Water Affinity could probably be made less bad

[Nameless]

Firstly, loving the game.

The game makes it clear in the tutorial notes that unit elemental affinity affects their growth rates. Water affinity is listed as -STR and -SKL which means that a few recruited characters (Jules, Barnabas, and this latest physical attack character I just got are Water affinity) are underwhelming when you get them or as the game goes on. Not only are Water characters worse performers in battle as a result, having less STR and SKL also affects when characters can upgrade to later classes and it does feel like character classes also further affect growth rates (that's how it's looked to me so far considering leveling as a Gunner or Dragooon vs Ranger -> Dragoon leveling). This last point really only affects Jules though, but it was annoying that he was stuck as an 2-range Archer long after I was able to upgrade the rest of his squad to Warbows.

In a more broad sense, I think it might be worthwhile to revise the bonuses on affinities bit. Water is the most annoying one because it is just terrible for any kind of non-pure-magic user, but in general, Lightning, Dark, and, to a lesser extent, Fire seem like the best affinities and the rest of them are underwhelming.

[Morteon Eternity's Knight]

You do get several elemental changing items relatively easily and I buy every single one I can find. A good practice is to just dump every single water non magic caster unit into the trash and recruit and promote new ones, it may seem like its setting you back but actually youll be able to tier up non water units easier and theyll just be plain better.

[Maacbeyr]

I think the trade-off is that they get hit/crit bonuses in bad weather, they don't get any penalties like most of the other affinities. Problem is I don't think that comes up enough to matter.

[Nameless]

Originally posted by Morteon Eternity's Knight:

You do get several elemental changing items relatively easily and I buy every single one I can find. A good practice is to just dump every single water non magic caster unit into the trash and recruit and promote new ones, it may seem like its setting you back but actually youll be able to tier up non water units easier and theyll just be plain better.

You can't change affinities for set characters like Story characters and uniques as far as I can tell. I just think it's disappointing to get story character and then realize their stats are below average because of their affinity.

[PowerJack]

Originally posted by Nameless:

Originally posted by Morteon Eternity's Knight:

You do get several elemental changing items relatively easily and I buy every single one I can find. A good practice is to just dump every single water non magic caster unit into the trash and recruit and promote new ones, it may seem like its setting you back but actually youll be able to tier up non water units easier and theyll just be plain better.

You can't change affinities for set characters like Story characters and uniques as far as I can tell. I just think it's disappointing to get story character and then realize their stats are below average because of their affinity.

One of my gripes with this game, why the hell does barnabas have water affinity at least give him light, hell any other affinity would have been better. He is a lvl 20 Knight but only has 25 STR, the 2 Cavaliers (rank bellow Knight) that come with him when he joins come with light and lightning affinity and have 36 and 38 STR and are still lvl 12!!!
BTW Jules is also water and Sybil is fire?!?!?

[Rock]

The water affinity is great for healers and not bad for mages. No penalties for weather. I think its plenty strong. Its just a bad fit for Barnabus (who isn't really a good character anyhow). It does seem like giving Jules a gun would be a good strategy.

[Mechalibur]

Is there any reason the tomes can't be used on story characters? Seems like a strange decision.

I don't mind water being magic-focused and not great for physical characters... but only if we are't forced into that affinity for physical characters.

[Rock]

I don't mind it too much. I like having some extra limitations on story characters.

[Nameless]

Update: I have just recruited the unique Knight Sir Rolante and he is also Water affinity (I'm assuming affinity is preset and not random for uniques).

That makes all 3 preset Knights I have gotten in the game all Water affinity, Barnabas, the story Knight you get after Barnabas, and now Sir Rolante, which again lowers some core stats for physical classes.

Barnabas has awful base stats anyway, and I suppose the second Knight has Water affinity for flavor, but I think at least this unique Knight could have a different affinity. Really anything would be better than Water.

[Fusei]

Kinda off topic but regarding Barnabas, Jules and Sir Rolante. Let's keep in mind that they all have good squad leader traits (reduced capacity cost of cavalry/archers).
Them being poor fighters (due to affinity) is fine because they are amongst the best squad leaders.

Light affinity might have made them too good: reduce cap cost + very high leadership score could lead to early OPness.

[Crim]

The fact all 3 Knights are Water feels just boring, I don't care if Water is the strongest or weakest in this specific aspect, just the fact that they are all exactly the same feels underdesigned.

As far as Water reducing Strength and Skill omfg this is more brutal and insidious than most players would even realize

The bonus to Health is minuscule as well and bonuses to MAG is basically useless 80% of the time. Mass hiring people to make sure your fighters aren't Water is hilarious because of how useless Water is...

Upon realize my half way thru game that Water sucked so much and so many of my hired people were Water I literally restarted.

but yea...
Change Water to increase SKL instead of reduce it. It makes sense that a Water Element would be be skillful.


Also, why does Fire Element reduce MAG? Feels like it would increase it.