There are two types of gems - Boost and Assist. Each character has three open slots for gems, and can equip any combination of either type. Boost Gems are the backbone of the game, enabling you to customize a character with all kinds of additional powers and effects in five classes - Attack, Defense, Speed, Vitality and Cross Gauge acquisition. However, Boost Gems must be activated in each round by meeting certain criteria, and said criteria generally increase based upon the power level of the gem. There could also be drawbacks to compensate for the boost. For example:
Immense Power Lvl 1
Effect: +10% damage
Duration: 20 seconds
Activation: Land 5 normal moves
Immense Power Lvl 2
Effect: +20% damage
Duration: 15 seconds
Drawback: -10% speed
Activation: Land 10 normal moves
So, while the Level 2 gem (in this example) offers a bigger power boost, it requires a bit more work to activate, and also slows your character slightly. No gem is intended to be overpowered, and these are balanced through a combination of the benefit, activation condition, time the gem remains active, drawback and how many gem slots are required to equip.
-A level 1 gem generally has a 10% benefit to a stat category
-A level 2 gem generally has a 20% benefit to a stat category
-A level 3 gem generally has a 30 % benefit to a stat category
There are often multiple versions of a given gem, each with slightly different activation and duration properties. The goal is to find a gem with an activation condition that suits your style. If you're aggressive, an Immense Power gem that's triggered by landing attacks may be for you. If you'd prefer to get your attack boost another way, say by being hit or landing a launcher attack, there are gem variants for that strategy. Check the list near the bottom of the page for the full details of each.
Above: The GEM equip screen. Notice the list of Immense Power gems - each has slightly different nuances for different types of players
But you shouldn't just think on a gem by gem basis - consider your whole lineup and how each gem works with each other. Since effects stack, you could go for three similar gems to boost one stat to the max, or make a well-rounded loadout that buffs all areas. Obviously certain pairings work better with certain characters or styles, so that's yet another angle to approach the GEM system. An example:
Onslaught Lvl. 1
Effect: +10% Cross Gauge acquisition rate
Duration: 20 Seconds
Activation: Land 5 normal moves
Divine Speed Lvl. 1
Effect: +10% Speed increase
Duration: 20 Seconds
Activation: Land 5 normal moves
Immense Power Lvl. 1
Effect: +10% damage increase
Duration: 20 seconds
Activation: Land 3 special moves
In this case, once you land 5 normal moves (which should be prettttty easy) you instantly trigger two gems at once, boosting speed and Cross Gauge generation. While you're going for that, land 3 special moves and you can add damage to your list of buffs, each lasting for 20 seconds. Time it right and that could be a very beneficial 20 seconds...
Above: Ryu equipping Life Force and Harmonize, two vitality-minded Boost Gems. Health restores by a set amount rather than a percentage, as is the case with Attack/Defense/Speed boosts
-ASSIST GEMS-
Unlike Boost Gems, Assists are always active and benefit you as a player, not necessarily the characters you choose. They affect the difficulty of your inputs, or enable you to auto block or escape from throws easier. Now, while these sound like game-breaking boons, they actually come with a hefty price, be it a 10% drop in attack power or chunks of the Cross Gauge. Examples:
Easy Input
Effect: Special moves become easier to do
Drawback: Attack decreases 10% in battle
Auto Block
Effect: Block attacks automatically
Drawback: Cross Gauge decreases by 1 block when activated
In short, Auto Block is not a magic win button. Each time you fail to block an attack, you burn off a section of your meter. No meter? No Auto Block. While this could help a new player survive a few clumsy block gaffs, a high-level player may opt to choose a gem that provides a specific boost instead of the meter-leeching Auto Block. As for Easy Input, it's akin to Simple mode in Marvel vs Capcom 3 - fireballs and other special moves are easier to do, but you sacrifice other areas as a trade.
Now, for the full list of gems standard in Street Fighter X Tekken:
Quick note about Iron Wall vs Fortitude - the former reduces damage based on a percentage, while the latter is a set value. So, if you take 100 points of damage while an Iron Wall Lvl 1 gem is active with a 10% boost in defense, you'll take just 90 points; conversely, if you have Fortitude active and eat 100 points of damage, you'll take zero.
In addition to these gems, there are also various pre-order packs available. These packs include EX Gems, which tend to double up the bonuses but take up two slots in your gem loadout. As with the disc gems, these all vary with different benefit, activation and duration conditions, so some are inherently more valuable to certain players. Check our official site for pre-order details, including the whopping 27 gems you'll net if you pre-order the Special Edition. (Click each for larger version)
Above: GameStop offers the World Warrior Pack
Above: Amazon raises its defenses with the Iron Curtain Pack
Above: Best Buy joins the fray with the Lightning Legs Pack
Above: The Special Edition comes with its own bonus pack, King of Iron Fist
Above: Pre-order the Special Edition to get Iron Fist and Cross Arts - 27 gems total!
I know this is a lot to digest all at once, but once you sit down and start actually playing, the various benefits of the GEM system reveal themselves quite quickly. Think of it like chess - it's tough to concisely explain with text and images, but sit someone down in front of a board and you can explain the core concepts pretty fast.
For even more on the subject, we have "X The Line: Episode 4" that goes into great detail.
First one was Cool. Next one was Funny. This one was Sexy.
Next will be the 'Weird' one.
Nintendo Network ID: V-Faction | XBL: V Faction | Steam | 3DS: 3136 - 6603 - 1330 PokemonWhite Friend Code: 0046-2121-0723/White2 Friend Code: 0519-5126-2990
"Did ya hear the one about the mussel that wanted to purchase Valve? Seems like the bivalve had a juicy offer on the table but the company flat-out refused and decided to immediately clam up!"
"Trust us, they're totally legit and won't be a problem for competitive play. What? No, you can't disable them and they're always active in every game mode. You want to try the game out? Here are a bunch of public demos, none of which will include gems."
"Trust us, they're totally legit and won't be a problem for competitive play. What? No, you can't disable them and they're always active in every game mode. You want to try the game out? Here are a bunch of public demos, none of which will include gems."
Didn't Seth confirm that you can turn off gems entirely?
I couldn't help but notice the big where Lili focuses on Cammy's chest with apparent envy, and find it both humorous and inaccurate.
According to the Street Fighter boob chart (yes, apparently one exists), Cammy's supposed to be in the bottom tier of busts. Makes sense considering her petite height and weight, buttocks aside.
I've always found it irksome that Capcom seems incapable of keeping a consistent body type for their female characters.
"Trust us, they're totally legit and won't be a problem for competitive play. What? No, you can't disable them and they're always active in every game mode. You want to try the game out? Here are a bunch of public demos, none of which will include gems."
Didn't Seth confirm that you can turn off gems entirely?
IIRC he said you can simply opt not to choose any gems when they pop up. But they pop up in every mode, no matter what.
"Trust us, they're totally legit and won't be a problem for competitive play. What? No, you can't disable them and they're always active in every game mode. You want to try the game out? Here are a bunch of public demos, none of which will include gems."
Didn't Seth confirm that you can turn off gems entirely?
IIRC he said you can simply opt not to choose any gems when they pop up. But they pop up in every mode, no matter what.
You can play Street Fighter X Tekken without gems equipped. You simply choose characters and do not select any gems.
Yarp, seems you are correct. Tourney standard is gonna be no gems though, so there may be a surprising amount of people running without them.
I don't mind if people choose not to use gems, but the sheer volume of shitflinging and prequitting that I'm expecting to encounter online every time I activate them is going to make the game a little difficult to tolerate online. Even compared to other fighting games.
Posts
SteamID: Baroque And Roll
Then again, the endless parade of bitching about gems over at SRK also makes me want to play the game quite a bit.
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@TaramoorPlays
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like, to activate Fortitude lvl 2 in the standard gem, you have to activate Pandora. whereas with a preorder gem you only have to block 10 attacks?
That, to me, seems like the biggest sticking point.
SteamID: Baroque And Roll
Whatever. Just give me my characters and I'll still buy it.
Next will be the 'Weird' one.
Pokemon White Friend Code: 0046-2121-0723/White 2 Friend Code: 0519-5126-2990
"Did ya hear the one about the mussel that wanted to purchase Valve? Seems like the bivalve had a juicy offer on the table but the company flat-out refused and decided to immediately clam up!"
Half of my team is doooooooooooone
"Trust us, they're totally legit and won't be a problem for competitive play. What? No, you can't disable them and they're always active in every game mode. You want to try the game out? Here are a bunch of public demos, none of which will include gems."
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
stream
We got some more characters leaked.
Edit: For those who haven't seen it, someone on gaf was nice enough to compile a list:
1. Kazuya
2. Nina
3. King
4. Craig
5. Bob
6. Julia
7. Hwoarang
8. Steve
9. Yoshimitsu
10. Kuma
11. Lili
12. Asuka
13. Raven
14. Heihachi
15. Law (teased)
16. Paul (teased)
17. Ling (teased and portrait was seen)
18. Christie (Lupinko hinted at)
19. Bryan (Lupinko hinted at)
20. Lars (Lupinko hinted at)
21. Leo (Lupinko hinted at)
22. Alisa (Lupinko hinted at)
23. Jack (Lupinko hinted at)
24. Ogre (Lupinko hinted at)
25. PacMan
1. Ryu
2. Ken
3. Chunli
4. Guile
5. Abel
6. Cammy
7. Sagat
8. Dhalsim
9. Poison
10. Ibuki
11. Hugo
12. Rolento
13. Zangief
14. Rufus
15. Balrog (teased)
16. Vega (teased)
17. Juri (teased)
18. Bison (character portrait seen)
19. Guy (shown on CG trailer)
20. Cody (shown on CG trailer)
21. Elena (Lupinko hinted at)
22. Dudley (Lupinko hinted at)
23. Blanka (Lupinko hinted at)
24. Akuma (Lupinko hinted at)
25. Megaman
PS3/Vita exclusive
1. Cole
2. Kuro
3. Toro[/quote]
That original list, with the picture, was never lupinko. It was a fan thing from over on unity that some how got mistaken for a real thing.
Didn't Seth confirm that you can turn off gems entirely?
twitch.tv/Taramoor
@TaramoorPlays
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For real?
yeah he teams up with Poison
the team super is pacman grabs poison's hair and slams his/her face into the opposing character
Pacman would so be the bottom in that relationship.
Seriously, look at the mouth on that guy.
...
Okay this thread is going to a dark place and I'm leaving before I make it any worse.
twitch.tv/Taramoor
@TaramoorPlays
Taramoor on Youtube
I couldn't help but notice the big where Lili focuses on Cammy's chest with apparent envy, and find it both humorous and inaccurate.
According to the Street Fighter boob chart (yes, apparently one exists), Cammy's supposed to be in the bottom tier of busts. Makes sense considering her petite height and weight, buttocks aside.
I've always found it irksome that Capcom seems incapable of keeping a consistent body type for their female characters.
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
Apparently he is in a mech thing, Tron Bonne style .
Is the mech a bigger Pac Man?
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
That's less exciting...
1. Kazuya, Nina
2. King, Craig
3. Bob, Julia
4. Hwoarang, Steve
5. Yoshimitsu, Raven
6. Heihachi, Kuma
7. Lili, Asuka
8. Law, Paul
9. Ling, Jin
10.Alisa, Lars
11.Leo, Christie
12.Bryan, Jack
13.Ogre
1. Ryu, Ken
2. Guile, Abel
3. Chunli, Cammy
4. Sagat, Dhalsim
5. Poison, Hugo
6. Rolento, Ibuki
7. Zangief, Rufus
8. Balrog, Vega
9. Guy, Cody
10.Bison, Juri
11.Elena, Dudley
12.Blanka, ???
13.Akuma
1. Kuro, Toro
2. Cole
3. Megaman
4. Pacman
PSN: Bizazedo
CFN: Bizazedo (I don't think I suck, add me).
I would play the shit out of Blanka and Dan.
It's getting tourneys unless god himself cancels the game.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
stream
IIRC he said you can simply opt not to choose any gems when they pop up. But they pop up in every mode, no matter what.
It's already been confirmed for Evo 2012.
Yarp, seems you are correct. Tourney standard is gonna be no gems though, so there may be a surprising amount of people running without them.
twitch.tv/Taramoor
@TaramoorPlays
Taramoor on Youtube
AE
UMvC3
SFxT
SC5
MK9
KOFXIII
Pretty much what I expected it to be.
http://www.eventhubs.com/news/2012/jan/17/new-street-fighter-x-tekken-trailer-and-characters-revealed/
Well, Devil Jin would be cool. But Juri? Blech.
I actually thought all those characters had already been announced. Except for Xaioyu, who had already been leaked.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
stream
That being said, like you said, not really any surprises among them.
Juri is awesome and you are a bad person.
PSN: Bizazedo
CFN: Bizazedo (I don't think I suck, add me).