Starting off
So, 09/11/2011 - 07:30
Hello! I just started playing about 5 days ago, and my friend helped me get started. The problem is, I really have no idea what I'm doing, so I just follow her around asking questions. Maybe you guys can help me understand.
1) What are the stars on a gear? Do they make it stronger? Obviously, more stars means more stats, right?
2) My friend was talking about how those crystal things you collect and sell (the ones you carry on your back in dungeons) affect the dungeons you enter. How do they?
3) What are the elements in the game (fire water etc). What's weak against what?
4) I keep dying in t2 even though I have 2* stuff. Is that normal? Should I have better gear? Any tips on fighting monsters without dying so much? I usually die in Danger Rooms, and my friend calls them.
5) Are there any quests besides the beginning ones?
6) Is there any way to get crystal energy outside of the cash shop? What is it used for?
7) I was also looking for a guild for me and my friend to join maybe, but we don't play enough to really do much. What are the advantages to a guild?
I think that's it. Thanks!
So, 09/11/2011 - 08:23
#2
1) Each star effectively
1) Each star effectively translates to a stratum where the item is effective. A 2-star weapon will scale up in power appropriately for the first three strata (up to the first half of tier 2,) but drop off in effectiveness after the terminal.
3) There are four damage elements - Normal, Shadow, Elemental, and Piercing. The wiki has a list of creature types, and what types of damage are effective against them.
4) Play defensively - don't go swinging into enemies with your full combo if it'll leave you open to attack. Learn to interrupt the recovery of your attacks by activating your shield. And depending on how you and your party are equipped, it's often a smart idea to just skip danger rooms.
So, 09/11/2011 - 11:54
#3
a few things I'd like to add
1) Items of same star level are not necessarily of nearly equal desirability, but in general things with more stars are more useful. Also, it looks like right now zero- and one-star items do not go anywhere.
3) I imagine the damage types and status effects can be confusing for newbies. There are four damage types: Normal, Piercing, Elemental, and Shadow. "Normal" is actually kinda special, since normal damage is equally effective against all monster types; no one is especially resistant or weak to it. The other three should be used against monsters that do not have resistance, and preferably against monsters that are weak against them. You can read about that on the wiki here. Attacks can be purely of one damage type, or split between two. When damage is split, it is usually Normal and one of the others. Status effects are a different thing altogether, but weapons that inflict status effects tend to do at least partly Elemental damage. More info on status effects is on the wiki here.
4) As stated, dying has a lot to do with how new we are to the game and what you have equipped. At least with 2-star gear in tier 2, we need to match our equipment to the strata. I imagine we'll get more leniency with 3-star gear, but I am not there yet myself. See the "monster resistances" table in the damage page linked above. The icons for monster type are visible in the Arcade behind each gate. If an icon in that stratum stack is not one of the monster type icons, it is for a status effect theme. For status-themed levels, monster types are more varied. Try to match the monster themes to your armor & shield resistances and weapon damages.
In general, we should prioritise avoiding damage over dealing it. Hit points are very limited, but we do not have to worry about time or ammo. For what it's worth, I think of my shield as a second defense and armor third. Dodging and staying out of harm's way is first, far before the second. I would recommend avoiding danger rooms until you're at the point where the rest of the tier is pretty easy.
edit: In case you missed it, check out this thread by RockZombie: Mentoring for new/advancing knights
For that matter, feel free to ask me if you see me in-game. If I have the energy and no prior commitments to other players, I'll also be happy to come with you on a dive and help you out. My in-game name is Birgus.
So, 09/11/2011 - 14:15
#4
Thank you!
Okay, yeah I'm
Thank you!
Okay, yeah I'm used to Brawler games so fighting defensively is new for me.
Thank you, everyone!
1) More stars are better items, of course. Often, when an item is a certain star value (Take for example a Calibur, 2 stars) can be upgraded to a 3 star variant (in this case a Tempered Calibur).
2) http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Gate_construction
3) It are no elements, it are status effects. http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Status_effect (Some can be a stratum theme)
4) It depends on your skills. Very important is that you shield when needed. Tell me your current stuff's names and I can give you advice on where to go for some easier experience. (Some equipment works much better vs slimes, or vs constructs.. Same for weapons.)
5) If you call boss fights a quest, then yes.
6) Crystal energy (CE) does exactly the same as Mist energy. It got the same things it can do, but CE got an infinite stock. Mist energy got a limit of 100. You can get CE by buying it for crowns (Around 5k-6k crowns) via the market, the button at the bottom-right.
7) A guild is just a group. In the guild I'm in we just help eachother, do runs with eachother, lend eachother stuff etc.