This game has some good plot twists

[1oldtymer]

Arctic Volcano? Or Crack of Testing? I assume Arctic....if the Crack, don't go in to far--just grind a bit near the start.

[MSG Commander]

Arctic Volcano, and Vivre makes me use inappropriate language.

[1oldtymer]

I'm not sure what armor/weapons you have. If you haven't been to the crack of testing (I think it is unlocked in the normal game), I would go there, as you can buy some significant upgrades very near the entrance (once you get inside). That may help. If you have accumulated enough points, don't hesitate to use them at the shop for status protectors.

Yes, the normal battles are tough in Link of Hearts, and I found that was just about all that the game offered. Level 45 or so, with the right equipment, should be ample to get you to the end. You do need to protect against abnormal status, and make good use of your special skills. By the way, I also found the best grinding spot to be in Crack of Testing (but still slow going even there--it has shops right inside so can grind away and still be close to the shops).

Funny game: the story, art work, etc. make you think it is designed as a lightweight exercise for beginners, but as you are discovering, it is much tougher it appears. :ohmy:

[1oldtymer]

The big advantage of leveling up is to increase the number of slots you get. Getting the max out of your slots is critical: for example, if you happen to have a 4 slot (you probably only have a 3 right now), you can put it a +50, a +30, etc. along with your best attack. That makes it very powerful. Also, I found it advantageous to always debuff the monster. Make sure you have expanded range on both your healer and, if you can spare it, on your debuffs. Most important: EVERYBODY should have Defensive Technique. Party configuration also matters--you only need 2 hitters, so one healer, and one "item feeder"/debuffer might work better than having 4 attackers. This also means properly configuring the slots for the healers.

This game really forces you to be efficient in allocating things to the slots. I was very wasteful until I realized just how much it matters. Use your trees with the most slots to their maximum effect. The future is bright: you get trees with 5 !!! slots. For example, at the end my debuffer had
magic breaker, longer duration, add poison, +50, +30 in a 5 tree. :woohoo: (And to answer your question: the +50, +30 etc apply to the skill in the tree, no matter if physical, magical or whatever.)
One turn to use magic breaker, and then either defend or feed items until the debuff wears off. In fact, with enough defending, etc., you rarely need healing items during a battle.

[MSG Commander]

Where is the Crack of Testing? I thought I had explored the entire World Map but perhaps not...

[MSG Commander]

[quote="1oldtymer" post=3423]The big advantage of leveling up is to increase the number of slots you get. Getting the max out of your slots is critical: for example, if you happen to have a 4 slot (you probably only have a 3 right now), you can put it a +50, a +30, etc. along with your best attack. That makes it very powerful. Also, I found it advantageous to always debuff the monster. Make sure you have expanded range on both your healer and, if you can spare it, on your debuffs. Most important: EVERYBODY should have Defensive Technique. Party configuration also matters--you only need 2 hitters, so one healer, and one "item feeder"/debuffer might work better than having 4 attackers. This also means properly configuring the slots for the healers.

This game really forces you to be efficient in allocating things to the slots. I was very wasteful until I realized just how much it matters. Use your trees with the most slots to their maximum effect. The future is bright: you get trees with 5 !!! slots. For example, at the end my debuffer had
magic breaker, longer duration, add poison, +50, +30 in a 5 tree. :woohoo: (And to answer your question: the +50, +30 etc apply to the skill in the tree, no matter if physical, magical or whatever.)
One turn to use magic breaker, and then either defend or feed items until the debuff wears off. In fact, with enough defending, etc., you rarely need healing items during a battle.[/quote]

But... but... that means I have to pay attention! Whaddaya think I play these games for, an education?! :silly:

[1oldtymer]

No auto button mashing in this game :side: but that just means you avoid carpal tunnel. :cheer: ...see everything has two sides. Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where he always comes out even. :silly:

[1oldtymer]

I either failed to submit a "quick reply," or just discovered that they don't show up. Just in case, I'll repeat it:
on the world map in the forum, #35 on a small island bottom center of the map (Crack of Testing). However, I admit that I don't know if it unlocked prior to the post game.

[MSG Commander]

No it's not open for me; I need the password (aka finish the normal game). I approach the volcano and it says "There's a column of smoke coming out of the volcano."

No worries, I'll just do a bit of grinding and read your post about skills again. :whistle:

[1oldtymer]

One implication of my approach, and I mention it because you said you did Analysis to find the enemy weak spot. Build up a single attack skill for your hitter(s), and then max out defensive/stats in the remainder of the slots. Don't worry about enemy weakness, as the difference in damage done is minimal. Of course in theory you could reconfigure your slots for each enemy, but that isn't necessary. About the only "extra" attack skill you might have, along with your main attack, is to add poison. In my example, I have one character who has the luxury of adding poison to his attack, but that is because I had room in a 5 slot tree.

Other than that, I think you max out defensive attributes while using your biggest tree to build up your strongest attack and don't worry about finding the weak spot.

Hey, anybody who figured out how to cut Guild Hero down to size, and sent Apocalypse to his grave, can send the Link of Hearts monsters to the beyond :cheer: :cheer: