This is not the first time I have omitted a Monster type simply because there was so much to cover and so many screens in a Cave/Dungeon. I would have thought that I had the Bestiary complete by now for Rune Factory 2 until I went to BF3 Room 8 of the Palermo Shrine this morning to collect some Platinum for yet another Heavy Shield. I am trying to boost my Ring Shield to Level 10. It is one of the more labour-intensive forging projects as the main ingredient for the upgrade is a Heavy Shield.
Actually, the process is interesting because it represents one of the few crossovers between the Forge and the Accessory Workbench. The Ring Shield is a Ring with the power of a Shield. To upgrade it, you need a Heavy Shield. You therefore need to move to the Forge to create the Heavy Shield, then move back to the Accessory Workbench to perform the upgrade.
A player might well ask why I am bothering to upgrade this difficult Accessory to Level 10. It is because Level 10 items are the only ones that can achieve transformation in a Trade. I believe there is one more Accessory that will transform in the course of a Trade at Level 10 and I am trying to find it. The only Accessories that are candidates at this point for any transformation are the Ring Shield, the Champion Belt and the Happy Ring. I believe I have traded every other Accessory and witnessed all other transformations. I suspect that the final Accessory with the power of transformation may be the Champion Belt, actually, but I will be thorough and trade all of them. I found the ART OF ATTACK, ART OF DEFENCE and ART OF MAGIC through transformation of Level 10 Accessories as well as PROOF OF WISDOM. (These scrolls can be created independently at the Workbench as well.)
This is another issue entirely, however. What occurred when I went to harvest PLATINUM from the chamber of Palermo Shrine was that, upon defeating the Monster there, I obtained a GIANT'S GLOVE. I realised instantly that my identification of the Monster in my Guide as a Minotauros patently was incorrect. I had not paid sufficient attention when writing the screen-by-screen walkthrough. I looked at the size of the Monster, saw the swinging Hammer and thought: Minotauros! The Monster actually doesn't even look like a Minotauros. It obviously is a member of the Troll family... In fact, it is a Monster I had neglected to catalogue. Its name is Gigantus.
Does it matter? It actually CAN matter. If you need a GIANT'S GLOVE in the middle of the night and do not wish to go through all 10 Levels of the Tropical Underground Shrine to obtain one, you can go directly to Room 8 on the 3rd Floor of Palermo Shrine. My erroneous classification of the Monster as a Minotauros would have meant that it would have provided a HAMMER PIECE as a War Trophy instead.
In any event, the omission has been corrected in my Guides and on the article on this site that lists the complete Bestiary. Finding errors of this sort is one of the reasons I feel any truly good Harvest Moon game guide takes about six months to complete.
I am making a little series of videos that will provide a visual Bestiary for Rune Factory 2. So far, only the Ranch Monster video, Part I of the Series, has been published. Part II will consist of 'Farmhand' Monsters. Part III will be Monsters who are useful only as Allies in Combat.
A Website for all Harvest Moon fans providing Links to all Guides by Freyashawk: Actual Links on Right Side of Webpage
Showing posts with label Bestiary and Cave Guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bestiary and Cave Guide. Show all posts
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Part I of Visual Bestiary Guide: Ranch and Transport Monsters
A number of players asked me for a video that would show details about the various Monster types in Rune Factory 2. While my Bestiary and Caves Guide contains detailed information about every Monster in the game, I decided to create a little series of videos that would be a visual Bestiary Guide.
Here is Part I, consisting of all the Monsters who provide Ranch Products and Transport as well as the two most likely to be kept as 'pets' simply because of their cuteness:
Here is Part I, consisting of all the Monsters who provide Ranch Products and Transport as well as the two most likely to be kept as 'pets' simply because of their cuteness:
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bestiary List in Rune Factory 2 by Type
I have continued to work hard on my guides for Rune Factory 2, despite the detour into the Flower Kingdom of Princess Debut. Although I had completed a screen-by-screen Walkthrough of each of the Dungeons/Caves for the Bestiary and Caves Guide at the end of the week, I decided to make a list of all Monsters according to their types. This would be useful for any player who is searching for a particular item that is 'dropped' as a War Trophy.
I completed the list late this afternoon and added it both to the General Guide and the Bestiary and Caves Guide. In the process, I tried to do a little copy-editing in terms of some errors I had made in descriptions here and there...
I am copying the list here for players who are more inclined to read posts on this site than to read my actual Guides:
Bestiary or Monster List by Type in Rune Factory 2:
The following is a comprehensive list of all Monsters to be found in Rune Factory 2 organised by 'family' type. In most cases, Monsters belonging to the same 'family' will drop the same War Trophy but there are exceptions. Where a Monster can be found only in the 2nd Generation, this information has been included.
Orc Family:
Orc: 45 HP. Not very bright, but curious and active. May visit the town out of curiosity. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Will harvest. War Trophy: Cheap Cloth. Found in Trieste Forest.
Orc Archer: 45 HP. Calm and laid back personality. It works at one speed: Slow. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Earth. Does no farm work. War Trophy: Arrowhead. Found in Trieste Forest.
Orc Hunter: 65 HP. Forest hunter. Very few can creatures can evade an Orc Hunter’s arrow. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attibute: Earth. Will not help on farm. War Trophy: Arrowhead. Found in Trieste Forest in the 2nd Generation.
High Orc: HP: 91. Very cautious, lives deep in the woods. Highly territorial and aggressive. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth; Will help with the harvest. War Trophy: Cheap Cloth. Found in Trieste Forest in the 2nd Generation.
Orc Viking: 80 HP. A brutal orc warrior. Acts violently for his own satisfaction. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Water; Wields a double-headed axe; Will not work. War Trophy: Shoulder Piece. Found in Padova Mountains.
High Orc Viking: 190 HP. A proud and imposing warrior. Hates heat and keeps to snowy mountains. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Water. War Trophy: Shoulder Piece. Found at Icy Path and Unfrozen Lake of Padova Mountains only during the day solely in the 2nd Generation.
Goblin Family:
Goblin Pirate: 50 HP. Thinks he’s the strongest. Actually weaker than Goblin Captain. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Fire; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Quality Cloth. Found on Blessia Island.
Goblin Gangster: 50 HP. A crazy rascal who flings around knives and tries to pick fights. Skill: Knife Throw; Attribute: Fire; War Trophy: Skull. Found on Blessia Island.
Goblin Captain: 75 HP. A tough Goblin leader. Skilled at using two knives. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Fire. Will water your crops. War Trophy: Quality Cloth. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Goblin Don: 70 HP. Attacks if he catches you merely looking. So wild, it’s frightening. Skill: Knife Throw; Attribute: Fire. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Skull. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Goblin: 45 HP. Sly little monsters that like to sneak behind and attack from the rear. Skill: Back Stab; Attribute: Fire; Found in Fall area in daytime. Will harvest. War Trophy: Proof of Warrior. Found in Messhina Valley.
Goblin Archer: 45 HP. It lacks composure and tends to drop its arrows everywhere. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Fire. Found in Fall area during daytime. Will not work. War Trophy: Cheap Bandage. Found in Messhina Valley.
Goblin Sniper: 120 HP. Unmatched marksmanship. Never lets a target get away. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Fire; War Trophy: Cheap Bandage. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Hobgoblin: 120 HP. Looks that can scare even a devil. It’s simply terrifying. Skill: Back Stab; Attribute: Fire; Will harvest crops. War Trophy: Proof of Warrior. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Ogres
Ogre Viking: 120 HP. Hurls two hand axes, but doesn’t have very good control. Skill: Tomahawk; Attribute: Water; War Trophy: Glue. Found only at night in Padova Mountains.
High Ogre Viking: 140 HP. Its jacket is extremely expensive. Inside the jacket are lots of axes. Skill: Tomahawk; Attribute: Water. War Trophy: Glue. Found at Icy Path and Unfrozen Lake of the Padova Mountains only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Trolls:
Troll: 267 HP; Massive creatures of enormous strength. One punch can smash nearly any enemy. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: None. Will destroy boulders on farm. War Trophy: Giant’s Fingernail. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Hammer Troll: HP 280. Swing huge hammers and hate slime which are immune to being smashed. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: None; Will smash rocks on farm; War Trophy: Giant’s Gloves. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Titan: 300 HP. Their punches can break through steel and will cause you more than just a bump. Skill: Serial Attack: Attribute: Earth. Will smash rocks on the farm. War Trophy: Giant’s Fingernail. Found in Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Gigantus: 350 HP. Their unique style of swinging means that nothing gets away from them. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Fire. Will clear boulders from your field. War Trophy: GIANT’S GLOVE. Found in Palermo Shrine on BF3 Room 8 solely in the 2nd Generation.
Minotaurs:
Minotauros: 260 HP: A huge monster with a huge axe, but too big to make small movements. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Darkness. Will clear wood from your field. War Trophy: Hammer Piece. Found in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
King Minotauros: 280 HP. The ramming power unleashed from its huge body could uproot a large tree. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Darkness. Will clear wood from your farm. War Trophy: Hammer Piece. Found exclusively in Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Wizards:
Little Mage: 100 HP. Tiny wizard. Good at fire magic, he loves to use his powers to grill fish. Skill: Fireball; Attribute: Fire; War Trophy: Magic Powder. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Little Wizard: 120 HP; Prankster wizard. Good at water magic. He squirts travelers with his water gun. Skill: Water Laser; Attribute: Water; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Magic Powder. Found at Rushing Waterfall of Padova Mountains during the day and at Shrine both in daytime and at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Little Emperor: HP 130. Egotistical wizard. Good at wind magic, he always fluffs and primps his hair. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind. Will water your crops. War Trophy: Magic Powder. Found at Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Fairies:
Faerie: 80 HP. An elusive fairy that can disappear. Especially good at playing tag. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Fairy Dust. Found in Padova Mountains solely in the 2nd Generation at the Tomb during the day and at Rushing Waterfall at night.
Dark Faerie: 90 HP. A faerie that induces nightmares of falling down stairs into Hades. Skill: Sonic Wind. Attribute: Wind. Will not work on farm. War Trophy: Fairy Dust. Found in Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Demons:
Demon: 200 HP: A sly demon who specializes in hit and run tactics. Skill: Cure; Attibute: Darkness. Will not help on the farm; War Trophy: Devil Horn. Found solely at Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Arch Demon: 250 HP. Incredible skill with the spear. But it lacks even the slightest mercy. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Darkness; Will not help on the farm; War Trophy: Demon Blood. Found in Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Spirits:
Ghost: 50 HP; This ghost suddenly appears from behind, causing a ghastly uproar. Skill: Life Drain; Attribute: Darkness; will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Hood. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Necro: 60 HP. A face hidden behind a masque… No one knows what it looks like… Skill: Life Drain; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm; War Trophy: Hood. Found at the Tomb at night and a Flowing River in Padova Mountains during both the day and the night in the 2nd Generation.
Faust: HP 70. Known as the Grim Reaper, he visits people who are close to death. Skill: Life Drain; Attribute: Darkness. War Trophy: Hood. Cousin to the Ghost and Necro, found only in Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Elementals:
Ignis: 50 HP: Always creating heat, it can be used in winter to heat your home. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Magic Crystal. Fire Element found only on Blessia Island in the 2nd Generation.
Tundra: 80 HP. Can move even if its body is frozen. Hates hot spots where it will evaporate. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Water. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Magic Crystal. Water Element found only in Padova Mountains at Rushing Water and Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Aerian: HP 100. Suddenly appears on the wind, then suddenly leaves again. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Wind. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Magic Crystal. A Wind Elemental found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Golems:
Little Golem: 200 HP. Its hands work separate from its body, so it can easily grab something far away. Skill: Charging; Attirbute: None. Will smash rocks on the farm. War Trophy: Bronze. Found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Mimics:
Monster Box: 140 HP. A monster shaped like a strongbox, lures in explorers then rushes to the attack. Skill: Charging. Attribute: Darkness. Will not help on farm. War Trophy: Broken Box. Found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Mimic: 140 HP. A glutton who will eat anything. Gets indigestion if it eats good food. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Darkness. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Broken Box. Found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Dragons:
Claw Dragon: 350 HP. Has sharp claws and hard scales. It can’t be fought with normal weapons. Skill: Fire Breath; Attribute: Light; Will not work on farm; War Trophy: Rage Fang. Found in Palermo Shrine only in the 2nd Generation.
Bird Family:
Cluckadoodle: 40 HP. Makes a loud cry early in the morning, so it’s been used as an alarm for ages. Skill: Nonstop Pecking; Attribute: None. Will produce Eggs if you have a Basket. War Trophy: Small Egg. Found in Messhina Valley only at night.
Blackbird: Though black like the night, its poor vision keeps it active during the day. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind. Will clear lumber from field on farm. War Trophy: Bird Wing. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Weegull: 90 HP. It hunts its prey from high above and can kill swiftly from the sky. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind. Like the Blackbird, it will clear lumber from field on farm. War Trophy: Bird Wing. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Bovine Family:
Buffamoo: 80 HP. Gentle and calm, it doesn’t attack people, but try not to make it mad. Skill: Head Butt; Attribute: None. Provides Milk if you have Milker. War Trophy: Small Milk. Found in Messhina Valley.
Buffalo: Agitated by the sight of red, this beast is large enough to ride on. Skill: Charging; Attribute: None. Can be used for transport. Will demolish boulders on farm. War Trophy: Bull Horn. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Sheep Family:
Wooly: 50 HP. Special feature is its fluffy fur. Well vented, it stays cool in summer. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None. Provides Woolin the form of Fleece if you have clippers. War Trophy: Wooly Furball. Found in Trieste Forest in the Spring Clearing only at night.
Wolves:
Silver Wolf: Wolf that lives in the snowy mountains. Hard to tame due to its wild nature. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None; Can ride it if you take it out of the barn. War Trophy: Wolf Fang. Found in Padova Mountains.
Hunter Wolf: 125 HP. Its dazzling fur catches the eye. I’d feel like a Prince riding it! Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None. You can ride this Monster. War Trophy: Wolf Fang. Found both at the Icy Path and the Tomb in Padova Mountains solely in the 2nd Generation.
Panther Family:
Shadow Panther: 70 HP. A rare beast that can walk on two legs. Skillfully uses its front legs to eat. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Panther Claw. Found on Blessia Island.
Blood Panther: 100 HP; Can run extremely fast. It’s speed is unsurpassed. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: Darkness; Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Panther Claw. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Tortoise Family:
Tortoise: 107 HP; Has a large shell on its back. Withdraws into its shell if in danger. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Water; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Tortoise Shell. Found only on Blessia Island solely in the 2nd Generation.
Squirrel Family:
Chipsqueek: HP: 90. A charming little creature. It is always eating something. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Fur. Found solely in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Furpuff: HP 95. It’s long, thick fur has great texture. Just petting it will make you happy. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth; War Trophy: Quality Fur. Found solely in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Fish Family:
Dorado: 100 HP. Can live on land or in water. Too heavy to catch with a fishing rod. Skill: Water Gun; Attribute: Water. Will water crops on farm. War Trophy: Fish Fossil. Found at Freezing Cave both during day and at night in Padova Mountains only in the 2nd Generation.
Sky Fish: 100 HP. A mysterious fish, it floats in the sky. Blows a powerful water blast from mouth. Skill: Water Gun. Attribute: Water; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Fish Fossil. Found at Freezing Cave in the Padova Mountains both during the day and at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Bee Family:
Queen Bee: A Queen Bee that rules the hornets. Gracefully flies around the skies. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Wind; Produces Honey if you use a Basket. War Trophy: Insect Jaw. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Hornet: HP 50. Works feverishly for the queen bee. Relentlessly stings the enemies. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Wind; Produces Honey if you use a Basket. War Trophy: Insect Jaw. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Ant Family:
Ant: 20 HP. Wanders around aimlessly, sometimes suddenly remembering to attack. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Found at night in Trieste Forest. Will harvest crops. War Trophy: Insect Skin. Found only at night in Trieste Forest.
Killer Ant: HP: 61. The ant chief. Can even chew through rock with its well-developed jaws. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth; Will work on the farm, helping with the harvest, or pulverising large boulders. War Trophy: Speckled Skin. Found only at night in Trieste Forest in the 2nd Generation.
Spider Family:
Spider: 25 HP. Scurries about quickly, overcoming its prey with speed and ferocity. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophies: Strong String. Found in Trieste Forest at night.
Hell Spider: HP 45. Lounges about among the tree branches on a hammock made of spider thread. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. War Trophy: Sparkle String. Found at night in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Scorpion Family:
Scorpion: 30 HP. Hides in the sand to hunt its prey. Stores a powerful poison in its tail. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Scorpion Tail. Can inflict Poison. Found on Blessia Island only at night.
Death Stalker: 65 HP. Captures its prey in its claw, then kills it with its poisonous tail. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Scorpion Pincer. Found only on Blessia Island only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Beetle Family:
Giant Beetle: 110 HP; Lifts and throws enemies with its horns. Its aim is to defeat Hercules in a fight. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind; Will destroy boulders on the farm. War Trophy: Hard Horn. Found on Blessia Island only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Hercules Beetle: 150 HP (2 hearts); Sharpens its horns everyday on a tree. These special horns never break. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind ; Will smash rocks on the farm. War Trophy: Hard Horn. Found on Blessia Island only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Slime Family:
Slime: 150 HP. A gelatinous monster. Its jelly-like body protects its core. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None; Like its ‘cousin’, the Dark Slime, it will water your crops. War Trophy: Little Crystal. Found at Narrow Path in Padova Mountains both during day and at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Dark Slime: 160 HP. Body colour darkens to protect its core. Can it really see from inside there? … Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None. Will water your crops. War Trophy: Little Crystal. Found at Blocked-Off Cave in Padova Mountains solely in the 2nd Generation.
Mushroom Family:
Big Mushroom: 70 HP. A gigantic mushroom as tall as a person. Emits poison powder if it senses danger. Skill: Poison Powder; Attribute: Earth. Will not help on farm. War Trophy: Spore. Found in Trieste Forest in Mushroom Patch during the day only in the 2nd Generation.
Tricky Mushroom: 105 HP. Monster mushroom that glows fluorescent. Glowing is the way it communicates. Skill: Poison Powder; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Spore. Found in Trieste Forest in Mushroom Patch solely at night only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Family:
Flower Blossom: HP: 76. It fires seeds from its mouth and is very sensitive to sound. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Root. Found in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Lion: 65 HP; Sprouts impressive leaves that look like a lion’s mane. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Fire. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Root. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Lilly: 80 HP; A monster with lovely blossoms, containing a very sweet nectar. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Wind; will not work on the farm; War Trophy: Root. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Crystal: 90 HP. This mysterious plant has transparent leaves that look like crystals. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Water; Will not help on farm; War Trophy: Root. Found both at Iceberg Midway and Unfrozen Lake at Padova Mountains only in the 2nd Generation.
Other Plants:
Pomme-Pomme: 50 HP. Sometimes it looks just like an apple with its round body, but it’s too big… Skill: Charging; Attibute: None; Will not work. War Trophy: Apple. Found in Spring Clearing of Trieste Forest during the day.
Leaf Ball: 85 HP. A floating plant monster. It likes sunny places. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Plant Stem. Found in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Planchoa: 65 HP: Smarter than it looks, it can understand human language. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind; will not work on the farm; War Trophy: Plant Stem. Found in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
I completed the list late this afternoon and added it both to the General Guide and the Bestiary and Caves Guide. In the process, I tried to do a little copy-editing in terms of some errors I had made in descriptions here and there...
I am copying the list here for players who are more inclined to read posts on this site than to read my actual Guides:
Bestiary or Monster List by Type in Rune Factory 2:
The following is a comprehensive list of all Monsters to be found in Rune Factory 2 organised by 'family' type. In most cases, Monsters belonging to the same 'family' will drop the same War Trophy but there are exceptions. Where a Monster can be found only in the 2nd Generation, this information has been included.
Orc Family:
Orc: 45 HP. Not very bright, but curious and active. May visit the town out of curiosity. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Will harvest. War Trophy: Cheap Cloth. Found in Trieste Forest.
Orc Archer: 45 HP. Calm and laid back personality. It works at one speed: Slow. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Earth. Does no farm work. War Trophy: Arrowhead. Found in Trieste Forest.
Orc Hunter: 65 HP. Forest hunter. Very few can creatures can evade an Orc Hunter’s arrow. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attibute: Earth. Will not help on farm. War Trophy: Arrowhead. Found in Trieste Forest in the 2nd Generation.
High Orc: HP: 91. Very cautious, lives deep in the woods. Highly territorial and aggressive. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth; Will help with the harvest. War Trophy: Cheap Cloth. Found in Trieste Forest in the 2nd Generation.
Orc Viking: 80 HP. A brutal orc warrior. Acts violently for his own satisfaction. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Water; Wields a double-headed axe; Will not work. War Trophy: Shoulder Piece. Found in Padova Mountains.
High Orc Viking: 190 HP. A proud and imposing warrior. Hates heat and keeps to snowy mountains. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Water. War Trophy: Shoulder Piece. Found at Icy Path and Unfrozen Lake of Padova Mountains only during the day solely in the 2nd Generation.
Goblin Family:
Goblin Pirate: 50 HP. Thinks he’s the strongest. Actually weaker than Goblin Captain. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Fire; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Quality Cloth. Found on Blessia Island.
Goblin Gangster: 50 HP. A crazy rascal who flings around knives and tries to pick fights. Skill: Knife Throw; Attribute: Fire; War Trophy: Skull. Found on Blessia Island.
Goblin Captain: 75 HP. A tough Goblin leader. Skilled at using two knives. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Fire. Will water your crops. War Trophy: Quality Cloth. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Goblin Don: 70 HP. Attacks if he catches you merely looking. So wild, it’s frightening. Skill: Knife Throw; Attribute: Fire. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Skull. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Goblin: 45 HP. Sly little monsters that like to sneak behind and attack from the rear. Skill: Back Stab; Attribute: Fire; Found in Fall area in daytime. Will harvest. War Trophy: Proof of Warrior. Found in Messhina Valley.
Goblin Archer: 45 HP. It lacks composure and tends to drop its arrows everywhere. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Fire. Found in Fall area during daytime. Will not work. War Trophy: Cheap Bandage. Found in Messhina Valley.
Goblin Sniper: 120 HP. Unmatched marksmanship. Never lets a target get away. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Fire; War Trophy: Cheap Bandage. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Hobgoblin: 120 HP. Looks that can scare even a devil. It’s simply terrifying. Skill: Back Stab; Attribute: Fire; Will harvest crops. War Trophy: Proof of Warrior. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Ogres
Ogre Viking: 120 HP. Hurls two hand axes, but doesn’t have very good control. Skill: Tomahawk; Attribute: Water; War Trophy: Glue. Found only at night in Padova Mountains.
High Ogre Viking: 140 HP. Its jacket is extremely expensive. Inside the jacket are lots of axes. Skill: Tomahawk; Attribute: Water. War Trophy: Glue. Found at Icy Path and Unfrozen Lake of the Padova Mountains only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Trolls:
Troll: 267 HP; Massive creatures of enormous strength. One punch can smash nearly any enemy. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: None. Will destroy boulders on farm. War Trophy: Giant’s Fingernail. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Hammer Troll: HP 280. Swing huge hammers and hate slime which are immune to being smashed. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: None; Will smash rocks on farm; War Trophy: Giant’s Gloves. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Titan: 300 HP. Their punches can break through steel and will cause you more than just a bump. Skill: Serial Attack: Attribute: Earth. Will smash rocks on the farm. War Trophy: Giant’s Fingernail. Found in Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Gigantus: 350 HP. Their unique style of swinging means that nothing gets away from them. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Fire. Will clear boulders from your field. War Trophy: GIANT’S GLOVE. Found in Palermo Shrine on BF3 Room 8 solely in the 2nd Generation.
Minotaurs:
Minotauros: 260 HP: A huge monster with a huge axe, but too big to make small movements. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Darkness. Will clear wood from your field. War Trophy: Hammer Piece. Found in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
King Minotauros: 280 HP. The ramming power unleashed from its huge body could uproot a large tree. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Darkness. Will clear wood from your farm. War Trophy: Hammer Piece. Found exclusively in Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Wizards:
Little Mage: 100 HP. Tiny wizard. Good at fire magic, he loves to use his powers to grill fish. Skill: Fireball; Attribute: Fire; War Trophy: Magic Powder. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Little Wizard: 120 HP; Prankster wizard. Good at water magic. He squirts travelers with his water gun. Skill: Water Laser; Attribute: Water; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Magic Powder. Found at Rushing Waterfall of Padova Mountains during the day and at Shrine both in daytime and at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Little Emperor: HP 130. Egotistical wizard. Good at wind magic, he always fluffs and primps his hair. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind. Will water your crops. War Trophy: Magic Powder. Found at Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Fairies:
Faerie: 80 HP. An elusive fairy that can disappear. Especially good at playing tag. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Fairy Dust. Found in Padova Mountains solely in the 2nd Generation at the Tomb during the day and at Rushing Waterfall at night.
Dark Faerie: 90 HP. A faerie that induces nightmares of falling down stairs into Hades. Skill: Sonic Wind. Attribute: Wind. Will not work on farm. War Trophy: Fairy Dust. Found in Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Demons:
Demon: 200 HP: A sly demon who specializes in hit and run tactics. Skill: Cure; Attibute: Darkness. Will not help on the farm; War Trophy: Devil Horn. Found solely at Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Arch Demon: 250 HP. Incredible skill with the spear. But it lacks even the slightest mercy. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Darkness; Will not help on the farm; War Trophy: Demon Blood. Found in Palermo Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Spirits:
Ghost: 50 HP; This ghost suddenly appears from behind, causing a ghastly uproar. Skill: Life Drain; Attribute: Darkness; will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Hood. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Necro: 60 HP. A face hidden behind a masque… No one knows what it looks like… Skill: Life Drain; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm; War Trophy: Hood. Found at the Tomb at night and a Flowing River in Padova Mountains during both the day and the night in the 2nd Generation.
Faust: HP 70. Known as the Grim Reaper, he visits people who are close to death. Skill: Life Drain; Attribute: Darkness. War Trophy: Hood. Cousin to the Ghost and Necro, found only in Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Elementals:
Ignis: 50 HP: Always creating heat, it can be used in winter to heat your home. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Magic Crystal. Fire Element found only on Blessia Island in the 2nd Generation.
Tundra: 80 HP. Can move even if its body is frozen. Hates hot spots where it will evaporate. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Water. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Magic Crystal. Water Element found only in Padova Mountains at Rushing Water and Shrine solely in the 2nd Generation.
Aerian: HP 100. Suddenly appears on the wind, then suddenly leaves again. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Wind. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Magic Crystal. A Wind Elemental found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Golems:
Little Golem: 200 HP. Its hands work separate from its body, so it can easily grab something far away. Skill: Charging; Attirbute: None. Will smash rocks on the farm. War Trophy: Bronze. Found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Mimics:
Monster Box: 140 HP. A monster shaped like a strongbox, lures in explorers then rushes to the attack. Skill: Charging. Attribute: Darkness. Will not help on farm. War Trophy: Broken Box. Found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Mimic: 140 HP. A glutton who will eat anything. Gets indigestion if it eats good food. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Darkness. Will not help on the farm. War Trophy: Broken Box. Found solely in the Palermo Shrine in the 2nd Generation.
Dragons:
Claw Dragon: 350 HP. Has sharp claws and hard scales. It can’t be fought with normal weapons. Skill: Fire Breath; Attribute: Light; Will not work on farm; War Trophy: Rage Fang. Found in Palermo Shrine only in the 2nd Generation.
Bird Family:
Cluckadoodle: 40 HP. Makes a loud cry early in the morning, so it’s been used as an alarm for ages. Skill: Nonstop Pecking; Attribute: None. Will produce Eggs if you have a Basket. War Trophy: Small Egg. Found in Messhina Valley only at night.
Blackbird: Though black like the night, its poor vision keeps it active during the day. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind. Will clear lumber from field on farm. War Trophy: Bird Wing. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Weegull: 90 HP. It hunts its prey from high above and can kill swiftly from the sky. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind. Like the Blackbird, it will clear lumber from field on farm. War Trophy: Bird Wing. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Bovine Family:
Buffamoo: 80 HP. Gentle and calm, it doesn’t attack people, but try not to make it mad. Skill: Head Butt; Attribute: None. Provides Milk if you have Milker. War Trophy: Small Milk. Found in Messhina Valley.
Buffalo: Agitated by the sight of red, this beast is large enough to ride on. Skill: Charging; Attribute: None. Can be used for transport. Will demolish boulders on farm. War Trophy: Bull Horn. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Sheep Family:
Wooly: 50 HP. Special feature is its fluffy fur. Well vented, it stays cool in summer. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None. Provides Woolin the form of Fleece if you have clippers. War Trophy: Wooly Furball. Found in Trieste Forest in the Spring Clearing only at night.
Wolves:
Silver Wolf: Wolf that lives in the snowy mountains. Hard to tame due to its wild nature. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None; Can ride it if you take it out of the barn. War Trophy: Wolf Fang. Found in Padova Mountains.
Hunter Wolf: 125 HP. Its dazzling fur catches the eye. I’d feel like a Prince riding it! Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None. You can ride this Monster. War Trophy: Wolf Fang. Found both at the Icy Path and the Tomb in Padova Mountains solely in the 2nd Generation.
Panther Family:
Shadow Panther: 70 HP. A rare beast that can walk on two legs. Skillfully uses its front legs to eat. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Panther Claw. Found on Blessia Island.
Blood Panther: 100 HP; Can run extremely fast. It’s speed is unsurpassed. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: Darkness; Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Panther Claw. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Tortoise Family:
Tortoise: 107 HP; Has a large shell on its back. Withdraws into its shell if in danger. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Water; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Tortoise Shell. Found only on Blessia Island solely in the 2nd Generation.
Squirrel Family:
Chipsqueek: HP: 90. A charming little creature. It is always eating something. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Fur. Found solely in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Furpuff: HP 95. It’s long, thick fur has great texture. Just petting it will make you happy. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth; War Trophy: Quality Fur. Found solely in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Fish Family:
Dorado: 100 HP. Can live on land or in water. Too heavy to catch with a fishing rod. Skill: Water Gun; Attribute: Water. Will water crops on farm. War Trophy: Fish Fossil. Found at Freezing Cave both during day and at night in Padova Mountains only in the 2nd Generation.
Sky Fish: 100 HP. A mysterious fish, it floats in the sky. Blows a powerful water blast from mouth. Skill: Water Gun. Attribute: Water; Will water your crops. War Trophy: Fish Fossil. Found at Freezing Cave in the Padova Mountains both during the day and at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Bee Family:
Queen Bee: A Queen Bee that rules the hornets. Gracefully flies around the skies. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Wind; Produces Honey if you use a Basket. War Trophy: Insect Jaw. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Hornet: HP 50. Works feverishly for the queen bee. Relentlessly stings the enemies. Skill: Rapid Attack; Attribute: Wind; Produces Honey if you use a Basket. War Trophy: Insect Jaw. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Ant Family:
Ant: 20 HP. Wanders around aimlessly, sometimes suddenly remembering to attack. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Found at night in Trieste Forest. Will harvest crops. War Trophy: Insect Skin. Found only at night in Trieste Forest.
Killer Ant: HP: 61. The ant chief. Can even chew through rock with its well-developed jaws. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth; Will work on the farm, helping with the harvest, or pulverising large boulders. War Trophy: Speckled Skin. Found only at night in Trieste Forest in the 2nd Generation.
Spider Family:
Spider: 25 HP. Scurries about quickly, overcoming its prey with speed and ferocity. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophies: Strong String. Found in Trieste Forest at night.
Hell Spider: HP 45. Lounges about among the tree branches on a hammock made of spider thread. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Earth. War Trophy: Sparkle String. Found at night in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Scorpion Family:
Scorpion: 30 HP. Hides in the sand to hunt its prey. Stores a powerful poison in its tail. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Scorpion Tail. Can inflict Poison. Found on Blessia Island only at night.
Death Stalker: 65 HP. Captures its prey in its claw, then kills it with its poisonous tail. Skill: Serial Attack; Attribute: Darkness. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Scorpion Pincer. Found only on Blessia Island only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Beetle Family:
Giant Beetle: 110 HP; Lifts and throws enemies with its horns. Its aim is to defeat Hercules in a fight. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind; Will destroy boulders on the farm. War Trophy: Hard Horn. Found on Blessia Island only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Hercules Beetle: 150 HP (2 hearts); Sharpens its horns everyday on a tree. These special horns never break. Skill: Charging; Attribute: Wind ; Will smash rocks on the farm. War Trophy: Hard Horn. Found on Blessia Island only at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Slime Family:
Slime: 150 HP. A gelatinous monster. Its jelly-like body protects its core. Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None; Like its ‘cousin’, the Dark Slime, it will water your crops. War Trophy: Little Crystal. Found at Narrow Path in Padova Mountains both during day and at night solely in the 2nd Generation.
Dark Slime: 160 HP. Body colour darkens to protect its core. Can it really see from inside there? … Skill: Tackle; Attribute: None. Will water your crops. War Trophy: Little Crystal. Found at Blocked-Off Cave in Padova Mountains solely in the 2nd Generation.
Mushroom Family:
Big Mushroom: 70 HP. A gigantic mushroom as tall as a person. Emits poison powder if it senses danger. Skill: Poison Powder; Attribute: Earth. Will not help on farm. War Trophy: Spore. Found in Trieste Forest in Mushroom Patch during the day only in the 2nd Generation.
Tricky Mushroom: 105 HP. Monster mushroom that glows fluorescent. Glowing is the way it communicates. Skill: Poison Powder; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Spore. Found in Trieste Forest in Mushroom Patch solely at night only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Family:
Flower Blossom: HP: 76. It fires seeds from its mouth and is very sensitive to sound. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Earth. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Root. Found in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Lion: 65 HP; Sprouts impressive leaves that look like a lion’s mane. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Fire. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Root. Found on Blessia Island only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Lilly: 80 HP; A monster with lovely blossoms, containing a very sweet nectar. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Wind; will not work on the farm; War Trophy: Root. Found in Messhina Valley only in the 2nd Generation.
Flower Crystal: 90 HP. This mysterious plant has transparent leaves that look like crystals. Skill: Cure; Attribute: Water; Will not help on farm; War Trophy: Root. Found both at Iceberg Midway and Unfrozen Lake at Padova Mountains only in the 2nd Generation.
Other Plants:
Pomme-Pomme: 50 HP. Sometimes it looks just like an apple with its round body, but it’s too big… Skill: Charging; Attibute: None; Will not work. War Trophy: Apple. Found in Spring Clearing of Trieste Forest during the day.
Leaf Ball: 85 HP. A floating plant monster. It likes sunny places. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind. Will not work on the farm. War Trophy: Plant Stem. Found in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Planchoa: 65 HP: Smarter than it looks, it can understand human language. Skill: Sonic Wind; Attribute: Wind; will not work on the farm; War Trophy: Plant Stem. Found in Trieste Forest only in the 2nd Generation.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Incredible Potential in Rune Factory
I'm going to take a quick break from the Harvest Moon game I am playing at the moment to write briefly about Rune Factory as I have been receiving quite a few emails from players who have asked about the game.
Quite frankly, it is one of my very favourite games, inside or outside the Harvest Moon series. I studied sabre fencing and collect edged weapons in 'real life' and to be able to play a game in the Harvest Moon series that allowed me to forge and use my own weapons afterwards was the ultimate fantasy fulfillment for me. Furthermore, as some one who loves jewelry and designed some custom pieces at one time, it was very exciting to be able to make accessories at my forge in Rune Factory.
Rune Factory has incredibly beautiful graphics. The characters are some of the most attractive I ever have encountered in terms of their 'portraits'. The plot is compelling and you actually have the opportunity to become the 'saviour' of your country... but ultimately, it all works within the framework of the wonderful Harvest Moon philosophy: it is Nature who comes to your aid! When you defeat monsters in the mines, you do not slay them. Instead, you send them back to their original pure natural state, one that is not hostile. In essence, your sword frees them.
If you wish, you can tame the monsters and keep them on your farm instead of releasing them back to their original world. There are varieties of monsters who give you eggs, milk and wool. Other varieties can be ridden. I really loved being able to ride a monster who looked and acted like a wolf.
My General Guide as well as my Bestiary and Caves Guide gives detailed information about all the monsters and their precise location as well as the method by which each cave is unlocked.
My General Guide deals with all aspects of the game, including courtship, but as usual, I wrote little specialised mini-guides as well. Links to all my guides can be found on the right side of this page...
In the general excitement about Cute (which I share completely), it is good to remember that there are OTHER magnificent Harvest Moon games out there, and Rune Factory is one that was made for the DS, my own platform of choice.
N.B. The DS platform appears to allow games from any part of the world. Players in Europe CAN purchase the U.S. Natsume version of any Harvest Moon game and play it successfully. I am adding this note because Rune Factory has not been yet released in any European edition...
Quite frankly, it is one of my very favourite games, inside or outside the Harvest Moon series. I studied sabre fencing and collect edged weapons in 'real life' and to be able to play a game in the Harvest Moon series that allowed me to forge and use my own weapons afterwards was the ultimate fantasy fulfillment for me. Furthermore, as some one who loves jewelry and designed some custom pieces at one time, it was very exciting to be able to make accessories at my forge in Rune Factory.
Rune Factory has incredibly beautiful graphics. The characters are some of the most attractive I ever have encountered in terms of their 'portraits'. The plot is compelling and you actually have the opportunity to become the 'saviour' of your country... but ultimately, it all works within the framework of the wonderful Harvest Moon philosophy: it is Nature who comes to your aid! When you defeat monsters in the mines, you do not slay them. Instead, you send them back to their original pure natural state, one that is not hostile. In essence, your sword frees them.
If you wish, you can tame the monsters and keep them on your farm instead of releasing them back to their original world. There are varieties of monsters who give you eggs, milk and wool. Other varieties can be ridden. I really loved being able to ride a monster who looked and acted like a wolf.
My General Guide as well as my Bestiary and Caves Guide gives detailed information about all the monsters and their precise location as well as the method by which each cave is unlocked.
My General Guide deals with all aspects of the game, including courtship, but as usual, I wrote little specialised mini-guides as well. Links to all my guides can be found on the right side of this page...
In the general excitement about Cute (which I share completely), it is good to remember that there are OTHER magnificent Harvest Moon games out there, and Rune Factory is one that was made for the DS, my own platform of choice.
N.B. The DS platform appears to allow games from any part of the world. Players in Europe CAN purchase the U.S. Natsume version of any Harvest Moon game and play it successfully. I am adding this note because Rune Factory has not been yet released in any European edition...
Friday, September 21, 2007
Cave Maps and Bestiary for Rune Factory
To the right of this post are sections devoted to specific games. Each Harvest Moon game has a section of its own, with all the guides I have written for that game listed beneath it. Some players apparently did not realise that links to the actual guides can be found on this site. In fact, the purpose of this page is to provide links to all my actual guides.
For any one who is playing Rune Factory, I would like to direct attention once more to the new 'Bestiary and Cave Maps Guide' for the game. I like to write 'text' guides rather than creating pictures because it makes the guide accessible to ALL players, even those with very elementary software. That is the reason I have created 'verbal' maps of all the Caves in Kardia. The Cave Maps give step-by-step descriptions of each cave, the position of each Monster Generator with details about the specific Monster it produces and the items 'dropped' by that monster. It includes the locations of all tillable fields, rocks that contain ore and underground water sources. I wrote this little reference guide in response to a number of emails from players asking for the location of a specific item. With this Guide, a player should be able to find the Monster that drops the item he/she needs instantly.
Furthermore, this guide should provide a resource for a player who finds himself/herself in a Cave without any more provisions and with low HP. By noting the location of all tillable fields, the player should be able to find a field that has wild items that could restore a little HP or cure poison. Remember that Medicinal Herbs and Orange Grass restore some HP. Antidotal Herbs cure Poison.
If you know the position of all tillable fields in a Cave, you can plan which crops to plant in order to be able to have access to runes on a regular basis. A field that is located deep within a cave may be useful when you are exploring that particular area but it is a good idea to grow crops near the entrance of every cave as well. That way, you can use those runes as a regular resource, whether you actually wish to explore that cave or not. I keep some Sweet Potatoes in the first chamber both of Carmite and Toros Caves for that purpose. If I need a rune quickly, I can nip into one of those caves to restore my RP. I chose Radishes and Sweet Potatoes for those locations because they grow quickly and are of little value as crops. It is better for me to keep them in the ground where they can produce runes daily.
I prefer to grow the crops that take more than a season to ripen further from the entrance. Crops will not die when they are not watered. They simply will not advance in their growth until watered again.
In any case, I hope the Bestiary and Cave Maps Guide will prove to be a useful resource to players. I use it myself when I need to refresh my memory as to the location of a specific Generator.
For any one who is playing Rune Factory, I would like to direct attention once more to the new 'Bestiary and Cave Maps Guide' for the game. I like to write 'text' guides rather than creating pictures because it makes the guide accessible to ALL players, even those with very elementary software. That is the reason I have created 'verbal' maps of all the Caves in Kardia. The Cave Maps give step-by-step descriptions of each cave, the position of each Monster Generator with details about the specific Monster it produces and the items 'dropped' by that monster. It includes the locations of all tillable fields, rocks that contain ore and underground water sources. I wrote this little reference guide in response to a number of emails from players asking for the location of a specific item. With this Guide, a player should be able to find the Monster that drops the item he/she needs instantly.
Furthermore, this guide should provide a resource for a player who finds himself/herself in a Cave without any more provisions and with low HP. By noting the location of all tillable fields, the player should be able to find a field that has wild items that could restore a little HP or cure poison. Remember that Medicinal Herbs and Orange Grass restore some HP. Antidotal Herbs cure Poison.
If you know the position of all tillable fields in a Cave, you can plan which crops to plant in order to be able to have access to runes on a regular basis. A field that is located deep within a cave may be useful when you are exploring that particular area but it is a good idea to grow crops near the entrance of every cave as well. That way, you can use those runes as a regular resource, whether you actually wish to explore that cave or not. I keep some Sweet Potatoes in the first chamber both of Carmite and Toros Caves for that purpose. If I need a rune quickly, I can nip into one of those caves to restore my RP. I chose Radishes and Sweet Potatoes for those locations because they grow quickly and are of little value as crops. It is better for me to keep them in the ground where they can produce runes daily.
I prefer to grow the crops that take more than a season to ripen further from the entrance. Crops will not die when they are not watered. They simply will not advance in their growth until watered again.
In any case, I hope the Bestiary and Cave Maps Guide will prove to be a useful resource to players. I use it myself when I need to refresh my memory as to the location of a specific Generator.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Idealism in Harvest Moon
The unwavering idealism that underlies all Harvest Moon games never fails to touch my heart and soul deeply. Rune Factory demonstrated this beautifully in the 'Grand Finale' to the main quest.
Warning: Do not read this post if you wish to be surprised by the 'end' of the game.
Your character, a young man with amnesia, proves his worth, his valour and his essential compassion both for human beings and other species by taming monsters rather than killing them and ultimately refusing to use his weapon against his
arch-enemy because any weapon of his could kill a human being.
He then faces the entire mechanised Sechs Army in order to protect the town of Kardia although he believes the cause is lost, as the Sechs Army has mustered a hundred tanks against the small village of Kardia.
The great Dragon God, Terrable has been awakened by the machinations of the Sechs Empire in the hope that he could be used as a super-weapon against their enemies. Instead, Terrable confronts the army of tanks and breathes his 'fire' upon them.
What occurs then? Rather than being incinerated, the tanks are surrounded by plants!
The leader of the Sechs Army orders his soldiers to burn the plants in order to free the tanks but the soldiers respond that this would destroy the tanks themselves, as the tanks are completely entangled in the vegetation.
The 'great' Sechs Army then is forced to WALK back home, to the ridicule of the people of Kardia!
Throughout the game, characters remark upon the need to live in harmony with the earth and the importance of being aware and respectful of the power of Nature.
Rune Factory is great fun. The philosophical messages are delivered with gentle humour and yet, the game always remains true to the essential principles of Harvest Moon.
One aspect of Harvest Moon games that may be less than welcome to the more 'puritanical' Western players is the position that alcohol occupies in traditional Japanese culture and therefore in Harvest Moon as well. In every Harvest Moon game, there is at least one character who constantly extols the virtues of alcohol and Rune Factory has quite a few! There even is a peripheral quest that is centred on a bottle of rare wine named Rollabouti. Harvest Moon games usually include one girl who can outdrink the men in drinking contests.
When English editions of a couple of Harvest Moon games attempted to 'convert' alcohol to 'Milk', the results were rather absurd. Conversations warning against the strong properties of 'Milk' or telling children that they were not old enough to drink the stuff were rather bizarre, to say the least. Fortunately, Rune Factory in its English version has remained true to the original Japanese in this respect.
Like most Harvest Moon games, the game itself does not end with the credits. In fact, 'winning' the game usually merely unlocks new options. A devoted Harvest Moon player never needs to regret the act of completing the main quest as there always are more quests to discover and complete...
Note: For players of Rune Factory who have requested detailed 'maps' of the dungeons, I have created a 'Bestiary and Cave Guide' now that gives step by step descriptions of each cave and the locations of each Monster generator in the caves of Kardia.
Warning: Do not read this post if you wish to be surprised by the 'end' of the game.
Your character, a young man with amnesia, proves his worth, his valour and his essential compassion both for human beings and other species by taming monsters rather than killing them and ultimately refusing to use his weapon against his
arch-enemy because any weapon of his could kill a human being.
He then faces the entire mechanised Sechs Army in order to protect the town of Kardia although he believes the cause is lost, as the Sechs Army has mustered a hundred tanks against the small village of Kardia.
The great Dragon God, Terrable has been awakened by the machinations of the Sechs Empire in the hope that he could be used as a super-weapon against their enemies. Instead, Terrable confronts the army of tanks and breathes his 'fire' upon them.
What occurs then? Rather than being incinerated, the tanks are surrounded by plants!
The leader of the Sechs Army orders his soldiers to burn the plants in order to free the tanks but the soldiers respond that this would destroy the tanks themselves, as the tanks are completely entangled in the vegetation.
The 'great' Sechs Army then is forced to WALK back home, to the ridicule of the people of Kardia!
Throughout the game, characters remark upon the need to live in harmony with the earth and the importance of being aware and respectful of the power of Nature.
Rune Factory is great fun. The philosophical messages are delivered with gentle humour and yet, the game always remains true to the essential principles of Harvest Moon.
One aspect of Harvest Moon games that may be less than welcome to the more 'puritanical' Western players is the position that alcohol occupies in traditional Japanese culture and therefore in Harvest Moon as well. In every Harvest Moon game, there is at least one character who constantly extols the virtues of alcohol and Rune Factory has quite a few! There even is a peripheral quest that is centred on a bottle of rare wine named Rollabouti. Harvest Moon games usually include one girl who can outdrink the men in drinking contests.
When English editions of a couple of Harvest Moon games attempted to 'convert' alcohol to 'Milk', the results were rather absurd. Conversations warning against the strong properties of 'Milk' or telling children that they were not old enough to drink the stuff were rather bizarre, to say the least. Fortunately, Rune Factory in its English version has remained true to the original Japanese in this respect.
Like most Harvest Moon games, the game itself does not end with the credits. In fact, 'winning' the game usually merely unlocks new options. A devoted Harvest Moon player never needs to regret the act of completing the main quest as there always are more quests to discover and complete...
Note: For players of Rune Factory who have requested detailed 'maps' of the dungeons, I have created a 'Bestiary and Cave Guide' now that gives step by step descriptions of each cave and the locations of each Monster generator in the caves of Kardia.
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