Xenoblade Chronicles

It feels pretty great to have had Dickson-specials outfitted on everyone.

edited 18th Apr '15 12:40:37 AM by Pulse

... I don't believe it.

Not only did I beat the level 18 Unique Monster in Colony 9 with a level 16 party of Reyn, Shulk, and Fiora, but my first ether crystal deposit? All three crystals I got were Rare quality.

I have the craziest luck in this run.

Edit: You know how there are conversations after the battle? There's ones where they say generic lines, and ones where there's a unique conversation specific to the party composition (Like Melia asking if she can pet Riki, and Riki demanding biscuits from Reyn).

I just found out personally that there's also unique conversations for when there's only two party members (this one was Reyn/Shulk, but there's probably ones for other characters when the plot demands they go alone).

edited 18th Apr '15 2:56:46 AM by Ekimmak

Beating a monster a mere two levels above you isn't all that impressive. Beating a monster that's ten levels above you, on the other hand, nets you an achievement.

edited 18th Apr '15 3:16:39 AM by Zelenal

never.

going.

to happen.

to me i mean.

... Well, that's one way for Metal Face to exist stage left. Then again, we didn't actually see him blow up, just fall down a ways.

Interesting introduction of a greater threat from the Mechon with the ether poison stuff they've outfitted the Bronze Faces' spears. And hey, more intrigue with Alvis! Apparently, Dickson's in on all this, too?

No, he's dead. You can find the wreckage a bit later.

As for those spears, I'd say its less poison and more acid.

the liquid in those weapons are directly from the ether river on sword valley iirc.

since they only cause damage while you're in the river, yes its acid not poison.

Aww, well. It was fun while it lasted!

Ah, see, I was calling it that because of the weapons infused with it inflicting poison within that last boss fight.

i assume its a bit like how if you get splashed with acid, the pains going to last a while

Oh, hey, Mechanical Rhythm's the battle theme in this new location! Nifty!

Well, since it's so easy, you go kill it in the early game.

That early on, when you don't have nearly as many talent arts, whereas the monster in question has access to nasty stunts like blowback, binds, powerful chill damage and talents that launch it away from Reyn? No Monado visions to warn you that it's about to crack the skull of whoever has it's attention at that critical moment? No dedicated healer?

It's a lot tougher than you're giving it credit.

edited 18th Apr '15 4:22:31 AM by Ekimmak

Of course it's going to be harder without access to all of your skills or party members. That's pretty obvious.

But, at the same time, it's only two levels above you. That's certainly within the acceptable range from everything I've seen.

Actually, two levels was the only way to pull it off. Three levels higher was butchering the party outright every attempt. Getting an extra level gave Reyn Sword Drive, using that in the fourth turn during a chain attack (I got lucky, and made it up to a six step chain attack) sped up the fight, and therefore, the amount of talent arts that bird used.

On the subject of Metal Face: An amusing trend in his appearances is that every time he meets the heroes after Colony 9 he takes damage to one or both of his arms. Shulk manages to give him a mark on his arm after the Ether Mine, then hacks off his arm at Prison Island. Dunban wounds one of Mumkhar's arms at Valak Mountain, and finally at Sword Valley both his arms get lopped off.

Pulse: Mechanical Rhythm is the battle theme when you're in Mechonis. There's also a new theme for when you get attacked first. Boss themes are the same.

Related: Are there any other instances where You Will Know Our Names plays during a story fight? I know it plays during the penultimate boss fight.

If I remember correctly, here's the story fights with that theme:

• Metal Face at Prison Island
• Gadolt at Agniratha
• Dickson (as you mentioned)

May have missed one.

Conflagrant Raxeal, the only mandatory Unique Monster.

Pulse, did you try fighting a Fortress Mechon?

And just barely won.

Nasty thing that. Had to go the cheap route and bring in Reyn, Riki and Sharla.

Naw. Cheap route is climbing onto one of the bridges and fighting them from above. Which you can do. And it can't use Titan Stamp on you.

... I wish I had thought of that. I just had Reyn tank everything while Sharla and Riki mostly focused on healing him.

Heropon breath smell GREAAAT

But yeah, it's kinda a weird thing, since it's only a smidge ahead in terms of level next to all the monsters around it while the various big scary things elsewhere in the game are massively powerful by comparison to their surroundings.

EDIT: Alright, Seven has joined up. Wow, those scenes on Fallen Arm right at the start are pretty emotional. And ugh, I'm not looking forward to the gimmicks involving Egil/Gold Face.

edited 19th Apr '15 10:17:17 AM by Pulse

Was it one of the generic Fortress Mechon, or was it Mischievous Naberius?

Anyway, you're approacing a cutoff point, just so you know; once you defeat the boss of the next area, Mechonis Field, you'll no longer be able to ever go to Sword Valley or Galahad Fortress. If you still need to complete their Collectapedia pages, maps, quests, or Unique Monsters, now'd be the time.

Having found the local village, I've decided to take a time-out and get some more optional stuff done before advancing to Junks.

I'm slightly disappointed, though by no means surprised, that no one in the towns comments on Fiora's current form.

edited 19th Apr '15 12:32:38 PM by Pulse

egil and yaldabaoth are pretty simple actually.

I don't recall that many people in Colony 9 commenting on the fact they're talking to a girl they'd taken for dead by that point, either.

I mean, I'm pretty sure a few do, but not too many.

Alright, trying to go for map completion in the areas I've been to.

How the hell do you slide to the topmost point on Valak Peak? I feel like I've tried everything.