Can someone explain the characters and NG+?

[Werner]

Hi,

I'm looking to get all achievements, but I'm not sure I understand how the game works with main characters, recruitments and new game plus.

- Since I need two playthroughts to 100% the game, which character should I start with? I assume I want my NG+ party for the bonus dungeon - so I should pick the weakest character/team for the first playthrough, right?

- Are both Claude and Rena in the party whatever route I pick? Can I control which character I want?

- Are there any combination of recruitable characters from both routes in NG+ or is it still strictly one ordinary playthrough and one playthrough on NG+ to finish the rest of the achievements and the bonus dungeon (assuming I only want to do two playthroughs, ofcourse)?

Appreciate some explaining. :) Thanks!

[Second Duke Revier]

- Starting with either Claude or Rena is fine, you only miss out on one character either way. Rena is arguably "weaker"(read: less straightforward) than Claude, but it doesn't matter too much, because...
- Yes, both characters are almost always present, and yes, you can choose which character is controlled/leads the party at any point of time. The two are often(but not always) synonymous.
- Some characters lock out others. Ashton locks out Opera and Earnest, Precis locks out Bowman, and vice versa.

[Werner]

Originally posted by Second Duke of Aeria Revier:

- Starting with either Claude or Rena is fine, you only miss out on one character either way. Rena is arguably "weaker"(read: less straightforward) than Claude, but it doesn't matter too much, because...
- Yes, both characters are almost always present, and yes, you can choose which character is controlled/leads the party at any point of time. The two are often(but not always) synonymous.
- Some characters lock out others. Ashton locks out Opera and Earnest, Precis locks out Bowman, and vice versa.

Thanks for the info! Oh, so only one character is exclusive for every route ( Leon vs Dias, right? ) - and I can pretty much mix and match the others as I please? Just that characters lock out others and I cant get them all in one playthrough.

So in that case I take it I only need to worry about which of the above spoilerized characters I want to use for my second/final/NG+ playthrough?

[Werner]

I think I'll go with these routes and characters (let me know if I'm missing something that won't work together)


Rena - first playthrough
Claude
Celine
Dias
Noel
Welch
Ashton
Bowman

Claude - second playthrough
Rena
Celine
Leon
Opera
Ernest
Precis
Chisato

I'm basically picking arguably the worse and (imho) more uninteresting characters in the first playthrough. Not sure if I'll make the game less enjoyable for myself by doing this?

[Second Duke Revier]

Leonis exclusive to Claude's route, andDias to Rena's.

[Werner]

Originally posted by Second Duke of Aeria Revier:

Leonis exclusive to Claude's route, andDias to Rena's.

Oops, mispaste from my side - thanks. Fixed now. :) But that should work?

[Second Duke Revier]

It should, yes.