Valkyria Chronicles Catch-All

Jeff-66 wrote:

I'm up to the first mission in the woods. Got me arse kicked first try. On this mission, you get 4 soldiers for the north (trail) side, and 5 for the south (road side), that is 4 + the tank.

Anyone have any recommendations for which unit types to take on this one? I know I need an engineer on the south team to repair the tank and disarm road mines, but past that, I'm not sure. Also any general strategy ideas for this one would be welcome too.

Take a scout and two shocktroopers up north, south get an engineer, Largo and something else you like. Remember that running over the landmines with the tank really doesn't hurt the tank at all and can be faster than having the engineer disarm them (Plus everyone can run around the mines so there isn't much point in wasting a CP disarming them)

Other than that just keep moving forward.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Always remember that if you're getting your butt kicked you can go play... skirmishes, I think they're called? They're repeatable missions that net you money and experience you can use to buy upgrades. As you upgrade your class types they'll gain new abilities, unlock new potentials (character-specific abilities), and once they hit level 11 they'll become elites with some very nice new toys. Shocktroopers gain flamethrowers and Scouts gain rifle grenades. The latter is far more valuable than you'd expect and lets you do some serious damage with your scouts (instead of letting them cower in the corner all the time).

I don't recall the exact process, but there's a skirmish you can exploit the hell out of. It's based off the early story mission where the tank busts through the wall near your HQ. I haven't done it in a while, but if memory serves, it's possible for Rosie or maybe Alicia to plow straight to the objective in 1 or perhaps 2 turns, netting you max XP. So if you're well and truly stuck, and don't want to put in a great deal of effort to get unstuck, you can try that.

SpacePPoliceman wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:

Always remember that if you're getting your butt kicked you can go play... skirmishes, I think they're called? They're repeatable missions that net you money and experience you can use to buy upgrades. As you upgrade your class types they'll gain new abilities, unlock new potentials (character-specific abilities), and once they hit level 11 they'll become elites with some very nice new toys. Shocktroopers gain flamethrowers and Scouts gain rifle grenades. The latter is far more valuable than you'd expect and lets you do some serious damage with your scouts (instead of letting them cower in the corner all the time).

I don't recall the exact process, but there's a skirmish you can exploit the hell out of. It's based off the early story mission where the tank busts through the wall near your HQ. I haven't done it in a while, but if memory serves, it's possible for Rosie or maybe Alicia to plow straight to the objective in 1 or perhaps 2 turns, netting you max XP. So if you're well and truly stuck, and don't want to put in a great deal of effort to get unstuck, you can try that.

I remember there was one a bit later on that you could power through really fast but I forget which one it was.

How helpful is that?

thanks for the tips.

I did much better my 2nd try, and took pretty much exactly what farley suggested above. The first try, I was trying to move too fast to cap their base flag, trying to get something better than a D or C grade this time, and I got spanked by the boss that shows up after a cutscene triggers.

2nd time, the north squad didn't go all the way east to the base, but instead converged with the south squad (after taking out the AT gun up north and capping that flag) on their westernmost camp.

How the hell you'd get a "A" on some of these missions is beyond me.

Jeff-66 wrote:

How the hell you'd get a "A" on some of these missions is beyond me.

You run a fully upgraded Scout through on your New Game+, ignoring all the enemies.

There are maybe two missions I did where I got a "A" without any trying. It was just blind luck that my play style fit perfect with what they wanted because "A" ranks are definitely based on doing it their exact way.

LobsterMobster wrote:

I remember there was one a bit later on that you could power through really fast but I forget which one it was.

How helpful is that?

Actually, quite, it jogged my memory. The one I was talking about, you get first, Rosie can do it, but she can't in one turn, so it doesn't give the max XP. The better one is the really long village map with the windmill at the end, but you need a pretty buff Alicia. She gets a double movement trait or something. Once you have that, she can take it out in 1 turn, if you dump all your CP into moving her and having her shoot things.

For what I did play of the game, I recall the level 11 upgrade for the scouts being insanely useful.

The skirmishes are nice and can often be run through very quickly for repeated "A" ranks once you figure them out. However, experience is scaled (each level is more expensive, and each mission gives more XP) such that you can't power level way past where you are "supposed" to be.

I probably ruined the game for myself by worrying too much about "A" ranks. I really don't think you should try for them the first time through. The rewards you get for the "A" rank aren't worth it; you will waste more time on dying, or reloading if you get an unlucky "roll," than you would on just doing a skirmish or two for the XP. Also, the weapons you get from named enemy aces are nice, but usually come with some weakness to offset their strength. Don't go too far out of your way for them, either.

Started the game again because i could not get myself around the rules and controls at the chapter i had last played.

I checked the thread but could not find this information.

(1) Is there a way to replay a battle you have already won i.e. to improve the rating and get more xp?

(2) Also i did not start on Hard as i was not given the option (i think). Is it too hard or should i start over in order to have the option to play the DLC?

1) No, not story missions. You will be able to beat your previous score in New Game+. You can replay skirmishes as many times as you like/to grind for xp.

2) I believe hard is made for people who are playing New Game+ and understand the mechanics and carry over their leveled up troops. The Hard EX mode for download is for crazy people. I thought this game was easy and that mode blows me out of the water. I wouldn't concern yourself with that particular dlc, get the story driven ones if you're gonna get anything, but finish the game first ... on normal.

garion333 wrote:

I wouldn't concern yourself with that particular dlc, get the story driven ones if you're gonna get anything, but finish the game first ... on normal.

Yeah i thought hard would not be for me. Thanks for the info and advice!

Zolos wrote:

(1) Is there a way to replay a battle you have already won i.e. to improve the rating and get more xp?

If you're hurting for XP, don't forget that skirmish battles are available to repeat anytime you like.

Hmmm.

Completed Chapter 2. I might be getting soft. This is a tougher game than i remember.

Zolos wrote:

Hmmm.

Completed Chapter 2. I might be getting soft. This is a tougher game than i remember.

Nah, it's just very hard early, which makes sense from a plot perspective.

Yeah, as you level up, things get a little easier. Especially once your Scouts hit level 11.

Well, and you understand the game mechanics better. It is pretty much a unique experience.

I had played up to Chapter 8 before but it seems i forgot most of it. Previously i had not bothered with doing any skirmishes but i think this time i will to level up my guys/girls. This is indeed a unique experience. Shame it did not do well commercially.

Zolos wrote:

Shame it did not do well commercially.

It wasn't a blockbuster, but for a new ip that also happens to be a srpg without Final Fantasy in the title, the 850,000 or so it's done so far isn't too bad. Just wish it had sold enough to get a PS3 sequel and not a PSP sequel.

I just wish there was a way to completely remove all the cutscenes. Holy crap skipping 8 cutscenes in between each battle is driving me crazy.

I wish there was some way to slap whoever thought they had to put a damn flying pig in there.

Moink.

I second that motion.

Does the writing get any better after the opening? Or is there at least less of it? I've played for a couple of hours now, and the combination of the dialogue and how it's acted has been nearly unbearable. The gameplay seems interesting, but so far the ratio of time spent playing battles to watching horrible cut scenes has been about 1:10, and if those proportions keep up, sadly, I think the game might not be for me.

IjonTichy wrote:

Does the writing get any better after the opening? Or is there at least less of it? I've played for a couple of hours now, and the combination of the dialogue and how it's acted has been nearly unbearable. The gameplay seems interesting, but so far the ratio of time spent playing battles to watching horrible cut scenes has been about 1:10, and if those proportions keep up, sadly, I think the game might not be for me.

It gets better once the game's done establishing its setting and starts developing its characters. The interesting ones are Selvaria, Largo, Isara, Rosie, and Harrot. They may seem like archetypes at first but they have more interesting stories than that, especially if you flesh out their special side missions when available (Largo f***ing loves vegetables, oh man you have no idea).

Welkin is only entertaining if you find his quirky personality to be charming. Same with Zaka. Other than that, they're not terribly interesting. Alicia is too much of a cliche to do much for me, and all the villains (except Selvaria) are either archetypes or cartoons.

Stick it out until you've finished the mission where you use the Edelweiss to cross the river. If you aren't at all interested by then, do something else during the cutscenes. The game's still worth playing.

Thanks--I'll stick with it for a little longer and see if it clicks.

I can't read this thread. Every time I do, I end up convinced that I must play this game and end up staring at my bank account trying to figure out a way to make it work. Spoiler: it doesn't work.

IjonTichy wrote:

Does the writing get any better after the opening? Or is there at least less of it? I've played for a couple of hours now, and the combination of the dialogue and how it's acted has been nearly unbearable. The gameplay seems interesting, but so far the ratio of time spent playing battles to watching horrible cut scenes has been about 1:10, and if those proportions keep up, sadly, I think the game might not be for me.

For me, the story did grow on my a lot as I was playing. It's like a good TV show - it may not be Shakespeare, but you spend enough time with the characters and you find yourself caring about them. It did help that I used the Japanese voice over, so hearing the actors didn't make me cringe constantly. I don't think I could have made it through in English.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I can't read this thread. Every time I do, I end up convinced that I must play this game and end up staring at my bank account trying to figure out a way to make it work. Spoiler: it doesn't work.

I can let you borrow the game.

I too liked the story, but preferred the English. The annoyingly high pitched female japanese actors made me run for the door.

garion333 wrote:

I can let you borrow the game.

Thanks. If I had a PS3, I'd take you up on it. My plans to buy one fell through. Ah well, they'll be cheap someday.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:

I can let you borrow the game.

Thanks. If I had a PS3, I'd take you up on it. My plans to buy one fell through. Ah well, they'll be cheap someday.

Ah, I thought you did just pick one up. Moving on ...

garion333 wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
garion333 wrote:

I can let you borrow the game.

Thanks. If I had a PS3, I'd take you up on it. My plans to buy one fell through. Ah well, they'll be cheap someday.

Ah, I thought you did just pick one up. Moving on ...

No, that was Minarchist, my clone.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I can't read this thread. Every time I do, I end up convinced that I must play this game and end up staring at my bank account trying to figure out a way to make it work. Spoiler: it doesn't work.

Hey we have spoiler tags for a reason.