Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies - For Liquid Metal we would Slime!

Well, the Hoimi table trick definitely works. I fought Shogum and got the Apprentice's Gloves (2% drop). He's the tricky one, actually, because if he summons a King Cureslime it messes up the process. But I got him in about 5-6 turns and he didn't summon...
 
Went around Akihabara yesterday, got lots more tags. My husband has 31 now, I have 26 (appears the DS phatty has less range and it has less battery life, so mine died). There were at least two guys with stars next to their names, which I believe means +9 revocation. Some people have thousands of tags (like, over 9000). Some people have over 1000 hours. Got some level 99 maps and Mortamor and Orgodemir maps. Japan is just totally crazy.

EDIT: I say crazy because this game has been out for over a year here and there are STILL a ton of people still bothering to put tag mode on when they go out. Can you imagine how ridiculous tag mode was at launch here? I'm surprised you that the max amount of tags for upgrades is only 30; you can easily do that in just one day here a freaking year later!
 
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It really was pretty brilliant of Level 5 to make the DQ9 post game as hardcore as possible. They seem to understand how devoted the DQ fanbase truly is.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']Holy fuckballs! Just got back from lunch and the Square Enix store. My husband got a tag of some troll (for some reason, I didn't get this tag, maybe his DSlite has a better wifi than my phatty?) who has over 1200 hours, 570 tags, and is +8 in his class. He claimed he was lonely because he doesn't have enough friends. fucking troll. The Square Enix store has a special tag that looks like Barbara from DQ6. We also got a tag of one more person. No maps though. :( Was hoping for an epic map from the 1200-hour guy.[/QUOTE]

Damn, 1200 hours. I thought I was pushing it with 125 hours. 8 Revocations isn't too impressive though, I can go from lvl 1 to 99 in about 2 hours without a MKS only floor (My MKS are on the first four floors though). With 500+ tags that guy probably a MKS only floor.
 
[quote name='DQT']It really was pretty brilliant of Level 5 to make the DQ9 post game as hardcore as possible. They seem to understand how devoted the DQ fanbase truly is.[/QUOTE]

Clearly... And even though I don't consider myself part of the devoted DQ fanbase I did think DQ VIII was the best game last gen and probably, till this point, had spent more time on that than any other game - about 120 hours. Now I'm 150 into DQ IX ;).

So, anyway, the Hoimi table trick really works and it is actually much easier than the chest timing trick. I just had an awesome drop from Elusid. The first time I didn't get anything but maybe I messed something up. So I went back in (which was really quick since I now had the stairs mapped out) and got TWO drops after killing him. I got the 5% drop AND the 2% drop. I didn't even think that was possible! So I ended up with the Supernatural Specs and the Sensible Sandals.

Earlier I got the Spring Breeze Hat from Fowleye.
 
Heh, the Hoimi table is easier, but having to move 68 squares is kind of annoying. :p Ah well, good to keep bookmarked for when I have an excess of Agates of Evolution.
 
[quote name='botticus']Heh, the Hoimi table is easier, but having to move 68 squares is kind of annoying. :p Ah well, good to keep bookmarked for when I have an excess of Agates of Evolution.[/QUOTE]

If you don't have multiple Goddess Rings, like me, that would help to kill some of those steps. Unless of course going to the menu negates it.

I need to find me an awesome Grotto. I think I need to level up some more classes first. Got my main's Minstrel to 50. Now working on Warrior and possibly thief next.
 
[quote name='craven_fiend']If you don't have multiple Goddess Rings, like me, that would help to kill some of those steps. Unless of course going to the menu negates it.

I need to find me an awesome Grotto. I think I need to level up some more classes first. Got my main's Minstrel to 50. Now working on Warrior and possibly thief next.[/QUOTE]

You can use this site to see the types of grottoes you can get with your Hero's level and the level of the grotto you're completing.

http://www.woodus.com/den/games/dq9ds/dq9_grotto.html#Analyze_H4b4y_N26p4k_Ijpsr_R0
 
[quote name='io']Clearly... And even though I don't consider myself part of the devoted DQ fanbase I did think DQ VIII was the best game last gen and probably, till this point, had spent more time on that than any other game - about 120 hours. Now I'm 150 into DQ IX ;).
[/QUOTE]

I've read for some people, DQ is the only video game they buy the every few years it comes out. So it makes sense that this one would be designed to be infinitely replayable. 2000 hrs. I'm sure that's more than all the time I've spent with Pokemon (I've caught them all in every single gen) and Final Fantasy combined.
 
Well, to be fair, I'm sure a lot of the logged hours on those Japanese players' games was just from tag mode. I mean, I'm at about 160 but I had it in tag mode at least 4-5 hours and have simply left it sitting at other times while I did other stuff. I'm sure I have a good solid 130-140 hours of play in it though.
 
[quote name='io']Well, to be fair, I'm sure a lot of the logged hours on those Japanese players' games was just from tag mode. I mean, I'm at about 160 but I had it in tag mode at least 4-5 hours and have simply left it sitting at other times while I did other stuff. I'm sure I have a good solid 130-140 hours of play in it though.[/QUOTE]

The game clock counter doesn't advance when you're in tag mode. I didn't think it did, so I tested it to be sure. So whatever it says is what you've actually played, minus sitting it down of course.
 
Not sure if this is relevant for anyone else yet, but since the treasure map limit is 100 and I'm at 96, I put together a list of grotto requirements for all quests (normal and extra/DLC) so I don't discard something I will need later. No spoilers in the list other than grotto monster names.

Quest Grottoes

Names
"Silver"
"of Dolour"
"of Fear" with more than 8 floors

Monsters - these are generally mid-to-high level grottoes
Grottoes with Gem Jamboree, Metal King Slime, Slionheart, Platinum King Jewel, Prime Slime
Ruins with Darkonium Slimes
Ruins with Octagoon
Ruins with AU-1000
Volcano with Tantamount
Volcano with Bird of Terrordise
Volcano with Master Moosifer
Water with Drakulord
Water with Seaverns
Water with Bling Badgers
Ice with Cannibelle
Ice with Blight Knight
Nature with Cumulus Hex
Nature/Water with Moai Minstrel

Environments
Water
Nature (Cave)

Bosses
Equinox
Atlas
Shogum
Nemean
Sir Sanguinus
Trauminator
Fowleye
Excalipurr
Elusid
Tyrannosaurus Wrecks

Other
Grotto with A-rank chests
Grotto with 10 or more floors
 
Thanks, that will be useful since I'll probably hit the limit sooner or later. I haven't seen some of those monsters you mentioned yet either.

I did manage to snag a Critical Fan last night while doing a timing run.
 
[quote name='pete5883']Even if you're doing tag mode with the system open?[/QUOTE]

Tested again--with the system open it tracks the time.
 
DQVC is "Spectacle Spectacular" including supposedly DQVC exclusives like "Sharp Shades" and "Silver Specs".

I just had a Malleable Mask and a Papillon Mask in mine...

New quests though which should include one that results in new recipes if the schedule I saw on GameFAQs is correct!

Edit: One quest is a fairly major story-related thing. You get 5 recipes from it - mostly A-rank chest item upgrades (with agates and orbs).
 
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Sharp Shades? I got that in my first VC outing, and didn't take them off until I was captured.

Just got Erdick's Sword, and it's nice enough I guess. Once you've tasted Uber-Falcon, one can't go back, even if damage output is less.
 
Yeah, no good glasses for me (already have Sharp Shades), but Saint's Ashes and a Yggdrasil leaf, both very expensive.

Guess I should tackle the new quests. Got the Dragonlord legacy map last night, so that's also exciting.

Game needs more story quests. Even though the ones with boss battles aren't hard, they're much more fun than the other quests.
 
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So I finally beat the main game and I'm in the post game.

I have a quick question though, I couldn't find the answer on GFaqs.

I got the Starlight Express and started hitting all the previously inacessable places. I went to the Tower of Nod, and at the top theres a boss-bird thing in a nest, but it said he was sleeping and I couldn't fight him. I went back at night but the same thing. What do I need to do to fight this boss?
 
[quote name='Puffa469']So I finally beat the main game and I'm in the post game.

I have a quick question though, I couldn't find the answer on GFaqs.

I got the Starlight Express and started hitting all the previously inacessable places. I went to the Tower of Nod, and at the top theres a boss-bird thing in a nest, but it said he was sleeping and I couldn't fight him. I went back at night but the same thing. What do I need to do to fight this boss?
[/QUOTE]

From what I've gathered, you won't be able to do the quests for him for quite some time. After looking at various sites, the quests for the Tower of Nod appear in the latter 100s. I forget where exactly, but it seems like months away.
 
[quote name='craven_fiend']
From what I've gathered, you won't be able to do the quests for him for quite some time. After looking at various sites, the quests for the Tower of Nod appear in the latter 100s. I forget where exactly, but it seems like months away.
[/QUOTE]


Ahhhh, that would explain it. Thanks!

Now I can go back to Grottos.
 
[quote name='botticus']
Game needs more story quests. Even though the ones with boss battles aren't hard, they're much more fun than the other quests.[/QUOTE]

Yep, one of the new ones (for those who haven't done it yet) is a boss battle, but it was such a breeze compared to Legacy bosses or even regular grotto bosses. I was all prepared for a super tough fight and it turned out to be pretty easy. But still, like you say, it was more interesting than the fetch quests (especially the stupid ones that require random drops :bomb:).
 
Any Bay Area people: It looks like the official DQ9 site massively fucked up their Simon Mall events list. There used to be two scheduled in San Francisco this weekend, so I finally got around to looking up where the malls are. One is in Santa Rosa Plaza, which, unless there's another Santa Rosa Plaza hiding on Google Maps, is in Santa Rosa, and that's not even close to San Francisco. The other was supposed to be at Stoneridge Mall and that's in Pleasanton, which I could maybe see being mistaken for a suburb of San Francisco if someone was from another country and really drunk.

So yeah. Not sure if I want to drive all the way to Pleasanton after reading reports that there hasn't even been a Nintendo rep at some of these.
 
[quote name='metaly']Any Bay Area people: It looks like the official DQ9 site massively fucked up their Simon Mall events list. There used to be two scheduled in San Francisco this weekend, so I finally got around to looking up where the malls are. One is in Santa Rosa Plaza, which, unless there's another Santa Rosa Plaza hiding on Google Maps, is in Santa Rosa, and that's not even close to San Francisco. The other was supposed to be at Stoneridge Mall and that's in Pleasanton, which I could maybe see being mistaken for a suburb of San Francisco if someone was from another country and really drunk.

So yeah. Not sure if I want to drive all the way to Pleasanton after reading reports that there hasn't even been a Nintendo rep at some of these.[/QUOTE]
The people at the one I went to were competent enough. Certainly better than the "Nintendo rep" at my Best Buy event.
 
[quote name='keithp']Got Silver Specs and X-Ray Specs in my DQVC this morning. Also a Mini-Medal and Yggdrasil Leaf.[/QUOTE]

Ruinous Shield showed up this morning in my DQVC. It's spendy (@26K IIRC), but that's a pretty nice alchemy piece for folks who haven't picked theirs up in-game yet. Probably explains reports of Saint's Ashes in this week's DQVC.
 
122 hours in and I just
got Stella and the Starflight Express back!! :D Woohoo!

I love this game. There's always something to do or work towards. It's the game that keeps on giving, lol...
 
[quote name='keithp']122 hours in and I just
got Stella and the Starflight Express back!! :D Woohoo!

I love this game. There's always something to do or work towards. It's the game that keeps on giving, lol...[/QUOTE]I don't know what is it, maybe its just me, but I keep getting tired of it so quickly, even grotto runs are boring now :drool:

And don't even get me started on some of the quests you do and the lousy rewards :bomb:
 
[quote name='maigoyume']I don't know what is it, maybe its just me, but I keep getting tired of it so quickly, even grotto runs are boring now :drool:

And don't even get me started on some of the quests you do and the lousy rewards :bomb:[/QUOTE]

I'm at that point too. I don't have any awesome Grotto's and the Quest, the ones I can do, are a bit on the boring side. I think I need to put this down and finish up Bowser's Inside Story or give Phantasy Star Zero another try. Or I could always sink more time into Disgaea DS.
 
I'm about 175 hours in and even though I did have some nice grottos from the Best Buy tag event (which made it much easier for me to level up, do the higher level quests, and find high level equipment which kept me busy for a while), I'm starting to run out of steam too. I'll probably continue to check the store every day, but I will try to cut back on my nightly grottos runs - maybe every 2 or 3 days. I need to play something else for a break ;).
 
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[quote name='craven_fiend']I'm at that point too. I don't have any awesome Grotto's and the Quest, the ones I can do, are a bit on the boring side. I think I need to put this down and finish up Bowser's Inside Story or give Phantasy Star Zero another try. Or I could always sink more time into Disgaea DS.[/QUOTE]I figure I'll go start Layton 2 so that I can prep myself for 3.

That or go finish Legend of Legaia on my ps1 :lol:
 
[quote name='maigoyume']I figure I'll go start Layton 2 so that I can prep myself for 3.

That or go finish Legend of Legaia on my ps1 :lol:[/QUOTE]

Haven't tried any Layton games, yet. I may actually plug my PS2 in and restart DQVIII. I know I didn't make it all that far on my original playing. I may actually replay the Golden Sun games, in preparation for the new one.
 
Had a great store today - sharp shades, silver specs, flurry feather, and mini medal all in one day. And yesterday I had the Phantom Mask, which at 29k is probably the most expensive thing I've bought from DQVC.

I'm still having fun, but not getting any good grottos (never fought a MKS even once) is making it tough. I finally got Steel Crypt of Regret lvl 53 from a 40-something grotto. But when I beat that lvl 53 one I got .... Basalt Marsh of Dolour lvl 32. :(
 
Oh, also, regarding some of the accolades for dressing up: I got two more recently, without changing clothes (as someone noted earlier). However, I got them after having bought stuff from the store, so it seems that some of them are awarded just for owning wardrobe items, while for others you have to actually wear a certain combination of items, maybe. The ones I just got from DQVC items this week were Prince of Posers and Cool Customer.
 
[quote name='maigoyume']I don't know what is it, maybe its just me, but I keep getting tired of it so quickly, even grotto runs are boring now :drool:

And don't even get me started on some of the quests you do and the lousy rewards :bomb:[/QUOTE]

How many hours do you have?

Nothing good in my store today. Well, nothing that I hadn't already bought, since there were more Silver Specs and X-Ray Specs. On the bright side, at least my bank is building up...
 
Are Boss Trolls able to be found in Grottos? Or am I out of luck, since I've beat the game and nothing seems to respawn in the places where they are found?
 
[quote name='Backlash']Yep, you can find them in many grottos. Mostly in ruins-style grottos in the 40s and up, from what I've seen (maybe 50s though).[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Guess that means it's time to get better level grottos. Highest one I've got is 26.
 
[quote name='Backlash']Had a great store today - sharp shades, silver specs, flurry feather, and mini medal all in one day. And yesterday I had the Phantom Mask, which at 29k is probably the most expensive thing I've bought from DQVC.

I'm still having fun, but not getting any good grottos (never fought a MKS even once) is making it tough. I finally got Steel Crypt of Regret lvl 53 from a 40-something grotto. But when I beat that lvl 53 one I got .... Basalt Marsh of Dolour lvl 32. :([/QUOTE]

Yeah, I had the Phantom Mask in my shop, too. But I figured I'd rather alcemize it, though I need a ton of stupid butterfly wings to do so. And all the butterflys tend to run before I can steal from them.

[quote name='detectiveconan16']Dang. Saw a Metal King Slime and was being pwned by a Drakulard at the same time. Man, if only it showed up on Slime Hill like in 8.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's too bad. It has definitely made the post-game much better for me that I had some grottos from the tag event that had MKS in them. I don't have any with floors filled with them, but I can find enough to level up pretty quickly. I killed 3 in one battle once. I must have killed more of them than anything else at this point, actually, as Stella keeps commenting about how they must quake with fear when they see me coming :lol:.
 
If not for my grotto with Platinum King Jewels, I'd have given up grotto-grinding a long time ago. As it is, I've yet to get anything over its level 89 even after adding a revocation to my max level of 99. Ah well. I only have two more classes to revocate for the item rewards.

Doing pretty well with the legacy bosses, at least. Working on my 5th or 6th, got all the drops from the ones that offer maps, but I'll have to get my party up to level 99 to continue on with the others.

Getting bored at times, but eh, it'll keep me occupied another week and a half.
 
[quote name='botticus']If not for my grotto with Platinum King Jewels, I'd have given up grotto-grinding a long time ago. As it is, I've yet to get anything over its level 89 even after adding a revocation to my max level of 99. Ah well. I only have two more classes to revocate for the item rewards.

Doing pretty well with the legacy bosses, at least. Working on my 5th or 6th, got all the drops from the ones that offer maps, but I'll have to get my party up to level 99 to continue on with the others.

Getting bored at times, but eh, it'll keep me occupied another week and a half.[/QUOTE]

Have you fought all the grotto bosses? Is Greygnarl the "best" one? I had a level 99 grotto from the event that otherwise didn't have great monsters (no MKS let alone Platinum King Jewels which I have yet to see). But I think it was 16 floors and it had some new stuff down at the bottom (golden turtles and some big spider things). The boss was Greygnarl and he was fairly tough though nothing compared to even the lowliest Legacy boss. The interesting thing was that besides an accolade, I didn't get a new map from beating the level 99 one - I guess they figure you are "done" and don't need to advance any more :lol:.

I guess I should level up Baramos at least to get the next map - I've only beaten the 3 so far (Baramos, and then Zoma and Estark from the tag events - barely made it through Estark's fight) and only leveled Baramos up to level 3.
 
For some reason Greygnarl gives the most exp of the grotto bosses, but there's another
Tyrannosaurus Wrecks
with much more impressive stats.
 
[quote name='adonfraz']Best Buy finally sent my gray Slime hat in the mail Thursday.[/QUOTE]

Got mine too.
The quality is so crappy.
I was wary of opening up my box since there was no return address on it.
But pleasantly surprised nonetheless.
 
[quote name='io']Have you fought all the grotto bosses? Is Greygnarl the "best" one? I had a level 99 grotto from the event that otherwise didn't have great monsters (no MKS let alone Platinum King Jewels which I have yet to see). But I think it was 16 floors and it had some new stuff down at the bottom (golden turtles and some big spider things). The boss was Greygnarl and he was fairly tough though nothing compared to even the lowliest Legacy boss. The interesting thing was that besides an accolade, I didn't get a new map from beating the level 99 one - I guess they figure you are "done" and don't need to advance any more :lol:.[/quote]
err...
maybe you have too many maps. you should always get a map...
 
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