Xenoblade Chronicles

I_eat_tables

Edit history:

I_eat_tables: 2013-02-03 08:35:25 am

2013-02-03 08:34:22 am

Fire Emblem?

Boom. Taken from GamqFAQs

Quote:

chance of chain link continuation = tension level parameter (expressed in percent) + 30 * (affinity points / 5000) + additional chain link skill (15% from Shulk; 5% from Reyn) + B button press accuracy

Tension level parameter:
Very low = 0, low = 15, normal = 20, high = 25, very high = 30

B button press accuracy: 20 for right on outer part of circle; 0 if otherwise. If successful, parameter will be carried to next person.

Affinity points can't be calculated exactly but I believe it's 500 to start between most characters, 1000 is green, 2000 is blue, 3000 is pink and 5000 is heart (heart is a colour...)

I_eat_tables

2013-03-25 05:36:24 pm

Fire Emblem?

I've been watching the videos some more, got a few more notes to add.

Part 11: Watching this get the quest from Cheryl, and have to wait 10 seconds for it to go through collecting the items makes me wonder, how much time would it take to divert and get the quest in an earlier part? If it's less than 10 seconds (I think it is) then it'd be a small timesaver.

Part 12: Getting the radiant from the cave, he sneaks very slowly past the vangs... I wonder if it wouldn't be faster just to run past (and away from) the first, and kill the second. Even if it's slower, it's some EXP.

Regarding the boss... I'll just copy-paste the notes I made on the Xenorun document:
I think you could do slightly better on the boss by timing the chain attack better - it looks like it uses Awakening at 25% HP, so hit it with the Chain Attack just before then. Also Thunder Bullet > Metal Blast, faster, stronger and has boosted crit rate. In fact... I'd wager that Shulk>Dunban>Reyn would do better here, although health might be the issue. But a 4x Sword Drive in the chain attack is nothing to sneer at, especially if it then leads to a 6x Buster.

Cliff tricking parts: If my counting is correct, you can optimally do a whole cliff trick in about 32 seconds. Based on that, I've made [url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApPT0N9WtHcKdFdsMGg3RjBzcjdYZ2NoNTZJczZwLXc#gid=0]a document[/ur] showing cliff trick EXP gains, tricks needed per level, and approximate time it takes to level up. If you don't want to check/study it, the basic take away messages are: From getting Melia, it's about 8 tricks to level up (excluding bonus equipment boosts!) - just over 4 minutes. That slowly rises up to about 12 tricks - 6 minutes at about level 55. From level 57 onwards, you're within 'normal EXP' range, so you can level up massively quicker - only two or three tricks per level at first, but that rate rises very quickly as you level up, as the EXP is constant but the amount you need rises ~8% per level.

Part 17: Again, I wonder if this is the optimal strategy for the Telethia. It seems like you could win the second fight in particular with a good red chain, perhaps using a team of Shulk/Dunban/Riki if some healing is needed. Possibly substitute Riki for Melia and use Spear Break.

Will be watching more soon, will likely post more thoughts when I finish the document, maybe.

I've been watching the videos some more, got a few more notes to add.

Part 11: Watching this get the quest from Cheryl, and have to wait 10 seconds for it to go through collecting the items makes me wonder, how much time would it take to divert and get the quest in an earlier part? If it's less than 10 seconds (I think it is) then it'd be a small timesaver.

Part 12: Getting the radiant from the cave, he sneaks very slowly past the vangs... I wonder if it wouldn't be faster just to run past (and away from) the first, and kill the second. Even if it's slower, it's some EXP.

Regarding the boss... I'll just copy-paste the notes I made on the Xenorun document:
I think you could do slightly better on the boss by timing the chain attack better - it looks like it uses Awakening at 25% HP, so hit it with the Chain Attack just before then. Also Thunder Bullet > Metal Blast, faster, stronger and has boosted crit rate. In fact... I'd wager that Shulk>Dunban>Reyn would do better here, although health might be the issue. But a 4x Sword Drive in the chain attack is nothing to sneer at, especially if it then leads to a 6x Buster.

Cliff tricking parts: If my counting is correct, you can optimally do a whole cliff trick in about 32 seconds. Based on that, I've made [url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApPT0N9WtHcKdFdsMGg3RjBzcjdYZ2NoNTZJczZwLXc#gid=0]a document[/ur] showing cliff trick EXP gains, tricks needed per level, and approximate time it takes to level up. If you don't want to check/study it, the basic take away messages are: From getting Melia, it's about 8 tricks to level up (excluding bonus equipment boosts!) - just over 4 minutes. That slowly rises up to about 12 tricks - 6 minutes at about level 55. From level 57 onwards, you're within 'normal EXP' range, so you can level up massively quicker - only two or three tricks per level at first, but that rate rises very quickly as you level up, as the EXP is constant but the amount you need rises ~8% per level.

Part 17: Again, I wonder if this is the optimal strategy for the Telethia. It seems like you could win the second fight in particular with a good red chain, perhaps using a team of Shulk/Dunban/Riki if some healing is needed. Possibly substitute Riki for Melia and use Spear Break.

Will be watching more soon, will likely post more thoughts when I finish the document, maybe.

halfbakedprophet

2013-04-20 11:58:33 am

So Tables found a 9.5 hour RTA on nico: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm18022577

Similar to the previous route, but cuts a lot of the useless quests and adds a couple others.
I've watched up to Xord so far, and can't figure out why he switches to Sharla for the Ether Mine. It seems as though he's using her to get better luck with collectibles, but AFAIK Sharla doesn't have any skills that affect collectibles? Perhaps it was something to do with a weapon, i don't know.

Also that cliff trick list is really interesting, had no idea how abrupt the normal experience rate change is at 57.

I'm watching the new run and adding notes (although less detailed and more organized this time).

Also, if anyone knows anything in regards to version differences, please let me know. I'm worried the English version is, as always, inferior to the Japanese for the sake of running.

I_eat_tables

2013-04-20 05:17:50 pm

Fire Emblem?

I've tried to compare the nico videos to running in my game, and I'm fairly convinced that the 25% run speed increase in English is true. I think this means, if anything, English should be MUCH faster - you spend a huge amount of time running around, probably at least 3-4 hours, and so that translates as like 45-60 minutes cut, at least. However, it does seem like EXP might be lower. If that's the case, then you're going to lose some of that time grinding out extra quests and/or killing stuff.

I do think that list is accurate, but no guarantees (mainly I assume all the info on the Japanese sites is correct... which is probably at least mostly true). I went by a possibly optimistic estimate of 32 seconds per cliff trick (IIRC) for time purposes. That abrupt EXP change happens because you switch from using the your-level-based EXP gains for killing overly strong enemies, to the enemy-level-based EXP gains for killing enemies close to your level. If you can bait lower level Gogols/enemies anywhere, you can get a similar effect at lower levels, as long as you're within 21 levels of the enemies.

(Also, another place I get information from is a rather arrogant GFaqs user. He basically doesn't tell you anything, or his sources, but if you post something incorrect, he corrects it, and he's basically always correct. That's how I found the above RTA - wouldn't surprise me if it was him who made it. Mostly I've learnt how to bait him into telling me things, but no guarantees)

I've tried to compare the nico videos to running in my game, and I'm fairly convinced that the 25% run speed increase in English is true. I think this means, if anything, English should be MUCH faster - you spend a huge amount of time running around, probably at least 3-4 hours, and so that translates as like 45-60 minutes cut, at least. However, it does seem like EXP might be lower. If that's the case, then you're going to lose some of that time grinding out extra quests and/or killing stuff.

I do think that list is accurate, but no guarantees (mainly I assume all the info on the Japanese sites is correct... which is probably at least mostly true). I went by a possibly optimistic estimate of 32 seconds per cliff trick (IIRC) for time purposes. That abrupt EXP change happens because you switch from using the your-level-based EXP gains for killing overly strong enemies, to the enemy-level-based EXP gains for killing enemies close to your level. If you can bait lower level Gogols/enemies anywhere, you can get a similar effect at lower levels, as long as you're within 21 levels of the enemies.

(Also, another place I get information from is a rather arrogant GFaqs user. He basically doesn't tell you anything, or his sources, but if you post something incorrect, he corrects it, and he's basically always correct. That's how I found the above RTA - wouldn't surprise me if it was him who made it. Mostly I've learnt how to bait him into telling me things, but no guarantees)

Tiberius

2013-04-20 05:54:45 pm

Make it so.

Damn I really need to get a nico account and check that out...

Sloth Gogols

2013-04-20 09:01:59 pm

Since the way experience is calculated makes it so that only when enemies are within 20 levels higher, characters get full exp. Wouldn't be better to cliff trick Gluttony Gogols, then Sloth Gogols for a few levels, then back to Gluttony? A Sloth Gogol is very close to a ledge on a bridge by Raguel and is easier to trick than the Gluttony Gogol imo. Their location is slightly South West of the normally clifftricked gluttony.

halfbakedprophet

2013-04-20 09:12:44 pm

It actually turns out Gogols are only really used for their drops (except maybe after getting to 57, but I haven't even watched that far into the run), as Hypnotizing/running away from Indominatable Dalton provides faster EXP. However, that considered it might be worth diversifying the silver drops, as Gluttony Gogols only drop Lancelot Legs/Boots, whereas Sloth drops Plate/Gauntlets. Unfortunately in the case of gold chests Gluttony is superior (Eclipse set > Ashura set), so getting a gold on a Sloth Gogol would really suck.

Still watching/noting the run, he grinds to lvl 45-50 (all characters range) on Dalton so it seems he's taking the OP path.

I_eat_tables

2013-04-21 05:50:04 am

Fire Emblem?

Woah, that EXP trick is crazy. Easy, fast and effective.

Not surprised going OP is the way to go. I think I mentioned in your stream that I was considering grinding up to ~70 might be worth the time.

halfbakedprophet

2013-04-21 12:54:13 pm

He grinds up to an average lvl of 47 for Telethia -> Gallahad Fortress, then Grinds up to 75 for Mechonis.

Seems that Melia is the main for the latter half of the run, occasionally being interchanged with Dunban (I assume on fights where Elemental bonuses are less crucial). I noticed on the Mumkhar fight in Valak he actually uses Summon Wind/Copy to get an agility boost on the field at all times. Later in the run wind is replaced, but he seems to never not have two lightning orbs. Anyone know the relationship between Ether Up bonuses and DoT? I assume it only affects the initial damage of the attack, but it's possible that it effects the damage of DoT effects (poison, blaze etc)?

Also Shulk seems to be used as some sort of "stealth mule". Since he's never really used for combat post-Satorl, he gets equipped with 3 Aerial Cloak III gems, a Unique Legging with Earth Cloak, and all the quick step. The runner then switches from Dunban to Shulk to navigate and avoid encounters, then back to Dunban (or Melia) for battles.

I'm basically finished with my notes, but I'd rather not just post them in public. Anyone who'd like to see them just say so and I'll PM a copy.

He grinds up to an average lvl of 47 for Telethia -> Gallahad Fortress, then Grinds up to 75 for Mechonis.

Seems that Melia is the main for the latter half of the run, occasionally being interchanged with Dunban (I assume on fights where Elemental bonuses are less crucial).  I noticed on the Mumkhar fight in Valak he actually uses Summon Wind/Copy to get an agility boost on the field at all times.  Later in the run wind is replaced, but he seems to never not have two lightning orbs.  Anyone know the relationship between Ether Up bonuses and DoT?  I assume it only affects the initial damage of the attack, but it's possible that it effects the damage of DoT effects (poison, blaze etc)?

Also Shulk seems to be used as some sort of "stealth mule".  Since he's never really used for combat post-Satorl, he gets equipped with 3 Aerial Cloak III gems, a Unique Legging with Earth Cloak, and all the quick step.  The runner then switches from Dunban to Shulk to navigate and avoid encounters, then back to Dunban (or Melia) for battles.

I'm basically finished with my notes, but I'd rather not just post them in public.  Anyone who'd like to see them just say so and I'll PM a copy.

I_eat_tables

2013-04-21 01:01:06 pm

Fire Emblem?

Go ahead and send your notes over. I probably won't look until Wednesday minimum (exams tomorrow+Tuesday), but after that I'll try and give some of this run a look and your notes.

It's a shame so much information about this game is in Japanese. Really wish I was skilled enough to extract information and put it into English, but I'm way away from that.

Tiberius

2013-04-22 07:41:05 am

Make it so.

I would love to check those notes out if that's ok!

Finrod

2013-07-09 12:56:22 pm

Sorry to up that topic, but I am also very interested to see these notes, as the idea of doing a new game run of that game is now sticked in my head!

And I am also wanderng if you are still working on doing the run...

I_eat_tables

2013-07-09 01:05:47 pm

Fire Emblem?

HBP is still doing runs - http://www.twitch.tv/halfbakedprophet

As for the notes, you'd need an account to be able to access them... or you can just watch some of his videos there I guess.

Finrod

2013-07-09 01:08:18 pm

Thanks for such a fast answer! I guess I will do both then Cheesy

I_eat_tables

2013-07-09 01:09:02 pm

Fire Emblem?

That does indeed work. It's up to him if he sends the notes though obviously.

halfbakedprophet

2013-07-12 10:50:20 am

The notes are pretty bad tbh, I've been using them less and less as I get more familiar with the route. They're just so disorganized they don't feel fit for public posting, but if you'd like to see them I'd be happy to PM.

Anyway finished my first RTA last night, if anyone's interested.
Part 1: http://www.twitch.tv/halfbakedprophet/c/2563474
Part 2: http://www.twitch.tv/halfbakedprophet/c/2563483

Questions/suggestions/whatever all welcome

halfbakedprophet

Edit history:

halfbakedprophet: 2013-07-18 03:16:02 pm

halfbakedprophet: 2013-07-18 02:17:19 pm

halfbakedprophet: 2013-07-18 02:04:11 pm

2013-07-18 02:03:59 pm

So I think I just found a very quick source of a Quick Step V that the Japanese run seems to ignore: http://xenoblade.wikia.com/wiki/Best_Boots . It requires a previous quest to be unlocked, but that involves accepting a quest while you're at the Machina Village, and ending it at the Machina Refuge (which you go to regardless for the secret area bonus). According to http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fxenobladedata.web.fc2.com%2F the reinforced plunger and jet can be traded for with NPCs in the village. This should save a lot of time if I'm not missing something.

EDIT: http://xenoblade.wikia.com/wiki/For_My_Loved_One... seems to be what I missed. Still, despite how ridiculously far the Distant Fingertip is, it provides some nice EXP and SP, and a quick step gem is probably worth the trip. I'll try to test it tonight.

EDIT: nevermind, not worth the trouble for just 5% quickstep (caps at 25), unless the experience from the quests/distant fingertip counterbalance the time it takes. Looks like it's up to the 2 of each humming collectible quest to max out quick step (much earlier, too). I'm trying to work out a trade route, so far I've only confirmed that you can trade for the humming nettle, the rest aren't on the wiki and the Japanese site has weird translations for the humming items

So I think I just found a very quick source of a Quick Step V that the Japanese run seems to ignore: http://xenoblade.wikia.com/wiki/Best_Boots .  It requires a previous quest to be unlocked, but that involves accepting a quest while you're at the Machina Village, and ending it at the Machina Refuge (which you go to regardless for the secret area bonus).  According to http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fxenobladedata.web.fc2.com%2F the reinforced plunger and jet can be traded for with NPCs in the village.  This should save a lot of time if I'm not missing something.

EDIT: http://xenoblade.wikia.com/wiki/For_My_Loved_One... seems to be what I missed.  Still, despite how ridiculously far the Distant Fingertip is, it provides some nice EXP and SP, and a quick step gem is probably worth the trip.  I'll try to test it tonight.

EDIT: nevermind, not worth the trouble for just 5% quickstep (caps at 25), unless the experience from the quests/distant fingertip counterbalance the time it takes.  Looks like it's up to the 2 of each humming collectible quest to max out quick step (much earlier, too).  I'm trying to work out a trade route, so far I've only confirmed that you can trade for the humming nettle, the rest aren't on the wiki and the Japanese site has weird translations for the humming items

Sir VG

2013-07-18 03:31:45 pm

Fucking Weeaboo

Maybe this will help you: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Anx12MiCQejudHJfUWhOTGd5Wm1uS25ub2FDeE5BekE#gid=11

Click the NPCs tab to see what each character gives you for trades based upon location affinity. And tons of other stuff.

halfbakedprophet

2013-07-18 07:25:17 pm

That's actually a huge help, much easier to navigate and read than the Japanese link. Turns out maximum running speed is 25%, and skills don't stack in this case. So with 20% quick step + Riki's 5% skill, running speed is maxed. Still though, this will be a huge help in filling out important collectopaedia sections that are missing a single element.

Finrod

2013-08-10 08:21:08 am

Hi again! I just finished to watch your full run, and as I am very interested in speedrunning this game, I have a couple of questions I wanted to ask you... I think I will still have some questions later on, because I don't have all my notes for the moment, but here are the first questions/comment:

- I think that you can gain a couple of seconds by not doing the two tradings for the vegetables if you are enoughly lucky, by just checking if you get them... I don't know if you do it, but I guess it would be quite useful.
- In the fourth split, do you really need to do the exchanges near the gem's machine? I went to the spider queen already, and I killed her without doing these exchanges...
- What went bad with Riki's skill, at the last farming at Satori? I didn't understand what you wer doing at the last farming...
- Is it faster to go searching for the secret area or to farm? I feel that you spend a lot of time to go there while you could win the same amount of EXP with one or two more farming...
- Overall, I think you could do better menuing... It goes very fast at the beggining, but the end fells quite hesitating, with some few mistakes...

Going back to some questions: at the beginning, against the Mekon and Shulk without Monado, you are waiting for the end of the cooldown of Reyn's art wild down, right?
- at the farming for the armours in the mine, do you need Shulk doing enchant, or you are just waiting for the Mekon to have the right angle? And when do you know when to stop farming?
- Is the way the farming at Satori work is known or is it just a feeling that you get after training?

Well, I guessthat's all... Aniway, you did an amzing run!

Hi again! I just finished to watch your full run, and as I am very interested in speedrunning this game, I have a couple of questions I wanted to ask you... I think I will still have some questions later on, because I don't have all my notes for the moment, but here are the first questions/comment:

- I think that you can gain a couple of seconds by not doing the two tradings for the vegetables if you are enoughly lucky, by just checking if you get them... I don't know if you do it, but I guess it would be quite useful.
- In the fourth split, do you really need to do the exchanges near the gem's machine? I went to the spider queen already, and I killed her without doing these exchanges...
- What went bad with Riki's skill, at the last farming at Satori? I didn't understand what you wer doing at the last farming...
- Is it faster to go searching for the secret area or to farm? I feel that you spend a lot of time to go there while you could win the same amount of EXP with one or two more farming...
- Overall, I think you could do better menuing... It goes very fast  at the beggining, but the end fells quite hesitating, with some few mistakes...

Going back to some questions: at the beginning, against the Mekon and Shulk without Monado, you are waiting for the end of the cooldown of Reyn's art wild down, right?
- at the farming for the armours in the mine, do you need Shulk doing enchant, or  you are just waiting for the Mekon to have the right angle? And when do you know when to stop farming?
- Is the way  the farming at Satori work is known or is it just a feeling that you get after training?

Well, I guessthat's all... Aniway, you did an amzing run!

halfbakedprophet

Edit history:

halfbakedprophet: 2013-08-20 09:56:35 pm

2013-08-20 09:54:34 pm

- I think that you can gain a couple of seconds by not doing the two tradings for the vegetables if you are enoughly lucky, by just checking if you get them... I don't know if you do it, but I guess it would be quite useful.

Definitely, I'm keeping track of all collectibles early in the game. Occasionally I space out and need to check to make sure, but I'm usually on top of it. It comes down to RNG, in future runs I'll definitely be reseting to save this time, but 30 seconds wasn't a huge concern to me when I wanted to get my first run finished.

- In the fourth split, do you really need to do the exchanges near the gem's machine? I went to the spider queen already, and I killed her without doing these exchanges...

It's easily possible without the homs armours, but they can still make the difference between a win/loss depending on RNG. Most importantly though, the lightweight driver is needed for the "truly outrageous" achievement (all gem slots filled), as it's the most easily available 3-slot weapon. Also, Rosemary trades Dance Apple and the girl (Paola???) trades Black Kiwi, so if either were missed they can be picked up here. The Rag Bone hammer is also essential for the Xord fight, and there's no other more convenient time to trade with Sesame.

- What went bad with Riki's skill, at the last farming at Satori? I didn't understand what you wer doing at the last farming...

I forgot to get his "locations award more EXP" skill during the first farming session. Riki has the lowest Exp Up of the endgame characters, so he needs this boost early on to help him get to 74 ASAP.

- Is it faster to go searching for the secret area or to farm? I feel that you spend a lot of time to go there while you could win the same amount of EXP with one or two more farming...

In almost every case the secret locations award more EXP in proportion to time. Also, these EXP values are fixed, while the high-level grinding always scales to your current level (until you are within 21 levels of the opponent's level). Because of this, getting the best value out of all available experience before grinding is faster. This is why I don't immediately warp to N Raguel Bridge after getting Melia and Riki in the party.

- Overall, I think you could do better menuing... It goes very fast at the beggining, but the end fells quite hesitating, with some few mistakes...

This is true. As the game progresses there's more to keep track of and be aware of, also giving the game your unwavering focus for 5+ hours tires the mind. Optimizing menus will be a big part of cutting WR.

Going back to some questions: at the beginning, against the Mekon and Shulk without Monado, you are waiting for the end of the cooldown of Reyn's art wild down, right?

Yes

- at the farming for the armours in the mine, do you need Shulk doing enchant, or you are just waiting for the Mekon to have the right angle? And when do you know when to stop farming?

Shulk has to use enchant. Stopping at LVL 22 with 2 full exp bars will put you at LVL 23 w/ truly outrageous + the 3 story mechon before Xord.

- Is the way the farming at Satori work is known or is it just a feeling that you get after training?

Currently just a feel-based thing. There's a couple methods, I'll go into more detail soon. Most importantly, the order they exit is crucial to whether they die or not. With only one live Gogol, the method I use has a 99%+ success rate. Doesn't tell too much about how the double-kill works, though.

[i]- I think that you can gain a couple of seconds by not doing the two tradings for the vegetables if you are enoughly lucky, by just checking if you get them... I don't know if you do it, but I guess it would be quite useful.[/i]

Definitely, I'm keeping track of all collectibles early in the game.  Occasionally I space out and need to check to make sure, but I'm usually on top of it.  It comes down to RNG, in future runs I'll definitely be reseting to save this time, but 30 seconds wasn't a huge concern to me when I wanted to get my first run finished.

[i]- In the fourth split, do you really need to do the exchanges near the gem's machine? I went to the spider queen already, and I killed her without doing these exchanges...[/i]

It's easily possible without the homs armours, but they can still make the difference between a win/loss depending on RNG.  Most importantly though, the lightweight driver is needed for the "truly outrageous" achievement (all gem slots filled), as it's the most easily available 3-slot weapon.  Also, Rosemary trades Dance Apple and the girl (Paola???) trades Black Kiwi, so if either were missed they can be picked up here.  The Rag Bone hammer is also essential for the Xord fight, and there's no other more convenient time to trade with Sesame.

[i]- What went bad with Riki's skill, at the last farming at Satori? I didn't understand what you wer doing at the last farming...[/i]

I forgot to get his "locations award more EXP" skill during the first farming session.  Riki has the lowest Exp Up of the endgame characters, so he needs this boost early on to help him get to 74 ASAP.

[i]- Is it faster to go searching for the secret area or to farm? I feel that you spend a lot of time to go there while you could win the same amount of EXP with one or two more farming...[/i]

In almost every case the secret locations award more EXP in proportion to time.  Also, these EXP values are fixed, while the high-level grinding always scales to your current level (until you are within 21 levels of the opponent's level).  Because of this, getting the best value out of all available experience before grinding is faster.  This is why I don't immediately warp to N Raguel Bridge after getting Melia and Riki in the party.

[i]- Overall, I think you could do better menuing... It goes very fast  at the beggining, but the end fells quite hesitating, with some few mistakes...[/i]

This is true.  As the game progresses there's more to keep track of and be aware of, also giving the game your unwavering focus for 5+ hours tires the mind.  Optimizing menus will be a big part of cutting WR.

[i]Going back to some questions: at the beginning, against the Mekon and Shulk without Monado, you are waiting for the end of the cooldown of Reyn's art wild down, right?[/i]

Yes

[i]- at the farming for the armours in the mine, do you need Shulk doing enchant, or  you are just waiting for the Mekon to have the right angle? And when do you know when to stop farming?[/i]

Shulk has to use enchant.  Stopping at LVL 22 with 2 full exp bars will put you at LVL 23 w/ truly outrageous + the 3 story mechon before Xord.

[i]- Is the way  the farming at Satori work is known or is it just a feeling that you get after training?[/i]

Currently just a feel-based thing.  There's a couple methods, I'll go into more detail soon.  Most importantly, the order they exit is crucial to whether they die or not.  With only one live Gogol, the method I use has a 99%+ success rate.  Doesn't tell too much about how the double-kill works, though.

Finrod

2013-08-30 04:17:57 am

I actually started the speedrun, and I still have a lot of trouble with Xord, but I discovered that you could avoid the rhogul fight in Satorl to get the last radiant by going there at night: If you do so, there would be no fight.

Also I was told that there were a glitch at colony 9 thanks to which we can directly go to the exit of Tephra, skipping the spider fight... However, you still have to go back and take the Monado, but it seemed pretty cool... that glitch is not recorded thought, but I am planning to look for it. It involved hitting a wall with Fiora in Tephra... very vague, bu I will try to find it anyway.

Sir VG

2013-08-30 06:40:03 am

Fucking Weeaboo

Quote from Finrod:

I actually started the speedrun, and I still have a lot of trouble with Xord, but I discovered that you could avoid the rhogul fight in Satorl to get the last radiant by going there at night: If you do so, there would be no fight.

Also I was told that there were a glitch at colony 9 thanks to which we can directly go to the exit of Tephra, skipping the spider fight... However, you still have to go back and take the Monado, but it seemed pretty cool... that glitch is not recorded thought, but I am planning to look for it. It involved hitting a wall with Fiora in Tephra... very vague, bu I will try to find it anyway.

Interesting. If you can activate a landmark (like the exit of Tephra Cave), you can then teleport back there later and thus skip the fight entirely. Interesting.

halfbakedprophet

2013-09-01 11:08:20 am

Quote from Finrod:

I actually started the speedrun, and I still have a lot of trouble with Xord, but I discovered that you could avoid the rhogul fight in Satorl to get the last radiant by going there at night: If you do so, there would be no fight.

Also I was told that there were a glitch at colony 9 thanks to which we can directly go to the exit of Tephra, skipping the spider fight... However, you still have to go back and take the Monado, but it seemed pretty cool... that glitch is not recorded thought, but I am planning to look for it. It involved hitting a wall with Fiora in Tephra... very vague, bu I will try to find it anyway.

Yeah, I forgot that Rhogul doesn't spawn at night, I've been changing the clock to 7PM after the light cutscene that automatically switches the time to day.

That glitch sounds really interesting, although I'm not sure it'll actually save time in a run. But it sounds so cool that it's definitely worth looking into. The Spider fight provides about a full level's worth of EXP through chain attacks and achievements, most of which are really difficult/impossible to get outside of large mob fights. So even if the fight were skipped, it might end up taking just as much if not more time grinding to an appropriate level for the Ardun fight.

Also I'm working on refining my notes (which I don't really even use for runs anymore) as a sort of "guide" for anyone looking to run the game.

If you're having trouble on Xord, first just make sure you've done everything in your power to set up the fight correctly. Pile all iron armours/high def onto Sharla, equip Reyn with the Rag Bone Hammer/Agility Up Boots, give Shulk the Agility Up II (if you got Back Attack Plus or Topple Up from Ether Mine collectibles, definitely put them in the Monado), and make sure the skill links are all there (Sharla should already have her +physical def skill). Beyond that the fight really comes down to RNG. Letting Shulk and Reyn focus on a single Mechon long enough to down it really helps, so you're only being attacked by two grunts rather than three. Other than that, you just need to pray you get a vision you can shatter ASAP, as the high tension is a key factor in the fight. The WR got really lucky with a Xord Impact on Sharla vision right off the bat (often he'll just do the attack without a vision occurring). I absolutely hated that fight when I started out with runs, and now I'm finding I have a >50% success rate, even without some of the gravy gems from the Mines.

[quote="Finrod"]I actually started the speedrun, and I still have a lot of trouble with Xord, but  I discovered that you could avoid the rhogul fight in Satorl to get the last radiant by going there at night: If you do so, there would be no fight.

Also I was told that there were a glitch at colony 9 thanks to which we can directly go to the exit of Tephra, skipping the spider fight... However, you still have to go back and take the Monado, but it seemed pretty cool... that glitch is not recorded thought, but I am planning to look for it. It involved hitting a wall with Fiora in Tephra... very vague, bu I will try to find it anyway.[/quote]

Yeah, I forgot that Rhogul doesn't spawn at night, I've been changing the clock to 7PM after the light cutscene that automatically switches the time to day.

That glitch sounds really interesting, although I'm not sure it'll actually save time in a run.  But it sounds so cool that it's definitely worth looking into.  The Spider fight provides about a full level's worth of EXP through chain attacks and achievements, most of which are really difficult/impossible to get outside of large mob fights.  So even if the fight were skipped, it might end up taking just as much if not more time grinding to an appropriate level for the Ardun fight.

Also I'm working on refining my notes (which I don't really even use for runs anymore) as a sort of "guide" for anyone looking to run the game.

If you're having trouble on Xord, first just make sure you've done everything in your power to set up the fight correctly.  Pile all iron armours/high def onto Sharla, equip Reyn with the Rag Bone Hammer/Agility Up Boots, give Shulk the Agility Up II (if you got Back Attack Plus or Topple Up from Ether Mine collectibles, definitely put them in the Monado), and make sure the skill links are all there (Sharla should already have her +physical def skill).  Beyond that the fight really comes down to RNG.  Letting Shulk and Reyn focus on a single Mechon long enough to down it really helps, so you're only being attacked by two grunts rather than three.  Other than that, you just need to pray you get a vision you can shatter ASAP, as the high tension is a key factor in the fight.  The WR got really lucky with a Xord Impact on Sharla vision right off the bat (often he'll just do the attack without a vision occurring).  I absolutely hated that fight when I started out with runs, and now I'm finding I have a >50% success rate, even without some of the gravy gems from the Mines.

About Visions

2013-09-02 03:08:28 am

Visions only occur when the character in question is highly damaged below a certain % of HP or KO'd. If you don't get a vision from Xord on Sharla, it means that she doesn't take enough damage so would decreasing her defense be better for a more consistent vision? So would it be better worth putting the extra high defense stuff to Reyn? I'm not sure why Shulk wants the Agility unless he can't hit anything without it.