse, Numbing

Claw, Dullness Bind, and Snake Venom.



b. Defense Ability

They work similar to the Attack Abilities; you must assign the

abilities to square, triangle, or circle buttons and press one at the

proper time.



4. Break Arts Exist in Your Weapons.

-------------------------------------

Break Arts attack by consuming your HP, unlike magic that uses MP.

It's a powerful technique that can pulverize the enemy in one blow if

certain criteria are met.



a. It's possible to defeat the enemy in one hit.

You can use Break Arts by expending your HP. Their attack powers

are things that can't be estimated. If you use it with considerations

for attributes and type, it's possible to bury the enemy in one hit.

Break Arts is different from magic, and you cannot use it if you're not

in battle mode. Because it will consume HP, it is the same thing as if

you had actually fought. It's good that it gives big damage, but you

should try to be careful because if they are used too much, you may lose

quickly. If you use it often, you need to recover HP very often.



b. The number of defeated enemies will become experience points.

You can remember Break Arts by defeating a set number of enemies.

If you look at menus, you will know how many you still need to kill

until the next Break Arts. A point is the same as one enemy you must

kill, so if the point for swords is 10, then you can remember the next

sword Break Arts if you kill 10 more enemies with a sword-type weapon.



c. There is Break Arts even for bare hands.

You may mostly consider Break Arts as a "powerful weapon attack"

simply hidden in every weapon type, but actually that is not what they

are. Break Arts has "attack attribute" and "attack type" in techniques,

and there are cases where if they depended on the weapon type, they

would be completely different. For example, sword's "Dark Slayer" has

the attack type of "cut", but this does not change even when you use

Rapier (a pierce-type weapon). This applies to attributes too. Because

Break Arts exist even for bare hands, the breadth of fighting will

probably become wider if you let yourself have the attribute to fight

bare handed.



5. Advanced Battle Techniques

------------------------------

Fight freely with all the techniques! Colorful magic, numerous

Battle Abilities, whole-body Break Arts... I'll introduce a battle

technique for livening up these attacks.



a. Fight without receiving damage by getting a headstart with long-

distance attacks.

As a way to kill enemies without getting damaged, headstart attacks

can be joined with distance attacks. Equip a weapon with wide range and

wait for the enemy to get near. If you open and shut the dome quickly,

you will know when it is in battle range at any time.

After you've made your first attack, you can run away before the

enemy attacks. Attack again when it gets near again, and you can defeat

it without getting attacked by the enemy. Get a knack for making its

movement slowed by attacking the legs first. Monsters attack when there

is a "!" in their overhead balloon. If you can attack quickly before

that happens, it's possible to get a headstart even with a weapon like a

dagger.



b. Continuous attack using abbreviated commands.

After attacking with weapon, attack with magic or Break Arts by

quickly pressing the L2 button. If you press the circle button at the

same time as you let go of the L2 button, you'll be back in the weapon

battle, and there will be some time remaining. Progress in battle while

verifying the abbreviated commands often by pressing the L2 button.



c. Check enemy attribute and attack its weak point.

If you do not match the weapon you're carrying with the enemy's

race, attribute, and type, then you cannot give as much damage as you

think possible. The magic "Analysis" is useful at that time. You can

see the enemy's status by using this magic and pressing the L-R button

to open the status screen. Try to attack with a weapon that correctly

suits the enemy.



d. Battle techniques that use Battle Ability

When you can't find the enemy's weakness, or you don't have the

weapon that works, try to attack with Battle Ability. Battle Ability

has things that can give damage with no connection with attack ability,

is different from normal attack, and has success rate that does not

deteriorate depending on the rise in Risk. There are times when they

work on bosses, and its appeal is to give damage without regard to

anything. If you use practically the ability, even if Risk is 100, you

can defeat any enemy.



6. Introduction to Customization

--------------------------------

You can get your hands on high-quality equipment by grasping the

systems for how various weapons and defensive items grow and how they

can be combined and assembled.



a. The set up of weapons and defensive items (Disassembling and

assembling weapons and defensive items)

Weapons are divieded into "Blade" and "Grip", and they can be

replaced with various other parts. A weapon's performance is decided

with the grip's performance as the core, and that is combined with the

blade's. The blade can be strengthened by the mixing, but you'll use

grips as you get them. It's a good idea to destroy one's that you won't

use.

Shields can be equipped and un-equipped with mystery stones. There

are shields that can equip multiple stones, and it's important how they

are combined.



b. Development system for weapons and defensive items.

Weapons and defensive items develop thru use. Parameters that

conform to certain criteria will change depending on the race and

attributes of monsters you encounter. Even equipments basically low in

attack and defensive abilities can have their performance raised to some

degree by having their race and attribute parameters developed.

Furthermore, if you utilize combination and development together, you

can create very high performance equipment.



c. Values change by making attacks and receiving attacks.

Weapon's parameters change by attacking and defensive item's

parameters change by receiving enemy attacks. Pay attention because

parameters can increase by this mutual relationship, but there are also

things that can decrease them. (If you turn on "display the equipment

development value", the value change in parameters will be shown.)



d. Effects of DP, PP, and equipment repair.

DP and PP increase or decrease depending on combat. If DP is zero,

equipment performance reduces by half. If PP reaches maximum,

attributes are increased. In short, if both DP and PP are at their

maximum, you can realize the full performance of that equipment. You

can recover lost DP by repairing equipment in the factory. Because PP

decreases gradually in battle mode, it's better to operate in relax

mode.



7. Changes in Attribute/Race Parameters

----------------------------------------

Developing and enhancing weapons and defensive items may be better

called increasing parameters. Basic attacks and defense abilities are

established on various weapons and defensive items, but you can conduct

battles with a good deal of strategy by grasping contents of parameters

and increasing them. I'll explain about attributes and race that have

effects on them and their properties.



a. Attribute's relations and its rise

Attributes have connections that have "natural laws" that

exclusively antagonize each other. This shows that attributes are

mutual weak points. If you attack an enemy with some attribute, then

the attribute that antagonizes that enemy's equipment rises. In short,

this is how youw weapon can automatically adapt to that enemy's

weakness. For defensive items, because they receive attacks, the

attribute that is the same as the enemy's rises. This shows endurance

toward that attribute.



b. Attribute's relations and increase/decrease of their values

Race parameters also changes attribute values through attacks and

defenses, and the enemy's race is a influence. However, the

relationship between races is like in the table below (not shown); for

example, if you attack a human, that weapon's beast and undead values

decrease. Naturally, your basic consideration is to understand how to

use weapons depending on race, because weapons are effective against

races that you have highest values against.

You should develop three types of weapons: Type 1 = human /

phantom; Type 2 = beast / dragon ; Type 3 = undead / evil.



- About combining weapons and defensive items

You can combine weapons and defensive items in factories, but it's

hard to get a high performance weapon by simply combining haphazardly.

You need to consider the points from combining weapons, shield, and

defensive items, while investigating trends in parameter changes.

If you roughly understand the main points on combing weapons, then

you know that the three important factors are material quality, types,

and parameters.



8. How to Fight in Order to Forge Your Equipment

-------------------------------------------------

Your equipment are enriched only when you understand how to fight.

Your weapons and defensive items develop after repeated battles. Here,

I'll introduce some practical battle strategies in case you want to

intentionally develop your equipments.



a. It's important what attribute your weapons are made of

In enriching weapons, there are ways to increase race and attribute

parameters. Race affects amount of direct damage, and damage gradually

increases only when race value rises. Meanwhile, the numerical value of

various attributes determines the weapon's special attribute- which is

the one with the highest number. By increasing both the race parameter

and attribute parameter, you can give huge damage by developing weapons

directed at the enemy's weakness.



b. One attribute per weapon

One thing to watch out for when developing weapons is to have one

attribute per weapon. The weapon's attribute is the one with the

highest numerical value, and other attributes are ignored. You should

efficiently raise your capability by attacking enemies with different

attributes with different weapons.

When attacking enemy with same attribute, you can more efficiently

increase attribute and race parameters by using a different weapon, but

when considering all the types, attributes, and races, it may be

insufficient no matter how many weapons are available.



c. Seriously consider the hit rate and increase the frequency of

attacks

There's no reason why parameters would change by attacking just

once, but it certainly is easier for them to change if you increase the

frequency of attacks. Furthermore, if an attack is not successfully

made, parameters do not increase. So, your weapon's enhancement

probably progress more if you select limbs with higher hit rate and

lower damage.



d. Combination is basic to enrichment of defense items

In the case of enriching defensive items, it's basically enough to

just combine them. You can gradually combine war trophies from monsters

and create high grade defense items by paying attention to defensive

values against every type of attack. Then direct attacks won't be much

of a problem. Against attacks such as magic and special attacks, try to

defend by equipping special stones on shields. If you can increase all

the parameters and not stick to just one attribute, then no attack will

be able to touch you.

For example: This is how you make defensive items against the fire

attribute, such as a fire attack like dragon's breath. First, find

monsters that attack with that attribute and receive their attacks while

minimizing damage with defense ability. In the case of enriching

shields, you must be in battle mode. To suppress reduction of PP, the

weapons need to be drawn.



d. Finally, your efforts will be rewarded

Your equipment are appreciably fortified by fighting with careful

thought. You'll allow your equipment to inherit attributes by combining

them with things obtained from monsters, and they will evolve into

powerful weapons and defensive items. From this slow but sure effort as

well as research on monsters and weapon/defense items, the strongest

equipment will be born.





THE END