Leveling system

[fade2black001]

What's up with the leveling system? As you get higher in level it seems to take things away like ATK and HP and leave the things that you didn't ever touch beforehand in. Some of my characters are down to 2 choices for a bonus now. I read somewhere it was RNG based on your choices but does it also remove choices as well? Anyone know how this truly works?

[Army of Optimists]

There are only 29 bonus stat picks in the pool. Every time you choose one, it's removed, and each stat is only in the pool a maximum of 5 times. At max level, you'll have picked every bonus stat up.

You might think "If every stat shows up 5 times, how are there only 29 picks?" Each character comes with a predetermined level 1 bonus, so that one only shows up 4 times during level ups.

[fade2black001]

Originally posted by Army of Optimists:

There are only 29 bonus stat picks in the pool. Every time you choose one, it's removed, and each stat is only in the pool a maximum of 5 times. At max level, you'll have picked every bonus stat up.

You might think "If every stat shows up 5 times, how are there only 29 picks?" Each character comes with a predetermined level 1 bonus, so that one only shows up 4 times during level ups.

OK thank you

[Shadow]

I really don't like it, because I wanted to specialize my party members, i.e. have one glass cannon with only attack bonuses, one with only defensive, etc.

You'll still be able to do it a bit, though, since you're pretty unlikely to get to max level, but I don't really understand why I can't pick attack every time.

[fade2black001]

Originally posted by Shadow:

I really don't like it, because I wanted to specialize my party members, i.e. have one glass cannon with only attack bonuses, one with only defensive, etc.

You'll still be able to do it a bit, though, since you're pretty unlikely to get to max level, but I don't really understand why I can't pick attack every time.

You can edit a person's stats the way you want to with a trainer

[The Cystocot]

Huh, I was wondering why Physical Attack up was starting to appear less & less, thanks for the breakdown, Army of Optimists.

Actually kind of a bummer, a choice-based levelling system was the one way this game really seemed to be innovating on the games it was emulating, now it feels sort of empty & artificial...

[Weltall8000]

Yeah, I would have loved to be able to really customize the characters more and make them specialize in different ways. But, "oh well," it does effectively work out that way early/mid game. Sounds like late game that won't be the case.

[Army of Optimists]

Originally posted by The Cystocot:

Actually kind of a bummer, a choice-based levelling system was the one way this game really seemed to be innovating on the games it was emulating, now it feels sort of empty & artificial...

Eh, for what it's worth, the bonus stat on level up choice is pulled straight from Super Mario RPG.

The biggest innovations are the lock and boost systems. I actually think Sea of Stars has superb combat design, it's just a little lacking in variety. If abilities evolved a bit more visually and mechanically - as in, cut the accessories that upgrade Sunball and Lunar Shield. Instead, make those upgrades a thing you can choose, complete with new visual effects and names, and introduce new upgrades for all the other abilities. That'd do a lot to help the feeling that your characters are growing stronger and less like you're using the same ability the whole game.

[Weltall8000]

Though, in Mario RPG, you could continually emphasize whatever stat you wanted. It did have the fluctuations in how high the bonuses would be, but if one wanted to do physical power all the way to max level, one could.

The lock/boost/combo/ultimate system is very good and makes for a strong central gameplay loop. Even if in random encounters it doesn't usually get high enough to utilize the latter parts so often.

Yeah, maybe just a little more abilities, but having to get very acquainted with the ones we have is still pretty satisfying.