Dungeon Crawler Quest(Original Fantasy)

[tenchifew]

Or we get a party member and act as their boss slaying damage.

The thing about generalization is the while you aren't generally BAD at anything... you also aren't Specifically GOOD at anything else.

On the other hand in this specific case a control mage needs the extra stats. It's less that 'one build will screw you over over the others' and more that 'each of these build will have unique focuses. Sure Ice build will let us quest alone more effectively... but Combat mage build means we'll be able to KILL anything that threaten our group more effectively.


Neither crippling since they have their own niche. But combat mage is potentially more rewarding... AND its also boosted by our starting perks. If we go killy we'll be Killy as FUCK.

Click to shrink...

Does not matter now anyway, but I wanted to answer nonetheless.
Given the rule: "You do not have to be faster than the dragon, just faster than the slowest one in the party" I prefer to avoid being the slowest one. And paying double for attributes, while making the build undeniably very Killy, opened big deficiencies, especially since we were not building a complete party.
From now on concentrating on our strengths may be a good idea, although raising charisma may be good for better quest rewards and possible party mechanics, but starting with multiple attributes at absolute minimum without knowing the underlying mechanics can be prohibitively crippling.
For example if standard move is dependent on agility we would have had hard time keeping party members given that they would have to wait on us the whole time. Such things get annoying fast.
Strength of one allowing us either equip robe or staff could have been another crippling possibility.
If I know a system I can minmax and take minimal attributes or big flaws, sure, but if I do not... I try to avoid the possible pitfalls.

 

[yrsillar]

Well my apologies then. I thought it would be obvious that the plans would be taken as a whole. My fault for assuming. I... don't really want to redo the whole thing though, so I'm afraid we'll just have to roll with it. Hope that doesn't put you guys off to much.

 

[Adyen]

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

So. 5 SP per Will. 10(!!!!) HP per Con.

Quick question: can we figure out if Chill Aura means it will damage everything in the room per room per activation, or does it mean it only damages things in melee range?

 

[yrsillar]

Its everything in melee range. With E rank Ice Magic anyway. The spell just stays active until you complete the [room] of the dungeon its activated in. basically its an encounter length buff.

 

[tenchifew]

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

 

[Xicree]

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing and mana potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

 

[Guile]

[X]No, You're sure you can convince a higher level branded to take you under their wing! Go to the Dancing Dragon. A Mid rank [Inn] and find someone willing to play tour guide for a newbie.
Surely some kind soul will want a gopher- that is, junior adventurer. If somebody tries that A/S/L line on us though, we're leaving.

 

[redaeth]

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing and mana potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

 

[Falconis]

I felt a great disturbance in the force. Whats going on in here.

 

[DarkLight140]

I felt a great disturbance in the force. Whats going on in here.

Click to shrink...

Xicree, Tempest, redaeth, and Biigoh named the quest main character after you and made it a woman. I can only speculate as to their motivations for that action.

 

[yrsillar]

Huh, didn't notice QQ had a user with that name. That's... a thing.

 

[Falconis]

Well, I guess I have not much to say to that except SHE BETTER BE THE VERY BEST, LIKE NO ONE EVER WAS

Looks like an interesting thing, I will be monitoring this thread.

 

[Arkeus]

Mmmh, the spells we have are restricted to level ups (E.G, we can only learn new spells when we level up) or are they also available to buy/etc?

The starting Ice abilities seems very much 'unable to do any real damage' thing on a level i wasn't expecting, as we have:

Chill Aura: "attack people killing us in melee" ability which pretty much means "no uses whatsoever at our level as we probably will be killed in a couple of hits so we have already lost if they are there. I /guess/ at higher level it will be much better when it can slow everyone in the room or reliably freeze people attacking us so we can run away.

Frost Spray: our only real active ability and it doesn't mention damage, just slow and a freeze possibility. Assuming Yrsillar's descriptions are correct, this actually mean we do not have any damage abilities so i am going to assume it does minimal damage, but in that case it's probably as low as it gets.

Stay Frosty: This seems like our mainstay passive skill. From my understanding it will increase our passive chance to slow/freeze with any ice skill, which probably means that later on we'll be able to much reliably do both (except for enemies resistances increasing, of course).

So, huh, if our abilities are correct we really need at least one DPS companion as we don't have a way to do damage beside hitting people with our staff and Chill Aura, which as a Squishy mage effectively means we do not have a way to do damage against real enemies. OTOH, Frost spray would probably be quite useful in a team. Even with our low Power, the Stay Frosty/Frost Spray combination should give us a decent slow on enemies.

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing and mana potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

If we can buy some kind of direct spell that would be best, and if we can't, well, we do need more defenses and maybe a better staff.

 

[yrsillar]

Frost Spray does deal damage, just rather low in comparison compared to the other starting elemental spells. Modified the description a bit in the character sheet to reflect that.

As for buying other damaging spells/skills, you can buy other skills but they're probably rather out of your price range right now. Spells within your current Skills are limited by your rank in the skill.

 

[GiftofLove]

Frost Spray does deal damage, just rather low in comparison compared to the other starting elemental spells. Modified the description a bit in the character sheet to reflect that.

As for buying other damaging spells/skills, you can buy other skills but they're probably rather out of your price range right now. Spells within your current Skills are limited by your rank in the skill.

Click to shrink...

Do skills rank up on use? If so we might want to spend some time making Christmas trees.

 

[yrsillar]

Skills will mostly rank up on use, but only in combat, or for noncombat skills during anything that uses them. Basically no you can't pull a Skyrim and cheese your skills to max. If you found a mission or a dungeon challenge that required noncombat use of the skill it would count though.

 

[Tempest]

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing and mana potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

 

[junsa]

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You
checked around before coming, and it
seems to be a low rank [Inn] that
caters to new Branded, you can find a
partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those
things in a bit, you should probably go
to an item shop and see what you can
buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much
you think, but a couple extra healing
potions could be nice. Can be selected
in addition to the other options.

 

[Grosstoad]

Oooh, missed this.

We definitely want a melee meatshield who can deal damage to compensate with Al's lower damage output. On the other hand, her [Slow] effects means that the meatshield will not be unreasonably hampered by multitude of enemies.

Question though, does [Slow] only affect movement speed (feet) or does it include attack speed (limbs)?

 

[yrsillar]

The effect Slow effects both movement and attack speed, just as Freeze stops both completely. Probably going to do a couple more tutorial write ups for this kind of thing in the next few updates

 

[Grosstoad]

Hmm, Aura of Chill actually benefits our squishy elementalist from any melee attackers that target her then.
Not bad for something that lasts for [Room].

And when the Aura has increased its range, then it will also help our allies.

Will [Slow] effects from both Aura of Chill and Frost Spray stack (Enemy A has been affected by two [Slow] effects, it now affected by a [Freeze] effect), or will one supersedes another?

[X] Go find the Drunken Goblin. You checked around before coming, and it seems to be a low rank [Inn] that caters to new Branded, you can find a partner there.
-[X] Well you can do one of those things in a bit, you should probably go to an item shop and see what you can buy for fifty gilder, it won't be much you think, but a couple extra healing and mana potions could be nice. Can be selected in addition to the other options.

 

[yrsillar]

slow effects don't stack, freeze supersedes slow since its the superior effect.

 

[yrsillar]

Well in the end just rushing off would be foolish, and you are no child who needs your hand held, so there is only one choice. Time to go pick up a meat shi….. partner. You meant partner. After you go poke around a general store anyway.

The trip to the merchants district is pretty short all things considered. The streets are starting to fill as the sun comes up properly now, but the crowd seems to break around you, making room for you to walk unimpeded without any thought from the people around you, it's a little unsettling really, combined with the way non-branded look... Fuzzy unless you really focus on them. You had thought you were just getting to the age when you would need eyeglasses like Uncle, but after meeting Archbishop Grant, it seems that to you the masses of normal people will just look less distinct from now on. You wonder why that is. Maybe you can ask the Archbishop next time you're at the temple.

You pass by the skill shop and confirm what you already knew, way too many zeroes even on the smallest price tag in the window. Similarly the shop selling weapons and armor, the very cheapest cost a few hundred gilder. It looks like you'll have to settle for your starting gear until you've made some money.

The item shop is run by a rather matronly older woman with her graying brown hair tied up in a neat bun, she smiles as you enter and begin looking around, calling out a greeting, "Good Morning young man, is there anything in particular you are looking for today?"

Hah, your robes are good for something after all. "Just some basics, what do you have that's under fifty Gilder?"

She nods easily enough, pointing you over to a section labeled for beginners. At this point another silver window pops up, this time detailing the limits of your inventory.

Loot and You

As a starting adventurer you lack many of the accumulated niceties that allow your more experienced kin to lug a dragons entire hoard in one go. Unenhanced your inventory can contain items equal to three times your strength. In your case this number is nine. This does not include equipped items though. You may carry up to twice your inventory in times of need, but this causes the [slowed] status which cannot be cured until the burden is reduced. Multiples of the same item take up multiple slots, so two potions take two of your current nine slots.

Huh, well you suppose that will be important later. You dismiss the message and look over the shelf. The below fifty selection is a bit… minimal. Potions are ten, and Amritas are fifteen. There are also antidotes and burn salves for ten and fifteen respectively. As well as vials containing 'the essence of the elements' which can be thrown for appropriate elemental effects. These cost twenty. You glance over at the row of humming orbs on another shelf, you were right, escape orbs are expensive, costing a full two hundred. You had better savor your free one for now.

You could also buy a single Hi-potion for fifty, but it heals for more health than you currently have. You should also keep in mind that you will need somewhere around five to ten gilder for room and board, it might be best not to spend below that in case something goes wrong. Not that it will of course.

In the end you decide to buy….

[]Write In

With your shopping done you head to the [Inn] The Drunken Goblin, really who comes up with these names, its so cheesy… you guess not every branded is as imaginative as you are though, if you had an Inn it would be called…. Uh, the Exploding… no that would give the wrong impression, the Mystic, yeah that would be good um, the Mystic Menagerie? No that sounds like a pet shop. How about Mystic Spirits? It's a play on another term for alcohol you see. Hah, you have much better naming sense.

Anyway you got distracted, you are now in front of the rather weather beaten door, a sign depicting a cartoonish goblin holding a mug of something foaming hangs overhead, alongside a much neater sign in the Mystic script.

Drunken Goblin

Inn Rank: D

Another pop up from your menu follows, jeeze, there are so many of these things…. It just explains that Inns of varying rank restore different amounts of hp and sp, as well as having other effects at higher levels. Nothing that matters for now, your current stats allow you to be more than fully restored by a D rank [Inn] if it comes down to it.

You open the door and step inside doing your best to look casual, a few people look up, but only a few really look your way. Most of the people in here are already in groups, some even in full five person parties, which you know is the maximum allowed. Also many of them are in the four to seven level range, a bit higher than you want anyway.

Lets see of those who are alone you can see… Well there is a rather average looking guy off in one corner, brown hair, plain features, nothing outstanding, his title says his name is Jack, and he's a Stalwart Cleric… useful, but you kind of need someone to take damage for you not heal it at the moment. He is level one much like you.

The second is a rather big guy, all bulging muscles and scarred arms and hands, he's bald too, you can see yourself in the reflection on his head. Maybe he was a gladiator before becoming branded? You've heard the richer merchants get up to that kind of thing in the inner city sometimes. Either way, looks like an axe warrior, and he's level three to boot, so that might verge a bit on over leveled for your tastes. Name appears to be Rolf.

The next is… ohmygods adorable. He's at the bar perched on a stool. He has messy brown hair that you just want to ruffle your hand through, and looks not a day over twelve, you know he must be at least your age though, since the brand doesn't activate until then. He's kind of scowly, but that just makes him cuter. He's level one as well and looks to be a spear warrior. His name is Anshelm.

Next is... well she can best be described as an 'older sister type' At least that's what some of the older magic using kids who spent their time using scrying spells to peak at the ladies baths would say. Black hair tied in a ponytail, calm, elegant features and…. large protrusions on her chest. Ugh, you bet the only reason she doesn't tip over is her branded abilities, useless things. Either way, level three and looks to be a dual wielding hunter. Name is shown as Maya

Last is rather twitchy looking girl your age with shoulder length blue hair, and robes like yours but done up in red and orange, fire elementalist you expect, level two. She looks like she's really uncomfortable in here though, and you don't recognize her from home, someone from an outlying village maybe? Her name is apparently Seraphine.

Well you can try approaching any of them for now, or you could just sit down and see who approaches you, or maybe other things that don't occur to you at the moment. The barkeep looks like a friendly sort of guy, only a few years older than you…. level twenty with the Innkeeper job at rank C though, must be pretty new. Kind of a pretty boy though, black hair and rather girly features…. Not that you can talk. Looks like his name is Adel? He might answer some discreet questions if you took the time to ask. On the other hand that Maya lady is eyeing up both the cute boy and the healer, if you don't claim one she might snatch them up before you have a chance, she's eyeing you up too, but you choose to ignore that.

[] Write In

((Gonna add a couple tutorials to the front page later so keep an eye out for that.))

 

[Grosstoad]

At the minimum, keep more than half of your coin for living expenses (30 = 3 days of stay at D rank Inn), around a quart for another SP pot (15 = 1 Amrita), and keep the rest (5 coins?).

If possible I suggest getting Anshelm and Maya. It's not a flashy team, but more durable, as well as having Maya means a better stealth and scout option.


EDIT: Another option is getting Anshelm and Jack (both level ones), but that's even more slow in damage dealing, unless Stalwart Cleric has damage buffs.

EDITEDIT: Oh, Maya has her eyes on either Jack or Anshelm, and Alice as well. So, getting Anshelm and Maya together will probably be quite easy, as Maya will support such team-ups. But we probably can't get Anshelm + Jack + Alice, cause Maya will team up with the other level ones.

Jack + Maya + Alice is possible, but Anshelm + Jack + Alice + Maya is slightly harder, probably requires Alice going to Maya first.


EDITEDITEDIT: Jack + Rolf + Alice is also plausible. Quite flashy, with Rolf as the main damage dealer.

Team up with Seraphine requires a bit more expertise though. Probably best with Anshelm + Seraphine + Alice. Probably best for horde type of enemies, since I think Fire DoT and Ice Slow might cancel each other, so it best to spread out the attacks on different areas.

 

[Arkeus]

I'd say buy a Potion and an Amritas. we'd have 25 left, and that's more than enough to get to a inn if needed.

As for Team members... i am thinking Seraphina and Anshelm. Anshelm is not full tank and that's good because we can help him with our Ice abilities and he should have some DPS, and Seraphina, while we don't know if her Fire abilities would cancel out with our ice, should be able to reliably kill thing, will give us an idea on how Fire works, and is a bit higher level so it will give us some measure of safety for our very first fight.

Moreover, she seems alone here, so she might make a BFF.

 

[Grosstoad]

Spear Warriors are the Tanks of this setting, I think.

I also would like to get Seraphine, but cancelling each other effects does not help the team effort.
On the other hand, while Freeze is cancelled by Burn and vice versa, Slow is not affected by Burn.
Good to know, though Freeze supersedes Slow. Also, Burn has accuracy debuff from distraction.

On characters, we can probably guess that Jack probably has some efficient and lazy passives, Anshelm is driven because of his physical stature, but no information about the rest.
If we just randomly guess, Rolf might have something related to wounds and scars, while Maya has some sexy thing going on. Seraphine looks like she has twitchy nerves.

+ponders+
We have Alice as a debuffer and mini-damage dealer. We require a meatshield and a focused damage dealer.
Rolf can cover both roles, but will require healer later on or it will be expensive in term of curatives. Probably can expect him to take out mooks by the dozen.
Maya probably can dependable be a damage dealer and a dodge tank, as well as having stealth skills, but a lucky hit might take her out. Still less squishy than her archer counterpart, though.
Seraphine is another Elementalist whose elemental focus clash with Alice's. Her element gives her Damage over Time effects, so she is best aided with a meatshield with high defense, but she might have focused damage spells in her repertoire. Maybe.
Anshelm is a defender, but as a Spear Warrior he lacks damage potential, so fights with him will take some time. His defensive skills might include taunting skills and covering allies, though.
Jack simply does not want to fight, but his buffs and heals are probably better than expected if his passives support them.

 

[junsa]

We could try ash, cleric and the fidgety girl but we would need one good plan @Xicree We need you.

 

[Xicree]

Making my plan for DDQ... Maybe later.

 

[Grosstoad]

First, approach Maya. Then double team Seraphine, before descending like a flood of estrogen over Jack and Anshelm.

 

[Arkeus]

First, approach Maya. Then double team Seraphine, before descending like a flood of estrogen over Jack and Anshelm.

Click to shrink...

You think a full team is good from the get go? I guess it means we'll be much safer, but at the same time i don't know how it goes about experience gain.

Though, yeah, it makes perfect sense....just not sure our Charisma would be enough to get them all. Might vote that soon if no one bothers to vote.