Difficulty Level and Reward Question

[USM-Valor]

Could someone tell me if you get more EXP, money, and item drops if you play on higher difficulty levels in Zesteria? It seems to differ for every Tales games. With the removal of linked battles, it makes it hard to earn more experience per battle.

[JCase500]

This may not be 100% accurate but from what I gathered from what some importers have said from playing the game, higher difficulties actually give you less EXP however it boosts item and weapon drops by a ton.

Also, apparently levels in this game are only useful for getting new skills and artes, and that weapon and item customization plays a bigger role in terms of stats and overall damage.

[Zunnoab #931]

I want to say I read likewise and that the difficulty one above normal doesn't reduce experience, but for the life of me I don't remember where I read the chart.

[Crache]

What I heard is that Hard and Evil reduce XP, but give more gold. However, if you play on Chaos difficulty then you get both more XP and gold. Since on higher difficulties the enemies are higher level, I'm not sure what the XP earned vs difficulty ratio is.

You unlock Evil by winning 300 battles on Hard, and unlock Chaos but winning 400 battles on Evil.

That may not be accurate, but just what I've heard.

[Zunnoab #931]

Originally posted by Crache:

What I heard is that Hard and Evil reduce XP, but give more gold. However, if you play on Chaos difficulty then you get both more XP and gold. Since on higher difficulties the enemies are higher level, I'm not sure what the XP earned vs difficulty ratio is.

You unlock Evil by winning 300 battles on Hard, and unlock Chaos but winning 400 battles on Evil.

That may not be accurate, but just what I've heard.

Okay I looked it up (from a FAQ about the Japanese version so names may not be exactly the same)[www.gamefaqs.com]:

The default difficulty levels that can be chosen for the first time are Simple,
Normal, Second, and Hard. The default level is Normal.

Simple:
The game can be enjoyed even for player that is not used to action battle.
Refreshing gameplay is the main priority.

Normal:
Normal difficulty of the game.

Second:
Recommended for experienced player that is used to action battle.
Rarity of equipment drops is increased.

Hard:
For player who wants a challenge in battlefield. Gained experience is reduced
but gained gald is increased.

Evil:
For players that still feel Hard is not enough.
Gained gold and gald is a little bit higher than Hard.
How to Unlock: Win 300? battles on Hard.

By rarity I think it means better equipment drops and not that equipment drops less frequently.

[Steel]

So it's the Team Destiny's model for difficulty, good.

If the game's balance/challenge is anything like Graces f, I would recommend everyone to start on "Second" (will likely be localized to "Moderate" in the US version), as it offers a good challenge that makes you want to upgrade your stuff and progress skills and everything, without having battles be too long or tough. I found Normal waaay too easy in that game.

You can however change the difficulty at any time, so feel free to experiment, I just really recommend Second/Moderate for Graces f in particular, and probably this too.

[pokenar]

If this is your first (or one of), I'd still say go normal at first at least, then raise it if its too easy

I personally am deciding between Moderate or Hard though

[blackageha]

Originally posted by pokenar:

If this is your first (or one of), I'd still say go normal at first at least, then raise it if its too easy

I personally am deciding between Moderate or Hard though

Is it raiseable within the game and not one of those 'you have to restart to raise the difficulty?'

[Zunnoab #931]

Originally posted by blackageha:

Originally posted by pokenar:

If this is your first (or one of), I'd still say go normal at first at least, then raise it if its too easy

I personally am deciding between Moderate or Hard though

Is it raiseable within the game and not one of those 'you have to restart to raise the difficulty?'

Yes, you can't even choose the highest one until you win a certain number of battles on Hard. You can raise or lower it as much as you want if it's like Graces f (and probably others I just vividly remember in Graces f).

[Bloodrealm]

I've heard that this game is difficult enough as it is, so you won't have to worry about higher difficulties being too easy.

[Xenogear]

I will just enjoy the game in normal the first run and the second run will be in a harder settings like how i played every tales game xD.Could try to increase level setting to high when encountering bosses and such.

[Oskitake]

Originally posted by Tales of Bloodrealm:

I've heard that this game is difficult enough as it is, so you won't have to worry about higher difficulties being too easy.

I have heard the opposite....

[pokenar]

Originally posted by Bloodrealm:

I've heard that this game is difficult enough as it is, so you won't have to worry about higher difficulties being too easy.

I've heard this as well

Originally posted by blackageha:

Originally posted by pokenar:

If this is your first (or one of), I'd still say go normal at first at least, then raise it if its too easy

I personally am deciding between Moderate or Hard though

Is it raiseable within the game and not one of those 'you have to restart to raise the difficulty?'

Its raisable OR lowerable at any time you wish (outside of actual combat), which is why I always say new players should start on normal and raise/lower as needed

[Wildbreed]

On higher difficulties enemies hit hard and have large HP. so they take time to defeat..,..but the items they drop are of bettr quality basically you get twice as much item drops...so you can buy /craft..better items at the shops......generally in tales of games..the items do not have level requirements..they just become avilable to you if you have the necessary amount of mats and Gold....on easy difficulty..mats dont drop from mobs in large quantity so it will take you awhile to collect mats for bettr weapons...on higher difficulty more and more mats will drop depending on ur difficulty level..so you collect the mats faster.....thus able to craft good weapons early on in the game.....oops almost forgot..you need required gold for crafting as well......which you get more on higher difficulty..
So if you keep playing on easy-normal..you wont be able to unlock the best weapons and armours and items....untill the very end of the game..or rather until new game + mode

my advice as a tales of player...when you start the game.. right from the begening start playing from the highest difficulty..you will really have a tough time first few battles but later on once you accumulate gold and mats...and get better gear..you will realy start enjoying...plus u will undenstand which tactics and Ai behaviours to use and when to use ...

Easy- Normal is just mindless button smashing.....no fun at all

Sorry for my MMOis terms..but its a habbit now...

[USM-Valor]

I'll probably play on Evil for everything but the boss fights, which I find sometimes impossible on the highest difficulty levels for those on their first playthrough.

Thanks for the information, guys.

[February]

Thanks to everyone who contributed here, it was helpful.