Friday, August 28, 2015

Metal Reaper Online (Part Five)

Additional Need to Knows
  • Weapon Skills
    Metal Reaper Online - Weapons With Skills
    At times, while out hunting mobs, one may come across "peculiar" weapons (with skills) such as that shown above. These skills (on the weapon) are known as "Finishing Skills".
    Metal Reaper Online - Weapon Rage IndicatorMetal Reaper Online - Weapon Skill Level
    The way these work is that, when you attack mobs continuously (with the weapon), you will gradually build up some kind of a "rage indicator". And as you build it up, the weapon skill's level will also tick upwards in steps, from Level 1 to 3, slowly (along with an increase in its "potency" or damage potential).
    Metal Reaper Online - Using Weapon Skill
    To let it rip, simply point your cursor at your intended spot and press "F" to target that area with the weapon skill.

    Upon using the weapon skill, your rage indicator will be reset and you will have to build it up all over again. Likewise, failure to "link up" your attacks in time will also cause you to lose all of your rage (that was built up).
    Pity though, I've only encountered like two types of these weapon skills...so there doesn't seem to be much variety out there...to look forward to. Hopefully more will be implemented in the future.
  • Moonstones
    Metal Reaper Online - Moonstone FragmentsMetal Reaper Online - Blue Moonstone
    Moonstones are actually something that you get (with a small chance) when you disassemble high rare and above items.
    More specifically, you get those "Moonstone's Fragments" first (from the disassemble process). Then you open them up (right-click) to get a random-colored moonstone of the same level as indicated (on the fragment).
    There are, as far as I know, three colored versions of these moonstones. Red, Blue and Gold.
    Metal Reaper Online - Moonstones
    Red moonstones provide EVA and HP bonuses. Blue moonstones provide DEF and SD bonuses while gold ones offer ATTK and Finisher Charge Increase.
    The higher the level of the moonstone, the stronger the effects it will provide.
  • Moonstone Merge
    Moonstone merge is actually just a quick and dirty way (that is offered by the game) for us players to obtain higher level moonstones...without having to work too hard at disassembling tons of items.
    Metal Reaper Online - Moonstone Merge
    So long as you have a pile of moonstones lying around, you can use this system (right click on the moonstones) to "merge" two moonstones (of the same level and color) into one that's of one level higher.
    For instance, two Level 2 moonstones can be combined to form one Level 3 moonstone.
  • Moonstone Insert
    Metal Reaper Online - Moonstone ExpertMetal Reaper Online - Moonstone Insert
    To make use of a moonstone, you will need to visit a town hub and look for a "Moonstone Expert" (refer above) to insert the stone into your equipment (top, bottom, gloves or shoes).

    The thing to note here is that each piece of equipment will have three slots, one "A", one "B" and one "C". Slot A only accepts "gold moonstones", Slot B only takes in "red moonstones" while "blue moonstones" goes into Slot C only.
    Metal Reaper Online - After Moonstone Insert
    From then onwards, its only a matter of which piece of equipment...that the moonstone's going into...to determine what bonus it will apply. As simple as ABC (no pun intended).
    Though its not possible to remove an already inserted moonstone, I do believe that your still able to replace it with a "higher level" one.



Previous: MRO (Part Four)

Friday, August 7, 2015

Metal Reaper Online (Part Four)

Gameplay (Continued)
Character Progression Related
In terms of character progression related gameplay, I've found that there's not too many eye-catching features found in this game.

As far as I can see, there's your typical focus on equipment upgrades, skill learning and perhaps attainment of titles (but I wonder if you can call that a "progression" though).
  • Equipment Focused
    The following are screenshots of my character's info or status window (when fully equipped and naked).
    Metal Reaper Online - Character InfoMetal Reaper Online - Naked Character Info
    As you can see, there's none of those "Strength", "Agility", "Intelligence", "Dexterity" and other whatnot parameters, that you can usually find in most MMO games, is there? Furthermore, as soon as I've unequipped all of my armor and weapons, you can immediately see a drop in most of my character's stats.

    Yup, essentially, the game more or less deals purely with equipment...and...the stronger your equips, the more powerful your character then becomes (minus the branch factor of course).
    So what then constitutes as "strong equips"?
    Well...apart from the "level" criteria (which is a given), there's also the "rarity" aspect. And rarity...comes in the form of "Common", "Rare", "High Rare", "Super Rare" to "Legendary".
    Metal Reaper Online - Equipment Rarity
    Naturally, you will have to note that with the accompanying rarity increase, the "number" of bonuses that you MIGHT find on the item also increases correspondingly. As such, its pretty much safe to say that the higher the "level" and "rarity", the more powerful the item will be.
    Bonuses that directly affect the existing stats of an item are automatically factored into it...so much so that what you see is what you get. For instance, the "ATTK + 26" bonus is already counted into the "Min-Max Damage" shown on the HK VP70 rare handgun.
    Metal Reaper Online - Equipment Set
    Other than that, an "attractive" alternative would be "Set Items"...which are also pretty "powerful". However, that is only if you can assemble the entire set (to harness its benefits).
    Metal Reaper Online - Loot LegendaryMetal Reaper Online - Loot Super Rare
    Sadly though, that is probably (just about) the hardest part of it all...as its practically down to "Lady Luck" in determining what you might loot. Nevertheless, that's all you can do I guess...to keep on hunting out in the sectors (with monsters) and/or the instance dungeons (regardless).
    But I do believe that your chances of getting something "nice" will be higher if you hunt out in the "high-risk" sectors rather than in the "low-risk" ones (in comparison with your character's level).
  • Branch Skills
    Recalling the Class Selection which I've previously talked about, another aspect that is highly related to character progression is the raising of your branch related skills.
    Metal Reaper Online - Branch Skills Panzer
    And as far as this goes, regardless of whichever branch you've picked, each character is apparently only going to be given 1 skill point (SP) per level up.
    Metal Reaper Online - Panzer Shock WaveMetal Reaper Online - Panzer Indomitable Will
    With this limited amount of skill points, the player will then have to make their own choice with regards to which branch skills to pick up, which to max and whether it will be some passive or an active skill.
    Passives are marked with a "P" at the top left corner of the skill while actives usually have a cooldown and some "STA" (kind of like MP in typical MMOs) requirement to use.
    Thankfully though, each of the skills appear to be independent of each other and are not needed in the learning of "higher" skills (you'll just need to be of the right character level).
  • Achievements
    Metal Reaper Online - Achievement
    Achievements in Metal Reaper Online function quite similar to "Titles" found in Dragon Nest and "Medals" in Dragonica.
    Metal Reaper Online - Achievement Condition ExampleMetal Reaper Online - Achievement Condition Example 2
    By performing acts to satisfy the condition(s) of the achievement, you will be rewarded with a title that can be worn or attached to your character.
    Metal Reaper Online - Title With BonusMetal Reaper Online - Title Without Bonus
    If the title has an accompanying "benefit" or "bonus", you will be bestowed with it accordingly (when you use it). But if it has none, then its merely a "cosmetic" title with not much use in particular (except for showing off, I guess).

Crafting
At around character level 10, players get introduced into the crafting scene in Metal Reaper Online.
Metal Reaper Online - Crafting NPCs
And as far as this is concerned, you will be given a chance to pick ONE out of the four crafting "professions" available.
  • Ringring - In charge of making pistols, rifles, shotguns and sniper rifles.
  • Rei Chen - In charge of making rocket launchers, flamethrowers, heavy machine guns and chainsaws.
  • Ranber - In charge of making armors (top, bottom and plates).
  • Kuron - In charge of making armors (helmet, gloves and shoes).
Metal Reaper Online - Item Craft InterfaceMetal Reaper Online - Craft Profession Skill Level
Once you've made your choice, you will then be able to access some sort of "crafting interface" (like as shown above) by interacting with your "mentor" again. Additionally, you will also obtain some skill progress "indicator" in your "Skill Management" window (press "K" and look under "Tech Manual").
Metal Reaper Online - Craft Ingredients
From then onwards, its just a simple matter of assembling the "right ingredients" to craft what you need. And to do this, just hover over the ingredients to find out how you can obtain them.
Metal Reaper Online - Craft Ingredients From DisassembleMetal Reaper Online - Craft Ingredients From Mission
But from what I can tell, ways to get them include the disassembling of items (of various rarity), looting from monsters (found in missions) and as rewards for participating in special events.
Metal Reaper Online - Workmanship Level 2
Lastly, once you've crafted enough of them (to skill up), you will then be granted further access to more stuff (to craft) as well as better ones. Its a pretty linear and simple system to be quite honest.
Do note that upon accepting a crafting profession, the player will no longer be able to "switch" to another one...that is unless they are willing to spend some real life money to purchase some "item" sold in the "cash shop" or "item mall" (that will erase their existing choice).


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