The current level cap in DFO, in North America at least, is 40. In the Korean and Chinese versions the current cap is 60, but we're still in beta and as such stuck with 40. The problem is there's really not that much to do at the current cap.
Oh sure, you could indulge in Player Versus Player combat, but that's not my personal cup of tea. You could do the quests you've got, even though you lose the exp, maybe you'll find a +5 SP book?
Meh.
All these options are pretty lackluster really, PvP seems to be what most people do, and you get a new quest to pvp at level 40. Personally I've been trying to farm the highest level dungeon available, Spider Cavern.
The Boss of spider cavern is pretty easy as a blade master, you can Triple slash behind him when needed and Wave Wheel Slash when he super armors. It's getting to him solo that's the problem, the normal monsters in the area are absolutely brutal. the Ghouls cause poison when you back-attack them, the Lady Specters have a nasty grab and a punishing ranged attack, and the spiders.... are actually pretty easy to kill, even the poison spewing ones.
So I started grouping to do spider runs, depending on the group it can go really well or really chaotically. I've found Nen Masters, Berserkers, Brawlers, and Spitfires to be extremely powerful here.
So far i've only found a handful of greens and a Flesk Steiner Light Saber, but i hear there's pink drops from the boss.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Peer to Peer MMO
To connect with other Dungeon Fighters, DFO uses what is called a Peer to Peer system. This means that while you're in town, the game server is what you are connected to, but once you enter a dungeon, you are connected to the Party leader. This vastly reduces the strain on the game's servers, but causes a couple of problems when partying.
When you start a party, you're computer will attempt to 'sync up' with that of the host and the other party members. If one person has trouble syncing with another party member, lag will occur in dungeon.
The worst form lag can take in DFO is a frozen monster. When one person in the party cannot correctly sync with the host, but syncs with everyone else, monsters will become unhittable and immobile, frozen, which stops the progress of the party and is generally annoying. When this happens, if you see that you are the person lagging with the host and causing the freeze, it is polite to leave the party, so they can continue on.
DFO provides a connection indicator on party members' portraits, so you can easily tell if you're syncing with someone or not.
When you start a party, you're computer will attempt to 'sync up' with that of the host and the other party members. If one person has trouble syncing with another party member, lag will occur in dungeon.
The worst form lag can take in DFO is a frozen monster. When one person in the party cannot correctly sync with the host, but syncs with everyone else, monsters will become unhittable and immobile, frozen, which stops the progress of the party and is generally annoying. When this happens, if you see that you are the person lagging with the host and causing the freeze, it is polite to leave the party, so they can continue on.
DFO provides a connection indicator on party members' portraits, so you can easily tell if you're syncing with someone or not.
The Way Loot Works
Loot works a bit differently in DFO than it does in some similar online games. Namely in the way rare drops occur. There are 3 places loot can come from, aside from Quest loot, which is static.
1. It can drop off a monster in a dungeon.
2. It can drop off the Boss Monster in a dungeon. This is seperate due to his higher level loot table.
3. When you beat a dungeon, loot can drop from the treasure cards available.
Simple, Right? Like every other game, loot comes from playing it, duh.
Here's where it veers off course, in most similar games, every single monster has an individual loot table, a list of things it can possibly drop. In DFO, monsters loot tables are different based only on level.
Allow me to explain....
A monster that can drop a level 25 or 30 purple item (Purple item levels jump by 5), can also drop any white, blue, or green item of the same level. That's right, the entirety of items that are the same level are possible drops, making it incredibly difficult to farm for a particular item, even if you know it's level range. The same goes for boss and treasure card drops as well.
The chance that a treasure card will possess loot can be enhanced by partying in a full group of 4 and by running the dungeon on a higher level (Expert, Master, or King)
1. It can drop off a monster in a dungeon.
2. It can drop off the Boss Monster in a dungeon. This is seperate due to his higher level loot table.
3. When you beat a dungeon, loot can drop from the treasure cards available.
Simple, Right? Like every other game, loot comes from playing it, duh.
Here's where it veers off course, in most similar games, every single monster has an individual loot table, a list of things it can possibly drop. In DFO, monsters loot tables are different based only on level.
Allow me to explain....
A monster that can drop a level 25 or 30 purple item (Purple item levels jump by 5), can also drop any white, blue, or green item of the same level. That's right, the entirety of items that are the same level are possible drops, making it incredibly difficult to farm for a particular item, even if you know it's level range. The same goes for boss and treasure card drops as well.
The chance that a treasure card will possess loot can be enhanced by partying in a full group of 4 and by running the dungeon on a higher level (Expert, Master, or King)
Christmas in Arad
Christmas has come to DFO, and there's never been a better time to start that new character, or heck, a new account even.
There are 3 Christmas quests going on until January 3rd, I believe. Each one has you searching for monsters that rarely and randomly spawn inside any dungeon, even the low level and starter dungeons. collecting 15 items from each of these monsters will get you some neat new holiday-themed avatar items; a Rudolph Nose, a Holly Badge, and a Snowman Doll. These avatars don't have any stat bonuses on them, but they never expire, are a badge of pride, and are super duper cute.
In addition, while you're new low level character is searching high and low for Xmas items and treasures, snow will occasionally fall in Arad, granting double exp gain for 1 or 2 hours. The low level grind just got a lot shorter!
Finally, Nexxon has put up 2 special packages in the cash shop. a premium package and a not-so-premium package. The Holiday Spirit Title (Premium Only) is the best title you can get so far, and it has a 2% chance of summoning Santa Clobber.
Seriously. You summon Santa to help you fight, and he's awesome. He gets priest moves like Crucifix Wind, Giant Weapon Launcher, Fast Heal, and Strike. He's pretty darn awesome to have around and he looks really cool.
Happy Holidays!
There are 3 Christmas quests going on until January 3rd, I believe. Each one has you searching for monsters that rarely and randomly spawn inside any dungeon, even the low level and starter dungeons. collecting 15 items from each of these monsters will get you some neat new holiday-themed avatar items; a Rudolph Nose, a Holly Badge, and a Snowman Doll. These avatars don't have any stat bonuses on them, but they never expire, are a badge of pride, and are super duper cute.
In addition, while you're new low level character is searching high and low for Xmas items and treasures, snow will occasionally fall in Arad, granting double exp gain for 1 or 2 hours. The low level grind just got a lot shorter!
Finally, Nexxon has put up 2 special packages in the cash shop. a premium package and a not-so-premium package. The Holiday Spirit Title (Premium Only) is the best title you can get so far, and it has a 2% chance of summoning Santa Clobber.
Seriously. You summon Santa to help you fight, and he's awesome. He gets priest moves like Crucifix Wind, Giant Weapon Launcher, Fast Heal, and Strike. He's pretty darn awesome to have around and he looks really cool.
Happy Holidays!
Fighters
Fighter - Mrs. Bruce Lee
Fighters are described by DFO as "Super Melee" characters. This is highly accurate. Fighters have very strong, fast, close range regular attacks, and skills to back it up. Suplex is great, it does big damage and makes you invulnerable while using it. Tiger Strike extends your dash combo, making it fairly strong. nen shot can be used for a ranged attack, but is fairly weak at this point. Fighters can use Tonfa, Claws, Knuckles (gloves), Gauntlets, or if they become a Striker at level 18, Boxing Gloves.
At level 18 a Fighter can become:
Nen Master - The magical Fighter class. Nens produce exploding shadows around themselves, aswell as buffing party members with the light element. they can create damage absorbing bubbles to protect or shoot huge waves of nen energy to attack. They are both a strong utility class and strong magical attack class. Usually use Knuckles for magic power or Tonfa for balanced attacks.
Grappler - Grapplers focus on the art of grabbing enemies. Grabs always make characters invulnerable for the duration of the animation, so this may seem like an overpowered class, but many enemies later on will not receive the full damage from grabs. Many still will however, and grapplers are great and moving enemies about, they can suplex for splash damage, throw enemies into walls or eachother, and even grab monsters out of mid-air. Not sure which weapon is best, if moves their grabs are damage % based, Gauntlets. If not it's up to taste.
Brawler - Brawlers fight dirty, but are difficult to level up. They don't get their powerful signature moves until around level 35. They can throw bricks at enemies to stun them and poison their weapons to inflict damage. They can use Net to pull enemies into them, then knock them down and use Mount. Mount, I'm not sure of the actual name, causes the brawler to climb on top of a downed foe and punch the hell out of them, it does a great deal of damage to a single target. Brawlers get bonuses when using Claws.
Striker - Strikers attack quickly and powerfully, and are great at building combos. They get moves like low kick, which can be used to maintain a combo and are fast and strong. Strikers are the only class that can use Boxing Gloves. Strikers focus mainly on high combo damage to very limited areas.
That's all for Fighters, another class I haven't leveled up much. Nen masters are pretty amazing at high levels when played right, the bubble can prevent great amounts of damage.
Fighters are described by DFO as "Super Melee" characters. This is highly accurate. Fighters have very strong, fast, close range regular attacks, and skills to back it up. Suplex is great, it does big damage and makes you invulnerable while using it. Tiger Strike extends your dash combo, making it fairly strong. nen shot can be used for a ranged attack, but is fairly weak at this point. Fighters can use Tonfa, Claws, Knuckles (gloves), Gauntlets, or if they become a Striker at level 18, Boxing Gloves.
At level 18 a Fighter can become:
Nen Master - The magical Fighter class. Nens produce exploding shadows around themselves, aswell as buffing party members with the light element. they can create damage absorbing bubbles to protect or shoot huge waves of nen energy to attack. They are both a strong utility class and strong magical attack class. Usually use Knuckles for magic power or Tonfa for balanced attacks.
Grappler - Grapplers focus on the art of grabbing enemies. Grabs always make characters invulnerable for the duration of the animation, so this may seem like an overpowered class, but many enemies later on will not receive the full damage from grabs. Many still will however, and grapplers are great and moving enemies about, they can suplex for splash damage, throw enemies into walls or eachother, and even grab monsters out of mid-air. Not sure which weapon is best, if moves their grabs are damage % based, Gauntlets. If not it's up to taste.
Brawler - Brawlers fight dirty, but are difficult to level up. They don't get their powerful signature moves until around level 35. They can throw bricks at enemies to stun them and poison their weapons to inflict damage. They can use Net to pull enemies into them, then knock them down and use Mount. Mount, I'm not sure of the actual name, causes the brawler to climb on top of a downed foe and punch the hell out of them, it does a great deal of damage to a single target. Brawlers get bonuses when using Claws.
Striker - Strikers attack quickly and powerfully, and are great at building combos. They get moves like low kick, which can be used to maintain a combo and are fast and strong. Strikers are the only class that can use Boxing Gloves. Strikers focus mainly on high combo damage to very limited areas.
That's all for Fighters, another class I haven't leveled up much. Nen masters are pretty amazing at high levels when played right, the bubble can prevent great amounts of damage.
I Hate Gunners
Gunner - The Jerk Who Kills You With One Move
Seriously, I have tried to play a gunner and I just can't get into it. The fact that they pretty much run the player versus player content in this game doesn't help my feelings towards them. Don't get me wrong because they're great in parties... they just sort of piss me off.
Gunners are over powered, right from the get go they can defeat any enemy simply using their regular attacks. they get amazing skills like Windmill kick, Gattling gun, BBQ, Flamethrower, Silver Bullet... really they are just strong. The only reason I really can't get into them is because their basic attack is ranged, using an Auto-Gun, Revolver, Hand Cannon, Musket, or Bowgun. Since I haven't played any gunner sub-class I don't know as much as I do about others, but i'll do what I can for you.
Ranger - Rangers are the closest gunners come to a melee class, they get some close up moves other gunners don't and get huge boosts to attack speed. I don't know if they are the only gunners that can use Revolvers, but they are the ones i see most frequently with them. Rangers seem to focus on strong, fast, basic attacks.
Launcher - Launchers don't use their basic attacks much, all their power is in the skills they get. upgraded Flamethrowers, Laser Guns, Missiles, and even a satellite cannon are in their arsenal, and they can do huge amounts of damage over large portions of the screen. A charged up laser rifle can hit clear across the entire room. These Gunners usually use Hand Cannons to maximize damage.
Mechanic - Mechanics are kind of like summoners, they rely mostly on created units to do damage. The twist is, they can combine units they summon into higher powered units. I don't know the skill names but I've seen; Mortar-Bot, Flying Gunship, Exploding Toy-Bots, Cannon Sentry. Mechanics usually use Auto-Guns, the quick speed helps create big robots faster.
Spitfire - The Magic class of gunner, they imbue their bullets and grenades with the 4 Elements. I don't know much about spitfires skills, except that their elemental grenades can do some mighty big area of effect damage and the ice one can freeze whole groups, which is nice. Usually I see Spitfires with Muskets, I'm guessing they have the highest magic attack.
That's it for gunners, a class I really can't enjoying playing, but greatly enjoy playing alongside. There is a huge population of gunners in DFO, because it's such a strong class with a shallow hlearning curve, but as the primary ranged class in DFO, I'm glad there are so many.
Seriously, I have tried to play a gunner and I just can't get into it. The fact that they pretty much run the player versus player content in this game doesn't help my feelings towards them. Don't get me wrong because they're great in parties... they just sort of piss me off.
Gunners are over powered, right from the get go they can defeat any enemy simply using their regular attacks. they get amazing skills like Windmill kick, Gattling gun, BBQ, Flamethrower, Silver Bullet... really they are just strong. The only reason I really can't get into them is because their basic attack is ranged, using an Auto-Gun, Revolver, Hand Cannon, Musket, or Bowgun. Since I haven't played any gunner sub-class I don't know as much as I do about others, but i'll do what I can for you.
Ranger - Rangers are the closest gunners come to a melee class, they get some close up moves other gunners don't and get huge boosts to attack speed. I don't know if they are the only gunners that can use Revolvers, but they are the ones i see most frequently with them. Rangers seem to focus on strong, fast, basic attacks.
Launcher - Launchers don't use their basic attacks much, all their power is in the skills they get. upgraded Flamethrowers, Laser Guns, Missiles, and even a satellite cannon are in their arsenal, and they can do huge amounts of damage over large portions of the screen. A charged up laser rifle can hit clear across the entire room. These Gunners usually use Hand Cannons to maximize damage.
Mechanic - Mechanics are kind of like summoners, they rely mostly on created units to do damage. The twist is, they can combine units they summon into higher powered units. I don't know the skill names but I've seen; Mortar-Bot, Flying Gunship, Exploding Toy-Bots, Cannon Sentry. Mechanics usually use Auto-Guns, the quick speed helps create big robots faster.
Spitfire - The Magic class of gunner, they imbue their bullets and grenades with the 4 Elements. I don't know much about spitfires skills, except that their elemental grenades can do some mighty big area of effect damage and the ice one can freeze whole groups, which is nice. Usually I see Spitfires with Muskets, I'm guessing they have the highest magic attack.
That's it for gunners, a class I really can't enjoying playing, but greatly enjoy playing alongside. There is a huge population of gunners in DFO, because it's such a strong class with a shallow hlearning curve, but as the primary ranged class in DFO, I'm glad there are so many.
Slayer - Demon Possessed Swordsman
Slayers are the swordsman of the game. The slayers right arm is possessed by the demon Kazan so the slayer uses his left hand to wield Short Swords, Katanas, Bludgeons, massive Great Swords, or Lightsabers. Only slayers who become Blade Masters at level 18 can use lightsabers. The moves that will make life easy as a Slayer are Triple Slash (big damage and mobility), Summon Kazan (big strength boost for party in an area), and Gore Slash (causes bleed status, strikes 3 times).
At level 18 Slayers can become:
Blade Master - This slayer is the only one that can use light sabers, they attack very quickly and with more small blows. Blade Master gameplay really changes a lot depending on the weapon you choose to specialize in, mastering a class of weapon offers unique bonuses to skills. For example light saber and katana masters turn Triple Slash into Quintuple Slash at level 5 weapon Mastery.
Berserker - Berserkers thrive on causing the Bleed status effect to enemies, causing them to continuously lose health. They get big Area of Effect attacks like Blood Pillar and Blood Funnel. Some of their skills cost health instead of mana to use, and they get stronger when they are under 40% health. They usually use Great Swords to maximize damage.
Asura - These Slayers use strong magical attacks based on "wave energy" some attacks use one of the four elements, but most are neutral magic. Asuras have very strong area of effect damage skills and one of the most used is Frost Wave. Frost wave hits an area in front of the Asura and has a high chance of freezing the monster in place, it's great. Asura's usually use Shortswords, but some use Katanas.
Soulbender - These Slayers are also magical attackers, but they summon ghosts and demons from hell to empower allies and weaken enemies, usually in an area of effect. They get a couple of decent direct magical attacks but the ghosts are really what make this class, the buffs and debufs they apply are very strong and can turn a struggling party into a bulldozer.
That's all for Slayers, most slayer classes are highly dependant on the weapon they use, even asuras depend on a strong magic attack weapon to boos their skills. Slayers are decent all the way through the game from beginning to end, and i mean come on, who doesn't want to wield a light saber?
P.S. Blade Master is the first class I got to the current level cap of 40, his name is BenKinobi, if you're on some time gimme a whisper and we'll team up. =D
Slayers are the swordsman of the game. The slayers right arm is possessed by the demon Kazan so the slayer uses his left hand to wield Short Swords, Katanas, Bludgeons, massive Great Swords, or Lightsabers. Only slayers who become Blade Masters at level 18 can use lightsabers. The moves that will make life easy as a Slayer are Triple Slash (big damage and mobility), Summon Kazan (big strength boost for party in an area), and Gore Slash (causes bleed status, strikes 3 times).
At level 18 Slayers can become:
Blade Master - This slayer is the only one that can use light sabers, they attack very quickly and with more small blows. Blade Master gameplay really changes a lot depending on the weapon you choose to specialize in, mastering a class of weapon offers unique bonuses to skills. For example light saber and katana masters turn Triple Slash into Quintuple Slash at level 5 weapon Mastery.
Berserker - Berserkers thrive on causing the Bleed status effect to enemies, causing them to continuously lose health. They get big Area of Effect attacks like Blood Pillar and Blood Funnel. Some of their skills cost health instead of mana to use, and they get stronger when they are under 40% health. They usually use Great Swords to maximize damage.
Asura - These Slayers use strong magical attacks based on "wave energy" some attacks use one of the four elements, but most are neutral magic. Asuras have very strong area of effect damage skills and one of the most used is Frost Wave. Frost wave hits an area in front of the Asura and has a high chance of freezing the monster in place, it's great. Asura's usually use Shortswords, but some use Katanas.
Soulbender - These Slayers are also magical attackers, but they summon ghosts and demons from hell to empower allies and weaken enemies, usually in an area of effect. They get a couple of decent direct magical attacks but the ghosts are really what make this class, the buffs and debufs they apply are very strong and can turn a struggling party into a bulldozer.
That's all for Slayers, most slayer classes are highly dependant on the weapon they use, even asuras depend on a strong magic attack weapon to boos their skills. Slayers are decent all the way through the game from beginning to end, and i mean come on, who doesn't want to wield a light saber?
P.S. Blade Master is the first class I got to the current level cap of 40, his name is BenKinobi, if you're on some time gimme a whisper and we'll team up. =D
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