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megaTEN ([personal profile] tenshinoakuma) wrote2016-01-13 08:46 pm

TEN'S "GRADUAL INTRODUCTION TO XCX WITHOUT GETTING OVERWHELMED" GUIDE


Hello! Anyone who's played Xenoblade Chronicles X will know that this is an absolutely massive game with a rather complex battle system (especially in comparison to the original Xenoblade Chronicles). There's a lot of aspects to the game that are not explained at all (or only very briefly) in game, and while everything is technically explained in the manual, it's very easy to get overwhelmed when you're first starting out.

The key is to learn little bits at a time, gradually. I'm writing this guide as I play the game, so some things may not be as accurate or streamlined than if I was further in the game, but I figure I may as well write this while I still remember what the starting experience is like.

This is written with the assumption you know the basics of Xenoblade Chronicles' combat system.


Starting Out - Chapters 1-3


During this section of the game, the only thing you can really do is do some exploring/fighting and advance the plot. I'd suggest getting to Habitat and completing Chapter 3 as soon as possible in order to open up the rest of the game's features.

Little things to note:
- There is no falling damage in this game, so feel free to jump off cliffs and the like.
- You can jump really high. Things that might look unscalable in other games are likely jumpable in this game. Sprinting (which is toggled by pressing the left analog stick) will also add extra height to your jump.

After reaching Habitat, you'll only have 2 active party members, not including yourself. After Chapter 3, you will be able to have a full party (3 active party members, not including yourself), but its still a good time to learn some combat basics, as the mini-boss fight at the end can be a little tough starting out.

Combat - Soul Voice and Soul Challenge basics


This is one of the core battle mechanics, so its best to learn this early.

Soul Voices refers to special voice clips your player character and your party members shout out during combat, and taking certain actions in response to your party's Soul Voices will heal your party and increase affinity with the ally.

Soul Challenges refers to the quick time event that can appear during combat, as seen below.



Press B before the orange ring touches the centre for a "Good" result, and you'll get battle buffs. If you score "Perfect" by pressing B when the orange ring touches the outer (white) circle, and you'll get a TP bonus on top of that!

(More on TP later.)

All arts (including self buffs) are associated with either your melee weapon or your ranged weapon.

By default, your melee weapon arts are on the left of your Arts bar, and your ranged weapon arts are on the right of your Arts bar in the beginning. Melee attacking arts (arts that deal damage with melee weapons) are in RED, while ranged attacking arts are in ORANGE.

After using an attacking art, you will switch to auto attacking with the corresponding weapon. i.e. If you're auto atacking with your melee weapon, using a ranged attack art will result in your character switching to a ranged auto attack and vice versa. Press X to switch weapons.

When your party members use a Soul Voice, the game will highlight the Arts that you can use to respond to their Soul Voice. For example, when Elma shouts CLOSE IN AND USE MELEE ATTACKS, all your melee attacking arts (that aren't on cooldown) will light up.

Soul Voices are semi-customisable, but I suggest leaving Soul Voice customisation for later.

tl;dr - When your party members shout something and your Arts start flashing, activate your Arts for heals and combat effects! When a quick time event appears, press B when the ring touches the outside circle!

Class Level 10


You have two types of levels: Character level and Class level.

In combat, your class level is displayed in purple (beneath your green character level).

Once you reach Class Level 10 (through combat/exploration/etc.), you will be able to class change from the default Drifter class into one of three choices: Striker, Commander, or Enforcer.

I would suggest not picking Enforcer first, as its only the later classes in that line that are good. Additionally, the Enforcer class uses weak weapon types, so its a greater struggle while learning the game.

You can switch classes when you're out of combat, so feel free to experiment; you're not locked into the class you pick.


Early Game - Chapters 4-?


[NAVIGATION]
-USING DA MAP
-fast travel (equivalent to skip travelling in XC) to Landmarks (marked as orange squares on your map)
-Data probe points are typically landmarks

Important Locations in NLA


One of the most important locations to Fast Travel to in NLA is the BLADE Barracks.

When you spawn at the BLADE Barracks, you will have the entrance to the BLADE Barracks behind you (note you can skip travel to the inside of the BLADE Barracks), the SCOUT terminal in front of you, the MISSION terminal to the left of the SCOUT terminal, and Armory Alley in the alley to your right.

If you're playing with friends, this is also where your friends' player avatars will appear. You can add them to your party, and/or request "Division" support, which grants you buffs.

BLADE Barracks - Contains the Division terminal. It's where you collect Division rewards (1 item per day, based on your Division's online performance), activate Squad Missions (more on that later), and interact with numerous other non-friends list player avatars. It's also where Elma and Lin like to hang out, if you want to add them to your party.

SCOUT terminal - [BLAH BLAH SCOUT EXPLANATIONS I GUESS][also where you claim scout rewards]

MISSION terminal - Where you go to pick up "basic" missions. These are basically a series of repeatable fetch-quest/bounty missions. Take them and get BLADE points, Battle Points, Money, Loot, etc. etc.. Elenora is also found next to the MISSION terminal, and she will increase one of your field skills by one every BLADE level. LEVEL MECHANICAL TO LEVEL 2 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! (You need Mechnical Skill to install Data Probes.)

Armory Alley - Two terminals here. One is for buying/selling gear, the other (Arms Manufacturer, shortened as AM) is for Tech Research/crafting gear. AM is where most of your Miranium (the OTHER resource besides money that is v. important) is going to be sunk into, and you'll be frequently coming back to this terminal to dump Miranium into research.


Data Probes


Data Probes! Probably one of the most non-combat oriented things to know about. They are what allows you to earn money and Miranium and rare materials while you're running around Mira, and also serve as landmarks to Fast Travel to. They also provide a little bit of information on your Game Pad's Map.

The game actually does teach you about Data Probes through a questline by an NPC named Kirsty. She initially appears at the Mimeosome Maintenance Centre (which is a little way south of the BLADE Barracks), before moving to the SCOUT terminal after you complete her first quest.

To summarize Data Probe basics:

- spots on your 'segment' map marked as data probe locations with a tripod symbol
- look for a bright red laser for the specific location you plant them
- default probe planted is the basic data probe
- you get better ones through quests or finding them in treasures on the map
- mining probes net u more miranium at the cost of $$$
- research probes net u more $$$ at the cost of miranium. u also get more money if you discover related sightseeing spots (secret locations!)
- each data probe location has stats so check those before deciding what probe to plant
- planting special probes doesn't consume the item (you can remove a special probe and replant elsewhere), has a small $$$ cost
- you can chain special probes for effectiveness (look at your... probe? map, to see how probes connect). have to be same probe type and rank to chain (2x mining G2 probes won't chain with a mining g7). 3 in a row = +30% effectiveness, 5 = +50%, max of 8 for +80%
- storage probes cut your resource gain but increases the cap on Miranium, so ideally set them at locations where you won't get much.


[where is kirsty located (initially at the Mimeosome Maintenance Centre. If you fast travel, she will be behind you) <-actually teaches you data probe basics]



Collectopedia



[combat - secondary cooldowns]
[levelling up ur arts] bp earned by completing missions, uncovering stuff on the field.

[missions???]

[ONLINE FEATURES]
[SCOUTS]
[division bonuses]

other references i need to glean
Really useful Reddit thread for the Multiplayer things
Soul Voices