Incline Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children - isometric tactical Korean SRPG

[Sykar]

Anne pwnage:

 

[notpl]

I gave up on this game very early on because it looked like the character development was almost entirely passive (and in combat you only use 1-2 "verbs" per character) and, worse, you had to fucking grind mobs to unlock those little skill slot things you use to do it. Was I wrong about either of those things, or do you all just have very different tastes than I do and you think that stuff is good?

 

[Zumbabul]

I gave up on this game very early on because it looked like the character development was almost entirely passive (and in combat you only use 1-2 "verbs" per character) and, worse, you had to fucking grind mobs to unlock those little skill slot things you use to do it. Was I wrong about either of those things, or do you all just have very different tastes than I do and you think that stuff is good?

The game has a very slow start. If you gave up in chapter 1 or 2, this is probably the game's fault. However, at the end of chapter 2/beginning of chapter 3, the game opens up and becomes extremely interesting. From my experience, you don't need to grind in this game. If you finish each mission once, you will get all the necessary mastery/money (with exception of a couple of missions).

In my opinion, the game has the best build porn of all the RPGs that I played. Compared to troubleshooter build porn, pathfinder one looks like light erotics. In fact, closer to the end of the game, people are usually overwhelmed with the amount of new game mechanics and available options.

The game has a very rich RPG system, but it opens up in chapter 3. If you gave up before this point, give the game a second chance. This game deserves it.

 

[notpl]

I gave up on this game very early on because it looked like the character development was almost entirely passive (and in combat you only use 1-2 "verbs" per character) and, worse, you had to fucking grind mobs to unlock those little skill slot things you use to do it. Was I wrong about either of those things, or do you all just have very different tastes than I do and you think that stuff is good?

The game has a very slow start. If you gave up in chapter 1 or 2, this is probably the game's fault. However, at the end of chapter 2/beginning of chapter 3, the game opens up and becomes extremely interesting. From my experience, you don't need to grind in this game. If you finish each mission once, you will get all the necessary mastery/money (with exception of a couple of missions).

In my opinion, the game has the best build porn of all the RPGs that I played. Compared to troubleshooter build porn, pathfinder one looks like light erotics. In fact, closer to the end of the game, people are usually overwhelmed with the amount of new game mechanics and available options.

The game has a very rich RPG system, but it opens up in chapter 3. If you gave up before this point, give the game a second chance. This game deserves it.

I'm almost certain that I gave up in chapter 2, so I'll commit a day or two to getting past that and give it another shot based on your recommendation.

 

[Sjukob]

I feel like that about the moment you recruit Heixing the game changes from: "try to survive whatever is thrown at you" to "let's see which character scores the most kills during the mission". I've just recruited Giselle and it feels like the party has already reached an overkill levels of power, playing on cruel + challenging doesn't help. I don't even bother with builds and gear too much, it would've been even more hilarious if I knew what I was doing and optimising the characters accordingly. Well, it seems like the only way to get any decent gear past level 30 is crafting and that is really expensive. I've heard that there are quite abrupt difficulty spikes towards the end, especially in the DLC, we'll see how it goes.

 

[Shaki]

I feel like that about the moment you recruit Heixing the game changes from: "try to survive whatever is thrown at you" to "let's see which character scores the most kills during the mission". I've just recruited Giselle and it feels like the party has already reached an overkill levels of power, playing on cruel + challenging doesn't help. I don't even bother with builds and gear too much, it would've been even more hilarious if I knew what I was doing and optimising the characters accordingly. Well, it seems like the only way to get any decent gear past level 30 is crafting and that is really expensive. I've heard that there are quite abrupt difficulty spikes towards the end, especially in the DLC, we'll see how it goes.

There is a point in midgame where you just obliterate everything for some time, especially if you don't use the additional option to lvlcap yourself and are outleveled for new missions.

It's just a trap though, it lulls you into a false sense of security, just to make the bullshit you're about to face, even more painful. Cherish the time you spend on waltzing through the story without worrying about your builds, because soon you'll have to rebuild majority of them from scratch. The game will start throwing curveballs at you, and they will never stop.

 

[Sykar]

The level cap advanced option is vital imho. Being overleveled ruins the balance of the game in many parts. I also like High Risk High Reward. It makes you fear those bosses but gives you a little bonus if you defeat them.

 

[Lhynn]

I feel like that about the moment you recruit Heixing the game changes from: "try to survive whatever is thrown at you" to "let's see which character scores the most kills during the mission". I've just recruited Giselle and it feels like the party has already reached an overkill levels of power, playing on cruel + challenging doesn't help. I don't even bother with builds and gear too much, it would've been even more hilarious if I knew what I was doing and optimising the characters accordingly. Well, it seems like the only way to get any decent gear past level 30 is crafting and that is really expensive. I've heard that there are quite abrupt difficulty spikes towards the end, especially in the DLC, we'll see how it goes.

There is a point in midgame where you just obliterate everything for some time, especially if you don't use the additional option to lvlcap yourself and are outleveled for new missions.

It's just a trap though, it lulls you into a false sense of security, just to make the bullshit you're about to face, even more painful. Cherish the time you spend on waltzing through the story without worrying about your builds, because soon you'll have to rebuild majority of them from scratch. The game will start throwing curveballs at you, and they will never stop.

Pretty much, every new gang you face forces you to rebuild your characters, because what was effective with the previous one simply wont work well with them.

And it is also true that by endgame the whole system can be a bit overwhelming. Figuring out new characters while seeing how new masteries can be implemented to expand old characters can take a while to sort out. Also by endgame you actually do need to grind masteries, crafting the top level ones requires many of the lower ones and you have many characters to take care of. But it is pretty great to see the things you can do by the end, every character turns into a beast.

 

[Sykar]

Which is why I appreciate that they are rather generous with new training manuals when new characters join.

 

[Rafidur]

There should be a violent mission facing all the... White Shark? Tiger? bosses, at this point you should get your shit absolutely pushed in if you have all the difficulty options on.

 

[Sjukob]

It's just a trap though, it lulls you into a false sense of security, just to make the bullshit you're about to face, even more painful. Cherish the time you spend on waltzing through the story without worrying about your builds, because soon you'll have to rebuild majority of them from scratch. The game will start throwing curveballs at you, and they will never stop.

So when does it happen? Do I need to get to DLC content? I'm assuming it will happen when enemies like bicron start appearing regularly, the one in the story mission took me some time to clubber down.

The level cap advanced option is vital imho. Being overleveled ruins the balance of the game in many parts. I also like High Risk High Reward. It makes you fear those bosses but gives you a little bonus if you defeat them.

Considering the amount of grind in certain cases I actually appreciate that I'm able to breeze through certain missions. I think I've completed Magenta Backstreets violent case like 10 times already to farm Oliver and Caohong and I'm still sitting at like 60% knowledge for both of them. That's just tiresome.

Also, is there a point in beating Silver, can you get any useful masteries out of him?

 

[Zumbabul]

So when does it happen? Do I need to get to DLC content? I'm assuming it will happen when enemies like bicron start appearing regularly, the one in the story mission took me some time to clubber down.

Starting from v39, you should start shitting bricks in almost all violent cases.

Also, is there a point in beating Silver, can you get any useful masteries out of him?

No. Besides challenge/fun or an unhealthy urge to fill all information, there is no need to kill Silver.

 

[notpl]

Am I missing something with the mastery research system? Unbelievable tedium notwithstanding, they all require lower-level masteries that I've never seen before, which themselves are not researchable. Literally every single researchable mastery that I don't already have several of is like this, it isn't actually possible for me to research a new mastery of any kind.

 

[Sjukob]

Am I missing something with the mastery research system? Unbelievable tedium notwithstanding, they all require lower-level masteries that I've never seen before, which themselves are not researchable. Literally every single researchable mastery that I don't already have several of is like this, it isn't actually possible for me to research a new mastery of any kind.

Some masteries can only be acquired by gathering enough information about certain criminals aka beating them repeatedly. What masteries are you missing, I'm assuming it's something like superiority, veteran and recluse, right?

 

[notpl]

Am I missing something with the mastery research system? Unbelievable tedium notwithstanding, they all require lower-level masteries that I've never seen before, which themselves are not researchable. Literally every single researchable mastery that I don't already have several of is like this, it isn't actually possible for me to research a new mastery of any kind.

Some masteries can only be acquired by gathering enough information about certain criminals aka beating them repeatedly. What masteries are you missing, I'm assuming it's something like superiority, veteran and recluse, right?

Anything class-related, for a start. "Bladestorm," for example, is a swordsman mastery unlocked through progressing in Albus's base class, but making it requires a different swordsman mastery, "Sharp Blade," that I don't have and can't craft, and it isn't in the list the swordsman class learns.

 

[Sykar]

It is one of my pet peeves of this game that you can easily max both your advanced classes and hardly being able to utilize ANY of its unique masteries because you not only lack the neccessary prerequesite mastery to research and craft them but you do not even know where to get it from. I would rather have the increase the amount of experience needed to slow down progression than gating it behind such an annoying mechanic. This also makes the fact that many enemies start to have these masteries themselves before you can get them without meta knowledge simply galling.
Even worse some advanced classes have to be fully unlocked on two characters to get access to all masteries. Battle Mage is especially terrible here. There is almost NO mastery you can use even if you maxed it out on both Sion and Irene and there is no excuse for that. In my current playthrough my party is around level 25. I am not able to create a single battle mage mastery and all are unlocked. I have to look up now what exactly is missing but suffice to say, it is irritating leveling a class and not being able to use a signle mastery you unlock. This is bad design imho. I have no problem if SOME of them were gated. But all or almost all? Ugh frustrating.
It is part of why I opted for getting HR/HR advanced option to reduce the chance of not getting vital masteries even if it buffs up all non-standard enemies notably.

 

[Sjukob]

Anything class-related, for a start. "Bladestorm," for example, is a swordsman mastery unlocked through progressing in Albus's base class, but making it requires a different swordsman mastery, "Sharp Blade," that I don't have and can't craft, and it isn't in the list the swordsman class learns.

Here's the guide that will help you with acquiring masteries, as you can see your best bet of discovering sharp blade recipe early is beating up backstreet swordsman.

 

[notpl]

Anything class-related, for a start. "Bladestorm," for example, is a swordsman mastery unlocked through progressing in Albus's base class, but making it requires a different swordsman mastery, "Sharp Blade," that I don't have and can't craft, and it isn't in the list the swordsman class learns.

Here's the guide that will help you with acquiring masteries, as you can see your best bet of discovering sharp blade recipe early is beating up backstreet swordsman.

Okay, so yes, you do have to grind mobs to unlock the character customization options like I initially said. People who like this game are sick in the head and I'll pray for you all.

 

[Sjukob]

Okay, so yes, you do have to grind mobs to unlock the character customization options like I initially said. People who like this game are sick in the head and I'll pray for you all.

Wait till you meet people who play DOS or Pathfinder.

 

[Shaki]

Anything class-related, for a start. "Bladestorm," for example, is a swordsman mastery unlocked through progressing in Albus's base class, but making it requires a different swordsman mastery, "Sharp Blade," that I don't have and can't craft, and it isn't in the list the swordsman class learns.

Here's the guide that will help you with acquiring masteries, as you can see your best bet of discovering sharp blade recipe early is beating up backstreet swordsman.

Okay, so yes, you do have to grind mobs to unlock the character customization options like I initially said. People who like this game are sick in the head and I'll pray for you all.

You don't, you can play every mission only once, and you'll still get all the important masteries, around the point when you're intended to have them. There are hundreds of masteries, and the game is balanced around the assumption that you'll get access to certain ones, at certain points in the game. You can metagame, grind, and unlock them early, making multiple future missions much easier for yourself, but while it's something that the game allows you to do, it never forces you to do it.

 

[Sykar]

Irene battle mage pwnage:

 

[Reinhardt]

JUSTICE ~ POWER!

 

[Zumbabul]

Am I missing something with the mastery research system? Unbelievable tedium notwithstanding, they all require lower-level masteries that I've never seen before, which themselves are not researchable. Literally every single researchable mastery that I don't already have several of is like this, it isn't actually possible for me to research a new mastery of any kind.

Some masteries can only be acquired by gathering enough information about certain criminals aka beating them repeatedly. What masteries are you missing, I'm assuming it's something like superiority, veteran and recluse, right?

Anything class-related, for a start. "Bladestorm," for example, is a swordsman mastery unlocked through progressing in Albus's base class, but making it requires a different swordsman mastery, "Sharp Blade," that I don't have and can't craft, and it isn't in the list the swordsman class learns.

If you just do missions without any grind, you will kill enough swordsmen to get 'sharp blade'. Same with other masteries that you can only get from enemies. The idea is that they are locked behind the progression of the story.

 

[Sjukob]

Yo guys, I've just noticed that recruiting Giselle unlock base defense and fire support masteries. Together with hysteria and open mind that I acquired for completing story missions I can finally put "You won't catch me off guard" and "I am here" on Heixing. LET'S FUCKING GO!

Now I only "I resist" and it'll be golden.

 

[Sjukob]

I feel like whoever was designing enemy beasts wanted to make fighting them as annoying as possible. Whenever they die they fart out poison, fire and ice mist everywhere, this shit can't be easily removed and considering that maps are generally cramped and that about half of the beasts have second heart/cheat death/hybernation, which allows them to spread their shit 2 times, it almost feels like the developers are just trolling you: "We know that the beasts are not strong enough to kill you, but please get poisoned, then please get exploded, then please get frostbit and then please take 3 turns instead of 1 to kill everything, because darkness hunter and therefore responsive attacks don't work, please, please, please". And I haven't even mentioned bleeding, infection, bruise, fucking web which is everywhere, and similar things. Gee, no wonder that everyone and their dog runs mutant on almost every character.