Etrian Odyssey Thread - This is not broccoli #ATLUS

[Tamer Anode/Cathode]

Been playing the demo and enjoying it thoroughly, death by baboon included. The only question at this point isn't whether I buy it or not, but whether I buy it over eShop or order a physical copy via Amazon.

[Garlyle]

Been playing the demo and enjoying it thoroughly, death by baboon included. The only question at this point isn't whether I buy it or not, but whether I buy it over eShop or order a physical copy via Amazon.

Well, if you're buying it on the eShop, it's estimated to appear there in about an hour.

downloading the heck out of it when I get home yup

[MatsuriSakuragi]

Zengar and I discussed this game yesterday. I don't have a 3DS, but I'm considering investing in one after I finish EO1-3. Because holy shit this game looks good *_*

Just give me a party of Dancers and I'll be quite happy.

[Garlyle]

Downloaded this the moment I got home.

I'll be sure to upload my guild card in a little while for anyone else who gets this because EXCITEMENT and also I can send my teammates to help you apparently??

EDIT: My current guild card.  Already cleared the first stratum with this team.

[trancehime]

While I don't actually have the game because I don't have a 3DS (fuck me...) I do know a considerable amount about it from my Japanese com-padres spoiling me to ever-loving hell about it. EO4's undoubtedly got the most obnoxious optional boss yet, so good luck taking it on once any of you get to that point!

[NegaZero]

While I don't actually have the game because I don't have a 3DS (fuck me...) I do know a considerable amount about it from my Japanese com-padres spoiling me to ever-loving hell about it. EO4's undoubtedly got the most obnoxious optional boss yet, so good luck taking it on once any of you get to that point!

Surely it can't be as bad as the Wicked Queen was in EO3! (assuming you fought her as soon as you got the quest)

Anyway, I too have completed the first stratum. Just got finished exploring the new airship area, and it has me really excited to play more.

I might upload my guild card later. I tried using a character from another guild (because I wanted to replace my Nightseeker with a Landshark), but you can't change their equipment, and I'm not even sure if they can get experience.

I'm also having to resist the temptation to go to Nicovideo and find out what the 6th stratum boss is like.

[trancehime]

Surely it can't be as bad as the Wicked Queen was in EO3! (assuming you fought her as soon as you got the quest)

Spoiler:

Well the Wicked Queen doesn't have 80000 HP in total.

[Garlyle]

I might upload my guild card later. I tried using a character from another guild (because I wanted to replace my Nightseeker with a Landshark), but you can't change their equipment, and I'm not even sure if they can get experience.

Yeah, it seems borrowing characters from other peoples' guilds is more for "I really need a levelled (whatever) with (this skill) in order to handle this task someone plz help" to save you from situations like levelling a Protector in EO1 specifically for the dragons because that was stupid.

Kind of a shame though, I'd have liked to have been able to make characters in the new classes and put them on my guildcard to pass to new players.  nobody would ever raise a Medic instead of an Arcanist though

[Third Eye Lem]

Atlus just released three QR codes in their latest email newsletter, you get three items that you can sell for 500en each...Is that what you're supposed to do, or can you save them for something else in the game?

[Garlyle]

Trade items are intended to be sold.
There's also some more here, including a couple QR Quests, not all of which are actually available immediately.

In other news I finally got the ability to go higher in the skies in my ship!  And up on the second 'layer' of the Windy Plains I found

Spoiler:

THE RED DRAGON IS FUCKING TERRIFYING IT'S AN FOE THAT OCCUPIES NINE SPACES AND MOVES AROUND SUPER FAST AND YOU GET "YOU GONNA DIE" MUSIC WHEN IT'S SPAWNED AND MOVING AROUND

[Third Eye Lem]

Trade items are intended to be sold.
There's also some more here, including a couple QR Quests, not all of which are actually available immediately.

In other news I finally got the ability to go higher in the skies in my ship!  And up on the second 'layer' of the Windy Plains I found

Spoiler:

THE RED DRAGON IS FUCKING TERRIFYING IT'S AN FOE THAT OCCUPIES NINE SPACES AND MOVES AROUND SUPER FAST AND YOU GET "YOU GONNA DIE" MUSIC WHEN IT'S SPAWNED AND MOVING AROUND

Thanks for the info!

And yeah, I heard about that from an NPC, now I know what to expect when running for dear life. Speaking of which...Why can't I run from those giant frogs? Why do they kill me so easily? And why do they seem to not give up more EXP than the weaker enemies? Is EO really this grind-heavy or am I doing things wrong?

[Garlyle]

Thanks for the info!

And yeah, I heard about that from an NPC, now I know what to expect when running for dear life. Speaking of which...Why can't I run from those giant frogs? Why do they kill me so easily? And why do they seem to not give up more EXP than the weaker enemies? Is EO really this grind-heavy or am I doing things wrong?

Escape rates in EO3 actually seem really low.  The Retreat burst ability is about the only way to really guarantee yourself an escape.  And the frogs, assuming we're talking about the ones that start appearing on 2F of the Lush Woodlands, are actually kind of a pain at first.  Make sure your armor's upgraded, and if you have a Protector, use Taunt to get their attention and keep them from attacking weaker characters.

The game finally starts taking the gloves off on 2F and you're gonna be expected to not just rush straight through the dungeons - be sure to explore the bonus areas and go fight old FOEs (you should be able to beat at least the baboons in the tutorial area now for instance); you get reasonable EXP as well as materials for good equipment from FOEs.

Either way it's tough(er) to 'do stuff wrong' in EO4 compared to earlier EO games simply due to having less places to spend skill points early and them being a lot better balanced. Still, if you haven't gotten some kind of defensive ability, get one soon; the frogs are one of the least threatening things even on 2F (Baboon + Big Roller combo is going to hurt the first time you encounter it)

[Third Eye Lem]

Escape rates in EO3 actually seem really low.  The Retreat burst ability is about the only way to really guarantee yourself an escape.  And the frogs, assuming we're talking about the ones that start appearing on 2F of the Lush Woodlands, are actually kind of a pain at first.  Make sure your armor's upgraded, and if you have a Protector, use Taunt to get their attention and keep them from attacking weaker characters.

The game finally starts taking the gloves off on 2F and you're gonna be expected to not just rush straight through the dungeons - be sure to explore the bonus areas and go fight old FOEs (you should be able to beat at least the baboons in the tutorial area now for instance); you get reasonable EXP as well as materials for good equipment from FOEs.

Either way it's tough(er) to 'do stuff wrong' in EO4 compared to earlier EO games simply due to having less places to spend skill points early and them being a lot better balanced. Still, if you haven't gotten some kind of defensive ability, get one soon; the frogs are one of the least threatening things even on 2F (Baboon + Big Roller combo is going to hurt the first time you encounter it)

1- You mean the Fortress? Yeah, I should do that...If he wasn't losing like 40-50% of their health every time they use a damn jump attack >_> I focused a bit more on offensive skills with him, which...Might not have been the best idea?

2- Tried the baboons in the Old Forest Mine, they took forever to kill XD I was like level 8 or so.

3- As I stated earlier, my Fortress is surprisingly squishy... Is there a way to refund skill points somehow?

[Garlyle]

1- You mean the Fortress? Yeah, I should do that...If he wasn't losing like 40-50% of their health every time they use a damn jump attack >_> I focused a bit more on offensive skills with him, which...Might not have been the best idea?

2- Tried the baboons in the Old Forest Mine, they took forever to kill XD I was like level 8 or so.

3- As I stated earlier, my Fortress is surprisingly squishy... Is there a way to refund skill points somehow?

Yeah, uh, offensive skills on the Fortress are more a side-investment (Getting a couple points in Bolt Blow or whatever isn't too bad, especially on the first floors because most things are weak to elec during stratum one) but most of your points should be going into stuff like Taunt, Iron Wall, and the party physical defense buff for stratum one.

If you want to reset, go to the explorer's guild, select the character, then choose "Rest" - you'll lose two levels, but your skill point allocations will be reset.  (The "Retire" option probably isn't unlocked for you yet, but it is essentially a bigger version of that for later - you actually dismiss the character entirely and instead get a new replacement, allowing you to pick brand new classes; the replacement will also come in at half the original's level and with additional skill and/or stat points, and retaining stat book uses)

[Tamer Anode/Cathode]

Bought and installed the game this morning. My party since the demo has been Landsnekht/Dancer/Fortress on the front line and Sniper and Runemaster in the back. Have one of each of the other classes in reserve and ready to train if needed.

Here's my guild card code.

[Garlyle]

Holy nonsense the second stratum boss is hard.  Mostly because the fight's likely to extend past your TP duration. 

Spoiler:

Sleep Zone is amazing and make sure your guest party member uses it.  Also if she lets the circle run out naturally she gets like 75% of the TP cost of it back, as opposed to detonating it, so worth consideration

.  Also unspoilered hint for everyone for stratum 2: Sniper's Spotter or whatever it's called is super useful even at just like level 1 for an enemy type that shows up there because they're complete arse to hit otherwise.

So looking forward to getting reclassing though ):

[trancehime]

And yeah, I heard about that from an NPC, now I know what to expect when running for dear life. Speaking of which...Why can't I run from those giant frogs? Why do they kill me so easily? And why do they seem to not give up more EXP than the weaker enemies? Is EO really this grind-heavy or am I doing things wrong?

I'm doing a low-level run of Etrian Odyssey 3. My current level is LV7 at Narmer. I plan to kill him right about now.

Low-level runs are definitely possible if you know what you're doing.

[theshirn]

I'm doing a low-level run of Etrian Odyssey 3. My current level is LV7 at Narmer. I plan to kill him right about now.

Low-level runs are definitely possible if you know what you're doing.

Elaborate.  This level 7 Narmer fight intrigues me and I wish to know more.

[Ikari]

Just played the demo lately, and I fell in love. My first experience with EO so far, and I'm definitely buying it soon...ish.

[MatsuriSakuragi]

Caved in and ordered it even though I don't have a 3DS yet. I don't wanna risk putting it off too long like I did EO3 and miss out on the artbook and stuff-- and then see the price skyrocket like EO3 did

[orinrin]

Taking a break from Fire Emblem so I can play some EO4.  I decided to do a lulzy party setup using FL/RRR.  I really should have subbed one of my guys as a Sniper for the accuracy boost though.


Here is my current guild card.

[Garlyle]

Good news for anyone that wanted to use the three unlockable classes (Arcanist, Bushi, ) - after you beat the second stratum, you get a couple key items and an NPC appears in the tavern that'll "train" a character in return for them.  It basically instantly levels any low-level character up to 25, so if you want to use any of the new classes you can make a new character (or retire a current one) and instantly catch them up in level, at least somewhat.

Still waiting on subclassing though ahhh

[DarkslimeZ]

Hooray! My copy of the game arrived today. Got a tiny little artbook and the outtake CD with it; can't wait to listen to it.

Instantly went to one of the other caves in the first land. Ah, it's been too long. I could probably kill these poor little deer, but even though they're FOEs I can't help feeling bad for them so I just avoid them T_T

[Garlyle]

Hooray! My copy of the game arrived today. Got a tiny little artbook and the outtake CD with it; can't wait to listen to it.

Instantly went to one of the other caves in the first land. Ah, it's been too long. I could probably kill these poor little deer, but even though they're FOEs I can't help feeling bad for them so I just avoid them T_T

Kill them.  Kiiiill theeeeem. 

Spoiler:

then get slaughtered mercilessly by momma in a nostalgia rush (of death)

[trancehime]

Elaborate.  This level 7 Narmer fight intrigues me and I wish to know more.

Okay, I just defeated Narmer.

Here's the setup I'm using.

PRINCESS (Elen)
Shortsword / Spiked Leather / Buckler / Straw Hat
Bandage 2, HP Up 2, Attack Order 3, Shock Arms 1, Regal Radiance 1

HOPLITE (Pastrina)
Shortsword / Spiked Leather / Buckler / Straw Hat
HP Up 1, Guardian 1, Shield Mastery 1, Line Guard 1, Vigilance 5

PRINCE (DJ Rei)
Shortsword / Spiked Leather / Straw Hat / Shuro's Sandals
Royal Veil 9

ARBALISTS (Yuriho and Kurobara)
Repeater Bow/Power Ring/Stamina Bracelet x2
Giant Kill 1, Bolt Mastery 5, Proper Form 1, Volt Barrage 1

The fight requires the 2 Amritas you find along the way, otherwise you'll run out of juice to feed Shock Arms to your Arbalists. The key to defeating Narmer at a low level is to ensure that Narmer never, ever, ever pulls off Earthquake. If he does, you're dead, simple as that. As soon as Narmer uses Dive, spread out your single target attacks on each puddle while having the Arbalists use Volt Barrage to hit the entire group of puddles. If you run out of juice on your Arbalists (which you might), have the Princess with Regal Radiance dispel an Arbalist's Shock Arms buff to hit Narmer under the mud. Mud Toss and Fin Smack are trivial to deal with. If you get hit by Mud Toss, Royal Veil should heal most of the damage it deals. Fin Smack will most likely OHKO or very close to OHKO most of your team, so use Medica on them if you're afraid that they'll die on the next turn. Most of your damage will come from your Arbalists, assuming they both have Shock Arms up, they'll be doing anywhere between 35~55 damage. If they score a critical hit, it will be somewhere between 70 to 85. 100+ damage on average is not shabby for 2 people on a LV7 team, and it does allow for a reasonably quick kill of Narmer, around 10 minutes, not factoring in the amount of time you spend catching the fucker when he runs away (do not engage with the Bog Rippers, if you do, RUN AWAY).

[Garlyle]

Oh my god EO4 Landsharks are silly as hell.

Now that I have the second skillset unlocked by reaching level 20, I've got Improved Link.  Vanguard -> Improved Link -> Elemental Link from my Landshark, and Attack Tango -> Chase Samba -> Rush Step from my Dancer causes my team to land I literally lose count number of hits.  It goes something like...
Landshark Link -> Chase hit -> Link element damage -> Rush hit -> Link element damage -> Sniper hit -> Link element damage -> Rush hit -> Link element damage -> Medic hit -> Link -> Rush -> Link -> Tank hits -> Link -> Chase -> Link -> Rush -> (I have literally capped Link hits now)

which is like 19 hits or something like that I don't have time to count right now but the point is it's REALLY SILLY and while it's not a single huge number, it adds up to an arseload of damage, and by the time I'm on the last link possible with this setup on turn 5 (before I have to restart the process), most FOEs are dead and even the third stratum boss didn't stand up to two cycles of this.

EDIT: Also... EO4 Medic = This kid?

EDIT 2: WHOEVER THOUGHT UP THE FOES FOR THE FIRST CAVE OF THE FOURTH STRATUM IS A MONSTER

[nintendonut888]

I finally got this game two days ago, and I looooooove it. *_* Blazed through the first stratum, and am thoroughly being road-blocked by the beginning of the second. My party is Landscknecht/Fortress/Dancer Sniper/Medic (so unoriginal ;o;). The game is deliciously hard, but what will be even harder is putting my efforts towards that major essay assignment due Friday. Atlus why.

[IcySkree]

Oh man.. I'm loving this game right now. I just got to the third stratum and a new party member (that got instalevelled to 25). I rested everyone else to lose six levels because I hate myself I always want my party members to be at the same level (and be close in EXP) for some reason. If I were to kill an FOE while a party member is dead, I'd reset the game. :V

Also, I need to stop naming all my Etrian Odyssey guilds "Gensokyo" and naming my party members after Touhous.

[Garlyle]

My party is Landscknecht/Fortress/Dancer Sniper/Medic (so unoriginal ;o;)

Hey don't say that, now I feel unoriginal because that's my party too.

I've arrived at the fourth Land now.  And what I will say is this: after spending four games being desensitized to the terror of FOEs, there's a type of FOE there that has started that fear all over, if my last post wasn't any indication.  Either way, that team can be amazing for damage output once you hit level 20 if you focus on elemental links for the Landshark.

Still trying to figure out what to do with my Sniper though.  When I retired my Fortress for

Spoiler:

an Imperial

after this stratum though, I'll be resting everyone and that'll include my Sniper, so I may drop the binding focus and opt for 15-hit nonsense ability as a focus.
Also at that time I'm going to do something that I have no idea how well it will or will not work: making my Dancer into a Dancer/Fortress.

[orinrin]

Spoiler:

Darkness Howl is dumb.  It's totally cool that you can have a party-wide attack that binds every single body part, but it's not cool that you can use something like that while having all of your own body parts already bound.  Anyways, this was my entire night in a nutshell.

I have no idea why I'm still using my joke party for the post-game.  Here's my current guild card (with story spoilers galore).