As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
We're funding a new Acquisitions Incorporated series on Kickstarter right now! Check it out at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pennyarcade/acquisitions-incorporated-the-series-2

[Shin Megami Tensei/Persona]: the Strange Journey is underway. Suit up!

1161719212262

Posts

  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    They can say that all they want, but it's not SMT IV until it's got third person movement. This is a side story, far as I'm concerned. A really awesome old-school homage one, mind, but not a true successor.

    Needs more press turn, too.

    cj iwakura on
    y3H3Fa4.png
  • GilderGilder Aw snap Macaroni PartyRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    No matter how many times they try to sell me the "SJ is SMT4" horse, I'm not buying it.

    Gilder on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    From what I hear, SJ's just more of the same (mild spoiler)
    Law VS Chaos shtick.

    Not that surprising. IV needs to deliver on something mind-blowing, like literal war between the celestial armies.

    cj iwakura on
    y3H3Fa4.png
  • Zephyr_FateZephyr_Fate Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Considering Atlus has been playing it safe in regards to pushing the mold SMT-wise since Nocturne, I'm not going to hedge my bets just yet.

    Zephyr_Fate on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I bet they're just using easily developed games like SJ and DS to tide over the 'core' fanbase until Persona 5 is done, which is the big project they're putting everything into(and which will earn them massive bank).

    cj iwakura on
    y3H3Fa4.png
  • RainbowDespairRainbowDespair Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Persona PSP stat questions.

    I've been pumping points into Dexterity to make my main a gun toting maniac. I've got about 90 in Dex right now after equipment.

    1 - What's the limit that you can raise a single stat? Can equipment bonuses boost it past the limit?
    2 - After finishing up with Dex, is there anything else I can pump up to improve my gun damage?

    RainbowDespair on
  • PureauthorPureauthor Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Actually, given SJ's lacklustre sales in Japan (owing mostly to lousy shipment handlnigs), I think Atlus might indeed want to quietly rebrand SJ away from being a 'core' game.

    Pureauthor on
    SS FC: 1334 0950 5927
    Platinum FC: 2880 3245 5111
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I guess Japan didn't buy it either. (Zing)

    cj iwakura on
    y3H3Fa4.png
  • BlackjackBlackjack Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Persona PSP stat questions.

    I've been pumping points into Dexterity to make my main a gun toting maniac. I've got about 90 in Dex right now after equipment.

    1 - What's the limit that you can raise a single stat? Can equipment bonuses boost it past the limit?
    2 - After finishing up with Dex, is there anything else I can pump up to improve my gun damage?
    99 is the max, including equipment. You're probably good with Dex now (and you were right in pumping that), so you should move to Agility, and then Luck.

    Blackjack on
    camo_sig2.png

    3DS: 1607-3034-6970
  • JurgJurg In a TeacupRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Okay, the White Rider in Devil Summoner 2 is such bullshit.

    The flavor is cool. You are supposed to fear him, and the tax he demands is extraordinary.

    In gameplay, it's really dumb. There shouldn't be an arbitrary tax on my demons, the things I worked so hard to collect, the results of multiple fusions. And if you choose to fight (which I did, I'm not giving up Ippon Datara) it takes for-fucking-ever, since you need to hide your demons the whole time otherwise they are fucked. So you plink away with your sword or gun for like 45 minutes, healing whenever he does his unavoidable attack. A game called DEVIL SUMMONER should not have big fights without your demons. That isn't strategy, that's tedium. Maybe I could use magic demons, to keep them away, but no, everyone thinks it's a good idea to teleport right in his face before casting spells.

    I hate myself for beating him.

    Also, I know that he only appears because I my luck is low, but my luck is only low because I got ambushed and lost my luck locusts. Which brings up the question of how I go ambushed in the first place if I am supposed to be super lucky.

    Jurg on
    sig.gif
  • gilraingilrain Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    There is so much jargon and unfamiliar gameplay in this series, apparently! I read posts like the above, and... wow. I mean, that's what I want out of it, a new RPG experience, so good. It's a little intimidating, though.

    Anything I should read, as an introduction, before starting Persona PSP? Or does the game do a decent job easing you in? Is this one of those series that people play with GameFAQs open in another tab? :P

    gilrain on
  • elliotw2elliotw2 Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jurg wrote: »
    Okay, the White Rider in Devil Summoner 2 is such bullshit.

    The flavor is cool. You are supposed to fear him, and the tax he demands is extraordinary.

    In gameplay, it's really dumb. There shouldn't be an arbitrary tax on my demons, the things I worked so hard to collect, the results of multiple fusions. And if you choose to fight (which I did, I'm not giving up Ippon Datara) it takes for-fucking-ever, since you need to hide your demons the whole time otherwise they are fucked. So you plink away with your sword or gun for like 45 minutes, healing whenever he does his unavoidable attack. A game called DEVIL SUMMONER should not have big fights without your demons. That isn't strategy, that's tedium. Maybe I could use magic demons, to keep them away, but no, everyone thinks it's a good idea to teleport right in his face before casting spells.

    I hate myself for beating him.

    Also, I know that he only appears because I my luck is low, but my luck is only low because I got ambushed and lost my luck locusts. Which brings up the question of how I go ambushed in the first place if I am supposed to be super lucky.

    Wait, he can ask for your demons forever? All I ever got was wanting to kill them, requiring me to go revive them somewhere or use the magic of regenerating MP to use recarm.

    Also: when you use demons, have them "recalled" until you want them to attack on bosses. Saves a ton of headache

    elliotw2 on
    camo_sig2.pngXBL:Elliotw3|PSN:elliotw2
  • Zephyr_FateZephyr_Fate Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jurg wrote: »
    Okay, the White Rider in Devil Summoner 2 is such bullshit.

    The flavor is cool. You are supposed to fear him, and the tax he demands is extraordinary.

    In gameplay, it's really dumb. There shouldn't be an arbitrary tax on my demons, the things I worked so hard to collect, the results of multiple fusions. And if you choose to fight (which I did, I'm not giving up Ippon Datara) it takes for-fucking-ever, since you need to hide your demons the whole time otherwise they are fucked. So you plink away with your sword or gun for like 45 minutes, healing whenever he does his unavoidable attack. A game called DEVIL SUMMONER should not have big fights without your demons. That isn't strategy, that's tedium. Maybe I could use magic demons, to keep them away, but no, everyone thinks it's a good idea to teleport right in his face before casting spells.

    I hate myself for beating him.

    Also, I know that he only appears because I my luck is low, but my luck is only low because I got ambushed and lost my luck locusts. Which brings up the question of how I go ambushed in the first place if I am supposed to be super lucky.
    If you have Ippon-datara, you most likely have Lilim and Pabilsag, both of which make White Rider pretty damn easy. For his unavoidable attack, just hide your demons and Guard. No need to heal.

    Zephyr_Fate on
  • Robos A Go GoRobos A Go Go Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    How should I allot stat points in Devil Survivor? I usually like to pump my main's STR to the Max in these games, but I don't know if that's viable here or not.

    Robos A Go Go on
  • ElendilElendil Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    How should I allot stat points in Devil Survivor? I usually like to pump my main's STR to the Max in these games, but I don't know if that's viable here or not.
    Physical skills are kind of lame this time. Use one of the other characters for it and pump magic.

    Elendil on
  • BlackjackBlackjack Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    How should I allot stat points in Devil Survivor? I usually like to pump my main's STR to the Max in these games, but I don't know if that's viable here or not.
    Magic. A few points into Agility is nice for the [Element] Dance skills, which you can get early-ish and will serve you through the whole game.

    Blackjack on
    camo_sig2.png

    3DS: 1607-3034-6970
  • PhonehandPhonehand Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    so when can you stop doing social links in p4?
    I was told
    end of november but here i am midway through december. obviously you lose a few (justice, hierophant) so that was pretty obnoxious since i was on 9 with both of them.

    Phonehand on
    pmdunk.jpg
  • GilderGilder Aw snap Macaroni PartyRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Phonehand wrote: »
    so when can you stop doing social links in p4?
    I was told
    end of november but here i am midway through december. obviously you lose a few (justice, hierophant) so that was pretty obnoxious since i was on 9 with both of them.

    Well
    December is the last chance, and it's more that some links are more difficult to raise during that time than they're just gone. You only get to the 22nd or 23rd to finish the dungeon and still get the Christmas Eve event, and after that the links are done. So if you have any at 8 or 9 then focus on those now. Forget about the ones at 7 or lower, you're out of luck with them.

    Gilder on
  • JurgJurg In a TeacupRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    elliotw2 wrote: »
    Jurg wrote: »
    Okay, the White Rider in Devil Summoner 2 is such bullshit.

    The flavor is cool. You are supposed to fear him, and the tax he demands is extraordinary.

    In gameplay, it's really dumb. There shouldn't be an arbitrary tax on my demons, the things I worked so hard to collect, the results of multiple fusions. And if you choose to fight (which I did, I'm not giving up Ippon Datara) it takes for-fucking-ever, since you need to hide your demons the whole time otherwise they are fucked. So you plink away with your sword or gun for like 45 minutes, healing whenever he does his unavoidable attack. A game called DEVIL SUMMONER should not have big fights without your demons. That isn't strategy, that's tedium. Maybe I could use magic demons, to keep them away, but no, everyone thinks it's a good idea to teleport right in his face before casting spells.

    I hate myself for beating him.

    Also, I know that he only appears because I my luck is low, but my luck is only low because I got ambushed and lost my luck locusts. Which brings up the question of how I go ambushed in the first place if I am supposed to be super lucky.

    Wait, he can ask for your demons forever? All I ever got was wanting to kill them, requiring me to go revive them somewhere or use the magic of regenerating MP to use recarm.

    Also: when you use demons, have them "recalled" until you want them to attack on bosses. Saves a ton of headache

    What.

    It just reduces their HP to zero?

    ...

    Clearly, I misunderstood when he asked for THE LIFE OF my demon. I assumed they were gone for good.

    (By the way, even when guarding his attack took off half of my health. I was only level.. 27, I think?)

    Jurg on
    sig.gif
  • BlackjackBlackjack Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jurg wrote: »
    elliotw2 wrote: »
    Jurg wrote: »
    Okay, the White Rider in Devil Summoner 2 is such bullshit.

    The flavor is cool. You are supposed to fear him, and the tax he demands is extraordinary.

    In gameplay, it's really dumb. There shouldn't be an arbitrary tax on my demons, the things I worked so hard to collect, the results of multiple fusions. And if you choose to fight (which I did, I'm not giving up Ippon Datara) it takes for-fucking-ever, since you need to hide your demons the whole time otherwise they are fucked. So you plink away with your sword or gun for like 45 minutes, healing whenever he does his unavoidable attack. A game called DEVIL SUMMONER should not have big fights without your demons. That isn't strategy, that's tedium. Maybe I could use magic demons, to keep them away, but no, everyone thinks it's a good idea to teleport right in his face before casting spells.

    I hate myself for beating him.

    Also, I know that he only appears because I my luck is low, but my luck is only low because I got ambushed and lost my luck locusts. Which brings up the question of how I go ambushed in the first place if I am supposed to be super lucky.

    Wait, he can ask for your demons forever? All I ever got was wanting to kill them, requiring me to go revive them somewhere or use the magic of regenerating MP to use recarm.

    Also: when you use demons, have them "recalled" until you want them to attack on bosses. Saves a ton of headache

    What.

    It just reduces their HP to zero?

    ...

    Clearly, I misunderstood when he asked for THE LIFE OF my demon. I assumed they were gone for good.

    (By the way, even when guarding his attack took off half of my health. I was only level.. 27, I think?)
    That's because he was using Mudo, which...halves your HP. Pabilsag and Lilim are both immune/resistant to that and have ice skills which he's weak against.

    Blackjack on
    camo_sig2.png

    3DS: 1607-3034-6970
  • JurgJurg In a TeacupRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    No, no, Victory of Fire did about 150 damage to me when I was guarding, which is about half of my HP.

    Jurg on
    sig.gif
  • GilderGilder Aw snap Macaroni PartyRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Well he is like level 50. You aren't exactly supposed to beat him at that point. It just makes it much easier for a while if you do because then you can fuse him.

    Gilder on
  • JurgJurg In a TeacupRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I don't think I am going to fuse him. As badass as it would be, I don't want to ruin the challenge.

    Well, I feel foolish right about now! I really thought he took your demons forever. It wouldn't be unprecedented for the game, which has quests that cost demons.

    Jurg on
    sig.gif
  • Zephyr_FateZephyr_Fate Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    He's not super amazing as a summonable demon, but the Riders get some fantastic immunities as you climb up the hierarchy.

    Zephyr_Fate on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Imagine gave out a pretty nifty demon for their first anniversary. I logged on just to confirm it.
    20100116_0353_53.jpg

    Mudo skills, naturally.


    And no, I probably never will hit L39. Forget that.

    cj iwakura on
    y3H3Fa4.png
  • ExcalipoorExcalipoor Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hey y'all. Just started DDS1 (finally!). I know you should learn skills that cover your weaknesses, but what about stats? Serph just got his first level up; which ones should I focus on? I just tossed a point each in str, vit, and mag. When my buddies level, do their stats go up automatically?

    Also, am I gonna be sad when I finish this if I don't have DDS2 here waiting to go?

    Excalipoor on
  • WotanAnubisWotanAnubis Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Excalipoor wrote: »
    what about stats? Serph just got his first level up; which ones should I focus on? I just tossed a point each in str, vit, and mag. When my buddies level, do their stats go up automatically?
    For Serph, I focused on Magic and distributed everything else fairly evenly. It worked for me.

    For the other characters, they all develop on their own. You have no say in what they get during their level-ups.

    Also, am I gonna be sad when I finish this if I don't have DDS2 here waiting to go?
    That depends on how much you get invested in the story and characters. Because, if you do get invested, you'll probably want to play 2 to make sense out of what the fuck happened.

    WotanAnubis on
  • ExcalipoorExcalipoor Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Guess I'll start looking out for 2 then. I'm barely past the first real battle and am completely hooked on how deeply weird the world is.

    Excalipoor on
  • JONJONAUGJONJONAUG Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Excalipoor wrote: »
    Guess I'll start looking out for 2 then. I'm barely past the first real battle and am completely hooked on how deeply weird the world is.

    Without spoiling much: 1 ends on a huge hook for 2.

    My original plan on completing DDS1 was to take a break from JRPGs for a while (I went into it right after finishing Nocturne) and do something else. My new plan after finishing DDS1 was to pop in DDS2 and start playing it immediately. The last few parts to DDS1 are very well written and you'll probably be punching yourself if you don't have 2 ready to go.

    JONJONAUG on
  • Zephyr_FateZephyr_Fate Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Excalipoor wrote: »
    Hey y'all. Just started DDS1 (finally!). I know you should learn skills that cover your weaknesses, but what about stats? Serph just got his first level up; which ones should I focus on? I just tossed a point each in str, vit, and mag. When my buddies level, do their stats go up automatically?

    Also, am I gonna be sad when I finish this if I don't have DDS2 here waiting to go?

    Spread them evenly, upping Agility every five levels or so. That's basically how I did it. Upping Luck is your choice -- having less Luck is better if you're gonna tackle the superboss. Your comrades distribute their points on their own -- Argilla focuses on Mag, not much on Vit, Heat on Str and Vit, Gale is a jack-of-all-trades, and Cielo focuses on Mag and Agility.

    Zephyr_Fate on
  • MasterCylinderMasterCylinder Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Speaking of DDS1, I just started it a few days ago and was wondering if it's really as short as it seems like it will be? I just wrapped up Coordinate 136 at about 10 hours play time and it seems like things should be wrapped up in another 5 hours or so (crazy end of game plot twists excluded).

    MasterCylinder on
    sig.gif
    PSN: thpace | Steam: MasterCylinder
  • JONJONAUGJONJONAUG Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Excalipoor wrote: »
    Hey y'all. Just started DDS1 (finally!). I know you should learn skills that cover your weaknesses, but what about stats? Serph just got his first level up; which ones should I focus on? I just tossed a point each in str, vit, and mag. When my buddies level, do their stats go up automatically?

    Also, am I gonna be sad when I finish this if I don't have DDS2 here waiting to go?

    Spread them evenly, upping Agility every five levels or so. That's basically how I did it. Upping Luck is your choice -- having less Luck is better if you're gonna tackle the superboss. Your comrades distribute their points on their own -- Argilla focuses on Mag, not much on Vit, Heat on Str and Vit, Gale is a jack-of-all-trades, and Cielo focuses on Mag and Agility.

    He can't do it on his first playthrough anyway, so it doesn't matter.

    JONJONAUG on
  • WotanAnubisWotanAnubis Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Speaking of DDS1, I just started it a few days ago and was wondering if it's really as short as it seems like it will be? I just wrapped up Coordinate 136 at about 10 hours play time and it seems like things should be wrapped up in another 5 hours or so (crazy end of game plot twists excluded).
    It is pretty short, but it's not that short.

    I think you're about... halfway? Maybe? Not really sure.

    WotanAnubis on
  • BlackjackBlackjack Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Excalipoor wrote: »
    Hey y'all. Just started DDS1 (finally!). I know you should learn skills that cover your weaknesses, but what about stats? Serph just got his first level up; which ones should I focus on? I just tossed a point each in str, vit, and mag. When my buddies level, do their stats go up automatically?

    Also, am I gonna be sad when I finish this if I don't have DDS2 here waiting to go?
    Str, Vit, Mag is perfect for Serph in DDS1. Do that every level, you will be an unstoppable god. If you really want to specialize in Strength, do 2:1 Str:Vit every other level (the other being 1:1:1 Str:Vit:Mag of course), 2:1 Mag:Vit every level if you want to be magic focused, I guess.

    Agility and Luck, your first time through, are completely ignorable. Your accuracy won't really suffer, and the fact that you're taking more hits won't matter because you'll barely be taking any damage.

    Blackjack on
    camo_sig2.png

    3DS: 1607-3034-6970
  • ExcalipoorExcalipoor Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Is there a point to reverting to human form in battles? I didn't even notice the menu command for it until after I finished the Vanguard's base so...yeah.

    Also Press Turn >>> One More

    Excalipoor on
  • Chrono HelixChrono Helix Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Some enemies are weak to guns, but overall it's not really worth it.

    Chrono Helix on
  • Robos A Go GoRobos A Go Go Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Mostly there so it can be used by Confused characters

    Robos A Go Go on
  • gtrmpgtrmp Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Excalipoor wrote: »
    Is there a point to reverting to human form in battles? I didn't even notice the menu command for it until after I finished the Vanguard's base so...yeah.

    Some enemies are weak to guns, which is nice if the enemy isn't weak to any other spells you have equipped, and/or you're using a character whose gun attack can hit multiple enemies. Also, characters in human form are immune to Mudo spells (and possibly also Hama, IIRC).

    gtrmp on
  • ElendilElendil Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I think it's only Expel skills.

    Elendil on
  • ExcalipoorExcalipoor Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Another DDS mechanics question: when Serph levels up and gets a bonus stat point instead of HP/MP recovery, is that random or does it happen at certain intervals?

    I'm in the Mirabel Base, wondering when I'm gonna run into the equivalent of Matador/Sleeping Table/whatever. Things have been pretty easy so far.

    Story
    This is like an SMT-molested Reboot or something

    Excalipoor on
This discussion has been closed.