The "Tales of" Series

[Airk]

Oh, I should probably take a look when I get home. Thanks! Ugh, but now I need to get 200 more black feathers. I had that many and spent them all without realizing I could get the costume.

I got lucky and looked at the rewards on offer and said "maybe later." so I still have my feathers.

Say, how far into the game are you?

Not very; Amazon took their sweet ass time shipping my copy (literally, it sat in "shipping now" until LAST FRIDAY) so it didn't show up until Monday. I sent them a crabby mail about it, saying, basically, "Yes, I know I didn't pick the 'get it to me the day it comes out' shipping option, but I expect it to at least go INTO THE MAIL the same day it comes out." They gave me a $10 credit. :P

So I've actually only had about two days of playing, since I had other commitments last night.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Damn, that sucks. And to make things worse I dunno if there are even 200 feathers left in my play through without grinding, which I do not have time for. This sucks. I suck.

[Sylthia]

Yeah, that's why I prefer the subtle ones. It ruins the dramatic scenes if the characters are in swimsuits and bunny ears, you know?

But yeah, I'm still pretty surprised over what happened in the game last night. I'm really interested where this will take his character development and I can't wait for Xillia 2.

Vague spoilers, spoiled just in case.

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After all, when you hit rock bottom and have absolutely nothing left, where else do you have to go but up?

I don't usually go through in the swimsuits, at least not the first playthrough, but Milla's default is pretty close already.

[Airk]

I don't usually go through in the swimsuits, at least not the first playthrough, but Milla's default is pretty close already.

A lot of the goofy stuff used to be 2nd playthrough only anyway.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Probably the third play through in this case. New game plus is on Milla's side.

[Sylthia]

I'm looking forward to see it from Milla's side especially since so far Jude seems more like a supporting character anyway.

Also...

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I wonder how they handle the Milla being a paraplegic arc.

[CoffeeIncluded]

You'll see, Rez!

Uggh, I only have about 7ish hours left in the game. It's so close I can taste it. And I'm going on vacation tomorrow, will be gone for 10 days, and am returning to college the day after I return. I literally have one day to finish the game. Talk about cutting it close!

You know what I was disappointed about? (VERY LATE GAME SPOILERS (albeit relatively minor spoilers), only open after beating the Spyrix Research Factory)

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Why the hell didn't they have Fighting The Spirit as the boss music when you fought Celcius and Volt?!

[Sylthia]

You'll see, Rez!

Uggh, I only have about 7ish hours left in the game. It's so close I can taste it. And I'm going on vacation tomorrow, will be gone for 10 days, and am returning to college the day after I return. I literally have one day to finish the game. Talk about cutting it close!

You know what I was disappointed about? (VERY LATE GAME SPOILERS (albeit relatively minor spoilers), only open after beating the Spyrix Research Factory)

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Why the hell didn't they have Fighting The Spirit as the boss music when you fought Celcius and Volt?!

Yeah, I figured he'd probably grow a bit in terms of plot relevance, I'm actually liking Jude among the best of the Tales protagonists. The Tales series is usually pretty good about that. e.g. Lloyd.

I'm still woefully behind you, I think I'm in what would be considered part 2. The ER's been really hopping this week and every time I seem to sit down, I get called in. When they say "Can you take a call from the ER?" I'd like to say "No, I'm playing Tales right now." But they frown upon that sort of thing.

Just today I had to work up a kid who shot himself in the foot and shattered several bones for surgery tomorrow morning. I'm hoping this weekend I can get a bit of playtime in.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Yeah, I figured he'd probably grow a bit in terms of plot relevance, I'm actually liking Jude among the best of the Tales protagonists. The Tales series is usually pretty good about that. e.g. Lloyd.

I'm still woefully behind you, I think I'm in what would be considered part 2. The ER's been really hopping this week and every time I seem to sit down, I get called in. When they say "Can you take a call from the ER?" I'd like to say "No, I'm playing Tales right now." But they frown upon that sort of thing.

You could just say it's medical work? Since Jude's a med student?

Just today I had to work up a kid who shot himself in the foot and shattered several bones for surgery tomorrow morning. I'm hoping this weekend I can get a bit of playtime in.

That sounds awesome. Horrible for the kid of course, but the reconstructive process must be fascinating!

Is it obvious I want to get into either surgery or emergency medicine?

[Sylthia]

You could just say it's medical work? Since Jude's a med student?



That sounds awesome. Horrible for the kid of course, but the reconstructive process must be fascinating!

Is it obvious I want to get into either surgery or emergency medicine?

Surgery and ER are both great, although the call schedule can be killer.

[Shekinah]

Is there ever a Tales dad who is actually represented as a good guy? So far the only one I sympathize with is Colette's dad.

[Bucky]

Is there ever a Tales dad who is actually represented as a good guy? So far the only one I sympathize with is Colette's dad.

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You don't like Dirk?

[Sylthia]

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You don't like Dirk?

She has a deep seated hatred for all things dwarf.

[Shekinah]

Considering that his idea of punishment is punching his "son" in the face or withholding food until he memorizes vows, no.

Although Anise's dad isn't necessarily bad, I suppose.

[Sylthia]

Anyone else get a FFX sphere grid vide from the Lillium Orb? Not that that's bad, I actually liked the sphere grid.

[Zevox]

Anyone else get a FFX sphere grid vide from the Lillium Orb? Not that that's bad, I actually liked the sphere grid.

Yes, though I think the Lilium Orb is substantially better than the sphere grid, since at least it allows you to meaningful choose in what order to pick up new abilities/stat boosts. The sphere grid didn't really do that, with everyone's path being almost completely linear and the ability to deviate from those paths being put behind locks that you largely had trouble opening until at least midway into the game, and which were of questionable practicality compared to just finishing your character's main path first.

That said, I didn't really mind the sphere grid myself either. I do agree with Spoony's criticism of it (and its FF13 counterpart, the Crystarium) though: if you're going to make the whole thing linear and relatively easy to fill out anyway, why bother? Just have the characters gain stats and abilities automatically like in every other RPG. Then you get the same effect without the player needing to do anything manually.

[Shekinah]

Anyone else get a FFX sphere grid vide from the Lillium Orb? Not that that's bad, I actually liked the sphere grid.

I get a Final Fantasy vibe when the handmaid shows up. Does that count?

[CoffeeIncluded]

I'm annoyed at how few gp you get to invest in the orb at later levels, though not much since it does make sense. I do like the mechanic though.

[Sylthia]

I'm annoyed at how few gp you get to invest in the orb at later levels, though not much since it does make sense. I do like the mechanic though.

I noticed it went from 3 GP to 4 to 5 back down to 4. Does it go back down even further, or does it tick back up again? Seems kind of odd to get less GP at higher levels.

Do you at least get to max out the grid at level 99?

[Zevox]

Sheesh, you guys must be a ways further than me. I haven't seen my gp gain go up past 4 yet. I was assuming that just started to look small compared to the number of nodes needed to encircle new skills as time goes on. It already takes me two levels to do that now.

[Sylthia]

Sheesh, you guys must be a ways further than me. I haven't seen my gp gain go up past 4 yet. I was assuming that just started to look small compared to the number of nodes needed to encircle new skills as time goes on. It already takes me two levels to do that now.

I think I'm around level 50 or so now and it's started to go back down. It peaked at 5 for me.

[Shekinah]

As much as I hate Teepo for his annoyance, I really like Elize. I like everyone in Xillia, really.

[Sylthia]

As much as I hate Teepo for his annoyance, I really like Elize. I like everyone in Xillia, really.

The best scene in the game is when Rowen lets Elize and Jude stroke his beard.

[Ulm11]

Just got the direct tethering skit and I have to say that it has to be one of the most funny tales skits I have ever seen.

[Shekinah]

The best scene in the game is when Rowen lets Elize and Jude stroke his beard.

That scene made me cry.

[CoffeeIncluded]

That scene made me cry.

Really? How come?

[Sylthia]

Really? How come?

Tears of joy, I assure you.

[Shekinah]

Tears of joy, I assure you.

Tears of despair.

Beards are evil, as OOTS has proven to us. And he made them touch it...

I still weep at the thought of poor Elize. So young and so innocent.

[Zevox]

The best scene in the game is when Rowen lets Elize and Jude stroke his beard.

If by "best" you mean "most awkward." Sheesh, that was weird.

Great thing I got recently: apparently when you give the black feather merchant a total of 100 feathers, he gives you a free Arte Orb, which allows you to set a second batch of artes to L1+direction+circle (or L1+right stick). Man is that a godsend, especially for a caster/melee character like Milla. So annoying having to change my artes when I need a different elemental spell.

[Sylthia]

If by "best" you mean "most awkward." Sheesh, that was weird.

Great thing I got recently: apparently when you give the black feather merchant a total of 100 feathers, he gives you a free Arte Orb, which allows you to set a second batch of artes to L1+direction+circle (or L1+right stick). Man is that a godsend, especially for a caster/melee character like Milla. So annoying having to change my artes when I need a different elemental spell.

But a beard is best when it is shared with the poor non-bearded souls.

It is nice to have the extra shortcuts. It almost gives you more shortcuts than moves. You'll also get an item to let you assign more auto-items.