Dragon Warrior/Quest

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

I'm a bit disappointed that this isn't on the VC yet. It would make things a lot more convenient.

Sharecrow and I, two old old-school Dragon Warrior/Quest fans, have been hankering to play the main series in order now that it's fully accessible in the West. So starting tonight, I believe we're going to gear up for Dragon Warrior, available in North America on NES and GB. By the time we finish, perhaps DQX will be out.


Dragon Warrior (GBC/NES)
Dragon Warrior II (GBC)
Dragon Warrior III (GBC)
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS)
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS)
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (DS)
Dragon Warrior VII (PS1)
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2)
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS)
Dragon Quest X (Wii)

[pdRydia]

Where the heck have all the DQV gone?

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

Where the heck have all the DQV gone?

Are they rare now?

[link64]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

Are they rare now?

There used as currency in third world countries

[Sharecrow]

Okay, I'm playing the only available format I have of Dragon Warrior I - the GBC version. My NES version is out of town right now.

Anyway, I started it and was pleasantly surprised that they made more enhancements and subtle changes to the game than I'd expected.

Let me take a moment to say I love this ****ing game.

Anyway, I am still in the region surrounding Tantagel. My name is Thor, I am level 3, and I currently have the club, leather armor, and dragon scale. I'd owned the bamboo stick earlier (in part to get it and in part to live within my means). The clothes armor I will buy later just to have it. I still want to get the leather shield. I haven't yet decided if I am going to hold out for the copper sword before moving north....depends on how I feel about it.

I'll buy it at some point, that's for sure.

[Diebythesword]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

Where the heck have all the DQV gone?

It was going for $20 yesterday on Amazon for a Deal of the Day. Supposedly it's reprinted now so now they have them for $40 (, Ill wait for $20 again heh). Been thinking about getting DQIV since it's only about $20, I only own DW I&II and DQIX (I own DW on NES but have no working NES ).

The order doesn't matter right? I kinda wanna play IX, and I might join this fest since I haven't beaten DW II yet.

[slangman]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I'm a bit disappointed that this isn't on the VC yet. It would make things a lot more convenient.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS)

I find it quite odd that the original Dragon Warrior isn't upon VC, let alone the other games in the series.

I have borrowed Dragon Quest: Hand of the Heavenly Bride for a while now. Stupidly enough, I haven't even touched it yet (Got distracted by Fire Emblem (GBA) and other portable games). Doubt I will beat it before I have to give it back now.

I suppose I could give it a brief play through, just have a first impression.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Diebythesword

The order doesn't matter right? I kinda wanna play IX, and I might join this fest since I haven't beaten DW II yet.

The order doesn't really matter for other people joining in. For Share and I, the point is to go in order in some kind of vain relishing of series completion.

OK Share, I'm playing the GB version as well. I'll be playing it on my GCN's GBP.

[lordbowser]

I need to get my butt in gear and work on the second game.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Holy ****, I forgot, this can be my first chance to use that awesome Hori GBP pad I bought! Excitement!

[Sharecrow]

I'm level 6 now (still Thor of course ). I am hanging out in Garinham grinding for better weapons and armor. I currently have the copper sword, leather armor, leather shield, and dragon scale.

[Mickeymac]

Wow, what a coincidence. I was playing Dragon Warrior 1 for the GBC just the other day. I played it for over an hour, making a lot of progress, made off with some gold from the western cave, and then instead of going straight back to the castle, I went south to see what was there, and encountered the Golem (or whatever they call it in this game), who then killed me. Lost a lot of that gold, so I shut off and lost all of that day's progress.

[Sharecrow]

Level 7 - currently have the Iron Hammer, Chainmail, Leather Shield, and a Dragon Scale. I'm just about to loot the Western Cave... I have yet to stay at any inn.

[Mickeymac]

Originally Posted by Sharecrow

Level 7 - currently have the Iron Hammer, Chainmail, Leather Shield, and a Dragon Scale. I'm just about to loot the Western Cave... I have yet to stay at any inn.

Haha, I was just about to post this as well. Except I found the Pixy Flute. I need to level up before I attempt the Golem, though.

[Sharecrow]

Sheesh - I'm out of control.

Anyway, Thor is now level 9. I have the Iron Hammer, Iron Armor, Iron Shield, Dragon Scale, and War Ring / Fighter's Ring. I just got to Kol. There's some stuff I want to buy there and then I'm heading south.

Edit: still no inn stays

[Mickeymac]

Gah, I got some catching up to do. That answers the question of what to play before bed.

[lordbowser]

I just got the Golden Key in DWII. I like how I'm not hurting for gold anymore either, at least not yet.

[Yossarian]

You may not have seen this.

A Dragon Quest Collection for Wii Draws Near! - Wii News @ Nintendo Life

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

You may not have seen this. [DQ compilation link snipped]

Hmm... so it's DQ1, DQ2, DQ3, DQ1 & 2, and DQ3 on a disc? Heh. They should have gone all the way and included the second trilogy as well. I guess this is a pretty neat and comprehensive Famicom compilation though, with the originals and their remakes.

[Sharecrow]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

You may not have seen this.

A Dragon Quest Collection for Wii Draws Near! - Wii News @ Nintendo Life

I'm so getting that.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Never played DQ before, but would so pick that collection up if it ever got a release in Europe. I mean they promoted the hell out of one of the DS games over here, so there's much be a little hope, right?

[Mickeymac]

Yeah, I'm getting that collection, too. I would've prefer full remakes for the 3DS, but I'll take what I can, assuming it's for a budget price.

[Ausden]

Pretty obvious, I'll be getting this as well. Let's hope there is some sort of special features disc or booklet included.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

We're assuming it'll come to NA... I guess I kind of assume that too. I sure hope so, anyway.

Mick, I'd rather have the straight ports of these ones, since the SFC games are remakes of the first three. If they just remade them altogether we'd only get three new games instead of 5-6 retro ones. When it comes to Dragon Warrior/Quest, I likes me some hardcore old-schoolness.

[Mickeymac]

Currently level 10, with a Steel Sword, Steel Armor, and Iron Shield. Got to Rimuldar, bought some keys and equipment, then went and got the Sun Stone. Then I explored Garinham's Tomb (or whatever) and died because I forgot to put the Sword Wielding Skeletons to sleep. Luckily I saved after I got the Sun Stone.

[Sharecrow]

Okay, I'm now level 10 and my next stop is going to be Rimuldar. I have the Iron Hammer, the Steel Armor (AKA Full-Plate), Iron Shield, Dragon Scale, and the War Ring (AKA Fighter's Ring). I still haven't stayed at an inn (or used a wyvern's wing for that matter). I think that may need to change soon, though...

Good times.

[pdRydia]

I decided to devote slightly less time to the game I've already beaten a million times so I can finish DQ9. I'm at Wormwood now.

[LinkFanatic]

Seeing how DW 1 was the very first turn-based RPG I ever played that got me hooked on the genre, I would SO buy that collection, so here's to Squeenix shipping it over to NA...c'mon now guys!!

[Yossarian]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

I decided to devote slightly less time to the game I've already beaten a million times so I can finish DQ9. I'm at Wormwood now.

Woo! It took me a while to get the joke about the next location on your travels.

I've had no joy with multiplayer yet so have been going through the post game grottos to try and find a particular enemy and kill it in a particular way. Fun!

I've had a break from it for a fortnight but after the harrowing experience of Theresia it will be good to return to some mindless levelling and building skill trees.

[Sharecrow]

Okay, Thor is now level 14, and I have the Iron Sword, Magic Armor, Iron Shield, War Ring, and Dragon Scale. I'm going to go for this ****ing harp next.

I love this game.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

I posted this in a blog here but I forgot to post in thread. Ol' Jog beat the game last night at level 23 (GBC version). Such a great game. 4.8/5. Looking forward to starting DW2 next week.

[Sharecrow]

Level 16 - Flame Sword, Magic Armor, Iron Shield, Dragon Scame, and the War Ring. I'm hanging out in Mercado AKA Cantlin.

[Sharecrow]

Okay, I beat the first one (GBC version...) Thor was level 22 at the end but just barely. I had the Erdrick / Loto armor and sword, the silver shield, the war / fighter ring, and the dragon scale. I still had several rounds left in me when the Dragon Lord died. I never saved the princess so I had the ending without her in it.

I love this game. I'm giving it an 8 out of 10, though. The graphics updates and some of the other updates were great (the existence of status upgrade items like the life acorn and strength seed...a vault to store stuff in one of the towns). Other tweaks, though understandable, were oddly disappointing to me. They toned down the difficulty overall. It was much easier to accumulate levels and gold than in the original. I think they did this to make it less grindy, but there were only a couple times where I was concerned about where I was and I wasn't being all that careful. I like getting stressed out occasionally

Also, I don't like that they messed with town names and even Erdrick's name. I understand that 'Loto' is more consistent with what was really the original - the Famicom version, but seriously. It probably wouldn't irritate me if I hadn't [over-]played the first one as much as I did.

I'll start the GBC version of part 2 in the next day or so.

[pdRydia]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

I've had no joy with multiplayer yet so have been going through the post game grottos to try and find a particular enemy and kill it in a particular way. Fun!

I keep trying to beat the game, but I get distracted by power-leveling. I'm going to max out the clock before I decide to even enter the final dungeon.

I haven't even touched a grotto.

[edit] I've been trying to figure out the charm/style stats. I've noticed that the same piece of equipment gives different style boosts for different characters. So I wonder if style is affected by other pieces of equipment, or even the traits you gave your character upon creation (hair color, height, etc).

[Yossarian]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

I keep trying to beat the game, but I get distracted by power-leveling. I'm going to max out the clock before I decide to even enter the final dungeon.

I haven't even touched a grotto.

[edit] I've been trying to figure out the charm/style stats. I've noticed that the same piece of equipment gives different style boosts for different characters. So I wonder if style is affected by other pieces of equipment, or even the traits you gave your character upon creation (hair color, height, etc).

How are and where are you power levelling? Are you focussing on one vocation or are you building up your stats in lots of them?
You don't have to be super characters for the final dungeon just have some good stats behind you and the best equipment you can afford / make. Have you used the alchemy pot in Stornway yet? You can soup up your equipment quite nicely early on using that pot.

I took on the final boss with a level 40ish team and was fine as most characters had got some nice base stat boosts from levelling up the skill trees across multiple vocations. If you haven't already done so it's worth unlocking the 'secret' vocations so that you can take advantage of the stat boosts and nifty abilities.

Grottos are mainly post game as some of the locations are only accessible once you have a post game item. It's worth having a look though if you can (the quest that gives you your first treasure map is located just outside of the top of Zere's Rock) as grottos give you access to some nice pick ups such as equipment or alchemy ingredients.

As far as I know charm/style is based on your equipped items. You may notice you occassionally get accolades via the battle records screen when you equip a random combination of equipment. It's nice to have a charming party as it can often make enemies miss a turn or develop a status affliction such as confusion.

[pdRydia]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

How are and where are you power levelling? Are you focusing on one vocation or are you building up your stats in lots of them?

Metal Medleys in The Bad Cave, mostly. With Omnivocational Swordsmasters and Vanish, I sneak up on them and Metal Slash the heck out of them. I give the Falcon Blade to the character with highest speed. I'm building folks up to low levels in most vocations (20ish), though everyone has one vocation they're 40ish in (Minstrel, Monk, Monk, Priest).

Originally Posted by Yossarian

You don't have to be super characters for the final dungeon just have some good stats behind you and the best equipment you can afford / make. Have you used the alchemy pot in Stornway yet? You can soup up your equipment quite nicely early on using that pot.

Started using the alchemy pot right away. That's another distraction from beating the game...

Originally Posted by Yossarian

I took on the final boss with a level 40ish team and was fine as most characters had got some nice base stat boosts from levelling up the skill trees across multiple vocations. If you haven't already done so it's worth unlocking the 'secret' vocations so that you can take advantage of the stat boosts and nifty abilities.

I like the boosts from Focus and Acquisitiveness, personally. I've got everyone to 100 in Focus and most are at or near 82 in Acquisitiveness for the major AGI bonus, and the DEFT bonuses aren't bad, either.

I do like the Ranger, though. Vanish is nice for ganking alchemy items off the world map, and for sneaking up on MMs with level 1 characters. Like the boomerang, too.

[Yossarian]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

Metal Medleys in The Bad Cave, mostly. With Omnivocational Swordsmasters and Vanish, I sneak up on them and Metal Slash the heck out of them. I give the Falcon Blade to the character with highest speed. I'm building folks up to low levels in most vocations (20ish), though everyone has one vocation they're 40ish in (Minstrel, Monk, Monk, Priest).

Started using the alchemy pot right away. That's another distraction from beating the game...

I like the boosts from Focus and Acquisitiveness, personally. I've got everyone to 100 in Focus and most are at or near 82 in Acquisitiveness for the major AGI bonus, and the DEFT bonuses aren't bad, either.

I do like the Ranger, though. Vanish is nice for ganking alchemy items off the world map, and for sneaking up on MMs with level 1 characters. Like the boomerang, too.

Metal medleys are good but liquid slimes are better. They live in the bowhole area and there are plenty of good xp monsters whilst you wait for then to spawn. If you haven't already try and get the paladin vocation for some useful resilience boosts.
The alchemy may seem a distraction but some of the elemental protection is invaluable against some of the later bosses.

[pdRydia]

I haven't tried with Liquid Metals yet because I figure I'd be wasting time with them running away. I only have one Falcon Blade, and that's just enough to always take out any MM in a go, but not enough to always take out a LM. Maybe I should test it out and see how it goes.

[Yossarian]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

I haven't tried with Liquid Metals yet because I figure I'd be wasting time with them running away. I only have one Falcon Blade, and that's just enough to always take out any MM in a go, but not enough to always take out a LM. Maybe I should test it out and see how it goes.

If you have omnivocational sword masters than you can make use of the falcon slash ability with your falcon blade to score up to four hits.

Instant death weapons / abilities / criticals are also very helpful. If you have a knife user assassin's stab / blade is effective and your boomerang users can use ooze bruiser. Spear users can use mercurial thrust for a chance at a first hit. Axe users can use hatchet man.

Boost your agility with an agility ring and if you've been busy with the mini medals you may have a meteorite bracer. If you use alchemy with this and a falcon blade you can make the uber falcon blade.

This is a pretty solid strategy against all metal slimes.

[pdRydia]

I fought some Liquid Metals yesterday, they aren't bad at all. Metal Slimes have 2-4 HP, Metal Medleys 5-7, and Liquid Metals have 7-9--not nearly the large jump up I was expecting. Fortunately all my characters have something like +160 to their base AGI thanks to Focus and Acquisitiveness, so going first isn't an issue (yet).

Is Falcon Slash good to use against metal slimes? Regular hits seem to miss on them so much that I just use Metal Slash for the sure hit.