I'm creating this thread to help keep all of the information we've gathered thus far on Ambition of the Illuminus in one easy-to-find place. I'll be updating this first post with new information as it becomes available, but I will also be posting updates in normal sequence throughout the thread just to make new stuff easier to spot. So, if you have any questions on the expansion, post them here and we'll see if we can find an answer for you.
01. Release information
01-01: Release dates and platforms
- Japan
[list:96febba287] - PC/PS2: September 27, 2007
- Xbox 360: November 20, 2007
[*]North America
- PC/PS2/360: November 20, 2007
[*]Europe
- PC/PS2: January 25, 2008
- Xbox 360: November 20, 2007
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01-02. Pricing
- Japan
[list:96febba287] - PC/PS2: 5,040yen (including tax)
- 360*: 1600 Microsoft Points
[*]North America
- PC/PS2: $39.95 (US)
- 360*: 1600 Microsoft Points
[*]Europe
- PC/PS2: $39.95 (US)
- 360*: 1600 Microsoft Points
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* The 360 version of Illuminus will be available only through download from Xbox Live.
01-03. Miscellaneous
- The PC and PS2 versions of Ambition of the Illuminus are stand-alone games, so the original PSU is not required. However, the Xbox 360 version will require you to have the original PSU as well as 1.75GB of free space on your hard drive.
- Your current GUARDIANS License will carry over to the expansion. There is no need to buy another one.
02. Battle system
02-01. New weapon categories
Four new categories of weapons are being added:
- Whips
- Slicers
- Madoogs
- Shadoogs
02-02. Weapon variety
On top of the new weapons for the four new categories, well over 200 new weapons are being added to the existing 23 categories. Many of these weapons are based on designs from Phantasy Star Online, while others are completely original. On top of this, each of the weapon manufacturers will be branching out into competing territory by starting their own lines of weapons that they had never made before. For example, TENORA WORKS has a line of claws and twin claws (two weapons originally exclusive to Yohmei) while G.R.M. will introduce their new line of rods (a category originally exclusive to Yohmei).
02-03. New photon arts
Numerous new skills will be added, but there are currently no signs of any new bullets or TECHNICs.
02-04. Photon arts cap
Players can still only know 36 photon arts at a time, however a new system is in place which allows one to convert a learned PA back into disk form to make room for a new art.
02-05. Photon art disk conversion
After you've learned a photon art, you have the ability to convert it back into disk form, freeing up space in your learned PAs. When you convert a PA back into a disk, its level will be retained so that if you decide to relearn it later, you'll pick back up where you left off. Just like PA fragment-traded PAs, these converted, leveled PAs cannot be dropped, traded or sold in player shops as they are tied solely to your account. They can be kept only in your personal nanotransformer (inventory), your PM's storage or your room's common box. When in your common box, any character on your account will have access to these leveled PAs as well as the ability to learn them at whatever level the disk is at.
02-06. New SUV weapons
Multiple new SUV weapons have been added:
- Gigas Espada (summons a large sword)
- Gigas Faust (summons a large fist)
- Paradis Cataract (calls down a rain of destruction)
- Lapia Fluge (heals, cures and revives allies)
- Ascension Gift (drops random objects, such as large Rappies and mushrooms on enemies)
- Wize Faust (effects unknown)
On top of the new SUVs, a player's status effects will remain during and after the summoning of an SUV weapon.
02-07. Blast badges
No new blast badges will be added, however any status effects on a player will stick during nanoblast.
02-08. New GUARDIANS types
- Acrofighter: This type excels in the use of single-handed striking weapons while exhibiting very high reaction speeds.
- Acrotecher: This type specializes in support through TECHNICs.
02-09. Type and PA cap increases
Types are currently capped at LV15 while photon arts cap off at LV40, depending on your type's PA restrictions, of course.
02-10. Just attack and just counter
- Just attack is a special attack unique to striking weapons. If your attack button is pressed with the appropriate timing during an attack sequence, you will be able to unleash a guaranteed critical hit against your enemy. A successful just attack is signified by (aside from larger damage output) a wider light ring around your attack button as well as a unique sound effect.
- Just counter is a retaliatory attack that is initiated by an appropriately timed button press following the successful guard of an enemy's attack. This counter attack can be of any type (striking, ranged or TECHNIC), however only striking attacks will counter with a critical hit.
02-11. PP regeneration through attacks
Striking weapons will now regenerate PP through attacks. Both normal as well as photon art attacks will regenerate PP to the weapon being used. Furthermore, critical hits will regenerate larger amounts of PP than normal hits.
02-12. Type requirements, weapon proficiencies and PA caps
Hunter
Skills: LV20
Bullets: LV10
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
* B-ranks: swords, knuckles, spears, twin sabers, twin daggers, sabers, daggers, claws, handguns, shadoogs
* C-ranks: machineguns
Ranger
Skills: LV10
Bullets: LV20
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
* B-ranks: sabers, rifles, shotguns, grenades, twin handguns, handguns, machineguns, shadoogs
* C-ranks: spears, daggers
Force
Skills: LV10
Bullets: LV10
Attack TECHNICs: LV20
Support TECHNICs: LV20
* B-ranks: twin daggers, sabers, daggers, longbows, handguns, wands, rods
* C-ranks: spears, machineguns
Fighgunner
Skills: LV40
Bullets: LV30
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
* S-ranks: double sabers, twin sabers, twin daggers, sabers, daggers
* A-ranks: swords, knuckles, spears, twin claws, claws, slicers, twin handguns, handguns, crossbows, machineguns, shadoogs
Guntecher
Skills: LV10
Bullets: LV40
Attack TECHNICs: LV20
Support TECHNICs: LV30
* S-ranks: longbows, twin handguns, handguns, crossbows, machineguns, shadoogs
* A-ranks: sabers, daggers, rifles, shotguns, laser cannons, cards, wands, madoogs
Wartecher
Skills: LV30
Bullets: LV20
Attack TECHNICs: LV30
Support TECHNICs: LV20
* S-ranks: twin daggers, daggers, wands
* A-ranks: swords, knuckles, spears, twin sabers, twin claws, sabers, claws, whips, longbows, handguns, cards, shadoogs, madoogs
Fortefighter
Skills: LV40
Bullets: LV20
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
* S-ranks: swords, knuckles, spears, axes, twin sabers, twin claws, sabers, claws
* A-ranks: twin daggers, daggers, slicers, handguns
Fortegunner
Skills: LV20
Bullets: LV40
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
* S-ranks: rifles, shotguns, grenades, laser cannons, handguns
* A-ranks: spears, sabers, daggers, twin handguns, crossbows, machineguns, shadoogs
Fortetecher
Skills: LV10
Bullets: LV30
Attack TECHNICs: LV40
Support TECHNICs: LV30
* S-ranks: longbows, cards, rods, wands
* A-ranks: spears, twin daggers, sabers, daggers, whips, handguns, madoogs
Protranser
Skills: LV30
Bullets: LV40
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
* S-ranks: swords, knuckles, spears, axes, sabers, shotguns, longbows, grenades, laser cannons, handguns
Acrofighter (Requirements: Hunter LV3, Ranger LV5)
Skills: LV40
Bullets: LV30
Attack TECHNICs: --
Support TECHNICs: --
S-rank weapons: sabers, daggers, claws, slicers, handguns, shadoogs
A-rank weapons: knuckles, twin sabers, twin daggers, twin claws, twin handguns, cards
Acrotecher (Requirements: Ranger LV3, Force LV5)
Skills: LV20
Bullets: LV20
Attack TECHNICs: LV30
Support TECHNICs: LV40
S-rank weapons: sabers, daggers, whips, handguns, cards, wands, madoogs
A-rank weapons: twin daggers, twin handguns, machineguns, shadoogs
02-13. Elemental bonus adjustment
SonicTeam have stated they will be reworking the equation used to determine the damage caused or shielded by elemental weapons and line shields. Further details have not been released yet.
03. Lobbies and fields
03-01. New lobbies
- Parum: Paracabana Coast
- Neudaiz: Mt. Ohtoku Shrine
- Moatoob: Casino Volyale
Aside from the three main lobbies, multiple mid-point lobbies are known to exist, such as a temporary base camp at Old Rozenom City, a small village encircled by a bamboo forest and a grave site that greatly resembles the final area of PSO Ep.I.
03-02. New fields
- Old Rozenom City
- AMF Central HQ
- Military Metro Linear
- Pavilion of Air
- Saguraki C.D.
- Habirao F.D.
- Granigs Mine
- Il Carbo Base
- Forest (PSO)
- Caves (PSO)
- Mines (PSO)
03-03. Lobby transport
A new feature has been added which allows players to warp to lobbies that they have already visited, even if they don't have a team member waiting for them there. This transport service is not free, however. It costs between 200 and 600 Meseta (depending on your destination) per trip.
03-04. Item transport
Another new lobby feature is the ability to transport items from your personal inventory back to your room's common box. Special NPCs are set up in each lobby to allow you to do this.
03-05. Field crystal transporters
Any activated transport crystal (the crystals seen at the beginning of each block of a field) will now have the option to immediately return to the lobby instead of having to warp back to block 1 and then exit the field.
03-06. Control additions
- Auto-run: This feature allows you to "connect" your character to another in your party. This will make you follow that character around without having to control your movement.
- Mouse movement: PC users will now be able to move their characters with the mouse.
04. Character customization
04-01. New clothing and parts
Fans of PSO will be happy to know that 12 costume sets will be added in the expansion covering all of the game's race/class combinations. The sets will be based on PSO's "template" character clothing (i.e. Ash's HUmar outfit, Gilliam's RAcast parts and Rupica's FOnewearl clothing). Multiple color variations will be included, but we will not see every design from PSO. Aside from these, over 20 completely original clothing and parts sets have been revealed for the expansion.
04-02. Character creation system changes
Some changes were made to the male face proportion sliders to offer more versatile customization. Also, some new voices were added across the board along with a number of new hairstyles.
04-03. Changes at Lumilass
All characters will be able to take advantage of the character creation changes, as Lumilass in Clyez City will offer the ability to change your character's face and voice. This also means that CASTs will be able to change between humanoid faces and robotic faces. Furthermore, accessories can now be chosen independently of hairstyles.
05. Enemies
05-01. Known new enemies
- Go Badira
- Bar Sorza
- Ghinoceros
- Grass Assassin
- Saugeeta
- Booma
- Gobooma
- Gigobooma
- Kudetoubu
- Ubakurada
- Koumazuri
- Nava Rudda
- Vanda Orga
- De Rol Le
- SEED-Arguine
- SEED-Ardite
- Special Forces (Vobis)
- Rappy Polleck
- Rappy Gug
- Rappy Igg
- Kakuwane
- Shinowa Hidoki
- Mother Brain
- Alteratsu Goug
05-02. Enemy A.I. adjustments
Certain tweaks have already been made to enemy A.I. to make them use their own unique attacks, abilities and range more often as opposed to simply chasing down players and hacking away. Also, modifications have been made to improve a player's personal hit box, thus making it where enemies cannot attack you with a short-range strike when they are far away from you.
06. Your room
06-01. New features
- Grid-based layout that allows for more customization of where decorations can be placed.
- Bulletin board for visitors to leave comments on your room.
- A juke-box that allows you to change your room's background music. (You can acquire new discs at Casino Volyale.)
- Many new remodeling tickets and room decorations will be added.
06-02. Room storage
You will be able to increase your PM's storage capacity through the use of an item called a Nanotransformer EX. This item will increase your PM's storage capacity by 50, with 500 being the cap of how many items your PM can hold.
06-03. New player shop features
- A new search function allows you to search by item name, rarity, price, element and other factors.
- You will no longer have to enter a shop just to see the price or stats of an item.
- Personalized greetings and thank you messages can be programmed into your PM.
- A room's decoration will now carry over to the shop portion.
- You will eventually have the option to relocate your room to one of the other planets.
07. System information
07-01. Japanese server merge
This server merge refers to the Japanese PC/PS2 servers only. Shortly after the original game launched in Japan in 2006, two separate servers, known as Worlds, had to be created to carry the load of all of the players. World 1 and World 2 characters were not able to interact with each other, thus splitting the community. This merge was planned to take place around the same time that Illuminus released, however it has still not taken place. When the merge does occur, however, Japanese players will have a total of eight character slots to accommodate those who have characters on both Worlds.
07-02. Slowdown and lag issues
The developers are working on a way to make the PS2 version run better when compared to the PC version. This information comes from an interview published in the 07.13 issue of Dengeki PlayStation. No word yet on any adjustments being made to the 360 version.
08. Offline story mode
08-01. Story mode
The offline mode of Ambition of the Illuminus will be a retelling of PSU: Episode 2. You will be able to either create a new character to play as or transfer over an existing character from the original PSU's extra mode. As you progress through the story, you will unlock new free missions, clothing, weapons and more. Story mode now works very similarly to the original game's extra mode.
09. Online story mode
09-01. Episode 3
Just like the base game's online story mode, Episode 3 will be released serially.
09-02. Player interaction
Episode 3 will allow you to make decisions throughout the story which will have a great impact on how everything unfolds. It's been stated from official sources that the lives of many characters rest in the decisions you make.
09-03. Miscellaneous notes
- Episode 2 can still be played online. If you are playing from Ambition of the Illuminus, you will also get full voice acting and special cutscenes.
- Episode 3 can only be accessed if you are playing from Ambition of the Illuminus. Players who are still on the base version of PSU will not be able to access Episode 3.
10. Weapon grinding
10-01. Grinding system changes
Weapon grinding no longer carries the harsh penalty of destroying a weapon with an unsuccessful grind. Now when a grind fails, the weapon's stats are reset to their base amount, and the total number of failed grinds that particular weapon can withstand is reduced by one. The new grind indicator of a weapon will display as two numbers. The first number shows what grind the weapon is currently at while the second number shows how many failed grinds that weapon has left. For example, 6/10 would be a weapon that has been ground six times without failing, while 3/4 would be a weapon that is on its third grind level, but can only withstand four more failed grinds as it has already failed six times prior. Also, when a weapon grind fails, the maximum grind level it can reach is reduced by one. As such, once a weapon grind fails one time, the best that weapon could ultimately be ground to is 9/9. Just keep in mind that the first number will never exceed the second number.
11. Interface
11-01. Simple mail
You will now be able to send simple mail from a player's partner card.
11-02. Partner cards
Now the total number of cards you have (out of the maximum number you can possess) is displayed.
11-03. Online status indicators
This allows you to tag yourself depending on your current style of gameplay or what kind of game you're looking for. The available options include:
- No tag (will not attach a tag to your name)
- AFK (if away for an extended period)
- Temporarily AFK (if you plan to be away for just a few moments)
- Solo play (for when you just want to solo)
- Recruiting party (to let others know you're looking for party members)
- Beginner guide (to let others know you are willing to help out beginners)
12. Synthesis
12-01. Success rate increase
The success rates for all items have been increased. Room decorations now have no chance of failure while rare weapons and line shields have been given a decent boost. Weapons made from enemy parts were given an even larger increase.
12-02. Synthesis failure
In the case of a failed synthesis, you have a good chance of getting a unique item back as opposed to a disappointing Monomate or Dimate. In some cases, room decorations are returned from failed syntheses, while others have shown that rare materials can be given back. In the case of a rare material being returned, it will generally be of a material that is one rank higher than one of the items originally used.
13. Partner machines
13-01. New types
- Three new PM types have been confirmed:[list:96febba287]
- Stuffed animal
- Young boy
- Butler
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: EspioKaos on 2007-10-25 19:50 ]</font>
