Etrian Odyssey

[ForumBot 0.8 beta]

Etrian Odyssey

Etrian Odyssey is a game by Atlus for the Nintendo DS, and I have a hard time putting it down.  It's a simple game, rather like Moria, Fate or Diablo in that it involves a town, a thin veneer of story and a mysterious dungeon.  The story is that an underground forest was discovered near the town of Etria, and the local government encourages adventurers to explore it.  They offer missions, and you can take on quests from townfolk as well.  Despite the simple premise it is very engaging and often downright thrilling, thanks in no small way to the constant fear of a total wipeout and GAME OVER screen.

» Read More

[Yoru]

Nethack on the DS, eh? Hmm.

Screenies?

[Yegolev]

Screens were hard.  I'm working on it for future DS things.

EDIT: Not Nethack insofar as eating corpses or finding loot.

[Signe]

Some screens in English    

I would so play this if I had a DS.  Which I don't.     I don't like playing stuff on little things with little screens.

[Yegolev]

If you like playing games on the shitter, this is the way to go.

[Chimpy]

No Na-na ball comparisons on this one?

I am disappointed.

[Hutch]

Reminds me of the original Wizardry, with the party in two ranks, and the dungeon mapping.

[Jain Zar]

Its basically old school Wizardry, Bard's Tale, Ultima, Legacy of the Ancients, Might & Magic styled first person dungeon crawling.
With dumbass class names that were apparently normal in the Japanese version.  (Instead of Fighter we get Landschenckt.  Protector instead of Paladin.  Survivalist instead of Ranger.  Healer instead of Cleric.  Atlus wanted to be clever or some shit.

Great game though.  I am on the 3rd Stratum, mostly playing on breaks at work.  (Taking a short pause for Transformers Decepticons on the DS.  Which wasn't hard until Jazz' cheating ass showed up.)

[Yegolev]

No Na-na ball comparisons on this one?

I am disappointed.

I like to keep the boy away from my DS.

[Strazos]

Instead of Fighter we get Landschenckt.  Protector instead of Paladin.  Survivalist instead of Ranger.  Healer instead of Cleric.  Atlus wanted to be clever or some shit.

Wait, is that a complaint that Atlus didn't use overly-generic names? Seriously?

[Tebonas]

Well, Landsknecht would likely bring me of it a little. I''m not used to German names for classes in my English games!  :-D

[Nonentity]

GOD DAMMIT.

I got into the first dungeon, where I found the boot.

I inspected the boot, and two monsters spawned and killed 4 out of my 5 characters.

ON LIKE, THE SECOND MONSTER I FOUGHT EVER.

...it's hard. :(

[MrHat]

GOD DAMMIT.

I got into the first dungeon, where I found the boot.

I inspected the boot, and two monsters spawned and killed 4 out of my 5 characters.

ON LIKE, THE SECOND MONSTER I FOUGHT EVER.

...it's hard. :(

The game is damn fun though.  I can't really put my finger on it, but right now, it's the game I'd most rather play.

Just hit L30 on my first character (my white mage never dies!).  Getting ready to push into basement L10.  And I can still get my ass handed to me by bosses if I get unlucky.  So fun.

Hint: Look for the stuff that heals you every few levels.

[Yegolev]

two monsters spawned and killed 4 out of my 5 characters.

ON LIKE, THE SECOND MONSTER I FOUGHT EVER.

...it's hard. :(

I hope I gave sufficient warning.  Funny thing is that experience is what makes EO so much fun, barely escaping with your prize.  In most other games it would be very frustrating.

[Jain Zar]

Sometimes Ill head back out of the dungeon with plenty of spellpoints left just because I have explored for too long.
It causes smart gameplay.  About time an RPG did that. Its not abusively hard (once you hit level 12 or so anyhow..), but
it definitely doesn't hold your hand either.

[MrHat]

Eh, I'm L35 right now and felt pretty good about killing stuff as I can just Attack spam stuff to death.  Then I was exploring some pirate's gold stash somewhere and got wtfpwned by a Golem Boss.

This fucking game.

At least I could save my map.

[MrHat]

So, I've got a few characters to L40, my samurai dude is L29 and kicking some ass (went straight HP to start, seems like the smartest thing to do).

I am, however, stuck @ B12.  I see there's a boss mob by using Sight, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get there.

[Yegolev]

I'm still on B8F, sadly, however the only recourse in this situation is to go back and face each wall section, watching for the CHECK to appear.  If that doesn't work, then you will want to go up to B11F and do that again....  Sucky.  I will see about making my way down there and see what I can find.

When I am exploring a new area, I only draw in a wall after I have actually faced it and determined that there is not a secret door or other hidden thing.  I was quite pleased at finding the secret part of the jungle area that goes upward from B5F(? the one with Fenrir I think).

[Yegolev]

Spoiler in the form of a map of B12F.  Only click if you want to know.

[MrHat]

What's crazy is I could swear a couple parts in the map haven't opened up until you take a mission/quest to do it.

[Tige]

Geez, this game is brutal.  I picked up a boot and got my ass kicked by..........moles.

Restarted my party now that I understand the skill system a little better.  Couple questions.  Is TP regen worth the points for casters?  Are enemies week to different types of attacks/elements?  If not I can't see why you would have your mage dilute points into anything other than one type of spell i.e. fire, volt etc.   

[Jain Zar]

I have finished floor 20 and I have seen little evidence of elemental weaknesses.  Apparently the story game ends at 25 and 26-30 are challenge levels designed for optimal party builds and generally to make you hate life.

My party: Landie, Ronin, Survivalist, Troubador, Healer

For Landies, just go for Double Attack and 1 special attack.  I went Sword focus but folks say Axes are better.
For Ronin, Critical Hit bonus and Katana focus.
Survivalist NEEDs multi shot.
Troubador needs Bravery.
Healer needs Patch Up and can survive through dungeon level 20 without LP regen. 

By character level 50 you can start taking mining/lumber/plants or minor use skills.  Its best to specialize early on.

[Tige]

Thanks Jain Zar

 

[Yegolev]

There is elemental weakness but it isn't rampant.  The crabs are weak to volt, the jellies are strong against physical attacks, and plants seem to be somewhat weak to fire.  For the most part I just smash them with an axe.

I have TP Regen on my main alchemist and medic and it helps when you have to stay in the dungeon for five days straight (hint hint).  Thing is that you have to be in combat for two or more rounds, since you only get a point when combat rounds advance.  Most of the time I don't have the alchemist use a skill, preferring to save the artillery for big fights.  Same for the medic, who has maxed the skill that restores party HP after combat.

My survivalist is mostly allowed in my party because of the two pre-emptive strike skills, allowing me to get the jump on things more often and avoid ambushes.

My current landsknechts are both axe-specialized, and those skills focus more on raw damage.  Plus axes have a higher damage rating.  It's all about killing things as fast as possible.

Note you can create lots of specialists and keep them in town.

EDIT: The stalkers (giant mantises) are weak to crushing (axe) damage.  Good luck.

[Tige]

Thanks Yegolev.  Armed with this information I will now endeavour to map the noob level.