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Skilled player (1512)
Joined: 4/28/2005
Posts: 240
Location: Finland
ZeXr0: I think the characters should be leveled up to increase their attack so they do enough damage with criticals. I don't think buying weapons helps (yet, perhaps later) unless you can't manipulate raising attack power on level ups. After all, why to have more attack than is necessary? All those extra items probably waste more time than they gain, I suppose.
Projects: Warlock, Ren & Stimpy (impr) / Generations Lost (impr.)
upthorn
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Active player (391)
Joined: 3/24/2006
Posts: 1802
maTO wrote:
ZeXr0: I think the characters should be leveled up to increase their attack so they do enough damage with criticals. I don't think buying weapons helps (yet, perhaps later) unless you can't manipulate raising attack power on level ups.
Mae is not doing enough damage to kill a zombie on a double strike. A new weapon would help with that.
How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
Levels can't be manipulated, they are fixed. If you didn't see in the run, is happens something that Gort is leveled up and gain no stats at all.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
I think the powerring should be equipped, that would maybe remove the requirement to buy new weapon.
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
Thanks for all the ideas.
ZeXr0 wrote:
I'll take a look at this in 6 hours, as soon as I get home. Have you consider getting the power potion in the last village in the first chapter ?
Actually, since levels are fixed, when you use the power potion, you destroy the next few level gains.
ZeXr0 wrote:
And getting the speed ring before the first battle of the first chapter might be a good thing.
Actually, the speed ring is anything but. To manipulate the battle order, I want to keep the force's Agility as close to the enemies as possible.
ZeXr0 wrote:
If you can use the power ring while it is equipped, you should think of equipping it to mae, you could save a couple of double hit because you'll hit hard enought to kill some enemies with a critical hit.
I think I will be going back to equip Mae from the get go, so I need less double hit single criticals.
ZeXr0 wrote:
In the last battle of chapter 2, couldn't you just kill the Ghoul ?
Every FRIGGING FAQ says you can do this. My tests show that this is a bunch of hog wash. I've tried every variation under the sun to get this to work.
ZeXr0 wrote:
The second battle of the second chapter. Wouldn't it be faster to not attack the first enemy with Mae and let Gort attack the zombie ? That way you would save an attack and a double hit.
Unfortunately, no. Gort at this point only does 3 to a zombie. Both are need ed to take him out. It is the only time, hopefully for the rest of the game, that this will happen. It only takes 6.5 seconds for the additional attack.
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
upthorn wrote:
maTO wrote:
ZeXr0: I think the characters should be leveled up to increase their attack so they do enough damage with criticals. I don't think buying weapons helps (yet, perhaps later) unless you can't manipulate raising attack power on level ups.
Mae is not doing enough damage to kill a zombie on a double strike. A new weapon would help with that.
Unfortunately, there are no new weapons that increase attack power in chapter 2 for Mae.
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Skilled player (1512)
Joined: 4/28/2005
Posts: 240
Location: Finland
ZeXr0 wrote:
Levels can't be manipulated, they are fixed. If you didn't see in the run, is happens something that Gort is leveled up and gain no stats at all.
Are they fixed to frames where battle begins or what? I could manipulate a little when I played without frame advance. So if you waste like one frame before entering a batte and could get +2 to attack it would pay off somewhere... edit: nevermind, didn't read the levels are fixed.
Projects: Warlock, Ren & Stimpy (impr) / Generations Lost (impr.)
Player (82)
Joined: 9/16/2006
Posts: 63
From what I remember of the game, it IS possible to manipulate levels. You'd probably have to go to extremes to do so, though. I remember I would save before I was about to level up and if I got bad stats I would shut it off and reload. I don't think you have to shut it off, though, might work in game too. Namely, save&quit, reload, level up. Might be worth it in the long run, though?
End of Line
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
I really doubt that, because if you play the game normally Hans will always level up with no stats gain near level 4 or 9. Maybe you have played Shining Force 2, where the levels are manipulable.
upthorn
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Active player (391)
Joined: 3/24/2006
Posts: 1802
They are manipulable within certain predefined ranges. All you have to do is make a savestate after hitting the enemy, but before gaining the level, and hit different buttons to see the effect. [Edit] I say this based on information that DarkKobold linked me to, and his own statements that he is already manipulating each level up to provide the maximum power, and keep his agility near the average monster agility.
How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
Is it tested? edit : If you could provide a video showing this, else I'll try this at home this weekend, it could end up in getting a great amount of strength.
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
ZeXr0 I can do you one better :) I am currently working with Upthorn on decompiling the code. It is the last bit of randomness that the game has to offer, and so it needs breaking. I'll explain how the code works, once I figure it out myself.
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Player (82)
Joined: 9/16/2006
Posts: 63
Would equipping the Power Ring to Mae do two things? Allow Mae to kill zombies and such easier? Also, can the Power Ring still be used while it is equipped? Has been a long time since I last played but I'd imagine the answer is yes to both.
End of Line
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
Yeah that would surely save time
DarkKobold : I think I will be going back to equip Mae from the get go, so I need less double hit single criticals.
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
Here is a redo up through battle 5. Statistics are pretty much the same. I'm still working on breaking the level up code. It is complex to say the least. http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1657145901/Shining%20Force%20%28U%29%20%5B%21%5D.gmv
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
Alright, the level up code is done, and it isn't a pretty situation. So, here is the Beef. Your current statistics? They have ZERO bearing on the next level's statistics. The game has a set value for each level. When the RNG kicks in, it doesn't care what the current stat is, only what it should be. Additionally, it can only vary by +/- N, where N = Stat/4 for Stat/4 <= 5; N= 5 for Stat/4 > 5; Therefore, when Max's attack is only meant to be 14, the most it can be off from the set value is 3!!!
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
So it's pretty much hard to keep you at the top difference for all the game. Too bad it isn't more manipulable. Edit :BY the way, is there a reason why you keep XYZ pushed almost all the time ? Edit 2: It seems that some enemies takes more times to decide their moves. Like in the third battle, the bats take 20-40 frames more to decide where to move compare to the other enemies. Edit 3: It apparent in the third battle, but seems less apparent in the fourth battle, maybe it's just when they are doing a lot of movement, or their movement includes to turn in the way, so that they are not going forward. Edit 4: If you can manipulate levels, it will saves time if you manipulate big increased, that way you would save time by displaying the message Speed increased by 4 only once instead of 4 times in a row. But you may want to manipulate as soon as possible if you need it. But it's useless for defence and Hit point. Edit 5 : In the fifth battle, you kill a mage before entering the village, will he takes a turn before you ?
Joined: 3/7/2006
Posts: 720
Location: UK
The bats have a longer movement range, so yes, they take longer to decide. Also, some monsters have set strategies like 'stay in this place until a player reaches tile X'. This usually takes precedence.
Voted NO for NO reason
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
Yeah I know, but it might makes a point in strategy, like killing the bat because they are slower, in that case it would change the order enemies are killed. And you should take a look at page 3 as there's like 5 edit ;)
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
ZeXr0 wrote:
So it's pretty much hard to keep you at the top difference for all the game. Too bad it isn't more manipulable. Edit :BY the way, is there a reason why you keep XYZ pushed almost all the time ?
You know, the movie is set for 3 buttons, but it seems like XYZ are recorded... I Don't think Gens is actually reading those buttons. They seem to be set randomly.
ZeXr0 wrote:
Edit 2: It seems that some enemies takes more times to decide their moves. Like in the third battle, the bats take 20-40 frames more to decide where to move compare to the other enemies. Edit 3: It apparent in the third battle, but seems less apparent in the fourth battle, maybe it's just when they are doing a lot of movement, or their movement includes to turn in the way, so that they are not going forward.
Unfortunately, kill order now is completely dictated by turn order. The bats in 3 have to be killed after the dwarves, because the bats move into position, while the dwarves can pretty much attack as soon as you cross the "river" threshold.
ZeXr0 wrote:
Edit 4: If you can manipulate levels, it will saves time if you manipulate big increased, that way you would save time by displaying the message Speed increased by 4 only once instead of 4 times in a row. But you may want to manipulate as soon as possible if you need it. But it's useless for defence and Hit point.
I've definitely started doing this. Unfortunately, since each battle takes forever, and I tried to optimize it before doing random keystrokes, I'm just going to continue from where I left off.
ZeXr0 wrote:
Edit 5 : In the fifth battle, you kill a mage before entering the village, will he takes a turn before you ?
So, when I get up to the corner by the mountain, if he takes a turn before me when I get to that spot, he blocks me in. If I don't kill him, he takes a turn after me, so I might as well grab the EXP. Also, Zombie 8 (the zombie that chases me up and down) has to go before me, otherwise he'd get an attack in.
LagDotCom wrote:
The bats have a longer movement range, so yes, they take longer to decide. Also, some monsters have set strategies like 'stay in this place until a player reaches tile X'. This usually takes precedence.
This is really the key to manipulating the enemies. For example, in Battle 4, I move Gort across the bridge on the last turn in a battle order. Then, before Max and Mae cross the bridge, I make sure the 2 snipers and mage take a turn, so they start on their downward travel. Once they made this decision, it doesn't matter who goes where, they go to their predefined location. If M&M cross the bridge first, they stay up far away. Additionally, Max crosses the bridge before dwarf 12 moves, so max can kill him. He'd move away. Also, Gort nicely manipulates bat 8 to come towards him so he gets the kill. Battle 5 also shows this. The mage/zombie block stays spread out until you cross 1 block below desert. By taking the back road in, they never cluster together. Battle 6, the bats don't move until you fully cross the bridge. Hence why the 3 bats that don't die that round go before any of the force crosses.
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
An update!!! Today is my B-day, so I am taking my time off to work on the time attack! I am now completed up through battle 7. Mae now equips the power ring in Battle 7... Also, ZeXr0's idea gave me another one, which now means battle 7 is an entire minute faster than attempt 2. Thanks! (I won't spoil the surprise) Oh, and absolutely nothing can be done about double attacking the zombie in battle 6. Sorry, I tried a million scenarios. Max can't kill 3 enemies before the team gets across the bridge. I have a few crazy ideas as far as how to attack battle 8. It will take a while to figure out. http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1335742361/Shining%20Force%20%28U%29%20%5B%21%5D.gmv
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
That was an amazing battle, and happy birthday ;) Nice strategy, I didn't know you could equipped and then attack in the same turn. There's a lot of things that we could overlook because we didn't test :P I'll looking toward your next wip ;)
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/429170489/Shining%20Force%20%28U%29%20%5B%21%5D.gmv So um, progress. I need to give it a rest, so this will probably the last update for a long time.
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
The power ring is useless on Amon because he didn't get to attack on the second battle of chapter 3. (While he is boosted) Shouldn't Gort be equipped with the Heat Axe as soon as possible ? Unless he can't before promotion ? Wouldn't it be faster to buy new weapon at this point, or there's no good weapon ?
Skilled player (1651)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
ZeXr0 wrote:
The power ring is useless on Amon because he didn't get to attack on the second battle of chapter 3. (While he is boosted)
Luckily, there is a nice little bug in the game. The power ring boost last indefinitely past the "BOOST has ended" message, until something actually takes effect on the character. This includes level-ups, getting hit (misses don't count) or status change, sleep, muddle, etc.
ZeXr0 wrote:
Shouldn't Gort be equipped with the Heat Axe as soon as possible ? Unless he can't before promotion ?
You've got it. However, I think I promote Max waaaay too early, since he becomes a weakling, and mostly useless.
ZeXr0 wrote:
Wouldn't it be faster to buy new weapon at this point, or there's no good weapon ?
The problem with buying a new weapon at this point is that the dialog, the screens, and etc take way more than the 6 seconds it takes to boost with the power ring. Additionally, everyone but the Birds are able to double hit kill every creature on the map at this point
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
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