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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen |OT| deep down darkness

FINALLY got this today. I'm never pre-ordering anything from Amazon again... over a week late!

Installing it now, but I think I'll only start playing it on Monday since I'll be away for the weekend... although I could play a few hours today...
 

maomaoIYP

Member
Questions

1. How do you determine how good a shield is, defense-wise? It only lists strength and magick as stats (are those the determining characteristics?)

2. Is Magick an attack stat for a physical melee weapon? I have an enchanted weapon I found with a very high magick stat, but I can't use it yet to test out myself.

3. Any tips for building a good Sorcerer character? I've heard it's good to equip at least one low level spell so they can cast fast. My main pawn (Sorc) is level 30, check her out if you want (GT: MouseOfTheField), I've added that stuff to the spreadsheet too.

4. Do the anodyne spells only target single people?

1. No. If it sells for more money, it's a better shield; see discussion a few posts down.

2. Yes and no. If your weapon doesn't have an innate magick element the magick stat does not count. Also when getting enchanted I believe the added damage comes from the enchanter's magick stat, not your own.

3. Sorcs in vanilla are incredibly powerful, and the only creature it cannot kill in a reasonable time is the metal golem (requires exequy). I like a sorc that covers most elements so I pick: bolide, gicel, levin, voidspell, holy boon and the last slot can be anything you like. Bolide covers a very large area while gicel is locked on, piecing and hits multiple times. Maelstrom is excellent fun is vanilla, and I don't bother with debilitation spells. The best attack the sorc has is not an actual spell, it's holy boon self enchantment with focused bolt. It's homing, piecing, and hits multiple times. Also, when there are 2 sorcs in a party, they can do spell synchrony, which means the sorc which casts the same spell later will carry on at the point the 1st sorc is at. Look for the ring around them which pops out, you have to be in the ring for spell synchrony to activate. Lastly, when casting spells, click LS to free aim (or self enchant) or click RS to lock on to a specific part.

4. What Sectus said.
 

DC1

Member
How the fuck are you supposed to clear the room with two chained-up gorecyclops and human-like mages who cast magic that almost insta-kill you? :(
From the top. Instead of going down stairs into the hall, take the left exit to go up stairs and attack everyone from above. Be sure to continue to call your pawns back to your location.. or they will run back down stairs to fight to their doom.
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
Okay here is an interesting pairs of questions about Mystick Knights:

Greater Cannon is a spell but since it is attached to my sword / mace does it take its damage off strength? My assumption was all MK abilities except for those on the staff are augmented by strength or by both of the stats.

Also does the Magickal shield contribute its stats to enchanting weapons? If so which ones? I always thought it was the Magick Stat that boosted things like Holy Riposte and Holy Trance but after drinking a strength potion and using holy riposte on an enemy it looked like it did more damage than the previous riposte...I think.

Or are the Magickal Shield's stats purely only for defense reasons?
 

Skilletor

Member
Ricochet Hunter is GLORIOUS, the sound effect used is absolute perfection. I actually started REALLY loving the original DD when I first used that skill.

I can't wait to get the ring that gives LVL3 for some of these skills!

Wait? What?

WHAT?

THIS EXISTS?
 

GorillaJu

Member
Okay here is an interesting pairs of questions about Mystick Knights:

Greater Cannon is a spell but since it is attached to my sword / mace does it take its damage off strength? My assumption was all MK abilities except for those on the staff are augmented by strength or by both of the stats.

Also does the Magickal shield contribute its stats to enchanting weapons? If so which ones? I always thought it was the Magick Stat that boosted things like Holy Riposte and Holy Trance but after drinking a strength potion and using holy riposte on an enemy it looked like it did more damage than the previous riposte...I think.

Or are the Magickal Shield's stats purely only for defense reasons?

For Cannon, I believe it adds your STR and magic together. I'm not positive, but that seems to be the case.

If I use Demon's Periapt (+Mag Atk Tool item), the damage increases significantly. However, if I use a weapon with low Atk, it will do less damage than a weapon with high Atk. This leads me to believe that both are accounted for in some way.

When you use a weapon enchant of any kind, your character's Mag Atk stat is taken into account, so you want to have both high Atk and high Mag Atk to be most effective.

The best weapon in the game is Devilsbane, which is 1800 Atk at its gold-forged level. A holy-enchanted Cannon with Devilsbane after popping 4 Demon's Periapts will do more than 1 of the Daimon's lifebars per swing. I imagine adding Conqueror's Periapts would make it even crazier. The real shame is that it cannot be upgrade to level 3 through a ring, that I know of. I guess that'd just be broken. Still, you really need Wyrmking's Ring as a Mystic Knight anyway, since the cast time on some of their spells is out of control.

--

I am constantly surprised that I haven't yet seen all of the Novelty Lvl 3 items. Just now I got Opportunism, which is a Secret Augment that increases your strength when you're clinging to enemies. Along with Adhesion (makes you harder to knock off), and Thousand Kisses (upgraded Hundred Kisses through a ring), you can do fucking stupid damage. My strider pawn just chopped up the Daimon's head in a few seconds flat. I just sat there and watched as she outpaced my Ninefold Arrow for damage.
KuGsj.gif


Wait? What?

WHAT?

THIS EXISTS?

Yeah. Some skills can be upgraded to a third level. For example, Strider's Ring can upgrade Cloudburst Volley, Stepping Stone or Skull Splitter. Strider's Band will upgrade any two of those skills.

I got ahold of a Magick Archer's band, which upgraded Sixfold Bolt to Ninefold, and Explosive Rivet to Explosive Volley. It really changes everything.

anybody lvl 100+ need their pawn hired PS3? heading out in a bit.

Sure. Add me: wild_whiskey
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
When you use a weapon enchant of any kind, your character's Mag Atk stat is taken into account, so you want to have both high Atk and high Mag Atk to be most effective.

The best weapon in the game is Devilsbane, which is 1800 Atk at its gold-forged level. A holy-enchanted Cannon with Devilsbane after popping 4 Demon's Periapts will do more than 1 of the Daimon's lifebars per swing. I imagine adding Conqueror's Periapts would make it even crazier. The real shame is that it cannot be upgrade to level 3 through a ring, that I know of. I guess that'd just be broken. Still, you really need Wyrmking's Ring as a Mystic Knight anyway, since the cast time on some of their spells is out of control.

Aww I was afraid of that regarding enchantment because most of the really good magick shields look like total butt compared to the slim design of the Blue Kite Shield which is not very good haha.

Yeah MK is probably my favorite Vocation to play if only because of Great Cannon x3 (thank god for the wyrmking ring) while holy enchanted + full moon slash. I fear for anything on the other end of that onslaught. Especially because as soon as the slash connects the FPS drop due to the sheer amount of projectiles is hilarious. It's a mini nuclear bomb, and the fastest way to kill the Ur Dragon's wing tip weak spots in offline mode. Speaking of which I didn't check but does the Ur Dragon respawn in offline mode right after you rest or 21 days later like the Wyvern?

Also these Holy Cuisses STILL HAVE NOT DROPPED FROM these chests, I really want them they look so cool!
 

GorillaJu

Member
Morsel don't you have like 9 gazillion RC by now? :p

I'm going for ranking, broseph!

already had you.

Is your pawn Saskia, per chance?

Aww I was afraid of that regarding enchantment because most of the really good magick shields look like total butt compared to the slim design of the Blue Kite Shield which is not very good haha.

Yeah MK is probably my favorite Vocation to play if only because of Great Cannon x3 (thank god for the wyrmking ring) while holy enchanted + full moon slash. I fear for anything on the other end of that onslaught. Especially because as soon as the slash connects the FPS drop due to the sheer amount of projectiles is hilarious. It's a mini nuclear bomb, and the fastest way to kill the Ur Dragon's wing tip weak spots in offline mode. Speaking of which I didn't check but does the Ur Dragon respawn in offline mode right after you rest or 21 days later like the Wyvern?

Also these Holy Cuisses will NOT APPEAR I really want them they look so cool!

Ur Dragon spawns Immediately after.

Holy Cuisses are cool, used them until BBI armor got too good not to use.
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
Holy Cuisses are cool, used them until BBI armor got too good not to use.

Armor for me is mainly for show right now, I haven't taken off this eye patch since I bought it. I actually like to see my face!

I'm trying to do

Ascalon + Blue Kite Shield

eye patch
divine surcoat
scarlet cloak or tattered once if DF it
holy cussies + silver hosen
and either shadow gauntlets or chimeric half plate gauntlets

I still need to find a good clothing chest, I might just do the gambeson.

Hopefully that will look paladin enough.
 

I'm an expert

Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
If anyone's in their mid 20's, add me! (worldrevolution) ..I changed my pawn's hair to blonde. Surely she will be..of service to you.
 
Does anyone else feel wasteful if they don't change vocation immediately after reaching max rank in one? I just can't justify continuing to kill enemies at max rank vocation when I could be gaining rank in another one...

I did the same thing when I played the original DD and ended up maxing every vocation on both my pawn and arisen. I don't really care if it screws with my base stats a bit, I like having the luxury of being able to choose any vocation I want and having all their max skills available to me.
 
Death disappeared. Guess I will have to sleep a few times for it to reappear.

I'm going for ranking, broseph!


Is your pawn Saskia, per chance?



Ur Dragon spawns Immediately after.

Holy Cuisses are cool, used them until BBI armor got too good not to use.

Saskia is my pawn. :p
 
Does anyone else feel wasteful if they don't change vocation immediately after reaching max rank in one? I just can't justify continuing to kill enemies at max rank vocation when I could be gaining rank in another one...

I did the same thing when I played the original DD and ended up maxing every vocation on both my pawn and arisen. I don't really care if it screws with my base stats a bit, I like having the luxury of being able to choose any vocation I want and having all their max skills available to me.

i did the same on my characters. i only skipped mage and sorc.
 

Raven77

Member
I'm new to this game and so far (7 hours in) LOVING it. I do have a few questions though:

1. Can someone steal my pawns equipment when he is being "rented out"? What happens if someone tries to unequip him? Alternatively, what does my pawn bring over from being rented out? If someone gives him a nice weapon while using him, does he keep it?

2. My main pawn is lvl 16, my friend used him and said he was only lvl 9, when someone uses your pawn on your friend list, do they adjust their level down?

3. I can't get my NON main pawns to use things to restore health, even when they have it on them. Any way to make them do this?

4. I am only at the part where you run from the tentacles in the Everfall, any tips for me at this point in the adventure?


Thanks in advance.
 

I'm an expert

Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
Does anyone else feel wasteful if they don't change vocation immediately after reaching max rank in one? I just can't justify continuing to kill enemies at max rank vocation when I could be gaining rank in another one...

I did the same thing when I played the original DD and ended up maxing every vocation on both my pawn and arisen. I don't really care if it screws with my base stats a bit, I like having the luxury of being able to choose any vocation I want and having all their max skills available to me.

I'm honestly surprised how easy it is to level/rank in this game. I'm probably 10% into the game in terms of content but already have almost half the classes at max. I have a feeling I'll switch around as well just to experiment and see which class I do like best.


I'm new to this game and so far (7 hours in) LOVING it. I do have a few questions though:

4. I am only at the part where you run from the tentacles in the Everfall, any tips for me at this point in the adventure?


Thanks in advance.

I'm pretty much in the same spot and let me say..this is the part I felt really overwhelmed. There's a ton of board quests, side quests, escort quests, and in general a shit ton of unexplored places that you can technically can go to. This game feels like an open world game to me..I've put the duke off for hours now. Fuck him. I got harpies to kill. I'd say just take your time and really explore the Soren, it's effing huge and has a ton of little secrets.

What classes should I play for augements/stats that will better build my Ranger?

In terms of augments there's a few from fighter/warrior/assassin you want but nothing insanely crucial. My ranger's a mix of fighter/strider augments right now. In terms of skills, other than a few dagger skills, the ranger bow skills are supreme and most of the core overlap.
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
I'm new to this game and so far (7 hours in) LOVING it. I do have a few questions though:

1. Can someone steal my pawns equipment when he is being "rented out"? What happens if someone tries to unequip him? Alternatively, what does my pawn bring over from being rented out? If someone gives him a nice weapon while using him, does he keep it?

2. My main pawn is lvl 16, my friend used him and said he was only lvl 9, when someone uses your pawn on your friend list, do they adjust their level down?

3. I can't get my NON main pawns to use things to restore health, even when they have it on them. Any way to make them do this?

4. I am only at the part where you run from the tentacles in the Everfall, any tips for me at this point in the adventure?


Thanks in advance.

1. Nope if they remove the equipment from your pawn it goes straight back to your stockpile or your inventory one or the other I can never remember which.

2. No they don't but a pawn doesn't get updated in the rift till you rest at an inn! They also have to release your pawn and rehire it to be at the newer level

3. Ummmm I don't know

4.Not really just be careful about progressing the main quest while you have incomplete side quests (notice board quests that are just kill X of Y or find X of Y never fail regardless of progression the only ones you have to be careful with are the escort ones, the ones that will fail are the side quests you get from other characters or from events), you're about 30% done with the main quest I wanna say.
 

Dawg

Member
So...

Is this expansion is a lot harder than the original game? Also, can anyone confirm you can get trophies from the original list easier with the expansion? I still need 350 armor/weapons and 50 notice board quests

And is Mystic Knight a viable class for the new content?

pls respond
 

GorillaJu

Member
Death disappeared. Guess I will have to sleep a few times for it to reappear.



Saskia is my pawn. :p

Ah, okay :) Not sure who's is who. Saskia is pretty strong. Haven't hired her yet though, been meaning to, I just have a trio I really like at the moment.

pls respond

Not sure about trophies. Expansion is much more challenging and frustrating at points. Mystic Knight is very viable.
 

DC1

Member
Does anyone have 4 war bugle horns to spare? I need 50 and I only have 46 and I've had this quest logged for so long it's started to bug my OCD that I'm not diagnosed with.

my gamertag and info and pawn information is listed in the google doc: thanks. I hope there is a way to send all 4 at once instead of having to hire and rehire my pawn 4 times to send each bugle horn as a gift...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhmZYod-EUivdFJwRHJwenJzTVVnMkU2WDVVTWQyS3c#gid=0

You're do close. Just have the cat copy/counterfeit them.
 

Raven77

Member
Thanks for the answers. One last question:

How are you supposed to tell if an enemy is too hard for you? I ran into some wolves that looked identical to the other wolves I'd been roasting and instead these wolves used me as their play thing and I died quickly.

Is there a way to show enemy level or ranking before you unknowingly get in over your head???
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
Thanks for the answers. One last question:

How are you supposed to tell if an enemy is too hard for you? I ran into some wolves that looked identical to the other wolves I'd been roasting and instead these wolves used me as their play thing and I died quickly.

Is there a way to show enemy level or ranking before you unknowingly get in over your head???

Naw there really isn't a way to tell, you can usually beat everything if you know their elemental weakness or in the case of big things climb up to their weakspot. If you hit a cyclops in most places except their upper back / belly / eye you will do zero damage, same with a chimera and hitting any of the 3 heads specifically the goat head.

You are probably fighting the white dire wolves since you're still early on instead of regular ones. You can usually avoid death from these things by keep your gear up to date by looking for upgrades as they become available. Gear is more important than levels in this game.
 

Kyoufu

Member
Maybe my experience differs to others, but I've never ran into an enemy "too hard" for me.

I don't know how Capcom did it, but anything and everything that I encountered was doable.
 

Raven77

Member
Thanks again.

Also, I ended up fighting the Cyclops or Ogre or whatever it was in Everfall. Got around 5500 xp for it. Was I not supposed to fight this thing? I think I was about lvl 13-14 at the time. I got no items or anything for it unfortunately.
 
I remember running into a drake at level 18 as a fighter...

I was definitely in over my head.
Thanks again.

Also, I ended up fighting the Cyclops or Ogre or whatever it was in Everfall. Got around 5500 xp for it. Was I not supposed to fight this thing? I think I was about lvl 13-14 at the time. I got no items or anything for it unfortunately.
thats good. he's kind of there as a challenge. There is a way around to bypass him for people not quite ready for ogres yet
 
I'm level 25 now, but I still haven't changed vocations. I kind of don't have the itch yet and feel like I level too fast as it is. Maybe that wall will come soon enough, but for now I might just have to stick to Fighter.
 

I'm an expert

Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
Thanks again.

Also, I ended up fighting the Cyclops or Ogre or whatever it was in Everfall. Got around 5500 xp for it. Was I not supposed to fight this thing? I think I was about lvl 13-14 at the time. I got no items or anything for it unfortunately.

This is the first thing I ran up against in the game that I thought..wtf? I was barely doing damage to it but it wasn't exactly killing me either. Was like a 5 minute fight. I was level 20 btw.
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
Maybe my experience differs to others, but I've never ran into an enemy "too hard" for me.

I don't know how Capcom did it, but anything and everything that I encountered was doable.

The only time I ever said "Oh shit I don't think I am supposed to be here" was when I stumbled into the drake at devil fire grove when the best weapon I had available to me at the time was Eden's Warden I think. I managed to take off 2 life bars of it but then it did that scream that instagibs your pawns and then did a breath at one shot me.
 

Raven77

Member
I'm playing a mage and honestly I was getting destroyed on tougher enemies like the ogre and even the tougher skeletons until I realized I could "charge up" my fire ball spell and send 4-5 of them out at one time by holding down the attack button.

Has made a world of difference.
 

Kyoufu

Member
The only time I ever said "Oh shit I don't think I am supposed to be here" was when I stumbled into the drake at devil fire grove when the best weapon I had available to me at the time was Eden's Warden I think. I managed to take off 2 life bars of it because it did that scream that instagibs your pawns and then did a breath at one shot me.

You know what I did? I stood behind a tree and just casted Bolide over and over again.
KuGsj.gif
 

Sanctuary

Member
The real shame is that it cannot be upgrade to level 3 through a ring, that I know of. I guess that'd just be broken. Still, you really need Wyrmking's Ring as a Mystic Knight anyway, since the cast time on some of their spells is out of control.

You don't actually wear the Wyrmking ring.

1. Yes. I believe the value of the strength and magick determines how much of each type of attack you can block before getting your guard broken. You can block almost any attack, including almost all spells. A just frame block cancels out guard break and recoils the enemy.

Are you sure about that? If so, it seems like that's new news. It's been said this entire time that the attack and magic attack stat on shields is just for the damage you deal with shield attacks; which means that they are mostly pointless stats (it's even reflected on the secondary weapon damage on the stat screen). The stat that matters the most is the "improved blocking" or whatever that doesn't show up until at least the third star upgrade. Most everything else on a shield seems irrelevant unless you're a Mystic Knight that likes to use counters. I don't know if the Mystic Knight boons uses the shield, or the weapon magick attack though since the buff comes from using the shield.
 
Thanks again.

Also, I ended up fighting the Cyclops or Ogre or whatever it was in Everfall. Got around 5500 xp for it. Was I not supposed to fight this thing? I think I was about lvl 13-14 at the time. I got no items or anything for it unfortunately.

On hard mode that guy can and will one-shot you regardless of vocation, unless you're massively overleveled. Oddly enough he usually ends up committing suicide for most people by throwing himself off the ledge.
 

maomaoIYP

Member
Are you sure about that? If so, it seems like that's new news. It's been said this entire time that the attack and magic attack stat on shields is just for the damage you deal with shield attacks; which means that they are mostly pointless stats (it's even reflected on the secondary weapon damage on the stat screen). The stat that matters the most is the "improved blocking" or whatever that doesn't show up until at least the third star upgrade. Most everything else on a shield seems irrelevant unless you're a Mystic Knight that likes to use counters. I don't know if the Mystic Knight boons uses the shield, or the weapon magick attack though since the buff comes from using the shield.

If this was actually true, wouldn't the best shield block equally bad as the initial rusted shield, which gets guard crushed in a single attack at the beginning of the game? I find it very very hard to believe that the stats have no meaning whatsoever.

I suppose this would be easily testable with a shield that has a magick stat versus an equal level shield that doesn't, and try blocking magick attacks.
 

Dawg

Member
On hard mode that guy can and will one-shot you regardless of vocation, unless you're massively overleveled. Oddly enough he usually ends up committing suicide for most people by throwing himself off the ledge.

Indeed.

Funny thing happened when I fought him, I was still on him when he began to fall and I started panicking because I was certain I'd die from the fall. I didn't, because he fell on the ground (instant death), but apparently I survived because he broke my fall?
 

Sanctuary

Member
If this was actually true, wouldn't the best shield block equally bad as the initial rusted shield, which gets guard crushed in a single attack at the beginning of the game? I find it very very hard to believe that the stats have no meaning whatsoever.

I suppose this would be easily testable with a shield that has a magick stat versus an equal level shield that doesn't, and try blocking magick attacks.

No, as I said, there's a improvement to shields that appears after a three star rating. You don't even know if the shield has it until you upgrade it to that point. That "hidden buff" is for blocking and preventing stagger/knockback.

Stability is the stat I'm thinking of. You usually can't even see it.
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
So ferocity only affects basic attacks right? I guess that makes it kinda bleh but I figure it could be good for Warriors / MK since they don't have access to dire gouge or hundred kisses for breaking weakspots.

Unless it's a really pathetic boost in damage.
 

JudgeN

Member
Really glad I stuck with hard mode, power leveled to level 55 Mystic Knight on wraith skeletons and now I don't get one shot by damn bandit and shit. I can still die easy but at now I feel like I have a chance. Game is much more enjoyable now.

Where do I find good loot? Everfall? Or do just go into random dungeons?
 

maomaoIYP

Member
No, as I said, there's a improvement to shields that appears after a three star rating. You don't even know if the shield has it until you upgrade it to that point. That "hidden buff" is for blocking and preventing stagger/knockback.

Stability is the stat I'm thinking of. You usually can't even see it.

That would be easily testable with a rusted shield, let me do some tests.
If this was true, then there's no way anyone could actually tell which shield is better for blocking purposes. And there's no point to an attack stat for MK's shields.
 

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
That would be easily testable with a rusted shield, let me do some tests.
If this was true, then there's no way anyone could actually tell which shield is better for blocking purposes. And there's no point to an attack stat for MK's shields.

Don't the attack stats on MK shields modify trances, ripostes and holy furor? At least I thought this was the case. If it isn't then this would honestly be kind of great because all of the big shields look kind of awful and the Blue Kite Shield looks so great.

I'm sure that perfect blocks have to be modified by the shield some how.
 

Sanctuary

Member
That would be easily testable with a rusted shield, let me do some tests.
If this was true, then there's no way anyone could actually tell which shield is better for blocking purposes. And there's no point to an attack stat for MK's shields.

The shields seem to be rather linear for stability. The better the shield (other stats and cost), the higher the stability. Stability *supposedly* also has an effect on how much damage enemies take from ripostes.

http://valorphoenix.blogspot.com/2012/06/dragons-dogma-weapon-guide-zweihanders.html

It also looks like MK shields start out with a higher stability (as you would expect), but the best four non-magic and magick have the same stability. And as Spacegost said, the magick attack stat should be for offensive abilities, especially MK stuff. The only thing I'm not sure about is if that's the magick stat that's taken into account when using trances.
 

void666

Banned
I have to share what just happened.

So i was fighting inside some kind of catacombs. Down the hallway there was an ogre. We start fighting. We are doing little damage to him. I decide to crawl on his back, he rushes through the ledge and falls down. Me on his back screaming all the way. He hits the ground, dies and i level up. Wut?
 

Sanctuary

Member
I have to share what just happened.

So i was fighting inside some kind of catacombs. Down the hallway there was an ogre. We start fighting. We are doing little damage to him. I decide to crawl on his back, he rushes through the ledge and falls down. Me on his back screaming all the way. He hits the ground, dies and i level up. Wut?

The sight of women excites it. Unlike it's ancestor, which prefers something else.
 

Twinduct

Member
So quick question, should I leave BBI until NG+?
I'm almost halfway through the Royal hunt quest line (which I know leads to the final quest). Lvl39 atm.
 
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