xBULLYDOGG
May 27, 2010, 03:51 PM
http://www.phantasystaruniverse.com/community_quests.php?item=supdate02
Coming soon to Phantasy Star Universe, the Supplemental Update is not just a collection of new weapons and features -- it is an overhaul of the way the game is played!
In addition to new weapons, outfits, and missions, the Supplemental Update offers a number of important balance changes. These will enhance virtually all existing classes, as well as modifying various skills, TECHNICs, and bullets.
In this second part of the Supplemental Update preview, we take a look at GUARDIANS Advanced Style -- a way for players to customize their max-level characters, and much more.
GUARDIANS Advanced Style
What is GUARDIANS Advanced Style?
GUARDIANS Advanced Style (or GAS) offers new character customization options to players who have maxed out their character's level. Once you have reached the maximum level, defeating creatures will earn you "Advanced EXP" (or AEXP). This AEXP can be used for customization. Once you have earned a certain amount of AEXP, it will be automatically converted into "Advanced Points" (AP).
Other notes on GAS:
■AEXP can also be earned on missions where your character's level is capped/limited (GUARDIANS Advanced Missions).
■On "GUARDIANS Advanced Missions," your character's max levels will be capped, so you will be able to earn AEXP even if you haven't reached the maximum level.
■Previously, after you reached the highest level possible, "EXP Full" would be displayed when you defeated enemies. After the update, when you're at the highest level, the AEXP you earn will be displayed when you defeat an enemy.
Customization
Once you've earned enough AP, you will be able to customize your character's abilities. In Clyez City, head to the room next to the club on the third floor to begin.
Take note that you will need AP to customize, not AEXP. You can check how much you have by selecting "Character Information" and then "Status" from the main menu.
Customization Area
You might remember the event hall from the Winter Mission Carnival. With this update, the event hall will be remodeled into an entirely new area!
There is a new facility on the third floor of Clyez City: the GUARDIANS Colony Resident Security Department. Here you can find out all about the new updates. You can also head inside and talk to the Guardian to your left to accept GAS missions.
Carrying Out Customization
■After accepting the mission, select "Use GAS" from the top menu.
■You can also select "About GAS," "About Type Customization" and "About Style Customization" to learn more.
Customization Selection
There are two kinds of customization: "Type Customization" and "Style Customization." It is up to you to find out what works best for your own playing style.
Type Customization
You are now able to further hone specialized types, such as the "Fighgunner," "Fortefighter" and "Acrotecher," to better suit your needs and give you an edge in those difficult missions. You can enhance your strengths, or supplement your weaknesses.
With type customization, you can add different characteristics to enhance your character's type.
You can create a Fortefighter who specializes in axes, or a Fortetecher focused on healing and support. Or perhaps an Acrofighter with high resistance to status ailments--it's all up to you!
However, you can't simply boost all attributes with type customization. If you choose to specialize in one area, you will be unable to upgrade another. If you wish to upgrade all attributes you can try to boost each choice very minutely to get the desired effect, though in some cases the effects might not be very noticeable.
■If you undo a type customization upgrade, the AP you spent will not be returned. Make sure to plan your customizations carefully so you don't end up wasting your AP.
■You can use AP for type customization on other types as well as your current type.
■Add an additional attack strength bonus to the Exact Counter and pair it with the new invincibility effect, and you'll be able to turn the battle around with a single strike!
■By focusing your upgrades and specializing in a single weapon, you may be able to take down enemies with a single blow!
Style Customization
Style customization offers special abilities that can be used at any time, regardless of your character type. Similar to the slots on your line shield, your character has a "Weapon Style," "Shield Style" and an "Extra Style." Each style can carry a single customization of your choosing.
Unlike type customization, with style customization there is no limit to the number of customizations you can acquire, and you can't give them up. Each style can be changed freely, but only through the GAS mission.
Check out some of these examples:
Weapon Slot: Common Mastery
You can draw upon energy beyond the upper limits of C-grade weapons. This is a great opportunity to breathe new life into that favorite old weapon of yours that's been sitting around and collecting dust.
Shield Slot: Rapid React
By improving your blocking rate, you'll be able to avoid taking more damage. This could come in handy for those types that are light on HP.
Extra Slot: Mid-Grade Trap
This will increase the damage done by traps. For types that make heavy use of traps, this could be a valuable asset that produces more damage and opens up new tactical possibilities.
GUARDIANS Advanced Missions
What are GUARDIANS Advanced Missions?
On "GUARDIANS Advanced Missions" (GAM), your goal is to take on challenges with restrictive limits placed on things such as actions and weapons usage. Above all else, character levels have the greatest effect on your abilities. On GAMs, your level cap may be lowered to level 20 or 30. As a result there will be limits on your character: For example, you will not be able to use the vast majority of powerful S-grade weapons.
In addition, there may be other restrictions such as "no two-handed weapons." Each mission has different restrictions, so your entire party should work together to find the best plan of attack.
GAMs can be accepted from the character on the right at the GUARDIANS Colony Resident Security Department.
GUARDIANS Advanced Mission Requirements
■Each mission's requirements are displayed when you accept and begin a mission. Be sure to read these carefully, as each mission has different requirements.
■Level restrictions are listed when viewing mission information at the mission counter.
■There is a "Waiting Area" mission for each level cap. You can accept these at the Resident Security Department as a first step before accepting a GAM.
Mission Flow
■GAMs are split up into stages. You'll start with the first stage, moving up to the second, third, etc.
■By clearing GAMs, you will earn Advanced Mission Points (AMP). Once you have saved a certain amount, you'll be able to go onto the next stage.
■Each mission has a minimum stage requirement, and you will be unable to take on missions if you have not reached the required stage.
In other words, no matter what your stage, you'll be able to take on first-stage missions, but missions on higher stages will require you to be at the same or higher stage to take them on.
But take note: if you're of a higher level and you take on a mission of a much lower stage, the mission itself won't change, but the amount of AMP you earn will be largely reduced. In cases where there is a large gap between your level and a mission's rank, you might end up not earning any AMP at all.
■To maximize the amount of AMP you receive, take on missions with stages that match your own.
■By using the Resident Security Department's "Trading Post," you can trade in your AMP for rare items and materials.
■The amount of AMP you can save is limited, but this limit will be raised in future updates. New trading post items will also be added.
■When trading AMP for items, you will lose that AMP. If your AMP drops too low, your stage will also drop.
■Like GBR, AMP are shared between characters at the same entrance. However, unlike GBR, your AMP will not be reset to 0 after a fixed amount of time has passed.
Coming soon to Phantasy Star Universe, the Supplemental Update is not just a collection of new weapons and features -- it is an overhaul of the way the game is played!
In addition to new weapons, outfits, and missions, the Supplemental Update offers a number of important balance changes. These will enhance virtually all existing classes, as well as modifying various skills, TECHNICs, and bullets.
In this second part of the Supplemental Update preview, we take a look at GUARDIANS Advanced Style -- a way for players to customize their max-level characters, and much more.
GUARDIANS Advanced Style
What is GUARDIANS Advanced Style?
GUARDIANS Advanced Style (or GAS) offers new character customization options to players who have maxed out their character's level. Once you have reached the maximum level, defeating creatures will earn you "Advanced EXP" (or AEXP). This AEXP can be used for customization. Once you have earned a certain amount of AEXP, it will be automatically converted into "Advanced Points" (AP).
Other notes on GAS:
■AEXP can also be earned on missions where your character's level is capped/limited (GUARDIANS Advanced Missions).
■On "GUARDIANS Advanced Missions," your character's max levels will be capped, so you will be able to earn AEXP even if you haven't reached the maximum level.
■Previously, after you reached the highest level possible, "EXP Full" would be displayed when you defeated enemies. After the update, when you're at the highest level, the AEXP you earn will be displayed when you defeat an enemy.
Customization
Once you've earned enough AP, you will be able to customize your character's abilities. In Clyez City, head to the room next to the club on the third floor to begin.
Take note that you will need AP to customize, not AEXP. You can check how much you have by selecting "Character Information" and then "Status" from the main menu.
Customization Area
You might remember the event hall from the Winter Mission Carnival. With this update, the event hall will be remodeled into an entirely new area!
There is a new facility on the third floor of Clyez City: the GUARDIANS Colony Resident Security Department. Here you can find out all about the new updates. You can also head inside and talk to the Guardian to your left to accept GAS missions.
Carrying Out Customization
■After accepting the mission, select "Use GAS" from the top menu.
■You can also select "About GAS," "About Type Customization" and "About Style Customization" to learn more.
Customization Selection
There are two kinds of customization: "Type Customization" and "Style Customization." It is up to you to find out what works best for your own playing style.
Type Customization
You are now able to further hone specialized types, such as the "Fighgunner," "Fortefighter" and "Acrotecher," to better suit your needs and give you an edge in those difficult missions. You can enhance your strengths, or supplement your weaknesses.
With type customization, you can add different characteristics to enhance your character's type.
You can create a Fortefighter who specializes in axes, or a Fortetecher focused on healing and support. Or perhaps an Acrofighter with high resistance to status ailments--it's all up to you!
However, you can't simply boost all attributes with type customization. If you choose to specialize in one area, you will be unable to upgrade another. If you wish to upgrade all attributes you can try to boost each choice very minutely to get the desired effect, though in some cases the effects might not be very noticeable.
■If you undo a type customization upgrade, the AP you spent will not be returned. Make sure to plan your customizations carefully so you don't end up wasting your AP.
■You can use AP for type customization on other types as well as your current type.
■Add an additional attack strength bonus to the Exact Counter and pair it with the new invincibility effect, and you'll be able to turn the battle around with a single strike!
■By focusing your upgrades and specializing in a single weapon, you may be able to take down enemies with a single blow!
Style Customization
Style customization offers special abilities that can be used at any time, regardless of your character type. Similar to the slots on your line shield, your character has a "Weapon Style," "Shield Style" and an "Extra Style." Each style can carry a single customization of your choosing.
Unlike type customization, with style customization there is no limit to the number of customizations you can acquire, and you can't give them up. Each style can be changed freely, but only through the GAS mission.
Check out some of these examples:
Weapon Slot: Common Mastery
You can draw upon energy beyond the upper limits of C-grade weapons. This is a great opportunity to breathe new life into that favorite old weapon of yours that's been sitting around and collecting dust.
Shield Slot: Rapid React
By improving your blocking rate, you'll be able to avoid taking more damage. This could come in handy for those types that are light on HP.
Extra Slot: Mid-Grade Trap
This will increase the damage done by traps. For types that make heavy use of traps, this could be a valuable asset that produces more damage and opens up new tactical possibilities.
GUARDIANS Advanced Missions
What are GUARDIANS Advanced Missions?
On "GUARDIANS Advanced Missions" (GAM), your goal is to take on challenges with restrictive limits placed on things such as actions and weapons usage. Above all else, character levels have the greatest effect on your abilities. On GAMs, your level cap may be lowered to level 20 or 30. As a result there will be limits on your character: For example, you will not be able to use the vast majority of powerful S-grade weapons.
In addition, there may be other restrictions such as "no two-handed weapons." Each mission has different restrictions, so your entire party should work together to find the best plan of attack.
GAMs can be accepted from the character on the right at the GUARDIANS Colony Resident Security Department.
GUARDIANS Advanced Mission Requirements
■Each mission's requirements are displayed when you accept and begin a mission. Be sure to read these carefully, as each mission has different requirements.
■Level restrictions are listed when viewing mission information at the mission counter.
■There is a "Waiting Area" mission for each level cap. You can accept these at the Resident Security Department as a first step before accepting a GAM.
Mission Flow
■GAMs are split up into stages. You'll start with the first stage, moving up to the second, third, etc.
■By clearing GAMs, you will earn Advanced Mission Points (AMP). Once you have saved a certain amount, you'll be able to go onto the next stage.
■Each mission has a minimum stage requirement, and you will be unable to take on missions if you have not reached the required stage.
In other words, no matter what your stage, you'll be able to take on first-stage missions, but missions on higher stages will require you to be at the same or higher stage to take them on.
But take note: if you're of a higher level and you take on a mission of a much lower stage, the mission itself won't change, but the amount of AMP you earn will be largely reduced. In cases where there is a large gap between your level and a mission's rank, you might end up not earning any AMP at all.
■To maximize the amount of AMP you receive, take on missions with stages that match your own.
■By using the Resident Security Department's "Trading Post," you can trade in your AMP for rare items and materials.
■The amount of AMP you can save is limited, but this limit will be raised in future updates. New trading post items will also be added.
■When trading AMP for items, you will lose that AMP. If your AMP drops too low, your stage will also drop.
■Like GBR, AMP are shared between characters at the same entrance. However, unlike GBR, your AMP will not be reset to 0 after a fixed amount of time has passed.