Difference between revisions of "Changes in Ambition of the Illuminus"

Revision as of 18:48, 18 September 2007

This is a list of changes to PSU that either occur in the Ambition of the Illuminus expansion pack or have been changed in regular PSU to ensure compatibility with the expansion.

Listed below are the changes in detail.

System changes

Lobby warping

Players will be able to move to lobbies for which they don't have permission for a fee, by talking to the lobby attendant NPC. The NPC now gives three options: travel via the old method (i.e. where a party member is), travel with meseta, and an explanation of the service, as well as the cancel option.

The player must have visited the lobby beforehand to be able to travel there. Notably, the lobby must be visited after the update or it will not be available to travel to.

Battle type changes

Battle type equipment and PA levels will be changed to their new Ambition of the Illuminus versions. In general, this means classes get more weapons, at higher ranks, and higher level Photon Arts.

Despite many advanced types getting level 40 Photon Arts, there will be an overall cap of 30 on the regular version of PSU. In addition, characters playing regular PSU cannot use Shadoogs, Madoogs, Photon Whips and Slicers even if their type can. See here for more information on the new weapons and Photon art limits.

Despite Japanese magazine scans showing the support PA cap for Wartechers to be 30, the actual cap is 20. It is currently unknown whether a last-minute change was made, the magazine made an error, or simply whether 20 is the cap in regular PSU and it will be raised to 30 for Ambition of the Illuminus players.

My Room, synthesis and grinding changes

Synthesis rate changes

Synthesis success rates have been increased. Items requiring special materials will receive the biggest increase, but other items will see an increase too.

In addition, elemental attribute rates when synthing melee weapons and armours have also been increased. Japanese sources state that in 10 trial synths of a Saber, 8 were between 18% and 28%, and the other two were 38% and 42%.

Synthesis failure items

Items received upon failing a synthesis will be changed. Players may receive materials, even materials not used in the synthesis, back. For example, failing a Saber may return Par Ash, or even Zepotite or Giganite.

Failing high grade items appears to give even more unusual items. For example, failing a Halarod may give you an Okiku Doll room decoration.

Grinding system change

The grinding system is being changed. Upon failing a grind attempt, the weapon will not be destroyed, but instead reset to an ungrinded state (0), and its grind limit will drop by 1. This is represented by two numbers: current grind/grind limit e.g. failing a 5/10 weapon will result in it becoming a 0/9. If a weapon reaches 0/0, it will become ungrindable.

Battle changes

Just Attack

This is a new battle system that will allow you to score critical hits through carefully timed attacks. It is only possible with melee weapons. In order to execute a Just Attack, you must first use a normal attack, and at the end of a normal attack's animation use another normal attack or Photon Art. If executed correctly, the circle that appears in the lower-right of the screen when you press a button will be doubled in size and you will score a critical hit. PP recovery also works for normal attacks.

Note that the current edition of PSU will not have a special effect for Just Attack, and Just Attack is not possible after the 3rd hit of a normal knuckle combo (this will be fixed in Ambition of the Illuminus).

Just Counter

This will allow players to immediately counterattack during the block animation, and it works for skills, bullets and TECHNICs. Melee weapons will retalitate with a critical hit, others won't.

The current edition of PSU will not have a special effect for Just Counter.

Melee PP recovery

Normal melee attacks will recover the PP of the weapon used, critical hits recover yet more.

Elemental formula changes

Although elements will no longer be as powerful on their own, adjustments to character stats mean that 50% weapons will perform almost the same after this change. On the whole characters will be offensively more powerful on their own, and lower % weapons and elementally neutral weapons will perform better than before.

Character status adjustment

Character stats are being adjusted. As well as offensive stats, defensive stats are being adjusted so that characters do not become too weak as a result of the elemental attribute changes.

Known changes: all types appear to have boosted ATP, DFP, TP and MST. Some types have other boosted stats as well. Exact stat modifiers and base stat changes are not known yet.

SUV and Nanoblast changes

Positive status (i.e. buffs) will no longer be removed when using SUV weapons or Nanoblasts.

Weapon and line shield drop changes

Completed weapons and line shields will drop with random elements and element %, between 7% and 21%.

Meseta drop changes

The amount of Meseta that drops will increase with bigger parties.

In addition, Meseta distribution will be changed. Under the random or set order distribution systems, Meseta will be equally divided among all party members. Under give finder, whoever picks it up will get it all, as before.

Photon Art rebalance

Photon Arts are being rebalanced (and mostly boosted). Known changes are listed below. All figures are for the Photon Art at level 30 unless stated otherwise.

Monster stat changes

The STA of large monsters will be rebalanced. Large monsters will have their STA lowered so they can be inflicted more easily with status effect. Level 2 status will be effective against many of them.

In addition, EXP given by monsters will be rebalanced. Monsters will give much more EXP than before, particularly at lower levels. It will be easier to reach Level 100 than before. The following table shows the expected EXP values from a monster that has an 100% EXP modifier (such as Delsaban). Values for new EXP and the % change are approximates.

Item changes

NPC shop changes

Weapons will now sell for more to the NPC shops, and traps are now cheaper to buy.