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Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
There's no real item concocted, just the effect. So same turn.

Concoct is Alfyn's unique personal skill, separate from his Apothecary class. Like how Ophilia and Primrose can summon NPCs into battle, or H'aanit can use pet beasts, except... way more consistently useful.
 

GeekyDad

Banned
Nov 11, 2017
1,689
USA
There's no real item concocted, just the effect. So same turn.

Concoct is Alfyn's unique personal skill, separate from his Apothecary class. Like how Ophilia and Primrose can summon NPCs into battle, or H'aanit can use pet beasts, except... way more consistently useful.

Ah, okay. It didn't even occur to me that the skills were attached to the specific characters rather than their class.

I just have the Thief to unlock. I wanted to go right into Phili's Chapter 2 after establishing a part of four, but the jump in levels was substantial, so I just stuck with everyone's Chapter 1. Is the rest of the game pretty much the same?
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
Ah, okay. It didn't even occur to me that the skills were attached to the specific characters rather than their class.

I just have the Thief to unlock. I wanted to go right into Phili's Chapter 2 after establishing a part of four, but the jump in levels was substantial, so I just stuck with everyone's Chapter 1. Is the rest of the game pretty much the same?

Each region's CH2 area has a shrine that unlocks the job of the character who began in that region as a secondary job for anyone (e.g. Dancer = Sunlands; Apothecary = Riverlands; Scholar = Flatlands). To help bridge the gap in levels between CH1 and CH2, I'd recommend exploring and finding those shrines. That'll give your team a big power boost. :D

The rest of the chapters don't have recommended level gaps that are as steep. For the record, though: especially once you unlock secondary jobs, you'll usually be able tackle areas and chapters whose recommended levels exceed yours by a bit. Levels in Octopath aren't as statistically meaningful as equipment or job builds. Keep up to date stealing/buying things with Therion/Tressa.
 

GeekyDad

Banned
Nov 11, 2017
1,689
USA
Finished Ophelia's Chapter 2. That was not easy. Got wiped the first time I attempted the boss, and the second time was a close call.

Although I kinda wish there was an auto-battle function for sifting quickly through minor fights, the game is still addictive as hell. Woke up and had to play a little before work. That's when I know I have a good game. :D
 

Lotus

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
105,642
I took too big of a break from this game, now I have no drive to continue, hate when that happens lol
 

GeekyDad

Banned
Nov 11, 2017
1,689
USA
Dear God, I'm dreaming (nightmares) about the game now. I was trying to boost-attack everything in my dreams. Insanity!
 

chairhome

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,627
Orlando
Picked up playing this again (I was halfway through Ch 3s) after watching the AGDQ Speedrun (that used my main Tressa!).

Stumbled upon one of the optional bosses (shrine) and was able to do it after two hours (probably underleveled). Found another one and I probably have to come back haha.

I'm on Ch 4s now... should I do my main character's ch4 last?
 

Deleted member 6137

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,386
Picked up playing this again (I was halfway through Ch 3s) after watching the AGDQ Speedrun (that used my main Tressa!).

Stumbled upon one of the optional bosses (shrine) and was able to do it after two hours (probably underleveled). Found another one and I probably have to come back haha.

I'm on Ch 4s now... should I do my main character's ch4 last?
Do it first, then you can swap them out of your party.
 

GSR

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,660
I'm on Ch 4s now... should I do my main character's ch4 last?

Up to you. The credits will roll when you finish your main character's chapter 4, and the credits do some stuff based on how many chapters you've finished, so I could see doing it last.

However I preferred to do it first for two reasons: one, finishing her final chapter let me take Tressa out of the party (so I could experiment with more setups and make up some of the level deficit between her and the other characters) and two, doing hers first meant I wouldn't be totally overpowered for her final boss, which made the fight more satisfying.
 
Oct 25, 2017
9,053
Picked up playing this again (I was halfway through Ch 3s) after watching the AGDQ Speedrun (that used my main Tressa!).

Stumbled upon one of the optional bosses (shrine) and was able to do it after two hours (probably underleveled). Found another one and I probably have to come back haha.

I'm on Ch 4s now... should I do my main character's ch4 last?

First, IMO. You can remove them from your active party once you beat their C4 and get the credit roll. But credits are slightly more "fleshed out" if you do it later. But only slightly. It doesn't matter that much-- stuff will start appearing as you clear them.

What is the requirement for the 3-person (and 4) skits? ANY C4, or your main C4?
 
Last edited:

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
First, IMO. You can remove them from your active party once you beat their C4 and get the credit roll. But credits are slightly more "fleshed out" if you do it later. But only slightly. It doesn't matter that much-- stuff will start appearing as you clear them.

What is the requirement for the 3-person skits? ANY C4, or your main C4?

Any CH4, and there are ones larger than 3-person.
 
Oct 25, 2017
9,053
Any CH4, and there are ones larger than 3-person.

I really wish the post-game skits were more fleshed out. Yeah, it would have been a lot of overhead, but they should have done all of the 3-person combinations, and had banter start during Chapter 1. There's ~200 skits in the game, but having ~300 or ~350 would have really eased a lot of complaints on that angle without detracting from the pacing of the game or its focus on the great gameplay aspects.
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
I really wish the post-game skits were more fleshed out. Yeah, it would have been a lot of overhead, but they should have done all of the 3-person combinations, and had banter start during Chapter 1. There's ~200 skits in the game, but having ~300 or ~350 would have really eased a lot of complaints on that angle without detracting from the pacing of the game or its focus on the great gameplay aspects.

Even if they couldn't create more, if they'd simply made the postgame skits available starting from CH1/CH2 (because they aren't endgame pertinent), and made the Chapter skits unmissable, I don't think there'd have been half as many complaints.

There's tons of party interaction if the player bothers to get it, and it's somewhat unique among JRPGs in that there's a roughly equal amount of it between each two members — as opposed to most games where many members never interact — the acquisition is just all wrong.
 

deepFlaw

Knights of Favonius World Tour '21
Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,494
I did my character's (H'aanit) chapter 4 first, but I also specifically did that to be "done" for the time being as I'd fallen off of the game (took me a while to even finish chapter 3s, took a month off of it and then did some job bosses, this was a month after that) but still wanted that conclusion until I returned, if I do return anytime soon. Hers first was always the plan, though; I did 2+3 in the order of the level recommendations but for 4 I intend to play through in the same order as I started in 1.

Regardless: I made a point of getting all the chat scenes and it wasn't too bad (I had a list of the order for each chapter), but I do wish they just gave you all of them automatically. Then being missable + arbitrary with who you need when just means people will miss out on conversations.

Though I'd also say most weren't particularly amazing, even if the interaction was inherently welcome. I can no longer remember specifics, but I remember a decent number of times where the scene for a party member was just about some super generic moment, when some other point in the chapter had an event/character that would have fit a reaction from them perfectly. Some scenes were great but a lot of them were just kinda bland, in the end.
 

Jahranimo

Community Resettler
Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,002
So this is kinda weird, but my Olberic has been missing more hits than before. He's level 63 with one of the hidden jobs and his accuracy is 329.

Before going through the game prior to getting the hidden jobs he had the Apothecary secondary job but was barely missing anything. Am I missing something?
 

Tfritz

Member
Oct 25, 2017
13,254
So this is kinda weird, but my Olberic has been missing more hits than before. He's level 63 with one of the hidden jobs and his accuracy is 329.

Before going through the game prior to getting the hidden jobs he had the Apothecary secondary job but was barely missing anything. Am I missing something?

Does he have Werner's Sword equipped
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
So this is kinda weird, but my Olberic has been missing more hits than before. He's level 63 with one of the hidden jobs and his accuracy is 329.

Before going through the game prior to getting the hidden jobs he had the Apothecary secondary job but was barely missing anything. Am I missing something?

Unequip that sword and never use it.
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
Holy shit, thank you! When reading the flavor text "All successful attacks become critical hits" I didn't think that meant "fuck your accuracy lol"

Equipped the Dragon Saber.

Yeah... IIRC Werner's Sword is critical hits or nothing else. It's 50/50 hit rate at best.

By the opposite token, if you get Battle-tested Blade, its physical attack boost is a unique multiplier that applies to all physical attacks by that character, no matter the weapon, and stacks with other physical buffs.
 

Jahranimo

Community Resettler
Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,002
Yeah... IIRC Werner's Sword is critical hits or nothing else. It's 50/50 hit rate at best.

By the opposite token, if you get Battle-tested Blade, its physical attack boost is a unique multiplier that applies to all physical attacks by that character, no matter the weapon, and stacks with other physical buffs.

Oooo that sounds pretty good. I don't have that, is it obtained from a sidequest? The only Chapter 4s I need to finish are Therion, Tressa and Primrose.
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
Oooo that sounds pretty good. I don't have that, is it obtained from a sidequest? The only Chapter 4s I need to finish are Therion, Tressa and Primrose.

It's accessible after finishing Olberic's CH4. Buyable from a certain plot NPC in Wellspring.

There are also two accessories from side quests that unlock after finishing Olberic and Ophilia's stories, which increase the party's EXP and JP earned by 50%. The quests start in Wellspring and Saintsbridge.
 

hat_hair

Member
Oct 26, 2017
1,158
I'm on Ch 4s now... should I do my main character's ch4 last?

Once you complete your main's Chapter 4, it rolls credits but then unlocks your party so you can remove them.
Depending on how you feel about credits being the end of the game, you probably want to either do it first for more freedom, or last to give the game more of a sense of completeness.

Edit: I completely missed an entire page of discussion, apparently >_>
 

Fleet of Foot

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,135
Springboro, OH
Can someone give me some quick pointers?

I've only just started. Done chapter 1 for 5 characters. I'm already bored of chapter 1 stories and I'd rather just move on to chapter 2 with some of the characters I already have. My party is around level 12. When I look around the map, I see a lot of chapter 2 stories that say "requires level 22" or "requires level 27." What am I meant to do? Even if I go around and do all the chapter 1 stories, I still won't be that high.

Also, I went back to some towns and saw characters with orange speech bubbles. When I talk to them, it gives me a new sidequest and says "Quest started" but it doesn't give me any detail about what the quest is, or where to go. Am I just meant to stumble into it?
 

AquaRegia

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,670
As you travel to the next towns, mobs will give you EXP to level up quickly. The levels are rough guides, but are absolutely not required.

For the sidequests, the resolution almost always requires a path action. Maybe you need to buy or steal an item off someone and give it to the quest giver. Maybe you need to inquire for info to pass on. In chapter one towns, the resolution is usually somewhere in the same town. Later on you'll find ones that require travel. It's a good habit to investigate everyone and check their items when entering a town.
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
Can someone give me some quick pointers?

I've only just started. Done chapter 1 for 5 characters. I'm already bored of chapter 1 stories and I'd rather just move on to chapter 2 with some of the characters I already have. My party is around level 12. When I look around the map, I see a lot of chapter 2 stories that say "requires level 22" or "requires level 27." What am I meant to do? Even if I go around and do all the chapter 1 stories, I still won't be that high.

Also, I went back to some towns and saw characters with orange speech bubbles. When I talk to them, it gives me a new sidequest and says "Quest started" but it doesn't give me any detail about what the quest is, or where to go. Am I just meant to stumble into it?

Sidequests are viewable in the Journal, but it's purposefully vague because they almost all have multiple solutions for the player to figure out. Some are completable right away, but usually you'll have to wait until you come across someone/something/information that seems pertinent.

Don't think of Recommended Levels and Danger Levels as minimum requirements. Levels in Octopath actually mean very little statistically compared to equipment or character build; you can tackle things in excess of 10 levels from you. What I'd recommend doing is just exploring, finding a dungeon or two, stealing/purchasing equipment, then going and exploring the Chapter 2 areas.

In each region's Chapter 2 outdoor area, there's a hidden cave shrine that will unlock the job of the character who began there (e.g. Sunlands - Dancer; Riverlands - Apothecary; Frostlands - Cleric; etc). Access to the secondary job system will boost your party's power, toolkit, and weakness coverage immensely — you'll be able to handle the CH2s with them even if you're underleveled.
 
Oct 25, 2017
9,053
Can someone give me some quick pointers?

I've only just started. Done chapter 1 for 5 characters. I'm already bored of chapter 1 stories and I'd rather just move on to chapter 2 with some of the characters I already have. My party is around level 12. When I look around the map, I see a lot of chapter 2 stories that say "requires level 22" or "requires level 27." What am I meant to do? Even if I go around and do all the chapter 1 stories, I still won't be that high.

Also, I went back to some towns and saw characters with orange speech bubbles. When I talk to them, it gives me a new sidequest and says "Quest started" but it doesn't give me any detail about what the quest is, or where to go. Am I just meant to stumble into it?

You can always recruit the rest of the characters while skipping their cutscenes. The scene viewer will have them all so you can catch up down the line if and when you start to care about their plot.

The game is very good with letting players focus on what they want to focus on. Don't think of it as an old-timey linear experience.

Side quests are super free form. Many have 3 or 4 ways to complete them based on your Path actions.
 

GeekyDad

Banned
Nov 11, 2017
1,689
USA
Yeesh, the monsters on the way to the Whitewood hit fuckin' haaaaaarrrrd! I had two level 51s, a level 40-something, and Haanit was, I think, level 38, and still got teamwiped twice by random monsters on my way to the chapter quest (which the recommended level is 38). Was the same thing earlier on in the game when traveling west of Stillsnow. So far, no other areas of the map seem to have random monsters that hit quite as hard as the ones up north.
 

Lagamorph

Wrong About Chicken
Member
Oct 26, 2017
7,355
How did they never patch this insane imbalance between equipment cost and how much money the game gives you from battles and chests?
 

AquaRegia

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,670
It's rough in the beginning, yes. Once Therion improves his steal chance or Tressa starts wandering into higher level areas, money ceases to be a concern. This tends to happen while you're working on the various second chapters.
 

deepFlaw

Knights of Favonius World Tour '21
Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,494
Yeah, (at 1/8 chapter 4s done) I had a very large amount of money that I never really spend on anything beyond components for concept. It's very easy to just steal everything you need and even just having Tressa around occasionally (I use all party members) adds up.
 

Basileus777

Member
Oct 26, 2017
9,198
New Jersey
It's rough in the beginning, yes. Once Therion improves his steal chance or Tressa starts wandering into higher level areas, money ceases to be a concern. This tends to happen while you're working on the various second chapters.
If you're using Tressa, you are using purchase so money remains a concern longer than that. Buying end game gear is not cheap and is not done in 2nd chapters unless you are grinding a hell of a lot. Nor is stealing what you need happening that early unless you spend a lot of time save scumming.
 

Quinton

Specialist at TheGamer / Reviewer at RPG Site
Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,255
Midgar, With Love
Started this up the other day and I'm having a blast. I picked H'aanit for my main and I've recruited Therion and Alfyn. I love Alfyn; he's a precious cinnamon roll. I just reached Flamesgrace and, fuck, what a gorgeous city. Gonna pick up Ophilia next time I play.

H'aanit: Level 16
Therion: Level 14
Alfyn: Level 12

The path actions are so cool and I love the Pokemon-lite thing going on with H'aanit's monster capturing too. Inquire is the freaking best because it adds so much flavor to the townsfolk. I'm not quite sure how useful Provoke is supposed to be but it's absolutely hilarious.
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
Started this up the other day and I'm having a blast. I picked H'aanit for my main and I've recruited Therion and Alfyn. I love Alfyn; he's a precious cinnamon roll. I just reached Flamesgrace and, fuck, what a gorgeous city. Gonna pick up Ophilia next time I play.

H'aanit: Level 16
Therion: Level 14
Alfyn: Level 12

The path actions are so cool and I love the Pokemon-lite thing going on with H'aanit's monster capturing too. Inquire is the freaking best because it adds so much flavor to the townsfolk. I'm not quite sure how useful Provoke is supposed to be but it's absolutely hilarious.

I'm so glad to see others give Alfyn the appreciation he's due! My favorite character, alongside H'aanit and Primrose. (If you want to make him break the game, there's a Golden Axe that's stealable in Alfyn's home town. One of the best axes in the game, which combined with his Last Stand / Amputation, will shred everything.)

And yes, the snow areas are the best areas, and inquire is the best path action. Provoke is unfortunately much less useful compared to Olberic's version. There are some exceptions where H'aanit can abuse being able to challenge anyone, regardless of level, but she's restricted to her tamed beasts, whereas Olberic can duel people with self-sufficient job builds.
 

AquaRegia

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,670
There really should have been a way to power up Linde. I assume it's tied to Haanit's level. I was doing an all- rogue run and used up many gems to get through duels.
 

Quinton

Specialist at TheGamer / Reviewer at RPG Site
Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,255
Midgar, With Love
I'm so glad to see others give Alfyn the appreciation he's due! My favorite character, alongside H'aanit and Primrose. (If you want to make him break the game, there's a Golden Axe that's stealable in Alfyn's home town. One of the best axes in the game, which combined with his Last Stand / Amputation, will shred everything.)

And yes, the snow areas are the best areas, and inquire is the best path action. Provoke is unfortunately much less useful compared to Olberic's version. There are some exceptions where H'aanit can abuse being able to challenge anyone, regardless of level, but she's restricted to her tamed beasts, whereas Olberic can duel people with self-sufficient job builds.

!!! That Golden Axe looks amazing. I gave it a few steal tries before giving it a break for now but I want to go back and give it another shot.

It's good to know this Olberic fellow has a similar ability! I just picked up Ophilia yesterday and did some leveling. I found Quarrycrest — that was exciting. :D

By the way, is there any particular reason the minimap goes from blue to red when you sprint?
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
By the way, is there any particular reason the minimap goes from blue to red when you sprint?

The redness indicates that sprinting increases the encounter rate. (FYI: If you ever think the encounter rate is too high, the scholar job's first passive cuts it in half.)

I found Quarrycrest — that was exciting. :D

Exploration is one of Octopath's absolute strengths. Having the ability to go off path, stumble upon secrets, or even go to late game towns early on to acquire equipment... the freedom is powerful.

In some ways, it's almost like an open world game fit into the aesthetic trappings of a 16-bit JRPG.
 

Quinton

Specialist at TheGamer / Reviewer at RPG Site
Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,255
Midgar, With Love
The redness indicates that sprinting increases the encounter rate. (FYI: If you ever think the encounter rate is too high, the scholar job's first passive cuts it in half.)

Oh! That makes a lot of sense now. Thank you.

Exploration is one of Octopath's absolute strengths. Having the ability to go off path, stumble upon secrets, or even go to late game towns early on to acquire equipment... the freedom is powerful.

In some ways, it's almost like an open world game fit into the aesthetic trappings of a 16-bit JRPG.

That's a good way to put it. I'm too early into the game to have realized it, maybe — to see the forest for the trees — but now that you mention it I totally see it.

I happened upon Noblecourt last night btw. I tried my luck at Hoarfrost Grotto but I got party wiped by a Light Elemental. I did manage to clear out some other dungeon, Twin Falls, though!
 
Nov 8, 2017
334
I seem to be stuck on the giant viper boss battle in Alfyn's chapter 1. I've got Olberic, Primrose, and Alfyn. The game won't let me leave town except on the road to the boss. I grinded out some levels, but it's still not enough. Am I really stuck here until I beat the boss?

It's encouraged me to reexamine my strategies, so I've used a bunch of stuff that I was ignoring before. But the boss has a move that knocks characters unconscious, and I've got no healing items to fix that status. When that hits Alfyn it's basically a slippery slope at that point.
 

deepFlaw

Knights of Favonius World Tour '21
Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,494
I seem to be stuck on the giant viper boss battle in Alfyn's chapter 1. I've got Olberic, Primrose, and Alfyn. The game won't let me leave town except on the road to the boss. I grinded out some levels, but it's still not enough. Am I really stuck here until I beat the boss?

It's encouraged me to reexamine my strategies, so I've used a bunch of stuff that I was ignoring before. But the boss has a move that knocks characters unconscious, and I've got no healing items to fix that status. When that hits Alfyn it's basically a slippery slope at that point.

Do you have component items? Alfyn should be able to concoct something to cure that (though wait you mentioned Alfyn, oops, so I guess you're trying that already?).

I guess he also has a skill to cure + block effects, so if you have that one you could keep that up on him and then use it or concoct on everyone else.

Otherwise... buff defense, maybe? Hmm. Might be easier if you share what skills you have on everyone; it's been a while since I played to begin with, and since you can pick any skill it's hard to know what you might be working with.
 

Disclaimer

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,459
I seem to be stuck on the giant viper boss battle in Alfyn's chapter 1. I've got Olberic, Primrose, and Alfyn. The game won't let me leave town except on the road to the boss. I grinded out some levels, but it's still not enough. Am I really stuck here until I beat the boss?

It's encouraged me to reexamine my strategies, so I've used a bunch of stuff that I was ignoring before. But the boss has a move that knocks characters unconscious, and I've got no healing items to fix that status. When that hits Alfyn it's basically a slippery slope at that point.

Apothecary's Rehabilitate ability cures status ailments and makes the person immune to them for 2 turns. If you boost buff (and debuff)-type abilities like Rehabilitate, their status effect's duration will increase, making it easier to maintain on multiple party members.

To deal with bosses, you need to do damage at opportune times. Make sure to buff yourself, debuff the enemy, and have 3 BP ready to unleash with your damage dealer whenever you break a boss. In addition to being a all-purpose healer with Concoct, Alfyn's Amputate/Last Stand can be lethal.

Also, I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be stuck? It's been awhile — maybe try going to the tavern and looking at the options there?
 
Nov 8, 2017
334
Those are good tips, will try some of that out. I think a big key is having Alfyn cast Rehabilitate on himself at the start and try to keep it up so he can't be knocked unconscious. I don't think I noticed that skill, and him getting taken out early was usually the thing that would eventually get me.

Thanks for the help, will try again tonight.
 

Quinton

Specialist at TheGamer / Reviewer at RPG Site
Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,255
Midgar, With Love
I've been so busy having a blast exploring -- pushing my luck in a few places but noping out of the super-high danger zones -- that I still have only six out of the eight party members unlocked. I'm doing Olberic's now, though, so soon the only one I'll have waiting for me will be Primrose.

"I accidentally" a Level 33 H'aanit. <_>
 

Valkerion

Member
Oct 29, 2017
7,229
I don't come across Caits very much at all, I think three in my total play time so far and I'm just getting to Chapter 4's. Been having an easy enough time but looking forward to the last jobs unlocking.

Does anyone else love Alfyn and Primrose'? I got both in my party and their travel banter is adorable.
 
Nov 8, 2017
334
Wow thanks for those tips, this time I pretty much destroyed the viper. I did get kind of lucky that he didn't take Alfyn with an unconscious status, but I was mostly cruising with high health and no ailments.