Etrian Odyssey Part #4 - Two Stern Guards

Part 4: Two Stern Guards

Part 3: Two Stern Guards

The Lounge Where We Speak of Tomorrow

Welcome back, kids. Good to see you finished up the request safely. Keep up the good work!

Quests are such joy.

christ al-fucking-mighty

Yeah, quests tend to not be worth it in EO1 and 2. They started giving out experience points from EO3 onwards, and oh boy that was a great change! Even if the actual reward was crappy, the experience point intake was more than worth it!

Most explorers learn harvesting skills called chop, mine, and take.

Most.

Hrmmm.

You can collect all kinds of stuff in the Labyrinth by using those. Including Pyroxene, which our poor client needs. If you're going to keep on as adventurers, you better remember that technique.

Pyroxene is first available on B4F. I have no idea why this quest doesn't become available then, but I guess I'm not a game developer.

This makes more sense in EOU, where you can get the material on the floor you're about to go to.

Quests not being able to be completed right away would go onto become an even bigger problem in another game that Niinou worked on... It's much less of an issue from EO2 onwards.

Go, my scavenger rodents, bring us riches!

Please stop calling us that.

We appreciate you helping us with our quest. You are honourable.

This update is really off to a stellar start, I tell you what! You'll be using this gathering point to inject some cash into your early game, since drops really do not cover new equipment prices.

Gathering is pretty much one of the best ways to make money early on in EO1. Take a gathering team, go to this point, and go to town. There's pretty much no risk to doing so, since it's pretty much impossible to get into a random encounter if you go straight to this point and then use a Warp Wire after you're finished gathering.

1 Red Fruit is required for Red Charm (Accessory, DEF+1, TP+5)

1 Hardwood and 1 Hard Shell is required for Shortsword (Sword, ATK+15)

Ooh, just like the proper Labyrinth soldiers.

When you're done, everyone else is already heading to the second floor.

Gah! Uh, wait for me!

The Green, Green Woodlands

It's a shame everything that's cute and fluffy also wants to murder us.

That applies outside the labyrinth too, if they think they can try it.

Hare

Level: 7
HP: 38
STR: 23
VIT: 19
AGI: 14
LUC: 14
TEC: 14

EXP: 36

Skills
None

Damage Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Small Fang. 32% chance. Sells for 10en.
3 required for Dagger (Sword, ATK+9)
5 required for Fang Whip (Whip, ATK+10)

Rare: Hare Tail. 30% chance. Sells for 15en.
1 required for Buffcoat (Clothing, DEF+2, AGI +3)
3 required for Doublet (Clothing, DEF+3, VIT+1)

Conditional: None

Time to head out to B2F proper with a real basic enemy. Joy. Like, they hit kinda hard and that's about it!

In EOU, they have elemental damage--the first enemy to do so.

Say hi to the resident trash mob on this floor. Though since most players are likely to be at level 3 by the time they get here, it has a 4 level advantage on you, so grinding on them for a bit isn't gonna be a complete cakewalk.

Maybe I should try blocking some of that.

Ya think?

Here comes the pain train, can't wait!

There's not much of a breather in the early game, you're fighting for survival the whole way through.

Always good to have a spare, in case the worst happens.

...what?

The edible-looking fruit makes your mouth water. It would be no trouble to take the fruit and eat it.

I always end up right next to these.

So how would you rate your stomach cramp out of 10?

A-About a 6...

At least ask me first before you pick up random fruit, sheesh.

Oh god oh no it's happening again I can't believe-

Relax, will ya, it's not one of those big ones. Not yet, anyway.

Fender

Level: 10
HP: 55
STR: 36
VIT: 23
AGI: 13
LUC: 15
TEC: 12

EXP: 65

Skills
Speeder: Uses the Legs. Increases AGI by 200% for 3 turns. Has a 200% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

100%

200%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Soft Hide. 40% chance. Sells for 9en.
1 required for Hide Ring (Accessory, DEF+1, Slash Resist Up 5%)
3 required for Hide Hat (Headgear, DEF+1, TP+5)
5 required for Fang Whip (Whip, ATK+10)
7 required for Jerkin (Light Armor, DEF +3)
9 required for Hide Boot (Footwear, DEF+1, AGI+2)
10 required for Hide Aspis (Shield, DEF +2)
7 required for The leathersmiths's favor

Rare: Horn. 20% chance. Sells for 18en.
1 required for Ocarina (Troubadour Accessory, TP+10)
1 required for Enamel Bow (Bow, ATK+9)
2 required for Short Bow (Bow, ATK+15) Required for A favor to Shilleka II

Conditional: None

Level 10 monsters already? There's a fair few monsters in this game that are FOE-lite, so they're good practise, if they don't kick your ass before then.

FOE-lites were, by and large, thrown in the garbage in EOU. Fenders are still in the enemy table, though!

And say hello to the main problem with the level scaling mechanic in this game. Like I said before, your party is likely to be around level 3 when they first enter this floor. Fenders have a 7 level advantage on them, so they're getting a 32% damage boost while your party deals 25% less damage to them. This kind of thing is why EO1 can really feel like an uphill battle at times, and this is not the last time the game pulls something like this in regards to level advantages. And considering that you don't have a way to manipulate your own levels outside of actually leveling up (Yeah, this isn't Final Fantasy V), it means that sometimes the best way to deal with something is to just straight up grind. It really should say something that level got nerfed into the ground in the next game, and is only used for a handful of formulae that doesn't have too much of an impact on things, and is no longer used in damage calculations from EO2 onwards.

Oi, what happened here?

Nothing happened...

Also, unlike in later games, enemies can deal critical hits. It actually makes a huge difference for them, since they can just ignore your armor. Later games just tied them dealing big damage with skills to make their damage output more consistent.

Fuckin Alchemists.

Ooh, another one.

That we're going around!

Oh, fuck off.

Personally, I don't see what the big deal is about unsynchronized experience bars.

Alright, there's nothing here, can we go now?

Ah fine, I thought since there's something behind the first one, there'd be something behind the second one.

This place doesn't care about patterns.

Gah! I hate deer!

1 Horn is required for Enamel Bow (Bow, ATK+9)

7 Soft Hides are required for Jerkin (Light Armor, DEF+3)

1 Horn is required for Ocarina (Troubadour Accessory, TP+10)

Instruments are something only Troubadours can equip to boost their TP in place of an armour slot. Because of how cheap their songs are, I'm never gonna use these, since your Troubadour will never run out of TP, unless you're using 3 songs every battle for some reason.

They're...a little less useless in EOU?

We could probably use some upgrades, even if they're not amazing.

Every little bit can help when it comes to EO1's earlygame.

Pretty standard stuff. Poison has a 200% base chance of landing and deals 23 damage. Watch this space. This is as far as we'll take Healer for the moment, a 144% increase, so it's like we've been kinda levelling Cure as well!

The Green, Green Woodlands

Back to B2F.

Hrk! These things are everywhere!

106% power, still two hits.

Don't need to be afraid of these things anymore.

Says you...

That's a really angry bull charging towards us.

Ohoh, it looks pretty strong!

We can't even fight this deer?

Eh, while it would make our lives easier, I just don't think we can kill it yet, so around we go!

Judging from its color and shape, it doesn't look edible. If you really wish, you can pluck the fruit and eat it.

Well in for an ental...

That doesn't make sense.

Well that was fun, but I don't fancy taking any more fruit off trees.

There we go, that's every event in the game! I'm actually serious. Past this floor, unless it's related to a quest or mission, there's no more little events that occur. Not that they would've been any good anyway, judging from the pointless shit we've encountered so far, but the labyrinth in this game is a LOT emptier because of it.

Basically a more extreme version of what happens in every EO game up until EON. Events just...severely drop off in frequency after the 1st Stratum.

At least later games have more events. And quests get tied heavily to the labyrinth later on in those games. But yeah, this is just kind of weird and makes the labyrinth feel pretty empty. Not that the existing events in this game had a big impact as you saw.

Wait... is that the stairs?

Already?

What a small floor. We'll be finished with this place in no time!

Ooh what a big room! ...w-what's that?

Red and Black

Even new adventurers such as yourself can clearly feel the overwhelming sensation... it is the specter of death, looming over you as you prepare to face unknown dangers. Take heed! Beasts red of tooth and claw run rampant here! Fleeing from these creatures is no shameful thing. In these depths, survival is paramount!

I'm just gonna say that this game's version of Red and Black made me jump out of my seat when I first heard it in my playthrough. And several other times when it pops up. It's a pretty startling track.

It's huge, I can almost taste the pressure.

...

What?

You wanna fight it, don't you?

N-Nooooooo?

It's absolutely something we'll never beat for a long time. But I can't help but be curious about it.

Fine.

Huh?

I'm also curious about such an immensely strong monster. We should be heading back to town anyway, so if you promise to try and escape, we can fight this thing.

Really? You're awesome!

Uh, s-shut it, you meathead.

If we're going to do this, I might as well get as much info as possible.

Oh this is gonna be fun.

Aw, man...

Red FOEs are monsters you really, REALLY need to avoid. We can fight the other FOEs we've been seeing soon enough, but this monster is about as strong as the Boss of this stratum, so there's no way in hell we're fighting this thing yet, even if we wanted to. There's no point listing its stats yet.

Alright, I think I can apply this to a lot of things...

I approve, you're making this thing writhe in pain already.

This is the only way we'll do double digit damage to this thing, but it'll only last for so long.

He died before he could even say anything.

His arm flew pretty far too, can you even heal that?

Probably.

Fly, you fools.

Yeah, let's get out of here.

Well, it's a pretty massive room, soooooo...

The Lounge Where We Speak of Tomorrow

Feel better?

Well my arm is a bit stiff, but otherwise, pretty good!

I think that thing dislocated one of my ribs. Eh, I'll sleep it off. Now we should avoid those things.

Seconded.

I guess...

She was searching for herbs, and a Woodfly attack forced her to come back empty-handed. Your job is to exterminate the bugs, so it's sage for students to gather herbs again. A few Woodflies should be no problem for you, right? Good luck down there.

Pretty simple quest, right? Well, you'll see.

That poor kid... he'll never be strong, so he wants to meet a powerful adventurer. He's hoping to meet a Landsknecht above level 20. Do this for him, okay?

Hey, why are you so weak?

Wha-? It's been FOUR DAYS since we started, this is a big ask for me this early on, give me a break!

Why is this quest available now? WHO DECIDED WHEN THESE GOT UNLOCKED???

NiinouDSRPGDesign.txt

You can only accept five quests at a time, so this is gonna sit unclaimed for about five floors.

3 Hare Tails are required for Doublet (Light Armor, DEF+3, VIT+1)

10 Soft Hides are required for Hide Aspis (Shield, DEF+2)

10 Tiny Petals required for Petal Ring (Accessory, DEF+1, TEC+1)

10 Tiny Petals required for Medica II (Medicine, recovers the target by 100HP)

Very cheap and powerful medicine for this early, gonna grab a couple of those. Fuck these unlock requirements though.

EO1 is a very grindy game in more ways than one. If you're wondering how the series got its grindy reputation, you can probably blame this game where that actually was a legitimate issue as you've seen already. Several times in fact. At the beginning of the game.

So here I was double checking what I needed to do for a couple quests and, despite not leaving town yet, I could complete this quest? Sure, why not?

I see... thanks. Remember one thing, though. Trust is important for explorers. In matters of public safety like this, lying is unforgivable. Edda's reputation all depends on what its members do. Don't forget it.

I was very confused, I don't remember this at all. You can just complete the quest without doing anything? And Valerie will still give you the reward even though she doesn't believe you? And there's no actual penalty for lying? Why? What is the point of that? Yeah, accept this quest for not doing anything, why wouldn't you?

I assume the counter was retroactive or something...? Yeah, I dunno, it doesn't work that way in the later games.

The Green, Green Woodlands

Protect me, you idiot...

Ah crap.

Baaaaaack to town, hope you're not getting bored of going through B2F yet!

Better, but unsynced exp bars are just a way of life. It's fine, they'll become synced again at max level.

More Axes, who cares. With B. Guard at level 3, we can keep ignoring it like I already have, as well as move onto a real nice skill.

Poison now deals 43 damage. You see how this might start getting out of control? We're also only getting Cure III because of Revive. 20TP for a full heal is hilariously bad this early on, so if I ever do use this skill, it'll be out of battle at the end of the game.

Guess such a big bug isn't used to moving around, it's tired already.

Stalkers pause for 1 move for every 3 steps they take. Time to zip past it!

Even the plants want to kill us?

ESPECIALLY the plants.

Mandrake

Level: 10
HP: 51
STR: 27
VIT: 23
AGI: 16
LUC: 16
TEC: 16

EXP: 59

Skills
Corrode: Uses the Head. Reduces the entire party's DEF by 50% and has an 80% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

100%

150%

150%

Disable Vulnerabilities

50%

100%

50%

Drops
Normal: Hardwood. 33% chance. Sells for 13en.
1 required for Shortsword (Sword, ATK+15)
5 required for Hand Axe (Axe, ATK+18) Required for A favor to Shilleka I (Quest)
5 required for Wazikashi (Katana, ATK+20)
10 required for Aspis (Shield, DEF+2, VIT+1)

Rare: Vine. 20% chance. Sells for 16en.
1 required for Buffcoat (Clothing, DEF+2, AGI+3)
5 required for Bull Whip (Whip, ATK+16)
5 required for Leaf Coat (Body, DEF+1, AGI+1)
10 required for Vine Whip (Clothing, ATK+28, STR+1)

Conditional: Charcoal (Kill with Fire damage). 70% chance. Sells for 21en.
Required for nothing.

This is the first support type monster that doesn't do much aside from make it harder for you to do your killing job. They'll hit hard after a Corrode, but so will everything else. They're also the first monster we've fought with a Conditional Drop. All I care about is there's no Curse related conditionals, and that lets me sleep at night. Burn them once for the item registry, then kill them otherwise for their actual drops.

EO1 and 2 have very strange drop tables and material distribution.

Good gravy, that level advantage. At least its stats suck at this point. Conditional drops are really kind of underutilized in EO1. Not that many enemies have them, so they're not really something to worry about for the most part.

Ah, that kinda stings.

Do you like it?

What? N-No!

Okay then.

Hey, what are scribbling down?

...I killed it.

Another one... if it's gonna chase after us, let's do it after we've fought something.

Bit of a rough encounter, but Venomflies are kinda whatever since Ryu oneshots them and Moles are too low level to really hurt us anymore. Not because we've got stronger skills, or better armour, but because of our level. It's a bit of an immersion breaker.

I miss being able to do all five in one go...

Bit of a roundabout way of doing things.

We didn't encounter it, so don't be annoying!

Remember when I said Stalkers take a 1 turn rest for every 3 steps they take? Well this one will only aggro when you get along the same vertical line as it and only move on that vertical line, letting you step down and slip past it. Why does this Stalker have different movement to all the others? Is it for this one specific puzzle? Don't question it!

While they've tried to make the FOE behavior consistent in the later games, this is not the case in EO1. Just because an FOE behaves in a specific way, doesn't mean that all FOEs will behave in the same way. It's actually a pretty important fact to keep in mind unless you want to die horribly.

Ah, hehe, hello there.

You pipe down.

One has black robes and flame hair, while the other bears a fierce look and a katana.

Who's there?!

S-Sorry! Don't draw your weapon!

The adventurers appear to be veterans, and have made no move to lower their defenses. Perhaps they'll relent if you tell them that you are also adventurers from Etria.

Excuse us, we're Guild Edda, pleased to meet you.

Once you inform them you are adventurers, they nod and lower their guard ever so slightly.

Ah, Etrian explorers. Didn't the Radha notify you?

Uh, notify us of what?

The katana-wielding woman, realizing your ignorance, shakes her head in dismay.

We have orders from the Radha to guard this place. I am Ren, a ronin, and she is Tlachtga, a hexer. Return to town at once and get the details from Radha Hall.

Ren barks these cold, sharp words, then lapses into a silent stare. It seems you should ask the Radha official for details regarding the situation.

Are we unable to pass regardless?

We are guards, not guides. Take it up with Radha.

Realizing the abysmal likelihood of obtaining these women's cooperation, you turn and leave.

This happens in a random passageway mid-floor in EOU, which is...strange.

Damn, guess there's nothing to do but head back.

That sucks, I still have some strength in me!

Well, perhaps one more fight...

I immediately regret that idea.

I'm sure we'll be fine. Armadillos are pretty cute. At least I think that's what they are...

Roller

Level: 11
HP: 40
STR: 28
VIT: 25
AGI: 17
LUC: 17
TEC: 17

EXP: 69

Skills
Defend: Uses the Head. Increases DEF by 150% and has an 80% speed modifier.

Damage Vulnerabilities

75%

100%

150%

150%

Disable Vulnerabilities

100%

100%

Drops
Normal: Soft Hide. 33% chance. Sells for 9en.
1 required for Hide Ring (Accessory, DEF+1, Slash Resist Up 5%)
3 required for Hide Hat (Headgear, DEF+1, TP+5)
5 required for Fang Whip (Whip, ATK+10)
7 required for Jerkin (Light Armor, DEF +3)
9 required for Hide Boot (Footwear, DEF+1, AGI+2)
10 required for Hide Aspis (Shield, DEF +2)
7 required for The leathersmiths's favor (Quest)

Rare: Gum Hide. 20% chance. Sells for 18en.
1 required for Hide Vest (Clothing, DEF+2)
1 required for Buffcoat (Clothing, DEF+2, AGI+3)
1 required for Hide Hat (Headgear, DEF+1, TP+5)
3 required for Hide Glove (Gloves, DEF+1, STR+3)
5 required for Hide Boot (Footwear, DEF+1, AGI+2)
5 required for Short Bow (Bow, ATK+15) Required for A favor to Shilleka II (Quest)
5 required for Bull Whip (Whip, ATK+16)
10 required for Beast Bow (Bow, ATK+24, STR+2, TEC+1)

Conditional: None

Here's a Clawbug-lite, so weak to magic and resists physical hits, but can thankfully spend a few turns defending and using the Defend skill, two completely different actions that do basically the same thing. They'll still hit hard and refuse to die regardless, so fighting them like this is going to be a problem.

Basically this floor's resident "trash mob" along with the Mandrakes. For a given definition of trash mob considering that this is EO1, and they decided to give it a sizable level advantage because screw you.

Why me...

Sure, just ignore my Protector, see if I care. Fucking hell.

You're gonna regret that! ...

Great, now they both turned red.

Phew, we nearly had someone other than Liana miss out on exp! Back to town then...

1 Gum Hide required for Hide Vest (Light Armor, DEF+2)

3 Soft Hides and 1 Gum Hide required for Hide Hat (Headgear, DEF+1, TP+5)

Festival of Worship

It appears there are dangerous beasts prowling the lower reaches of the grove. We're considering issuing a mission to exerminae these troublesome wolves. Until the lower floors are confirmed as safe, abandon all further exploration.

Wolves, eh? I've wrestled a few of those in my time.

I don't believe that.

Beyond the 3rd floor, there have been many sightings of forest wolves. This in itself poses little danger... but they seem to be organized by a leader. That leader is Fenrir, their alpha wolf, and he awaits explorers on the 5th floor. Our own warriors are capable of defeating them, of course. I believe you've met them.

Yeah, they were real pals.

I wish you wouldn't wear so much armour, so I could kick you in the leg.

But we can't overrely on Ren and Tlachtga, or newcomers will have no chances to grow. Their current orders are to provide support to the young explorers. We ask that you use their help in defeating Fenrir.

Wait, we're out of money already? What have you been spending it on?

Swords.

Reviving you, mostly...

_{_{That's not my fault...}}

We'll just use our little pets to gather items for us.

How long have you been there?

This is where I sleep. Have you met the mouse that lives here?

EO1's earlygame, everybody! Yeah, sometimes you'll be forced to grind your progress to a halt because you're about to run out of money.

Some quick gathering, a sword for Gerson, and we'll complete a quest. I GUESS.

5 Hardwoods and 5 Hard Shells are required for Hand Axe (Axe, ATK+18) Required for A favor to Shilleka I

10 Hardwoods and 5 Hard Shells are required for Aspis (Shield, DEF+2, VIT+1)

Ahh, y'already gat'ered t'materials for t'at one! I forgot I made t'at request. But don't fret. I'll still pay t'reward. Go see Valerie and pick it up from her, okay?

Mhm, very nice, very nice.

Hey, don't swing that around.

I do not need a haircut thank you.

Axesknecht (that's a tongue twister) are pretty good, though I should teach Lavin Crush eventually...

Go to Shilleka's Goods to ask her which materials she needs. She was reall pleased with that Hand Axe, you know. Good luck to you.

Here's the dialogue, since I cba with going back just for that:

What's t'is now? Request about t'Short Bow? Ah, so you guys are helping me again! Lessee here, t'materials I need are... two Horns, and five Gum Hides. It's a good weapon for t'Survivalists! Gat'er materials quick for me, okay?

The Green, Green Woodlands