The GWJ JRPG Club - Q1 2019 - Persona 5!

That would be a really fun graphical update!

I finished with Madarame a day or two ago. Overall, the fight was definitely more interesting and involved than Kamoshida’s. I thought the palace was thematically well-designed, too, though I liked the castle more. It’ll be fun to see how the 3rd holds up. I remember enjoying the palace itself, but farley3k, I agree that the boss itself—and the story around the palace—was a bit flat. The best part of the 3rd, for me, was the new confidant. I think you’ll find that the story really picks up again with the fourth palace.

Replaying the game, I've enjoyed watching for little moments of plot and thematic foreshadowing. Early parts of the game which seemed a bit more disparate and “monster of the week” now feel better connected. And there’s a lot of kids hidden in casual conversations, but which will end up being very important to the overall plot. I loved this moment when my newest teammate asked Ann about the Phantoms’ purpose. She says that we fight to give courage to others, and he replies:

You mean the courage to stand up for themselves, correct? Will acquiring that make them happy?

That question sums up a lot of the game’s overall theme, I think.

I've been playing this on and off since last week, got a bit into Mementos, unlocked the second palace and the fifth playable character, and I am almost done with the second palace. I lost a big of progress when Joker died earlier this morning, but it wasn't too bad, only fifteen minutes or so. I will go back to it later today, and I should be able to get to the 'send the calling card' phase then. I might wait a day or two before doing that to give Joker some time to create new lockpicks (I need two) and go back to the palace once to get the treasures I missed.

I don't know if it's just me, but I thought the second palace (so far anyway) is easier than the first. Maybe it's because I'm starting to have a better grasp of all the game concepts, and have been more aggressive in my persona fusions (though, to be fair, I could do a better job at keeping a variety of elements instead of doing it willy-nilly).

My characters are around level 17. Having more SP makes exploring palaces a LOT easier. Also having a few Leblanc coffees around helps when they get low.

I thought the story for the second palace was less interesting than the first one, for some reason. Maybe because there was a direct connection between the main characters and the first palace, and that connection is largely absent for the second one, at least until

Spoiler:

Yusuke joins the party

.

Side note: I don't know if it's because I regularly go to a figure drawing workshop, but when

Spoiler:

Yusuke brought up modeling, the first thing that came to my mind was 'nude modeling'

. However, it took a while before this was brought up in the story.

Edit: There, the path to the treasure has been unlocked, and I've gotten the two locked chests I was missing. Now I just need to figure out if I'm going to spend some time grinding and getting some of the personas I might have missed, or if I'm going to go straight for the boss. I think I have at least 10 in-game days remaining before the deadline.

bobbywatson wrote:

I don't know if it's just me, but I thought the second palace (so far anyway) is easier than the first. Maybe it's because I'm starting to have a better grasp of all the game concepts, and have been more aggressive in my persona fusions (though, to be fair, I could do a better job at keeping a variety of elements instead of doing it willy-nilly).

I felt the same. That's about when things started making more sense for me and I got into the groove.

Right now I'm working through Palace 3.

While the story overall is a bit just ok compared the past two, there was something I enjoyed:

Spoiler:

When Sae and Makoto were talking over dinner and all of a sudden Sae was like "You're useless to me." Wow, that whole scene surprised me.

I'm not following guides and playing blind. I've been hoping Makoto ends up on the team because I thought the game did a good job of making her interesting. You could really feel her struggle and why she just went all out to find Kaneshiro.

And wowzers. Her persona scene with the motorcycle. Just wow.

Can't wait for more.

I can say without spoilers that there will be more palaces that affect more than one (if not all) of the main characters. I can also say that the stories get more interesting as you do things outside of the palace, especially the higher tier social rank quests along with the sidequests you get from that one kid. Don't spend too much time(in-game days, not real life time) grinding though, as you want to do social things and jobs - JOBS ARE IMPORTANT FOR SOCIAL LINKS!! Jobs can offer a higher yield for the social stat that they associate with, along with money and most of them have a big side quest attached to them - all of them useful to complete.

If you are playing "online" you can use the suggestion button to see what people did each day. You'll see a lot of them waited a few days before going directly to each palace, plus you get extra thing to do if you don't go to the palace. My vote is to grind in the lowest area of mementos and then the two days you spend in the palace, collect all your persona's then, no extra days there. Unless you are hardcore about getting those special personas that you can only find by grabbing items. I completed the game the first time with only 2 of them so...good luck.

For those playing without a guide, I'll help you out with time by saying there's a social link that really helps take some time off your hand. It gets you free time during class, someone else to make infiltration tools, and the ability to go out at night. I won't spoil it if you don't want to know, but if so, respond and I'll drop the name.

KozmoOchez wrote:

For those playing without a guide, I'll help you out with time by saying there's a social link that really helps take some time off your hand. It gets you free time during class, someone else to make infiltration tools, and the ability to go out at night. I won't spoil it if you don't want to know, but if so, respond and I'll drop the name.

I looked it up I will get started on that ASAP, it sounds very useful! The thing to start it seems super creepy though.

I finished the second palace! That boss was kind of a jerk...

bobbywatson wrote:

I finished the second palace! That boss was kind of a jerk...

They get worse. Which I like because you really get the drive to take them out.

Side-effect of playing Persona 5: Now I'm thinking about how to optimize my own schedule.

And I agree with my initial assessment:

Spoiler:

A school teacher providing maid and "other" services as a side-hustle is definitely kinda creepy.

It's totally creepy. As is, I think, Mishima's intense interest in getting to the bottom of it. You know, for justice, and definitely not for any pervy reason.

Spoiler/not spoiler: They at least explain it well enough.

I wonder how much of the creepy-ness is culture shock. I have read a few novels set in Japan and often their norms for these subjects are shocking to me.

Some of it is creepy-ness, yes, but more of it will feel like a 90s era children's show where it's REALLY BAD adults and the "kids" are all that is right with the world. So the adults will go out of their way to be terrible people, and you will think, "Wow, that person sucks, how long before I can do something about them?"

I don't want to spoil and even give vague examples. You'll see it soon enough if you haven't already.

It always rang a little funny to me when Ryuiji would go on and on about those "evil adults." I mean, Kamoshida was in a position of power and he abused it, but I bet he was a jerk when he was younger, too.

Yeah, that sort of mindset doesn't just happen when you get a "position of power" which for him was just becoming a teacher and a coach, which isn't really that much power relatively speaking. The way he speaks, he sounds like he was raised in a rich household and taught that some people are above others and there's nothing those "lower individuals" can do about it.

Agathos wrote:

It always rang a little funny to me when Ryuiji would go on and on about those "evil adults." I mean, Kamoshida was in a position of power and he abused it, but I bet he was a jerk when he was younger, too.

He probably was. It's hard to imagine someone who sexually assaults others, and abuses his position like that, was a good person when younger. But it's also possible he was corrupted -- or made worse -- by his position of power, or by outside social forces. We definitely will see that in some of the later palaces.

And I think Ryuji's not just talking about Kamoshida. After all, Kamoshida didn't exist in a vacuum, but had a school and parents willing to cover for him, or at the very least not speak up, because they all had something to gain.

And then of course

Spoiler:

we will fight the distorted shadows of a few high schoolers in Mementos.

Was stuck in bed sick today so I had the chance to do some catching up. This game is super addicting now and I get in that "One more day.." mentality and before I know it, a couple hours have passed. Darn you, Persona 5! Just unlocked the next party member in the second palace so I can't imagine it will take too much longer before it's done. Afterwards, I want to up my kindness stat so I can hang out with Ann.

bobbywatson wrote:

I don't know if it's just me, but I thought the second palace (so far anyway) is easier than the first. Maybe it's because I'm starting to have a better grasp of all the game concepts, and have been more aggressive in my persona fusions (though, to be fair, I could do a better job at keeping a variety of elements instead of doing it willy-nilly).

It's been easier for me (so far) too which was a relief. I thought I'd have to bump it down a difficulty or two but I think I might be ok.

bobbywatson wrote:

Side note: I don't know if it's because I regularly go to a figure drawing workshop, but when

Spoiler:

Yusuke brought up modeling, the first thing that came to my mind was 'nude modeling'

. However, it took a while before this was brought up in the story..

Spoiler:

That's what my mind jumped to immediately as well. I took a painting course once in college were a classmate asked all the female students (myself included) to come over his place to do some modeling. Apparently, some people were naive enough to go and I heard he got kicked out of the department because of his behavior/what happened. :/ Maybe that's why I've been eh on Yusuke up until this point.

KozmoOchez wrote:

Yeah, that sort of mindset doesn't just happen when you get a "position of power" which for him was just becoming a teacher and a coach, which isn't really that much power relatively speaking. The way he speaks, he sounds like he was raised in a rich household and taught that some people are above others and there's nothing those "lower individuals" can do about it.

Or it could be an effect of his time on the national volleyball team, where he got a taste of glory and power. He probably resents being reduced to a PE teacher and is trying to recapture some of that. Amateur psychology is fun

I'm a couple free days away from the Palace 4 story starting up.

Had to take a break for a day to improve my rank with my wife.

Finally ranked up Knowledge. That one seems to need a lot of points to rank.

Someone told me something about social links as it pertains to the team:

Spoiler:

When you get full rank with a team member, their persona changes. And I'm now upset because he said when this happens with Makota she no longer rides her motorcycle.

DevStack wrote:

I'm a couple free days away from the Palace 4 story starting up.

Had to take a break for a day to improve my rank with my wife.

Finally ranked up Knowledge. That one seems to need a lot of points to rank.

Someone told me something about social links as it pertains to the team:

Spoiler:

When you get full rank with a team member, their persona changes. And I'm now upset because he said when this happens with Makota she no longer rides her motorcycle.

At least she's stronger? I'd say not to max out her rank, but...I got over it quick and I use her in every battle.

When you’re done with Palace #4, I strongly recommend that you pursue ranks with your new ally as quickly as possible. I’ll explain more, later.

Earlier, I finished the scene where the Phantom Thieves share a hot-pot at Leblanc. There was a weird moment I either didn’t notice before, or didn’t remember.

Spoiler:

Ann stuffed herself and fell asleep on a couch, at which point it looked like Ryuji and Morgana tried to peek up her skirt?! Not cool, guys. Not cool.

KozmoOchez wrote:

At least she's stronger? I'd say not to max out her rank, but...I got over it quick and I use her in every battle.

This is true. I just really enjoyed it.

LastSurprise wrote:
Spoiler:

Ann stuffed herself and fell asleep on a couch, at which point it looked like Ryuji and Morgana tried to peek up her skirt?! Not cool, guys. Not cool.

I kind of missed that myself, but some thoughts on that and:

Spoiler:

I was just surprised she pigged out and fell asleep there. It was a real moment of trust for the team. I'm not surprised at the peeking though because both Morgana and Ryuji seem like the least trustworthy people in the group.

I really don't care for Ryuji at all. So much so that I avoid hanging out with him and select other people or even the diner first. I took him off my team just because I was sick of listening to him.

And Morgana annoys me because he is always in the way. I know it's a game mechanic, but still. It's Sunday night and I can't even check out the shopping channel because I need to go to bed to make sure I'm rested for an afternoon meeting. Am I 85?

While I liked Morgana initially, because kitty Kat, there was part of me that was hoping he was really dead at the end of Palace 3 when the treasure fell on him in the real world.

The only reason I have Morgana on my team currently is for the team heal, but that's quickly becoming not too helpful.

If I could make one adjustment to the game it would be that when I'm in a Palace, I don't have to hear comments from people not active on my team.

I think I give Morgana extra leeway for not being Teddy from P4.

Here's a positive note on that: Morgana can be pulled from your party because that element is easily replaced AND the character is one of the few that progresses exclusively with the story (if I'm not mistaken). So, no reason to be forced to use them. There's another reason, but that one is a spoiler.

I found Teddy to be annoyingly comical in p4. I still don't think I used him much in battles though

steinkrug wrote:

I think I give Morgana extra leeway for not being Teddy from P4.

I'm liking Morgana a good deal, myself. Not comparing to Teddy, but taking him/it as a unique, independent element. I'm happy without the bear puns hehehe.

Teddy was kind of endearing for a short time, but I remember after having played to September in the original version all I wanted to do in Golden was kill Teddy permanently. I could not stand his personality at all or that the characters let him get away with it

I finished the second palace last night.

Spoiler:

I was originally put off by Yusuke blackmailing Ann into doing nude modeling for him but I can relate to the feelings of shock and betrayal after finding out a parental figure isn't as good of a person as you thought they were. I also liked the dungeon design with it having you go into paintings and figure out which ones were fake or real. Wondering who the mysterious other masked person in the palace was too.

Welcome to February, everyone! For this month, our rough schedule suggests that you tackle the third and fourth palaces.

I also wanted to check in on what we've been doing here. The conversation has been flowing pretty well, but I remember that someone had suggested maybe posing questions to spur discussion, like a book club. Do you all think that would be helpful? Any suggestions for things you would like to see in these discussion threads?

For my part, because it's cold out and I can't stand to get outside too early for the bus, I've been advancing the plot in small chunks each morning. Right now my Phantom Thieves are actively in search of their 3rd target, and I think the palace will be unlocked soon.

I am doing good then because I am just starting the fourth palace! Glad I am keeping on track.

I am not doing well in Persona 5 yet, but I have a plan and am still intending to play. Rather than play everything at once, I'm concentrating on one game at a time until I catch up. I've got a few other games to go first, but I'm hopeful that I'll still get to this. I'm making good progress with the game I'm playing at the moment.

Malkroth wrote:

Teddy was kind of endearing for a short time, but I remember after having played to September in the original version all I wanted to do in Golden was kill Teddy permanently. I could not stand his personality at all or that the characters let him get away with it

I didn't make it far enough in Persona 4 to get much experience with Teddy, but in Persona Q he's basically a one note character, and that note is aggressive sexual harassment of every girl in sight. I hate him.