Current Events > I've been playing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 lately. *spoilers*

(+) Yeah! (+)

My first play of the game, and I know little about the story. I know about Pyra and Myrra, or whatever her name is, but not how their relation is relative to the Aegis. I know that Poppi gets multiple forms. I also know that Morag joins up at chapter 5. That's basically all the knowledge I have about the game.

Anyways, I'm currently in chapter 3, and just got done talking to Cole. Battle system is pretty swag so far, and I like the English VA work, as it lends a greater nuance to the fact that the world has different regions and cultures. I know Dragon Quest tried it in text form with their localisations, but no one ever really did it in VA; they always just default to the typical British accents. Hearing Welsh, Scottish, British, and Australian accents are a nice change.
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Always glad to see people talking about this game and actually enjoying it. It isn't for everyone but there is a lot of fun to be had. What kind of luck have you had with blades so far? Do you have or are you considering the dlc?
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It might be a top 10 rpg for me
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Tag
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Thanks for inspiring me to go back to this game. Got p far in and just stopped.
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Vortex_of_Hope posted...

Always glad to see people talking about this game and actually enjoying it. It isn't for everyone but there is a lot of fun to be had. What kind of luck have you had with blades so far? Do you have or are you considering the dlc?

I haven't been popping cores yet; I see no reason to do so just now. Maybe when I start taking on mercenary work, but for now, I have 3 cores on Rex, and 3 on Nia. No rares out of that lot. I have over 40 common cores, and 7 or so rare cores.
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This game is cringe inducing
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REMercsChamp posted...

This game is cringe inducing

It's the main protagonist's fault.

NocturnalLight posted...

REMercsChamp posted...

This game is cringe inducing

It's the main protagonist's fault.

The game is unabashedly anime. Almost all jRPGs being produced nowadays are.
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Alucard188 posted...

Vortex_of_Hope posted...

Always glad to see people talking about this game and actually enjoying it. It isn't for everyone but there is a lot of fun to be had. What kind of luck have you had with blades so far? Do you have or are you considering the dlc?

I haven't been popping cores yet; I see no reason to do so just now. Maybe when I start taking on mercenary work, but for now, I have 3 cores on Rex, and 3 on Nia. No rares out of that lot. I have over 40 common cores, and 7 or so rare cores.

For Rex this is a smart move since there is only a couple blades that come even close to the aegis anyway. Unfortunately, and one of the worst things about this game, if you want to do sidequests you are going to need field skills from rare blades.
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Vortex_of_Hope posted...

For Rex this is a smart move since there is only a couple blades that come even close to the aegis anyway. Unfortunately, and one of the worst things about this game, if you want to do sidequests you are going to need field skills from rare blades.

Yeah, I had a feeling that would be the case. That's why I'm not worrying too hard about it right now. I'll use the common cores to level up my idea levels, then use those to try and get rare blades in due time.
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I'm sad that Rex isn't playable in Smash Ultimate.
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Just started chapter 4 and opened up mercenary missions. The mission structure of this sounds like exactly what type of thing radiant quests should be designated for - a simple fucking menu. Some shit opens up, and you send your blades along the way to deal with it. No Preston Garvey to tell you that a stupid settlement needs help, or trying to claim some random asshole's ancestral iron sword from some cavern you cleared out 30 hours ago, Bethesda.
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If youre enjoying the game now, just wait. Itll start picking up after Chapter 4 a bit.
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Alucard188 posted...

and I like the English VA work

Weird. It's easily one of the worst dubs I've ever heard

Thank goodness Nintendo included Japanese voice options for once

I like the English dub because to my ears, it better conveys the feeling of a host of individual nations, with their own unique architecture and accents.

Anyways, I was grinding common core's so I could get a damn bitball blade for a mission, and I unlocked my first non Story related rare blade - Nim, the healer. I was grinding cores on Nia, so this is quite good.
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I love the music for the game. Btw, just to help you out, dont grind cores on Rex.
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Peter_Griffin33 posted...

I love the music for the game. Btw, just to help you out, dont grind cores on Rex.

Yeah, I heard that. That's why I've been using Nia.
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Alucard188 posted...

Battle system is pretty swag so far

Then what am I doing wrong? The main reason I shelved this for other great games is because combat seems simultaneously way too complex and slow as molasses.
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I don't remember how much the game says but wear accessories that boost luck when opening cores, it affects your base chance. Also there is a system where if you open a certain number of cores without a rare it'll give you one for up to three. The three blades depend on what table you got when you started the game as well as you odds for any given blade in general.
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dave_is_slick posted...

Alucard188 posted...

Battle system is pretty swag so far

Then what am I doing wrong? The main reason I shelved this for other great games is because combat seems simultaneously way too complex and slow as molasses.

Its complicated but any issues generally mean you aren't using blade combos, driver combos, arts cancelling, or chain attack as much as you should. You can easily forget one because it teaches you one at a time over the first three chapter, which can be a long time.
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dave_is_slick posted...

Alucard188 posted...

Battle system is pretty swag so far

Then what am I doing wrong? The main reason I shelved this for other great games is because combat seems simultaneously way too complex and slow as molasses.

The battle system is literally just pushing the buttons when prompted? Hell you can even set the options to auto battle now
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Just got my second one - Azami. Looks to be an ether based dark fighter. Good, because Nia sucks at physical.

*checks*

Oh great, she's fatalistic. Increases affinity when a fellow driver takes damage, counter-attacks with 180% ether damage, specials get more power the lower the HP of the driver, and all three of her specials increase damage dealt when less than 30% HP.
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Alucard188 posted...

Just got my second one - Azami. Looks to be an ether based dark fighter. Good, because Nia sucks at physical.

Azami is good ranged. I usually just slap Nia with healers though
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Vortex_of_Hope posted...

you aren't using blade combos, driver combos, arts cancelling, or chain attack as much as you should. You can easily forget one because it teaches you one at a time over the first three chapter, which can be a long time.

So poor design? They don't even have a tutorial tab for shit you forget so if you don't sit down and complete it in one go you're screwed? It's natural to forget some stuff over time but why in the hell would battle rely on things taught slowly that you can't even review?

Peter_Griffin33 posted...

The battle system is literally just pushing the buttons when prompted? Hell you can even set the options to auto battle now

Exactly, the "slow as molasses" part of my original post. And if it was "literally" just that, then explain the quote above this one.
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Alucard188 posted...

Just got my second one - Azami. Looks to be an ether based dark fighter. Good, because Nia sucks at physical.

*checks*

Oh great, she's fatalistic. Increases affinity when a fellow driver takes damage, counter-attacks with 180% ether damage, specials get more power the lower the HP of the driver, and all three of her specials increase damage dealt when less than 30% HP.

Dark is an awesome element for blade combos since it synergizes with Rex and Nia prioritizes Driver combos anyway.
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dave_is_slick posted...

So poor design? They don't even have a tutorial tab for shit you forget so if you don't sit down and complete it in one go you're screwed? It's natural to forget some stuff over time but why in the hell would battle rely on things taught slowly that you can't even review?

I've noticed that there are informants in the various cities that sell information to you relating to game play and battle mechanics.
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Alucard188 posted...

dave_is_slick posted...

So poor design? They don't even have a tutorial tab for shit you forget so if you don't sit down and complete it in one go you're screwed? It's natural to forget some stuff over time but why in the hell would battle rely on things taught slowly that you can't even review?

I've noticed that there are informants in the various cities that sell information to you relating to game play and battle mechanics.

So you have to pay for something that should be in a tab like every modern game nowadays? I wanted to give this game another shot but this is bullshit.
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dave_is_slick posted...

Vortex_of_Hope posted...

you aren't using blade combos, driver combos, arts cancelling, or chain attack as much as you should. You can easily forget one because it teaches you one at a time over the first three chapter, which can be a long time.

So poor design? They don't even have a tutorial tab for shit you forget so if you don't sit down and complete it in one go you're screwed? It's natural to forget some stuff over time but why in the hell would battle rely on things taught slowly that you can't even review?

Peter_Griffin33 posted...

The battle system is literally just pushing the buttons when prompted? Hell you can even set the options to auto battle now

Exactly, the "slow as molasses" part of my original post. And if it was "literally" just that, then explain the quote above this one.

Lack of tutorial review is one of the several objectively bad game design choices along with field skills in general. Fixed it in Torna Golden Country at least. Learn the system and it can be an absolute blast.
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Alucard188 posted...

dave_is_slick posted...

So poor design? They don't even have a tutorial tab for shit you forget so if you don't sit down and complete it in one go you're screwed? It's natural to forget some stuff over time but why in the hell would battle rely on things taught slowly that you can't even review?

I've noticed that there are informants in the various cities that sell information to you relating to game play and battle mechanics.

Make sure to keep checking those a couple will tell you about sidequests you can find. My last rare blades were in informant sidequests I totally forgot about until endgame.
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Vortex_of_Hope posted...

Make sure to keep checking those a couple will tell you about sidequests you can find. My last rare blades were in informant sidequests I totally forgot about until endgame.

Okay. I just got my third one: Kora, the hand-to-hand lightning bug. Oh, fuck yes. She has lock picking.
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the different gameplay systems are really solid and play off of eachother really well. the gacha thing for blades is the only one that doesn't make sense since it's not a microtransaction thing, could've at least made the legendary cores a 100% chance for a new rare

also nia is best girl

Interesting. Blades from the same weapon class share weapon points, and thus share levels in their respective attacks. I didn't know that.
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Been doing merc missions and trying to decide which fodder blades to get rid of. I'm thinking that I'm relatively safe getting rid of the 1* blades, unless they come with something pretty unique (one has tier 3 salvaging).

Answer a question for me - does the increase in rank for an individual skill (salvaging, botany, etc.) determine the effectiveness of it when it procs (15% increase in rares, 20% increase in rares, etc.), or does it only affect your proc rate (tier one= 20% proc, tier two = 30% proc, etc.).
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It gives you more materials and rarer materials. Helps if you have multiple blades with the same ability since they stack.

On merc missions, give more than the prereqs ask for to cut the timer down
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If I remember right at level 3 things like salvaging and botany activate every time or at least nearly every time. Think level two is 50%?
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While Rex doesn't exactly need more Blades, I would personally have maybe two more optional Rare Blades on him just to diversify a little.

Something to note: Merc Missions will fill out most Affinity Nodes except for certain ones, like deal a certain amount of damage in one hit (which can be annoying, but Opening Art Up Aux Cores can help deal with that).

And also, using Pouch items increase Trust on all Blades engaged to Driver you gave the item to, but not by a huge amount this early on. However, you can overwrite Pouch items with the same Pouch items or others, so you can grind Trust this way. Common Blades don't need a whole lot of Trust.

Now, combining a bit of Trust grinding and Merc Missions, you can max out a Common Blade. Then you can release it and get WP packs, which are very useful to give a boost to your Arts. Becomes more valuable later on when you can throw away higher level Commons without worrying about losing out on useful skills. Though always note the skills your Blades have, you don't want to get stuck because you were short on a Field Skill, and you don't want to throw out Blades with useful Battle Skills (More relevant on Three Crown and up Blades, which could have stuff like Orb Master)

Of course, that's a lot of menuing, and not entirely necessary if you just want to plow through the story. The main quests don't demand too much extra work out of you, at least in the first half of the game.
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I just acquired Newt. Interesting character design, to be sure. She's a tank though, so she's kind of wasted on Nia. Oh well - I can probably move her around later to a more capable tank. In the meantime, she can lead my expeditions.
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I thought Nia was tsundere, but Mythra is pure tsundere. Reminds me of Love Hina. >_>
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I made it to Mor Ardain yesterday. I explored a little bit, then popped some blades on Nia. My second one produced Electra.
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Alucard188 posted...

I made it to Mor Ardain yesterday. I explored a little bit, then popped some blades on Nia. My second one produced Electra.

Can you swap blades around party members or are they stuck permanently?
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Esrac posted...

Alucard188 posted...

I made it to Mor Ardain yesterday. I explored a little bit, then popped some blades on Nia. My second one produced Electra.

Can you swap blades around party members or are they stuck permanently?

There's an item called Overdrive Protocol that lets you transfer blades from one character to the other, it used to be that there was a limited amount of them from the game itself + the free DLC stuff but now you can buy them too

Though even back then, there were enough overdrive protocols to transfer quite a few blades if you somehow "messed up"
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Cookie Bag posted...

Esrac posted...

Alucard188 posted...

I made it to Mor Ardain yesterday. I explored a little bit, then popped some blades on Nia. My second one produced Electra.

Can you swap blades around party members or are they stuck permanently?

There's an item called Overdrive Protocol that lets you transfer blades from one character to the other, it used to be that there was a limited amount of them from the game itself + the free DLC stuff but now you can buy them too

Though even back then, there were enough overdrive protocols to transfer quite a few blades if you somehow "messed up"

Keep in mind you can only buy them on new game plus.
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I just made it to chapter 5 and acquired Morag. first thing I did was start popping cores on her, so now she has several rare blades at her disposal (Godfrey, Kassandra, Vess, Perun, Ursula, Finch). I'm trying to beat the merc mission so I can get to merc rank 3, but the final fight of the quest is destroying my life right now. Guess I need to level some. Poppi QT's introduction was anime as fuck.
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Alucard188 posted...

Poppi QT's introduction was anime as fuck.

That's putting it lightly
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Unfortunately Tora is really weak for most of the game because he loses out on the blade class bonuses.

Start Ursala's merc missions asap because I'm pretty sure it's literally like 60 hours minimum. Each one is so short you can abuse them to fill out you affinity nodes at least.
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Vortex_of_Hope posted...

Unfortunately Tora is really weak for most of the game because he loses out on the blade class bonuses.

Start Ursala's merc missions asap because I'm pretty sure it's literally like 60 hours minimum. Each one is so short you can abuse them to fill out you affinity nodes at least.

Yeah but once you get the best stuff on Poppi from that stupid fucking game then he can solo any of the end game bosses.
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Peter_Griffin33 posted...

Vortex_of_Hope posted...

Unfortunately Tora is really weak for most of the game because he loses out on the blade class bonuses.

Start Ursala's merc missions asap because I'm pretty sure it's literally like 60 hours minimum. Each one is so short you can abuse them to fill out you affinity nodes at least.

Yeah but once you get the best stuff on Poppi from that stupid fucking game then he can solo any of the end game bosses.

True. Easier to buy it on ng+ though. You still have to wait until the end of chapter 4 to reunlock stuff and refind tech manuals though. Even then tiger tiger is limited on drops until you unlock every stage too if I remember right.
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I played the game for most of today, what with it being a lazy Sunday and all. Felt good. Didn't progress the story any (still have to make it to Fonsett Village), but I've got Ursula to stage 4 on her chart. I've just been running around clearing quests and trying to get materials so Pyra can actually cook shit.
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