What RPG are you playing right now?

[MrPopo]

I'd use a walkthrough to avoid frustration, personally. There's very little direction in the early games. You know you've wandered into the "wrong" area when you encounter enemies that can wipe the floor with you.

I've seriously been considering it. I think I'm at level 8 now, and I'm having trouble finding anything that I can't kill. I guess I'm looking for a harp, but I have no idea where it is.

At what point would you say the games are playable without a guide? DQ3?

I'd say 3. That was the point where they'd evolved the world map design to be the "guided towards the next town" model that SNES JRPGs used.

Persona 4
Hey guys, I'm getting wasted by Inzanami-no-Okami, have any pointers for me?

What specifically is getting you? You should be able to easily handle her basic strong attacks at this point. You need to clear status ailments the next turn you get, since she has an attack that's instant death on anyone with ailments. Other than that, as I recall the fight is mostly an endurance fight. When I first played P4 on the PS2 I soloed it by fusing up a persona that was a mix of absorbs and nulls so I was effectively invulnerable to most of her arsenal, and it's easier to fuse something like that in P4G with the ability to select what gets passed down (and passives can always be passed).

[Stark]

Persona 4
Hey guys, I'm getting wasted by Inzanami-no-Okami, have any pointers for me?

What specifically is getting you? You should be able to easily handle her basic strong attacks at this point. You need to clear status ailments the next turn you get, since she has an attack that's instant death on anyone with ailments. Other than that, as I recall the fight is mostly an endurance fight. When I first played P4 on the PS2 I soloed it by fusing up a persona that was a mix of absorbs and nulls so I was effectively invulnerable to most of her arsenal, and it's easier to fuse something like that in P4G with the ability to select what gets passed down (and passives can always be passed).

So I had Naoto, Youske, and Yukiko and Naoto was pretty much dying every round, that means that Yukiko is usually rez-ing her and just made it very difficult to get the job done with the MC and Youske. Also my MC is only level 80, which I think might be low. I think I'm gonna have to grind a bit in Magmata Inaba or in the current dungeon and get some better Personas to fuse or something.

[ZenErik]

I had no issues during my first try. Everyone around lvl95. In 80 hours.

Protag, Chie, Yukiko, Naoto.

You really took your time. But that is fine. It's a great JRPG!

[MrPopo]

Yeah, sounds like you're just underleveled.

[dunpeal2064]

I think I had 98 hours clocked in when I finished Persona 4. I did do as many of the social links as I could though, and didn't really rush through the game.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute of it though. I couldn't believe I spent 90 hours on a game withot doing any grinding or side quests. I remember being shocked that story was still developing when my counter went over the 90 hour mark.

[ZenErik]

You took that long without grinding and side quests? How?

I don't consider myself a speed runner of any sort but I did every quest except maybe 4 or 5. And played through every dungeon AT LEAST twice to get all the bonus bosses that I could.

Edit: also spent all of my money fusing personas. Didn't buy any equipment except from the shopping channel.

[dunpeal2064]

You took that long without grinding and side quests? How?

I don't consider myself a speed runner of any sort but I did every quest except maybe 4 or 5. And played through every dungeon AT LEAST twice to get all the bonus bosses that I could.

I guess I'm a slow reader Plus, my gf was watching, so we had to do that awkward "Did you finish reading this?" dance through all the dialog... and there is an insane amount of dialog.

She is the type that will say, "Why didn't you talk to that random guy" to every random guy a pass. Ironically, it often happens when I am stuck, and she radnomly points me to the exact guy I need.

[ZenErik]

Makes sense. For me, playing on the Vita probably helped. I could just shut it off whenever I wanted. No save point needed.

[Stark]

You took that long without grinding and side quests? How?

I don't consider myself a speed runner of any sort but I did every quest except maybe 4 or 5. And played through every dungeon AT LEAST twice to get all the bonus bosses that I could.

I guess I'm a slow reader Plus, my gf was watching, so we had to do that awkward "Did you finish reading this?" dance through all the dialog... and there is an insane amount of dialog.

She is the type that will say, "Why didn't you talk to that random guy" to every random guy a pass. Ironically, it often happens when I am stuck, and she radnomly points me to the exact guy I need.

I also listen to every line of dialogue that is voice acted. If I just read it and moved on I think that would save some time.

[ZenErik]

I think I am just unable to play RPGs on consoles anymore. I just get bored easily. On a portable it is so much better. Can put the portable to sleep in the middle of a battle if I have to. Or in the middle of any dungeon, not at a save point. I can do a little grinding on the go without feeling like I am wasting hours and hours. RPGs just aren't as fun on home consoles. I think i finally get why so many good JRPGs are now on portables. Besides being cheaper to produce. It just makes more sense.

Just tried some Devil Summoner and Digital Devil Saga. The lack of likable characters probably didn't help. But I didn't like Ni no Kuni either. The last console RPG I finished was Tales of Graces f... And I honestly hated most of the characters, voice acting, and story in that one. The one VERY redeeming thing was the battle system.