So, everything is accumulating into a massive crescendo of IRL busy-ness. As a result, I'm going to be very much AWOL for the upcoming two months. Updates will happen - if/when possible.. depending on free time. Most likely nothing will happen until the weekends, and even then updates are very very iffy. I make no promise of keeping up-to-date until at least.. mid-April.
After that I should be around much more often. Technically I'll still be 'around' in the meantime, but very very much afk. If you happen to see me online, I'm afk or setting up to afk. Honestly, I'll prob be on a time or a few in between now and then, but until that time I can't promise anything.
Stay Lively Castilla (Don't you dare start on Bristia without me!)
~ Alze
February 8, 2013
January 23, 2013
Bristia..?! And other news
Go I find myself in the sudden position to have 30 minutes time to burn on my hands. Splendid!
- CS list has been updated and is now functional. A few prices I haven't been able to find lately, but 90% of the prices have been corrected for this week's range. The list will be updated for one more week before being archived.
- Holy buckets questlines batman. @_@ So much questing to be done, there isn't nearly enough time for any of it. With several character recruitment requiring favor point quests, it's taking a while for some of them. Others are.. just being a huge pain. (I'm looking at you, Cruise.)
- Server is a lot more lively. For the first time in over a year I've actually had to turn down some settings due to lag from too many players on a map at one time. The broads are going constantly, and there is a much more sizable variety of items being sold on the MM on any given day than previously.
Oh, and server prices for everything has skyrocketed. It makes Castilla a seller's paradise, but bites for anyone who needs to buy certain gears. Apparently all the vis is coming from Bristia. Won't hear me complaining.
- So many characters, I've been able to recruit several, but their stances (and all the other new stances for pre-existing characters) haven't even been attempted. RL eats most of my time, so the extent of my GE experience thus far as mostly been instances and extensive recruitment quests.. and not much else. Considering how much has been done, its impressive. It's daunting to consider how much else there is I haven't even attempted.
- Sadly, all of my Scenario quests have been completed. That tab is completely empty now once again. Sadness. Oh well - my dismay hasn't been able to last one (we'll ignore the absolute TON of 'related' quests I have.. oy vey). 'cause.. we're getting Bristia.
Yes. Freakin' Bristia.
sGE is updating to Bristia soon.. and.. cripes sakes so are we - very soon. "I see your patch sGE, and raise you a Heiran."
..ok, so that was kind of a cheap shot.
But, we actually areHeyran Heiran, according to the big shiny intro page of theirs along with several other very notable Bristia NPCs.. On that note - I'm excited. Heiran is a pretty awesome character. You have to have a lot done before you can acquire her, but she's a lot of fun.
Frankly, the absolutely massive amount of content that was added to bring us from 8.5 to 10.23.4.. is.. quite ridiculous. It's been weeks since the server was launched, and still much of the player base is still trying to familiarize and adjust to the new features, characters, stances, instances, and other changes. Now there's news of Bristia.. coming 'Soon'.
It's just.. straight up 'content overload'. Given how things have gone thus far with T3 and the rate they go through new content (between first notice and implementation).. My bet? Bristia by March, if not sooner.
Good luck, Castilla, we're going to need it.
~ Alze
- CS list has been updated and is now functional. A few prices I haven't been able to find lately, but 90% of the prices have been corrected for this week's range. The list will be updated for one more week before being archived.
- Holy buckets questlines batman. @_@ So much questing to be done, there isn't nearly enough time for any of it. With several character recruitment requiring favor point quests, it's taking a while for some of them. Others are.. just being a huge pain. (I'm looking at you, Cruise.)
- Server is a lot more lively. For the first time in over a year I've actually had to turn down some settings due to lag from too many players on a map at one time. The broads are going constantly, and there is a much more sizable variety of items being sold on the MM on any given day than previously.
Oh, and server prices for everything has skyrocketed. It makes Castilla a seller's paradise, but bites for anyone who needs to buy certain gears. Apparently all the vis is coming from Bristia. Won't hear me complaining.
- So many characters, I've been able to recruit several, but their stances (and all the other new stances for pre-existing characters) haven't even been attempted. RL eats most of my time, so the extent of my GE experience thus far as mostly been instances and extensive recruitment quests.. and not much else. Considering how much has been done, its impressive. It's daunting to consider how much else there is I haven't even attempted.
- Sadly, all of my Scenario quests have been completed. That tab is completely empty now once again. Sadness. Oh well - my dismay hasn't been able to last one (we'll ignore the absolute TON of 'related' quests I have.. oy vey). 'cause.. we're getting Bristia.
Yes. Freakin' Bristia.
sGE is updating to Bristia soon.. and.. cripes sakes so are we - very soon. "I see your patch sGE, and raise you a Heiran."
..ok, so that was kind of a cheap shot.
But, we actually are
Frankly, the absolutely massive amount of content that was added to bring us from 8.5 to 10.23.4.. is.. quite ridiculous. It's been weeks since the server was launched, and still much of the player base is still trying to familiarize and adjust to the new features, characters, stances, instances, and other changes. Now there's news of Bristia.. coming 'Soon'.
It's just.. straight up 'content overload'. Given how things have gone thus far with T3 and the rate they go through new content (between first notice and implementation).. My bet? Bristia by March, if not sooner.
Good luck, Castilla, we're going to need it.
~ Alze
January 6, 2013
Cash Shop Prices and Ratios (Updated)
Below is a link to a simple glance at the current prices of CS items in Castilla, their gold cost, market selling price, and the gold/vis rate value of each item. This list is updated weekly/as time permits. Prices are all based on item costs on the Market Manager alone. Broads and private sellers are not included.
How to Use:
The initial column will list the item name, followed by it's Cash Shop price, amount of gold per individual item (if said item is normally sold in a pack of 5, 10, or 20, etc), the current Market Price according to the Market Manager (in millions), and finally how much gold per million vis each item is currently valued being bought/sold at.
With the Gold/Vis ratio a player can discern whether an item would be a good sale or purchase, or if they would be better off waiting. For example, in Orpesian markets a decent ratio on average was 15 gold per 1 million vis for items. When selling CS items with a ratio of 15 or higher, the buyer got the best deal as he is spending the least amount of vis per gold. When selling items of 15 or under, the seller is making the most vis per gold invested.
How to Use:
The initial column will list the item name, followed by it's Cash Shop price, amount of gold per individual item (if said item is normally sold in a pack of 5, 10, or 20, etc), the current Market Price according to the Market Manager (in millions), and finally how much gold per million vis each item is currently valued being bought/sold at.
With the Gold/Vis ratio a player can discern whether an item would be a good sale or purchase, or if they would be better off waiting. For example, in Orpesian markets a decent ratio on average was 15 gold per 1 million vis for items. When selling CS items with a ratio of 15 or higher, the buyer got the best deal as he is spending the least amount of vis per gold. When selling items of 15 or under, the seller is making the most vis per gold invested.
Here is a current list of cash shop items for the Castilla Server and their respective prices as of 1-21-13. This will be updated as often as time and circumstances allow.
The Maintenance Archive
Wondering when that Event Began? When it ended? When that crazy maint week occurred when things exploded and world nearly came to an end? Look no further than right here. Here at a quick glance you'll be able to easily see what went on each week, and how long ago something was. Records are archived bi-annually. The most recent maintenance will be listed at the top.
This page will be updated weekly after each Maintenance with the date, duration, and brief patch notes (links included) for Castilla each week.
January 23, 2013
Duration: 2:00-7:00AM EST (Extended + Emergency maints)
1. Colony War Schedule – Every Sunday 15:00 Game Time (New York Time)
2. Lyndon box will be available in Cash Shop
3. Issue on Fighter character “Con/HP” stats – Fixed
4. The following events will be extended for 1 week!!!
• Event Title: Are you a beginner? Don’t worry! You can jump up to Master level at once
• Event Title: Double EXP/Item drop rate to celebrate Rebirthing Granado Espada Online
5. The event will end after maintenance.
• Event Title: Enjoy the roulette with only 1VIS
January 16, 2013
Duration: 12:00-4:00AM EST
• Farm Merchant Shop – Fixed
• NPC Dr. Torsche Quest (A Plan to Revive Catherine) Client Crash – Fixed
• Family Skill Buff – Fixed
• White Santa Hat Image – Fixed
• Enchantment Chip Veteran Item Name Issue – Fixed
• Elephant Pet Issue – Fixed
• Trade Locked Issues – Fixed
• Family Summon Scroll Issue – Fixed
January 9, 2013
Duration: Launch!
Initiated Events:
• Event Title: Enjoy the roulette with only 1VIS
• Event Title: Double EXP/Item drop rate to celebrate Rebirthing Granado Espada Online
• Event Title: Are you a beginner? Don’t worry! You can jump up to Master level at once
This page will be updated weekly after each Maintenance with the date, duration, and brief patch notes (links included) for Castilla each week.
January 23, 2013
Duration: 2:00-7:00AM EST (Extended + Emergency maints)
1. Colony War Schedule – Every Sunday 15:00 Game Time (New York Time)
2. Lyndon box will be available in Cash Shop
3. Issue on Fighter character “Con/HP” stats – Fixed
4. The following events will be extended for 1 week!!!
• Event Title: Are you a beginner? Don’t worry! You can jump up to Master level at once
• Event Title: Double EXP/Item drop rate to celebrate Rebirthing Granado Espada Online
5. The event will end after maintenance.
• Event Title: Enjoy the roulette with only 1VIS
January 16, 2013
Duration: 12:00-4:00AM EST
• Farm Merchant Shop – Fixed
• NPC Dr. Torsche Quest (A Plan to Revive Catherine) Client Crash – Fixed
• Family Skill Buff – Fixed
• White Santa Hat Image – Fixed
• Enchantment Chip Veteran Item Name Issue – Fixed
• Elephant Pet Issue – Fixed
• Trade Locked Issues – Fixed
• Family Summon Scroll Issue – Fixed
January 9, 2013
Duration: Launch!
Initiated Events:
• Event Title: Enjoy the roulette with only 1VIS
• Event Title: Double EXP/Item drop rate to celebrate Rebirthing Granado Espada Online
• Event Title: Are you a beginner? Don’t worry! You can jump up to Master level at once
Raiding Roles: An Introduction
Many times players have been in squads for various raids and we've all heard the same questions. "Who's tank?" "Do we have a WC?" "Can someone bring Grace and Rio?" "Anyone have some ____ rings?" All addressing necessary matters to ensure a successful run. Whether tackling instanced raids such as Tower of Chaos or Clock Tower, or in the open field going after bosses such as Cortes, all raids have similar elements and roles seen time and time again throughout higher level GE gameplay.
Here I'll explain the mechanics behind being Tank, Whole Cancel (WC), DPS, and Support (and a bit about colony breaking at the end). What characters you can use, what teams you need, gear, and supplies are all detailed out below. The emphasis of this guide will be primarily for Tower of Chaos runs, however much of this information can also be used in other raids as well. A more detailed guide on specific tactics used for each role will be added (with luck) in the near future.
The Tank
Tank is one of the two most important teams in any raid, the other being WC. A tank's role is to keep the boss's attention on him, and no-one else while the DPS kills it. Your communication and understanding with the WC player is essential to success.
Characters: Stock Fighter, Coimbra Trooper as they are the only two characters with access to the Crusader stance in addition to the essential, innate skill Provoke. Take Emilia along with ETS (or a Wizard) with your Tank for ToC for constant Invulnerability, a vital Incantation stance skill.
Stances: Crusader, Incantation
Gear: Armor, 2DR shield, and a blunt. Type of armor and quality doesn't really matter as much as the tank is protected by Invulnerable buff 95% of the time. General rule of thumb is 30 base DR armor or better. For blunts the higher the AR better when it come to tanking Queen Valkyrie in ToC, however Trump blunts or better work just fine. Invulnerable rings are useful, but not required.
Supplies: Soul Crystals, SP regen potions.
Tips: Positioning and timing are key when it comes to the position of your two supporting characters, your tank, and the boss. Emi and Wiz need to be close enough to be able to cast Invulnerable upon your tank without needing to move closer when casting, yet far enough away from the tank to stay alive. Arguably the trickiest and most taxing role to perform, tanks are always in demand.
Whole Cancel (WC)
As vitally important as the tank itself, the WC team's role is to keep the boss debuffed at all times via using the Whole Cancellation skill. As long as a target is WC'ed, it cannot use any skills. Skill usage by the boss often spells certain death for the tank's team.
Characters: Emilia, ETS, M'Boma, Stock Wizard
Stances: Darkness, and Incantation.
Gear: Gear isn't important for this team, the only item you need is a rod or staff for each character so they can use their appropriate stance. What is necessary, however, is Whole Cancellation rings. At minimum three is required on a team, however timing is very tricky and there is no room for mishaps. To be safe, have six rings - two for each WCer.
Supplies: Soul Crystals
Tips: Lv 11 or better Darkness is required in order to land Whole Cancellation 100% of the time. This team is about timing. Again, positioning and communication with the tank is key when engaging a boss. Having Emilia or ETS along who can res and WC both is also very useful. However - all three characters must be able to WC and Invul.
DPS
While the Tank is taking all the potential damage, and the WC team is ensuring the boss doesn't pull any sudden tricks on the Tank, it's the DPS who gather and are responsible for killing the boss as quickly as possible. Arguably the easiest job there is within a raid, it can also be the most gear intensive, and expensive.
Characters: 1 ET Character, plus two other characters. Normally Magic x Magic or Magic x Ranged for Flare buff. Recommended characters to use are Calypso, Ralph, Elementalist, Helena, and Lionel. Other pistol/bayo users are not recommended due to inferior stance stats of Outrage and Flintlock compared to xbow users, however the new stance Unlimited Shot for Musketeers and Wanted Shot for Brunie and Garcia might negate this due to their improved stance bonuses.
Stances: Shadow Sting (Caly), Shining Sting (Ralph), Occultism and Augury (for buff) for Ele/Helena in addition to their single-loe stances (Rumor has this will be nerfed, however exactly when is not currently known), and Punisher (Lionel) are all recommended. Possible alternate stances maybe possibly be Unlimited Shot (Musk), and Wanted Shot (Brunie/Garcia).
Gear: Here, the mods and stats of the weapons used are everything. If you don't have it already, you'll want Lv 12 ET, with 32 or 33 AR weapons for the entire team. Weapons should consist of AR x Atk, AR x Racial, or Atk x Racial mods. Weapons should be +5 At minimum. Weapons that are +7 with three sockets (and socketed) is ideal, but not required. Wings, pets, and any other buffs that boost AR or Atk stats are highly recommended.
Supplies: Soul Crystals, Ancient Star Orbs, Pet (food), AM Boosts, Triumph Fillers, ammunition (metal bolts/bullets/elemental spheres/etc).
Tips: DPS' Scouts/Emilias/Vallerias are emergency back-up for the Tank and WC. Listen and pay close attention to the Tank and WC. If something is about to go wrong, they will know first. It is the DPS teams responsibility to assist the Tank and WC as needed. Usually this means ressing a member on either team, or using Refresh Mind on a WC character before disaster can strike. Just as the DPS and Support depend on the Tank and WC to keep them safe, the Tank and WC also depend on the DPS players to help when needed. DPS is one of the easiest roles and sometimes a 'catch-all category', as other roles tend to be more difficult to fill.
Support
This group is the simplest to gear and the easiest role to perform in a raid. Support is ideal for newcomers who want to raid but lack the knowledge how, or are unable to fill other raid squad roles. The Support's role is simply to keep the DPS players buffed at all times. However, don't the Supports' simple role fool you. Their useful buffs can make the difference between an easy, fun boss run or a long and difficult trial.
Characters: Grace, Lorch, Mia, Lisa, Angie, Vincent Rio, and Idge (not pictured) are all considered Support characters for either their buffs or debuffs that the can inflict upon the DPS or the boss.
Stances: Superior Blaster (Grace), Serenade and Prelude (Rio), Construction and Defensive Construction (Angie).
Gear: Items needed for Support characters vary about as much as their skills. Grace only needs a shotgun so she can access her Expert stance in order to use Hound Hound rings are favored, but not required. Lorch and Mia do not require any equipment whatsoever as their buffs are innate skills and not stance-dependent. Lisa and Idge/BSI are similar to Lorch and Mia in the fact their useful skill is innate, however Lisa/Idge need to have a high enough AR weapon equipped to be able to hit the boss as their skills inflict a debuff. Vincent Rio only requires a lute to access his stances, however Shining Ballad and a Prelude stance ring is highly recommended for Lv 13 SB.
Supplies: None
Tips: Each character has his or her own unique buff(s) and their game play will be dependent upon it. When playing Grace, Lorch, Rio, or Mia don't hesitated to ask for Refresh Mind when needed. When playing Grace, ask if everyone is ready before buffing hound as the buff is lost if a DPS has to change stance. Lisa and Idge need to carefully position themselves to attack the boss from behind to inflict their debuffs. Angie needs to bring sufficient toolboxes, and build Safety, Regeneration, and Construction wards that surround where the DPS has gathered.
Uncommon Roles: Cannon
Cannon isn't a role often seen outside of Colony Wars, and is rarely ever used. However there are times (rare and few as they are) where a colony-breaking character is required.
Characters: Either Claire or Jose are suitable for the job, as they are the only characters who can wield cannons in-game. It's been argued that one is superior to the other, but frankly they're so close in results it hardly matters.
Stances: Tested Burst (Claire), and Demolition Burst (Jose).
Gear: Arguably, the higher characters AR and the greater the Attack, the better the damage. However don't let mods alone fool you. The most essential asset to any colony breaker is Castle Crusher rings. A simple trump cannon with a pair of rings can easily out-damage a higher AR, better modded cannon without them.
Supplies: Lots and lots of Castle Crusher shells, which can be expensive.
Tips: It's recommended to have either two cannon chars and a character who can use refresh mind (Scout, Emilia/ETS, or Soho/STF), or one cannon with two RM characters. Alternately - depending upon the situation, one RM character + one cannnon + one dps type char can be acceptable, however not ideal. Also if you are in a map where it is possible to switch channels or go to barracks and return to the same place, you can switch channels/barracks and back as a way to reset the long cool downs more quickly.
Uncommon Roles: Kiting
This concludes the end of my introductory guide, however it will be expanded upon as time allows. Stick around for more in-depth how-to guides that will delve a little more in-depthly how these roles are done - Tanking and WC in particular. I hope this guide was useful and answered any questions you had, however if there are additional questions, or perhaps I've missed something, feel free to leave a comment and I will address the issue as soon as possible. ^^
Also a big thank-you to P.Luchon for helping me get the screens done in time. ^^
More to come..
~Alze
Here I'll explain the mechanics behind being Tank, Whole Cancel (WC), DPS, and Support (and a bit about colony breaking at the end). What characters you can use, what teams you need, gear, and supplies are all detailed out below. The emphasis of this guide will be primarily for Tower of Chaos runs, however much of this information can also be used in other raids as well. A more detailed guide on specific tactics used for each role will be added (with luck) in the near future.
- - - - -
The Tank
Characters: Stock Fighter, Coimbra Trooper as they are the only two characters with access to the Crusader stance in addition to the essential, innate skill Provoke. Take Emilia along with ETS (or a Wizard) with your Tank for ToC for constant Invulnerability, a vital Incantation stance skill.
Stances: Crusader, Incantation
Gear: Armor, 2DR shield, and a blunt. Type of armor and quality doesn't really matter as much as the tank is protected by Invulnerable buff 95% of the time. General rule of thumb is 30 base DR armor or better. For blunts the higher the AR better when it come to tanking Queen Valkyrie in ToC, however Trump blunts or better work just fine. Invulnerable rings are useful, but not required.
Supplies: Soul Crystals, SP regen potions.
Tips: Positioning and timing are key when it comes to the position of your two supporting characters, your tank, and the boss. Emi and Wiz need to be close enough to be able to cast Invulnerable upon your tank without needing to move closer when casting, yet far enough away from the tank to stay alive. Arguably the trickiest and most taxing role to perform, tanks are always in demand.
Whole Cancel (WC)
As vitally important as the tank itself, the WC team's role is to keep the boss debuffed at all times via using the Whole Cancellation skill. As long as a target is WC'ed, it cannot use any skills. Skill usage by the boss often spells certain death for the tank's team.
Characters: Emilia, ETS, M'Boma, Stock Wizard
Stances: Darkness, and Incantation.
Gear: Gear isn't important for this team, the only item you need is a rod or staff for each character so they can use their appropriate stance. What is necessary, however, is Whole Cancellation rings. At minimum three is required on a team, however timing is very tricky and there is no room for mishaps. To be safe, have six rings - two for each WCer.
Supplies: Soul Crystals
Tips: Lv 11 or better Darkness is required in order to land Whole Cancellation 100% of the time. This team is about timing. Again, positioning and communication with the tank is key when engaging a boss. Having Emilia or ETS along who can res and WC both is also very useful. However - all three characters must be able to WC and Invul.
DPS
While the Tank is taking all the potential damage, and the WC team is ensuring the boss doesn't pull any sudden tricks on the Tank, it's the DPS who gather and are responsible for killing the boss as quickly as possible. Arguably the easiest job there is within a raid, it can also be the most gear intensive, and expensive.
Characters: 1 ET Character, plus two other characters. Normally Magic x Magic or Magic x Ranged for Flare buff. Recommended characters to use are Calypso, Ralph, Elementalist, Helena, and Lionel. Other pistol/bayo users are not recommended due to inferior stance stats of Outrage and Flintlock compared to xbow users, however the new stance Unlimited Shot for Musketeers and Wanted Shot for Brunie and Garcia might negate this due to their improved stance bonuses.
Stances: Shadow Sting (Caly), Shining Sting (Ralph), Occultism and Augury (for buff) for Ele/Helena in addition to their single-loe stances (Rumor has this will be nerfed, however exactly when is not currently known), and Punisher (Lionel) are all recommended. Possible alternate stances maybe possibly be Unlimited Shot (Musk), and Wanted Shot (Brunie/Garcia).
Gear: Here, the mods and stats of the weapons used are everything. If you don't have it already, you'll want Lv 12 ET, with 32 or 33 AR weapons for the entire team. Weapons should consist of AR x Atk, AR x Racial, or Atk x Racial mods. Weapons should be +5 At minimum. Weapons that are +7 with three sockets (and socketed) is ideal, but not required. Wings, pets, and any other buffs that boost AR or Atk stats are highly recommended.
Supplies: Soul Crystals, Ancient Star Orbs, Pet (food), AM Boosts, Triumph Fillers, ammunition (metal bolts/bullets/elemental spheres/etc).
Tips: DPS' Scouts/Emilias/Vallerias are emergency back-up for the Tank and WC. Listen and pay close attention to the Tank and WC. If something is about to go wrong, they will know first. It is the DPS teams responsibility to assist the Tank and WC as needed. Usually this means ressing a member on either team, or using Refresh Mind on a WC character before disaster can strike. Just as the DPS and Support depend on the Tank and WC to keep them safe, the Tank and WC also depend on the DPS players to help when needed. DPS is one of the easiest roles and sometimes a 'catch-all category', as other roles tend to be more difficult to fill.
Support
This group is the simplest to gear and the easiest role to perform in a raid. Support is ideal for newcomers who want to raid but lack the knowledge how, or are unable to fill other raid squad roles. The Support's role is simply to keep the DPS players buffed at all times. However, don't the Supports' simple role fool you. Their useful buffs can make the difference between an easy, fun boss run or a long and difficult trial.
Characters: Grace, Lorch, Mia, Lisa, Angie, Vincent Rio, and Idge (not pictured) are all considered Support characters for either their buffs or debuffs that the can inflict upon the DPS or the boss.
Stances: Superior Blaster (Grace), Serenade and Prelude (Rio), Construction and Defensive Construction (Angie).
Gear: Items needed for Support characters vary about as much as their skills. Grace only needs a shotgun so she can access her Expert stance in order to use Hound Hound rings are favored, but not required. Lorch and Mia do not require any equipment whatsoever as their buffs are innate skills and not stance-dependent. Lisa and Idge/BSI are similar to Lorch and Mia in the fact their useful skill is innate, however Lisa/Idge need to have a high enough AR weapon equipped to be able to hit the boss as their skills inflict a debuff. Vincent Rio only requires a lute to access his stances, however Shining Ballad and a Prelude stance ring is highly recommended for Lv 13 SB.
Supplies: None
Tips: Each character has his or her own unique buff(s) and their game play will be dependent upon it. When playing Grace, Lorch, Rio, or Mia don't hesitated to ask for Refresh Mind when needed. When playing Grace, ask if everyone is ready before buffing hound as the buff is lost if a DPS has to change stance. Lisa and Idge need to carefully position themselves to attack the boss from behind to inflict their debuffs. Angie needs to bring sufficient toolboxes, and build Safety, Regeneration, and Construction wards that surround where the DPS has gathered.
Uncommon Roles: Cannon
Cannon isn't a role often seen outside of Colony Wars, and is rarely ever used. However there are times (rare and few as they are) where a colony-breaking character is required.
Characters: Either Claire or Jose are suitable for the job, as they are the only characters who can wield cannons in-game. It's been argued that one is superior to the other, but frankly they're so close in results it hardly matters.
Stances: Tested Burst (Claire), and Demolition Burst (Jose).
Gear: Arguably, the higher characters AR and the greater the Attack, the better the damage. However don't let mods alone fool you. The most essential asset to any colony breaker is Castle Crusher rings. A simple trump cannon with a pair of rings can easily out-damage a higher AR, better modded cannon without them.
Supplies: Lots and lots of Castle Crusher shells, which can be expensive.
Tips: It's recommended to have either two cannon chars and a character who can use refresh mind (Scout, Emilia/ETS, or Soho/STF), or one cannon with two RM characters. Alternately - depending upon the situation, one RM character + one cannnon + one dps type char can be acceptable, however not ideal. Also if you are in a map where it is possible to switch channels or go to barracks and return to the same place, you can switch channels/barracks and back as a way to reset the long cool downs more quickly.
Uncommon Roles: Kiting
Eek! It seems Alzeda is missing an image! D:
See under WC for an image of suitable characters, ty <3
If cannon is a rare bird, then kiting is practically the Dodo of GE raiding classes. In the past it was used in reference to killing Vergo way back in the day, but even so with the advent of certain Viron bosses, this class is still used today. The Kiter's role is similar to the tank. It's job is to gain the boss's attention and make it chase them while flying in a large circle around the DPS and Support teams.
Characters: Any wiz-type character capable of flying can perform this role. Incantation users are preferred (Wiz, Emilia, ETS, and Reckless Emilia), and ressing characters above that. (Emilia/ETS)
Gear: Here speed is the name of the game. Armor doesn't matter as much, but it can help. Here movement speed is more important than DR or defense. Wear Assassin Boots, armor with speeds mods/sockets. Gear that improves total SP are also useful, but secondary to movement speed.
Supplies: Boost Potion, Hermes Potion, Mithridart, Red Lollipop and any other item that increases movement speed in one way or another. It isn't necessary to possess all of these items, but having several (especially red lollipops) can be very beneficial. Also bring soul Crystals, and lots of sp pots.
Tips: Kiting is only used in rare circumstances where the boss is too strong to be tanked by any one (or sometimes two) teams, or other factors greatly disrupt normal tanking tactics. Not all speed-type potions are required. Play around with some, and find combination is needed to stay just ahead of the boss. You don't need to be going so fast as that you leave the boss in the dust, but fast enough so it doesn't catch you. Self buffing invulnerable is not required, however very useful when initiating.
- - - - -
This concludes the end of my introductory guide, however it will be expanded upon as time allows. Stick around for more in-depth how-to guides that will delve a little more in-depthly how these roles are done - Tanking and WC in particular. I hope this guide was useful and answered any questions you had, however if there are additional questions, or perhaps I've missed something, feel free to leave a comment and I will address the issue as soon as possible. ^^
Also a big thank-you to P.Luchon for helping me get the screens done in time. ^^
More to come..
~Alze
December 31, 2012
New Server, New Year
New Transfer, new host, new content, new opportunities, new characters..
So much new stuff!
New blog too, well, sort of. TAE is undergoing a major revamp in light of a contest ongoing in T3Fun's new forums (See Event 2). There are a number of ideas I've had floating around in my mind for months now, and this has been the final prod of opportunity to get them into motion. The overall look and theme of TAE won't change much, however the content and where it's seen will. The side bars will be completely revamped, and a lot of the current content taken out. Instead of a mass of family-specific information (ie: my hoard of characters) there'll be links instead.
The body of the blog will remain much the same, as posts on Family progress and game-specific guides will both be listed together, however a small mini-directory off to the right should help visitors in finding precisely what they're looking for. There will be a guide or two popping up in the next week, along with some pages to cater information specifically for the Castilla Server.
This isn't a terribly long post, as you can see. ^^;; It's no-where near my usual lengthy rambles (and much more upbeat than my last one), but sometimes something more 'bite-sized' is okay too.
Happy New Year everyone, and I'll see you next year!
~Alze
So much new stuff!
New blog too, well, sort of. TAE is undergoing a major revamp in light of a contest ongoing in T3Fun's new forums (See Event 2). There are a number of ideas I've had floating around in my mind for months now, and this has been the final prod of opportunity to get them into motion. The overall look and theme of TAE won't change much, however the content and where it's seen will. The side bars will be completely revamped, and a lot of the current content taken out. Instead of a mass of family-specific information (ie: my hoard of characters) there'll be links instead.
The body of the blog will remain much the same, as posts on Family progress and game-specific guides will both be listed together, however a small mini-directory off to the right should help visitors in finding precisely what they're looking for. There will be a guide or two popping up in the next week, along with some pages to cater information specifically for the Castilla Server.
This isn't a terribly long post, as you can see. ^^;; It's no-where near my usual lengthy rambles (and much more upbeat than my last one), but sometimes something more 'bite-sized' is okay too.
Happy New Year everyone, and I'll see you next year!
~Alze
December 30, 2012
That Restless Feeling: A Final Update
So pretty much all the events on the Sword 2 servers are drawing to a close. Things a finally winding down, the drama is slowly coming to an end. It's the final tune before the curtain call. Never has it been so quiet, silent, anxious. I'm not so sure if this is the quiet after a storm, or the silent brew right before one. It's right in the middle between closing the G1 chapter of drama, and opening a new one in T3. Honestly it's a bit fitting this should happen so freshly within the New Year..
..and I just can't shake that restless feeling.
I keep feeling like there is more to be done, something to do. The thought of leaving Orpesia - no longer being Orpesian - becoming Castillian (Castillan? Do we even have a word for ourselves yet?) is.. quite a notion to get used to. True this is all something we knew would happen, and was going to happen, for months now. But the fact that it is going to happen, and very soon, is.. well.. a bit shocking.
Perhaps I'm overly sentimental, but I get attached to these sort of things. After being within Orpesia for nearly five years (holy buckets that's a long time..) it kind of grows on you. The 'Drama' server, the history, the politics, the clans.. after playing so long it kind of 'becomes a part of you'. Your in-game identity, who you are. It separates us from the Bristians, and Illierians (Sorry, I have no idea how to put it ^^; - What DO Illier players call themselves?). It makes us unique within the player community. Now all three servers will be merging into one, Castilla. This sort of nerves reminds me of when xpvp was going to be introduced, but bigger. Much, much bigger.
I could launch into a lengthy debate, but I'll resist. It can be summed up as merely the consideration that each server is used to having only a select population being geared, and having access to certain raids exclusive to their own social and political class. Each server has at least a group accustomed to this. Now they'll all have to compete/share for the same amount of resources - and find a new 'pecking order' (if you will) amidst themselves with triple the competition. (Three, as in competition from their own server, and two others from the other two servers respectively). It's like tossing spiders into a jar to see which ones will come out on top. (Someone's cringing at me now xD). Gross or not though, it's a fitting comparison.
All that a side though, it's been one hell of a ride these last several months. Over two major events (and one minor), and several month's time of near-perpetual farming. This is what has been resulted to the Family in the end:
Unfortunately, I did miss recording some things, but nothing of much importance. This also included approximately 1992 Elite Treasure Chests, and approximately 6.6-6.7k Alphabet Boxes farmed over a span of 70 days for an average of 93 boxes per day. Honestly.. that math sounds a little weird to me, a bit high, but meh, this is just the tallies, not fact checking.
..and I just can't shake that restless feeling.
I keep feeling like there is more to be done, something to do. The thought of leaving Orpesia - no longer being Orpesian - becoming Castillian (Castillan? Do we even have a word for ourselves yet?) is.. quite a notion to get used to. True this is all something we knew would happen, and was going to happen, for months now. But the fact that it is going to happen, and very soon, is.. well.. a bit shocking.
Perhaps I'm overly sentimental, but I get attached to these sort of things. After being within Orpesia for nearly five years (holy buckets that's a long time..) it kind of grows on you. The 'Drama' server, the history, the politics, the clans.. after playing so long it kind of 'becomes a part of you'. Your in-game identity, who you are. It separates us from the Bristians, and Illierians (Sorry, I have no idea how to put it ^^; - What DO Illier players call themselves?). It makes us unique within the player community. Now all three servers will be merging into one, Castilla. This sort of nerves reminds me of when xpvp was going to be introduced, but bigger. Much, much bigger.
I could launch into a lengthy debate, but I'll resist. It can be summed up as merely the consideration that each server is used to having only a select population being geared, and having access to certain raids exclusive to their own social and political class. Each server has at least a group accustomed to this. Now they'll all have to compete/share for the same amount of resources - and find a new 'pecking order' (if you will) amidst themselves with triple the competition. (Three, as in competition from their own server, and two others from the other two servers respectively). It's like tossing spiders into a jar to see which ones will come out on top. (Someone's cringing at me now xD). Gross or not though, it's a fitting comparison.
- - - - -
All that a side though, it's been one hell of a ride these last several months. Over two major events (and one minor), and several month's time of near-perpetual farming. This is what has been resulted to the Family in the end:
Veronif/Cruz Event:
I must say, as a disclaimer, most of those cards were used Experting my hoard of characters. Same goes for the Soul Crystals (only a fraction of that original amount remains.. somehow) and all of that pet food is long gone. Though note that was all collected (and collectively used) over an entire month, however it has been a near solid two months since this event has ended.
Alphabet Event:
Unfortunately, I did miss recording some things, but nothing of much importance. This also included approximately 1992 Elite Treasure Chests, and approximately 6.6-6.7k Alphabet Boxes farmed over a span of 70 days for an average of 93 boxes per day. Honestly.. that math sounds a little weird to me, a bit high, but meh, this is just the tallies, not fact checking.
Christmas Event:
This event I *really* held off on pursuing especially in light of the fact that Ordinary Boxes weren't dropping the proper items, and frankly after three months of farming, I didn't want to look at another afk team ever again. These are the results of opening approximately 44 boxes - most of them Fancy boxes. I turned in 1670 tokens, which could be farmed in about a day and a half in places like Skele AA/SA. My MEP had run out by that point, however, and my desire to 'farm moar' had fled long ago.
All in all, I finally feel sufficient in the amount of weapons I have (albeit nearly all need to be chipped). There are enough wings to keep a team equipped constantly for a solid two years. Enough Caeb Passes to live amid the vesps an entire year. 10hr pots to stay buffed for 250 days. 1hr pots to stay buffed 11 days. And Triumph fillers for a solid day and some change. I really, truly honestly do not know how I'll use these up.
This entire year I have been able to progress considerably, both in gear and game play. I must say, it's been quite a ride. Until next year, Orpesia. We'll see you in Castilla.
Exceedingly,
~Alze
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