Tips for absolute beginners?

[Koro]

Any tips you could give to a beginner of this game? Anything you wish you knew earlier? Things like that. Thanks!

[VanillaLucia]

I have not combed the thread to see if this was put up anywhere, but my personal tip would be to use your character slots to your advantage. There are not many advantages to having multiple characters because they all progress separately (certain things like titles, Skill Points, Addon Skills, and more will be shared between all characters through your account). However, there is an upcoming Balance Patch that will grant each existing character created before the maintenance period of that update a N-Skill Tree Reset Pass. This means that for most players, this will grant you three instead of just one pass which will make it so that if you ever needed to respec your character in the future for whatever reason you have three tickets for it instead of just one.

At the same time, if you do get more "invested" in the gameplay, extra characters are free storage (they each have their own exclusive 300 Storage Slots by default). On my end, I do have certain classes set up to be unusable as a main class and geared purely as a Subclass due to the way skill points are allocated. A character I know will "never" be a main-class Fighter, for example, can be allocated in a way that optimizes them for use as a subclass. As a result, this means I have to level up more (but it's ultimately not that hard in New Genesis) and that I may have another character to work on gearing up - but I feel it is to be more enjoyable for me than to spend money buying a new skill tree to attempt doing the same thing. When you take this back to Phantasy Star Online 2 - you will need a minimum of two characters due to the nature of Mags if you wanted to try playing as every class (one character needs an S-ATK/R-ATK/T-ATK Mag to take advantage of certain class combinations or to use the majority of Successor classes and final end-game class combinations and the other character needs a DEX Mag to take advantage of very specific classes like the Braver, Bouncer, Phantom, and end-game class combinations that utilize the Phantom as a subclass like the Techer/Phantom and Summoner/Phantom). You can always buy a Mag separately with AC - but I feel that having another character simply allows you to just have that freedom without spending money you didn't need to spend.

There are some very questionable decisions with having more characters as you will be forced to buy a Character Permit for 500 AC which means that the deletion of any fourth character means you will again have to buy a permit for a "fourth" character. You will only have three character slots at all times and if you have less than three characters the creation of another character is free - but it will cost you to make more characters and it you will gain nothing back from deleting characters beyond that point as it is effectively 500 AC that has disappeared.

[DragonNoz]

I chose Fighter as my starting class. speed-based classes work pretty well, right?

[VanillaLucia]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

I chose Fighter as my starting class. speed-based classes work pretty well, right?

In terms of New Genesis, every class will work and it is ultimately up to your preferences to pick and choose what works for you. The game for the most part isn't difficult enough that you can trap yourself with bad options (at least not yet) so I would definitely recommend trying out classes you can and finding what works the best for you. My bias is personally that of a Gunner so every class feels "slow" and "easier" to me in comparison.

[Geo]

for an easy time hunter really good in ngs and has some high numbers :) for pso2 base game ranger is really fun but a lot more complex and cooler skills compared to NGS ranger, best tip would be get 2 classes to 75 which is pretty easy to do then roll etoile and steamroll all content with wand (insert laser beam) as for ngs I really haven't found a class I love so cannot say which as someone else mentioned try them all and see for yourself.

[DragonNoz]

Let's say I eventually want to get into the Classic version: when would be a good time to do so? I thinking after I finish chapter 1. Also, I decided to mix the ultra-close range of Fighter's daggers with Braver as a subclass, using the bow.

[Gilver Redgrave]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

Let's say I eventually want to get into the Classic version: when would be a good time to do so?

As a filler.
There will be a time (pretty soon depending on how active you play) when you have nothing to do at all. Thats when you wanna jump into the base game so you can "bridge" content drough. For us old players that does not work anymore but for new players like you its the best option getting trough that long months of Primordial Nothingness.

[VanillaLucia]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

Let's say I eventually want to get into the Classic version: when would be a good time to do so? Also, I decided to mix the ultra-close range of Fighter's daggers with Braver as a subclass, using the bow.

Any time is a nice time to return to Phantasy Star Online 2 - but your class combinations and your playstyles you are used to from New Genesis do not translate backwards. Towards the end of that game's lifespan, Sega decided to strangle player options and provided players with options that are superior to previous options (and also fix numerous class-related issues by virtue of changing numbers). I would heavily recommend you treat your classes you play between games differently as a result because New Genesis attempted to be an attempt at wiping the slate clean for "most" classes.

Alongside that, I would definitely recommend sticking to what you can until you reach Level 75 with two classes to unlock the Successor classes (who are the four classes I was referring to as the "better options") before you fully commit to deciding a main class and subclass. From here, you will be able to build your classes "for real" with the intended end-game quality-of-life changes without spending extra money to fix mistakes you made earlier. When you get to Level 85, you will have unlocked the final skill for most classes which is ultimately a major gamechanger for many of the classes (for instance a skill that makes the Fighter finally able to stand up in taking a hit from all later content, a skill that makes hybrid-Braver finally playable and viable, and so on).

I don't mean to say that you aren't allowed to experiment and play around - but I personally dislike seeing players get punished for experimenting and trying things out - only to find out that they have fundamentally broken and unusable builds because they wanted to tinker around in a system that Sega allowed them to do so - but at the same time to be punished in gameplay and content where Sega clearly prefers "their" decisions over what players can do.

[Nietzchan]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

Also, I decided to mix the ultra-close range of Fighter's daggers with Braver as a subclass, using the bow.

If close range adrenaline rush is your playstyle, you would probably love playing Luster (gunblade exclusive class) in base PSO2. they works great with fighter sub and has a very fast paced gameplay where you fight bosses up close and personal. They have extreme mobility and three types of fighting style. Man, I wish SEGA would keep those mechanics in NGS, because the transition from Summoner-> Waker scares me.

[Pkmnmastr]

Originally posted by Nietzchan:

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

Also, I decided to mix the ultra-close range of Fighter's daggers with Braver as a subclass, using the bow.

If close range adrenaline rush is your playstyle, you would probably love playing Luster (gunblade exclusive class) in base PSO2. they works great with fighter sub and has a very fast paced gameplay where you fight bosses up close and personal. They have extreme mobility and three types of fighting style. Man, I wish SEGA would keep those mechanics in NGS, because the transition from Summoner-> Waker scares me.

Luster can't have a sub. Unless you are talkin about main class Fighter and sub class Luster.

[DragonNoz]

I'm thinking of going to Base PSO2 after finishing Chapter 1 of NGS, or getting partway through it. Being perfectly honest, this is my first time PLAYING New Genesis: I only got it a few days ago, with my "reccomended ship" being Ship 4.

[VanillaLucia]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

I'm thinking of going to Base PSO2 after finishing Chapter 1 of NGS, or getting partway through it. Being perfectly honest, this is my first time PLAYING New Genesis: I only got it a few days ago.

I would definitely treat the the classes (and the class design) as being different between both games as New Genesis takes what you get at Level 75/75 from Phantasy Star Online 2 and brings it to the very beginning.

But in New Genesis, you do not have to worry about your build or what you do with your class combination because the game isn't difficult enough to warrant specific builds and Sega has kept things straight-forward enough that you can do what you want to a relatively free degree.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is not as "freeing" in comparison and I would heavily encourage that you try to look ahead to the later class combinations because what you have access to will absolutely not hold up (you do not want to prepare a "Hunter Sub" unless that character will never be a Hunter, for example, because you will get a superior option later that will mean you either have a botched Hunter main class or an inferior option lacking quality-of-life). This is why I play with multiple characters because there are far too many "traps" that can get in the way of you either just playing the game or simply gating you out of content because of choices that should have been possible that Sega simply slapped players for thinking and doing.

[Pkmnmastr]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

I'm thinking of going to Base PSO2 after finishing Chapter 1 of NGS, or getting partway through it. Being perfectly honest, this is my first time PLAYING New Genesis: I only got it a few days ago, with my "reccomended ship" being Ship 4.

That's unfortunate, Ship 4 has the lowest population of all of them. Hopefully you can find people to play with.

[Nietzchan]

Originally posted by Pkmnmastr:

Originally posted by Nietzchan:

If close range adrenaline rush is your playstyle, you would probably love playing Luster (gunblade exclusive class) in base PSO2. they works great with fighter sub and has a very fast paced gameplay where you fight bosses up close and personal. They have extreme mobility and three types of fighting style. Man, I wish SEGA would keep those mechanics in NGS, because the transition from Summoner-> Waker scares me.

Luster can't have a sub. Unless you are talkin about main class Fighter and sub class Luster.

Ah, yes luster as sub, a lot of its passives are very good for aggressive playstyle. They also makes gunblades quite powerful, although not having access to Luster PA and unique stances hurts the flow.

Luster by itself is also very fun to play like fighter on steroid. I remember the last time I played PSO2 base game I just stick to Luster and Etoile over anything else

[Geo]

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

Let's say I eventually want to get into the Classic version: when would be a good time to do so? I thinking after I finish chapter 1. Also, I decided to mix the ultra-close range of Fighter's daggers with Braver as a subclass, using the bow.

any time :) classic pso2 story mode gives INSANE amounts of SG good for buying those cosmetics or wep camo's :) also base pso2 is a great way to learn what NGS is based from, plus has much more content obviously, i defo recommend base pso2 over NGS for any new player, just avoid the crafting system until late game, much much more complex than NGS xD
EDIT
as someone mentioned class combinations in base pso2 is a nightmare but once you get x2 classes to 75 you unlock the scion classes, those are really fun to play!

[Prokaizer]

Originally posted by Geo:

Originally posted by DragonNoz:

Let's say I eventually want to get into the Classic version: when would be a good time to do so? I thinking after I finish chapter 1. Also, I decided to mix the ultra-close range of Fighter's daggers with Braver as a subclass, using the bow.

also base pso2 is a great way to learn what NGS is based from

What are you talking about, NGS is an completely different game than the base one.

There is no Dark Falze "virus" that drives people insane, the gameplay is completely different, the story went from Dark themed to childrens show, Photon blasts used to be summons instead of weapon VFX effects, Mags used to fight with you, we used to battle Dark Falze to save the whole galaxy, when now we just help a few random plebs.

The difference between the 2 games is night and day.

Also worth mentioning that the power levels in story seems to be nerfed to the ground.
The council used to have strong characters, the mother Ark had strong characters, Dark falze characters used to be strong, Shiva and the others were strong, Phaleg were strong, our character was strong.
In NGS story characters just shoot things with guns or just slashing stuff with the sword and that's it.
No magic tricks, no explosions, no superhuman strength, nothing.
They don't even use their photons to create powerfull skills anymore.
The whole story is messed up and the power levels nerfed to the ground in NGS.

If we assume that our character dropped 1.000 years later or whatever the story is supposed to be and everyone in Aelio / Retem etc. are so weak as they seem in the story cutscenes, our character should have been at the power level of Saitama compared to everyone else. (we beat Dark Falze / Mother ark / Shiva / Phaleg in 1 v 1 etc).