Part 103: WP System

This ended up being larger than I thought, so I'll just make it its own post.



I've run out of things to say about FMW1's game mechanics, so let's move on to the sequel! As I've mentioned previously, FMW2 is a dramatic improvement over FMW1 in just about every possible way. There are three aspects in particular I want to focus on though, and I'll start with WP.



Let's start by reviewing the WP system in FMW1. At the end of every chapter you get 10 or 15 WP (or 0 if you Game Overed), and you can spend it on a character of your choice in the intermission screens. At each WP level (20, 60, and 110 WP), units will learn special skills that for the most part range from to okay. None of the skills are game-changing, and the whole thing feels very gimmicky. All-in-all, there's very little point in bothering to get WP in FMW1.



Now for FMW2. WP is still earned and spent the same way, but the results are completely different. First off, there are five levels now, at 30, 80, 140, 210, and 280 WP. Each level increases your character's maximum Power by 5,



and gives them an upgrade in every single attribute. Did I mention that the game will always start you off at 225 WP (the max you can get in FMW1)? Because it does. FMW2's WP system can let you make any character in the game an unstoppable goddess of destruction, and at the same time it also lets you use any team you want. If you immediately spend all of your WP on Reimu or Marisa, they'll become so ridiculous they can carry even the crappiest characters through the game.

What happened to the WP skills though?



They're now earned through level up, a much better decision in my opinion. They've all also been greatly improved, so you actually want to use them now! Here's a list of all the FMW1 characters':

Reimu's skill list is short, but they're all incredible. Youkai Buster has changed from only being usable once to always being on, Duplex Barrier lets Reimu survive the RNG's spite, and Instinct can dramatically increase her damage output if you're fine with a 90% hit rate being your max.

As always, Marisa is a total contrast to Reimu. Her WP skill list is huge, and it's really up to you which one is best. Danmaku Power combined with Valor can give Marisa the biggest damage output in the game, while Magic Thruster or Speed Star can make up for her lack of the Focus spirit. Or you could equip Hard Worker, stack it with Gain, and watch her level shoot up like crazy.

Keine's skill list is all-around solid. There are good reasons to use any of these, though at the same time there's arguably little reason to use Keine herself past the game's midway point since two much better tanks show up.

Nitori's pretty in FMW2, but her skills can make her a very solid support unit. Or if you really want to use her in battle, Optic Camouflage can actually give her good odds for dodging things.

Alice's Dolls are now useful, especially since she also has a Support with them (though only one Doll can return the Support, so no spawning three Hourai Dolls for a +15% Hit/Evade). Danmaku Brains is the all around better skill though, especially if you stick with keeping Marisa and Alice together at all times.

Speaking of Marisa and Alice, if you carry over a Marisa route save from FMW1, the Marisa/Alice Support will come with it (if you got it), and can optionally boosted to +15% Hit/Evade. Amusingly, that makes them the best Support pair in the game since they can reach that without needing a skill.

Youmu's skill list is short and sweet. Either make her Parry skill almost always activate, give her a chance to dodge any attack, or just buff her damage. By the way, in FMW2 Youmu has the single strongest attack in the game, though Marisa can outdamage her due to her greater damage multipliers.

_{I don't remember what levels Rumia learns some of her skills and the wiki didn't have anything either.}
Night is a really cool skill, though I've never tested to see if Rumia's panel is also considered Night terrain. Amplified Shade makes Laser damage even more ineffectual against Rumia, and Darkness is... kind of useless actually.

You can either make Dai a better healer, keep her Support with Cirno (those two are the only other units who can get a +15% Support), or ineffectually try to make her an attacker. Also, Go for it! would be hilariously broken if it was on any other unit.

Freeze is a handy skill that can keep Cirno useful until she learns Burning Ice. Also, I have to admit I don't fully understand how the Ice Power skill works, but I never use it anyways what with Grit.

The other two things I want to talk about (skills and the new Cost system) will be saved for future updates.